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The affective contagion theory is essential in marketing and consumer research. By integrating this perspective with cross-cultural mobile marketing, our study explores the role of valenced emotions aroused by cultural elements within the app and further affective contagion effects, culture affinity as antecedent, and cross-cultural factors that may affect these evaluations. Based on three evaluative conditioning experiments with foreign users in China, we found the valenced emotion aroused by cultural elements in local apps (movie posters, media content, products) triggers a contagion effect on their attitudes toward the app. Moreover, we validate the role of culture affinity in providing ex-ante emotional associations during the appraisal process, the negative impact of language foreignness, and the interaction between app origin and political ideology. Our findings hold practical implications for app developers and marketers, particularly regarding the relationship between emotion and cultural bias in global markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray diffraction (XRD) is extensively used in archaeometric investigation. Herein, we provide a novel XRD spectrum-based untargeted strategy for the classification of ancient painted pottery for various dynasties. It was accomplished using the original spectrum without a phase identification. To eliminate the influence of baseline drift, a new baseline drift correction algorithm was specifically designed for XRD spectra. The algorithm was implemented using local minimum values in the analyzed signal in an iterative optimization manner. The results indicated that with the aid of the algorithm, the baseline drift problem can be successfully resolved, and the classification of ancient painted pottery can be greatly improved. Finally, the developed strategy was successfully used to discriminate ancient painted pottery from the Han and Tang dynasties in the cities of Guyuan and Zhongwei, China. The developed untargeted strategy had the remarkable advantage of almost automatic data analysis. The toolbox of our strategy can be obtained from the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pseudobagrus ussuriensis is a high-value fish species widely distributed in various river basins across China. Its benthic lifestyle and lack of scales make its skin susceptible to damage, leading to diseases and mortality. Hypoxia represents a significant factor affecting fish health, whether in captive environments or natural water bodies. Exposure to low oxygen levels can result in various adverse effects, including causing an immune response in fish. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the differential immune responses of distinct tissues to acute hypoxia and reoxygenation by analyzing the histophysiological and transcriptional changes in the brain and skin of P. ussuriensis. Our findings revealed that both the brain and skin exhibited immune responses to hypoxia, which persisted even after reoxygenation. However, it was observed that the overall immune response intensity in the brain was lower than that in the skin. This research provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of P. ussuriensis to hypoxia stress. Pseudobagrus ussuriensis is an unscaled fish that is more susceptible to skin damage than scaled fish. To investigate the impacts of hypoxia and reoxygenation on skin and brain immunity, juvenile P. ussuriensis were subjected to hypoxia conditions (DO: 0.8 ± 0.05 mg/L) for durations of 0, 3, 6, and 12 h, followed by 12 h of reoxygenation (DO > 6 mg/L). Histological analysis showed a significant increase in the number of skin mucosal cells after 12 h of hypoxia and a significant decrease after 12 h of reoxygenation when compared to the control group. As the duration of hypoxia increased, an increase in antioxidant (SOD, CAT, GSH, MDA) and immune (cortisol, LZM) physiological parameters of the skin and brain appeared. The results of transcriptomic studies showed that the number of differential genes was greater in skin than in brain. Most of the immune pathways in both tissues under hypoxia conditions were all nonspecific immunity (TNF, IL-17, chemokines), while both tissues maintained their homeostasis through active energy supply and cell cycle regulation. Meanwhile, both physiological parameters and RNA transcriptome results showed that 12 h of reoxygenation could not completely eliminate the negative effects of 12 h of hypoxia. This study offers new insights into the immune responses of P. ussuriensis skin and brain during acute hypoxia and reoxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oncomelania hupensis is the sole intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum. Its emergence and recurrence pose a constant challenge to the elimination of schistosomiasis in China. It is important to accurately predict the snail distribution for schistosomiasis prevention and control. Methods: Data describing the distribution of O. hupensis in 2016 was obtained from the Yunnan Institute of Endemic Disease Control and Prevention. Eight machine learning algorithms, including eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), generalized boosting model (GBM), neural network (NN), classification and regression trees (CART), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), and generalized additive model (GAM), were employed to explore the impacts of climatic, geographical, and socioeconomic variables on the distribution of suitable areas for O. hupensis. Predictions of the distribution of suitable areas for O. hupensis were made for various periods (2030s, 2050s, and 2070s) under different climate scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585). Results: The RF model exhibited the best performance (AUC: 0.991, sensitivity: 0.982, specificity: 0.995, kappa: 0.942) and the CART model performed the worst (AUC: 0.884, sensitivity: 0.922, specificity: 0.943, kappa: 0.829). Based on the RF model, the top six important variables were as follows: Bio15 (precipitation seasonality) (33.6%), average annual precipitation (25.2%), Bio2 (mean diurnal temperature range) (21.7%), Bio19 (precipitation of the coldest quarter) (14.5%), population density (13.5%), and night light index (11.1%). The results demonstrated that the overall suitable habitats for O. hupensis were predominantly distributed in the schistosomiasis-endemic areas located in northwestern Yunnan Province under the current climate situation and were predicted to expand north- and westward due to climate change. Conclusions: This study showed that the prediction of the current distribution of O. hupensis corresponded well with the actual records. Furthermore, our study provided compelling evidence that the geographical distribution of snails was projected to expand toward the north and west of Yunnan Province in the coming decades, indicating that the distribution of snails is driven by climate factors. Our findings will be of great significance for formulating effective strategies for snail control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GC) is a uncommon and highly malignant tumor. This study compared the effects of simple cholecystectomy (SC) and extended cholecystectomy (EC) on the long-term survival of stage I GC. Methods: Patients with stage I GC between 2004 and 2015 in the SEER database were selected. Meanwhile, this study collected the clinical information of patients with stage I GC admitted to five medical centers in China between 2012 and 2022. Using clinical data from patients in the SEER database as a training set to construct a nomogram, which was validated in Chinese multicenter patients. Long-term survival between SC and EC were distinguished using propensity score matching (PSM). Results: A total of 956 patients from the SEER database and 82 patients from five Chinese hospitals were included in this study. The independent prognostic factors were age, sex, histology, tumor size, T stage, grade, chemotherapy and surgical approach by multivariate Cox regression analysis. We developed a nomogram based on these variables. The nomogram has been proved to have good accuracy and discrimination in internal and external validation. The cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival of patients receiving EC were better than those of SC before and after the propensity score match. The interaction test showed that EC was associated with better survival in patients aged ≥ 67 years (P = 0.015) and in patients with T1b and T1NOS (P < 0.001). Conclusion: A novel nomogram to predict CSS in patients with stage I GC after SC or EC. Compared with SC, EC for stage I GC had higher OS and CSS, especially in specific subgroups (T1b, T1NOS, and age ≥ 67 years). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of China's apparel has undergone tremendous changes in the past 70 years. In order to investigate the transition in the design of Chinese apparel over these years, progress with three phases of apparel design in the past 70 years have been described in terms of the silhouette, color, materials, and details of apparel design by employing the expert panel method. Further, a quantitative model of the random forest was proposed to link the transition of apparel design and its determinants, including economy, aesthetics, science and technology, and globalization. The importance weight for each of these determinants had also been determined. In doing so, this study offers insights for apparel designers regarding ways of strategically designing apparel under the transition dynamics in China to follow the mainstream of the transition, and meet consumers' satisfaction towards apparel design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil pollution represents a threat to soil biodiversity and to soil and human health. However, many ecotoxicological issues, such as the impact of heavy metal pollution on the soil mite community and its spatial distribution in areas with complex environmental factors, are not fully understood. Here, an investigation was conducted in an arable area (about 11 km2) enclosed by surrounding mountains. The study area was contaminated with potentially toxic metals derived from copper smelting that was functioning for over 10 years. The area comprised four land use types: woodlands, dry fields, paddy fields, and wastelands, and was divided into 141 study sites each with an area of 6.25 ha. The soil metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd) contents, pH, and organic matter were determined and their distributions were established. Furthermore, soil mite (Acari) community properties (species richness, individual abundance, and Shannon–Wiener diversity index) were determined, and the distributions of total species number and abundance were ascertained. Soil metal pollution strongly reduced soil mite community, but the effects depended on mite groups or species and their sensitivity to different metals as well as land use types. CANOCO analysis revealed that the order Oribatida was more highly correlated with soil metal contents, whereas the other three orders responded to soil metal contents depending on land use types, mite properties, or metals. SADIE method indicated that the coordinate relationship between mite species number and metal concentration was more negative (4–25% of the study sites) than positive (4–12%). The metal pollution levels in the soil were evaluated by single and integrated pollution and ecological risk indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of asymmetric information, a principal-agent model is used to put forward a new theoretical explanation for the validity and effectiveness of tenure. Furthermore, through an analysis of the conditions of implementing an effective tenure system, it is argued that such a system is more efficient in research universities. Based on the above conclusions, the paper also discusses the condition or time for the implementation of tenure in Chinese universities.

In China, entrepreneurship remains a non-traditional career for women, but little is known about how young single women may opt for entrepreneurship against the social penalty. This study focuses on single female entrepreneurs and finds them being stigmatised as doing inappropriate jobs and (consequently) staying single. The interviewees responded differently, by (1) coordinating their career and family formation plans to make them compatible, (2) justifying their being single based on their entrepreneurial achievements and (3) compensating for their deviance and using their economic capability to fulfil other family roles. In contrast to the 'androcentric' business model based on carefree agents, female entrepreneurs illustrate different forms of agency to accommodate career aspirations and family duties. Given China's market-oriented reforms, persisting gender beliefs and the socialist legacy, this study illustrates women's fluid and interactive agency in response to the gendered penalty in non-traditional careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital cranial dysinnervation disorders (CCDDs) are a group of diseases with high clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Clinical examinations combined with Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whole exome sequencing (WES) were performed to reveal the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics in a cohort of Chinese CCDDs patients. Results: A total of 122 CCDDs patients from 96 families were enrolled. All patients showed restrictive eye movements, and 46 patients from 46 families (47.9%, 46/96) were accompanied by multiple congenital malformations. Multi-positional high-resolution MRI was performed in 94 patients from 88 families, of which, all patients had hypoplasia of the cranial nerves except HGPPS patients and 15 patients from 15 families (17.0%,15/88) were accompanied by other craniocerebral malformations. WES was performed in 122 CCDDs patients. Ten pathogenic variants were detected in KIF21A, TUBB3, and CHN1 genes in 43 families. Three variants were unreported, including KIF21A (c.1064T > C, p.F355S), TUBB3 (c.232T > A, p.S78T) and CHN1 (c.650A > G, p.H217R). Of the 43 probands harboring pathogenic variants, 42 were diagnosed with Congenital Fibrosis of Extraocular Muscles (CFEOM) and one was Duane Retraction Syndrome (DRS). No definite pathogenic variants in known candidate genes of CCDDs were found in sporadic DRS, Möbius Syndrome (MBS) and Horizontal Gaze Palsy with Progressive Scoliosis (HGPPS) patients. The CFEOM patients harboring R380C, E410K and R262H variants in TUBB3 gene and F355S variant in KIF21A gene exhibited syndromic phenotypes. Conclusions: This study broadened the phenotypic and genotypic spectrums of CCDDs, and it was the largest clinical and genetic investigation for CCDDs patients from China. KIF21A and TUBB3 were the common pathogenic genes in Chinese CFEOM. MRI coupled with WES can provide a supportive diagnosis in patients with clinically suspected CCDDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the state has shifted its priorities towards social harmony and poverty alleviation, this study finds rhetorical resonance, combined with strong lineage solidarity, as an emerging strategy for villages to compete for government resources and investments. By articulating grassroots needs as being in line with local cadres' performance goals, villages have successfully converted their needs into development proposals and mobilized lineage solidarity to persuade local cadres of the feasibility of such proposals. Drawing on three villages' school-saving efforts in Fujian province, our fieldwork illustrates how one village retained its school by mobilizing lineage solidarity and converting education into a "model" village project to boost cultural tourism. Others failed to do so and lost their schools. Under the target-based cadre management system, the bottom-up competition for government support is largely shaped by the villages' pre-existing development and resource structures, which may maximize management efficiency but may also reinforce socioeconomic inequalities between villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores contemporary prejudice against displaced villagers in urban China, drawing on a project on urban sprawl in Yinchuan where rural villages are absorbed into the urban area. The research demonstrates that media discourses about chaiqian baofahu and suzhi that stigmatise displaced villagers are being actively reproduced in everyday life in newly built urban neighbourhoods. Urbanites' prejudice against displaced villagers can be viewed as, on the one hand, a result of the feelings of relative deprivation from unfavourable comparisons with displaced villagers, while on the other hand, a response to maintain a positive ingroup identity – in this case, an urban and 'civilised' way of life. The article then examines the effectiveness of contact as a means for reducing prejudice, and reveals that intergroup contact in urban neighbourhoods does not necessarily create mutual understanding and trust. The article highlights the structural causes of prejudice and concludes by arguing for social transformation to challenge and reduce prejudice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-rock mixtures containing macropore (SRMCM) is a kind of geological material with special mechanical properties. Located in the project area of Lenggu hydropower station on the Yalong River, Sichuan Province, China, there is an extremely unstable Mahe talus slide with a total volume of nearly 160 million cubic meters, which is mainly composed of SRMCM. The study on the mechanical properties of SRMCM is of great significance for the engineering construction and safe operation. In this paper, laboratory tests and discrete element numerical tests based on three-dimensional scanning technology were conducted to study the influence of stone content, stone size, and the angle of the macropore structure on shear characteristics of SRMCM. The failure mechanism of SRMCM was discussed from a microscopic perspective. This work explains the internal mechanism of the influence of stone content, stone size, and the angle of the macropore structure on the strength of SRMCM through the microscopic level of stone rotation, force chain distribution, and crack propagation. As the macropore structure that intersects with the preset shear plane at a large angle could act as a skeleton-like support to resist the shear force, the fracture of the weak cemented surface of soil and stone in the macropore structure is an important cause of SRMCM destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under China's "Western Development" plan, inland China has witnessed massive urban expansion and land development, but little is known about the consequent stratification among relocated communities. This study examines the urbanization process on the outskirts of the Municipality of Yinchuan in northwestern China. Previous studies have focused on how urbanization impoverished or enriched rural communities, while this study examines how relocated communities (or teams) were differentiated in their compensation and relocation outcomes, as a combined outcome of policies and resource structures. Quantitative evidence suggests that urbanization has led to both between-team and within-team variations, and qualitative analyses illustrate why even the "lucky" teams always had "unlucky" villagers in compensation outcomes. Between-team variations were often used to mobilize collective resistance to strive for better compensation, but the rise of within-team variations has undermined the grassroots alliance against "unfair" policies. Villagers were more obsessed with individual competition of property investment based on their wealth and self-financing capabilities, but they also complained about "unjust" competition, such as the appropriation of resources based on cadres' privileges and connections. Although individual competition was celebrated under the official neoliberal market-oriented narratives, the decline of collective patronage and the resentment toward cadres' rent-seeking behaviors have added to tensions within relocated communities and contributed to their fragmentation. • Urbanization in northwestern China has led to different compensation outcomes among displaced villagers. • Policy changes and resource structures have contributed to inequalities between and within relocated communities. • Villagers' stratification has weakened grassroots alliance with a shift from collective resistance to individual competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between short-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and morbidity risk in developing countries is not fully understood. We conducted a nationwide time-series study to estimate the short-term effect of PM2.5 on hospital admissions in Chinese adults.Methods: Daily counts of hospital admissions for 2014-16 were obtained from the National Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance database. We identified more than 58 million hospitalizations from 0.28 billion insured persons in 200 Chinese cities for subjects aged 18 years or older. Generalized additive models with quasi-Poisson regression were applied to examine city-specific associations of PM2.5 concentrations with hospital admissions. National-average estimates of the association were obtained from a random-effects meta-analysis. We also investigated potential effect modifiers, such as age, sex, temperature and relative humidity.Results: An increase of 10 μg/m3 in same-day PM2.5 concentrations was positively associated with a 0.19% (95% confidence interval: 0.07-0.30) increase in the daily number of hospital admissions at the national level. PM2.5 exposure remained positively associated with hospital admissions on days when the daily concentrations met the current Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards (75 μg/m3). Estimates of admission varied across cities and increased in cities with lower PM2.5 concentrations (p = 0.044) or higher temperatures (p = 0.002) and relative humidity (p = 0.003). The elderly were more sensitive to PM2.5 exposure (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Short-term exposure to PM2.5 was positively associated with adult hospital admissions in China, even at levels below current Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) share a genetic basis with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, whether MetS and its components mediate genetic susceptibility to T2D is not completely understood. Methods: We assessed the effects of MetS and its components on associations T2D and 18 genome‐wide association studies‐identified variants using a two‐stage strategy based on parametric models involving 7110 Chinese participants (2436 were T2D patients) across 2885 families. Multilevel logistic regression was used to account for the intrafamilial correlation. Results: Metabolic syndrome significantly mediated the effect of a melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) polymorphism on T2D risk (OR of average causal mediation effect [ORACME] 1.004; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001‐1.008; P = 0.018). In addition, low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels mediated the genetic effects of MTNR1B (ORACME 1.012; 95% CI 1.007‐1.015; P < 0.001), solute carrier family 30 member 8 (SLC30A8; ORACME 1.001; 95% CI 1.000‐1.007; P < 0.040), B‐cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A (BCL11A; ORACME 1.009; 95% CI 1.007‐1.016; P < 0.001), prospero homeobox 1 (PROX1; ORACME 1.005; 95% CI 1.003‐1.011; P < 0.001) and a disintegrin and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 9 (ADAMTS9; ORACME 1.006; 95% CI 1.001‐1.009; P = 0.022), whereas increased fasting blood glucose (FBG) significantly mediated the genetic effect of BCL11A (ORACME 1.017; 95% CI 1.003‐1.021; P = 0.012). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that MetS and two of its components (HDL‐C, FBG) may be involved in mediating the genetic predisposition to T2D, which emphasize the importance of maintaining normal HDL‐C and FBG levels. HighlightsThe findings suggest that clinically defined metabolic syndrome (MetS) may mediate the genetic effect of the rs1387153 polymorphism of the melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) gene on risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D).Abnormally low levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol may mediate the genetic effects on T2D risk of the rs243021 (B‐cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A [BCL11A]), rs340874 (prospero homeobox 1 [PROX1]), rs3802177 (solute carrier family 30 member 8 [SLC30A8]), and rs4607103 (a disintegrin and metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 9 [ADAMTS9]) polymorphisms.High levels of fasting blood glucose may mediate the genetic effects of rs243021 (BCL11A) on T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract There have been few large multicity studies to evaluate the acute health effects of ambient air pollution on morbidity risk in developing counties. In this study, we examined the short-term associations of air pollution with daily hospital admissions in China. We conducted a nationwide time-series study in 218 Chinese cities between 2014 and 2016. Data on daily hospital admissions counts were obtained from the National Health Insurance Database for Urban Employees covering 0.28 billion enrollees. We used generalized additive model with Poisson regression to estimate the associations in each city, and we performed random-effects meta-analysis to pool the city-specific estimates. More than 60 million hospital admissions were analyzed in this study. At the national-average level, each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM 10 , SO 2 , and NO 2 , and 1 mg/m3 increase in CO at lag 0 day was associated with a 0.29% (95% CI, 0.23%–0.36%), 1.16% (95% CI, 0.92%–1.40%), 1.68% (95% CI, 1.40%–1.95%), and 2.59% (95% CI, 1.69%–3.50%) higher daily hospital admissions, respectively. The associations of air pollution with hospital admissions remained statistically significant at levels below the current Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards. The effect estimates were larger in cities with lower air pollutants levels or higher air temperatures and relative humidity, as well as in the elderly. In conclusion, our findings provide robust evidence of increased hospital admissions in association with short-term exposure to ambient air pollution in China. Graphical abstract Percentage change (PC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in daily hospital admissions per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM 10 , SO 2 , and NO 2 , and 1 mg/m3 increase in CO at different lag days. Image 1 Highlights • Few multicity studies evaluated air pollution on morbidity in developing counties. • Air pollution was associated with daily hospital admissions in 218 Chinese cities. • The associations varied by city characteristics. In this national time-series study in 218 Chinese cities covering > 60 million hospitalizations, short-term exposure to air pollution was associated with increased daily total hospital admissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Measures for Management of Soil Environment in Agricultural Land (Trial, Nov. 01, 2017, China) recently came into effect and highlighted the proper management of contaminated croplands to lower risks of exceedances of contaminants, especially toxic trace metals in agricultural produce. We aimed to develop local soil criteria for lead (Pb) in Hezhang county of southwestern China by the inverse use of reliable models linking Pb contamination levels between soils and vegetables. Dilute nitric acid (0.43 M) extraction, a new ISO standard (ISO-17586:2016) for extracting the geochemically reactive Pb fraction (Pb NA ), and calcium chloride (0.01 M) extraction (ISO-14255: 1998) for estimating the plant-available Pb (Pb CC ) were performed in fifty historically polluted and newly Pb-spiked soils with differing soil types, properties (pH 4.1–8.0), and total soil Pb levels (Pb T , 20–6153 mg kg −1 ). Greenhouse experiments for Brassica pekinensis L., and in-situ soil porewater measurement for Pb were conducted to investigate the mechanism of Pb uptake, and to establish reliable Pb soil-plant relationships. The results indicated that about 83% of the variation for Pb concentrations in vegetable (Pb CL , 0.009–1.06 mg kg −1 ) was contributable to free Pb 2+ activity in soil porewater, which was mainly influenced by pH and dissolved organic matter. Pb CL was satisfactorily predicted using Pb NA and key soil properties (adj. R 2 0.852). Soil Pb criteria for Pb T and Pb NA are then derived based on food standard. The full implementation of criteria derived for Pb NA (i.e., 27–127 mg kg −1 , soil pH 5.5–8.0) can avoid the exceedance of Pb in 95% of cabbage samples in this study, 95% of cabbage cultivars by model extrapolation, and one widely cultivated root vegetable, radish, in the study region. We provide a successful case study that has effectively tackled the challenge for the complexity of the soil management in contaminated croplands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in impervious surfaces associated with rapid urbanization is one of the main causes of urban inundation. Low-impact development (LID) practices have been studied for mitigation of urban inundation. This study used a hydrodynamic inundation model, coupling SWMM (Storm Water Management Model) and IFMS-Urban (Integrated Flood Modelling System--Urban), to assess the effectiveness of LID under different scenarios and at different hazard levels. The results showed that LID practices can effectively reduce urban inundation. The maximum inundation depth was reduced by 3 %-29 %, average inundation areas were reduced by 7 %-55 %, and average inundation time was reduced by 0 %-43 % under the eight scenarios. The effectiveness of LID practices differed for the three hazard levels, with better mitigation of urban inundation at a low hazard level than at a high hazard level. Permeable pavement (PP) mitigated urban inundation better than green roofs (GRs) under the different scenarios and at different hazard levels. We found that more implementation area with LID was not necessarily more efficient, and the scenario of 10 % PP + 10 % GR was more efficient for the study area than other scenarios. The results of this study can be used by local governments to provide suggestions for urban inundation control, disaster reduction, and urban renewal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) in China were first announced in 2013. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of PM 2.5 on asthma morbidity in Beijing, China. A total of 978,658 asthma hospital visits consisting of 928,607 outpatient visits, 40,063 emergency room visits and 9988 hospital admissions from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2012, were identified from the Beijing Medical Claim Data for Employees. A generalized additive Poisson model was applied to explore the association between PM 2.5 and health service use. The mean daily PM 2.5 concentration was 99.5 μg/m 3 with a range from 7.2 μg/m 3 to 492.8 μg/m 3 . Ambient PM 2.5 concentration was significantly associated with increased use of asthma-related health services. Every 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 concentration on the same day was significantly associated with a 0.67% (95% CI, 0.53%–0.81%), 0.65% (95% CI, 0.51%–0.80%), and 0.49% (95% CI, 0.35%–0.64%) increase in total hospital visits, outpatient visits and emergency room visits, respectively. The exposure–response association between PM 2.5 concentration and hospital visits for asthma exacerbations was approximately linear. In conclusion, this study found that short-term elevations in PM 2.5 concentration may increase the risk of asthma exacerbations. Our findings contribute to the limited scientific literature concerning the acute effects of PM 2.5 on asthma morbidity outcomes in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celastrol, triptolide and triptonide are the most significant active ingredients of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF). In 2007, the 'Cell' journal ranked celastrol, triptolide, artemisinin, capsaicin and curcumin as the five natural drugs that can be developed into modern medicinal compounds. In this review, we collected relevant data from the Web of Science, PubMed and China Knowledge Resource Integrated databases. Some information was also acquired from government reports and conference papers. Celastrol, triptolide and triptonide have potent pharmacological activity and evident anti-cancer, anti-tumor, anti-obesity and anti-diabetes effects. Because these compounds have demonstrated unique therapeutic potential for acute and chronic inflammation, brain injury, vascular diseases, immune diseases, renal system diseases, bone diseases and cardiac diseases, they can be used as effective drugs in clinical practice in the future. However, celastrol, triptolide and triptonide have certain toxic effects on the liver, kidney, cholangiocyte heart, ear and reproductive system. These shortcomings limit their clinical application. Suitable combination therapy, new dosage forms and new routes of administration can effectively reduce toxicity and increase the effect. In recent years, the development of different targeted drug delivery formulations and administration routes of celastrol and triptolide to overcome their toxic effects and maximise their efficacy has become a major focus of research. However, in-depth investigation is required to elucidate the mechanisms of action of celastrol, triptolide and triptonide, and more clinical trials are required to assess the safety and clinical value of these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we isolated a virus strain (YN12031) from specimens of Armigeres subalbatus collected in the China-Laos border. BHK-21 cells infected with YN12031 exhibited an evident cytopathic effect (CPE) 32 h post-infection. The virus particles were spherical, 70 nm in diameter, and enveloped; they also featured surface fibers. Molecular genetic analysis revealed that YN12031 was closely related to alpha viruses such as Chikungunya virus and Sindbis virus, and located in the same clade as MM2021, the prototype of Getahvirus (GETV) isolated in Malaysia in 1955. Phylogenetic analysis of the E2 and capsid genes further revealed that YN12031 was located in the same clade as the Russian isolate LEIV/16275/Mag. Analysis of the homology of nucleotides and amino acids in the coding area and E2 gene demonstrated that the YN12031 isolated from the China-Laos border (tropical region) was related closest to the LEIV/16275/Mag isolate obtained in Russia (North frigid zone area) among other isolates studied. These results suggest that GETV can adapt to different geographical environments to propagate and evolve. Thus, strengthening the detection and monitoring of GETV and its related diseases is very crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural land and their ecological risks are key issues in soil security studies. This study investigated the concentrations of six heavy metals-copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) in Shenzhen's agricultural lands and examined the potential hazards and possible sources of these metals. Eighty-two samples from agricultural topsoil were collected. Potential ecological risk index was used to calculate the potential risk of heavy metals. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to explore pollution sources of the metals. Finally, Kriging was used to predict the spatial distribution of the metals' potential ecological risks. The concentrations of the heavy metals were higher than their background values. Most of them presented little potential ecological risk, except for the heavy metal cadmium (Cd). Four districts (Longgang, Longhua, Pingshan, and Dapeng) exhibited some degree of potential risk, which tended to have more industries and road networks. Three major sources of heavy metals included geochemical processes, industrial pollutants, and traffic pollution. The heavy metal Cd was the main contributor to the pollution in agricultural land during the study period. It also poses the potential hazard for the future. High potential risk is closely related to industrial pollution and transportation. Since the 1980s, the sources of heavy metals have evolved from parent rock weathering, erosion, degradation of organics, and mineralization to human disturbances resulting in chemical changes in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improper disassembly of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-containing equipments such as capacitor and electrical transformer can lead to PCB pollution. To investigate the levels and patterns of PCBs in shallow groundwater in regions where PCB-containing equipment is disassembled, 19 shallow groundwater samples were collected from a recycling area for waste capacitors and electrical transformers in southeastern China. The Σ21 PCBs in shallow groundwater had a large variation ranging from 6.22 to 97.3 ng L, with a mean of 31.6 ng L and low chlorinated PCBs (3-5 chlorinated biphenyls) were predominant homologs in majority groundwater samples. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) toxic equivalents of 6 shallow groundwater samples with detectable dioxin-like PCBs varied greatly from 0.29 to 650 pg L, and all of them posing serious cancer risk (>1 × 10) to children and adults. Much attention should be paid to the vertical migration of low chlorinated PCBs and the cancer risk of dioxin-like PCBs in the study area and similar e-waste recycling areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to accelerated urbanization and reform of industrial structure in China, polluting industries in major cities have been closed or relocated. Consequently, large numbers of industrial sites were generated and the contaminated soils on and around these sites may pose risks to humans. This case study presents an estimation of human health risks for an area that is mainly impacted through air dispersion and deposition from a large-scale metallurgical refinery complex in Zhuzhou city, Hunan Province, China. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks posed by the contaminants were estimated under future industrial and residential land use scenarios. The result shows that adverse health effects may occur primarily through ingestion of soils contaminated with As, Cd, and Pb. The total carcinogenic risks of multiple contaminants for a large area exceed the acceptable risk level of 1 × 10−5, and several localized hotspots, where the total hazard index exceeds 1 were identified. Soils in the Tongda site pose the highest carcinogenic risks and non-carcinogenic hazards. It is concluded that potential human health risks exist under the proposed redevelopment scenarios, and development of risk-based remediation strategies is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of private sector business in urban China has led to more women engaging in low-end self-employment. This study, however, reveals a more complicated story in the countryside. Drawing on in-depth interviews conducted in a Chinese village, this study finds that the women took the lead in developing sideline self-employment and were then attracted to rural wage employment in the 1980s. With the privatization of rural industries and the rise of capital-intensive self-employment in the 1990s, some women were forced into low-end self-employment, but others were attracted to high-end self-employment, forging individual careers and family ventures. In more recent times, younger women have been more inclined to work on-and-off, balancing self-employment pursuits with the desire to be a good mother. This pattern marks a shift from the continuous multitasking practised by the older generation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The recent trend to develop rural land in western China has resulted in the large-scale relocation of villagers. It has also given rise to self-help development of housing. By examining long-established research on both formal urban development and informal village settlements, this study examines self-built housing, collective-endorsed housing and urban relocation housing in one western Chinese village. Their coexistence was made possible by ambiguities in property rights. The state–collective divide and the urban–rural dichotomy in property rights were restructured in land development, and villagers were able to use various means to take advantage of transitional, favourable deals to gain short- or long-term returns. Specifically, self-developed housing met market demands and traditional lifestyles, but witnessed a gap between de jure and de facto property rights and could not be easily formalised, whereas officially sanctioned relocation provided long-term homeownership but with ambiguous de jure property rights and failed to fully integrate villagers into urban neighbourhoods. To a lesser extent, collective endorsement added to the legitimacy of self-help development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• Effect of earthquake on the urbanization at county scale were investigated. • No long-lasting effects of earthquake was observed for the Dujiangyan county. • Coordinative degree for the urbanization of Dujiangyan county was probed. • Earthquake changed the pattern of the urbanization at Dujiangyan county. • Earthquake caused space-dominated to population-dominated urbanization. Geological hazards such as destructive earthquake severely limit the speed and the scale of urbanization at urban scale. However, whether the historical earthquake exert persistent or temporary effects on the urbanization process at county scale also remain intertwined. The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake was an unparalleled natural disaster in China history, and the Dujiangyan county is one of the ten worst-hit counties. Taking the Dujiangyan county as a case study, we established an indexing systems for urbanization at a county scale. The urbanization level at the county scale was gauged from three dimensions including population, economy and space. The coordinate assessment indicated that the urbanization process at the scale of county had obvious phase characteristics before and after the natural disasters. The suitable post-disaster policies and measures could strengthen the coupling coordination degree among the population, economy and space at the county scale. Triangle analysis indicated the urbanization model of the Dujiangyan county was basically a shift from space-dominated to population-dominated before and after the earthquake. It's indispensable to improve the quality of geological environment to minimize the threats and losses rendered by earthquake and facilitate sustainable urbanization process at county scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence and dissipation of 14 selected antibiotics comprising tetracyclines, sulfonamides, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and chloramphenicols were investigated in two swine wastewater treatment systems in east China in three sampling surveys. The compounds were extracted from wastewater samples by solid-phase extraction and analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The aqueous samples were unavoidably contaminated with antibiotics and the target antibiotics present in high contaminations were tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, and sulfadiazine, with maximum concentrations of the individual contaminants reaching 41.6 × 10, 23.8 × 10, 13.7 × 10, 685.6 × 10, and 98.8 × 10 ng/l, respectively. The concentration ranges of these compounds were in the same order of magnitude as previously reported values in China and elsewhere. Biological activity can significantly degrade the contaminants but showed low efficiencies of dissipation of other analytes at lower levels of contamination. The removal efficiencies varied for different compounds and depended on their physiochemical properties and the treatment processes utilized at each waste treatment plant. Some target antibiotics were present in feeds obtained from swine farms at a range of average concentrations between 0.1 and 46.8 μg/kg. However, the extremely high levels of the main contaminants found in these wastewaters cannot be ascribed solely to the pattern of consumption of prescription feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the occurrence of 14 selected antibiotics including five therapeutic classes of tetracyclines, sulfonamides, macrolides, fluoroquinolones and chloramphenicols in manures collected from four swine farms of different sizes in eastern China. Tetracyclines (tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline) and sulfadiazine were the most prominent contaminants in the manure samples, with maximum concentrations reaching 98.2 × 10, 354.0 × 10, 139.4 × 10, 37.2× 10, and 7.1× 10 μg/kg, respectively. The occurrence of these compounds was dependent on breeding scale, animal type, and breeding season. Manure storage and vermiculture were not able to effectively deplete the heavier contaminants (tetracyclines and sulfadiazine), resulting in high levels of these chemicals remaining in manures. Therefore, the occurrence of these antibiotics in agricultural soils (0.1-205.1 μg/kg) collected from four types of agricultural land (pear orchard, tea plantation, bamboo forest, and paddy field) near the studied farms, was a reflection of manure application. However, the extremely high concentrations of antibiotics in manures were unlikely from feed consumption, but from other direct forms of medicine application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Given the growth in research on business marketing in China, there is an imperative need to provide a comprehensive understanding of business marketing issues in China. Thus the authors attempt to conduct a comprehensive review to obtain that understanding and to address the following questions: How much progress has been made in understanding business marketing issues in China, and how much progress has been made regarding theory development in this domain? Methodology/Approach: The review covers a total of 153 research articles from 23 key marketing and management academic journals from 1990 through 2009. The authors also propose a theoretical framework consisting of three theories to review the fragmented literature: a theory of Chinese business marketing; a theory of Chinese comparative business marketing; and a Chinese theory of business marketing. Findings: The review enhances our understanding of the theoretical development in the domain of business marketing in China. The review on studies using China as a research sample suggests that most research attempts to exemplify extant business marketing theories in the Chinese context. The review on studies using China as a comparison object shows that marketing is a relatively new phenomenon in China, and thus many business marketing activities in China are different due to the cultural, institutional, and economic situations. The review on studies using China as a unique object documents distinctive business marketing phenomena in China such as guanxi (personal connections) and xinyong (personal trust) and provides theoretical understanding of these phenomena. Originality/Value: The authors develop a new theoretical framework to review the literature: a theory of Chinese business marketing, a theory of Chinese comparative business marketing, and a Chinese theory of business marketing. The framework contributes to the literature by understanding different usages of a context in business marketing research and by suggesting possible theoretical development in this domain. The review identifies potential topics and theoretical development for future research in each of the three areas. The review also provides important managerial implications for practitioners by offering a comprehensive understanding of how business marketing practices are operated in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three decades of China's housing reform have brought about an increasing proportion of owner-occupiers as well as complex housing tenure forms. This study uses the 2001 Beijing Housing Survey data to examine the risk of transition to homeownership for married couples during 1980-2001. Pooled cross-sectional regression and discrete-time logistic models are used to estimate the hazards of 'sitting purchase' and 'moving purchase'. Both models illustrate different time patterns of sitting purchase and moving purchase. Sitting purchase is particularly conducive to long-term occupants with seniority in work units, which alters the relationship between housing tenure and life cycles. People with better education are more likely to become homeowners via sitting purchase, but the spouses' effects differ sharply concerning political capital: only the husband's party membership has a significant positive effect. In addition to party membership, job rank and work unit also play an important role in facilitating the family's sitting purchase, suggesting that redistributive powers and organizational links contribute to the competing sources of housing inequality in a market-oriented economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Human CoV-HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1) has been isolated from a 71-year-old man with pneumonia; however, the impact and role of emerging HCoV-HKU1 have not been defined in children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI). Objective: To investigate the Prevalence and clinical characteristics of HCoV-HKU1 in children with ARTI in Lanzhou, China. Study design: The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or PCR was employed to screen HCoV-HKU1 and other common respiratory viruses in 645 nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) specimens collected from children with ARTI from November 2006 to October 2008. All PCR positive products were sequenced. And the demographic and clinical data were collected for all patients. Results: Nineteen of 645 (2.95%) specimens tested positive for HCoV-HKU1, and all HCoV-HKU1 positive specimens were distributed in the winter and spring season. The HCoV-HKU1 co-infection rate with other respiratory viruses was 47.37% (9/19). There was no statistically significant difference in the detection rate between groups by age or gender, except between patients with and without underlying diseases. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that HCoV-HKU1 genotype B was circulating in the years 2007 and 2008 in children with ARTI in Lanzhou, China. Conclusions: HCoV-HKU1 is an uncommon virus existing among Chinese children with ARTI. Children with underlying diseases are more vulnerable to viral infection. Only HCoV-HKU1 genotype B circulated locally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the present study, we aim to investigate the extent of soil contamination by Hg, particularly by anthropogenic Hg, and tentatively estimate the total Hg (HgT) accumulation in topsoils (0–15cm) in Fuyang, Zhejiang Province—a secondary Cu smelter of China. The results show that the levels of soil Hg in the vicinity of the smelters have been substantially elevated following local smelting activities. The spatial distribution of soil Hg in this area reveals a rapid decrease as the distance from the smelter reaches 1.5km, which is probably due to the quick deposition process of particulate Hg and reactive gaseous Hg emitted from the smelters. The total accumulation of HgT in the topsoils of the study area of 10.9km2 is approximately 365–561kg and of which 346–543kg might be contributed by anthropogenic emission alone with an annual emission of 17.3–27.2kgHg to the topsoils. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Eleven major isoflavonoids and three major astragalosides in the xylem and bark of cultivated Radix Astragali (RA) from different cultivated regions of China were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that the contents of astragalosides in the bark are up to 74-fold higher than in the xylem, and that thin roots contained more astragalosides than thick roots. Although the contents of isoflavonoids varied between samples, no significant difference was observed between the isoflavonoids content of xylem and bark, or between that of thin and thick roots. It was also found that the chemical profile of isoflavonoids in the xylem and bark are related to their cultivated regions. Constituents in either xylem or bark were divided into five groups according to their chemical structures: (1) Group 1 (G1), contained calycosin and related constituents; (2) Group 2 (G2), contained ononin and related constituents; (3) Group 3 (G3), contained (6aR,11aR)-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan and related constituents; (4) Group 4 (G4), contained (3R)-7,2′-dihydroxy-3′,4′-dimethoxyisoflavan and related constituents; and (5) Group 5 (G5), contained astragalosides, compounds AG I, AG II, and AG IV. Based on the integrated contents of constituents in each group, the cultivated region of RA was successfully distinguished by principal components analysis (PCA). Chemical constituents in RA cultivated from different regions of China were compared and it was concluded that the quality of thin RA roots is better than thick RA roots. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: PICALM might play an important role in AD pathology through participating in altering synaptic vesicle cycling or APP endocytosis. A recent genome-wide study (GWAS) identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3851179 in the 5′ to the PICALM gene strongly associated with Alzheimer''s disease (AD) in Caucasians. In order to assess the involvement of the PICALM polymorphism in the risk of developing late-onset AD (LOAD), we analyzed the genotype and allele distributions of these three polymorphisms in 609 Han Chinese subjects. Our data showed no significant association between the PICALM rs3851179 polymorphism and LOAD (genotype distribution: P =0.43; allele frequency: P =0.25, odds ratio=0.87, 95% confidence interval=0.68 to 1.10), even after statistical adjustment for age, gender and apolipoprotein E (APOE) status. Our results suggest that the PICALM polymorphism may not play a major role in the development of LOAD in the Han Chinese population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Schistosomiasis was severely prevalent in Yunnan Province, and it is difficult to achieve its elimination by convention approaches due to complexity of the nature. We explored the comprehensive model to eliminate schistosomiasis in Eryuan County, Yunnan Province, the People's Republic of China, through integration with the ecological protection programme in Erhai Lake, in order to promote an efficient elimination strategy. We expected that this model is able to be tailored to other local settings, which help achieve the goal of precisely eliminating the disease in Yunnan Province. Methods: Eryuan County of Yunnan Province was chosen as the study area, where the data on environmental protection activities in Erhai Lake and on the schistosomiasis control programme were collected through different departments of Erhai County government since 2015. System modelling was performed using system dynamics software to establish a simulation model in order to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention activities. Results: Ecological approaches to control schistosomiasis in Eryuan County consist of three major components: (i) implementing precise interventions to stop schistosomiasis transmission by means of controlling the source of infection, blocking the biological transmission chains and cutting off the route of disease transmission; (ii) employing ecological approaches to improve the co-effectiveness of environmental protection and schistosomiasis prevention in the study area; and (iii) strengthening the professional skills of personnel involving in the schistosomiasis control programme. Simulation results showed that this strategy could speed up the progress of schistosomiasis control programme moving from the control stage to the elimination stage. Conclusions: Ecological approaches implemented in schistosomiasis endemic areas of the Eryuan region are able to improve the co-effectiveness of environmental protection and schistosomiasis control, providing a new avenue for eliminating schistosomiasis thanks to the application of precise interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziyang green tea was considered a medicine food homology plant to improve chronic fatigue Ssyndrome (CFS) in China. The aim of this research was to study the therapeutic effect of selenium-polysaccharides (Se-TP) from Ziyang green tea on CFS and explore its metabolic mechanism. A CFS-rats model was established in the present research and Se-TP was administrated to evaluate the therapeutic effect on CFS. Some serum metabolites including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood lactate acid (BLA), corticosterone (CORT), and aldosterone (ALD) were checked. Urine metabolites were analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Multivariate statistical analysis was also used to check the data. The results selected biomarkers that were entered into the MetPA database to analyze their corresponding metabolic pathways. The results demonstrated that Se-TP markedly improved the level of BUN and CORT in CFS rats. A total of eight differential metabolites were detected in GC-MS analysis, which were benzoic acid, itaconic acid, glutaric acid, 4-acetamidobutyric acid, creatine, 2-hydroxy-3-isopropylbutanedioic acid, l-dopa, and 21-hydroxypregnenolone. These differential metabolites were entered into the MetPA database to search for the corresponding metabolic pathways and three related metabolic pathways were screened out. The first pathway was steroid hormone biosynthesis. The second was tyrosine metabolism, and the third was arginine-proline metabolism. The 21-hydroxypregnenolone level of rats in the CFS group markedly increased after the Se-TP administration. In conclusion, Se-TP treatments on CFS rats improved their condition. Its metabolic mechanism was closely related to that which regulates the steroid hormone biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the effect of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in China. The objective of this study was to explore the short-term effects of PM2.5 on outpatient and inpatient visits for COPD in Beijing, China.Methods: A total of 3,503,313 outpatient visits and 126,982 inpatient visits for COPD between January 1, 2010, and June 30, 2012, were identified from the Beijing Medical Claim Data for Employees. A generalized additive Poisson model was applied to estimate the percentage change with 95% confidence interval (CI) in hospital visits for COPD in relation to an interquartile range (IQR) (90.8 μg/m3) increase in PM2.5 concentrations.Results: Short-term exposure to PM2.5 was significantly associated with increased use of COPD-related health services. There were clear exposure-response associations of PM2.5 with COPD outpatient and inpatient visits. An IQR increase in the concurrent day PM2.5 concentrations was significantly associated with a 2.38% (95% CI, 2.22%-2.53%) and 6.03% (95% CI, 5.19%-6.87%) increase in daily outpatient visits and inpatient visits, respectively. Elderly people were more sensitive to the adverse effects. The estimated risk was higher during the warm season compared to the cool season.Conclusions: Short-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with increased risk of hospital visits for COPD. Our findings contributed to the limited evidence concerning the effects of ambient PM2.5 on COPD morbidity in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of the fifth International Phytotechnologies Conference held in Nanjing, China, from October 22 to 25, 2008. Speakers during the event include professor Yongming Luo and doctors Joel Burken and Steve Rock. The conference tackled various topics such as phytoremediation and the use of Geographical Information Systems.