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Species of Amanita sect. Vaginatae (Fr.) Quél. are challenging to delimitate due to the morphological similarity or morphostasis among different taxa. In this study, a multi-locus (nuc rDNA region encompassing the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 with the 5.8S rDNA, the D1–D3 domains of nuc 28S rDNA, partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-a, and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II) phylogeny was employed to investigate the species diversity of the section in eastern China. Sixteen species were recognized, including four new species; namely, A. circulata, A. multicingulata, A. orientalis, and A. sinofulva. They were documented with illustrated descriptions, ecological evidence, and comparisons with similar species. A key to the species of the section from eastern China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The order Agaricales was divided into eight suborders. However, the phylogenetic relationships among some suborders are largely unresolved, and the phylogenetic positions and delimitations of some taxa, such as Sarcomyxaceae and Tricholomopsis, remain unsettled. In this study, sequence data of 38 genomes were generated through genome skimming on an Illumina sequencing system. To anchor the systematic position of Sarcomyxaceae and Tricholomopsis, a phylogenetic analysis based on 555 single-copy orthologous genes from the aforementioned genomes and 126 publicly accessible genomes was performed. The results fully supported the clustering of Tricholomopsis with Phyllotopsis and Pleurocybella within Phyllotopsidaceae, which formed a divergent monophyletic major lineage together with Pterulaceae, Radulomycetaceae, and Macrotyphula in Agaricales. The analysis also revealed that Sarcomyxaceae formed a unique major clade. Therefore, two new suborders, Phyllotopsidineae and Sarcomyxineae, are proposed for the two major lineages. Analyses of 450 single-copy orthologous genes and four loci suggested that Tricholomopsis consisted of at least four clades. Tricholomopsis is subsequently subdivided into four distinct sections. Seventeen Tricholomopsis species in China, including six new species, are reported. Conoloma is established to accommodate T. mucronata. The substrate preference of Tricholomopsis species and the transitions of the pileate ornamentations among the species within the genus are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flower bud of Tussilago farfara L., also known as Farfarae Flos (FF), is commonly used in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of cough, bronchitis and asthmatic disorders. In this study, 26 samples from five provinces across northern China were collected, and internal transcribed spacer-polymerase chain reaction (ITS-PCR) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint profiling was used for the quality evaluation of FF. The results of the ITS sequence analysis showed the high similarity values among these samples. ITS2 sequence exhibited less molecular diversity compared with ITS1, and no obvious correlation was found between the variation of ITS with the production areas or cultivation methods. The results of HPLC fingerprints in combination with the similarity analysis suggested that relative contents of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids varied among the 26 FF samples, and there was also no obvious difference among the different habitats. The phenylpropanoids and the flavonoids showed similar fluctuating patterns, and positive correlation among them was also observed. The results presented in this study suggested that FF from different habits showed high similarities, and ITS-PCR coupled with HPLC fingerprint profiling could be used as a valuable approach for the quality evaluation of FF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Spatial differences of environmental variables and macrozoobenthos were found. • A phenomenon of patchy distribution for macrozoobenthos was found in the sea areas. • Water depth contributed most to the spatial macrozoobenthic community differences. • The Changjiang Diluted Water was an important driving factor for the differences. • Macrozoobenthos in the north suffered more disturbance than those in the south. Main environmental variables of the bottom water and the macrozoobenthic community were compared between northern and southern adjacent sea areas of the Yangtze River estuary, China, using data of ten months from 2015 to 2016. The PCA (principal component analysis) results showed significant north-south differences in the environmental variables. Results of PCO (principal coordinates) analysis and cluster analysis revealed an obvious north-south distribution pattern of the macrozoobenthic community, and a phenomenon of patchy distribution of macrozoobenthos was also found in the study area. Relationships of environmental variables and the macrozoobenthic community dissimilarities were analysed by BIOENV analysis and CCA (canonical correspondence analysis). Depth, salinity and turbidity were revealed as major environmental factors related to the north-south differences in the macrozoobenthic community in adjacent sea areas of the Yangtze River estuary, and among them, depth contributed most to the differences. The CDW (Changjiang Diluted Water) was suggested as an important driving factor related to the north-south differences of both environmental variables and the macrozoobenthic community. ABC (abundance/biomass comparison) curves indicated that macrozoobenthos in the north suffered a higher level of disturbance than those in the south, probably due to suffering more interference from the Yangtze River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 infection continues all over the world, causing serious physical and psychological impacts to patients. Patients with COVID-19 infection suffer from various negative emotional experiences such as anxiety, depression, mania, and alienation, which seriously affect their normal life and is detrimental to the prognosis. Our study is aimed to investigate the effect of psychological capital on alienation among patients with COVID-19 and the mediating role of social support in this relationship. Methods: The data were collected in China by the convenient sampling. A sample of 259 COVID-19 patients completed the psychological capital, social support and social alienation scale and the structural equation model was adopted to verify the research hypotheses. Results: Psychological capital was significantly and negatively related to the COVID-19 patients' social alienation (p <.01). And social support partially mediated the correlation between psychological capital and patients' social alienation (p <.01). Conclusion: Psychological capital is critical to predicting COVID-19 patients' social alienation. Social support plays an intermediary role and explains how psychological capital alleviates the sense of social alienation among patients with COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined perceived parental styles, emotion socialization practices and emotion dysregulation among fathers from a community sample in order to understand the intergenerational transmission of normative parenting behaviors. The sample consisted of 217 fathers of school-age children ranging in age from 6 to 12 years. We used a cross-sectional design. The fathers completed a set of self-report questionnaires including parental boding instrument, difficulties in emotion regulation scale, and coping with children's negative emotion scale. The findings indicated that fathers' perceived parental care of their own parents (G1) was negatively linked to fathers' (G2) non-supportive responses to negative emotions shown by their children (G3) through its negative association with the father's (G2) emotion regulation difficulties, whereas fathers' perceived parental overprotection of their own parents (G1) was positively linked to fathers' (G2) non-supportive responses to negative emotions shown by their children (G3) through its positive associations with the fathers' (G2) emotion regulation difficulties. The current study contributed to the further understanding of individual differences in fathers' emotion socialization practices. The findings potentially shed lights on prevention and intervention efforts regarding limiting the expansion of maladaptive emotional parenting behaviors across generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacology relevance The decoction of the flowers of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic was traditionally used for the treatment of jaundice and various types of chronic and acute hepatitis in Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces of China for hundreds of years. Phytochemical studies have indicated that total flavonoids extracted from flowers of A. manihot (L.) Medic (TFA) were the major constituents of the flowers. Our previous studies have investigated the hepatoprotective effects of the TFA against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) induced hepatocyte damage in vitro and liver injury in vivo . This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of TFA on α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestatic liver injury in rats. Material and methods The hepatoprotective activities of TFA (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) were investigated on ANIT-induced cholestatic liver injury in rats. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were used as indices of hepatic cell damage and measured. Meanwhile, the serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and total bile acid (TBA) were used as indices of biliary cell damage and cholestasis and evaluated. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione transferase (GST), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured in the liver homogenates. The bile flow in 4 h was estimated and the histopathology of the liver tissue was evaluated. Furthermore, the expression of transporters, bile salt export pump (BSEP), multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2), and Na + -taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) were studied by western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to elucidate the protective mechanisms of TFA against ANIT-induced cholestasis. Results The oral administration of TFA to ANIT-treated rats could reduce the increases in serum levels of ALT, AST, LDH, ALP, GGT, TBIL, DBIL and TBA. Decreased bile flow by ANIT was restored with TFA treatment. Concurrent administration of TFA reduced the severity of polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration and other histological damages, which were consistent with the serological tests. Hepatic MDA and GSH contents in liver tissue were reduced, while SOD and GST activities, which had been suppressed by ANIT, were elevated in the groups pretreated with TFA. With TFA intervention, levels of TNF-α and NO in liver were decreased. Additionally, TFA was found to increase the expression of liver BSEP, MRP2, and NTCP in both protein and mRNA levels in ANIT-induced liver injury with cholestasis. Conclusion TFA exerted protective effects against ANIT-induced liver injury. The possible mechanisms could be related to anti-oxidative damage, anti-inflammation and regulating the expression of hepatic transporters. It layed the foundation for the further research on the mechanisms of cholestasis as well as the therapeutic effects of A. manihot (L.) Medic for the treatment of jaundice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Caesalpinia sappan is a medicinal plant native to China popularly used to treat chronic pelvic inflammation, dysmenorrhea and hysteromyoma. Its main bioactive component is brazilin which had presented antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet aggregation activities. To establish a sensitive, selective, reproducible, and accurate high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the quantitative determination of brazilin in plasma, and study the pharmacokinetics of brazilin in rats after intravenous administration of brazilin. Materials and methods: Rats received intravenous injection of 25, 50 and 100mg/kg of brazilin. Concentrations of brazilin in plasma were determined by HPLC method at different time points and all pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental analysis with WinNonLin 6.2 software. Results: After single intravenous doses of 25, 50 and 100mg/kg brazilin in rats, the main PK parameters were as follows: C max were 18.1±4.1, 46.7±8.7 and 82.2±9.6µg/mL; AUC0–24 were 20.4±4.3, 48.7±6.8 and 90.4±10.3µgh/mL; and t 1/2 were 5.4±1.5, 5.8±0.9 and 6.2±1.2h, respectively. Conclusion: It showed that the brazilin was eliminated moderately in rat by intravenous injection route with t 1/2 of 6h and showed a dose-dependence profile of C max and AUC0–24 at the doses of 25~100mg/kg of brazilin for injection in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified simplified analysis method is proposed in this paper to evaluate seismic responses of subway stations in dense urban environments. Based on the dynamic analysis of the underground structure-soil-adjacent building interaction (SSSI) model, the seismic response of subway station was distinguished as the kinematic interaction (KI) effect (induced by the free-field movement) and the inertial interaction (II) effect (induced by the vibration of adjacent building). In order to comprehensively and simply consider the KI and II effects, a modified model was established after simplifying the analytical solution of underground structural seismic response. Owing to acquiring the dynamic response via static modelling and calculation, the method proposed herein requires a shorter analysis time and incurs a lower cost. In addition, a typical subway station-soil-ground building system in an east city in China was selected as the case-history to verify the modified method and further evaluate its computational accuracy. The traditional response displacement method and dynamic time history analysis method were also conducted in simulation as a comparison method and standard method, respectively. The case study demonstrates that referencing the results obtained by the dynamic time history analysis method (D-M), the maximum story drift and maximum internal force (including bending moment, axial force and shear force) errors of the traditional response displacement method (T-M) reached −28% and −48%, respectively. Obviously, this method is dangerous in designing due to its smaller computing results. In contrast, the modified method (M-M) which can accurately reflect the impacts of adjacent buildings, is a more accurate and safer analysis method (two seismic response indexes of the modified method generally exceeded the actual values, and more gratifying is that the errors were less than 12%). Therefore, the modified simplified analysis method proposed is a higher accuracy, safer design, less time consumed, and faster analysis process method, which can be used to substitute the traditional method in the aseismic performance and dynamic response analysis of subway stations in dense urban environments. • A simplified analysis method to evaluate the seismic responses of subway stations in dense urban environments. • The seismic response of subway station is distinguished as KI and II effects based on a theoretical framework. • The calculation accuracy of the simplified analysis method is greatly improved. • The computational time required for analyzing is greatly saved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) face great challenges globally, especially in China, for increasingly strict discharge standard. Abundance of AOA was found dramatically higher in a SBR WWTP in South China (ZSH) recently, which achieved extremely low ammonium concentration in effluents. Moreover, AOA equips lower half-saturation constant (K m) for dissolved oxygen (DO) and ammonia in comparison with AOB, which indicate AOA can oxidize ammonia to nitrite more thoroughly than AOB. Thus, AOA may play an important role for nitrogen removal in SBR WWTP. To understand the key factors for AOA dominance in SBR WWTP is of importance for designing and operating WWTP in future. In this study, a Nitrosocosmicus sp. AOA was enriched from the ZSH SBR WWTP. Growth, pH, temperature, ammonium and oxygen tolerance of AOA enrichments were explored. Moreover, ammonia-oxidizing pathway was investigated with presence of PTIO as inhibitor, and the production of middle products (NH 2 OH and N 2 O) during ammonia oxidation were monitored over time. Growth of Nitrosocosmicus sp. AOA was observed with a doubling time of 4.5 days, which was active under a wide pH range (6.0–9.0), with optimal pH of 7.5. Activity of Nitrosocosmicus sp. AOA increased with increasing of ammonium concentration below 40 mM, which was suppressed above 40 mM ammonium. Moreover, K m for ammonia and oxygen were 0.14 μM and 4.1 μM, respectively, which suggested the enriched AOA could thoroughly oxidize ammonia under low dissolved oxygen conditions. Activity of Nitrosocosmicus sp. AOA was completely inhibited by PTIO. Emission of N 2 O by AOA (0.05%) was lower than most reported AOB and Comammox bacteria. Our results demonstrated that the long sludge retention time, intermittent aeration, high ammonium and pH resistance were most probably the controlling factors for AOA dominance in WWTPs, which benefitted to lowing ammonium in effluents, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas in future. [Display omitted] • A Nitrosocosmicus sp. AOA was enriched from SBR WWTP, with grape-like shape. • The enriched AOA equips high Km for ammonia (0.14 μM) and oxygen (3.47 μM). • Emission of N2O by AOA (0.05%) was lower than most reported nitrifying bacteria. • Key factor to dominate AOA: long SRT, intermittent aeration, high ammonium and pH resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A group of 31 rabies viruses (RABVs), recovered primarily from dogs, one deer and one human case, were collected from various areas in China between 1989 and 2006. Complete G gene sequences determined for these isolates indicated identities of nucleotide and amino acid sequences of ≥87% and 93.8%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of these and some additional Chinese isolates clearly supported the placement of all Chinese viruses in Lyssavirus genotype 1 and divided all Chinese isolates between four distinct groups (I–IV). Several variants identified within the most commonly encountered group I were distributed according to their geographical origins. A comparison of representative Chinese viruses with other isolates retrieved world-wide indicated a close evolutionary relationship between China group I and II viruses and those of Indonesia while China group III viruses formed an outlying branch to variants from Malaysia and Thailand. China group IV viruses were closely related to several vaccine strains. The predicted glycoprotein sequences of these RABVs variants are presented and discussed with respect to the utility of the anti-rabies biologicals currently employed in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two new species, Catathelasma laorentou and C. subalpinum, are described on the basis of morphological characters, phylogenetic evidence, host preferences and geographic distributions. A taxonomic key to the known species in China is also provided to facilitate identification. Based on samples from temperate Asia, Europe and North America, the phylogeny of Catathelasma was reconstructed using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the large subunit (LSU) of the ribosomal DNA and the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1).The phylogenetic results showed that Catathelasma contains two monophyletic clades: the /subalpinum clade and the /imperiale clade. The Asian species C. laorentou and C. subalpinum are closely related to the North American C. sp. (labelled as C. ventricosum in GenBank) in the /subalpinum clade, whereas C. imperiale and C. singeri are closely related in the /imperiale clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: A patient classification-based payment system called diagnosis-intervention packet (DIP) was piloted in a large city in southeast China in 2018. Objective: This study evaluates the impact of DIP payment reform on total costs, out-of-pocket (OOP) payments, length of stay (LOS), and quality of care in hospitalised patients of different age. Methods: An interrupted time series model was employed to examine the monthly trend changes of outcome variables before and after the DIP reform in adult patients, who were stratified into a younger (18–64 years) and an older group (≥ 65 years), further stratified into young-old (65–79 years) and oldest-old (≥ 80 years) groups. Results: The adjusted monthly trend of costs per case significantly increased in the older adults (0.5%, P = 0.002) and oldest-old group (0.6%, P = 0.015). The adjusted monthly trend of average LOS decreased in the younger and young-old groups (monthly slope change: -0.058 days, P = 0.035; -0.025 days, P = 0.024, respectively), and increased in the oldest-old group (monthly slope change: 0.107 days, P = 0.030) significantly. The changes of adjusted monthly trends of in-hospital mortality rate were not significant in all age groups. Conclusion: Implementation of the DIP payment reform associated with increase in total costs per case in the older and oldest-old groups, and reduction in LOS in the younger and young-old groups without deteriorating quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Piqiang-Selibuya Fault is the most significant fault in the NW Tarim Basin, China. It has attracted increasing attention because of the discovery of a series of oil (gas) fields in and around the fault zone. The structural characteristics and evolution of the Piqiang-Selibuya Fault remain controversial. Field geological surveys and seismic data interpretation reveal that the fault has experienced three stages of activity. The thicknesses of the Permian and Miocene strata on opposing sides of the fault are clearly different, and these reveal that the fault has experienced two stages of significant thrusting. The first stage took place at the end of the Triassic and was associated with the Qiangtang Block amalgamated to the south margin of Eurasia. The second stage occurred at the end of the Miocene and might have been caused by the northwards overthrusting of the Pamir. These two stages of thrusting led to the lower-middle Cambrian detachment layer in the eastern part of the Keping thrust belt being 2 km shallower than in the western part. Since the Pliocene, the southern Tien Shan orogenic belt has been reactivated and thrust towards the interior of the Tarim Basin, and a series of ENE-WSW-trending thrust sheets have formed in the Keping thrust belt. Because of the different depth of the detachment layer on the opposing sides of the Piqiang-Selibuya Fault, the number and spacing of thrust sheets formed to the east of the fault differ from those to the west. This dissimilar deformation led to the strike-slip displacement on the Piqiang-Selibuya Fault. The three stages of fault activity record three important tectonic events in the NW Tarim Basin. Qualitative analysis of this activity helps us better understand the influence of the far-field effect of the collisions that occurred on the southern margin of the Eurasia plate on the structural deformation of the NW Tarim Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of career identity on career success among Chinese male nurses and to examine the mediating role of work engagement in this relationship. Background: Recently, with the development of the nursing career, male nurses take up a higher share and play a more important role in the nursing team. With its own particularity and advantages, this group's stability closely relates to the future of the nursing team. Therefore, promoting the career success of the male nurses is essential to the nursing team development. Methods: The data were collected in China. A sample of 557 male nurses completed measures of career identity, work engagement and career success scale. Structural equation model was adopted to verify the research hypotheses. Results: Career identity was significantly and positively related to male nurses' work engagement and career success (p <.01). And work engagement partially mediated the association between career identity and career success. Conclusion: Career identity is critical to predicting and enhancing male nurses' career success. Work engagement plays an intervening mechanism explaining how career identity promotes career success among male nurses. Implications for Nursing Management: Nursing management should minimize the impact of the traditional concept, implement the gender equality and provide moderate care for male nurses to facilitate balanced development of gender by upgrading the management system. The administrators should carry out skill training based on male nurses' features and the need of the department. Given full play to their respective advantages, male nurses will make great progress in professional development and achieve greater career identity and work engagement. Meanwhile, the further exploration of better incentive mechanism also makes sense in improving career identity and work engagement by the reform of performance appraisal mechanism and salary adjustment according to their ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Low handgrip strength was associated with an increased risk of stroke. • Metabolically healthy overweight/obesity and metabolic abnormal phenotype increased the risk of stroke compared to metabolically healthy non-overweight/obesity. • The combination of abnormal obesity phenotype and low handgrip strength could further increase stroke risk more than single factor. • Weight control and muscle strength enhancement may be effective strategy to lower the risk of stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of handgrip strength (HGS) and obesity phenotype on the risk of stroke in Chinese middle-aged and elderly people. The data was used from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Middle-aged and older adults who participated in surveys between 2011 and 2018 were included in the study. They were divided into 4 different types of obesity phenotypes based on obesity and metabolic status: metabolically healthy non-overweight/obesity (MHNO), metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHO), metabolically abnormal non-overweight/obesity (MANO), and metabolically abnormal overweight/obesity (MAO). The HGS level was divided into low and high groups according to the median values. Cox proportional risk regression model was used to analyze the joint effect of HGS and obesity phenotype on the risk of stroke among participants. A total of 7904 participants aged 58.89±9.08 years were included in this study. After adjusting for potential confounders, high HGS&MHO (HR=1.86, 95 % CI=1.12–3.09), high HGS&MANO (HR=2.01, 95 %CI=1.42–2.86), high HGS&MAO (HR=2.01, 95 % CI=1.37–2.93), low HGS&MHNO (HR=1.57, 95 % CI=1.00–2.46), low HGS&MHO (HR=2.09, 95 % CI=1.29–3.38), low HGS&MANO (HR=2.02, 95 % CI=1.35–3.03), and low HGS&MAO (HR=2.48, 95 % CI=1.72–3.58) group had significantly higher risks of stroke than the high HGS&MHNO group. The coexistence of metabolically unhealthy and low HGS can synergistically increase the risk of stroke in Chinese middle-aged and elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located in Lu-Zong ore concentration area, middle-lower Yangtze metallogenic belt, ShaXi porphyry copper deposit is a typical hydrothermal deposit. To investigate the distribution of deep ore bodies and spatial characteristics of host structures, an AMT survey was conducted in mining area. Eighteen pseudo-2D resistivity sections were constructed through careful processing and inversion. These sections clearly show resistivity difference between the Silurian sandstones formation and quartz diorite porphyry and this porphyry copper formation was controlled by the highly resistive anticlines. Using 3D block Kriging interpolation method and 3D visualization techniques, we constructed a detailed 3D resistivity model of quartz diorite porphyry which shows the shape and spatial distribution of deep ore bodies. This case study can serve as a good example for future ore prospecting in and around this mining area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congestion and delay have become a critical challenge to the aviation industry, particularly in markets with sustained traffic growth. Despite significant investments in aviation infrastructures, congestion and delay in China have placed mounting pressure on the industry and its regulator to sustain good on-time performance (OTP). In 2017, CAAC introduced a new policy that in the case of poor OTP, reduces the allowable capacity of congested airports and forces airlines to cancel flight services. This study measures the policy's effects on congestion and delays, and quantifies the change in welfare. Empirical findings suggest that the new policy reduced flight delays considerably, bringing substantial welfare gains to the passengers even under conservative estimates. However, the new policy is inconsistent with international industry practices of slot allocation and airline service operations, and may cause operational disruptions to the aviation industry. We recommend continuation of such a policy with more detailed analysis, so that regulatory innovation can be encouraged and meanwhile extensively studied. We further argue a revised policy may be implemented in growth markets, which balances welfare gains and operation disruptions. • Congestion and delay in China has placed mounting pressure on the industry and its regulator. • China's civil aviation regulator implemented an "outcome-based" policy to cut flights in major Chinese airports. • This study measures the policy's effects on congestion and delays, and quantifies the change in welfare. • New policy reduced flight delays considerably, bringing substantial welfare gains to the passengers even under conservative estimates. • However, the new policy is inconsistent with international industry practices and may cause operational disruptions.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seafood traceability is an important means of ensuring the quality of local seafood. Jellyfish are an important edible resource with a large yield on a global scale. Different species of pickled jellyfish, a traditional Chinese food, cannot be differentiated solely from the appearance of the product due to its special processing methods. In this paper, two species of jellyfish, R. esculentum and S. meleagris , were identified by PCR-RFLP technique. The genetic identification of the jellyfish R. esculentum and S. meleagris was based on PCR amplification of a common 651 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene, followed by digestion of four restriction enzymes, Hind III, Hpa I, Xho I and Dra I, respectively. The results showed that the two species of fresh jellyfish could be identified clearly, as could the pickled R. esculentum. To verify this result, PCR-RFLP was applied to authenticate four kinds of commercial pickled jellyfish. The electrophoretogram clearly showed that R. esculentum and S. meleagris were easily and accurately authenticated. This PCR-RFLP system has the potential to become an effective method for identifying the jellyfish products from Liaoning Province of China. • Seafood traceability is an important means to ensure the quality of local featured seafood. • Jellyfish is an important edible resource as palatable food for thousands years. • Fresh jellyfish must be processed into dry goods sales, known as pickled jellyfish. • PCR-RFLP method have high sensitivity and validity for provenance identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryptosporidium viatorum is a minor Cryptosporidium pathogen in humans. Currently, there is limited information regarding the prevalence and genotypes of C. viatorum in animals in China. Methods: In this study, 228 faecal samples were collected from two wild rat species (Leopoldamys edwardsi and Berylmys bowersi) in Chongqing Municipality and Guangdong Province, China. These specimens were analyzed for C. viatorum and then subtyped it using PCR and sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and 60-kilodalton glycoprotein (gp60) genes, respectively. Results: A total of 25 (11.0%) faecal samples were tested positive for C. viatorum by SSU rRNA assay. Of these samples, 4 (3.6%) came from L. edwardsi and 21 (18.0%) from B. bowersi. Of the 25 C. viatorum-positive samples, 17 were successfully amplified at the gp60 gene locus, which represented four subtypes belonging to two subtype families, including XVa (XVaA6, XVaA3g, XVaA3h) and XVc (XVcA2G1). Phylogenetic analysis based on the gp60 amino acid sequences indicated that all of the C. viatorum isolates grouped together, supporting the conclusion that C. viatorum from the wild rats represent two subtype families. Conclusions: These results indicate an occurrence of C. viatorum XVa subtype family from rats which is genetically identical to those found in humans. Our findings suggest that wild rats may be a potential source of human cryptosporidiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper explores network effects in Point-to-Point airline networks by examining the spatial patterns of Southwest airlines' route network during Southwest's major network expansionary period for completing continental US geographic coverage between 1990 and 2006. Estimation results from a spatial probit model reveal clear spatial dependence in profitability across different routes served by the carrier. Detailed investigation suggests two main sources of network effects, namely: (1) airport and regional presence, and (2) substitutability between airport-pair markets. Findings of the paper suggest also that the network effects embedded in Southwest's Point-to-Point network have many distinguishing features as compared to those identified in a typical Hub-and-Spoke network. The results of this study on Southwest's network expansionary period help us to predict how emerging LCC networks in other large aviation market, such as China, are likely to be developed over time if regulators give carriers reasonable freedom to develop their service network efficiently. Highlights • This paper explores network effects in Point-to-Point airline networks. • We examine the spatial patterns of Southwest airlines' route network between 1990 and 2006. • Estimation results from a spatial probit model reveal clear spatial dependence in profitability across different routes. • The network effects have many distinguishing features as compared to those in a typical Hub-and-Spoke network. •This help predict how emerging LCC networks in other large aviation market, such as China, are likely to be developed over time if regulators give carriers reasonable freedom to develop their service network efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wulonggou Pluton is located in Wulonggou area, eastern segment of the Eastern Kunlun Orogenic Belt, NW China, and consists of mainly alkali-feldspar granites covering an area of about 150 km 2 . Petrogenesis of these granitoids has been investigated through an integrated study of petrography, zircon U Pb ages, whole-rock geochemistry, and Hf Nd isotopic compositions. U Pb dating of magmatic zircons indicated these granites crystallized during 426–424 Ma in the middle Silurian. The granites display high SiO 2 (75.26–77.55 wt%), K 2 O + Na 2 O (7.98–9.03 wt%), extremely low MgO (0.04–0.19 wt%), CaO (0.28–0.61 wt%), and TiO 2 (0.05–0.09 wt%) contents showing metaluminous, calcic-alkali and ferroan features; enrichment in Rb and some HFSEs (Zr, U, Nb, Ta, and Y), depletion in Sr, Ba, P, and Ti, mostly right-inclined REE curve, flat HREE patterns, high 10,000 ∗ Ga/Al and intensively negative Eu anomalies, exhibiting an A 2 -type granite affinity with Y/Nb > 1.2 mostly. The primitive magma of these large quantities of granites was generated under a high temperature, low pressure, reduced and anhydrous environment indicating intense upwelling of asthenosphere. Combining with the positive uniform zircon ε Hf (t) values of −0.2 to +3.8 and decoupled ε Nd (t) values of −4.9 to −2.1 at t  = 424 Ma, it can be concluded that subduction-related juvenile materials, probably calc-alkaline granitoids, are the source of these A-type granites. Geochemical studies of Wulonggou granites, spatial and temporal distributions of regional magmatism, metamorphism, and sedimentary records throughout the Eastern Kunlun Orogen Belt jointly indicate that the whole orogenic belt was in a typical post-collision extension setting and experienced an isostatic uplift during the middle Silurian triggered by delamination after the convergence of the northeastern margin of Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the frequency of undesirable events reported by patients during hospitalization and explore the relationship between undesirable events and perception of safety and satisfaction with care in China.Design: Cross-sectional survey.Setting: Chinese university hospital.Participants: Adult patients (N = 341) discharged from medical and surgical departments.Interventions: Patients were interviewed post-discharge using a survey instrument to ask whether they had experienced specific undesirable events during hospitalization. Patient perception of safety and satisfaction with care received were also probed during this interview.Main Outcome Measures: Frequency of interpersonal problems, medical complications and healthcare process problems, and perception of safety and satisfaction with care.Results: In total, 601 undesirable events were reported (rate of 1.76 per person), including 229 interpersonal problems, 132 medical complications and 240 healthcare process problems. The most frequent event was insufficient explanation of medication side effects (22.9%). Both the perception of safety and satisfaction with care were related to the experience of undesirable events negatively.Conclusions: Many respondents experienced undesirable events during hospitalization and these experiences impacted negative on patients' feelings toward the hospital. Engaging patients as partners in reporting undesirable events is a valuable tool for identifying and monitoring problematic areas of care. In order to encourage the contribution patients could make to improving patient safety, it is necessary to develop patient incident reporting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined parent heart rate (HR) dynamic changing patterns and their links to observed negative parenting (i.e., emotional unavailability and psychological control) during a parent-child conflict resolution task among 150 parent-child dyads (child age ranged from 6 to 12 years, Mage = 8.54 ± 1.67). Parent HR was obtained from electrocardiogram (ECG) data collected during the parent-child conflict resolution task. Negative parenting was coded offline based on the video recording of the same task. Results revealed that emotionally sensitive parents during the task showed greater HR increases while discussing a conflict and greater HR decreases while resolving the conflict, whereas emotionally unavailable parents showed no changes in HR. However, parent psychological control was not associated with HR dynamics during the task. These findings indicated the physiological underpinnings of parent emotional sensitivity and responsiveness during parent-child interactions. The potential association between HR baseline levels and parenting behaviors was also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although China lags behind other liberalized aviation markets in low cost carrier (LCC) development, its largest LCC, Spring Airlines, has achieved rapid growth in traffic volume and revenue, as well as consistent profitability, since its inauguration in 2005. Our empirical study on the Chinese domestic market suggests that Spring adopts a “cream skimming” strategy to enter high-priced routes, allowing the carrier to achieve both a very high load factor and considerable profitability. Spring’s capacity and market share on individual routes are constrained to low levels, likely due to government regulation and/or a “puppy dog” strategy adopted by the carrier. As a result, Spring is able to achieve fast growth without triggering price wars. To incumbent full service carriers, high speed rail (HSR) services impose much more significant competitive pressure than low cost carriers. Similar to LCCs in developed markets, Spring prefers to serve markets with high traffic volumes out of its operational base in Shanghai. Overall, Spring’s entry decision is not significantly affected by competition, either from full service airlines or HSR services. Our investigation suggests that LCCs have potential to introduce more competition but are yet to be a “game changer” in China. Further deregulation of the domestic market is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three tuffaceous layers from North China are dated by CA-TIMS method. • Permo-Carboniferous weathering trends are reconstructed for the southern North China. • A rapid climate warming is documented at the Permo-Carboniferous transition. • The climate fluctuation is causally linked to the Skagerrak-Centered large igneous province. Tracking climate change and its relationships with chemical weathering and massive volcanic activity in deep-time greatly improves our understanding of the Earth's climate system. The Permo-Carboniferous period is a critical time interval with million year-scale glacial-deglacial cycles and massive basaltic volcanism, such as the Skagerrak-Centered (also named Skagerrak or Jutland) large igneous province. To explore the volcanism-climate interactions in this period, we obtained high precision CA-TIMS U-Pb zircon ages for three tuffaceous layers from a cored upper Pennsylvanian-lower Permian marginal marine succession in southern North China. These ages calibrate the Permo-Carboniferous biostratigraphy between ∼301–296 Ma in North China. From this dated core succession, mudrock samples and their calculated weathering index values were screened to constrain the weathering trends for the source landscapes and demonstrate a rapid increase with a subsequent decrease in source chemical weathering intensity during the period of ∼299 to 296.5 Ma. These trends coincide with the southern Gondwana glacial records, low latitude temperature changes, relative sea-level variations, and shifts in atmospheric p CO 2 that together document an earliest Permian climate warming-cooling perturbation with a temperature maximum at ∼298 Ma. This climate warming in the Permo-Carboniferous icehouse correlates with the emplacement of the Skagerrak-Centered large igneous province, which likely released voluminous CO 2 that led to climate warming during the Permo-Carboniferous transition. The immediately following cooling could possibly result from the rapid post-eruptional weathering of the massive basaltic rocks of this province in tropical latitudes, which would have sequestered atmospheric CO 2 and promoted return to cooler icehouse conditions. This study supports the assertation that massive basaltic volcanism could first cause rapid climate warming and then may have an overall net cooling effect as previously suggested for the Deccan Traps and the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Primary CH 4 -rich aqueous fluid inclusions are identified. • The CH 4 -bearing ore fluids are exsolved directly from the magma. • The CH 4 was initially generated by reduction of carbonate in subduction zone. Although most of the methane on Earth is of biogenic origin, significant abiogenic methane has been identified in a variety of geological environments. Moreover, the presence of methane has been reported recently in fluid inclusions from a number of reduced porphyry deposits. The genesis of this methane, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we present results of a study of magma-exsolved CH 4 -rich aqueous fluid inclusions in the Seleteguole reduced porphyry–skarn Cu–Mo–Au deposit, NW China. Four types of fluid inclusions, namely intermediate-density two-phase aqueous inclusions, low-density vapor inclusions, brine inclusions and aqueous liquid inclusions, have been distinguished on the basis of the phases present at room temperature. The intermediate-density inclusions were trapped as a single phase and contain 3.8–10.4 mol/kg CH 4, corresponding to an oxygen fugacity between ΔFMQ − 1 and ΔFMQ − 0.5. This attests to the remarkably reduced nature of the fluid. The δ13C value of the CH 4 -hosted fluid inclusions ranges from –29.4‰ to –19.1‰ (PDB), which distinguishes this methane from biogenic methane. Indeed, the high homogenization temperature of the CH 4 -rich inclusions (~400 °C) implies that the CH 4 was exsolved directly from the magma. Given the environment in which the magma was likely generated, i.e., at or immediately above a subducting plate, we propose that the methane was produced by reactions involving organic matter-bearing carbonate rocks in the subduction zone. Although Cu, Mo and Au in most porphyry systems are interpreted to have been transported under oxidizing conditions, our results indicate that reduced aqueous liquids and vapors are also capable of transporting appreciable concentrations of these metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid demographic and economic changes have made chronic disease the number one health issue in China, contributing to more than 80% of the country's 10.3 million annual deaths and nearly 70% of its total disease burden (Wang et al., Toward a Healthy and Harmonious Life in China: Stemming the Rising Tide of Non-Communicable Diseases, 2011; Yip and Hsiao, Lancet 384: 805-18, 2014). Diabetes is a major contributor to the chronic disease burden and is experienced by nearly 11% of the adult population of China (Yang et al., N Engl J Med 362:1090-101, 2010). In response to the challenges of chronic disease, the Chinese government initiated comprehensive health care reforms nationwide in 2009. A key measure was a hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system for monitoring and reducing chronic diseases and improving the community health service system (Barber et al., Health Policy Plan 29:367-78, 2014). Primary hospitals, such as community health service centers, are the main gatekeepers for management of diabetes and other chronic diseasesin China. In recognition of the need for a more patient-centered approach, the Chinese government has piloted a program incorporating methods of diabetes self-management for chronic care: the Happy Life Club (Browning et al., Front in Public Health 2:181, 2015). This program is modeled on a similar program developed in Australia (Kelly et al., Aust J Prim Health 9:186-9, 2003). The ICDMS is an important tool in the implementation of patient-centered programs targeting chronic health issues, and its success is determined by factors, such as frequent contact between patients and doctors and effective website training for patients. This retrospective study used de-identified data from the Fangzhuang (Beijing) intelligent chronic disease management system (ICDMS) database to evaluate the effect of an intelligent chronic disease management system on selected Beijing community patients who have type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: A comparative study before and after ICDMS implementation was performed to evaluate the effect of ICDMS on the rates of follow-up and laboratory examinations, measurement rates of blood glucose and lipids, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood lipid levels, as well as the corresponding health parameters. Continuous variables and categorical variables were analyzed using paired t-test and McNemar's tests, respectively.Results: A total of 2451 T2DM patients met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Compared with the pre-index period, the laboratory examination, rates of blood glucose and blood lipids increased significantly in the post-index period (p < 0.001). Triglyceride (TC) levels decreased significantly from 5.22 mmol/L to 5.11 mmol/L (p < 0.05), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels increased significantly from 1.35 mmol/L to 1.48 mmol/L (p < 0.05). The control rate of TC increased from 24.86 to 29.76% (p = 0.079). The control rate of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) increased from 12.16 to 13.97% (p = 0.421), while the control rate of HDL-C increased significantly from 68.60 to 78.77%. Importantly, Compared with the patients with HbA1C above 7% in the pre-index period, the mean HbA1c decreased significantly from 7.84 to 6.94%((p < 0.001) in the post-index period, and the control rate of HbA1c was 57.43%.Conclusions: The intelligent chronic disease management system is an effective tool in the management of T2DM and should be promoted by the Community Health Service Center in China as well as in other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]