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The mathematical abilities of children with autism spectrum condition have been understudied. Magnitude representation is a fundamental numerical ability that emerges early in development and is linked to children's learning of formal mathematics. It remains unclear about whether children with autism spectrum condition differ from their peers without autism spectrum condition in the precision of magnitude representations. This study recruited preschool-aged children with autism spectrum condition (N = 70; 64 boys, M[subscript age] = 5.20 years) and without autism spectrum condition (N = 117; 63 boys, M[subscript age] = 5.11 years), and tested their precision of magnitude representation with an approximate number comparison task (dot comparison). Children with autism spectrum condition exhibited the lower numerical comparison accuracy (i.e. the weaker magnitude representation) than their peers without autism spectrum condition, regardless of the congruency between numerosity and surface area of dots. Moreover, the lower numerical comparison accuracy was observed even controlling for multiple general cognitive abilities (working memory, inhibitory control, and nonverbal intelligence) and language abilities. In addition, the variability of the comparison accuracy was larger in children with autism spectrum condition than without autism spectrum condition. These findings suggest that children with autism spectrum condition are at risk of weaker magnitude representation from an early age, emphasizing the need for specialized mathematics education or interventions to support their learning.

Background: Postdoctoral researchers are critical to scholarly advancements, and promoting postdoctoral career growth is an endogenous path to help postdocs break through the “encircled city of scientific research”. However, further research is needed to fully explore the mechanisms that connect workplace support to postdoctoral career growth. Methods: Drawing from the Conservation of Resources theory, this study proposes a chain mediation model that demonstrates how workplace support enhances career growth by connecting psychological capital with work-life balance. To understand the motivation and career growth of postdocs in China, we conducted two questionnaires in 2021 and 2023 with the support of relevant stations. Results: Analyzing 367 questionnaires from Chinese postdocs, our research indicates that workplace support has a positive impact on career growth. Additionally, both psychological capital and work-life balance are key factors that contribute to career growth, serving as separate mediators and as part of a chain of mediators. Discussion: This study validates the appropriateness of the Conservation of Resources theory in the study of the influence mechanism of postdoctoral career growth and proposes targeted strategies for academic institutions to improve support systems, promoting more effective career development pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory diseases are common and frequent diseases. Due to the high pathogenicity and side effects of respiratory diseases, the discovery of new strategies for drug treatment is a hot area of research. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG) has been used as a medicinal herb in China for over 2000 years. Baicalin (BA) is a flavonoid active ingredient extracted from SBG that BA has been found to exert various pharmacological effects against respiratory diseases. However, there is no comprehensive review of the mechanism of the effects of BA in treating respiratory diseases. This review aims to summarize the current pharmacokinetics of BA, baicalin-loaded nano-delivery system, and its molecular mechanisms and therapeutical effects for treating respiratory diseases. Method: This review reviewed databases such as PubMed, NCBI, and Web of Science from their inception to 13 December 2022, in which literature was related to "baicalin", "Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi", "COVID-19", "acute lung injury", "pulmonary arterial hypertension", "asthma", "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease", "pulmonary fibrosis", "lung cancer", "pharmacokinetics", "liposomes", "nano-emulsions", "micelles", "phospholipid complexes", "solid dispersions", "inclusion complexes", and other terms. Result: The pharmacokinetics of BA involves mainly gastrointestinal hydrolysis, the enteroglycoside cycle, multiple metabolic pathways, and excretion in bile and urine. Due to the poor bioavailability and solubility of BA, liposomes, nanoemulsions, micelles, phospholipid complexes, solid dispersions, and inclusion complexes of BA have been developed to improve its bioavailability, lung targeting, and solubility. BA exerts potent effects mainly by mediating upstream oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and immune response pathways. It regulates are the NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, TGF-β/Smad, Nrf2/HO-1, and ERK/GSK3β pathways. Conclusion: This review presents comprehensive information on BA about pharmacokinetics, baicalin-loaded nano-delivery system, and its therapeutic effects and potential pharmacological mechanisms in respiratory diseases. The available studies suggest that BA has excellent possible treatment of respiratory diseases and is worthy of further investigation and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report a new twisted-wing parasite species of the family Xenidae based on both morphological and molecular evidence. By using nearly complete mitogenomes, we confirmed the twisted-wing parasites on two wasps (Vespa velutina and Vespa bicolor) (China: Yunnan) as the same species, and associated its neotenic females and alate males. Combining the mitogenomic data (COI) and morphological traits, this species was identified to be a new species of the genus Xenos, namely Xenos yangi Dong, Liu & Li, sp. nov. Detailed descriptions and illustrations are provided for the new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorine is the most commonly used disinfectant in drinking water treatment plants in China. It reacts with natural and anthropogenic organic pollutants in the water distribution system, resulting in the formation of carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs). In this study, the influences of residence time, pH, chlorine dosage, water temperature, bromide concentration, and pipe material on the formation of DBPs in the water distribution system were investigated. Studies and observations showed that the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) was positively correlated with residence time, chlorine dosage, water temperature, and bromide concentration during the chlorine disinfection, and the main generated DBPs were determined to be dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and trichloromethane. With the increase of bromide concentration, the generation of Br-DBPs substantially increased. Elevating solution pH posed a promoting effect on THMs production, while exerted an inhibitory effect on HAAs formation. The generation of THMs and HAAs in the water supply network was also affected by pipe material, and the production level followed the order of plastic steel pipe > ductile iron pipe > PE pipe. Through exploring different influencing factors, it provides a reference for the control strategy of DBPs in the water supply network and achieves the purpose of realizing the residents' drinking water safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple factors such as temperature, human activity, climate and hydrochemistry conditions affect water quality of drinking water sources. This research mainly focused on monitoring the dissolved trace metal concentrations from water samples in several important drinking water sources including the Huangpu River, Qingcaosha Reservoir and several reservoirs for West Tai Lake from spring to summer in 2013. The changes of trace metal concentrations and removal efficiencies in four typical water treatment plants (WTPs) in China corresponding to these water sources were also investigated. Results indicated that Qingcaosha Reservoir, Hengshan Reservoir and Youche Reservoir were less influenced by anthropogenic activities, therefore the change of dissolved metal concentrations was not significant except for local geochemical elements such as Sr and Ba. The other two water sources that flow through large industrial areas were greatly affected with elevated trace metal concentrations such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, P, which can be attributed to anthropogenic and socio-economic impacts. High Fe and Mn concentrations were observed at low pH while high electric conductivity gained relevance with high geochemical metal concentrations. The occurrence of high dissolved Ni, Cu, Co and Zn was associated with high ammonia concentration and low pH, which might result from the formation of metal ammine complexes. In addition to the raw water information, dissolved metal concentrations after the treatment by individual WTP processes indicated that biological activated carbon and sand filtration achieved significant removal of Mn and Fe, while coagulation/flocculation efficiently reduced the concentrations of As, Pb and Zn. However, oxidation processes might form highly toxic Cr(VI) and increase the dissolved Cr concentrations which posed a potential threat to human safety. These preliminary results showed the necessity of control technology for dissolved trace metals in micro-polluted water sources for providing safe water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nearly complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Xenos cf. moutoni, one twisted-wing parasite on wasp Vespa velutina from Southwest of China, is described in this study. The total length of this mitogenome is 16,717 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and an incomplete A + T-rich control region . All of the 13 PCGs are initiated with canonical ATN (N represents A, T, G, C) as start codons; 8 PCGs are terminated with a complete typical stop codon TAA, and the remaining five PCGs (cox2, cox3, nad3, nad4 and nad5) have an incomplete stop codon with just a T. The phylogenetic analysis based on the nucleotide sequences of PCGs and rRNAs indicates that Xenos cf. moutoni has a close relationship with Xenos vesparum, confirming its placement in the family Xenidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhagophthalmus fugongensis Li & Liang and Rhagophthalmus lufengensis Li & Ohba are introduced as new to science. The first record of R. tonkineus in China is provided. The male genitalia of R. gibbosulus and R. giganteus are described and illustrated. The female and larva of R. giganteus and the female of R. semisulcatus are illustrated. The distribution of Rhagophthalmus is discussed and a rectification of the relative arrangement of different parts of the male genitalia is provided (the base-piece is on the ventral side of the male genitalia, and the parameres on the dorsal side). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the Tsinghua-Lancet Commission on healthy cities in China. Topics discussed here include challenges for the protection and promotion of health in cities, better access to health services and improved sanitation, and management of chronic diseases and mental disorders in cities.