Search

It is important to appraise the performance of the steel pipe pile performance in harbor engineering. The load transfer mechanism and pile-soil interaction could not be clearly understood using the traditional measurement. In this case, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry (BOTDR) were applied simultaneously at an open-ended steel pipe pile field test in Ganyu Port, China. Results showed that the fiber optic sensing system accurately measured the axial force, side friction, and bearing behaviors of open-ended steel pipe piles based on strain data. During the pile driving stage, the system captured the bending deformation and eccentric load on the upper part of the pile above the mud surface, identifying the relatively large tensile strain at the final stage of driving. For the static load test, the strain and resistance distribution obtained by sensing systems suggested that 80% of pile compression was concentrated in the upper 20 m, and the maximum force was observed at the location of soil surface. The precision of high strain dynamic tests is limited for complex field conditions and model's parameters-setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of increasing atmospheric ozone (O3) concentrations on cool-season plant species have been well studied, but little is known about the physiological responses of cool-season turfgrass species such as Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea exposed to short-term acute pollution with elevated O3 concentrations (80 ppb and 160 ppb, 9 h d−1) for 14 days, which are widely planted in urban areas of Northern China. The current study aimed to investigate and compare O3 sensitivity and differential changes in growth, oxidative injury, antioxidative enzyme activities, and chloroplast ultrastructure between the two turf-type plant species. The results showed that O3 decreased significantly biomass regardless of plant species. Under 160 ppb O3, total biomass of L. perenne and F. arundinacea significantly decreased by 55.3% and 47.8% (p < 0.05), respectively. No significant changes were found in visible injury and photosynthetic pigment contents in leaves of the two grass species exposed to 80 ppb O3, except for 160 ppb O3. However, both 80 ppb and 160 ppb O3 exposure induced heavily oxidative stress by high accumulation of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species in leaves and damage in chloroplast ultrastructure regardless of plant species. Elevated O3 concentration (80 ppb) increased significantly the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidaseby 77.8%, 1.14-foil and 34.3% in L. perenne leaves, and 19.2%, 78.4% and 1.72-fold in F. arundinacea leaves, respectively. These results showed that F. arundinacea showed higher O3 tolerance than L. perenne. The damage extent by elevated O3 concentrations could be underestimated only by evaluating foliar injury or chlorophyll content without considering the internal physiological changes, especially in chloroplast ultrastructure and ROS accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Increased temperature improved plant growth and photosynthetic carbon fixation. • O 3 inhibited growth, and Quercus mongolica has a self-repair ability to O 3 stress. • The adverse effects of O 3 on growth and C fixation were mitigated by air warming. • Urban trees show a species-specific difference in plant functional traits. With continuous urbanization and climate warming, increased air temperature and elevated ozone (O 3) concentration often co-occur in many urban areas, but we still lack information about the interactive effects of warming and elevated O 3 on urban trees. In the present experiment, the single and combined effects of increased air temperature (IT, ambient air temperature + 2 °C) and elevated O 3 (EO, ambient air O 3 concentrations + 80 ppb) on carbon (C) fixation and allocation in Quercus mongolica and Pinus tabuliformis, which are widely used as street tree species in urban areas of China, were investigated over two consecutive growing seasons by using 13C isotope techniques. The results showed that IT increased biomass, photosynthetic gas exchange parameters and total 13C content of both tree species. Compared to ambient temperature, IT significantly increased the total 13C content labelled by 56.6 % in Q. mongolica and by 31.2 % in P. tabuliformis in 2021. Elevated O 3 induced a decrease in biomass and net photosynthetic rate (P n) in both tree species. Compared to ambient O 3, elevated O 3 significantly decreased P n by 52.6 % in Q. mongolica and by 37.4 % in P. tabuliformis in 2020. The treatment EO decreased 13C allocation to roots but increased 13C content and distribution in leaves in Q. mongolica. These findings demonstrated that EO inhibited the growth and photosynthesis of the two tree species. Our results showed that Q. mongolica was more sensitive to IT and EO than P. tabuliformis , but the former has a self-repair mechanism under increased O 3 stress as it is able to invest more carbon to repair leaf damage to a certain extent. Our study also found that the total biomass, relative growth rate, P n and total 13C content remained higher under the combination of IT and EO compared to EO alone, suggesting that moderate warming may mitigate the negative effects of elevated O 3 stress to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 3D pathways of IGF are identified with an assessment on flow rates. • IGF contributes 36%∼59% to the baseflow and 32%∼52% to the streamflow in the studied river. • Infiltration recharge and aquifer properties affect the development of IGF. Inter-basin groundwater flow (IGF), defined as groundwater flows across the topographic divides, occurs in nature as a common phenomenon, and seriously affect water balance and solute transport in a basin. Although the existence of IGF has been checked in drainage basins with indirect methods, such as using information of hydrogeochemistry, few studies are conducted to directly identify and quantify the IGF in the three-dimensional (3D) space using numerical modeling of groundwater flow. In this study, we identify, partition and quantify IGF based on a regional-scale 3D groundwater flow model covering several traditional surface water basins. The investigation is focused on the Hailiutu River, a groundwater-fed stream in the Ordos Plateau, China. It is the first time that the source zones and 3D paths of IGF as well as its contribution to the streamflow are fully captured for a groundwater-fed stream. Results indicate that the IGF contributes 36%∼59% to the baseflow and 32%∼52% to the streamflow of the Hailiutu River, through different groups of circulation paths with the maximum depth up to ∼ 1000 m. Uncertainty analyses of the model show that the contribution of IGF to the streamflow is positively correlated to the infiltration recharge and hydraulic conductivities of the aquifer media. Several indirect methods are also checked for comparison, but they could only be used to assess the potential contribution of IGF, not the IGF paths. This study will facilitate in deeply understanding the evolution mechanism of the inter-basin groundwater circulation and the interaction between surface water and groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Burretiodendron Rehder is currently endemic to an area near the China–Vietnam border and the limestone mountains of Thailand and Myanmar. The fossil records of this genus were previously found only from the Miocene of Yunnan, Southwest China, and the Oligocene of Guangxi, South China. Here, we describe fossil fruits and associated leaves of Burretiodendron, which were discovered in the lower Oligocene Shangcun Formation of the Maoming Basin, Guangdong, South China. Morphological comparison with extant and fossil Burretiodendron taxa indicates that fruit fossils belong to the species Burretiodendron parvifructum J. Lebreton Anberrée & Z. K. Zhou. This is one of the earliest fossil records of the genus, providing additional evidence for the early biogeographic history of this genus and supporting the inference that the genus originated in South China. According to the habitat conditions of modern species, we speculate that there were limestone mountains around the Maoming Basin in the early Oligocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchically nested groundwater flow systems have been widely investigated by numerical modeling and laboratory experiments but seldom recognized from in situ observations and testing. Groundwater age and geochemical profiles were obtained by the authors using a packer system along two wellbores drilled in the Ordos Plateau, China. Groundwater age profiles were constructed from 3H, 85Kr, 14C, and 81Kr data, with the apparent age generally increasing with depth, while exhibiting several inflection points. These inflection points were compared with geochemical profiles and numerical modeling results to delineate groundwater flow systems. Inflection points with significant increases in the gradients of age and Cl− concentration versus depth may indicate interfaces among flow systems. A concurrent decrease‐increase turning of groundwater age and Cl− concentration is influenced by a stagnation point. The groundwater age profiles are quite different from previous studies, indicating that the method can greatly reduce the uncertainty in model construction. Plain Language Summary: The provision of renewable groundwater, a crucial source of drinking water worldwide, relies on a circulation path from recharge to discharge zones with a subsurface flow in reservoirs (aquifers). Basin‐scale groundwater circulation is speculated to form hierarchically nested flow systems with differing capabilities for renewal. However, flow systems are invisible and difficult to detect through in situ observations on groundwater. In this study, nested groundwater flow systems were identified from groundwater age and geochemical profiles along wellbores. Inflection points on these profiles provide significant insights into the interfaces and stagnation points among nested groundwater flow systems. Uncertainties could be brought by the aquifer heterogeneity in the hydraulic conductivity and localized soluble salts. This adopted method is expected to be improved by incorporating geophysical survey and high‐resolution geochemical analyses to eliminate uncertainties in model construction. Key Points: Groundwater age and geochemical profiles were obtained to investigate groundwater flow systemsInflection points on profiles are used to infer interfaces or stagnation points among different groundwater flow systemsGroundwater flow models constrained by inflection points greatly reduce the uncertainty of flow system characterization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is reported to have been brought under control in China. To understand the COVID-19 outbreak in China and provide potential lessons for other parts of the world, in this study we apply a mathematical model with multiple datasets to estimate the transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the severity of the illness associated with the infection, and how both were affected by unprecedented control measures. Our analyses show that before 19th January 2020, 3.5% (95% CI 1.7–8.3%) of infected people were detected; this percentage increased to 36.6% (95% CI 26.1–55.4%) thereafter. The basic reproduction number (R0) was 2.33 (95% CI 1.96–3.69) before 8th February 2020; then the effective reproduction number dropped to 0.04(95% CI 0.01–0.10). This estimation also indicates that control measures taken since 23rd January 2020 affected the transmissibility about 2 weeks after they were introduced. The confirmed case fatality rate is estimated at 9.6% (95% CI 8.1–11.4%) before 15 February 2020, and then it reduced to 0.7% (95% CI 0.4–1.0%). This shows that SARS-CoV-2 virus is highly transmissible but may be less severe than SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. We found that at the early stage, the majority of R0 comes from undetected infectious people. This implies that successful control in China was achieved through reducing the contact rates among people in the general population and increasing the rate of detection and quarantine of the infectious cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straightforward solutions have long been expected for the analysis of multiwell aquifer tests. In this paper, we derive series analytical solutions of steady-state groundwater flow in a rectangular-shaped aquifer with pumping/injection wells for both confined and unconfined conditions. Double Fourier Transform (DFT) technique is applied to deal with different combinations of impermeable and specified head boundaries on sides. The obtained solutions are compact and concise in mathematics and flexible in terms of well number, well locations, and pumping/injection rates. Hatoucaidang, a groundwater resource field in the Ordos Plateau, Northwestern China, is introduced as a field case study, where a multiwell aquifer test was conducted. One of the analytical solutions derived herein is used to estimate hydraulic conductivities by applying a direct calculation method and a least square estimation method regarding observed versus calculated drawdowns. By comparing with nearby single-well pumping tests, the reliability of the derived analytical solutions is proven. This study facilitates utilizing the multiwell aquifer test to analyze the general behavior of groundwater movement in aquifer systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbolic play skills are important in language acquisition and child development. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulties demonstrating such play behaviors. Imaginary objects symbolic play refers to play behavior in which children perform play actions without actual objects. Three boys with ASD (3–7 years) participated in this study. A multiple-probe across three participants and two settings design was employed to evaluate the effects of intraverbal training on the acquisition and generalization of imaginary objects symbolic play. Results indicated that all children acquired and maintained target imaginary objects play activities. Generalization to untaught activities occurred in one child. All three children' symbolic play emerged or increased in free play after the instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective RA is a systemic auto-immune inflammatory disease that can lead to local bone erosions and generalized osteoporosis (OP). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between systemic osteoporosis and local bone erosion with RA patients in the Chinese population. Methods In total, 1235 patients with RA and 158 normal subjects were enrolled in this study. Clinical and laboratory features were recorded in detail. Information about functional class and physical activity was collected using specific questionnaires. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure BMD. The MECALL castor-50-hf model X-ray scanner was used for two-hand (including wrist) photographs. Results The median Sharp scores differed significantly between the normal bone mass group, osteopenia group and OP group (P < 0.001). There was a modest negative linear correlation between Sharp and HAQ scores and longer disease duration (P < 0.001). There was a clear increasing trend in Sharp score, incidence of OP and HAQ score in the different DAS in 28 joints (DAS28) activity groups (P < 0.001). Spearman's correlation test showed that Sharp and HAQ scores were negatively correlated with BMD at all measured sites (femoral neck, total hip and L1–4) (P < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated that age, female gender, and Sharp and HAQ scores were independent risk factors in the occurrence of OP in RA patients. The use of DMARDs and BMI were protective factors for OP. Conclusion These results suggest that BMD is associated with local bone erosion among Chinese patients with RA. Local bone erosion is closely related to clinical symptoms and BMD in patients with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of the gradual scarcity of terrestrial resources and the increasingly fierce competition for global marine resources, the task of green development of marine economy and green transformation of marine industry is imminent. Carbon finance is a product of low-carbon economic development and a derivative of green finance. It is an effective way to alleviate the global climate crisis and promote the transformation of the global economy to a low-carbon economy to achieve sustainable development. Studying the mechanism of carbon finance on the development of marine economy will help to grasp the influencing factors of the green transformation of the marine industry in an all-round way, better promote the sustainable development of China's marine economy, and realize the strategy of marine power at an early date. Based on this, this paper selects China's data from 2006 to 2020, and uses the AHP-entropy method to select 26 indicators from five levels: economic growth, energy conservation and emission reduction, marine ecology, structural adjustment and scientific and technological innovation to construct a comprehensive evaluation index system for the green transformation of China's marine industry. Based on the PLSR model, the impact of carbon finance on the green transformation of China's marine industry is empirically analyzed, and the results show that: (1) The comprehensive score of China's marine industry green transformation from 2006 to 2020 fluctuates and rises: from 2006 to 2009, the comprehensive score of China's marine industry green transformation is low, and the transformation effect is not obvious. From 2009 to 2012, the comprehensive score of green transformation of the marine industry improved significantly. From 2012 to 2018, the comprehensive score of China's marine industry green transformation fluctuated little and showed a slow growth trend, while China's marine economic transformation grew steadily at a low speed. In 2019–2020, due to the impact of the epidemic, the speed of transformation has decreased again. (2) The carbon ratio and the green credit balance of commercial banks have a role in promoting the green transformation of China's marine industry, while the carbon trading volume and carbon intensity have a restraining effect on the green transformation of China's marine industry. From the perspective of effect, carbon intensity has the strongest effect, followed by carbon ratio, carbon trading volume is slightly weaker, and the role of green credit balance of commercial banks is the weakest. Based on the research conclusions, relevant policy recommendations were put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gomphomastacinae is a grasshopper subfamily in Eumastacidae, with a morphology and distribution distinct from other subfamilies. The alpine genera of Gomphomastacinae that inhabit the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China show unique characteristics adapted to high‐altitude life. However, their phylogenetic position and biogeographic history remain controversial. Thus, to determine the diversification history of these alpine genera and the origin of the subfamily, we obtained mitochondrial genome sequences from all seven Gomphomastacinae genera distributed in China. The reconstructed phylogeny was well supported and confirmed the phylogenetic position of Gomphomastacinae within Eumastacidae. Time calibration revealed a deep‐time origin of the subfamily dating back to the Cretaceous period, and the diversification among alpine genera was also an ancient pre‐Miocene event (30–50 Ma). Based on phylogeny and time estimates, the most likely biogeographic scenario is that Gomphomastacinae originated from an ancestral lineage that lived in East Gondwana and dispersed to Central and Western Asia through India. Subsequently, the alpine genera likely diverged along with the uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and survived drastic climate change by in situ adaptation to high‐altitude dwellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Badain Jaran Desert (BJD) in China is a desert with impressive sand dunes and a groundwater situation that has attracted numerous researchers. This paper gives an overview of the mysteries of groundwater in the BJD that are exhibited as five key problems identified in previous studies. These problems relate to the origin of the groundwater, the hydrological connection between the BJD and the Heihe River Basin (HRB), the infiltration recharge, the lake-groundwater interactions, and the features of stable isotope analyses. The existing controversial analyses and hypotheses have caused debate and have hindered effective water resources management in the region. In recent years, these problems have been partly addressed by additional surveys. It has been revealed that the Quaternary sandy sediments and Neogene-Cretaceous sandstones form a thick aquifer system in the BJD. Groundwater flow at the regional scale is dominated by a significant difference in water levels between the surrounding mountains and lowlands at the western and northern edges. Discharge of groundwater from the BJD to the downstream HRB occurs according to the regional flow. Seasonal fluctuations of the water level in lakes are less than 0.5 m due to the quasi-steady groundwater discharge. The magnitude of infiltration recharge is still highly uncertain because significant limitations existed in previous studies. The evaporation effect may be the key to interpreting the anomalous negative deuterium-excess in the BJD groundwater. Further investigations are expected to reveal the hydrogeological conditions in more detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. A reemergence of interest in clavicle anatomy was prompted because of the advocacy for operative treatment of midshaft clavicle fractures. Several anatomical studies of the clavicle have been performed in western population. However, there was no anatomical study of clavicle in Chinese population. Patients and Methods. 52 patients were included in the present study. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the clavicles were generated. The length of the clavicle, the widths and thicknesses of the clavicle, curvatures of the clavicle, the areas of the intramedullary canal, and sectional areas of the clavicle were measured. All the measurements were compared between genders and two sides. Results. The mean length of the clavicles was 144.2±12.0 mm. Clavicles in males were longer, wider, and thicker than in females; also males have different curvatures in both planes compared with females. The men’s intramedullary canals and sectional areas of the clavicle were larger than those of women. No significant difference between the sides was found for all the measurements. Conclusion. This study provided an anatomical data of the clavicle in a Chinese population. These clavicle dimensions can be applied to the modifications of the contemporary clavicle plate or a new development for the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the differential effects of video modeling (VM) and picture-based interventions (PI) for teaching children with ASD to recognize emotions in context. The study used an adapted alternating treatments design. One girl and three boys in China, 4.5-5 years old with autism spectrum disorder, participated. Both methods were effective, but three of the four children demonstrated a higher percentage of accurate responses with VM than with PI. All children required less time overall and less time per trial to reach criterion with PI than VM. They required fewer trials to reach criterion with VM, but VM trials were longer. All children displayed longer on-task behavior with VM than with PI. Overall, the two methods can be considered comparable in efficiency, with the choice of one rather than the other depending on learners' and instructors' needs, preferences, and contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The source region of Yangtze River in China is a part of Tibet Plateau where the hydrological processes are sensitive to climatic change. The impacts of precipitation, air temperature and evapotranspiration on annual runoff in the source region of Yangtze River during 1957-2009 are investigated in the time-period domain using wavelet analysis method and multiple regression method. Annual evapotranspiration is calculated with data of precipitation and air temperature based on Takahashi's empirical equation. This approximation of actual evapotranspiration successfully matches the mean annual water balance. Significant periods of runoff, 7-8 year, 20-21 year and 42-43 year, are revealed by using Morlet wavelet. Different significant periods are found for annual precipitation, air temperature and evapotranspiration, whereas the 7-8 year and 42-43 year periods are the same of the runoff. It is indicated by wavelet correlation coefficients that the correlations between runoff and these climatic components depends on periods. Change in the summation of runoff wavelet coefficients at different period can approximately represents the change pattern of real runoff and is correlated with the wavelet coefficients of the climatic components. The correlation can be expressed with a linear multiple regression equation which indicates that the change in annual runoff is contributed by change in annual precipitation rather than change in air temperature. This relationship between runoff and climatic components are different from that in the source region of Yellow River, in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a procedure involving systematic withdrawal of stimulus prompts and tangible reinforcers on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of eye contact and gaze following for two children with ASD in China. Two boys with ASD (5–6 years of age) participated. A concurrent multiple probe design across behaviors and participants was used. Results indicate that the procedure effectively established eye contact and gaze following for both children. Generalization to new instructors occurred in the free play setting, and the acquired behaviors were maintained for 1 month following training. Eye contact was maintained with social consequences for one child; the other child required tokens along with social consequences to maintain eye contact. Social consequences were sufficient to maintain gaze following for both children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study quantifies surface denudation of carbonate rocks by the first application of in-situ cosmogenic Cl in China. Concentrations of natural Cl and in-situ cosmogenic Cl in bare carbonates from Guizhou karst areas were measured with isotope dilution by accelerator mass spectrometer. The Cl concentration varied from 16 to 206 ppm. The Cl concentrations were in range of (0.8-2.4)×10 atom g, resulting in total denudation rates of 20-50 mm ka that averaged over a 10-10 a timescale. The Cl-denudation rates showed roughly a negative correlation with the local mean temperature. This preliminary observation may suggest the variations of proportions of chemical weathering and physical erosion in denudation process, depending upon local climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Four gas and six water samples were collected from the Qingzhu River in Qingchuan County, one of the regions affected by the 2008 Ms8.0 giant Wenchuan Earthquake. Gases were discharged soon after the earthquake, but such emissions ceased in October 2008. The predominant gases are CH4, CO2, N2 and O2. The N2, O2 and noble gases are of atmospheric origin. In contrast, the CH4 and CO2 have typical biogenic signatures, with high C1/(C2 +C3), δ13CCH4 (−56.1 to −56.6‰); δDCH4 (−328 to −345‰); and δ13CCO2 (−6.7 to −4.9‰). These measurements indicate that the gases are discharged from a shallow reservoir through faults or fractures caused by the earthquake. The discharging gases are significantly distinct from the natural gas fields nearby, suggesting that there are no direct pathways, such as faults or fractures, between the surface and the natural gas reservoir. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chemical and isotopic compositions have been measured for CO2-rich bubbling gases discharging from cold springs in Wudalianchi intra-plate volcanic area, NE China. Observed 3He/4He ratios (2–3RA) and δ13C values of CO2 (−5‰ to −3‰) indicate the occurrence of a mantle component released and transferred to the surface by the Cenozoic extension-related magmatic activities. The CO2/3He ratios are in wide range of (0.4–97×109). Based on the apparent mixing trend in a 3He/4He and δ13C of CO2 diagram from all published data, the extracted magmatic end-member in the Wudalianchi Volcano has 3He/4He, δ13C and CO2/3He value of ∼3.2RA, ∼−4.6‰ and ∼6×1010, respectively. These values suggest that the volatiles originate from the sub-continental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) in NE China and represent ancient fluids captured by prior metasomatic events, as revealed by geothermal He and CO2 from the adjacent Changbaishan volcanic area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Discusses the noble gas abundances and isotopic compositions in mantle-derived xenoliths in eastern China. Comparison with the middle ocean ridge basalt and other continental areas; Indication of the heterogeneity of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath northeastern China; Implication of the preservation of a subducted atmospheric component in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of cooperative physical activities on social interactions of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in China. Cooperative physical activities include procedures such as peer selection, peer practice, group task completion, and an interdependent group contingency. The intervention took place during inclusive physical education (PE) classes. Generalization of interactions with peers was evaluated during free play. Three preschool boys (ages 4–5 yrs) with ASD participated in the study, which used a multiple baseline design across the participants. Results indicated that the procedure effectively increased the frequency of appropriate peer interactions for all three children in the PE and free play settings. Although the frequency of inappropriate interactions increased after the intervention in both settings, the proportion of inappropriate interactions relative to appropriate interactions decreased for two children in the PE setting and for all three children in the free play setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mid-Eocene tectonic subsidence of the pull-apart Fushun Basin, NE China accommodated an up to 300-m-thick oil shale succession within the lacustrine Jijuntun Formation (Lutetian). Based on sedimentary records and bulk element geochemistry, accumulation of this oil shale succession is modeled to evaluate the principal controls on enrichment patterns of organic matter (OM) and trace metals in lacustrine organic facies. The Jijuntun Formation, consisting primarily of massive oil shale and interbedded siltstone and sandstone that grade rapidly upward into well-laminated oil shale, records an overall evolution from lacustrine–deltaic facies associations to profundal facies associations. Sedimentological characteristics of the oil shale succession display a gradual change of moderately overfilled to balanced-fill lake fill mode, consistent with the up-section drop in siliciclastic inputs reflected by detrital proxies like decreased Si/Al and K/Na ratios. Variations in the sedimentary fill states are accompanied by increasing hydrographic restriction of the Jijuntun paleo-lake, in agreement with low Mo/TOC (consistently <0.54 × 10−4), Mo depletions (average ~1 ppm), and slight U deficiencies (average <2 ppm). Slightly elevated (V + Cr)/Al values in the oil shale suggest reduced oxygen contents in the sediment column relative to oxic bottom waters. The up-section decrease in both FeT/Al and Mn/Al ratios further reveals a shift in bottom-water redox state toward less oxidizing conditions throughout deposition of this oil shale succession. In response to such a change in redox, reactive Fe–Mn shuttling across the chemocline could become intense and facilitate P recycling in water masses, resulting in the coupled Fe–Mn–P enrichments. Euphotic zones of this paleo-lake likely had moderate to high primary and export productivity, supported by the magnitude of enrichments of total organic carbon (TOC) and P nutrient as well as increasing TOC to P ratios. Aerobic respiration of sinking organic particles should occur at the sediment–water interface to reduce benthic O 2 levels in the paleo-lake. However, greater aerobic remineralization of labile OM was required to consume relatively more dissolved oxygen during deposition of the lower relative to upper oil shale succession. Hence, different degrees of aerobic OM remineralization are responsible for the contrast in TOC contents between the lower (avg. = 4.7 wt%) and upper (avg. = 12.0 wt%) Jijuntun Formation. • The oil shale record reveals lake deltaic/profundal lacustrine facies associations. • Sedimentary fill evolution and Mo depletion reflect increased basinal restriction. • The lacustrine organic facies were deposited beneath oxygenated bottom waters. • Enhanced Fe–Mn shuttling could facilitate P recycles in the Jijuntun paleo-lake. • Aerobic organic matter oxidation limits the oil shale organic carbon inventories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Groundwater-dependent variance in vegetation cover is revealed with semivariogram. • GLUE method is introduced to identify parameters in semivariogram model of EVI. • Shallower groundwater results in lager sill of EVI variance. • EVI is not sensitive to groundwater depth when the depth is larger than 10 m. As important sensitive feedback of ecosystems, spatial distribution and patterns of vegetation can remarkably reflect eco-environmental conditions in arid and semiarid areas, where groundwater plays a significant role. The impact of groundwater depth (GD) on the spatial variance in remote-sensing vegetation index is highlighted in this study over the Ordos Plateau, China. The 250 m resolution mean annual Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data are analyzed and compared to the same resolution data of altitude, air temperature, aridity index and GD. A linear regression analysis indicates a significant weak correlation between the EVI and the climatic and topographic controls at the regional scale. A semivariogram analysis is introduced to quantify the GD-dependent variance in the residual EVI (W EVI) filtered from this linear regression. The pixel-to-pixel dependency of W EVI on GD is nonlinear and significant only when GD is smaller than 10 m. The semivariance of W EVI increases with the lag distance and slightly fluctuates around the sill when the distance is sufficiently larger than 5 km. The sill of W EVI variance in the situation of GD ≤ 5 m is significantly higher than that in deeper groundwater situations. The semivariogram range of W EVI in the middle zone of the study area is lowest due to the lowest semivariogram range of GD. The nugget effect in the W EVI variance is weak but positively related to the nugget of GD variance when groundwater is shallow. High sensitivity of the vegetation cover to the shallow groundwater should be considered in the regulation of groundwater resources for ecological benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xu, S.; Sun, P., and Yin, K., 2020. Innovation driving effect of marine economic structure transformation. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 184-186. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. With the rapid development of economic globalization, countries all over the world pay more attention to the development of marine economy. In the new wave of ocean development, opportunities and challenges coexist. Marine economic system is different from continental economic system. Its openness, high risk, high income and high dependence on capital and technology urgently require the effective exertion of the driving effect of scientific and technological innovation. Under the new normal of economy, the construction of marine ecological civilization cannot be separated from the transformation and upgrading of economy and the adjustment of industrial structure. Innovation-driven development of low-carbon economy, green economy and circular economy is a necessary condition for the construction of marine ecological civilization. Based on the characteristics of marine economic system, the driving effect of scientific and technological innovation depends not only on the self-strengthening of market mechanism, but also on the macro guidance and innovation system construction of the government. In view of this, we should fully implement the outline of the national marine development plan, accelerate the development and construction of marine economy, and explore a new way of sustainable development of marine economy suitable for China's national conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xu, S.; Sun, P., and Yin, K., 2020. Innovation driving effect of marine economic structure transformation. In: Bai, X. and Zhou, H. (eds.), Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Protection, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 115, pp. 184-186. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. With the rapid development of economic globalization, countries all over the world pay more attention to the development of marine economy. In the new wave of ocean development, opportunities and challenges coexist. Marine economic system is different from continental economic system. Its openness, high risk, high income and high dependence on capital and technology urgently require the effective exertion of the driving effect of scientific and technological innovation. Under the new normal of economy, the construction of marine ecological civilization cannot be separated from the transformation and upgrading of economy and the adjustment of industrial structure. Innovation-driven development of low-carbon economy, green economy and circular economy is a necessary condition for the construction of marine ecological civilization. Based on the characteristics of marine economic system, the driving effect of scientific and technological innovation depends not only on the self-strengthening of market mechanism, but also on the macro guidance and innovation system construction of the government. In view of this, we should fully implement the outline of the national marine development plan, accelerate the development and construction of marine economy, and explore a new way of sustainable development of marine economy suitable for China's national conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To introduce the experience of aeromedical transport of critically burned patients in Northwest China and to explore the time and conditions of transport. Methods: From August 1992 to July 2003, eight sorties of aeromedical transport of critically burned patients in Northwest China were analyzed. Results: Eighteen critically burned patients were safely transported to destination. Their total burn surface areas (TBSA) were 49–95%, and their full-thickness burn surface areas were 41–92%. Escharotomies on the chest and extremities were performed in 6 patients and 28 extremities, respectively. All patients were accompanied by inhalation injury. Among them, tracheostomy was carried out in 12 patients with moderate and severe inhalation injury. Of 18 patients, 4 patients were transported with shock and 14 patients were transported after resuscitation. Conclusion: It is safe to transport critically burned patients after resuscitation. Furthermore, it is also safe to perform aeromedical transport during shock with caution and good preparation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Yongding River (Beijing, China) was dry most times of the year, and groundwater storage was severely depleted. To address this issue, a river rehabilitation project was initiated. A downstream environmental flow release (EFR) project from upstream reservoirs has been implemented since 2019. This study evaluated the impact of EFR by constructing transient groundwater-flow and numerical tracer transport models to simulate the hydrogeological responses to the water release events in 2019–2020. The study identified two factors that significantly influence the river leakage rate, which are operational factors (i.e., water release rate and duration) and physical factors (i.e., hydraulic properties of the riverbed, regional hydraulic gradients, and groundwater depth) that determine the maximum water availability for groundwater recharge and maximum infiltration capacity, respectively. Predictive modelling was performed to assess the long-term effects of the proposed EFR scheme from 2021 to 2050, which showed that groundwater levels along the river will increase by 10–20 m by 2050. Groundwater storage is expected to be largely recovered and groundwater/surface-water connectivity in the middle reach of the river will be restored. This restoration will not only maintain the environmental flow for the benefit of ecosystems but also enhance groundwater recharge, promoting sustainable groundwater development in the region. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the proposed EFR scheme in achieving sustainable groundwater development in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern China is affected by multi-stage tectonic activities, with strong fold deformation, complex fault systems and poor shale gas preservation conditions. Here, we used shale samples from the lower Silurian Longmaxi shale in the complex tectonic area of Southern China, to study the relationship between differential structural deformation, and pore structure and adsorption capacity. According to the deformation mechanism of the shale, it is further divided into brittle-slip rheological deformation (BD) and ductile-slip rheological deformation (DD). The results show that all micro-fractures can be observed under scanning electron microscopy in deformed shale samples, but in shale samples with different types of rheological deformation, the micro-fractures have large differences in scale, fracture length and lateral connectivity. The micro-fractures developed in DD shales are small in scale and short in fracture length, but have strong local connectivity. In contrast, brittle minerals are more developed in BD shales, and interlayer shearing has formed micro-fractures with large fracture length and good lateral connectivity, which is beneficial for later fracturing. In these two types of deformed shales, pores in organic matter are rare, and sporadic organic pores have small pore size and poor connectivity. The total pore volume (1.8–2.4 × 10−2 cm3 g–1) of BD shale samples is higher than that of DD shale samples (0.8–1.6 × 10−2 cm3 g–1). There is a positive correlation between total pore volume and quartz content. In addition, the specific surface area (12–18 m2 g–1) of DD shale samples is larger than that of BD shale samples (6–12 m2 g–1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of video modeling and visual task analysis on the acquisition, maintenance, and engagement of washing cars for three Chinese adolescents with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. Video-based training was conducted in the conference room of a university-affiliated autism research center in China, and the hands-on training using visual task analysis took place in a local car wash. Three male adolescents (16–19 years old) participated in this study. A multiple probe across four tasks design was used. Results indicated that the training was effective in increasing independent and accurate responses of car wash tasks for all participants, and two of the three participants had a relatively high level of task engagement after the training. The acquired skills and improved task engagement were maintained for up to 6 months without practice. Implications in vocational skills training for Chinese adolescents in the community are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC) was a continental arc or in a lithospheric extensional setting during the Carboniferous is the primary divergence among different tectonic models about the terminal evolutionary history of the southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The Alxa block is the western segment of the northern NCC and contiguous to the southeastern CAOB, and therefore the tectonic setting of the Carboniferous magmatic intrusions in this block can shed light on this controversy. In this contribution, new zircon U–Pb ages, elemental geochemistry, and Sr-Nd isotopes are presented for thirteen Late Carboniferous (~318–300 Ma) magmatic intrusions in the southwestern Alxa block. Among them, seven calc-alkaline I-type granites and one aluminous A2-type granite were probably generated by the partial melting and crystallization differentiation of various crustal sources (perhaps including earlier orogenic materials) under different temperature conditions. Four quartz diorites and one hornblende gabbro may be the partial melts of subduction-modified basaltic lower crust sources and sub-continental lithospheric mantle sources, respectively. According to the integration of the new results and regional geological correlations, the Alxa block and the southeastern CAOB were most likely in a uniform tectonic regime during the Carboniferous. At that time, this region was characterized by the lithospheric extension-related magmatic rock associations, the increasing mantle inputs over time, the clockwise P–T paths of high temperature-low pressure metamorphic rocks, and the transgression sedimentary sequences. All these lines of evidence suggest an intra-continental lithospheric extensional setting rather than a continental arc setting for the southeastern CAOB during the Carboniferous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a self-monitoring intervention on the independent completion of dishwashing for three boys with autism (ages 6, 7, and 8) in China. The self-monitoring intervention included visual task analysis, in vivo modeling, self-recording, video self-feedback, and reinforcement. A multiple probe across subjects design was used. Prior to the study, the children had limited or no dishwashing skills, nor did they receive any training on self-monitoring. All three children acquired dishwashing and performed the task independently without supervision one week after the intervention. Their parents were very satisfied with this intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical understanding on basin-scale groundwater flow patterns is based on Tóth’s findings of a single flow system in a unit basin (Tóth, 1962) and nested flow systems in a complex basin (Tóth, 1963), both of which were based on steady state models. Vandenberg (1980) extended Tóth (1962) by deriving a transient solution under a periodically changing water table in a unit basin and examined the flow field distortion under different dimensionless response time, τ ∗ . Following Vandenberg’s (1980) approach, we extended Tóth (1963) by deriving the transient solution under a periodically changing water table in a complex basin and examined the transient behavior of nested flow systems. Due to the effect of specific storage, the flow field is asymmetric with respect to the midline, and the trajectory of internal stagnation points constitutes a non-enclosed loop, whose width decreases when τ ∗ decreases. The distribution of the relative magnitude of hydraulic head fluctuation, Δ h ∗ , is dependent on the horizontal distance away from a divide and the depth below the land surface. In the shallow part, Δ h ∗ decreases from 1 at the divide to 0 at its neighboring valley under all τ ∗ , while in the deep part, Δ h ∗ reaches a threshold, whose value decreases when τ ∗ increases. The zones with flowing wells are also found to change periodically. As water table falls, there is a general trend of shrinkage in the area of zones with flowing wells, which has a lag to the declining water table under a large τ ∗ . Although fluxes have not been assigned in our model, the recharge/discharge flux across the top boundary can be obtained. This study is critical to understand a series of periodically changing hydrogeological phenomena in large-scale basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstructing climate variability beyond human records allows reconstruction of past and prediction of future climate change. However, a lack of high - resolution paleoclimate archives and effective climate proxies has hitherto limited reconstruction of the spatiotemporal evolution of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). In this study, the ratio of the meteoric cosmogenic 10Be (10Be met) to silicate-weathered 9Be in annually laminated sediments from Maar Lake Xiaolongwan (NE China) was utilized to reconstruct EASM precipitation over the past two millennia. We find two apparent humid periods during the transitions of the Dark Age Cold Period–Medieval Climate Anomaly (DACP–MCA, ∼700 CE) and MCA–Little Ice Age (MCA–LIA, ∼1250 CE). The interval of these two humid periods is consistent with previous proposition of ∼500-yr oscillations of EASM in Northeast Asia. Although there are some phase variabilities, the pattern of temporal variation from 400 to 1600 CE are synchronous with other regional climate records from the EASM region. However, the spatial pattern shows an anti-phase synchronization between the EASM and the transition zone between the EASM and the Indian summer monsoon (ISM), revealing a "dry northeastern and wet southwestern" mode during the MCA. The climate change fluctuations derived here from 10Be met /9Be in maar lake sediments are more straightforward than Chinese cave δ18O records and global temperature anomalies, providing a unique climate proxy for detecting variations of paleo-precipitation flux in specific regions. The overall slight weakening of EASM is consistent with a long-term cooling trend, which is likely regulated by solar irradiance. The apparent decrease of EASM during the transition from MCA to LIA is interpreted as the main control of explosive volcanic eruptions. The internal fluctuations and the spatiotemporal variability of precipitation are likely associated with the integrated effect of ISM and El Niño-Southern Oscillation. • 10Be (met) /9Be ratio is used as a precipitation proxy in Maar Lake Xiaolongwan. • Reconstruction of the EASM over the past 2000 years. • The forcings that control the spatiotemporal variability of EASM are identified. • A "dry northeastern and wet southwestern" mode during the Medieval Climate Anomaly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomic studies of bambusicolous fungi in China and Thailand have resulted in the collection of three fascinating saprobic coelomycetes strains. Morphology coupled with combined gene analysis of ITS, LSU, TUB2, and TEF1-α DNA sequence data showed that they belong to the genus Apiospora, family Apiosporaceae. A new species from Thailand, Apiospora mukdahanensis, and new records of A. locuta-pollinis from China are herein described. In addition, based on both morphological data coupled with phylogenetics and nomenclatural analyses, A. mori is proposed as a new combination. Maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses were performed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species obtained in this study. Newly obtained strains are compared with morphologically- and phylogenetically-related taxa. The comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, and updated phylogeny are provided and discussed for intra-and intergeneric relationships within Apiospora species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conceptual diagram of coupled interactions between iron and phosphorus across redox conditions in paddy soils. [PO 4 3-] x : Dissolved phosphate species include all variations. PSM: Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms. [Display omitted] • The Fe-enriched cutans were composed of red spherical particles. • The amorphous Fe oxide in the cutans contributed substantially to sorption of P. • Both microbial diversity and P-solubilizing fungi were accumulated in the cutans. • The cutans are "Hot Spots" of P in paddy soil. Phosphorus (P) is a key limiting nutrient for crops. Oscillation of redox conditions usually induces formation of Fe-enriched cutans in the plow layer of paddy soils. This study investigated P biogeochemistry in the cutans, which were collected from high-yield paddy soils in Taihu Lake region, China. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed that the content of Fe3+ was eight times higher than Fe2+ in the cutans. Based on the evidences from XRD and wet chemical analysis, the enriched Fe in the cutans mostly existed as amorphous oxides, which owned high surface areas for P sorption. In addition, the cutans were composed of spherical particles with diameters of 20–130 μm under microscopy. Moreover , the particles showed evident "trench" structures on their top surface under SEM imaging. These features caused the cutans to retain three times higher P than that in the matrix soils. Furthermore, the cutans demonstrated both high microbial richness and community diversity, in contrast to the matrix soils. In particular, the abundance of phosphate-solubilizing fungi (with relatively highly competitive saprophytic ability) was also significantly promoted. Therefore, the cutans could be considered as hotspots of P accumulation in paddy soils. The subsequent enhancement of the available P would promote rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conceptual diagram of coupled interactions between iron and phosphorus across redox conditions in paddy soils. [PO 4 3-] x : Dissolved phosphate species include all variations. PSM: Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms. [Display omitted] • The Fe-enriched cutans were composed of red spherical particles. • The amorphous Fe oxide in the cutans contributed substantially to sorption of P. • Both microbial diversity and P-solubilizing fungi were accumulated in the cutans. • The cutans are "Hot Spots" of P in paddy soil. Phosphorus (P) is a key limiting nutrient for crops. Oscillation of redox conditions usually induces formation of Fe-enriched cutans in the plow layer of paddy soils. This study investigated P biogeochemistry in the cutans, which were collected from high-yield paddy soils in Taihu Lake region, China. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed that the content of Fe3+ was eight times higher than Fe2+ in the cutans. Based on the evidences from XRD and wet chemical analysis, the enriched Fe in the cutans mostly existed as amorphous oxides, which owned high surface areas for P sorption. In addition, the cutans were composed of spherical particles with diameters of 20–130 μm under microscopy. Moreover , the particles showed evident "trench" structures on their top surface under SEM imaging. These features caused the cutans to retain three times higher P than that in the matrix soils. Furthermore, the cutans demonstrated both high microbial richness and community diversity, in contrast to the matrix soils. In particular, the abundance of phosphate-solubilizing fungi (with relatively highly competitive saprophytic ability) was also significantly promoted. Therefore, the cutans could be considered as hotspots of P accumulation in paddy soils. The subsequent enhancement of the available P would promote rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene arrangement (relative location of genes) is another evolutionary marker of the mitogenome that can provide extensive information on the evolutionary mechanism. To explore the evolution of gene arrangements in the mitogenome of diversified Ensifera, we sequenced the mitogenome of the unique dune cricket species found in China and used it for phylogenetic analysis, in combination with 84 known Ensiferan mitogenomes. The mitogenome of Schizodactylus jimo is a 16,428-bp circular molecule that contains 37 genes. We identified eight types of gene arrangement in the 85 ensiferan mitogenomes. The gene location changes (i.e., gene translocation and duplication) were in three gene blocks: I-Q-M-ND2, rrnl-rns-V, and ND3-A-R-N-S-E-F. From the phylogenetic tree, we found that Schizodactylus jimo and most other species share a typical and ancient gene arrangement type (Type I), while Grylloidea has two types (Types II and III), and the other five types are rare and scattered in the phylogenetic tree. We deduced that the tandem replication–random loss model is the evolutionary mechanism of gene arrangements in Ensifera. Selection pressure analysis revealed that purifying selection dominated the evolution of the ensiferan mitochondrial genome. This study suggests that most gene rearrangements in the ensiferan mitogenome are rare accidental events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While conducting a survey of bambusicolous fungi in northern Thailand and southwestern China, several saprobic fungi were collected from dead branches, culms and twigs of bamboos, which were preliminarily identified as species belonging to Pleosporales (Dothideomycetes) based on a morphological approach. Multigene phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, SSU, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2 demonstrated four novel taxa belonging to the families Parabambusicolaceae, Pyrenochaetopsidaceae and Tetraploasphaeriaceae. Hence, Paramultiseptospora bambusae sp. et gen. nov., Pyrenochaetopsis yunnanensis sp. nov. and Tetraploa bambusae sp. nov. are introduced. In addition, Anastomitrabeculia didymospora found on bamboo twigs in terrestrial habitats is reported for the first time. Detailed morphological descriptions and updated phylogenetic trees of each family are provided herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium (Li) isotopes have shown large potential in tracing weathering in various water bodies, but there is limited study on Li isotopes in subsurface conditions where CO 2 has been largely consumed. In this study, we use a thick sandstone aquifer in the Ordos Basin, NW China, as a natural setting to investigate the behaviors of Li isotopes in hydrogeochemical conditions with different concentrations of dissolved CO 2. For young groundwater in the recharge area (group R) where CO 2 is abundant (mean P CO2 = 10-2.5 atm), clay formation accompanying with weathering leads to the enrichment of 7Li in groundwater. The four deep samples in the recharge area have uniform Li/Na ratios (with a mean of 2.52 μmol/mmol) and δ7Li (with a mean of 25.0‰), corresponding to a mean Li removal rate of 81.2% compared with the sandstone leachate. For groundwater in the shallow part of the discharge area (group D1), Li was firstly removed by clay formation during weathering in the recharge area and was later removed by physisorption when CO 2 becomes much lower (mean P CO2 = 10-3.1 atm). Different degrees of weathering lead to a wide range of δ7Li varying from 19.7‰ in the deepest well to 33.0‰ in the shallowest well. The proportion of Li removal caused by physisorption is found to increase with groundwater age. After the stage of Li removal by adsorption, Li was released in the deeper part of the discharge area (group D2), and the positive correlation of δ7Li versus Li/Na is explained by a ternary mixing model. The endmember of water brought by cation exchange is inferred to have a heavier δ7Li than sandstone leachate, demonstrating that cation exchange could cause an enrichment of 7Li in water. This study enhances our understanding of the controlling factors of Li isotopes in deep groundwater with low dissolved CO 2 , which have implications for the application of Li isotopes in subsurface water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In China, the burden of shigellosis is unevenly distributed, notably across various ages and geographical areas. Shigellosis temporal trends appear to be seasonal. We should clarify seasonal warnings and regional transmission patterns. Method: This study adopted a Logistic model to assess the seasonality and a dynamics model to compare the transmission in different areas. The next-generation matrix was used to calculate the effective reproduction number (Reff) to quantify the transmissibility. Results: In China, the rate of shigellosis fell from 35.12 cases per 100,000 people in 2005 to 7.85 cases per 100,000 people in 2017, peaking in June and August. After simulation by the Logistic model, the 'peak time' is mainly concentrated from mid-June to mid-July. China's 'early warning time' is primarily focused on from April to May. We predict the 'peak time' of shigellosis is the 6.30th month and the 'early warning time' is 3.87th month in 2021. According to the dynamics model results, the water/food transfer pathway has been mostly blocked off. The transmissibility of different regions varies greatly, such as the mean Reff of Longde County (3.76) is higher than Xiamen City (3.15), higher than Chuxiong City (2.52), and higher than Yichang City (1.70). Conclusion: The 'early warning time' for shigellosis in China is from April to May every year, and it may continue to advance in the future, such as the early warning time in 2021 is in mid-March. Furthermore, we should focus on preventing and controlling the personto-person route of shigellosis and stratified deploy prevention and control measures according to the regional transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycophytes and ferns are the oldest terrestrial vascular plants, sensitive to climate change, and can act as an indicator of environmental change in the forest. However, knowledge about the way in which environmental factors influence diversity distribution of lycophytes and ferns in Northeast China still remains limited. Based on the latest PPGI classification, this study has taken lycophytes and ferns in Northeast China as the research object. Using county distribution information and environmental factor data, combining stepwise multiple regression (SMR) and geographically weighted regression (GWR), species diversity and environmental origin of lycophytes and ferns in Northeast China have been discussed. The results have shown that areas of high species diversity of lycophytes and ferns in Northeast China have mainly been concentrated in Changbai Mountains, Da Hinggan Mountains and Xiao Hinggan Mountains, and Changbai Mountains have been the most abundant. Precipitation of wettest quarter (Bio16), elevation range (ER), and forest area (FA) have been the three key environmental factors affecting the species diversity distribution. Bio16, as the most important factor, can further reveal the influence of special life history characteristics of lycophytes and ferns on species diversity. This study sheds light for the first time on the main environmental factors affecting the species diversity of lycophytes and ferns in Northeast China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Multi-scale characterization of ecosystem service interrelationships was discovered. • revealing the influence of drivers on ecosystem services at different scales. • Understanding based on drivers and service bundles helps to develop implementation-related strategies from spatial scales. A thorough comprehension of the trade-offs/synergies (TOS) among ecosystem services (ESs) and their underlying drivers are vital for promoting regional sustainable development and making informed decisions. In this study, we explored the spatial and temporal dynamics of six ESs and their driving factors at both the grid and county scales in the Central-southern Liaoning urban agglomeration (CSLUA) utilizing various analytical techniques such as Pearson correlation analysis, geographically weighted regression, self-organized mapping analysis, and Redundancy Analysis. Our results revealed that: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, water yield (WY), soil retention (SR), landscape aesthetics (LA), and food production (FP) exhibited an overall upward trend, while habitat quality (HQ) and carbon storage (CS) demonstrated a decreasing trend; (2) From grid scale to county scale, we found concentration effects of TOS relationships was weaken, mainly between supply services (WY, FP) and other services. The significant relationship between some ES pairs has become neutral. The geospatial heterogeneity of TOS relationships for all ESs was also weakened at county scale. More details of geographical features can be captured at grid scale than at county scale. (3) At both scales of analysis, we identified five ES bundles with different ecological functional characteristics and spatial patterns. We found that the Potential High-value Synergistic Bundle would shift to High-value Synergistic Bundle. Although the areas of the LA bundle increased from the grid scale to the county scale, there is less continuity. (4) The direction of the influence of the driving factor on ES is not constant in time, and the degree of the drivers' impacts on the six ESs varies on the two scales. But NDVI was the main driver for most of the ESs. This study contributes to expanding our understanding of the relationships between ESs at different scales and could inform sustainable ecosystem management at multiple scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coalbed methane (CBM) is an important energy source globally, thus understanding its origin and evolution is essential to the assessment of reserves and developing exploration strategies. This study aims to identify the origin of CBM in Liupanshui Coalfield (LPC) in southern China and evaluate the influence of basin exhumation on gas storage in different rank coals. Ten CBM samples were collected from four blocks that have different thermal histories and coal rank ranges. Based on the C 1 /(C 2 + C 3) ratio (16–971), δ13C CH4 (−41.6 to −34.9‰) and δD CH4 (−185 to −140‰), the methane is mainly thermogenic in origin. Systematic compositional differences between the four blocks are consistent with coal maturity. Noble gases in LPC CBM are a mixture of air-derived gas dissolved in local groundwaters and radiogenic gases that were generated in the coals and diffused in from deeper crust. The radiogenic 4He/40Ar⁎ and 21Ne⁎/40Ar⁎ are lowest in CBM from Qingshan block, strong evidence of diffusive loss of light noble gases. 20Ne/36Ar (0.23–0.70) in all gases are higher than local air-saturated water (0.16) and are most easily explained by re-dissolution of noble gases that exsolved from groundwater during basin inversion. 84Kr/36Ar and 132Xe/36Ar ratios are higher than predicted from this process and likely reflect desorption of Xe and Kr that has been trapped on the coal matrix at the time of coal formation. The noble gases are consistent with gas exsolution and loss from the reservoir during Mesozoic-Cenozoic basin inversion. Modelling the loss of both free and adsorbed gas during basin inversion we find that the Qingshan block has lost the highest proportion of free gas (77%), yet the total gas loss (free and adsorbed) is the lowest (25%) due to the strong adsorption capacity of the mature coals. The volume of groundwater that has interacted with the gas phase during the basin inversion is estimated according to the re-dissolution process model to evaluate the role of groundwater in gas preservation and gas extraction. Combining gas production data for the four blocks, high gas content and efficient gas extraction in LPC are expected for the high maturity coals that have seen low groundwater during basin inversion but more at shallow depth. • Methane in LPC is mainly thermogenic in origin. • Systematic compositional differences between blocks are consistent with coal maturity. • Noble gases in CBM are consistent with gas exsolution and loss during basin inversion. • The estimated water-gas volumetric ratio from the re-dissolution model is used to evaluate gas loss and gas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sustainable groundwater development is achievable in Beijing plain. • Substituting groundwater abstraction with transferred surface water has stopped depletion. • Managed aquifer recharge is very effective for sustaining groundwater abstraction. • Climate variation has larger impact on groundwater resources than the anticipated future climate change. To cope with the groundwater depletion problem and achieve sustainable groundwater development, groundwater conservation measures and managed aquifer recharge (MAR) have been implemented worldwide. However, knowledge gaps exit how does the aquifer system respond to these interventions differently and if these interventions are adequate to lead to long-term sustainable groundwater development under future climate change. In Beijing Plain, two measures have been implemented: reduction of groundwater abstraction by substituting groundwater abstraction with transferred surface water and implementation of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in two major rivers. This study aims to assess how do the shallow and deep aquifers respond to these measures and if these measures can lead to long-term sustainable groundwater development in Beijing Plain under future climate change. A 3-D transient groundwater flow model was calibrated and used to simulate groundwater level and budget changes from 2021 to 2050. The monthly groundwater recharge was estimated using the projected monthly precipitation from three downscaled regional climate models under two scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The results show that declines in groundwater head and storage can be reversed with the combined two measures, thereby contributing to achieve sustainable groundwater development. The reduction of abstractions is a deciding measure to reverse the trend of groundwater depletion, especially in the deep confined aquifers, while large scale MAR schemes can restore the cones of depressions in shallow aquifers and maintain the groundwater abstraction. Climate variation has large impacts on groundwater resources, especially, consecutive dry years can cause rapid groundwater storage depletion. The projected monthly precipitation from 2021 to 2050 is not significantly different from the past. Therefore, the projected future precipitation has minor impacts on groundwater resources in the next 30 years. The findings from the study will support the Beijing municipality to maintain the tight control on groundwater abstraction and to implement large-scale MAR schemes in two rivers. This successful example will encourage managers of other heavily exploited aquifers to take similar measures to achieve sustainable groundwater development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• δ13C of coalbed gases measured from 5 Qinshui Basin blocks with different maturity. • Secondary microbial methane from the biodegradation of overmature coals detected. • The mutual conversion between CH 4 and CO 2 occurred in shallow buried coals. • Overmature coals hold high potential in stimulating microbial methane generation. Understanding the generation of secondary microbial methane (SMM) is important for the evaluation of natural gas resources and instructive for the stimulation of methane production. Coal seams are popular targets for extracting in situ preserved methane and studying microbe-stimulated methane yield. However, few studies have been done on overmature coals. Here we collected gas samples from coals varying from bituminous to meta-anthracite in the Qinshui Basin, North China, and analysed the molecular and stable isotopic compositions to systematically evaluate the influence of biodegradation in high-rank coals in geological settings. The stable isotope signatures (δ13C and δD) of methane are dominated by the thermal decomposition of organic matter in deep coals but inconsistent with the maturity rank of shallow burial coals. The decoupling of coal maturity with C 1 /C 2+ ratios and δ13C-CH 4 values, and positive δ13C-CO 2 values (−9.2 to +24.4 ‰) suggest biodegradation of light wet gases (C 2+ components) and CO 2 reduction. Negative trends between δ13C-CO 2 and CH 4 /CO 2 in shallow burial coal seams reveal the mutual conversion of CH 4 and CO 2 and carbon isotope exchange, driven by microorganisms. The calculated isotopic temperatures (33–328 °C) based on the carbon isotope fractionation factors between CH 4 and CO 2 (1.024–1.069) demonstrate that carbon isotope exchange is prevalent in high-rank coals. It also reveals that the burial depth is an imperative factor in controlling microbial environments and thus the biodegradation process. This study implicates the potential of high-rank coals as the target for microbial-enhanced methane recovery and also implies that microorganisms are widely involved in reservoir carbon cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We summarize field observations of 14C age showing obvious GW aging in two basins. • Pumping causes not only rejuvenation, but also aging of GW in layered basins. • Although GW rejuvenation is larger in area, aging is greater in magnitude. • We identify two new mechanisms of pumping-induced GW aging in layered basins. • Topography-driven flow is the main cause of GW aging in the discharge area. As an indicator of the renewability of a groundwater basin, the spatial distribution of groundwater age has attracted intensive research. As reported in the literature, 3H measurements in 74 US aquifers showed pumping-induced groundwater rejuvenation, whereas 14C ages in two heavily developed aquifers in France and China indicated pumping-induced groundwater aging. Unfortunately, the mechanisms leading to the seemingly opposite behavior of pumping-induced aging and rejuvenation remain unclear. In this study, we conducted numerical simulations of groundwater age in layered aquifer-aquitard systems under different pumping scenarios and aquitard permeability to show that pumping-induced groundwater rejuvenation and aging always occur simultaneously. Groundwater rejuvenation widely occurs throughout the basin wherever the well is located, whereas groundwater aging mainly occurs to the downgradient parts of the basin. Although groundwater rejuvenation is larger in area, groundwater aging is greater in magnitude, and the magnitude of aging increases with pumping intensity and duration. Moreover, when pumping occurs in the discharge area, aging could occur in almost the entire aquifer to the downgradient of the pumping well, and the magnitude of aging is larger. The large area and large magnitude of aging in the discharge area is a direct result of upward leakage of old groundwater from underlying aquitards/aquifers, which is controlled by the topography-driven groundwater flow. By demonstrating the importance of topography-driven groundwater flow and underlying formations in groundwater age redistribution, this study has implications for determining the bottom of a groundwater flow and solute transport model and interpretation of various tracers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Cosmogenic nuclide burial dating of cave sediments in Liuchong River, southwestern China. [•] The embryonic form of modern Wujiang River was possibly presented at 0.75Ma ago. [•] The high river incision rate of northwest Guizhou Plateau is nearly ∼0.48m/ka. [•] Strong uplift of Tibetan Plateau in Quaternary might be the primary reason. [•] Others are due to the soluble carbonate bedrock and cut-through of Three Gorges. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Face swiping is the action of registering facial recognition data with a biometric authentication application. Face swiping‐based medical services (FSMSs) is an emerging measurement technology underpinning modern intelligent medical services in China. In view of convenience in the delivery of medical services and the potential to reduce medical costs, FSMSs have become an important part of China's medical reform. However, modelling its eventual uses has not been fully explored in theory and practice, and this is hindering the take up of FSMSs in China. In this paper, we build an evolutionary game model to explore three stakeholders—policy makers, hospitals, and patients—and their dynamic interdependence of their decision‐making when adopting FSMS. Based on our game theoretic analysis, we develop a novel model to track the behaviour of these three stakeholders and analyse the corresponding payoff matrix to establish the replication dynamic equation (RDE) for the game. Further, we then use RDE to calculate the different stability points of players and determine the game's stable strategy. Finally, we validate the proposed model with a detailed simulation. Our observations may benefit not only FSMS participants but also several other forms of medical services and industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape evolution is modulated by the regional tectonic uplift, climate change, and river dynamics. However, how to distinguish these mechanisms through the research of surface exhumation and fluvial incision remains controversial. In this study, cosmogenic 10Be, 26Al, and 21Ne concentrations in quartz from cave deposits, modern river sediments, and bedrocks were measured to constrain the applicability of cosmogenic 21Ne and discuss Quaternary landscape evolution history in the Guizhou Plateau, southeast China. Using the 26Al-10Be and 21Ne-10Be pairs to distinguish the cosmogenic 21Ne concentration from the excess 21Ne, we found that the nucleogenic 21Ne produced by the U and Th decay in quartz is significant in the samples although there is the possibility of inherited cosmogenic 21Ne. Combining with previous studies, we suggest that the precise approach for applying the cosmogenic 21Ne could be reached by (1) estimating the contribution from nucleogenic 21Ne, (2) avoiding samples with complex burial histories to exclude inherited cosmogenic 21Ne, and (3) combining the 10Be-26Al-21Ne nuclides method for the Quaternary samples. In addition, both pre-burial basin denudation rates and burial ages derived from the 26Al-10Be pair were used to determine the different timescale surface denudation rate and fluvial incision rate in relation to previous work. The consistency of the different timescales pre-burial basin denudation rate, 36Cl surface denudation rate, and modern basin denudation rate indicates that the landscape-scale surface denudation has been likely stabilized since the Quaternary in the Guizhou Plateau area. The slightly higher river incision rates than the local surface denudation rate show that the river dynamics may not have reached a steady-state due to the regional tectonic uplift in the Guizhou Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]