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This article aims to examine the employment prospects of graduates from Sino-foreign cooperative universities (SFCUs) compared with those from local Chinese universities. Drawing on the annual employment quality reports released by six SFCUs, the findings indicated that SFCU graduates had distinct advantages in terms of both further study and direct employment. Specifically, the overall employment rate reached 95.84%; over half of the graduates pursued further study abroad in world-class foreign universities, close to one-third continued further studies in elite domestic universities, and one-sixth were employed by transnational or local large organizations. These results suggest that SFCU graduates were equipped with distinct competitive advantages for employment, further supported by an affluent family background and the high-quality requirement for admission. Meanwhile, the findings also raise concerns about brain drain, economic flows, overeducation, reduced entrepreneurial passion, and unemployment dilemma for graduates from lesser known SFCUs.

Drawing on sentiment analysis, this study explores public opinions on the higher education expansion policy that was specifically implemented by China's government to navigate graduate employment difficulties against the impact of COVID-19. The results indicated that the overall degree of acceptance of the expansion plan was highly positive, but some people expressed negative opinions and concerns about over-education and deferral of employment pressure. The results also suggested that the government is expected to deal with the balance between higher education expansion and graduate employment difficulties by prioritizing domestic graduate employment rather than opening up permanent resident applications for foreigners, allocating a regionally balanced expansion quota, covering social science disciplines, and creating more employment opportunities. The findings provide important suggestions for policymakers to improve policy practice and offer a referable sample for other countries in their management of graduate employment issues influenced by COVID-19.

Background: Aging is associated with an increased prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), functional impairments, and diverse demands for health services. This study analyzed the trends in older adults' needs and utilization of health services from 1993 to 2018 in China, as well as chronic disease-related economic burdens. Methods: The research data were collected from the six cross-sectional National Health Service Survey (NHSS), implemented every 5 years from 1993 to 2018. A multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method has been adopted in the NHSS. The data on the older population's socio-economic characteristics, health service needs, and utilization were collected from the 6 waves National Health Service Survey (NHSS) 1993–2018. In the 2013 and 2018 NHSSs, EQ-5D-3L and visual analogue scale were used to evaluate the health condition. And the prevalence of NCDs and related Out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures were collected. Functional dependency and impairment were collected in 2018. The Katz Activities of Daily Living scale was used to evaluate six functions, including self-feeding, dressing, bathing, transferring, toilet hygiene, and controlling bowel movements. Results: The two-week morbidity rate and prevalence of NCDs showed a rapid upward trend in older adults. With the development of health system reform and universal health insurance coverage, older adults' two-week medical consultation rate increased from 25.6% in 1993 to 40.1% in 2018, and the hospitalization rate rose from 6.1% to 24.9%. The difference in health service needs and utilization between urban and rural areas decreased, and the hospitalization rate in rural areas (26.3%) exceeded that in urban areas (23.6%) for the first time in 2018. Functional independence become more severe as aged. The proportion of severe functional impairment was 6.9% and 2% in the group aged 80 or over and group 70–79 years, respectively. Regarding disability status, 32.5% had hearing problems and 31.4% had visual impairment. The highest prevalence rates of NCDs in older adults were found in hypertension (36.9%), followed by diabetes (10.6%), cerebrovascular disease (5.4%), ischemic heart disease (4.5%), and intervertebral disc disease (4.2%). The average annual OOP expenditures attributed to NCDs increased from ¥2481.8 RMB in 2013 to ¥8255.9 RMB in 2018 for older adults. About 90.7% of older adults prefer to live in the residential community, leading to the demands for preventive healthcare (30.4%), medical treatment (14.1%), and elderly education (8.6%). Conclusion: The elevated risks of age-related impairments and chronic morbidities, and increased demands for preventive healthcare are critical public health issues. Policymakers should strengthen primary healthcare and move towards integrated delivery to improve access and quality of care for older adults. The integration of healthcare and social security constitutes an adaptive trend in meeting the multi-level demands of an aging society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the past 25 years, the spectrum of diseases in China has rapidly changed from infectious to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study aimed to identify the prevalence of chronic diseases over the past 25 years in China and estimate the trends and changes in risk factors related to NCDs. Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis based on the National Health Service Survey (NHSS) from 1993 to 2018. The survey year (in parentheses) and its respective number of respondents were (1993) 215,163; (1998) 216,101; (2003) 193,689; (2008) 177,501; (2013) 273,688; and (2018) 256,304. In each survey, approximately half the participants were male. In addition, we estimated the trends in the prevalence and risk factors of NCDs from 1993 to 2018 and described their coefficient of variation in the provisions. Results: The prevalence of NCDs has risen rapidly, from 17.0% in 1993 to 34.3% 2018. Hypertension and diabetes were the two main NCDs accounting for 53.3% in 2018. Similarly, the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes have also increased rapidly, increasing 15.1 and 27.0 times respectively from 1993 to 2018. Moreover, from 1993 to 2018, the proportion of smoking decreased from 32.0% to 24.7%, and the proportion of drinking and physical activity increased from 18.4% and 8.0% to 27.6% and 49.9%, respectively. The proportion of obesity increased from 5.4% in 2013 to 9.5% in 2018. The prevalence of NCDs in rural areas (35.2%) in 2018 was slightly higher than that in urban areas (33.5%). Changes in the prevalence of NCDs in rural were larger than those in urban. However, from 2013 to 2018, the provincial gaps for these metrics narrowed, except for that of smoking (Coefficient of Variation from 0.14 to 0.16). Conclusions: The prevalence of NCDs increased rapidly in China and was similar in urban and rural areas in 2018. Two key risk factors (drinking and obesity) increased in prevalence, while the other two (smoking and physical inactivity) decreased. These results indicate that China is facing considerable challenges in curbing chronic diseases to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or the Healthy China 2030 goals. The government should take more active measures to change unhealthy lifestyles, improve efficiency in risk factor management, and pay more attention and allocate more health resources to rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Changes in China's health care system in the last three decades was remarkable. The current study aims on examine the change of equality of health care utilization in mainland China based on a nationwide household interview survey. Methods: We used household interview data extracted from six waves of National Health Service Survey between 1993 and 2018. Changes of health care utilization were descripted. Equality of the utilization were examined with univariate meta-regression across urban and rural areas, socioeconomic development regions and income groups. Results: The proportion of outpatient visits within last two weeks experienced a decrease from 17.0% in 1993 to 13.0% in 2013 and bounced back to 24.0% in 2018. The age-standardized trend remained unchanged. Hospitalization in the last 12 month increased from 2.6% in 1998 to 13.8% in 2018. The perceived unmet need of hospital admission fell from 35.9% in 1998 to 21.5% in 2018. The gaps in health care utilization between urban and rural areas, across regions and by income groups have been narrowed, implying improved equality of using medical services in the last two and a half decades. Conclusion: China has experienced significant increases in health care utilization over the past 25 years. Meanwhile, the unmet needs for health care decreased remarkably and the equality of health care utilization improved significantly. These results imply significant achievements in health service accessibility in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the correlations between personality and career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) of university students from poor rural areas in China from an educational equity perspective. The results showed that female (vs. male) students were more neurotic, senior (vs. younger) students were more agreeable, and social science students were more neurotic than those in other disciplines. The results also revealed that differences in the total CDMSE were nonsignificant, but there was a gender difference in accurate self-appraisal and a difference by year of study in gathering information. There was a positive correlation between conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness, and extraversion, and CDMSE, and a negative correlation between neuroticism and CDMSE. The 5 personality traits, except for agreeableness, played a crucial role in predicting CDMSE. The results suggest that officials and staff of governments, universities, and industries should work together to develop proactive personality traits of students from poor rural areas in China, facilitate their CDMSE, and help them achieve their employment aspirations, thereby promoting educational equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding fundamental aspects of the effects of water on both the mesostructure and mechanical characteristics of coal and coal-water interactions is important for increasing the utilization of coal and has not been thoroughly addressed by researchers. To fill this gap, a series of laboratory tests were carried out systematically using coal from the Tashan Coal Mine in China; both untreated samples and samples soaked for 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 2 d, 4 d, 10 d, and 20 d. The water absorption characteristics, pore structure, mineral composition, surface morphology and wave velocities of the coal samples that varied with water-soaking time were studied comprehensively by using nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and ultrasonic testing. In addition, the mechanical properties, i.e., uniaxial compressive strength σ u and elastic modulus E , and the deformation and failure characteristics of the coal under different water-soaking periods were obtained by conducting uniaxial compression tests. The parameters of the water infusion techniques were also analyzed to address the hard coal roof of the Tashan coal mine. The results showed that as the water soaking time increased, the average pore sizes expanded and new pores developed; the pore types changed from micropores to mesopores to macropores. Longer water immersion led to not only greater pore connectivity and coal permeability but also changes in the mineral composition and structural characteristics. In addition, the velocity of the ultrasonic longitudinal wave first increased with seepage, enabling moisture to fill the macropores, and then decreased after 4 d due to the water wedge effect. Moreover, both σ u and E decreased and could be expressed by exponential functions in terms of soaking time; after 20 d, σ u and E decreased by 21.9% and 28.53%, respectively. The appropriate water infusion time and distance for advance were suggested to be 10–15 d and 60–90 m, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of widespread organic-rich shales on the early Cambrian Yangtze Platform of Nanhua Basin (South China) has been attributed to high primary productivity. To test this hypothesis, we generated multiple paleoproductivity (OCAR and PAR), paleoredox (C org /P ratios), upwelling/restriction (Co EF × Mn EF , Co (ppm) × Mn (%), Mo/TOC, and Cd/Mo ratios), and terrigenous flux proxies (Al and unreactive Fe (Fe U)) for the lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation in the outer-shelf Jinsha section, which records a typical transition from the organic-rich black shales to overlying organic-lean mudstones or siltstones. These new data were integrated with published paleoredox proxies (iron speciation and redox-sensitive trace metals) for the same section. Our results suggest that the organic-rich (TOC = 4.6 ± 1.8%) lower member (LM; 0–37 m) of the Niutitang Formation records ferruginous conditions, high productivity levels, and low siliciclastic fluxes, and that the organic-poor (TOC = 0.1 ± 0.1%) upper member (UM; 37–329 m) was characterized by dominantly oxic conditions, declining productivity levels, and high siliciclastic fluxes. Our results suggest a redox shift from ferruginous to oxic conditions and enhanced terrigenous fluxes in response to falling sea level from the LM to the UM. Secular variations in primary productivity and redox conditions are strongly correlated, which is consistent with a positive feedback: high primary productivity led to increasing water-column anoxia, which enhanced organic P recycling, stimulating further productivity. Variations in primary productivity may reflect variable upwelling intensity in a semi-restricted shelf setting linked to sea-level changes. Taken together, these findings suggest that a combination of primary productivity, redox conditions, and terrigenous fluxes driven by sea-level changes played a key role in organic matter accumulation on the early-Cambrian western Yangtze Platform. • Anoxic conditions, high productivity and low terrigenous fluxes were found for LM. • Oxic conditions, low productivity and high terrigenous fluxes were found for UM. • Contrasting conditions between LM and UM were controlled by sea-level changes. • High productivity in LM was caused by upwelling linked to transgressions. • A multiple-factor model controlling OM accumulation for western Yangtze Platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicting published interpretations of marine redox conditions during the Ordovician-Silurian transition (OST) may have been linked to spatial redox heterogeneity during this interval. However, details of the pattern of redox heterogeneity and its underlying causes remain unclear. Here, we present a high-resolution geochemical study of a drillcore section (Pengye #1) from Pengshui County (Chongqing municipality, southwestern China) that was located in the semi-restricted inner Yangtze Sea during the OST. We analyzed Fe-speciation, redox-sensitive trace elements, major elements, and pyrite δ34S compositions (δ34S py) and then compared these data with published results from coeval sections at Datianba and Shuanghe in the same basin. The integrated dataset demonstrates pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity of redox conditions—especially the local development of euxinic conditions in the inner Yangtze Sea during the OST. Integrated data further suggest that high primary productivity and ample Fe fluxes in the inner Yangtze Sea may have depleted dissolved sulfate through microbial sulfate reduction (MSR) and subsequent pyrite formation, except in areas with enhanced sulfate supply from continental weathering or open-ocean exchange, which varied as a function of both tectonic (i.e., the regional Kwangsian Orogeny) and eustatic changes (i.e., the global Hirnantian glaciation). Limited sulfate availability thus likely prevented the development of euxinic conditions in some regions of the inner Yangtze Sea, as reflected in spatial variation of δ34S py. Our study highlights the potential role of sulfate availability on the development of watermass euxinia in semi-restricted marginal-marine basins during the OST. • Most detailed analysis to date of redox conditions in Late Ordovician inner Yangtze Sea of South China Craton • Multiproxy dataset (Fe species, trace metals, δ34S py) confirms spatiotemporal heterogeneity of redox conditions. • A redox shift from euxinic to suboxic/ferruginous conditions occurred during the mid-Hirnantian regression. • Development of euxinia within the inner Yangtze Sea was mainly controlled by local sulfate fluxes. • Local sulfate fluxes were strongly influenced by tectonic and glacio-eustatic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Job burnout has become a widespread phenomenon in school settings. However, little is known about the mental health condition of the growing cohort of generalist teachers in rural primary schools. Drawing on the job demands-resource model and social exchange theory, this study examines the correlation between job burnout and job satisfaction through perceived organizational support and work engagement., Methods: We recruited 639 Chinese generalist teachers in rural primary schools as the study subjects and developed a serial mediation model to assess the hypothesized construct. The data acquired online via Wenjuanxing Software were confirmed as valid and analyzed with SPSS and SmartPLS., Results: The participants scored above the median in perceived organizational support, work engagement, and job satisfaction, and had scores close to the median for job burnout. Statistically significant differences among the investigated variables were found in gender, age, experience, and degree. Job burnout was negatively predictive of perceived organizational support, work engagement, and job satisfaction (each p = 0.000). Perceived organizational support mediated the association between job burnout and work engagement ( p = 0.000) and the connection between job burnout and job satisfaction ( p = 0.000), while work engagement mediated the association between job burnout and job satisfaction ( p = 0.000) and the association between perceived organizational support and job satisfaction ( p = 0.000)., Conclusions: Perceived organizational support and work engagement as two sequential mediators buffered the detrimental impact of job burnout on job satisfaction among Chinese generalist teachers in rural primary schools. Targeted strategies should be implemented to diminish generalist teachers' feelings of burnout, being unsupported by organizations, disengagement at work, and dissatisfaction with the job.

Backgrounds: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of deaths nationwide. However, little is understood about its temporal trend and corresponding influence on longevity improvements. We aimed to describe the updated tendency in CVD mortality and to quantify its impact on life expectancy (LE) increase in China., Methods: All-cause mortality rates were calculated with population sizes from the National Bureau of Statistics and death counts from the National Health Commission. We estimated CVD mortality rates by allocating age- and sex-based mortality envelopes to each CVD subtype based on its proportion derived from the Disease Surveillance Points system. The probability of CVD premature deaths and LE were calculated with life tables and we adopted Arriaga's method to quantitate age- and cause-specific contributions to LE gains., Results: During 2013 to 2018, the age-standardized mortality rate of CVD decreased from 289.69 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 289.03, 290.35)/100,000 to 272.37 (95%CI: 271.81, 272.94)/100,000, along with a decline in probability of CVD premature deaths from 9.05% (95%CI: 9.02%, 9.09%) to 8.13% (95%CI: 8.10%, 8.16%). The gap in CVD mortality across sexes expanded with more remarkable declines in females, especially for those aged 15 to 64 years. Among major subtypes, the probability of premature deaths from hemorrhage stroke declined fastest, while improvements of ischemic stroke and ischemic heart disease were limited, and there was an increase in stroke sequelae. LE in China reached 77.04 (95%CI: 76.96, 77.12) years in 2018 with an increase of 1.38 years from 2013. Of the total LE gains, 21.15% (0.29 years) were attributed to reductions of CVD mortality in the overall population, mostly driven by those aged >65 years., Conclusions: The general process in reducing CVD mortality has contributed to longevity improvements in China. More attention should be paid to prevention and control of atherosclerotic CVD and stroke sequelae, especially for the elderly. Working-age males also deserve additional attention due to inadequate improvements., (Copyright © 2022 The Chinese Medical Association, produced by Wolters Kluwer, Inc. under the CC-BY-NC-ND license.)

Background: Job burnout (JB) has become a prevalent emotional and psychological syndrome across diverse contexts, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS), job satisfaction (JS), self-efficacy (SE), and JB, alongside their mechanism of interplay., Methods: We took 210 Chinese academic journal editors as the research participants and designed a moderated mediation model to examine the posited construct. All the data were gathered online and analyzed with the statistical software SPSS and SmartPLS., Results: The participants comprised 117 women (55.71%) and 93 men (44.29%). There were significant differences among observed variables in age, experience, and title. POS had a significant negative predictive effect on JB (95% CI = -0.43; -0.06). JS mediated the relationship between POS and JB (95% CI = -0.48; -0.11). SE moderated the association between JS and JB (95% CI = 0.04; 0.75) but did not function as a moderator in the relationship between POS and JS (95% CI = -0.01; 0.24)., Conclusions: POS, JS, and SE were crucial determinants of JB among Chinese academic journal editors. Targeted interventions should be initiated to diminish editors' feelings of being unappreciated, inefficient, dissatisfied, and unaccomplished at work.