Search

Underlying thematic analysis are a few fundamental human cognitive processes, such as categorizing, prototyping and metaphorical mapping. By unpacking these basic processes of human cognition, this paper hopes to provide a cognitive basis for thematic analysis as a foundational method in data analysis for qualitative research. In particular, it hopes to address the gap between qualitative methodologists' assumption of thematic analysis as a subjective, creative and flexible process and editors/reviewers' expectation that thematic analysis shall be objective, reliable and rigorous. By consciously and purposefully applying these cognitive processes, thematic analysis can be subjective and yet disciplined, creative and yet rigorous, flexible and yet reliable. The ultimate goal of this paper is to demystify, delineate and further demarcate the thematic analysis process for young and novice qualitative researchers.

This study examines how novice teachers engage with the emotion of anger in their professional work. We generated 155 Chinese teachers' written reflections on how they felt, expressed, and regulated anger. The study revealed three findings: (1) the primary sources of the teachers' anger were related to students; (2) the majority of teachers tended to express anger destructively; (3) some teachers lacked emotional competence to regulate anger. The intensifying emotional labour in the teaching profession, the professional prematurity of novice teachers, and the stringent emotional rules in Chinese schools jointly contributed to the identified patterns. This study generates new insights into novice teachers' anger-related experiences, highlights the socio-cultural dimension of teacher anger, and suggests practical implications for supporting teachers in making sense of and acting on anger more consciously and effectively.

Teaching quality assurance has become a common concern and a common pursuit for institutions of higher learning around the world. This paper takes teaching quality as a governance issue in higher education, as different governance systems entail different approaches to quality assurance. Through a detailed examination of the Chinese system in teaching administration in comparison with the Canadian system, this study aims to provide insights on different approaches to teaching quality assurance in more centralised and decentralised governance structures. Based on the findings of this study, no winner can be declared between centralised and decentralised systems in the area of teaching quality assurance. Instead, the study points to different strengths in each system. With more local autonomy, the decentralised system better respects disciplinary uniqueness and academic freedom in teaching. With more national planning, the centralised system secures a system-wide threshold in teaching quality and an optimal long-term development.

A retrospective analysis was performed from May 2003 to October 2021 at our hospital. One hundred and eleven neonates diagnosed with gastric perforation were categorized into non-survivor and survivor groups based on prognosis. The mortality rate was 23.42%. Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing the early neonatal death. The non-survivor groups showed more abdominal distension, vomiting, hypoxia, acidosis, hyperkalemia, and coagulation abnormalities. Serum potassium concentration (odds ratio [OR] 2.148, P =.043) was an independent risk factor; however, arterial partial pressure of oxygen (OR 0.977, P =.024), bicarbonate (OR 0.779, P =.023), and platelet count (OR 0.986, P =.014) had protective effects on neonatal death. Based on this, a visualized nomogram prediction model was constructed, patients who had a nomogram score of more than 163.787 was considered to have high risks of mortality, the area under the curve of this was up to 0.828 (95% confidence interval [0.733, 0.923]), the sensitivity was 80.0%, and the specificity was 76.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease with high prevalence and mortality. In some acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) in patients with no obvious signs of infection, early antibiotic treatment seems to clinically improve the disease, but more studies are needed to determine the prognostic impact of antibiotic treatment in AECOPD patients with no obvious signs of infection. Purpose: To clarify the impact of antibiotic treatment on the short-term and long-term prognoses of AECOPD patients without obvious signs of infection. Methods: The impact of the two treatment methods on the prognosis of patients was compared at 30, 90, 180, and 360 days after discharge. A multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled clinical trial was conducted in a department of respiratory and critical care medicine in Central China. All patients met the inclusion criteria for AECOPD, and the patients were randomly assigned to the antibiotic group or the nonantibiotic group at a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the antibiotic group were given moxifloxacin 400mg/day intravenously for 7 days. Patients in the nonantibiotic group were intravenously injected with the same amount of normal saline as the amount of moxifloxacin given to those in the antibiotic group for 7 days. Results: There were 406 patients in the antibiotic group and 410 patients in the nonantibiotic group. During the short-term and long-term follow-ups, the acute exacerbation frequency, intensive care unit (ICU) treatment rate, mortality, and mMRC and CAT scores were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). At the 180- and 360-day follow-ups, the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1%) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The 30-day readmission rate was significantly lower in the antibiotic group than in the nonantibiotic group (p < 0.05). The time from discharge to the first acute exacerbation was not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The length of the first hospital stay after discharge was significantly lower in the antibiotic group (5.84 days) than in the nonantibiotic group (6.75 days) (p < 0.05). At the 30-day follow-up, the acute exacerbation frequency, age, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and sputum viscosity were significantly greater in the nonantibiotic group than in the antibiotic group (p < 0.05). In addition, according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the frequency of acute exacerbations at the 30-day follow-up was significantly greater in COPD patients aged >62.5 years, with a CRP level >12.56 mg/L or with a sputum viscosity >III, in the nonantibiotic group than in those in the antibiotic group, suggesting that the short-term prognosis was poor. Conclusion: Patients who are >62.5 years of age, have a CRP concentration >12.56mg/L, or have a sputum viscosity >III without obvious signs of infection should be treated with antibiotics to improve their short-term prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-to-medium maturity lacustrine shale oil resources have enormous potential and are projected to play a crucial role in the massive scale-up of crude oil production in China in the near future. The in-situ conversion process is currently the only effective means of utilizing this resource. Nevertheless, significant scientific challenges and technological bottlenecks still exist. Under this circumstance, the National Natural Science Foundation of China approved an integrated project of the Enterprise Innovation and Development Joint Fund titled "The Mechanism of Low-to-medium Maturity Lacustrine Shale Oil Resource Formation and its in-situ Conversion and Exploitation". This project aims to systematically investigate the entire process of in-situ conversion for low-to-medium maturity shale oil resources and lay a solid scientific and technological foundation for advancing the smooth implementation of on-site pilot trials. This paper presents the latest progress in this field and summarizes the existing scientific and technological challenges that need to be addressed. With the foundational support of the above project, our research team has made significant progress in several fields, including the formation mechanisms of organic matter superrich shale, low-to-medium maturity shale oil enrichment area evaluation, heat and mass transfer dynamics, coupled fluid field and hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency, exploitation methods, among others. Despite these theoretical advances, several major challenges were identified, which help to further focus on the critical scientific issues, determine the in-situ conversion technique-developing direction, and formulate a feasible implementation plan for future resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dabie Banda virus (DBV), a tick-borne pathogen, was first identified in China in 2009 and causes profound symptoms including fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and multi-organ dysfunction, which is known as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). In the last decade, global incidence and mortality of SFTS increased significantly, especially in East Asia. Though previous studies provide understandings of clinical and immunological characteristics of SFTS development, comprehensive insight of antiviral immunity response is still lacking. Here, we intensively discuss the antiviral immune response after DBV infection by integrating previous ex- and in-vivo studies, including innate and adaptive immune responses, anti-viral immune responses and long-term immune characters. A comprehensive overview of potential immune targets for clinical trials is provided as well. However, development of novel strategies for improving the prognosis of the disease remains on challenge. The current review may shed light on the establishment of immunological interventions for the critical disease SFTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The rhizomes of Coptis plants have been used in traditional Chinese medicine over 2000 years. Due to increasing market demand, the overexploitation of wild populations, habitat degradation and indiscriminate artificial cultivation of Coptis species have severely damaged the native germplasms of species in China. Methods: Genome-wide simple-sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed using the genomic data of C. chinensis. Population genetic diversity and structure of 345 Coptis accessions collected from 32 different populations were performed based on these SSRs. The distribution of suitable areas for three taxa in China was predicted and the effects of environmental variables on genetic diversity in relation to different population distributions were further analyzed. Results: 22 primer pairs were selected as clear, stable, and polymorphic SSR markers. These had an average of 16.41 alleles and an average polymorphism information content (PIC) value of 0.664. In the neighbor-joining (N-J) clustering analysis, the 345 individuals clustered into three groups, with C. chinensis, C. chinensis var. brevisepala and C. teeta being clearly separated. All C. chinensis accessions were further divided into four subgroups in the population structure analysis. The predicted distributions of suitable areas and the environmental variables shaping these distributions varied considerably among the three species. Discussion: Overall, the amount of solar radiation, precipitation and altitude were the most important environmental variables influencing the distribution and genetic variation of three species. The findings will provide key information to guide the conservation of genetic resources and construction of a core reserve for species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microorganisms and enzymes play crucial roles in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration by promoting soil aggregate formation and stability and by participating in SOC cycling and accumulation. However, the effects by which soil microorganisms and enzymes act as mediators driving dynamic changes in SOC during rapid urbanization remain unclear. Therefore, this study selected the built-up area of Nanchang City, China (505 km²), as the study area. Sampling surveys were conducted using 184 sample plots stratified based on the proportion of impermeable surface area to distinguish different urbanization levels. The driving factors of dynamic changes in SOC of different aggregates during the process of urbanization were analyzed using the soil microbial community and enzyme activities. The results demonstrated that with an increase in urbanization intensity, both SOC content and stock exhibited a significant decline (p < 0.05). The highest SOC stock and contribution rate were observed in the 0.25-1 mm aggregates, and they were significantly influenced by urbanization (p < 0.05). In addition, the biomass of gram-positive bacteria (G+) and actinomycetota, and the activities of Nacetylglucosaminidase and acid phosphatase (AP) were significantly higher in low-urbanization areas than in high-urbanization areas (p < 0.05). SOC of each aggregate was positively correlated with fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, G+, gram-negative bacteria, actinomycetota, protozoa, β-1,4-glucosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, AP, urease, and catalase. Compared to soil enzymes, soil microorganisms exhibited a greater role in SOC sequestration (22.7%). Additionally, a structural equation model indicated that urbanization can directly or indirectly lead to a decrease in SOC of aggregates by altering soil physicochemical properties and affecting microbial and enzyme dynamics. However, the larger vegetation characteristics index mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization on SOC. Overall, urbanization had a negative impact on soil carbon storage. In the future, it is important to consider strategies that focus on improving soil nutrients, maintaining soil structure, protecting existing urban trees, and enhancing plant diversity during the urbanization process. These measures can help increase soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity, thereby improving soil and aggregate-related SOC content. The study could contribute to enhancing carbon sequestration in urban greenspaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Some studies have proved that polyethylene glycol loxenatide (PEGLoxe) has significant effects on controlling blood glucose and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but there is still some controversy over the improvement of blood lipid profiles (BLP) and blood pressure (BP), and more evidences are needed to verify such effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy of PEG-Loxe in improving blood glucose (BG), BLP, BP, body mass index (BMI), and body weight (BW) in patients with T2DM for clinical reference. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCT) in which PEG-Loxe was applied to treat T2DM were retrieved by searching PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Scientific Journal, Wanfang Data, and SinoMed databases. Outcome measures included BG, BLP, BP, BMI, and BW. RevMan 5.3 software was used to perform data analysis. Results: Eighteen trials were identified involving 2,166 patients. In experimental group 1,260 patients received PEG-Loxe alone or with other hypoglycemic agents, while in control group 906 patients received placebo or other hypoglycemic agents. In the overall analysis, PEG-Loxe significantly reduced the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2-h PBG), BMI, and BW compared with control group. However, it had no obvious effect on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Conclusion: PEG-Loxe has better hypoglycemic effects compared with placebo in patients with T2DM, but could not significantly improved TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, SBP, and DBP. And the combination of conventional hypoglycemic drugs (CHD) and PEG-Loxe could more effectively improve the levels of HbA1c, FPG, 2-h PBG, TC, TG, BMI, and BW compared with CHD in T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel procedure has emerged in recent years within oilfields - namely, the utilization of a hybrid fracturing method employing pre-CO2 injection along with sand-carry slick water. In this paper, based on the real logging data of shale oil reservoirs in the second member of Cangdong Sag, Huanghua Depression, combined with the GOHFER, a coupled 3-D hydraulic fracture propagation model is proposed. This research delves into an examination of how engineering factors exert their influence on the process of fracture propagation. The quantitative analysis is conducted encompassing critical fracture parameters such as half-length, height, and width, and self-defined fracture seepage area and fracture front fractal dimension. The research findings indicate that as injection displacement increases, the fracture shape undergoes a transformation from being "long, low, and wide" to becoming "short, high, and narrow". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaching quality assurance has become a common concern and a common pursuit for institutions of higher learning around the world. This paper takes teaching quality as a governance issue in higher education, as different governance systems entail different approaches to quality assurance. Through a detailed examination of the Chinese system in teaching administration in comparison with the Canadian system, this study aims to provide insights on different approaches to teaching quality assurance in more centralised and decentralised governance structures. Based on the findings of this study, no winner can be declared between centralised and decentralised systems in the area of teaching quality assurance. Instead, the study points to different strengths in each system. With more local autonomy, the decentralised system better respects disciplinary uniqueness and academic freedom in teaching. With more national planning, the centralised system secures a system-wide threshold in teaching quality and an optimal long-term development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although total factor productivity (TFP) is a common concept in mainstream Western economics, its origins are actually embedded in Marx's understanding of improving labor productivity. As an important element of labor productivity under socialized production conditions, TFP is further reflected in the category of "socially necessary labor time" in two distinct senses. Re-examining TFP from the perspective of Marxist political economy and incorporating it into the theoretical system of political economy of socialism with Chinese characteristics vividly illustrates the essence of "adhering to original principles, assimilating foreign concepts, and embracing a forward-looking vision" within political economy of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In practice, it is necessary to start with Marx's theory of productive labor and delineate the sectors involved in productive labor so that TFP and its fluctuations can be measured in a more relevant way. In the context of the new era and the new journey, as the key to achieving high-quality economic development in China, efforts are needed to increase TFP. This requires balancing economic factors such as the long term and short term, supply and demand, and gross quantity and structure, and promoting transformative changes in the quality, efficiency, and dynamism of economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

English is widely used as a lingua franca in academic settings, including academic writing, in the modern age. When faced with complex writing tasks that involve multiple sources, the ability to effectively employ writing strategies becomes crucial for achieving writing success. This is particularly true for first-year university students who are learning English as a foreign language. Although previous studies have examined various individual difference factors that influence students’ use of source-based writing strategies, such as L2 proficiency and gender, there is a lack of research exploring the impact of critical thinking skills on students’ strategy use. To address this gap, the current study utilized a convenience sampling procedure to involve 526 first-year EFL undergraduates from six classes in mainland China. A writing task and questionnaire were employed to investigate the students’ critical thinking skills and strategy use during the English writing from sources task. Furthermore, the study examined whether there were differences in strategy use based on gender, L2 proficiency groups, and levels of critical thinking ability. A three-way MANOVA was conducted, revealing significant variations in the students’ writing strategy use based on gender, L2 proficiency groups, and critical thinking levels. Notably, interaction effects between critical thinking ability and gender were also observed. The study discusses important implications, emphasizing the need for teachers to integrate critical thinking and strategy training into practical writing classes, and to consider the diverse learning needs of different groups of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Air pollution is a major risk factor for planetary health and has long been suspected of predisposing humans to respiratory diseases induced by pathogens like influenza viruses. However, epidemiological evidence remains elusive due to lack of longitudinal data from large cohorts. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to quantify the short-term association of influenza incidence with exposure to ambient air pollutants in Chinese cities. METHODS: Based on air pollutant data and influenza surveillance data from 82 cities in China over a period of 5 years, we applied a two-stage time series analysis to assess the association of daily incidence of reported influenza cases with six common air pollutants [particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10), NO2, SO2, CO, and O3], while adjusting for potential confounders including temperature, relative humidity, seasonality, and holiday effects. We built a distributed lag Poisson model for one or multiple pollutants in each individual city in the first stage and conducted a meta-analysis to pool city-specific estimates in the second stage. RESULTS: A total of 3,735,934 influenza cases were reported in 82 cities from 2015 to 2019, accounting for 72.71% of the overall case number reported in the mainland of China. The time series models for each pollutant alone showed that the daily incidence of reported influenza cases was positively associated with almost all air pollutants except for ozone. The most prominent short-term associations were found for SO2 and NO2 with cumulative risk ratios of 1.094 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.054, 1.136] and 1.093 (95% CI: 1.067, 1.119), respectively, for each 10 μg/m³ increase in the concentration at each of the lags of 1–7 d. Only NO2 showed a significant association with the daily incidence of influenza cases in the multipollutant model that adjusts all six air pollutants together. The impact of air pollutants on influenza was generally found to be greater in children, in subtropical cities, and during cold months. DISCUSSION: Increased exposure to ambient air pollutants, particularly NO2, is associated with a higher risk of influenza-associated illness. Policies on reducing air pollution levels may help alleviate the disease burden due to influenza infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of LHB: Hydroscience Journal is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Policymakers and the public express concern regarding the volatility of housing prices due to its potential to increase consumer costs and negatively impact housing affordability. Based on empirical study, it has been seen that the expansion of the real estate sector has a significant impact on the investment in fixed assets by firms. This influence is mostly attributed to the alteration of the transmission of monetary policy. Real estate investment is considered a feasible option because of the significant and rapid appreciation in property prices. The primary objective of this study is to examine the influence of monetary policy on the housing market in China. To conduct the current study, macroeconomic data from a total of 44 time periods, ranging from the fourth quarter of 2012 to the fourth quarter of 2022, was collected. The findings of our study indicate that in the context of China, an expansion in the money supply has a greater propensity to positively influence the borrowing activities of real estate suppliers and clients, as opposed to the supply of properties themselves. The housing market can be influenced by governmental actions such as adjustments to the money supply and interest rates. While scholars have extensively examined the subject matter, the housing market in China remains relatively under-researched in terms of its susceptibility to government macroeconomic policies. Moreover, the current study offers a comprehensive overview of the prevailing challenges encountered by the residential property market in China, emphasizing the significance of macroeconomic policies within this particular context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are important vectors of human arboviruses, transmitting arboviral diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika. These two mosquitoes coexist on Hainan Island and the Leizhou Peninsula in China. Over the past 40 years, the distribution of Ae. albopictus has gradually expanded in these areas, while the distribution of Ae. aegypti has declined dramatically mainly due to the ecological changes and some other factors such as heavy use of insecticide indoor based on endophagic bloodfeeding of the species. Methods: This study focused on the knockdown resistance (kdr) genes of both mosquitoes, investigated their mutations, and analyzed their haplotype and evolutionary diversity combined with population genetic features based on the ND4/ND5 genes to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of insecticide resistance in both mosquitoes. Results: Three mutations, S989P, V1016G and F1534C, were found to be present in Ae. aegypti populations, and the three mutations occurred synergistically. Multiple mutation types (F1534C/S/L/W) of the F1534 locus are found in Ae. albopictus populations, with the three common mutations F1534C, F1534S and F1534L all having multiple independent origins. The F1534W (TTC/TGG) mutation is thought to have evolved from the F1534L (TTC/TTG) mutation. The F1534S (TTC/TCG) mutation has evolved from the F1534S (TTC/TCC) mutation. The most common form of mutation at the F1534 locus found in this study was S1534C, accounting for 20.97%, which may have evolved from the F1534C mutation. In addition, a new non-synonymous mutation M1524I and 28 synonymous mutations were identified in Ae. albopictus populations. Correlation analysis showed that the genetic diversity of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus populations did not correlate with their kdr haplotype diversity (P>0.05), but strong gene flow between populations may have contributed to the evolution of the kdr gene. Conclusion: The study of kdr gene evolution in the two mosquito species may help to identify the evolutionary trend of insecticide resistance at an early stage and provide a theoretical basis for improving the efficiency of biological vector control and subsequent research into new insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The overdiagnosing of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in China necessitates the development of an evidence-based diagnosis and prognosis strategy in line with precision medicine. A landscape of PTC in Chinese cohorts is needed to provide comprehensiveness. Methods: 6 paired PTC samples were employed for whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and data-dependent acquisition mass spectrum analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and protein-protein interactions networks were used to screen for hub genes. Moreover, we verified the hub genes' diagnostic and prognostic potential using online databases. Logistic regression was employed to construct a diagnostic model, and we evaluated its efficacy and specificity based on TCGA-THCA and GEO datasets. Results: The basic multiomics landscape of PTC among local patients were drawn. The similarities and differences were compared between the Chinese cohort and TCGA-THCA cohorts, including the identification of PNPLA5 as a driver gene in addition to BRAF mutation. Besides, we found 572 differentially expressed genes and 79 differentially expressed proteins. Through integrative analysis, we identified 17 hub genes for prognosis and diagnosis of PTC. Four of these genes, ABR, AHNAK2, GPX1, and TPO, were used to construct a diagnostic model with high accuracy, explicitly targeting PTC (AUC=0.969/0.959 in training/test sets). Discussion: Multiomics analysis of the Chinese cohort demonstrated significant distinctions compared to TCGA-THCA cohorts, highlighting the unique genetic characteristics of Chinese individuals with PTC. The novel biomarkers, holding potential for diagnosis and prognosis of PTC, were identified. Furthermore, these biomarkers provide a valuable tool for precise medicine, especially for immunotherapeutic or nanomedicine based cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at identifying the structure and traits of college counselors' professional personality. Following existing methodology in conducting face-to-face and open-ended interviews, specialist evaluations, and a literature review, we develop a pilot test questionnaire measuring college counselors' professional personality traits (79 questions) based on salient data collected from a random sample of 2372 university/college students across China. We also conduct explorative factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to construct the formal "scale for college counselors' professional personality traits" (SCCPPT, 45 terms) using SPSS 20.0 and LISREL 8.80 software. The results show that this scale features a second-order, 5-factor structure covering the following five dimensions of professional personality: dutifulness, loyalty, affinity, dedication, and innovation. The findings indicate that the reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) of these five factors ranges from 0.741 to 0.952 and that their validity is supported. Identifying their professional personality enables college counselors to have a more sustainable career and promote the faster growth and higher quality development of students, and the SCCPPT can be used as a measurement tool, supporting research on college counselors' professional personality. Thus, this study expands both the theoretical and practical literature concerning professional personality traits. It can also provide a novel perspective, which can help global educators understand Chinese higher education; it is also a reference with international implications for professional groups of student affair administrators or instructors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of shale gas well drilling in the southern Sichuan Basin, China, lost circulation of high-density oil-based drilling fluid has become a main challenge. In this study, a novel oil-based crosslinking-curing lost circulation material (OBCC-LCM) system applicable for 100-150 °C shale formation was developed based on polyether, isocyanates and blocking agent. The performance of OBCC-LCM pills was comprehensively evaluated by testing fluidity, setting time, strength, elasticity and fracture sealing capacity. The OBCC-LCM pill setting time could be controlled in 70-120 min. The strength of the pill solid was 5.27-6.51 MPa after 360 min heating, and the volume almost restored to the original states after being compressed by 70%. The pill sealed fractures up to 5 mm wide under a differential pressure of 5.2-6.1 MPa, and a higher maximum fracture sealing capacity when being jointly used with bridging LCMs. The OBCC-LCM clearly demonstrated superior performance of good pumpability at room temperature, stability under high temperature, compatibility with oil-based drilling fluids, adaptability with various fracture widths and sustainability in induced fracture. It is suitable for curing loss of induced fracture in low permeability formation and loss of oil-based drilling fluid, especially for loss of oil-based drilling fluid in shale formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is an environmental and food contaminant, but limited data to concern whether NDMA has adverse effects on the brain. This study first determined the concentration of NDMA in foods from aquaculture markets in Shenzhen, then analyzed the effects on C57BL/6 mice and further evaluated on the urine samples of elderly Chinese residents with normal cognition (NC, n = 144), cognitive decline (CD, n = 116) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 123). The excessive rate of NDMA in foods was 3.32% (27/813), with a exceeding range of 4.78-131.00 µg/kg. Behavioral tests showed that 60 days treatment of mice with 3 mg/kg NDMA reduced cognitive performance. Cognitive impairment in human was significantly associated with sex, educational levels, length of residence in Shenzhen, household registration, passive smoking, rice, fresh vegetables, bacon products. NDMA was detected in 55.4% (212/383) of urine samples, with a median concentration of 0.23 µg/L (1.20 × 107-157.39 µg/L). The median concentration for NC, CD and MCI were 0.32, 0.27, and 0 µg/L, respectively. The urinary NDMA concentration had a strong negative correlation with cognitive impairment (Kendall's Tau-b = -0.89, P = 0.024). The median estimated daily intake (EDI) of NDMA was determined to be 6.63 ng/kg-bw/day. Taken together, there appears to be an association between NDMA and human and murine cognition, which provides a new clue to Alzheimer's disease (AD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dark mudstones and shales of the Carboniferous Jiusi Formation are widely developed in northern Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, SW China. However, the distribution, reservoir characterization, and exploration potential of organic-rich shales in this area are yet to be quantified, thus limiting the prospect of shale gas in this area. This study investigates the basic geological conditions of Jiusi shale gas, using core data, well-logs, and some other test data, obtaining the following results. The organic-rich shales are mainly composed of deltaic-to-shallow-shelf deposits, with thickness ranging from 0 to 450 m, and above 350 m around the subsidence center. The organic matter is mainly type II kerogen with TOC content of mostly 1%e2%, indicating a moderate maturity. The argillaceous shale reservoirs are indicative of strong heterogeneity, high clay minerals content, low porosity, low permeability, high specific surface area, and relatively developed secondary porosity. The gas-log anomaly intervals obtained from the survey wells have a cumulative thickness that is apparently greater than 200 m, and a few shale intervals showing high desorbed and adsorbed gas contents. Due to complex structures in the study area, conditions responsible for shale gas occurrence and trapping are generally moderate. However, areas having wide and gentle folds with moderate depth of burial reveals relatively favorable conditions of hydrocarbon traps. In contrast with typical marine-continental transitional shales, the Jiusi shale have better geological conditions for shale gas preservation. The analysis of the geological framework and hydrocarbon potential of Carboniferous Jiusi Formation provide more insight for the exploration of Carboniferous shale gas in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Owing to urbanization, living habits have changed widely, leading to alterations in the intestinal microbiota of urban residents. However, there are few studies on the characteristics of intestinal microbiota of adolescents living in different urbanized areas in China. Methods: A total of 302 fecal samples collected from adolescent students in eastern China were examined. 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was used to identify the fecal microbiota. These data were combined with questionnaire survey results to investigate the effect of urbanization on the intestinal microbiota of adolescents in eastern China. Moreover, the role of lifestyle habits in this relationship was also evaluated. Results: The results revealed significant differences in the structure of the intestinal microbiota among adolescents living in regions with different levels of urbanization. Adolescents living in urban regions had a significantly higher proportion of Bacteroides (p < 0.001, FDR= 0.004), whereas those living in towns and rural regions had higher proportions of Bifidobacterium (p < 0.001, FDR< 0.001) and Prevotella (p < 0.05, FDR= 0.019). The diversity of the intestinal microbiota was higher in urban residents than in adolescents living in towns and rural regions (p < 0.05). In addition, the differences in intestinal microbiota across individuals living in cities, towns, and rural regions were related to dietary preferences, flavor preferences, and sleep and exercise durations. Adolescents who ate more meat had more Dorea (LDA= 3.622, p = 0.04), while the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella is higher among adolescents who ate more condiments (LDA= 4.285, p = 0.02). The abundance of Dialister was significantly increased in adolescents with longer sleep durations (LDA= 4.066, p= 0.03). Adolescents who exercised for a long duration had more Faecalibacterium than those who exercised for a shorter duration (LDA= 4.303, p = 0.04). Discussion: Our research has preliminarily demonstrated that there were differences in the composition of Gut microbiome in stool samples of adolescents living in different urbanized areas, and provide a scientific basis for the maintenance of a healthy intentional microbota in adolescences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common clinical disease with high mortality. Rujin Jiedu powder (RJJD) has been clinically utilized for the treatment of ALI in China, but the active constituents in RJJD and its protective mechanisms against ALI are still unclear. Methodology: ALI mice were established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS to test the effectiveness of RJJD in treating ALI. Histopathologic analysis was used to assess the extent of lung injury. An MPO (myeloperoxidase) activity assay was used to evaluate neutrophil infiltration. Network pharmacology was used to explore the potential targets of RJJD against ALI. Immunohistochemistry and TUNEL staining were performed to detect apoptotic cells in lung tissues. RAW264.7 and BEAS-2B cells were used to explore the protective mechanisms of RJJD and its components on ALI in vitro. The inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-18) in serum, BALF and cell supernatant were assayed using ELISA. Western blotting was performed to detect apoptosis-related markers in lung tissues and BEAS-2B cells. Results: RJJD ameliorated pathological injury and neutrophil infiltration in the lungs of ALI mice and decreased the levels of inflammatory factors in serum and BALF. Network pharmacology investigations suggested that RJJD treated ALI via regulating apoptotic signaling pathways, with AKT1 and CASP3 as crucial targets and PI3K-AKT signaling as the main pathway. Meanwhile, baicalein, daidzein, quercetin and luteolin were identified as key constituents in RJJD targeting on the above crucial targets. Experimental investigations showed that RJJD significantly upregulated the expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2, downregulated the expression of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 in ALI mice, and attenuated lung tissue apoptosis. Four active constituents in RJJD (baicalein, daidzein, quercetin and luteolin) inhibited the secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPSinduced RAW264.7 cells. Among these components, daidzein and luteolin activated the PI3K-AKT pathway and downregulated the expression of apoptosis-related markers induced by LPS in BEAS-2B cells. Conclusion: RJJD alleviates the inflammatory storm and prevents apoptosis in the lungs of ALI mice. The mechanism of RJJD in treating ALI is related to the activation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. This study provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of RJJD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With potential hydrocarbon source rocks, the Mesozoic Lower Cretaceous interval in the Aitegle Sag of the Yingen-Ejinaqi Basin in China has a bright petroleum exploration prospect. Considering the scarcity of wells in Aitegle Sag, we have systematically carried out the research on the sequence structure and sedimentary system evolution of the Lower Cretaceous based on seismic, core, and logging data, guided by the Vail classic sequence stratigraphy, and innovatively introduced the self-organizing mapping neural network (SOM) learning algorithm to assist in seismic geological analysis. The results are as follows: (1) after RMSAmp, LyapIndex, FrctDim, and InfoEntr clustering, five zones are divided, which are corresponding to five seismic facies (showing medium-strong amplitude and parallel-subparallel reflection; medium-strong amplitude and wedge-shaped divergent reflection; medium-strong amplitude and continuous-relatively continuous, parallel-subparallel reflection; strong amplitude and continuous sheet-like or blank reflection; and weak amplitude and mound-shaped chaotic reflection, respectively), and interpreted as five subfacies including delta plain front, prodelta-shallow lake, semideep lake, deep lake, and sublacustrine fan. (2) The Lower Cretaceous formation includes one second-order sequence, three third-order sequences (SQ2–SQ4), and six system tracts. In the SQ2–SQ4 circle, the delta system formed by sediments from southeast varies remarkably in the progradational zones in different system tracts, and tectonic movements and sediment supply control the sequence stratigraphy in the study area as major factors. (3) It is feasible to apply SOM learning algorithm to seismic attribute clustering analysis. This method effectively realizes the combination of geophysical methods based on big data analysis and geological problem analysis, which not only strengthens the use of seismic data but also ensures the effectiveness and reliability of clustering results. These findings offer basic data and scientific supports for the exploration and development of unconventional reservoirs (e.g., shale and tight oil/gas reservoirs) in the Aitegle Sag and also provide new ideas for studying the sequence-sediment in the target zones in the fault basin regions with scarce wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary liver cancer is the second leading cause of tumor-related deaths in China, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for 80%–90% of these. Since there is a lack of symptoms in the early stages of HCC, a large proportion of patients were identified with unresectable HCC when diagnosed. Due to the severe resistance to chemotherapy, patients with advanced HCC were traditionally treated with systematic therapy in the past decades, and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sorafenib has remained the only treatment option for advanced HCC since 2008. Immunotherapies, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have shown a strong anti-tumor effect and have been supported by several guidelines recently. ICIs, for example programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors such as atezolizumab, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors such as ipilimumab, the ICI-based combination with TKIs, and VEGF-neutralizing antibody or systematic or local anti-tumor therapies, are being further studied in clinical trials. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) including cutaneous toxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, and hepatotoxicity may lead to the termination of ICI treatment or even threaten patients’ lives. This review aims to summarize currently available immunotherapies and introduce the irAEs and their managements in order to provide references for clinical application and further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Comparative & International Education is the property of Canadian & International Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a highly lethal hemorrhagic viral disease (ASF) of pigs that results in serious losses in China and elsewhere. The development of a vaccine and diagnosis technology for ASFV is essential to prevent and control the spread of ASF. The p72 protein of ASFV is highly immunogenic and reactive, and is a dominant antigen in ASF vaccine and diagnostic research. In this study, 17 p72 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated. Epitope mapping by a series of overlapping peptides expressed in Escherichia coli showed that these mAbs recognized a total of seven (1-7) linear B cell epitopes. These mAbs did not show significant neutralizing activity. Epitopes 1 (249HKPHQSKPIL258), 2 (69PVGFEYENKV77), 5 (195VNGNSLDEYSS205), and 7 (223GYKHLVGQEV233) are novel. Sequence alignment analysis revealed that the identified epitopes were highly conserved among 27 ASFV strains from nine genotypes. Preliminary screening using known positive and negative sera indicated the diagnostic potential of mAb-2B8D7. The results provide new insights into the antigenic regions of ASFV p72 and will inform the diagnosis of ASFV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs about a model that has been developed a model to predict the outcome of dysphagia in stroke patients receiving nasogastric tube feeding. Topics include predictive model was based on the Barthel index at admission, lip closing status, ability to answer simple questions, and functional independence before stroke; and optimal cutoff point is a functional status before stroke appeared to affect nasogastric tube removal before discharge from the rehabilitation ward.

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte is the property of Redprint Editora Ltda. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With the increase of temperature in the winter wheat-growing regions in China, the high-temperature-resistant Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) isolates developed in the fields. To clarify the key infection stages and the roles of heat shock protein (HSP) genes of high-temperature-resistant Bgt isolates defending high temperature, 3 high-temperature-resistant and 3 sensitive Bgt isolates were selected from 55 isolates after determination of temperature sensitivity. And then they were used to investigate the infection stages and the expression levels of HSP genes, including Bgthsp60, Bgthsp70, Bgthsp90, and Bgthsp104, at 18°C and 25°C. The formation frequency of abnormal appressoria and inhibition rate of haustoria formation of high-temperatureresistant isolates at 25°C were lower than those of high-temperature-sensitive isolates, while major axis of microcolonies of high-temperature-resistant isolates was higher than those of high-temperature-sensitive isolates at 25°C. The results indicated that haustoria formation and hyphal expansion were the key infection stages of defense against heat stress in high-temperatureresistant isolates. Further analyses of HSP genes found the expression levels of Bgthsp60 and Bgthsp70c were upregulated at 24 and 72 h post-inoculation in high-temperature-resistant isolates, while no significant difference was observed for Bgthsp90 and Bgthsp104 genes. Taken together, the basis of high-temperature-resistant Bgt isolates is associated with induced expression of Bgthsp60 and Bgthsp70c response to heat stress in haustoria formation and hyphal expansion stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gomphus matijun, a new edible species, is described from southwestern China based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence. Phylogenetic analyses of the nrLSU and ITS datasets indicated that G. matijun is related to G. crassipes and G. ludovicianus with weak statistical support in maximum likelihood but strong statistical support in Bayesian analyses. Gomphus matijun is characterized by its gray-blue to blue or blue-purple pileus with a round or irregular outline, relatively smaller basidiospores [9-11(-13) × 6-7(-8) µm], mostly 2-spored basidia, and occurs in subtropical fagaceous forests. A key to the known species of Gomphus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation greenness is one of the main indicators to characterize changes in terrestrial ecosystems. China has implemented a few large-scale ecological restoration programs on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) to reverse the trend of ecosystem degradation. Although the effectiveness of these programs is beginning to show, the mechanisms of vegetation degradation under climate change and human activities are still controversial. Existing studies have mostly focused on changes in overall vegetation change, with less attention on the drivers of change in different vegetation types. In this study, earth satellite observation records were used to robustly map changes in vegetation greenness on the QTP from 2000 to 2021. The random forest (RF) algorithm was further used to detect the drivers of greenness browning on the QTP as a whole and in seven different vegetation types. The results show that an overall trend of greening in all seven vegetation types on the QTP over a 21-year period. The area of greening was 46.54x104 km², and browning was 5.32x104 km², representing a quarter and 2.86% of the natural vegetation area, respectively. The results of the browning driver analysis show that areas with high altitude, reduced annual precipitation, high intensity of human activity, average annual maximum and average annual minimum precipitation of approximately 500 mm are most susceptible to browning on the QTP. For the seven different vegetation types, their top 6 most important browning drivers and the ranking of drivers differed. DEM and precipitation changes are important drivers of browning for seven vegetation types. These results reflect the latest spatial and temporal dynamics of vegetation on the QTP and highlight the common and characteristic browning drivers of vegetation ecosystems. They provide support for understanding the response of different vegetation to natural and human impacts and for further implementation of site-specific restoration measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that alterations in liver function may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it remains unclear whether there is any relationship between lower liver function and cognitive impairment among the elderly. Methods: From 2017 to 2018, we recruited 7,201 older people (over 60 years old) from 51 community health centers in the Luohu District of Shenzhen City. According to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score and education level, participants were divided into a cognitive impairment group (n = 372) and a normal cognitive function group (n = 6,829). Nonparametric test, chisquare tests, and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Cognitive impairment group exhibits older age, more female sex, lower education level, and lower levels of albumin and triglyceride. Additionally, the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio was mainly distributed in the range of 1.17 to 1.3 in the cognitive impairment group, and 0.85 to 1.00 in the normal cognitive function group (X2 = 10.02, p = 0.04). Binary logistic regression showed that cognitive impairment was significantly associated with age (OR = 0.934, 95%CI: 0.886-0.985, p = 0.017), female sex (OR = 2.255, 95%CI: 1.761-2.888, p < 0.001), lower education level (less than senior high school) (OR = 11.509, 95%CI: 9.064-14.613, p < 0.001), and lower albumin (OR = 1.023, 95%CI: 1.004-1.043, p = 0.011). Conclusion: Except for age, female sex, and lower education level, lower level of albumin and elevated AST to ALT ratio correlate with cognitive impairment. Whether lower liver function plays a role in AD needs to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of a standardized reliable and valid instrument makes it difficult to measure attitudes toward lesbian women and gay men (ATLG) consistently and thus poses a challenge to compare and contrast intervention measures. This study aimed to validate Herek's ATLG scale among undergraduates in mainland China and identify factors associated with negative attitudes toward LG. A total of 6,036 eligible undergraduates conveniently drawn from 30 provinces across mainland China were randomly split in half. Item analysis was first used to select unrelated or redundant items for deletion. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were then conducted on the first half of the sample (n = 3,001), followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability analysis in the second half (n = 3035). Logistic regression analyses were finally carried out to identify their determinants. Six items were removed from the item analysis. EFA supported the existence of two factors (ATL and ATG). CFA results indicated that the two-factor model fit the data better than the one-factor model. Logistic regression analyses indicated that being female, majoring in non-health-related disciplines, attributing homosexuality to uncontrollable causes, non-adherence to traditional gender norms and exposure to homosexual content were significantly associated with less negative attitudes toward both L and G. Urban students were marginally less likely to express negative attitudes toward L but not G, while nonheterosexuals and those who had prior personal contact with homosexuals exhibited less negative attitudes toward G but not L. However, grade showed no significant associations with either ATL or ATG. The retained 14-item version of Herek's ATLG scale has been proven to be a reliable and valid tool. Furthermore, ATL and ATG were determined by different factors and thus would be treated separately. In order to reduce negative attitudes toward LG among undergraduates in mainland China, a comprehensive intervention plan such as conducting comprehensive sex education and pushing the process of legalizing same-sex marriage should be designed, implemented and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants adapt to changes in elevation by regulating their leaf ecological stoichiometry. Potentilla anserina L. that grows rapidly under poor or even bare soil conditions has become an important ground cover plant for ecological restoration. However, its leaf ecological stoichiometry has been given little attention, resulting in an insufficient understanding of its environmental adaptability and growth strategies. The objective of this study was to compare the leaf stoichiometry of P. anserina at different elevations (2,400, 2,600, 2,800, 3,000, 3,200, 3,500, and 3,800 m) in the middle eastern part of Qilian Mountains. With an increase in elevation, leaf carbon concentration [(C)leaf] significantly decreased, with the maximum value of 446.04 g⋅kg-1 (2,400 m) and the minimum value of 396.78 g⋅kg-1 (3,500 m). Leaf nitrogen concentration [(N)leaf] also increased with an increase in elevation, and its maximum and minimum values were 37.57 g⋅kg-1 (3,500 m) and 23.71 g⋅kg-1 (2,800 m), respectively. Leaf phosphorus concentration [(P)leaf] was the highest (2.79 g⋅kg-1) at 2,400 m and the lowest (0.91 g⋅kg-1) at 2,800 m. The [C]leaf/[N]leaf decreased with an increase in elevation, while [N]leaf/[P]leaf showed an opposite trend. The mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, soil pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus at different elevations mainly affected [C]leaf, [N]leaf, and [P]leaf. The growth of P. anserina in the study area was mainly limited by P, and this limitation was stronger with increased elevation. Progressively reducing P loss at high elevation is of great significance to the survival of P. anserina in this specific region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandy land is an important part of terrestrial ecosystem, which has a substantial impact on maintaining global ecological health and security. However, there is still a scarcity representative studies of climate change's effect on the carbon fluxes (NEE: net ecosystem CO2 exchange; Reco: ecosystem respiration; GPP: gross primary productivity). Eddy covariance technique was used to determine carbon fluxes and climatic conditions in this ecosystem from 2017 to 2021. At an annual scale, the semi22 fixed sandy land was found to be a net carbon release, the value of annual average NEE was 6.81 ± 36.35 g C m-2 yr-1. It functioned as a carbon source in dry years (2017 and 2020), but was a carbon sink in wet years (2019 and 2021) and a normal year (2018). At seasonal scale, according to the Random Forest, deep soil water content (SWC80) and photosynthetic photon flux density had a great impact on NEE and GPP, whereas shallow and deep soil water (SWC10 and SWC80) dominated Reco. At a monthly scale, the multiple stepwise regression showed that soil temperature, precipitation (PPT) and SWC were the dominant environmental factors. At an annual scale, correlation analysis showed that total annual PPT was negatively correlated with NEE. Our results illustrate the importance of climate variations for the NEE, Reco, and GPP at different time scales in arid and semi-arid areas. They also highlight the importance of water availability (the pattern and intensity of PPT and SWC at different depths) on regional and global carbon cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) have increasingly caused a global public health concern. This study collected Rhipicephalus ticks in Guangdong, southern China to identify RNA viruses. Meta-transcriptome analysis revealed the virome in Rhipicephalus ticks, resulting in the discovery of 10 viruses, including Lihan tick virus, Brown dog tick phlebovirus 1 and 2 in the family Phenuiviridae, Mivirus and Wuhan tick virus 2 in the family Chuviridae, Wuhan tick virus 1 in the family Rhabdoviridae, bovine hepacivirus in the family Flaviviridae, Guangdong tick quaranjavirus (GTQV) in the family Orthomyxoviridae, Guangdong tick orbivirus (GTOV) in the family Reoviridae, and Guangdong tick Manly virus (GTMV) of an unclassified family. Phylogenetic analysis showed that most of these TBVs were genetically related to the strains in countries outside China, and GTQV, GTOV, and GTMV may represent novel viral species. These findings provided evidence of the long-distance spread of these TBVs in Guangdong, southern China, suggesting the necessity and importance of TBV surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paeonia ostii T. Hong & J. X. Zhang is a perennial oil and medicinal plant with great importance as well as landscaping. P. ostii is being extensively planted in China, but the soil fertility limits the yield and quality. There is little information available on the effects of phosphorus fertilization on productivity, physiological characteristics, and seed yield and quality. This study investigated the influence of different phosphorus levels, 0 kg·hm-2 (CK), 90 c-2 (P1), 135 kg·hm-2 (P2), 180 kg·hm-2 (P3), 225 kg·hm-2 (P4), and 270 kg·hm-2 (P5), on the photosynthesis, morphology, physiological parameters, and yield of P. ostii. The results indicated that the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance (gS), and transpiration rate of P. ostii increased significantly with the application of P4, which increased by 34.77%, 65.72%, and 21.00% compared with CK, respectively. Simultaneously, the contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, and photosynthetic pigment in P4 were the highest compared with other treatments. In addition, thousand-grain weight (326.4 g) and seed yield per plant (37.33 g) of P4 were significantly higher than the control. However, the total amount of unsaturated fatty acids in P4 was lower compared with other treatments. The indexes of high correlation coefficients with Dim 1 and Dim 2 were gS and superoxide dismutase (SOD), respectively. The results showed that phosphorus levels improved plant photosynthetic capacity and increased antioxidant capacity as well as seed yield. Furthermore, phosphate fertilizer had significant effects on the oil composition. Moreover, the effect of phosphorus application rate on the growth index of P. ostii was greater than that of the physiological index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Thrombocytopenia was common in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients during the infection, while the role of thrombocytopenia in COVID-19 pathogenesis and its relationship with systemic host response remained obscure. The study aimed to systematically evaluate the relationship between thrombo- cytopenia in COVID-19 patients and clinical, haematological and biochemical markers of the disease as well as adverse outcomes. Methods. To assess the relationship between abnormal platelet levels and disease progression, a multi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted. COVID-19 patients with thrombocytopenia and a sub-cohort of matched patients without thrombocytopenia were compared for their clinical manifestations, haematological disorders, biochemical parameters, inflammatory markers and clinical outcome. Results. Thrombocytopenia was present in 127 of 2,209 analyzed patients on admission. Compared with the control group, thrombocytopenia patients developed significantly higher frequency of respiratory failure (41.9% vs. 22.6%, P = 0.020), intensive care unit entrance (25.6% vs. 11.5%, P = 0.012), disseminated intravascular coagulation (45.2% vs. 10.6%, P < 0:001), more altered platelet morphology indexes and coagulation perturbation, higher levels of inflammatory markers. In addition, a significantly increased all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 3.08, 95% confidence interval 2.26-4.18, P <0.001) was also observed in the patients with thrombocytopenia. Late development of thrombocytopenia beyond 14 days post-symptom was observed in 61 patients, from whom a comparable mortality rate yet longer duration to death was observed compared to those with early thrombocytopenia. Conclusions. Our finding from this study adds to previous evidence that thrombo- cytopenia is associated with adverse outcome of the disease and recommend that platelet count and indices be included alongside other haematological, biochemical and inflammatory markers in COVID-19 patients' assessment during the hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horizontal drilling is an effective way to increase the capacity of shale formations. However, in the horizontal shale drilling, the major difficulties are the problems of the wellbore stability and the well collapse prevention. In this paper, a jointed-material model is adopted to simulate the strength anisotropy and the permeability anisotropy of the bedding shale. The model is used to obtain the distribution of the plastic regions in the vicinity of the well under the condition that the stress state matches the failure criterion. The shale permeability anisotropy also contributes to the nonuniform propagation of pressure in the formation. The model is applied to study the wellbore stability law of a shale gas well in the Longmaxi formation in Sichuan Basin, China. It is shown that the drilling fluid preferably invades in the bedding plane, resulting in a higher pore pressure in the bedding plane than that in the adjusting layers. The lower strength of the bedding shale weak planes could create four plastic shear failure locations around the wellbore. This tendency is different from the normal dog-ear-shaped breakout. The study also shows that the sealing performance of the drilling fluid plays an important role in maintaining the wellbore stability. If the wellbore wall is perfectly penetrated, the increased mud weight will enlarge the plastic zone area around the well and increase the drilling risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The literature recommends that reduced dosage of CPT-11 should be applied in patients with UGT1A1 homozygous mutations, but the impact of UGT1A1 heterozygous mutations on the adverse reactions of CPT-11 is still not fully clear. Methods: A total of 107 patients with UGT1A1 heterozygous mutation or wild-type, who were treated with CPT-11 from January 2018 to September 2021 in Peking University Third Hospital, were retrospectively enrolled. The adverse reaction spectra of patients with UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 mutations were analyzed. Adverse reactions were evaluated according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) 5.0. The efficacy was evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. The genotypes of UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 were detected by digital fluorescence molecular hybridization. Results: There were 43 patients with UGT1A1*6 heterozygous mutation, 26 patients with UGT1A1*28 heterozygous mutation, 8 patients with UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 double heterozygous mutations, 61 patients with heterozygous mutation at any gene locus of UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28. Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence or absence of vomiting (P=0.013) and mucositis (P=0.005) was significantly correlated with heterozygous mutation of UGT1A1*28, and the severity of vomiting (P<0.001) and neutropenia (P=0.021) were significantly correlated with heterozygous mutation of UGT1A1*6. In colorectal cancer, UGT1A1*6 was significantly correlated to diarrhea (P=0.005), and the other adverse reactions spectrum was similar to that of the whole patient cohort, and efficacy and prognosis were similar between patients with different genotypes and patients treated with reduced CPT-11 dosage or not. Conclusion: In clinical use, heterozygous mutations of UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 are related to the risk and severity of vomiting, diarrhea, neutropenia and mucositis in patients with Pan-tumor and colorectal cancer post CPT-11 therpy. In colorectal cancer, UGT1A1*6 is significantly related to diarrhea post CPT-11 use, efficacy and prognosis is not affected by various genotypes or CPT-11 dosage reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the age, growth, and maturation of 1,064 Coregonus ussuriensis individuals that were collected monthly from the middle section of the Amur River, China between 2016 and 2018. The fork length (FL) ranged from 14.9 to 49.1 cm for males and 21.5 to 58.8 cm for females, and the body weight (BW) ranged from 72.6 to 1,348.7 g for males and 107.9 to 2,854.9 g for females. The relationship of BW and FL was expressed as: BW? = 0.0324 × FL2.708; BW? = 0.014 × FL2.963. The sample ages ranged from 2 to 8 years for males and 2 to 9 years for females. We used the von Bertalanffy function based on otolith reading and observed FL data to simulate Coregonus ussuriensis growth, which has been suggested to be similar to that of other Salmonidae fishes. No significant difference in growth was determined between males and females. The monthly gonad somatic index (GSI) value ranged from 0.16% to 1.69% for males and from 0.73% to 16.15% for females, with a peak in November. Additionally, the reproductive staging suggested that the Coregonus ussuriensis spawning season was mainly in November and December. The size at maturity (FL50%) for males and females was 34.9 cm and 37.9 cm respectively, and the corresponding age (T50%) was 4.5 and 5.1, respectively. This study provides basic information for understanding the biological characteristics of Coregonus ussuriensis and should aid in the assessment and management of fishery resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Linear cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a rare subtype of lupus erythematosus (LE) that develops linear lesions following the lines of Blaschko. Linear cutaneous lupus erythematosus may present as various subtypes of LE, including linear discoid lupus erythematosus. There are few reports about pigmentedlinear discoid lupus erythematosus in the literature.Aims: We aimed to summarize the clinical and pathological features of patients with pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus following the lines of Blaschko.Methods: Eighteen patients with pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus attending the outpatient department of the Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China, were enrolled in the study. We recorded clinical data including sex, age at onset, disease duration, location and distribution of the lesions, symptoms, trigger factors, antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing, therapy, and therapeutic responses. Histopathological features were also summarized.Results: All 18 patients presented with well-defined brownish pigmented linear or segmental macules or plaques, following the lines of Blaschko. All the lesions were located on the head or neck. Unilaterally distributed lesions were found in 94.4% of patients. Two patients showed low titers of ANA in a speckled pattern. No systemic involvement or progression to systemic LE was noted. The patients were clinically diagnosed as pigmented lichen planus (55.6%), pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus (33.3%), and linear morphea (11.1%) before histopathological examination.Limitations: The study was retrospective and direct immunofluorescence was not performed. Not all patients' information was available and 4 patients were lost to follow-up because their contact information was changed.Conclusion: Pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus mostly occurs on the head and neck. It manifests as brownish macules along the lines of Blaschko. Differentiation between pigmented linear discoid lupus erythematosus and other dermatoses that have a linear distribution can be difficult both clinically and pathologically, but histological details can help distinguish them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vision and concept of FOLIO have gained the attention and expectation from libraries. It is an open and flexible service platform which provides an approach to the realization of the Smart Libraries in the future. Through summarizing the needs of Smart Libraries in China, the paper expounds the architecture and ideas of providing smart services based on FOLIO. By analyzing the problems and challenges in the implementation and localization of FOLIO in China, the author points out that the "Chinese Alliance for Library Service Platform" (also called YunHan Alliance) should play a very important role in shaping the Chinese FOLIO community. It should steward the direction of the community, cultivate an ecosystem around FOLIO, and support the new business models for the success of Chinese libraries in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the impact of air pollution on the development of adolescents and the mediating role of students’ emotional disorders. Participants came from a longitudinal sample group of adolescents (n = 1301) in Southern China from the years 2016 to 2018. They were assessed for the Positive Youth Development and emotional disorders, and air pollution was measured by the Air Quality Index. The results show that students’ higher degree of exposure to air pollution was negatively associated with their positive development. Three out of four emotional disorders (i.e., anxiety, neuroticism, and withdrawal) mediate this association. The results suggest that the physical environment can have a paramount influence on the emotional status and overall development of adolescents, calling for intervention programs by policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Polypedilum Kieffer, 1912 is described from Baishanzu Nature Reserve, China, based on molecular and morphological data. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on standard barcode sequences confirmed a new clade of Polypedilum (Collartomyia) species. The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following morphological characters: membrane of wing with a large spot occupying 70% of the proximal area; tergite without dark brown band pigmentation; tarsi I-V dark brown; superior volsella with three outer lateral setae and six long setae along inner base; inferior volsella with setose tubercules. An updated key to adult males of the subgenus Collartomyia is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudolarix amabilis (Nelson) Rehd. is a rare and endangered plant endemic to China that has played a vital role in the study of Pinaceae phylogeny. Because of the serious effects of external factors, the wild populations are gradually decreasing. To illustrate the competition in the P. amabilis community, the intra- and interspecific competition of P. amabilis in Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, were investigated based on the Hegyi individual competition index (CI) model. The relationships between 21 target trees and 454 competitor trees within the P. amabilis community were analysed by using the competition intensity. The results indicated that competitive stress to the P. amabilis population mainly came from interspecific competition, which accounted for approximately 70% of the total. The intensity of interspecific competition with P. amabilis followed the order of P. amabilis>Phyllostachys edulis>Castanea mollissima>Quercus chenii>Rhus chinensis>Acer davidii>Ilex chinensis> Platycarya strobilacea> Lindera glauca> Castanopsis sclerophylla. The value of the competition index decreased with increasing distance. The CI of P. amabilis with the target trees in the whole forest stand was significantly negatively correlated with the DBH of the target trees and followed the power function (CI = AD-B). In terms of the competition model, effective artificial measures should be implemented to improve the survival of P. amabilis, which could help restore the wild population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]