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Background: Although the phenomenon of high turnover rate in the elderly care industry has existed for a long time, there are few studies that have constructed frameworks to comprehensively analyze the strength of the effects of various factors on the turnover intention of elderly care workers.. This study analyzed the impact of different types of perceived human resource management practices on elderly care workers' turnover intentions and whether this relationship is moderated by person-job fit and ownership of elderly care institutions. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and regional survey study. The study included questionnaire survey data from a total of 305 elderly care workers from 42 elderly care institutions in 21 provinces in China during June to September 2021. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression, and heterogeneity analyses were performed. Results: Perceived work environment (β =-0.5164, p< 0.01), perceived occupational protection (β =-0.3390, p< 0.01), perceived welfare benefits (β = -0.2620, p< 0.01) and perceived competency training (β = -0.1421, p< 0.1) were all significantly and negatively related to turnover intentions, the quality of perceived work environment has the greatest impact on elderly care workers' turnover intentions. Under the moderating effects of person-job fit and ownership of elderly care institutions, there existed heterogeneity between perceived human resource management and turnover intentions among elderly care workers. High level of person-job fit and elderly care institutions' public feature can effectively weaken the negative impact of each type of perceived human resource management on turnover intention among elderly care workers. Conclusions: The managers of elderly care institutions should optimize the management mechanism, typically pay attention to elderly care workers' working environment, formulate and improve the professional standards and job requirements for elderly care workers, promote the public welfare value of nursing care services, and strengthen the sense of honor and responsibility of elderly care workers to reduce the turnover rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ski industry in China has been entering into a phase of rapid development, since the beginning of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, with the typical distribution characteristics of ski tourism in main snow-ice resources area. The North Slope region of the Tianshan Mountain contains the favorable endowment of ski resources in China and has become one of the best tourist destinations. However, ski tourism are facing a significant challenge in ecological and environmental protection. Few China Ski tourism studies considered the discussion of ecological footprint. Therefore, this study aims to explore an ecological accounting scheme for ski tourism, based on evaluating the local ecological carrying capacity and ecological pressure, and to examine the sustainability of the regional ski industry layout, took a representative Tianshan ski tourist city as the research case. It is indicated that the ecological footprint of ski resorts are considerably larger than that of other tourism activities, which highlights the urgent need to manage ecological issues of ski resorts. The regional tourist attractions cannot match ski tourism endowment. Nalati ski resorts presents a state of ecological deficit, as the largest tourism area in North Slope region of Tianshan Mountain. Ski tourism accommodations contribute to the largest proportion of the ecological footprint. Fundamentally, this study offers an industry ecological model consideration based on ski tourism sustainability assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital economy is gradually becoming a powerful engine for high-quality economic development in China and plays an important role in the construction of digital villages and the integrated development of rural industries. Starting from the mechanism of reducing transaction costs in the digital economy, it is a feasible perspective to analyze the role of the digital economy in promoting the integration and development of rural industries in China. This paper evaluates the impact of the digital economy on the development of rural industries in China, analyzes the current situation and problems in the construction of digital villages in China, and uses transaction cost theory to analyze the role of digital technology applications in reducing transaction costs in agricultural production, sales, and financial services. It finds out various rural industrial integration modes formed in the process of digital rural construction, and proposes policy suggestions to promote the integrated development of digital economy and rural industries in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family farms are the main force that promotes the direct application of new agricultural technology to production. So what are the factors that affect the adoption of new agricultural technology by family farms, and can the adoption of new technology increase the operating income of family farms? Using cross-sectional data from 847 family farms, this study examines the determinants and impacts of multiple new agricultural technologies adoption on family farms' income in China. To account for selection bias from both observable and unobservable factors, an endogenous switching regression model is employed to evaluate the effects of new agricultural technology on family farms' income. The empirical results show that the adoption of new agricultural technology is affected by the endowment of farmers and the characteristics of family farms. After controlling for the selection bias, the adoption of new agricultural technologies has a positive and significant impact on family farms' income. And the impact on the non-adopter family farms is much larger than adopter family farms. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that family farms with a larger area of arable land earn more from the adoption of new technologies than small farms. In all types of technology investigated, the new methods of pest control and the new chemical fertilizer technology have a relatively large impact on family farms' income, while the new mechanical technology has the least impact on family farms' income. The adoption of new technologies by family farms is more important for promoting the progress of agricultural science and technology. Therefore, it is necessary to take effective measures to overcome the obstacles to the adoption of new agricultural technologies and pay more attention to the use of new agricultural technologies to improve agricultural production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the current power supply focused reform in China, a dual-channel and multienergy supply chain model is constructed. The supply chain has a new energy enterprise, a traditional energy enterprise, and the State Grid that is the retailer. New energy company and traditional energy company sell electricity to the State Grid at wholesale prices, and at the same time they enter the market to retail power products. Multiequilibriums and their practical significance are discussed. The complex dynamic is investigated using a bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponent, parameter basin, and fractal dimension. In this multilayer supply chain network, the price adjustment of the State Grid will make the entire supply chain face greater volatility risks, and dual-channel suppliers, that is, new energy and traditional energy companies are also involved in this volatility. Further, considering the sticky information, the sticky expectation of electricity price is built for studying the lagging electricity price. The dynamic characteristics of the sticky model are investigated, and new phenomena are discovered: 3-orbit bifurcation and mutation appear with fractals. This means that prices continue to swing and oscillate on three tracks. Through comparison of the fractal dimension, an important conclusion is discovered: the purpose of sticky expectations for electricity prices is to stabilize price fluctuations, but sticky expectations make the market more complicated. The article provides a strategic reference for exploring the power market in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet of Things is the core technology of smart agriculture and can reform and upgrade traditional agriculture for reducing cost, reducing pollution, and increasing productivity and quality in China. From government-led and market economy perspectives, promotion mechanisms and sustainable adoption of agricultural Internet of Things technology are analyzed. In the initial application phase, the promotion of Internet of Things requires government support. For investigating the relationship between the government and farmers, this study builds an evolutionary game model and finds that increases of cost subsidy, farmers' negative feedback, government's positive feedback, and chemical agriculture cost can make the model evolve toward the strategy set: farmer adoption and government support. For long-term development, a sustainable model in competitive market is built by competition game and exponential replication equation. This paper analyzes the equilibrium of adoption ratio, long-run profit, and the conversion between equilibrium points under capacity sharing strategy in competitive market. It is also found that the market will eventually evolve to the technology selection strategy whose long-run average profit dominates the market. The innovations are that evolutionary game is used for analyzing the initial stage and competitive game and asynchronous update mechanism are used for analyzing the sustainable development adoption. At last, references are provided for agricultural Internet of Things development policy from the perspectives of initial promotion and long-run sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a phenomenon that has become popular in mainland China in recent years, "mosheng ren communication," focusing specifically on an application known as Momo, a social discovery and dating platform that is widely used in China. It first outlines the context of post-Mao China, which has produced urbanism, individualization, and a sexual revolution. Thereafter, it turns to the theories of the stranger and cosmopolitanism, which are used to analyze mosheng ren communication. This paper adopts cultural discourse analysis as the analytical procedure to present the findings of online and offline interviews conducted in both Beijing and Shanghai to examine how Momo users in urban metropolises make use of this app in order to analyze the cultural radiants in their communication practices. Based on the data obtained, this paper analyzes mosheng ren communication in the Chinese context and describes how Momo is designed to facilitate it. Momo users can enter into sexual relations based on the use of authentic photos on their profiles; alternatively, they can communicate anonymously. They are also "in-between" traditional Chinese values and new values. Momo users contribute a Chinese form of cosmopolitanism through cultivation of insensitivity to mosheng ren, while their engagement in mosheng ren communication implies that the members of are more open to others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a special type of relationship exercised at the level of the individual in Chinese culture, guanxi has been claimed to pervasively affect business practices in China. Using a contextual perspective, this study compared guanxi -related practices in Beijing and Hong Kong, two Chinese societies with a similar Confucian heritage but different institutional and cultural traits. Four group interviews were conducted to identify the characteristics of guanxi -related practices, their main stakeholders, and the power relationships that exist between them. Public relations practitioners from Hong Kong and Beijing engage in guanxi -related practices with similar main stakeholders, except that only practitioners from Beijing valued guanxi with the government. Findings from the group interviews demonstrate regional differences in the closeness components, source of connections, and basic principles governing guanxi -related practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes academic journal articles in order to depict the features of Chinese crisis communication in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The findings revealed the following features of crisis communication in Chinese societies: collectivistic culture, nationalism, rationalism, face-giving/saving, striving for the “golden mean,” the preference for passive communicative strategies, and the avoidance of extreme strategies. Nevertheless, the differences in political systems—the ubiquitous intervention by authoritarian government on the Mainland, the mistrust of government in post-handover Hong Kong, and the relatively mature democratic polity in Taiwan all lead to unique crisis communication practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of the Internet in China has seen a concomitant rise in government regulation. While most existing studies have approached this issue from a technical or institutional perspective, few have examined how China’s official media discourses work to legitimize its Internet governance. Based on a content and discourse analysis of 301 articles published by China Communist Party’s central mouthpiece, People’s Daily (2000–2014), this study explores how Internet governance is discursively constituted and practiced in China. The findings suggest that China’s state-run media consistently justifies Internet governance on the basis of moral goodness, personal security, and social stability. Over the years, official media discourse has changed from viewing the Internet as a technological space with potential moral and security concerns to treating it as a destabilizing field of contentions. The findings also demonstrate the ways in which China’s Internet governance framework is evolving in step with the pace of technological change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The culture in the laboratory plays a significant role in its development. The innovation of the laboratory counts a lot for the achievement of the cultural development goals, and also works as a necessary condition for developing our country through science and technology. This paper analyses the personnel development and the system construction, the innovative environment and the updated concepts. Meanwhile, it also pays enough attention to the major obstacles in the laboratory culture development in China's colleges. Famous theories advanced home and abroad are borrowed and successful cases are analyzed. The paper, in general, focuses on three major tasks; teaching, research and personality development. Planned construction is the top priority; system development plays the basic role; and personality cultivation works as the fundamental approach. Given the importance of the laboratory culture innovation, this work particularly stresses the fulfillment of the initiatives in "human being", so as to maximize the marginal effects of various positive resources which offers a new developing orientation for the laboratory culture innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate environmental responsibility has attracted considerable academic attention in recent years, especially in emerging economies like China. Based on the deterrence theory, this article examined how enforcement affected private firms' investments in environmental protection. With the data from four rounds of a national survey in China, the empirical results showed that regulatory and non-regulatory enforcement were positively related to corporate environmental investment. Furthermore, it was found that the positive relationship was moderated by firm-level, industry-level, and region-level factors. Specifically, the effect of enforcement on corporate environmental investment was significantly mitigated for firms with better public relations, firms in less-polluting industries, and firms in regions with less developed marketization supporting institutions. • Enforcement affects Chinese private firms' environment investment. • Firms with more public relations invest less when facing enforcement. • Firms in heavily polluting industries tend to invest more when facing enforcement. • Firms in regions with higher level of marketization will invest more when facing enforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Dacrymyces, D. cerebriformis and D. sinostenosporus, are presented from southwestern China, based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses. Dacrymyces cerebriformis is characterized by obviously cerebriform basidiomata when mature, hyphae without clamp connections, and hyaline, thin-walled, allantoid, 0–7-septate basidiospores (18.4–23.1 × 5.5–7.7 μm). Dacrymyces sinostenosporus is characterized by discoid and applanate basidiomata when mature, hyphae without clamp connections, and hyaline, thin-walled, cylindrical to allantoid, 0–7-septate basidiospores (18.0–23.5 × 6.3–8.0 μm). Dacrymyces cerebriformis can be distinguished from D. sinostenosporus by the narrower thin- or thick-walled terminal cells in the marginal hyphae of the sterile surface (1.7–3.5 μm vs. 3.5–6.0 μm in diameter) and thinner basidiospores (Q = 3.14–3.28 vs. Q = 2.63–2.77). A phylogenetic analysis of Dacrymyces is performed by using a dataset composed of concatenated internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) and a large subunit (nrLSU) of ribosomal DNA gene, and two new species nested in two distinct lineages with robust support. A full description and illustrations of the two new species are provided here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new wood-inhabiting fungi, Sidera salmonea sp. Nov. and S. tibetica sp. Nov. in the order Hymenochaetales from southwest China, are described and illustrated based on molecular and morphological evidence. They were found on gymnosperm wood that is rotten and charred. The characteristics of S. salmonea include annual, resupinate basidioma, salmon pores with distinctly white margins, angular pores (7–9 per mm), a dimitic hyphal system, and lunate basidiospores that are 3–3.5 × 0.9–1.1 μm. The characteristics of S. tibetica include annual, resupinate basidioma with a white to cream fresh pore surface that becomes cream to honey-yellow and shiny when dry, round pores (7–8 per mm), a dimitic hyphal system, and lunate basidiospores that measure 2.9–3.1 × 1–1.1 μm. A phylogenetic analysis based on the combined 2-locus dataset (5.8S + nuclear large subunit RNA (nLSU)) shows that the two species are members of the genus Sidera, and they are morphologically compared with related species, respectively. This paper provides a key to the identification of 16 accepted species of Sidera that are found throughout the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Favolaschia within the family Mycenaceae is characterised by the gelatinous basidiomata with poroid hymenophore and most species inhabit monocotyledonous plants. In this study, many samples covering a wide geographic range in China were examined morphologically and phylogenetically using concatenated ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-nLSU sequence data. Three new species clustering in Favolaschia sect. Anechinus, namely Favolaschia imbricata, F. miscanthi and F. sinarundinariae, are described. Favolaschia imbricata is characterised by imbricate basidiomata with pale grey to greyish colour when fresh and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 7–9 × 5–6.8 µm; F. miscanthi is characterised by satin white basidiomata when fresh, broadly ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 7.5–10 × 5.5–7 µm and inhabit rotten Miscanthus; F. sinarundinariae is characterised by greyish-white basidiomata when fresh, dark grey near the base upon drying, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose basidiospores measuring 7–9 × 5–7 µm and inhabit dead Sinarundinaria. The differences amongst the new species and their morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species are discussed. In addition, an updated key to 19 species of Favolaschia found in China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rearranged during transfection (RET) gene is one of the receptor tyrosine kinases and cell‐surface molecules responsible for transmitting signals that regulate cell growth and differentiation. In non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), RET fusion is a rare driver gene alteration associated with a poor prognosis. Fortunately, two selective RET inhibitors (sRETi), namely pralsetinib and selpercatinib, have been approved for treating RET fusion NSCLC due to their remarkable efficacy and safety profiles. These inhibitors have shown the ability to overcome resistance to multikinase inhibitors (MKIs). Furthermore, ongoing clinical trials are investigating several second‐generation sRETis that are specifically designed to target solvent front mutations, which pose a challenge for first‐generation sRETis. The effective screening of patients is the first crucial step in the clinical application of RET‐targeted therapy. Currently, four methods are widely used for detecting gene rearrangements: next‐generation sequencing (NGS), reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Each of these methods has its advantages and limitations. To streamline the clinical workflow and improve diagnostic and treatment strategies for RET fusion NSCLC, our expert group has reached a consensus. Our objective is to maximize the clinical benefit for patients and promote standardized approaches to RET fusion screening and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood-rotting basidiomycetes have been investigated in the Chinese forest ecosystem for the past 30 years. Two hundred and five pathogenic wood-decayers belonging to 9 orders, 30 families, and 74 genera have been found in Chinese native forests, plantations, and gardens. Seventy-two species (accounting for 35% of the total pathogenic species) are reported as pathogenic fungi in China for the first time. Among these pathogens, 184 species are polypores, nine are corticioid fungi, eight are agarics and five are hydnoid basidiomycetes. One hundred and seventy-seven species (accounting for 86%) cause white rot, while 28 species (accounting for 14%) result in brown rot; 157 species grow on angiosperm trees (accounting for 76.5%) and 44 species occur on gymnosperm trees (accounting for 21.5%), only four species inhabit both angiosperms and gymnosperms (accounting for 2%); 95 species are distributed in boreal to temperate forests and 110 in subtropical to tropical forests. In addition, 17 species, including Fomitopsis pinicola, Heterobasidion parviporum, and Phellinidium weirii etc. which were previously treated as pathogenic species in China, do not occur in China according to recent studies. In this paper, the host(s), type of forest, rot type, and distribution of each pathogenic species in China are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School bullying has become a matter of global concern for the general public. Sexual minority youth (SMY) may experience minority stress and victimization which are known to adversely affect mental health and happiness. However, a few scholars explored and linked sexual orientation with campus bullying, depression, and anxiety symptoms under the specific cultural background of China. This study was to examine the effect of traditional and cyber bullying victimization on depression and anxiety among Chinese sexual minority adolescents. This is a cross-sectional survey with a total of 3841 subjects among senior high school students in Hunan Province, China. Related information was collected through a series of self-reported questionnaires. The association between variables was examined via a set of logistic regressions. Homosexuality (OR: 6.398; 95 % CI: 3.321 to 12.325), bisexuality (OR: 3.146; 95 % CI: 1.499 to 6.603) and uncertainty of sexual orientation (OR: 2.341; 95 % CI: 1.516 to 3.615) were significantly associated with a combination of traditional and cyber bullying victimization. Compared to the heterosexual group, the sexual minority students, especially the bisexual students has a higher risk of depressive mood (OR: 2.349; 95 % CI: 1.664 to 3.316) and anxiety mood (OR: 3.049; 95 % CI: 2.150 to 4.324). Further multivariate binary hierarchical regression showed that the effects of sexual orientation and mental health were statistically significant only among those who are not involved in bullying victimization, OR values are from 1.929 (95 % CI: 1.061 to 3.507) to 3.209 (95 % CI: 2.090 to 4.927). Homosexuals are most likely to be victims of a combination of traditional and cyber bullying victims. Bisexuals are most at risk for emotional problems. Sexual minorities in particular, showed differences in mental health risks between bullied and non-bullied groups. More attention needs to be paid to bullying and mental health among sexual minority students in China. • This is the first study to examine mental health problems associated with traditional and cyber bullying victimization among adolescents of different sexual orientations in China. • Homosexuals are at the most risk of both traditional and cyber bullying victimization and bisexuals are at the most risk of depressive mood and anxiety. • The effects of sexual orientation on depressive mood and anxiety were statistically significant only among those who are not involved in the bullying victimization group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose. Recently, several studies indicated the c.14576G>A variant on the ring finger protein 213 (RNF213), a founder variant of moyamoya diseases (MMD), was associated with non-MMD intracranial major artery stenosis/occlusion (non-MMD ICASO). We proposed that RNF213 variant-related ICASO including MMD might be a special entity with its own characteristics based on a genetic background. The aim of the study was to learn the clinical and vascular features of RNF213 variant-related ICASO. Moreover, we tried to explore the clinical significance of a testing variant in ICASO patients in China. Methods. Clinical material and routine image data were collected in 160 Chinese patients with ICASO, including 41 verified MMD and 119 non-MMD. DNA samples were extracted, and the c.14576G>A variant on RNF213 was genotyped. Then, the clinical and vascular features were compared between the patients with and without a relevant variant. Furthermore, the patients with RNF213 mutation were performed with high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) examination to conclude features of the artery wall. Results. There were 16 (10%) patients (including 9 MMD and 7 non-MMD ICASO) presenting a heterozygous c.14576G>A variant while none of homozygote was found. Compared to the patients without the c.14576G>A variant, the variant group had more female, less symptomatic patients, and more possibility of having collateral vessels in vascular imaging. In the symptomatic subgroup, there is no significant difference in clinical presentation (p>0.05) between two groups. However, RNF213 variant-related ICASO had lower scores in NIHSS (1.0±3.0 vs. 3.9±5.0, p<0.05) but not in mRS. In the symptomatic subgroup, in addition, most of the HR-MRI images of variant ICASO (77.8%, 7 of 9) were characterized by a shrunken outer diameter, concentric thickening vessel wall, and collateral vessel structures on the stenotic portion, which was prone to be diagnosed as HR-MMD (a MMD diagnosis diagnosed by HR-MRI). The rest of the two variants showed a relatively eccentric luminal narrow, normal outer diameter without collateral vessel findings, identified as HR-ICAD (intracranial atherosclerotic disease diagnosed by HR-MRI). Conclusions. Our study demonstrated that the c.14576G>A variant on RNF213 may be a biomarker to good outcome of ICASO in Chinese. The variant-related ICASO was characterized by both features of MMD and ICAD diagnosed by HR-MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celebrity endorsements, though popular as a means of communicating about products, carry high risks and may lead to negative consequences for the organizations that solicit them, especially when endorsers find themselves embroiled in scandals or crises unrelated to the products they promote. This study investigates how Liu Xiang's withdrawal from the 2012 London Olympics and Sun Yang's unlicensed driving crisis affected their sponsorships of Nike and Beijing Hyundai, respectively. Attribution theory and the concept of in-group/out-group orientation provide a framework for examining both primary and secondary public reactions to these public relations crises on Sina Weibo. As a comparative study, this paper adopts both qualitative (thematic analysis of two official announcements) and quantitative methods (content analysis of 738 Weibo postings). Within a Chinese cultural context, evidence indicates that celebrity-endorsement crises are internally attributed and perceived to be controllable. Where primary public attitudes are concerned, integrity violations lead to more negative reactions; however, inclusion strategies find a better reception than distancing, regardless of the public's crisis-responsibility attributions. For secondary online reactions, Weibo posters’ perceptions of external locus, controllability, and integrity violations generate more “likes” than organizational strategies, thereby proving themselves more influential online. This study ultimately provides a more comprehensive refinement of attribution theory by both conceptualizing crisis-response strategies with a discussion of Chinese cultural sensitivities and offering empirical data on the ways in which primary and secondary crisis communication affects stakeholders via social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrial fibrillation is globally the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia which increases patient morbidity and mortality, dramatically influencing well-being. Despite substantial efforts, an optimal clinical pathway for chronic atrial fibrillation management has yet to be developed. In recent practice, a multidisciplinary team management has been recommended for patients with atrial fibrillation. However, experiments exploring nurse-led multidisciplinary team management in chronic atrial fibrillation management relative to standard clinical management are still sparse and limited. To evaluate the effects of a nurse-led multidisciplinary team approach on cardiovascular hospitalization and death, and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation. Randomized controlled trial. The Cardiology Department of a tertiary referral hospital in Beijing, China. Eligible patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who consented. Subjects were randomly assigned into one of two Cardiology Units upon admission. Patients in the control group (n = 119) received usual care and those in the intervention group (n = 116) underwent a nurse-led multidisciplinary team approach. Follow-up lasted for 12 months. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular hospitalization and cardiovascular death. The secondary endpoint was the differences in the quality of life between the groups observed at 6 months and 12 months of follow-up, compared to the baseline data, as determined using a Chinese version of the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form 36 General Health Survey. Patients under intervention showed a fewer cardiovascular hospitalization (17 vs. 35, p = 0.006) than those receiving usual care. Discernible differences were also observed in rates of cardiovascular hospitalization between the two groups (hazard ratio: 2.115, 95% confidential interval: 1.228–3.643, log-rank = 6.746, p = 0.009). Quality of life was improved in both groups, but more so in the intervention group (scores, 588.0 ± 106.0 vs. 519.1 ± 120.7 at 6 months and 674.4 ± 53.4 vs. 584.1 ± 105.9 at 12 months; both p < 0.001). Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that group-by-time and between-subjects effects in respect of patients' quality of life (F = 9.310, p < 0.01; F = 29.042, p < 0.01, respectively). No relationships were found with cardiovascular death. Nurse-led multidisciplinary team management reduces cardiovascular hospitalization and improves quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation, suggesting that this innovative management approach should be implemented in clinical practice. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800018851). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics, distributions and sources of parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkyl-PAHs (A-PAHs) as well as their ecological risk were explored in six mangrove wetlands across the Taiwan Strait, China. A-PAHs fingerprinting information, combined with PAHs diagnostic ratios and a positive matrix factorization model, were used to identify the sources of PAHs in the mangrove wetland surface sediment samples. The results showed that the total concentration of the 36 PAHs in the sediment samples varied from 186.2 to 2469.2 ng⸱g−1. Furthermore, the total concentration of PAHs would be underestimated about 37.1%–80.6% when only the concentrations of 16 priority PAHs were examined in the sediment samples. Coal combustion (32.7%) and petroleum combustion (24.6%) were identified as important contributing sources in the Yunxiao, Fugong, and Quanzhou mangrove wetlands, whereas the main source was mainly petroleum combustion (49.1%) in the Guandu, Zhuwei and Waziwei mangrove wetlands. In addition, the guidelines for assessing the ecological risk of individual A-PAHs need to be developed due to lack of criteria for most individual A-PAHs. Image 1 • The distributions and levels of 36 PAHs in mangrove wetland sediment samples were investigated. • Alkyl-PAHs fingerprinting information provided an additional tool for identifying PAHs source. • The distribution of PAHs in mangrove wetland sediments was affected by direct inputs but not the TOC levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have reported on several genetic variants related to breast cancer, but a substantial proportion of mutation loci have not yet been identified. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and susceptibility to breast cancer in Shaanxi Han women in China. Methods: Six SNPs were genotyped in 530 breast cancer patients and 628 healthy women from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Hospital. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by unconditional logistic regression analysis to assess the association between breast cancer risk and polymorphisms of six loci. Results: Two SNPs, rs3024490 and rs1800871, were found to be significantly different between breast cancer patients and healthy women. These SNPs also increased the risk of breast cancer in co-dominant and dominant models. Moreover, another SNP, rs1554286, was significantly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in the co-dominant model. Functional assessments indicated that these three variants may influence the expression and transcription factor binding of IL-10. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that variants of IL-10 may be likelihood risk factors for the development and progression of breast cancer. Future studies should replicate this study and evaluate functional assessments in Chinese Han women and women from other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is limited by low detection of AF, non-adherence to guidelines, and lack of consideration of patients' preferences, thus highlighting the need for a more holistic and integrated approach to AF management.Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether a mobile health (mHealth) technology-supported AF integrated management strategy would reduce AF-related adverse events, compared with usual care.Methods: This is a cluster randomized trial of patients with AF older than 18 years of age who were enrolled in 40 cities in China. Recruitment began on June 1, 2018 and follow-up ended on August 16, 2019. Patients with AF were randomized to receive usual care, or integrated care based on a mobile AF Application (mAFA) incorporating the ABC (Atrial Fibrillation Better Care) Pathway: A, Avoid stroke; B, Better symptom management; and C, Cardiovascular and other comorbidity risk reduction. The primary composite outcome was a composite of stroke/thromboembolism, all-cause death, and rehospitalization. Rehospitalization alone was a secondary outcome. Cardiovascular events were assessed using Cox proportional hazard modeling after adjusting for baseline risk.Results: There were 1,646 patients allocated to mAFA intervention (mean age, 67.0 years; 38.0% female) with mean follow-up of 262 days, whereas 1,678 patients were allocated to usual care (mean age, 70.0 years; 38.0% female) with mean follow-up of 291 days. Rates of the composite outcome of 'ischemic stroke/systemic thromboembolism, death, and rehospitalization' were lower with the mAFA intervention compared with usual care (1.9% vs. 6.0%; hazard ratio [HR]: 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22 to 0.67; p < 0.001). Rates of rehospitalization were lower with the mAFA intervention (1.2% vs. 4.5%; HR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.17 to 0.60; p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses by sex, age, AF type, risk score, and comorbidities demonstrated consistently lower HRs for the composite outcome for patients receiving the mAFA intervention compared with usual care (all p < 0.05).Conclusions: An integrated care approach to holistic AF care, supported by mHealth technology, reduces the risks of rehospitalization and clinical adverse events. (Mobile Health [mHealth] technology integrating atrial fibrillation screening and ABC management approach trial; ChiCTR-OOC-17014138). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) has unique applications in high-resolution imaging of the fine structure of astronomical objects and high-precision astrometry due to the key long space–Earth or space–space baselines beyond the Earth's diameter. China has been actively involved in the development of space VLBI in recent years. This review briefly summarizes China's research progress in space VLBI and the future development plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare disease resulting from autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII that leads to spontaneous bleeding. This study reports the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of a relatively sizable cohort of patients with AHA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics and outcomes of 42 patients with AHA diagnosed in our center from January 2014 through December 2018. Results: The FVIII activity (FVIII: C) was significantly suppressed (median 1.5%; interquartile range [IQR]: 0.9–3.5) by FVIII inhibitor (median 8 BU/mL; IQR: 4.0–16.0). Bypassing agents, PCC or FVIIa, were used in 14 patients for bleeding control without any adverse reaction; and most patients (90.5%, 38/42) were placed on immunosuppressive regimen, corticosteroid alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide. Patients treated with corticosteroids alone had a lower median inhibitor titer (8 BU/mL) than those treated with combination corticosteroids of cyclophosphamide (16 BU/mL) (p < 0.001). 97.4% (37/38) patients achieved complete remission (CR) after immunosuppression therapy, and the median time to CR in patients treated with corticosteroids alone was shorter than those with combination corticosteroids of cyclophosphamide (median 40 days; IQR: 31–65 vs. 51 days; IQR: 38–83, p = 0.301). 10 (26.3%) patients relapsed thereafter and were placed on combined corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide treatment, which yielded second remission in 8 patients (80%). Two patients died, one from uncontrolled post-surgical retroperitoneal hemorrhage and one from sepsis complicating corticosteroid therapy. Conclusion: The corticosteroid achieves a satisfactory outcome, particularly with low inhibitors titers; and combination of cyclophosphamide will facilitate remission in sever patients with high titers of inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repentance in Chinese Buddhism is a common practice for monastics and lay practitioners to repent for transgressions and commit to corrective actions guided by Buddhism. Regardless of the significance and prevalence of repentance, little is known about its psychological effects and implications for counseling. In response to the American Psychological Association’s guidelines to respect clients’ cultural practices, this article addresses the research gap by elucidating the practices and implications of repentance, the psychological significance, and implications for mental health professionals to consider and apply repentance in counseling. A hypothetical case example was used to illustrate the pragmatic application of repentance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The current global strategy for the control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis emphasises periodic administration of anthelminthic drugs to at-risk populations. However, this approach fails to address the root social and ecological causes of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. For sustainable control, it has been suggested that improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene behaviour are required. We designed a 5-year multi-intervention trial in Menghai county, Yunnan province, People's Republic of China. Three different interventions were implemented, each covering a village inhabited by 200–350 people. The interventions consisted of (i) initial health education at study inception and systematic treatment of all individuals aged ≥2 years once every year with a single dose of albendazole; (ii) initial health education and bi-annual albendazole administration; and (iii) bi-annual treatment coupled with latrine construction at family level and regular health education. Interventions were rigorously implemented for 3 years, whilst the follow-up, which included annual albendazole distribution, lasted for 2 more years. Before the third round of treatment, the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was reduced by only 2.8% in the annual treatment arm, whilst bi-annual deworming combined with latrine construction and health education resulted in a prevalence reduction of 53.3% ( p < 0.001). All three control approaches significantly reduced the prevalence of Trichuris trichiura and hookworm, with the highest reductions achieved when chemotherapy was combined with sanitation and health education. The prevalence of T. trichiura remained at 30% and above regardless of the intervention. Only bi-annual treatment combined with latrine construction and health education significantly impacted on the prevalence of Taenia spp., but none of the interventions significantly reduced the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis . Our findings support the notion that in high-endemicity areas, sustainable control of soil-transmitted helminth infections necessitates measures to reduce faecal environmental contamination to complement mass drug administration. However, elimination of soil-transmitted helminthiasis will not be achieved in the short run even with a package of interventions, and probably requires improvements in living conditions, changes in hygiene behaviour and more efficacious anthelminthic drugs and treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Respondent-driven Sampling (RDS) is a new form of chain-referral sampling, which is superior to random sampling and traditional non-probability sampling in hard-to-reach populations. We employed RDS to recruit internal migrant workers in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, and examined whether it could be successfully used in this population. Methods: 1,270 migrant workers were recruited into the study. Social demographic information, social network size, and geographic information about participants’ residential locations were collected. RDSAT software and geographic information system (GIS) technology were used to examine whether RDS was successful. Results: The results showed that the sample compositions converged to equilibrium very quickly. Sample representativeness testing results showed that females (t = 3.61, p < 0.001) and people aged 46 years old and above (t = 3.222, p < 0.001) were under-represented. GIS results showed that respondents were concentrated in the vicinity of the third road ring of Chengdu, especially in the areas of 3, 4 and 21, which were close to the investigation site. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that RDS is a robust sampling method in the study of migrant workers. Despite its potential utility, it is also important to recognize and mitigate potential limitations, such as geographic proximity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The spectral absorption properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and their distributions in two Chinese estuaries, the Yangtze River Estuary and the Jiulong River Estuary, were studied during August 2003 (wet season) and during different seasons between 2003−2005, respectively. The CDOM concentrations (a 355) of fresh end members in the Jiulong River Estuary varied seasonally, while its quality remained relatively stable. However, the a 355 of the marine end members exhibited less variability. Application of a conservative mixing model indicated that CDOM behaved conservatively in the Yangtze River Estuary. No photobleaching removal was observed at high salinity region of this estuary. Although CDOM showed conservative behavior for many cruises in the Jiulong River Estuary, there was evidence for removal in the low salinity regions during some cruises. Laboratory mixing experiments and a salt addition experiment suggested that particle sorption of CDOM maybe the possible reason for the removal. These results showed that absorption properties of CDOM can be used as a tool to observe the quantitative and qualitative dynamics of DOM during estuarine mixing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]