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Task Performance is greatly significant in the field of education. The OECD defines Task Performance as the ability to function based on conscientiousness in the "Big Five" personality domains. People with high Task Performance tend to also have significant conscientiousness. In other words, they are more self-controlled, more responsible, and more persistent. As a result, they focus well on tasks and earn better grades. Task Performance includes self-control, responsibility, and perseverance. The study surveyed 3,647 10-year-old students and 3,621 15-year-old students in Suzhou (China) on their Task Performance by using self-assessment questionnaires, parent surveys, and teacher evaluation. The main results of the study are presented: (1) The overall status of task performance; (2) Predictive variable analysis of task performance; and (3) Task performance and life. [For part II, see EJ1324085; for part III, see EJ1324104; and for part IV, see EJ1324107.]

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of thermal ablation (TA) for follicular thyroid neoplasms (FTN) ≤ 3 cm. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled 161 patients (131 females; mean age, 46 ± 15 years [range, 11–86]) who underwent TA for FTN ≤ 3 cm between January 2014 and October 2023 from eight centers in China. The median follow-up time was 12 months (IQR, 12–24 months). Based on the maximum diameter (MD) of the nodule, patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (MD ≤ 2 cm) and Group 2 (2 < MD ≤ 3 cm). Post-ablation assessments encompassed evaluations of tumor size and volume changes, technical success rate, tumor disappearance, disease progression, complications, and risk factors associated with recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury. Results: All patients underwent complete ablation in a single session. The technical success rate was 100%. The mean volume reduction rate (VRR) of the ablation zone at 12 months was 78.11%. The VRR at 12 months was higher in Group 1 than that in Group 2 (Median VRR, 93.8% vs. 82.8%; P = 0.019). The complete tumor disappearance rate was 15.5% (25/161). Smaller tumors have a higher tumor disappearance rate (Group 1 vs Group 2 = 27.6% vs. 4.7%; P < 0.001). The disease progression rate was 2.5% (4/161), with no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.535). The complication rate was 3.1% (5/161), with no significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.899). No risk factors were identified for RLN injury. Conclusions: Thermal ablation is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with FTN ≤ 3 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Currently, there is no clinical data reported on the therapy of dual biological agents in pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) patients in China. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dual biologic therapy or biologics combined with small molecule drugs in refractory PIBD patients in China. Methods: Clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and ultrasound data of PIBD patients from the Department of Gastroenterology of Beijing Children's Hospital between January 2021 and October 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. PIBD patients who received dual biologic treatment or a combination of biologic and small molecule therapy were included in this study. Steroid-free clinical remission and adverse events were recorded. Results: In this retrospective study, out of 520 children with IBD, twelve children (2.3%) were diagnosed with refractory PIBD and met the criteria for dual biotherapy, including four with UC (33%) and eight with CD (67%). The median age of patients was 13.64 (range, 1.2–17.1) years at eligibility for dual biologic therapy. There are eight (67%) patients treated with infliximab/ustekinumab (IFX + UST), three (25%) patients with upadacitinib/ustekinumab (UPA + UST), one (8%) patient with infliximab/vedolizumab (IFX + VDZ). At 3, 6, and 12 months of dual biological treatment, 91.2% (11/12), 100% (12/12), and 100% (12/12) patients showed steroid-free clinical remission, respectively. The median fecal calprotectin decreased significantly from 1852.5 µg/g (IQR, 762.5–1988.25) at baseline to 359.0 (IQR, 217.5–730.25) μg/g at 3 months, 113 (IQR, 73.7–256) μg/g at 6 months, and 82.5 (IQR, 40.25–122.25) μg/g at 12 months. Only one CD patient with IFX + UST reported mild elevation of aminotransferase, who recovered after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions: Dual biologic or small molecule therapy may be effective and safe for children with refractory PIBD in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass persuasion is crucial to politics, and sophisticated leaders utilize political persuasion to influence citizens' attitudes and emotions, alter their behaviors, and solicit regime support. In recent decades, a variety of actors have engaged in mass persuasion on China's internet. Using online ethnography and archival research, this study examines a newly emerged but less studied group—pro-regime intellectuals and their online mass persuasion strategies. First, we find that pro-regime intellectuals act as outspoken critics of the West to promote China-centric theories by utilizing their academic knowledge and reasoning. Meanwhile, given their close government connections, they stand as intermediaries between the state and society to channel public discontent and articulate public policy. Furthermore, they proactively adapt to cyberculture by interacting and cultivating close bonds with netizens, as well as by collaborating with platforms to attract public attention. By deciphering this set of mass persuasion strategies, this article contributes to our understanding of how pro-regime intellectuals' digital mass persuasion helps maintain the state's discursive hegemony, which facilitates regime resilience in the era of social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of green finance (GF) on renewable energy development efficiency (REDE) has garnered considerable attention from both academia and society. To study the changes in China's REDE in recent years and GF's effect on it, this research first evaluates 30 provinces' REDE from 2010 to 2019 using a non-radial directional distance function (NDDF) based on global technical assumptions. Second, we evaluate the direct impact of GF on REDE. Finally, we explore the internal mechanism for how GF influences REDE. The results of this study are as follows. (1) GF has a significant promoting effect on REDE. (2) The improvement of renewable energy (RE) technological innovation level and the increase of foreign investment strengthen GE's promoting effect on REDE. (3) The positive effect of GF on REDE is prominent in regions with lower environmental regulations and carbon intensities and higher financial development levels. This paper offers relevant policy suggestions to improve REDE and to enhance GF development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the mixed evidence that having both women and men in the top management team (TMT) or in the board of directors (BOD) has a significant influence on organizational innovation, we resolve this issue by conceptualizing TMT–BOD gender diversity as part of a multiteam system, that has joint effects which impact organizational innovation. Evidence from the study of both Chinese firms and UK firms confirm our conceptualization by showing an interaction effect between TMT gender diversity and BOD gender diversity such that innovation is greatest when both are high. The positive TMT–BOD gender diversity interaction effect on innovation improves subsequent firm performance particularly in dynamic environments. The findings refine current thinking by going beyond research that tests intra‐team TMT or BOD diversity independently and instead considers inter‐team diversity across both leadership teams within the strategic leadership upper echelons. In sum, findings show that high levels of TMT and BOD gender diversity result in more organizational innovation, which ultimately improves firm performance. We offer implications for women's inclusion in leadership as well as for research on the upper echelons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining accurate and real-time spatial distribution information regarding crops is critical for enabling effective smart agricultural management. In this study, innovative decision fusion strategies, including Enhanced Overall Accuracy Index (E-OAI) voting and the Overall Accuracy Index-based Majority Voting (OAI-MV), were introduced to optimize the use of diverse remote sensing data and various classifiers, thereby improving the accuracy of crop/vegetation identification. These strategies were utilized to integrate crop/vegetation classification outcomes from distinct feature sets (including Gaofen-6 reflectance, Sentinel-2 time series of vegetation indices, Sentinel-2 time series of biophysical variables, Sentinel-1 time series of backscatter coefficients, and their combinations) using distinct classifiers (Random Forests (RFs), Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Maximum Likelihood (ML), and U-Net), taking two grain-producing areas (Site #1 and Site #2) in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China, as the research area. The results indicate that employing U-Net on feature-combined sets yielded the highest overall accuracy (OA) of 81.23% and 91.49% for Site #1 and Site #2, respectively, in the single classifier experiments. The E-OAI strategy, compared to the original OAI strategy, boosted the OA by 0.17% to 6.28%. Furthermore, the OAI-MV strategy achieved the highest OA of 86.02% and 95.67% for the respective study sites. This study highlights the distinct strengths of various remote sensing features and classifiers in discerning different crop and vegetation types. Additionally, the proposed OAI-MV and E-OAI strategies effectively harness the benefits of diverse classifiers and multisource remote sensing features, significantly enhancing the accuracy of crop/vegetation classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enterovirus A71 (EV71) inactivated vaccine is an effective intervention to control the spread of the virus and prevent EV71-associated hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). It is widely administered to infants and children in China. The empty particles (EPs) and full particles (FPs) generated during production have different antigenic and immunogenic properties. However, the antigen detection methods currently used were established without considering the differences in antigenicity between EPs and FPs. There is also a lack of other effective analytical methods for detecting the different particle forms, which hinders the consistency between batches of products. In this study, we analyzed the application of sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (SV-AUC) in characterizing the EPs and FPs of EV71. Our results showed that the proportions of the two forms could be quantified simultaneously by SV-AUC. We also determined the repeatability and accuracy of this method and found that both parameters were satisfactory. We assessed SV-AUC for bulk vaccine quality control, and our findings indicated that SV-AUC can be used effectively to analyze the percentage of EPs and FPs and monitor the consistency of the process to ensure the quality of the vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxylated isoprenoid GDGTs (OH‐GDGTs) have emerged as a novel tool for reconstructing sea surface temperatures. However, when using marine OH‐GDGT calibration in lacustrine settings, it leads to a significant overestimation of temperatures, emphasizing the necessity for a thorough examination of OH‐GDGTs in lakes. Here, we investigated OH‐GDGT distributions in surface sediments from 65 lakes in West China and compiled published Asian lake and global marine OH‐GDGT data sets. Among all GDGT‐based indices, RI‐OH showed the strongest correlation with temperature across Asian lakes. The RI‐OH value was higher in lakes than in marine sediments, likely due to differences in the composition of Group 1.1a thaumarchaeotal species between the two settings. The first RI‐OH temperature calibration for lakes was developed and it addressed the issue of temperature overestimation when applied to both water column and sediment core, highlighting the potential of OH‐GDGTs as a new terrestrial paleothermometer. Plain Language Summary: Reconstruction of past terrestrial temperatures plays a crucial role in understanding modern global warming and projecting future climate patterns, yet reliable terrestrial temperature proxies remain limited. In this study, we present compelling evidence that the ring index of OH‐GDGTs, expressed as RI‐OH, is predominantly influenced by temperature in lacustrine settings, regardless of the wide range of physical and chemical characteristics of the lakes. We developed the first lacustrine RI‐OH‐temperature calibration and successfully applied it to a water column and a sediment core. These findings suggest that RI‐OH can be used as a novel paleothermometer in lacustrine settings. Key Points: OH‐GDGTs were first investigated in lacustrine settings along a wide temperature gradientTemperature was the most important factor affecting OH‐GDGT distributions in lacustrine settingsThe first calibration in lacustrine settings was established and successfully applied to a water column and a sediment core [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, floods have brought renewed attention and requirement for real-time and city-scaled flood forecasting due to climate change and urbanization. In this study, a rapid assessment method for flood risk mapping is proposed by integrating aerial point clouds and deep learning technique that is capable of superior modeling efficiency and analysis accuracy for flood risk mapping. The method includes four application modules, i.e., data acquisition and preprocessing by oblique photography, large-scale point clouds segmentation by RandLA-Net, high-precision digital elevation model (DEM) reconstruction by modified hierarchical smoothing filtering algorithm, and hydrodynamics simulation based on hydrodynamics. To demonstrate the advantages of the proposed rapid assessment method more clearly, a case study is conducted in a local area of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project in China. The proposed method achieved 70.85% in mean intersection over union (mIoU) and 88.70% in overall accuracy (OAcc), outperforming the PointNet and PointNet++ networks. For the case point cloud containing nearly 50 million points, the computation time is less than 9 min, while the computation times for PointNet and PointNet++ are both more than 24 h. Then, high-precision DEM reconstruction by proposed hierarchical smoothing method with topographic feature embedding. These results demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method in processing large-scale 3D point clouds and rapid assessment of flood risk, providing a new perspective and effective solution for flood risk mapping in the field of spatial information science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the automobile market is a macro-expression of the behavior of automakers' production decisions. This study examines the competitive environment between new energy vehicles (NEVs) and conventional fuel vehicles (CFVs) and develops a game-theoretical model incorporating consumer utility, automaker profit, and the competitive density of NEVs and CFVs. It aims to assess how consumers' preferences for vehicle range and smart features influence automakers' strategic decisions and the broader market evolution under the Dual Credit Policy. The findings indicate: (1) A low NEV credit price facilitates NEV market size growth, but this growth rate diminishes beyond a certain price threshold; (2) The lower the consumer's range preference, the higher NEV credit price can accelerate the development of new energy vehicles to their saturation value. However, when consumers in the market prioritize smart features, increasing the NEV credit price does not significantly influence the growth of NEV market size. (3) Higher consumer preferences for both range and smart features, combined with increased NEV credit prices, can synergistically accelerate the speed of the NEV market to reach the saturation value and also raise the saturation value of the scale of NEVs. And higher consumer range preference combined with increased NEV credit prices has a more significant effect on the promotion of NEV market size than the combined effect of higher consumer smart preference and increased NEV credit prices. The actual data of China's automobile market is used in the simulation of this model. The model and its simulation results effectively explain and reveal the evolutionary impacts of consumers' range and smart feature preference on the promotion of China's NEVs under the Dual Credit Policy to provide effective technological and theoretical support for the promotion of the sustainable development of China's NEV industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese traditional fermented seasonings, essential to the culinary heritage of China, are produced through fermentation, resulting in a diverse range of unique flavors and aromas. The microorganisms involved in fermentation play significant roles in shaping the quality of these traditional fermented seasonings. The production of traditional fermented seasonings is affected by various biological and abiotic factors, presenting challenges concerning product quality and safety. This review investigates the impact of bioaugmentation technology on key Chinese traditional fermented seasonings, such as vinegar, soy sauce, sufu, doubanjiang, dajiang, and douchi. Additionally, the challenges and constraints linked to the implementation of bioaugmentation technology are discussed. The potential of bioaugmentation is highlighted by its ability to shorten the fermentation time, optimize raw material utilization, improve nutritional value, and enhance the quality parameters of these seasonings. This paper demonstrates an interesting convergence of traditional culinary heritage and contemporary technological advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sichuan Baoning vinegar, a typical representative of Sichuan bran vinegar, is a famous traditional fermented food made from cereals in China. At present, there are few studies on microbial characterization of culturable microorganisms in solid-state fermentation of Sichuan bran vinegar. To comprehensively understand the diversity of lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria and yeasts, which play an important role in the fermentation of Sichuan bran vinegar, traditional culture-dependent methods combined with morphological, biochemical, and molecular identification techniques were employed to screen and identify these isolates. A total of 34 lactic acid bacteria isolates, 39 acetic acid bacteria isolates, and 48 yeast isolates were obtained. Lactic acid bacteria were dominated by Enterococcus durans, Leuconostoc citreum, Lactococcus lactis, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, respectively. Latilactobacillus sakei was the first discovery in cereal vinegar. Acetic acid bacteria were mainly Acetobacter pomorum and A. pasteurianus. The dominant yeast isolates were Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in addition to four non-Saccharomyces yeasts. DNA fingerprinting revealed that isolates belonging to the same species exhibited intraspecific diversity, and there were differences between phenotypic and genotypic classification results. This study further enriches studies on cereal vinegar and lays a foundation for the development of vinegar starters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines patient group advocacy across China. Drawing on a two-year ethnographic study of rare-disease patient groups, this article documents how patient groups have developed both locally based patient clusters and translocal networks to spread their advocacy across China. Patient groups' decentered, locally based patient clusters enable parochial advocacy targeting local authorities, typically with the goal of obtaining subsidies for specialized medical treatment. Translocal networks of patient groups have provided an organizational foundation for interregional information exchange. Mutual-aid patient groups harness such networks to advocate for government support across China at a lower organizational and political cost, minimizing the risk of government repression. The article advances our understanding of cross-regional patient advocacy and changing state-society relations in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In China, soup is widely perceived as a nutritional tonic, and pig bones are a primary ingredient in its preparation. Consequently, the market price of pig bones, even when of equal weight, surpasses that of pork, particularly in southern China. Despite this economic significance, the trait of pig bone weight has not been a focus in pig breeding programs due to the inherent challenges associated with in vivo measurement. The genetic selection method stands out as an effective approach for targeting the trait of pig bone weight in pig breeding. Recognizing its significance, our research endeavors have delved into molecular genetics to gain insights into the genetic aspects of pig bone weight. In order to unravel the genetic underpinnings of specific traits, we employed bioinformatics methodologies to conduct an analysis on three-way hybrid commercial pigs. Our primary objective was to identify genetic markers and genes associated with four distinct bone weight traits. Utilizing genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we scrutinized a population comprising 571 three-way hybrid commercial pigs to pinpoint single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes linked to these traits. The results identified twelve genes, namely OPRM1, SLC44A5, WASHC4, NOPCHAP1, RHOT1, GLP1R, TGFB3, PLCB1, TLR4, KCNJ2, ABCA6, and ABCA9, that were related to four bone weight traits. This comprehensive genetic insight provides valuable information on the mechanisms governing bone growth and weight in the context of pig breeding. The pig bone weight trait holds significant economic importance in southern China. To expedite the selection of the pig bone weight trait in pig breeding, we conducted molecular genetic research on these specific traits. These traits encompass the bone weight of the scapula (SW), front leg bone weight (including humerus and ulna) (FLBW), hind leg bone weight (including femur and tibia) (HLBW), and spine bone weight (SBW). Up until now, the genetic structure related to these traits has not been thoroughly explored, primarily due to challenges associated with obtaining the phenotype data. In this study, we utilized genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to discern single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes associated with four bone weight traits within a population comprising 571 Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) hybrid pigs (DLY). In the analyses, we employed a mixed linear model, and for the correction of multiple tests, both the false discovery rate and Bonferroni methods were utilized. Following functional annotation, candidate genes were identified based on their proximity to the candidate sites and their association with the bone weight traits. This study represents the inaugural application of GWAS for the identification of SNPs associated with individual bone weight in DLY pigs. Our analysis unveiled 26 SNPs and identified 12 promising candidate genes (OPRM1, SLC44A5, WASHC4, NOPCHAP1, RHOT1, GLP1R, TGFB3, PLCB1, TLR4, KCNJ2, ABCA6, and ABCA9) associated with the four bone weight traits. Furthermore, our findings on the genetic mechanisms influencing pig bone weight offer valuable insights as a reference for the genetic enhancement of pig bone traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the innovation quality of manufacturing companies has currently received increasing attention in the transformation from "Made in China" to "Created in China". Equity restriction is now one of the most talked about issues in China's corporate governance structures, but we have a limited understanding of the impact of equity restriction on innovation quality. This paper empirically analyzes the relationship and intrinsic mechanism between equity restriction and innovation quality using all A-share listed manufacturing companies in China from 2007 to 2021 as the research sample. First, the Tobit regression model is used to analyze the impact of equity restriction on innovation quality, and the Heckman two-stage model is used for the endogenous test. Then, the three-step regression model with mediating effects is used to validate the intrinsic mechanism of equity restriction to promote innovation quality from two paths, namely equity incentives and R&D investment. The research results show that equity restriction has a significant positive impact on innovation quality; equity incentives and R&D investment play a mediating role between equity restriction and innovation quality. This paper enriches the research on the influencing factors of innovation quality and provides a theoretical basis based on equity restriction for the transformation of manufacturing towards high-quality innovation, and explores the intrinsic mechanisms by which equity restriction affects innovation quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Understanding the differences in the burden of liver cancer due to different risk factors across provinces is critical to informing and improving liver cancer prevention and control. In this study, we estimated the population attributable fractions (PAFs) of liver cancer in all 31 provinces of China in 2016. Methods Prevalence estimates of risk factors were derived from representative surveys. We used pooled relative risks obtained from several recent large-scale pooled analyses or high-quality meta-analyses. We calculated PAFs using multiple formulas which included exposure prevalence and relative risk data stratified by sex, age and province, and then combined and created overall PAFs by sex, risk factors and risk factor groups. Results Approximately 252 046 liver cancer cases {69.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 52.6, 76.5]} and 212 704 deaths [67.7% (95% CI 50.9, 74.6)] were attributable to modifiable risk factors in China in 2016. The overall PAF for liver cancer was approximately 1.5 times higher in men than in women, with the top three risk factors in men being hepatitis B virus (HBV), smoking and alcohol drinking, whereas in women, they were HBV, excess body weight and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Among the risk factor groups, infectious agents had the highest PAF, followed by behavioural factors and metabolic factors. Conclusions The PAF for liver cancer caused by modifiable risk factors varies widely among provinces and socioeconomic and geographical regions in China. The use of tailored primary prevention strategies across provinces and socioeconomic and geographical regions has great potential to reduce the burden and disparities of liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing China's carbon emission efficiency (CEE) and analyzing efficiency state transition trends are necessary to accelerate the promotion of carbon emission reduction and achieve low carbon goals. This study evaluates China's economic and social environments by using the entropy weight method. The CEE of 30 Chinese provinces from 2006 to 2020 is measured using the three-stage slack-based model with an undesirable output. Then, this study introduces a Markov chain to explore the state transition trend of China's CEE. The research conclusions are as follows. First, compared with the social environment, the economic environment has a more significant impact on CEE. Second, the CEE of the eastern region is the highest, followed by that of the central region and the western region, which has the worst CEE. Third, the inefficiency of the central and western regions pulls down the overall CEE of China. Fourth, the state of China's CEE is gradually shifting to a high level; however, achieving a leapfrog shift is difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trauma patients are at high risk of Venous thromboembolism (VTE), but compared to well-established deep venous thrombosis (DVT), data specifically evaluating post-traumatic pulmonary embolism (PE) are scarce. The aim of this study is to assess whether PE represents a distinct clinical entity with injury pattern, risk factors, and prophylaxis strategy different from DVT, among severe poly-trauma patients. Patients and methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients admitted to our level I trauma center from January 2011 to December 2021 who were diagnosed with severe multiple traumatic injuries and identified thromboembolic events among them. We regarded four groups as None (without thromboembolic events), DVT only, PE only, and PE with DVT. Demographics, injury characteristics, clinical outcomes, and treatments were collected and analyzed in individual groups. Patients were also classified according to the occurring time of PE, and indicative symptoms and radiological findings were compared between early PE (≤ 3 days) and late PE (> 3 days). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore independent risk factors for different VTE patterns. Results: Among 3498 selected severe multiple traumatic patients, there were 398 episodes of DVT only, 19 of PE only, and 63 of PE with DVT. Injury variables associated with PE only included shock on admission and severe chest trauma. Severe pelvic fracture and mechanical ventilator days (MVD) ≥ 3 were the independent risk factors for PE with DVT. There were no significant differences in the indicative symptoms and location of pulmonary thrombi between the early and late PE groups. Obesity and severe lower extremity injury might have an impact on the incidence of early PE, while patients with a severe head injury and higher ISS are particularly at risk for developing late PE. Conclusion: Occurring early, lacking association with DVT, and possessing distinct risk factors warrant PE in severe poly-trauma patients special attention, especially for its prophylaxis strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: This study investigates the fairness preference of five-year-old children in Shanghai, observing their distributive behaviors in both stakeholder and spectator games and showing how this behavior is linked to their family background. Design/Approach/Methods: Participants had to make distributive choices in two experiments and distribute between themselves and another participant in the first choice. They had to distribute between two other participants in luck, merit, or efficiency situations in the second choice. Findings: The results suggest that preschoolers showed a preference for splitting equally between themselves and another participant. The second choice showed a significant difference in fairness preference under a situation of luck between genders, and only children were more likely to accept an unequal allocation than those who had siblings. Originality/Value: We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because it illustrates the variety of factors that can influence a child's fairness preference and fairness behavior and suggests when and how these aspects develop in children. Further, this is an original study exploring the fairness preference of preschoolers in Shanghai using an experimental economics method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic consistency between a prototype pump and its hydraulic model is generally considered to be satisfied, that is, the energy performance and the flow structures conform to the similarity law. However, such hydraulic consistency may not always exist in actual engineering projects. Head change and vibration enhancement in large-scale bulb tubular pumps are exhibited, but the reason for this inconsistency is still unclear. In this article, a case study was performed for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China, and the pressure characteristics in the impeller were explored under the optimal condition. An interesting new phenomenon, pressure polarization oscillation, is found. Its most important feature is the constant difference in average pressure values among axisymmetric blades, that is, the blades with axisymmetric structures exhibit large-amplitude pressure oscillations around different average pressure values, and one revolution is equivalent to one rotating cycle due to the failure of hydraulic consistency. Further in-depth analysis reveals that pressure oscillations are realized by the adjustment of the resultant force between the Coriolis force and the potential rothalpy gradient to fluid motions under the sinusoidal disturbance of gravity, and its action path presents a hysteresis loop with the impeller rotating. This adjustment mode leads to a special conversion between the gravity potential energy, pressure energy, and the kinetic energy, and, thus, the hydrostatic pressure difference at the initial phase cannot be fully eliminated; the pressure transition between the sides along and against the gravity is inconsistent. This finding suggests that the difference induced by the hydraulic inconsistency should be considered if the conventional similarity conversion is applied to large-scale tubular pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Injection drug use is the main transmission route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in China. The prevalence of HCV remains high at 40–50% among people who inject drugs (PWID). We developed a mathematical model to predict the impacts of different HCV intervention strategies on the HCV burden in Chinese PWID by 2030. Methods: We developed a dynamic deterministic mathematical model to simulate the transmission of HCV among PWID in China between 2016 and 2030, using domestic data based on the real cascade of HCV care. We considered various intervention scenarios, including treatment regimens, harm reduction program (HRP) coverage, enhanced testing and referral for treatment. Results: HCV incidence will exhibit a gradual but slow declining trend from 12,970 in 2016 to 11,761 in 2030 based on current screening and treatment practices among PWID (scenario 1). Scaled-up HCV screening and treatment integrated with HRPs (scenario 8) demonstrated the most substantial reduction in HCV burden, being the only intervention scenario that could achieve the World Health Organization's (WHO's) HCV elimination target. Specifically, the HCV incidence in 2030 is projected to be reduced by 81.42%, and HCV-related deaths are projected to be reduced by 91.94%. Conclusion: Our study indicates that achieving WHO elimination targets is an extremely challenging goal that requires substantial improvements in HCV testing and treatment among PWID (scenario S8). The findings suggest that coordinated improvements in testing, treatment, and harm reduction programs could greatly reduce the HCV burden among PWID in China, and urgent policy changes are needed to integrate HCV testing and treatment into existing HRPs. Plain Language Summary: China has the largest number of people living with the hepatitis C virus. The prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs is high at 40–50%, significantly higher than the prevalence among other high-risk groups. Preventing the transmission of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs is essential to avoid future liver diseases. We used a mathematical model to evaluate the impacts of different intervention strategies on the incidence, prevalence and mortality of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs in China by 2030. We found that scaled-up hepatitis C screening and treatment integrated with harm reduction programs demonstrated the most substantial reduction in the burden of hepatitis C; specifically, the incidence of hepatitis C in 2030 is reduced by 81.42% and hepatitis-C-related deaths are reduced by 91.94%. Increasing harm reduction program coverage among people who inject drugs has a greater impact in terms of reducing the burden of hepatitis C virus compared with enhanced linkage to care or test frequency alone. Substantial improvements in both testing and treatment integrated with existing harm reduction programs are essential to achieve the goal of eliminating hepatitis C in China by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Background: The relationship between the ratio of blood urea nitrogen to creatinine (BUN/Cr) and physical frailty in elderly patients remains unclear. The study aims to investigate the association between the BUN/Cr ratio and physical frailty in the elderly Chinese population. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, the clinical data of 5213 participants from 2015 were selected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The demographic variables (including age and gender) and health behavior (including smoking and drinking history), anthropometric (including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference (WC), etc.), physical performances (i.e., grip strength, repeated chair stands, etc.), and biochemical indicators (i.e., blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine(Cr), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), etc.) were measured. The association between the BUN/Cr ratio and physical frailty was analyzed. Results: After adjusting for potential confounding factors, smooth curve fitting showed a linear relationship between the BUN/Cr ratio and grip strength, a non-linear relationship between the BUN/Cr ratio, and repeated chair-rising time. The fully adjusted linear regression results showed a negative association between the BUN/Cr ratio and grip strength. In the multivariate, piecewise linear regression, when the BUN/Cr ratio was greater than 18.60, the repeated chair-rising time increased with the increase in BUN/Cr ratio (β = 0.046, 95%CI 0.025, 0.066; p < 0.001). However, we did not observe a significant correlation when the BUN/Cr ratio was less than 18.60 (β = −0.007, 95%CI −0.046, 0.032; p = 0.717). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the BUN/Cr ratio might be associated with physical frailty in older-aged Chinese, and this association requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa Fusarium Root Rot (AFRR) is a serious soil-borne disease with a complex pathogenicity. Diseased samples suspected of AFRR were collected from Hohhot, Ordos, Hulunbeier, Chifeng, and Bayannur in Inner Mongolia, China, leading to 317 isolates. The isolates were identified as Fusarium acuminatum, F. solani, F. equiseti, F. incarnatum, F. oxysporum, F. avenaceum, F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, F. falciforme, F. tricinctum, F. virguliforme, and F. redolens, and the results of pathogenicity testing showed that 12 Fusarium species could cause alfalfa root rot. Among these, F. verticillioides, F. falciforme, and F. virguliforme have not previously been reported to cause AFRR in China. Although the population structure of the pathogens differed in different regions, the dominant pathogenic species was F. acuminatum. Fungicide toxicity tests showed that seven fungicides inhibited F. acuminatum, of which fludioxonil, kresoxim-methyl, and triadimefon were found to be strongly toxic towards F. acuminatum with EC50 values of 0.09, 2.28, and 16.37 μg/mL, respectively, suggesting that these could be used as alternative fungicides for the control of AFRR. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for exploring the occurrence and epidemiology of alfalfa root rot and strategies for its control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance is a rapidly evolving and extremely complex issue, particularly due to the use of various types of antimicrobials within human, animal, and environmental sectors. Pleuromutilin antibiotics are used to prevent and control respiratory diseases in the rearing stage of hen chicks, but the current status of pleuromutilin resistance in the laying hen breeding process is unclear. ATP-binding cassette transporters encoded by lsa(A), lsa(E), lsa(C) , and vga(D) can be transferred by plasmids and transposons, thereby posing a potential dissemination risk. To investigate pleuromutilin resistance genes in the laying hen production chain in China, 95 samples from five environmental types were collected in four breeding stages to determine the abundances of the main resistance genes by qPCR, i.e. lsa(A), lsa(E), lsa(C) , and vga(D). The abundance (5.16 log10GC/g) and detection rate (100%) of lsa(E) was highest in all of the samples, thereby suggesting high contamination with the lsa(E) gene across the large-scale laying hen breeding environment and feces. The lsa(A) (6.02 log10GC/g) and lsa(E) (6.18 log10GC/g) genes were most abundant in flies, and the abundance of vga(D) (4.50 log10GC/g) was highest in dust (P  < .05). In addition to feces, flies and dust were important sources of contamination with pleuromutilin resistance along the laying hen production chain. In summary, we determined the abundances of four pleuromutilin resistance genes in the laying hen production chain and provided direct evidence of pleuromutilin resistance transmission and environmental contamination. In particular, the chicken breeding stage needs further attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Desertification is one of the main obstacles to global sustainable development. Monitoring, evaluating and mastering its driving factors are very important for the prevention and control of desertification. As one of the largest deserts in China, the development of desertification in Otindag Sandy Land (OSL) resulted in the reduction in land productivity and serious ecological/environmental consequences. Although many ecological restoration projects have been carried out, the vegetation restoration of OSL and the impact mechanism of climate and human activities on desertification remain unclear. Methods: Taking OSL as the research area, this paper constructs the desertification index by using the remote sensing images and meteorological and socio-economic data, between 1986 and 2016, and analyzes the spatio-temporal evolution process and driving factors of desertification by using trend analysis and spearman rank correlation. Results: The results showed that: (1) Desertification in the OSL has fluctuated greatly during the past 30 years. Desertification recovered between 1986 and 1990, expanded and increased between 1990 and 2000, reduced between 2000 and 2004, developed rapidly between 2004 and 2007, and recovered again between 2007 and 2016; (2) The desertification of OSL is dominated by a non-significant change trend, accounting for 73.27%. In the significant change trend, the area of desertification rising trend is 20.32%, which is mainly located in the north and east, and the area of declining trend is 6.41%, which is mainly located in the southwest; (3) Desertification is the result of the superposition of climate and human activities. Climate change is the main influencing factor, followed by human activities, and the superposition effects of the two are spatio-temporal differences. Conclusions: These results shed light on the development of desertification in OSL and the relative importance and complex interrelationship between human activities and climate in regulating the process of desertification. Based on this, we suggest continuing to implement the ecological restoration policy and avoid the destruction of vegetation by large-scale animal husbandry in order to improve the situation of desertification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increased antibiotic resistance is one of the major factors contributing to the failure of H. pylori eradication. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of doxycycline and amoxicillin, both critical components for bismuth-based quadruple therapy, for the first-line treatment of H. pylori-infected duodenal ulcers. Methods: An open, randomized case-controlled, multicenter trial was conducted in seven hospitals in China. A total of 184 eligible participants were divided into an IDFB (ilaprazole 5 mg, doxycycline 100 mg, furazolidone 100 mg, and bismuth 220 mg bid) or IAFB (ilaprazole 5 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, furazolidone 100 mg, and bismuth 220 mg bid) group for 14 days. Both groups were administrated with ilaprazole 5 mg qd for another 14 days. The main outcome was an H. pylori eradication rate; secondary outcomes were ulcer healing, relief of symptoms, and incidence of adverse effects. Results: The H. pylori eradication rates were 85.9% (95% CI 78.6–93.9) in the IDFB vs. 84.8% (95% CI 77.3–92.3) in the IAFB group in ITT analysis (p > 0.05), and 92.9% (95% CI 87.4–98.5) vs. and 91.8% (95% CI 85.8–97.7) in PP analysis (p > 0.05). The overall ulcer healing rates of IDFB and IAFB were 79.1% and 84.7% (p > 0.05), both effective in relieving symptoms. Only nine participants had adverse reactions in this trial (4/92 in IDFB and 5/92 in IAFB). Conclusion: A bismuth quadruple regimen containing doxycycline or amoxicillin could be an effective and safe treatment for H. pylori eradication, while doxycycline replacement is an alternative for participants with penicillin allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the lacuna of how informal institutions like Buddhism impact social entrepreneurship in different regions within a nation, this research draws on the social entrepreneurship literature and the regional Buddhist research to propose a mediating framework where the percentage of Buddhist entrepreneurs in a region is positively associated both with the level of prosocial behaviors such as charity, due to the values of Buddhism, and with the probability of establishing businesses in a less-developed region. It further proposes that charitable behaviors mediate the relationship between the percentage of Buddhist entrepreneurs in a region and establishing businesses in less-developed regions. This mediating effect is attributed to the mechanism that charitable behaviors absorb the limited resources of entrepreneurs, reducing their resources for establishing businesses in less-developed regions. We test these hypotheses on nationwide surveys of founders of private enterprises and find support for this mediating view. Broad implications for theoretical and empirical research are discussed. Plain English Summary: This study distinguishes between the different influences of Buddhist entrepreneurs in a region both on charitable behaviors and on the establishment of businesses in less-developed regions. Using nationwide surveys of founders of private enterprises in the Chinese context, multilevel analyses support a mediating view and have several implications. This research proposes that Buddhist values like the Four Immeasurables underline the positive effect of Buddhist entrepreneurs in a region on charitable behaviors, and that Buddhism can bring the essence of entrepreneurship, such as social capital, political connections, and legitimacy, to entrepreneurs and stimulate them, through an isomorphic effect, to engage in establishing businesses in less-developed regions. Furthermore, we highlight that the influence of Buddhist entrepreneurs in a region on establishing businesses in less-developed regions is weakened when they commit limited resources to prosocial behaviors like charity. In relation to policy, our study shows that Buddhist values and practices deeply influence social entrepreneurship, and it highlights the social function of Buddhist entrepreneurs in a transitional economy such as that of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early summer (June) of 2022, the spatial mean precipitation in northeast China (NEC) was 62% higher than normal and broke the historical record since 1951. Based on the precipitation data of 245 meteorological stations in NEC and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis, this paper analyzes the role of large-scale circulation and sea-surface temperature (SST) associated with anomalous precipitation over NEC in June using singular value decomposition (SVD), correlation analysis, regression analysis, and composite analysis methods, and further investigates the possible cause of the abnormal precipitation in June 2022. Results show that the northeast China cold vortex (NCCV) accompanying the blocking high in the Okhotsk Sea (BHOS) has been the primary mid-to-high latitude atmospheric circulation pattern affecting NEC precipitation in June since 2001. This circulation pattern is closely related to the tripole SST pattern over the North Atlantic (NAT) in March. In June 2022, the NAT SST anomaly in March stimulates eastward-propagating wave energy, resulting in the downstream anomalous circulation pattern in which the NCCV cooperates with the BHOS in the mid-high latitudes of East Asia. Under this background atmospheric circulation favorable for precipitation, the Kuroshio region SST anomaly in June led to a more northward and stronger anomalous anticyclone in the northwestern Pacific through local air–sea interaction, which provides more sufficient water vapor for NEC, resulting in unprecedented precipitation in June 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of the global response to climate change, increasing attention has been paid to the risks associated with climate change mitigation, such as regulation uncertainties and market interactions. As the country with the greatest CO2 emissions globally, China has launched a national carbon market to speed up its climate mitigation. While the national carbon market provides a platform for regional coalitions to reduce emissions, its incomplete sectoral coverage might allow for the strategic behavior of industries in different regions and ultimately affect the efficiency of the carbon market. This paper explores how the sectoral expansion of the national carbon market affects regional emission reductions in China when emissions trading sectors engage in strategic behavior in the output market. From the sectoral perspective, our numerical results show that the strategic effect in the electricity and steel sectors is more significant than in other sectors. From a regional perspective, the western regions of China, which are mostly permit sale regions, have less strategic power than the eastern regions in the output and carbon markets. Finally, this paper suggests that measures, such as the dynamic adjustment of emission allowance allocation, should be considered by policy makers to prevent the widening of regional economic disparities when extending the sectoral coverage of the carbon market in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skillful subseasonal prediction is crucial for meteorological disaster prevention and risk management. In this study, the subseasonal prediction skills of the new-generation coupled model of Beijing Climate Center (named as BCC-CSM2-HR) were evaluated, and a dynamical-statistical prediction model (DSPM) was developed to further improve pentad-mean precipitation predictions in China. The results show that although BCC-CSM2-HR can generally capture the climatological rain belt movement over eastern China, its skillful predictions for rainfall anomalies are basically confined within 3 pentads. By combining the dynamical model output and statistical method, a DSPM was built to capture the simultaneously coupled evolving patterns between anomalous precipitation and its atmospheric circulation predictors for each subregion of China, which was divided in terms of a cluster analysis. The 9-year independent validation shows that the prediction skills of DSPM had been significantly improved after 3 forecast pentads compared with the original model forecast. The skillful prediction can persist for a 6-pentad lead especially over the northern China and the Yangtze-Huaihe River Basin in the DSPM. As the major predictability sources of subseasonal forecasts, the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) are skillfully predicted by the BCC model for up to 23 days and 10–13 days, respectively. As a result, the improved performance of the DSPM can be largely attributed to its more realistic representation of MJO and BSISO associated circulation anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato gray mold (TGM), caused by Botrytis cinerea, is a destructive disease of greenhouse tomatoes. Its control mainly depends on the application of chemical fungicides. In China, penthiopyrad has been registered for the management of TGM for about 3 years. In this study, the baseline sensitivity of B. cinerea to penthiopyrad was measured based on mycelial growth and spore germination, using 131 wild isolates collected from Hebei Province. The mean EC50 values 1.054 ± 0.633 mg/L (on mycelial growth) and 0.101 ± 0.037 mg/L (on conidia germination) were used as the baseline sensitivity. Isolates (187) of B. cinerea, sampled from eight regions in Hebei province during 2021 and 2022, were used for resistance studies by mycelial growth method. Based on the resistance factor, these isolates were considered: sensitive (=65 isolates), low (=39 isolates), moderate (=38 isolates), and high (=45 isolates) resistance. All 15 isolates from Raoyang were sensitive to penthiopyrad. Four mutation types in the sdhB subunit, namely H272R, N230I, P225F, and P225L, were associated with the resistance to penthiopyrad. A positive cross-resistance was also recorded between penthiopyrad and fluopyram, boscalid, or pydiflumetofen. These results provide useful information on the chemical control of TGM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research on entrepreneurship toward poverty reduction has outlined how micro-level characteristics of entrepreneurs capture entrepreneurial opportunities in settings of poverty; however, little is known about the influence of previous military experience in this context. This paper investigates how previous military experience influences poverty-reduction entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses data from two main sources. First, individual-level and firm-level information come from a nationwide survey of founders of private enterprises. Second, province-level information is taken from the Marketization Index and the China Statistics Yearbook. An analysis of the Logit moderation model renders strong support for our conjectures. Findings: Via novel integration of imprinting theory and research on previous military experience, we propose that entrepreneurs with previous military experience have a strong sense of self-sacrifice, and as a result, are better able to participate in poverty-reduction entrepreneurship. In addition, we build on the resource availability and stakeholder expectations arguments and predict that the main effect of previous military experience on poverty-reduction entrepreneurship will be strengthened by reduced corporate philanthropy and increased government intervention. Originality/value: Our study adds to the extant literature in the following ways. First, it enriches the literature on entrepreneurship toward poverty reduction. Second, it contributes to imprinting theory in the entrepreneurial field. Third, it adds knowledge to the social entrepreneurship literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jiangnan orogenic belt is located between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in South China and is one of the largest W–Sn–Nb–Ta ore belts worldwide. Mineralization occurred from the Proterozoic to Mesozoic, but Caledonian Sn mineralization has rarely been reported. The Jialong cassiterite–sulfide deposit is located in the western Jiangnan orogenic belt. It is hosted by the Sibao Group and in contact with the northeastern part of the Yuanbaoshan granite. The deposit was overprinted by the Sirong ductile shear zone. Here, we present cassiterite U–Pb and mylonitic granite muscovite 40Ar/39Ar ages for this deposit. The cassiterite and muscovite yielded concordant U–Pb and 40Ar/39Ar ages of 422–420 Ma, indicating that Sn mineralization occurred during the early Paleozoic and was spatially and temporally related to the ductile shear zone. The cassiterite is depleted in Nb (0.51–5.46 ppm), Ta (0.01–1.09 ppm), Ti (32.84–423.15 ppm), Sc (0.02–1.45 ppm), Hf (0–1.11 ppm), and other high-field-strength elements. Elements, such as Pb (0.01–8.11 ppm) and Sb (9.92–56.45 ppm), are relatively enriched in the cassiterite, which indicate the Jialong deposit was not directly related to magmatism. Shearing along the Sirong ductile shear zone occurred at 419.6 ± 3.8 Ma, concurrent with the formation of the Jialong Sn–Cu deposit. Moreover, cassiterite in the deposit exhibits obvious shear and brittle deformation, and dissolution and regrowth, suggesting that Sn mineralization was closely related to ductile shearing. The Sirong ductile shear zone and secondary shear structures had a key role in controlling the Sn orebody. The heat generated during tectonic deformation in the ductile shear zone may have produced the ore-forming hydrothermal fluids, and NW–SE-trending fractures in the strata provided the space for mineralization. Metamorphic hydrothermal fluids generated by Caledonian shear deformation extracted Sn from Sn-rich strata, which then migrated along interlayer fractures produced by shearing. A decrease in pressure and water–rock reactions led to the mineralization of Sn and other elements. This deposit is the first example of Caledonian and shear zone-related Sn mineralization identified in the Jiuwandashan area of northern Guangxi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polydactyly is a common congenital malformation characterized by the presence of supernumerary fingers or toes. In this case study, we sought to identify the causative pathogenic factor in a family from a northern region of China affected by non‐syndromic postaxial polydactyly (PAP). Methods: After recruiting a three‐generation family with PAP, whole‐exome sequencing was performed to identify the causative variant. In silico analysis and Sanger sequencing were used to validate the variant. Results: We identified a novel heterozygous frameshift variant (NM_000168.6:c.4540delG, p.Asp1514Thrfs*5) in the transcriptional activator (TA1) domain of the GLI3 gene. Conclusion: The novel frameshift variant identified in this study further confirms the relationship between non‐syndromic PAP and GLI3 and extends the previously established mutational and phenotypic spectra of GLI3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting the innovative development of cities in the metropolitan area holds great significance for China's implementation of the "innovation-driven development" strategy. According to symbiosis theory, this paper constructed a city-based Lotka-Volterra symbiosis model and innovation-level index system. We used the Shanghai metropolitan area as a sample for empirical analysis to explore the evolution of the comprehensive development level of urban innovation under different symbiotic relationships. The research results showed that under a reciprocal relationship, the innovative development of core city and node cities was higher than the actual level; under a mutual inhibition symbiosis or parasitic symbiotic relationship, the innovative development of core city and node cities was lower than the actual level; and under an independent symbiotic relationship, the innovative development of the core city was higher than the actual level, while that of the node cities was lower than the actual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in surface wind speed are important for wind energy planning, especially in China, which has the highest new and total wind power capacities globally. In this article, based on a daily high‐resolution observation dataset for the period of 1961–2020, changes in the surface wind speed and its different grades over China were analysed. The results showed that following significant declines from 1961 to 2002, the annual and seasonal mean surface wind speeds began to increase over China and most of its subregions (all subregions except for East China) after 2002. Opposite trends were found in the probabilities for most different grades of surface wind speed from 1961 to 2002 and from 2002 to 2020. In addition, we compared the results with those from NCEP‐1, JRA‐55, and ERA5, which showed that all of the reanalysis data could reasonably reproduce the observed spatial distributions of the surface wind speed and its different grades, although with bias in values and smaller interannual variabilities. The wind reversal over China was closely related to changes in the trends of the sea level pressure gradient. Moreover, the variation in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) has a significantly negative correlation coefficient with the surface wind speed over East, Central, and South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crucial role that Xinjiang played in cultural communication across the Eurasian steppe in prehistory is evidenced by the large number of copper‐based objects that represent the early metallurgical technologies found across this region. Our research adds new chemical and isotopic analyses of 44 copper‐based objects dated to the early Iron Age of Ili in Xinjiang, western China. As noted in a number of publications, tin bronze and arsenic copper/bronze were the dominant alloying types across Xinjiang during the second and first millennium BC, whereas some specific types of objects such as cauldrons are often made from pure copper. The western Tianshan Mountain, including the well‐known mining site Nulasai, is the most likely copper source for the Ili metalworking. Meanwhile, a combination of lead isotopes, lead concentrations and trace elemental data reveals new evidence for the mixing and recycling of different sources of copper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of soil temperature (Ts) at a national scale under different climatic conditions is important for soil–plant–atmosphere interactions. This study estimated daily Ts at the 0 cm depth for 689 meteorological stations in seven different climate zones of China for the period 1966–2015 with the M5P model tree (M5P), random forests (RF), and the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). The results showed that the XGBoost model (averaged coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.964 and root mean square error (RMSE) = 2.066 °C) overall performed better than the RF (averaged R2 = 0.959 and RMSE = 2.130 °C) and M5P (averaged R2 = 0.954 and RMSE = 2.280 °C) models for estimating Ts with higher computational efficiency. With the combination of mean air temperature (Tmean) and global solar radiation (Rs) as inputs, the estimating accuracy of the models was considerably high (averaged R2 = 0.96–0.97 and RMSE = 1.73–1.99 °C). On the basis of Tmean, adding Rs to the model input had a greater degree of influence on model estimating accuracy than adding other climatic factors to the input. Principal component analysis indicated that soil organic matter, soil water content, Tmean, relative humidity (RH), Rs, and wind speed (U2) are the main factors that cause errors in estimating Ts, and the total error interpretation rate was 97.9%. Overall, XGBoost would be a suitable algorithm for estimating Ts in different climate zones of China, and the combination of Tmean and Rs as model inputs would be more practical than other input combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanisms of landslides following a mega-earthquake at the catchment scale can lead to improved landslide hazard assessment and reduced related risk. However, little effort has been made to undertake such research in the Wenchuan earthquake-affected region, outside Sichuan Province, China. In this study, we used the Goulinping valley in the Bailong River basin in southern Gansu Province, China, as an example. By examining the multitemporal inventory, we revealed various characteristics of the spatiotemporal evolution of landslides over the past 13 years (2007–2020). We evaluated the activity of landslides using multisource remote-sensing technology, analyzed the driving mechanisms of landslides, and further quantified the contribution of landslide evolution to debris flow in the catchment. Our results indicate that the number of landslides increased by nearly six times from 2007 to 2020, and the total volume of landslides approximately doubled. The evolution of landslides in the catchment can be divided into three stages: the earthquake driving stage (2008), the coupled driving stage of earthquake and rainfall (2008–2017), and the rainfall driving stage (2017–present). Landslides in the upstream limestone area were responsive to earthquakes, while the middle–lower loess–phyllite-dominated reaches were mainly controlled by rainfall. Thus, the current landslides in the upstream region remain stable, and those in the mid-downstream are vigorous. Small landslides and mid-downstream slope erosion can rapidly provide abundant debris flow and reduce its threshold, leading to an increase in the frequency and scale of debris flow. This study lays the foundation for studying landslide mechanisms in the Bailong River basin or similar regions. It also aids in engineering management and landslide risk mitigation under seismic activity and climate change conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the response and safety of an inactivated vaccine (Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd., Beijing, China) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in liver transplant (LTx) recipients from China. Patients and Methods: Thirty-five recipients post LTx from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine who received inactivated vaccine from June to October 2021 were screened. Information regarding vaccine side effects and clinical data were collected. Results: Thirty-five LTx recipients were enrolled, with a mean age of 46 years, and most patients were male (30, 85.71%). All the participants had a negative history of COVID-19 infection. Predictors for negative response in the recipients were interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) induction during LTx, shorter time post LTx and application of a derivative from mycophenolate acid (MPA). No serious adverse events were observed during the progress of vaccination or after the vaccination. Conclusion: LTx recipients have a substantially partial immunological response to the inactivated vaccine for COVID-19. IL-2R induction during LTx, a shorter time post LTx and the application of a derivative from MPA seem to be predictors for a negative serological immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response in recipients. The findings require booster vaccination in these LTx recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty reduction has increasingly become a core subject for researchers across the social sciences from economics to finance, management, and entrepreneurship. This study goes beyond existing management and entrepreneurship literature that has devoted significant efforts to exploring market-based ways for economic development, but has neglected poor people in rural areas excluded from participating in and accessing markets. In this study, the sharing economy is proposed as an effective way to resolve and reduce the poverty problem. We show how to overcome institutional voids by facilitating two fundamental mechanisms (i.e., building new markets, cultivating new participants) that bring together entrepreneurship, local peasants, and governments in building inclusive markets. We reveal omitted elements, such as geographic and temporal differences in market development across regions and times, as the key source of institutional voids in emerging markets. The analyses are conducted using data from multiple sources ranging from participant observation, retrieval of archival documents, and in-depth interviews covering 335 counties of 16,500 villages involved with Taobao in 2007–2017 in China. The findings shed insight on the studies on institutional voids, entrepreneurship, and the sharing economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the unprecedented extremity of the Meiyu episodes in early summer of 2020, here the authors perform a comprehensive study of the intraseasonal evolution characteristics of the observed rainfall round Yangtse as well as the potential modulating effect of Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO). Results suggest that the Meiyu rainfall manifests as recurring latitudinal shifts around Yangtse during June–July of 2020, corresponding well to the continued swings of MJO circulation and convection between Phase 1 and Phase 2. The MJO affects the meridional migration of the 2020 Meiyu rainfall mainly through regulating the westward extended ridge line and southwesterly of the anomalous anticyclone over the western North Pacific (WNP). Specifically, the northeastward propagation of boreal summer MJO from Phase 1 to 2 shifts the ridge line of the anomalous WNP anticyclone northeastward. Consequently, the associated southwesterly anomaly over the southeastern China penetrates to the north of Yangtse and enhances the lower‐tropospheric moisture flux convergence, supporting heavy precipitation there. However, when the MJO swings back to Phase 1, the anomalous southwesterly and moisture flux convergence retreat southward, so does the Meiyu rain band. The present results advanced our understanding of the interactions between the latitudinal shifts of extreme Meiyu rainfall episodes and MJO Phase swings. Key Points: The unprecedented extreme rainfall episodes in early‐mid summer of 2020 manifest as recurring latitudinal shifts around Yangtse riverThe north‐south shifts of 2020 Meiyu rainfall show a high correspondence with the recurring Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) Phase 1–2 swingsThe MJO modulates the latitudinal shifts of Meiyu rainfall mainly through changing the westward extended ridge line of western North Pacific anticyclone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some studies have shown that the base excision repair (BER) pathway has an effect on HIV-1 replication. APEX1 and XRCC1 as key BER genes may affect DNA repair capacity. However, the roles of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in APEX1 and XRCC1 and their impact on HIV-1 infection and AIDS progression remain unclear. Methods: A custom-designed 48-Plex SNPscan Kit was used for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms. 601 HIV-1-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) and 624 age-matched healthy individuals were recruited in northern China. Four SNPs (rs1130409, rs1760944, rs2307486 and rs3136817) in APEX1 gene and three SNPs (rs1001581, rs25487 and rs25489) in XRCC1 gene were genotyped. The generalized multifactor dimension reduction (GMDR) method was used to identify the SNP-SNP interactions. Results: In this study, rs1130409 G allele, rs1001581 C allele and rs25487 C allele were associated with a higher risk of HIV-1 infection susceptibility (p = 0.020, p = 0.007 and p = 0.032, respectively). The frequencies of APEX1 haplotype TT and XRCC1 haplotype CT showed significant differences between cases and controls (p = 0.0372 and p = 0.0189, respectively). Interestingly, stratified analysis showed that the frequency of rs1001581 C allele was significantly higher in AIDS patients with the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count <200 cells/μl than those with >200 cells/μl (p = 0.022). Moreover, significant gene-gene interactions among rs1130409, rs1001581 and rs25487 were identified by GMDR (p = 0.0107). Specially, individuals with five to six risk alleles have a higher susceptibility to HIV-1 infection than those with zero to two risk alleles (p < 0.001). Conclusion: APEX1 and XRCC1 gene polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and AIDS progression in MSM populations in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The role of socioeconomic status (SES) on hypertension prevalence and hypertension control has gotten much attention but with conflicting results. This paper aimed to quantify the association of SES with both hypertension prevalence and hypertension control rate in Nanjing, China.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted using multistage random sampling on 60,283 adults aged more than 18 years between March 2017 and June 2018. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or self-reported diagnosis of hypertension or respondent's report of taking antihypertensive medications. The controlled hypertension was defined by systolic BP < 140 mmHg and diastolic BP of < 90 mmHg among the subjects that self-reported exhibiting hypertensive and taking antihypertensive medications. The associations between SES with hypertension prevalence and hypertension control were quantified using generalized mixed model regression analysis and reported as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: There was a high prevalence of subjects with primary educational level (49.6%) or unemployed and retired (49.5%) or lower annual household income level (44.9%) in each SES group, respectively. After adjustments for potential confounding factors, there were higher odds of hypertension among those with primary educational level (OR = 1.56), but lower odds for controlled BP (OR = 0.51). Higher odds of hypertension could be found among unemployed and retired, and higher odds of controlled BP was observed in the mental laborers or students (OR = 1.30), compared with the other categories, respectively. The lower-income group was more likely to be hypertensive (OR = 1.35) and less likely to have controlled hypertension (OR = 0.73).Conclusion: Socioeconomic status played an important role in hypertension prevalence and hypertension control among adults in Nanjing, China. Strategies for hypertension prevention and control should especially focus on people in the vulnerable lower SES groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first empirical attempt to examine the impacts of high-speed rail (HSR) and industrial transformation on China's ecological efficiency (EE), using a data set of 251 cities during 2003–2016. Results show that instituting HSR is beneficial to green growth; a one-point increase in HSR leads to approximately 2% growth in EE. The potential mechanism test indicates that HSR significantly improved EE through industrial transformation, and did so economically. We also found that HSR strengthened impacts of static and dynamic industrial transformation on EE. However, the productivity growth effect of HSR was not statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD) in children is generally symptomatic and unsatisfactory. Traditional Chinese medicines, such as Shenqu Xiaoshi Oral Liquid (SXOL), have been recommended to alleviate dyspeptic symptoms. However, evidence of their safety and efficacy remains limited to date. AIM: To assess whether 2 weeks of therapy with SXOL was non-inferior to domperidone syrup in children with FD. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, double-simulated, non-inferiority, multi-center clinical trial, we recruited children (3–14 years) with FD according to the Rome IV criteria from 17 tertiary medical centers across China. Patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive SXOL or domperidone syrup for 2 weeks. We compared the participants' clinical scores from both groups based on the severity and frequency of dyspepsia symptoms according to Rome IV criteria (0, 1, 2, and 4 weeks after randomization). The primary endpoint was the total response rate, which was defined as the proportion of patients with a decrease of 30% or more in the FD symptoms clinical score from baseline, at the end of the 2-weeks treatment. A non-inferiority margin of -10% was set. Secondary endpoints and adverse events were assessed. This trial is registered with www.Chictr.org.cn, number ChiCTR1900022654. Results: Between February 2019 and March 2021, a total of 373 patients were assessed for eligibility, and 356 patients were enrolled and randomized. The clinical response rate at week two was similar for SXOL [118 (83.10%) of 142] and domperidone [128 (81.01%) of 158]; difference 2.09; 95% CI −6.74 to 10.71, thereby establishing non-inferiority. The total FD symptom scores were significantly improved in the two groups at 1-, 2-, and 4-weeks follow-up periods (p < 0.005). The decrease in symptom score compared with the baseline were similar between these two groups. Over the total study period, 10 patients experienced at least one treatment-related adverse event [six (3.37%)] in the SXOL group, four [(2.25%) in the domperidone group], although no serious adverse event was noted. Conclusion: Treatment with SXOL effectively improves dyspeptic symptoms and is well tolerated. In addition, it is not inferior to domperidone syrup and leads to sustained improvement in Chinese children with FD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future changes in tropical cyclone (TC) activity over the western North Pacific (WNP) under the representative concentration pathway RCP4.5 are investigated based on a set of 21st century climate change simulations over East Asia with the regional climate model RegCM4 driven by five global models. The RegCM4 reproduces the major features of the observed TC activity over the region in the present-day period of 1986–2005, although with the underestimation of the number of TC genesis and intensity. A low number of TCs making landfall over China is also simulated. By the end of the 21st century (2079–98), the annual mean frequency of TC genesis and occurrence is projected to increase over the WNP by 16% and 10%, respectively. The increase in frequency of TC occurrence is in good agreement among the simulations, with the largest increase over the ocean surrounding Taiwan Island and to the south of Japan. The TCs tend to be stronger in the future compared to the present-day period of 1986–2005, with a large increase in the frequency of strong TCs. In addition, more TCs landings are projected over most of the China coast, with an increase of ∼18% over the whole Chinese territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]