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In the face of global warming, energy depletion, and air pollution, controlling greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions has become an urgent task for an emerging economy. Therefore, this study investigates the synergistic relationship between haze decoupling and carbon emission decoupling in China, one representative emerging economy. Effect of synergistic decoupling is explored by decomposition model. Based on Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression, this study also investigates spatiotemporal variation of the synergistic relationship between the two decoupling indices and the synergy effect of various factors. The main results are as follows. (1) Technological progress in CO2 is the main negative driving factor, and the ratio of potential CO2 to potential haze (potential ratio) is the main positive driving factor in the synergistic decoupling. (2) There is a synergy effect between two decoupling indices, and in the later period, the value of synergy effects tends to be flat. (3) The emission factor has the largest synergy effect. In the short term, the synergy effect of the population is greater than the energy intensity, but in the long run, the synergy effect of the energy intensity is greater than the population. These novel findings not only contribute to advancing the existing literature on synergistic emission reduction of environmental pollutions, but also merit particular attention from policy makers in the emerging economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: National‐level data on the incidence of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and outcomes among very preterm infants (VPIs) are lacking in China. This study aims to describe the use and variation of RBC transfusion among VPIs in China. Materials and Methods: This cohort study was conducted among 70 tertiary hospitals participating in the Chinese Neonatal Network (CHNN) from 2019 to 2020 across China. All VPIs admitted to the CHNN neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) were included. Results: A total of 13,447 VPIs were enrolled, of whom 7026 (52.2%) received ≥1 RBC transfusions. The mean number of transfusions per infant was 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 1–4 times) and the median age at first transfusion was 15 days (IQR 3–27 days). The transfusion rate was higher in critically ill infants compared with non‐critically ill infants (70.5% vs. 39.3%). The transfusion rate varied widely (13.5%–95.0%) between different NICUs. The prevalence of death, severe intra‐ventricular haemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP), sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL) was significantly higher in the transfused group. Among non‐critically ill infants, RBC transfusion was independently associated with BPD, severe ROP and cPVL. Conclusion: Our study, providing the first baseline data on RBC transfusions among VPIs in China, shows an alarmingly high RBC transfusion rate with significant site variations. There is an urgent need for national guidelines on RBC transfusions for VPIs in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antepartum depression has been reported to be associated with the intensity of maternal prenatal noise exposure; however, the association between noise exposure duration and the development of antepartum depression has not been established. This study aimed to determine the total and trimester-specific association of prenatal noise exposure duration with the development of antepartum depression. Methods: From May 2018 to June 2021, we recruited 2,166 pregnant women from Shengjing Hospital, northeast China. We used a standardized questionnaire to assess women's prenatal noise exposure and used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to assess pregnant women's antepartum depression during the 1st -, 2nd -, and 3rd - trimesters. We calculated a cumulative noise exposure score ranging from 0 to 3, with a higher score reflecting higher frequency and longer duration of noise exposure during pregnancy. Results: Women who were exposed to noise for ≥ 15 min per day had an increased risk of antepartum depression compared with women who were not exposed to noise during pregnancy [odds ratio (OR) = 1.83, 95%CI:1.18, 2.83]. Noise exposure in a specific trimester was associated with higher risk of depression in the same trimester and subsequent trimesters. We observed increases in antepartum depression risk with increasing cumulative noise exposure scores (P for trend < 0.05 for all). Pregnant women with the highest scores had the highest risk of antepartum depression during the first (OR = 1.30, 95%CI:1.02, 1.65), second (OR = 1.75, 95%CI:1.23, 2.50) trimesters. Women with a cumulative noise exposure score of 2 had the highest risk of antepartum depression during the third trimester (OR = 1.79, 95%CI:1.14, 2.80), as well as during the whole pregnancy (OR = 1.94, 95%CI:1.14, 3.30). Conclusions: Maternal prenatal noise exposure duration was positively associated with antepartum depression risk in a dose-response manner. It is necessary to develop strategies by which pregnant women can avoid excessive exposure to noise to prevent antepartum depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous individuals have lost loved ones during the COVID‐19 pandemic while millions of others have also experienced ongoing pervasive non‐death loss. The understanding of how people deal with non‐death loss is still relatively limited. Incorporating theory of coping and loss, this study examines the reciprocal relationship between non‐death loss and acceptance coping. Based on the results of a cross‐lagged panel model involving 314 participants in China, we found that before the end of the zero‐Covid policy, non‐death loss at Time 1 predicted less acceptance coping at Time 2, but in the opening up stage in late 2022, non‐death loss at time 2 did not predict acceptance coping at time 3. The findings have significant implications for understanding the interplay between non‐death loss and acceptance coping and highlights abrupt psychological changes during the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous research has demonstrated the negative impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health. Aims: To examine changes in the Chinese psychiatric emergency department (PED) visits for mental health crises that occurred during the pandemic. Methods: Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, PED visit counts from the largest psychiatric hospital in China between 2018 and 2020 were investigated. Electronic medical records of 2020 PED visits were extracted during the COVID-19 pandemic period and compared for the same period of 2018 and 2019. Results: Overall, PED visits per year increased from 1,767 in 2018 to 2210 (an increase of 25.1%) in 2019 and 2,648 (an increase of 49.9%) in 2020. Compared with 2 years before the epidemic, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of PED visits among patients with stress disorders, sleep disorders, and anxiety disorders increased significantly. In terms of the distribution of demographic characteristics, age shows a younger trend, while the gender difference is not significant. Conclusion: These findings suggest that PED care-seeking increases during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need to integrate mental health services for patients with stress, sleep, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders during public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic may have been a difficult time to join a new organization. Drawing on the feelings‐as‐information theory, this study explores how COVID‐19 lockdown anxiety influenced newcomers' job satisfaction during their first few months of work. We tested 357 new employees working in 84 cities across China. We conducted a longitudinal study, and participants were invited to complete the same survey at two time points. Cross‐lagged panel analysis was conducted to test our hypotheses. We confirmed that COVID‐19 lockdown anxiety at Time 1 predicted less job satisfaction at Time 2, whereas the data did not support the idea of reverse causality. These findings suggest public health crises like the pandemic can impact newcomers' job satisfaction, especially during China's Zero‐Covid Policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the fast response of East Asian summer precipitation to COVID-19–induced aerosol emission reductions is examined using the Community Earth System Model, version 2.2 (CESM2.2). The emission reductions decreased aerosol optical depth and cloud cover over northern China in June 2020. The troposphere became warmer, strengthening the land–sea thermal contrast and anomalous southerly winds. The subtropical westerly jet accelerated and shifted southward, favoring low-level convergence, upward air motions, and subsequent condensational heating over the Yangtze River basin (YRB). The feedback of condensational heating in return strengthened the convergence and ascent. The western North Pacific subtropical high was intensified, which further enhanced the moisture advection and convergence over the YRB. Both the enhanced moisture convergence and ascent increased precipitation over the YRB during June 2020. Furthermore, local and remote emission reductions show different impacts on convection and moisture transport over the YRB. The emission reductions over China caused stronger convective precipitation (1.15 vs 0.63 mm day-1 ) but weaker larger-scale precipitation (1.17 vs 2.24 mm day-1 ) than the emission reductions outside China. In addition to the emission reductions, the sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in 2020 also play an important role in increasing precipitation over the YRB, contributing about 42.8%. The relative contribution of SST anomalies also increases under the COVID-19–induced emission scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most important avian immunosuppressive and neoplastic diseases, Marek's disease (MD), caused by oncogenic Marek's disease virus (MDV), has caused huge economic losses worldwide over the past five decades. In recent years, MD outbreaks have occurred frequently in MD-vaccinated chicken flocks, but the key pathogenic determinants and influencing factors remain unclear. Herein, we analyzed the pathogenicity of seven newly isolated MDV strains from tumor-bearing chickens in China and found that all of them were pathogenic to chicken hosts, among which four MDV isolates, SDCW01, HNXZ05, HNSQ05 and HNSQ01, were considered to be hypervirulent MDV (HV-MDV) strains. At 73 days of the virus infection experiment, the cumulative incidences of MD were 100%, 93.3%, 90% and 100%, with mortalities of 83.3%, 73.3%, 60% and 86.7%, respectively, for the four viruses. The gross occurrences of tumors were 50%, 33.3%, 30% and 63.3%, respectively, accompanied by significant hepatosplenomegaly and serious atrophy of the immune organs. Furthermore, the immune protection effects of four commercial MD vaccines against SDCW01, CVI988, HVT, CVI988+HVT, and 814 were explored. Unexpectedly, during the 67 days of post-virus challenge, the protection indices (PIs) of these four MD vaccines were only 46.2%, 38.5%, 50%, and 28%, respectively, and the birds that received the monovalent CVI988 or HVT still developed tumors with cumulative incidences of 7.7% and 11.5%, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the simultaneous comparison of the immune protection efficacy of multiple commercial MD vaccines with different vaccine strains. Our study revealed that the HV-MDV variants circulating in China could significantly break through the immune protection of the classical MD vaccines currently widely used. For future work, there is an urgent need to develop novel, more effective MD vaccines for tackling the new challenge of emerging HV-MDV strains or variants for the sustainable control of MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given its broad impact on human society, air pollution could become a non-economic factor affecting the stock market. But the impact of air pollution on the stock market performance has not received enough attention. This study examines the influence and potential mechanism of air pollution on stock market performance based on the panel data of 1344 A-share listed firms in China covering the period 2013–2019. The result shows that air pollution can negatively affect stock market performance. Second, heterogeneity analysis creatively points out that firms with less analysts, smaller size, stated-owned ownership, polluting related industry are more vulnerable to the negative effects of air pollution. Finally, the result also reveals a mechanism that air pollution could worsen the stock market by depressing investors' sentiments. The above findings enrich current research related to the impact of air pollution on stock market performance and also provide a new perspective for investors to make stock investment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is a new diagnosis introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which is expected to solve the diagnostic difficulties of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Based on the previous work, this review aims to comprehensively synthesise updated evidence related to SSD from recent years in English publications and, more extensively, from data published in Chinese language journals. The scoping review update was based on an earlier scoping review and included Chinese language publication data from China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI), WANFANG and WEIPU between January 2013 and May 2022 and data from PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library between June 2020 and May 2022. Initially, 2 984 articles were identified, of which 63 full texts were included for analysis. In China, SSD is mainly applied in scientific research, but it also shows good predictive validity and clinical application potential. The mean frequency of SSD was 4.5% in the general population, 25.2% in the primary care population and 33.5% in diverse specialised care settings. Biological factors, such as brain region changes and heart rate variability, are associated with the onset of SSD. Psychological impairment related to somatic symptoms is the best predictor of prognosis. While adolescent SSD was significantly associated with family function, SSD overall is associated with an increased dysfunction of cognition and emotion, decreased quality of life, and high comorbidity with anxiety and depressive disorders. Further research is needed on suicide risk and cultural and gender-related issues. Updating the data of Chinese language studies, our research enriches the evidence-based findings related to the topics addressed in the text sections of the SSD chapter of DSM-5. However, research gaps remain about SSD reliability, population-based prevalence, suicide risk, and cultural and gender-related issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the association between inflammatory diets as measured by the Dietary Inflammatory index (DII), inflammation biomarkers and the development of preeclampsia among the Chinese population. We followed the reporting guidelines of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology statement for observational studies. A total of 466 preeclampsia cases aged over 18 years were recruited between March 2016 and June 2019, and 466 healthy controls were 1:1 ratio matched by age (±3 years), week of gestation (±1 week) and gestational diabetes mellitus. The energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) was computed based on dietary intake assessed using a seventy-nine item semiquantitative FFQ. Inflammatory biomarkers were analysed by ELISA kits. The mean E-DII scores were −0·65 ± 1·58 for cases and −1·19 ± 1·47 for controls (P value < 0·001). E-DII scores positively correlated with interferon- γ (r s = 0·194, P value = 0·001) and IL-4 (r s = 0·135, P value = 0·021). After multivariable adjustment, E-DII scores were positively related to preeclampsia risk (P trend < 0·001). The highest tertile of E-DII was 2·18 times the lowest tertiles (95 % CI = 1·52, 3·13). The odds of preeclampsia increased by 30 % (95 % CI = 18 %, 43 %, P value < 0·001) for each E-DII score increase. The preeclampsia risk was positively associated with IL-2 (OR = 1·07, 95 % CI = 1·03, 1·11), IL-4 (OR = 1·26, 95 % CI = 1·03, 1·54) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β) (OR = 1·17, 95 % CI = 1·06, 1·29). Therefore, proinflammatory diets, corresponding to higher IL-2, IL-4 and TGF- β levels, were associated with increased preeclampsia risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The avian immunosuppressive and neoplastic diseases caused by Marek's disease virus (MDV), avian leucosis virus (ALV), and reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) are seriously harmful to the global poultry industry. In recent years, particularly in 2020–2022, outbreaks of such diseases in chicken flocks frequently occurred in China. Herein, we collected live diseased birds from 30 poultry farms, out of 42 farms with tumour-bearing chicken flocks distributed in central China, to investigate the current epidemiology and co-infections of these viruses. The results showed that in individual diseased birds, the positive infection rates of MDV, ALV, and REV were 69.5% (203/292), 14.4% (42/292), and 4.7% (13/277), respectively, while for the flocks, the positive infection rates were 96.7% (29/30), 36.7% (11/30), and 20% (6/30), respectively. For chicken flocks, monoinfection of MDV, ALV, or REV was 53.3% (16/30), 3.3% (1/30), and 0% (0/30), respectively, but a total of 43.3% (13/30) co-infections was observed, which includes 23.3% (7/30) of MDV+ALV, 10.0% (3/30) of MDV+REV, and 10.0% (3/30) of MDV+ALV+REV co-infections. Interestingly, no ALV+REV co-infection or REV monoinfection was observed in the selected poultry farms. Our data indicate that the prevalence of virulent MDV strains, partially accompanied with ALV and/or REV co-infections, is the main reason for current outbreaks of avian neoplastic diseases in central China, providing an important reference for the future control of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, outbreaks of Marek's disease (MD) have been frequently reported in vaccinated chicken flocks in China. Herein, we have demonstrated that four Marek's disease virus (MDV) isolates, HN502, HN302, HN304, and HN101, are all pathogenic and oncogenic to hosts. Outstandingly, the HN302 strain induced 100% MD incidence, 54.84% mortality, and 87.10% tumor incidence, together with extensive atrophy of immune organs. Pathotyping of HN302 was performed in comparison to a standard very virulent (vv) MDV strain Md5. We found that both CVI988 and HVT vaccines significantly reduced morbidity and mortality induced by HN302 or Md5 strains, but the protection indices (PIs) provided by these two vaccines against HN302 were significantly lower (27.03%) or lower (33.33%) than that against Md5, which showed PIs of 59.89% and 54.29%, respectively. These data suggested that HN302 possesses a significant higher virulence than Md5 and at least could be designated as a vvMDV strain. Together with our previous phylogenetic analysis on MDV-1 meq genes, we have presently suggested HN302 to be a typical highly virulent MDV variant belonging to an independent Chinese branch. To our knowledge, this is the first report to provide convincible evidence to identify a pathogenic MDV variant strain with a higher virulence than Md5 in China, which may have emerged and circulating in poultry farms in China for a long time and involved in the recent MD outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, various countries have put forward Banning Gasoline Vehicle Sales Policy (BGVSP), and the degree of public support for BGVSP is crucial to its design and implementation. Taking China as an example, this study built a policy support index using network crawler technology and natural language processing technology. Then, multi-spatial convergence cross-mapping technology was used to study the interaction between public support and air pollution, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, EV technology, and use cost. The results showed that air pollution has a significant impact on public support; public support has a significant impact on the construction of the EV infrastructure and the level of EV technological research, and the use cost of traditional gasoline vehicles has a significant impact on public support. This study investigated the correlations between public support and the factors influencing public support, and the results can be used as a reference for the design and implementation of BGVSP in newly industrialized countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taijiquan is one of the first batches of national intangible cultural heritages, which has a history of more than 300 years. It has gradually gained global recognition for its unique healthcare and rehabilitation effects. Studies from countries around the world have shown that bad behaviors and lifestyles, such as smoking, alcoholism, overeating, lack of exercise, and irregular life patterns, have become one of the main causes of chronic, noncommunicable diseases. For example, a lack of exercise can lead to obesity, and obesity can cause various cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and the occurrence of related chronic diseases. Taijiquan is traditional boxing with the core idea of Taiji and yin-yang dialectics in Chinese traditional Confucian and Taoist philosophy and pays attention to both internal and external cultivation and the combination of hardness and softness. It is the way of Taiji, the principle of nature, the body of Wushu, and the method of fitness. It is the crystallization of the wisdom of the Chinese nation. Taijiquan can improve the balance function of the human body. It not only has an obvious intervention effect on the prevention of falls in the elderly but also has a good rehabilitation training effect on some patients with motor dysfunction. It absorbed the essence of boxing and was organically combined with China's traditional culture in the long-term development process, forming a philosophy boxing that combines health preservation, fitness, skill attack, self-cultivation, entertainment, and medical body. According to the demand analysis of the current situation of Taijiquan teaching, this paper analyzes the characteristics of Taijiquan standard movement based on perceptual IoT Network motion capture, and it explores the characteristics of Taijiquan cloud hand movement from the perspective of kinematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The concept of hair transparency has been claimed widely in the Japan (and now it is spreading to Asian) hair color market. Despite the general use of this concept, to date, there is no clear and objective description to accurately explain what it is. In this work, we have decoded and gave clarity to the concept of hair transparency via a technical model (validated for both Japan and China markets) composed of measurable parameters of hair property using a single device. Methodology and Results: A comprehensive study composed of various tests was used, starting with a qualitative identification of key parameters via in‐depth workshop discussions with over 40 Japanese stylists and a panel of 12 consumers. These identified parameters (luminosity, color visibility, and Shine) were then translated into technically measurable parameters of the hair fiber (Diffused light intensity, ratio of RGB channel intensities of Diffused light, and luster) via a single instrument—Hair SAMBA (a dual‐polarized imaging system). Afterward, 10 carefully selected anchor shades were used as visual stimuli in an online pairwise comparison (PC) study with 100 Japanese stylists to generate quantitative transparency perception data of the swatches. Technical parameters of these swatches were measured by SAMBA and consolidated with the PC output, for the creation and validation of the mathematical model. After, with another PC study (N = 100) in China, with seven shades from Japan study and 6 additional Chinese market shades, the applicability of the model in China market was validated. Conclusion: We have clarified and quantified the concept of hair transparency through a consumer centric approach and with objective data. Our findings will enable the development of optimum transparent shades which better suits consumer needs. Lastly, we would like to highlight the beauty of digitalization in the study: The digital evaluation pathways chosen allowed us to collect quantitative consumer data from two countries for the creation of a robust model under the impact of COVID‐19 and would definitely be the way to go for our future consumer evaluation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting new energy vehicles (NEVs) is considered to be one of the most effective ways to solve the increasingly serious problems of energy security and environmental pollution. Under the background of a gradual decline in the use of subsidy policy, the dual-credit policy (DCP), as a market-incentive environmental regulation, has been introduced to the process of policy development. This is of great significance in promoting NEVs and upgrading of the automobile industry. Based on data for 56 listed companies related to NEVs from 2012 to 2019, this study investigated the impact of the DCP on total factor productivity (TFP) under the framework of the propensity score matching difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) and further analyzed the mechanisms by how the DCP impacted on TFP. In addition, the heterogenous impacts of different firms were investigated. The results reveal three key findings. (1) After using instrumental variable to overcome endogenous problems and carrying out a series of robustness tests, the DCP can significantly improve firms' TFP, and this effect is increasing annually. (2) The results of the mechanism analysis show that technological innovation, reputation enhancements, and the reduction of manager motivation have promotional effects on firms' TFP. Besides, environmental tax can reduce the contribution of research and development (R&D) innovation to TFP. (3) In terms of regional and market structural levels, the promotional effect of the DCP on firms' TFP in the eastern region is greater than that in the midwestern region. Furthermore, it has no significant effect on competitive firms, but plays a significant role in the improvement of oligopolistic firms' TFP. This study supported the Porter Hypothesis that flexible market-incentive environmental regulation is likely to trigger positive productivity effects, and provided an empirical basis and latest information for promoting the accuracy and effectiveness of the DCP implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a destructive mulberry pest, causing great damage to mulberry in China. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are involved in various signal pathways and regulate lots of physiological processes in insects. The function of Hsps in G. pyloalis , however, has still received less attention. Here, we identified five Hsp genes from G. pyloalis transcriptome dataset including two Hsp70 family genes (GpHsp71.3 and GpHsp74.9) and three Hsp90 family genes (GpHsp82.4 , GpHsp89 , and GpHsp93.4). Quantitative Real-time PCR validation revealed that all Hsps of G. pyloalis have significant expression in pupal and diapause stage, at which the larvae arrest the development. Expressions of GpHsp71.3 and GpHsp82.4 were increased significantly after thermal treatment at 40°C, and this upregulation depended on heat treatment duration. Furthermore, silencing GpHsp82.4 by RNA interference led to a significant increase in mortality of G. pyloalis larvae under the heat stress compared to the control group. After starvation stress, the expression levels of GpHsp82.4 and GpHsp93.4 were significantly increased. At last, after being parasitized by the parasitoid wasp Aulacocentrum confusum , Hsp70 and Hsp90 genes of G. pyloalis were decreased significantly in the early stage of parasitization and this moderation was affected by time post-parasitization. This study highlights the function of G. pyloalis Hsps in response to environmental stress and provides a perspective for the control of this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being a node of the energy-water consumer and carbon dioxide (CO2) emitter, the household is one key sector to pilot integrated energy-carbon-water (ECW) management. This study developed an integrated framework to explore China's provincial household ECW nexus as well as their drivers from the years 2000 through 2016. The absolute amount and growth rate of household energy use (HEU), household CO2 emissions (HCE), and household water use (HWU) were abstracted to reveal the dynamic characteristics of the household ECW nexus. Efficiency advance, income growth, urbanization, family size, and household number were defined to explain the changes in the household ECW nexus. This study revealed that there is a huge regional heterogeneity in China's household ECW nexus. Developed regions such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, and Shanghai are the most important household ECW nexus nodes with larger amounts and growth rates of household ECW. Income growth overwhelmingly increases ECW, while efficiency advance effectively curbs its growth. Comparatively, household number, family size, and urbanization have small effects. Therefore, implementing differentiated management and focusing on the synergy of socioeconomic factors are the keys to achieving integrated household ECW management. And the analytical framework can be used to analyze ECW nexus from a sector, city, or country perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GF-3 is the first C-Band full-polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite with a space resolution up to 1m in China. The uneven brightness of SAR images is a problem when using GF-3 images, which makes it difficult to use and produce SAR images. In this paper, a brightness compensation method is proposed for GF-3 SAR images with unbalanced brightness in some areas based on a deep learning model named Cycle-Consistent Adversarial Networks (CycleGAN). The proposed method makes the image brightness relatively consistent, and it is compared with the MASK dodging algorithm, Wallis dodging algorithm and histogram equalization in terms of the profiles, brightness mean, standard deviation, and average gradient. Results of brightness compensation show that, the proposed method makes the inner brightness differences smaller, and the image quality is obviously improved, which provides even brightness image for subsequent applications, and has great practical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sedimentation rate (dated by 210Pb), sediment characteristics, pollution, and polymetallic (Cd, Pb, Zn, As, Hg) sediment record were studied from two reservoirs (Maoshui Reservoir and Lexi Reservoir), which are located in the zinc smelting area of Weining County, Guizhou Province, China. The results showed that the Maoshui reservoir is mainly polluted by Cd, Pb, and Zn, with average concentrations of 53, 84, and 2108 mg/kg, respectively. While the mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in the sediments of the Lexi reservoir are relatively low, which are 18, 196, and 553 mg/kg, respectively. The high concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment reflected the regional environmental pollution caused by indigenous zinc smelting. The scale of indigenous zinc smelting can be inferred from the concentration and ratio of elements in the sedimentary column. Therefore, it was confirmed that the peak of indigenous zinc smelting mainly occurred in the Maoshui area in the 1980s–1990s, while the zinc smelting activity expanded at the turn of the twenty-first century, and there were peaks in the indigenous zinc smelting activity in both the Maoshui basin and the Lexi basin. In the middle part of the sediment column of the Maoshui Reservoir (1990s), the sediment column had a high Pb concentration and a high Zn/Cd ratio, which represented the mixing of zinc smelting slag in this period. In the upper part of the sedimentary column of the Lexi Reservoir (after 2000), the sediment had a high concentration of Cd (18 mg/kg) and a low Zn/Cd ratio, which indicated that after the end of indigenous zinc smelting, the polluted soil continued to affect the regional environment. These results show that the sedimentary column of the reservoir in the area of indigenous zinc smelting completely recorded the history of regional zinc smelting activities and can be used to reconstruct the history of regional indigenous zinc smelting and its impact on the regional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current dynamic models are not able to provide reliable seasonal forecasts of regional/local rainfall. This study aims to improve the seasonal forecast of early summer rainfall at stations in South China through statistical downscaling. A statistical downscaling model was built with the canonical correlation analysis method using 850-hPa zonal wind and relative humidity from the ERA-Interim reanalysis data. An anomalous southwesterly wind that carries sufficient water vapor encounters an anomalous northeasterly wind from the Yangtze River, resulting in a wet anomaly over all of South China. Thismodel provided good agreementwith observations in both the training and independent test periods. In an independent test, the average temporal correlation coefficient (TCC) at 14 stations was 0.52, and the average root-mean-square error was 21%. Then, the statistical downscaling model was applied to the Climate Forecast System, version 2 (CFSv2), outputs to produce seasonal forecasts of rainfall for 1982–2018.Astatistical downscalingmodel improved CFSv2 forecasts of station rainfall in South China with the averageTCC increasing from0.14 to 0.31. Forecasts of South China regionally averaged rainfall were also improved with the TCC increasing from0.11 to 0.53. The dependence of forecast skill for regional average rainfall on ENSOevents was examined. Forecast error was reduced, but not statistically significant, when it followed an El Niño event in both CFSv2 and the downscaling model. While when it followed an EP-type El Niño, the significantly reduced forecast error (at the 0.1 level) could be seen in the downscaling model and CFSv2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae can lead to serious yield losses in crucifers such as Brassica napus. In this study, 323 bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of severely diseased B. napus in Dangyang county, Hubei province, China. Antagonistic strains were first identified based on dual culture inhibition zones with Fusarium oxysporum and Magnaporthe oryzae. These were then further screened in germination inhibition and viability assays of resting spores of P. brassicae. Finally, eight of the antagonistic strains were found to significantly reduce the disease severity of clubroot by more than 40% under greenhouse conditions, and two strains, F85 and T113, were found to have efficacy of more than 80%. Root hair infection experiments showed that F85 and T113 can inhibit early infection of root hairs, reduce the differentiation of primary plasmodia of P. brassicae , and inhibit formation of secondary zoosporangia. Based on sequence analysis of 16S rDNA gene, gyrA gene and 22 housekeeping genes as well as carbon source utilization analysis, the F85 was identified as Bacillus velezensis and T113 as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Genome analysis, PCR and RT-PCR detection revealed that both F85 and T113 harbor various antibiotic biosynthesis gene clusters required to form peptides with antimicrobial activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. velezensis as a biocontrol agent against clubroot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the spatial distribution of cytotypes and karyotype variation in plants is critical for studies of the origin and evolution of polyploid complexes. Here, the spatial distribution of cytological races and intraspecific variation in the karyotype of Lycoris radiata, an endemic species to East Asia, is investigated. Conventional karyotype analysis methods were used to determine ploidy level and karyotypical characteristics in 2,420 individuals from 114 populations of L. radiata nearly covering the whole distribution areas in China. Of 114 populations studied, 52 (45.61%), 58 (50.88%), and 4 (3.51%) are diploid, triploid, and mixoploid populations, respectively, with 1,224, 1,195, and 1 individuals being diploid, triploid, and tetraploid, respectively. The triploid possesses a much wider distribution range than the diploid, with the former almost occupying the entire range of this complex species in East Asia and the latter distributing in the middle and east regions of China. Triploids tend to occur at high altitudes, and the relationship between the ploidy and altitude is significantly positive but low (r2 = 0.103, p < 0.01). About 98.6% of examined bulbs have a common karyotype consisting of 22 or 33 acrocentric (A) chromosomes. Some aberrant chromosomes which should be generated from A‐type chromosome have been found including metacentrics (m), small metacentrics (m′), and B‐type chromosome. The results can provide a fundamental cytogeographic data for further studies on the evolutionary origins and adaptive divergences of polyploids, especially the triploid, within L. radiata using molecular and/or ecological methods in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although solute carrier family 30 (zinc transporter) member 8 (SLC30A8) gene 807C/T polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk, there remains some inconsistency between individual studies. Objective: The aim of the study is to explore the relationship between SLC30A8 gene 807C/T polymorphism and T2DM in the Chinese population. Methods: The current meta-analysis compiles and analyzes the data of 6,942 participants from 10 independent studies. Either a fixed or random-effects model was adopted to evaluate the pooled odds ratio (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: A significant association between SLC30A8 gene 807C/T polymorphism and T2DM was found in the Chinese population under allelic (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.80-0.91, P = 7.42 × 10-7), recessive (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.38-0.72, P = 8.49 × 10-5), dominant (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.68-3.41, P = 1.30 × 10-6), homozygous (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.40-0.67, P = 2.90 × 10-7), heterozygous (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.71-0.88, P = 1.63 × 10-5), and additive genetic models (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.64-0.83, P = 7.05 × 10-7). Conclusion: SLC30A8 gene 807C/T polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased T2DM risk in the Chinese population. Therefore, individuals of Chinese descent with the C allele of SLC30A8 gene 807C/T polymorphism may be more susceptible to developing T2DM, while individuals with the T allele may be protected against T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is experiencing urbanization and modernization at the largest scale in human history. An army of over 280 million “peasant workers” are an integral part of this great transformation to modernity. Drawing on different data sources, including national representative random samples and the authors' first‐hand survey data, we provide systematic comparisons between the older and the younger generation of peasant workers and between young peasant entrepreneurs in cities and young returnee entrepreneurs. We found that, compared with the older generation, the younger generation of peasant workers is better educated, holds more stable jobs, has a higher income, lives a happier life and is more optimistic about the future. Our analysis of the two types of peasant entrepreneurs shows that they are the elites among peasant workers, running successful business and making handsome profits. We also note that discrimination and institutional obstacles, especially the hukou system, remain to be overcome in the peasant workers' transition to modernity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental courts play an important role in pollution control. It is unclear whether environmental courts could help to achieve China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. This study investigates the impact of environmental courts on carbon intensity, using the data of 281 cities of China during 2003–2017. Using the multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model, this study first evaluates the impact of environmental courts on carbon intensity taking the establishment of environmental courts as a quasi-natural experiment. Then, this study examines the influence mechanisms of environmental court on carbon intensity from the perspective of administrative enforcement, green innovation ability and cooperative effect of pollution control. Finally, this study analyses the heterogeneity test from the perspective of public participation, whether it is a low-carbon pilot city and geographical location. The main results are: (1) Environmental courts could reduce carbon intensity, which is supported by a series of robustness tests. (2) Environmental courts could reduce carbon intensity through improving administrative enforcement of local government and green innovation ability of firms and playing the cooperative effect in pollution control. (3) Heterogeneity test results show that in cities with high public participation, environmental courts could reduce carbon intensity more effectively. Compared with non-low-carbon pilot cities, environmental courts have a bigger role in reducing carbon intensity in low-carbon pilot cities. Compared with the middle cities of China, environmental courts also have a bigger role in reducing carbon intensity in eastern and western cities. This study provides new insights for China to reduce carbon intensity from the perspective of the establishment and implementation of environmental courts, and policy implications of how to effectively play the role of environmental courts in achieving carbon peaks and carbon neutrality goals are finally suggested. • The impacts of environmental courts on carbon intensity are investigated. • The influence mechanisms of environmental court on carbon intensity are studied. • The heterogeneity of the impact is analyzed from three aspects. • Environmental courts could reduce carbon intensity. • Policy effects are driven by administrative enforcement, innovation ability and cooperative effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colletotrichum higginsianum is an important hemibiotrophic phytopathogen that causes crucifer anthracnose in various regions of the world. In many plant-pathogenic fungi, the Ste11-Ste7-Fus3/Kss1 kinase pathway is essential to pathogenicity and various plant infection processes. To date, the role of ChSte7 in C. higginsianum encoding a MEK orthologue of Ste7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has not been elucidated. In this report, we investigated the function of ChSte7 in the pathogen. The ChSte7 is predicted to encode a 522-amino-acid protein with a S_TKc conserved domain that shares 44% identity with Ste7 in S. cerevisiae. ChSte7 disruption mutants showed white colonies with irregularly shaped edges and extremely decreased growth rates and biomass productions. The ChSte7 disruption mutants did not form appressoria and showed defects in pathogenicity on leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. When inoculated onto wounded leaf tissues, the ChSte7 disruption mutants grew only on the surface of host tissues but failed to cause lesions beyond the wound site. In contrast, both the wild-type and complementation strains showed normal morphology, produced appressoria, and caused necrosis on leaves of Arabidopsis. Analysis with qRT-PCR suggested that ChSte7 was highly expressed during the late stages of infection. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ChSte7 is involved in regulation of vegetative growth, appressorial formation of C. higginsianum, and postinvasive growth in host tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the landscape of technology licensing among Chinese entities in the period 2000-12, using a unique database on technological licensing from the State Intellectual Property Office of China. We find that: first, among Chinese licensee organizations, firms have dominated in terms of the number of licensed technologies; second, the geographical distribution of licensed technologies among the provinces has gradually reached a new quantitative balance; third, utility models are the most popular technologies to be licensed and the majority of technology licensing in China has been between Chinese entities, and most transactions have been local within provinces; and finally, Chinese firms have gradually in-licensed newer and newer technologies, but the technologies in-licensed from foreign sources are by no means state-of-the-art. We make several suggestions for innovation policy-making and for directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ustiloxins, a group of bioactive metabolites produced by the pathogen of rice false smut (RFS), have emerged as ubiquitous contaminants in RFS-occurred paddy fields and could accumulate in rice. Nevertheless, the prevalence of ustiloxins in rice and exposure risks of humans are limited. In this study, concentrations of ustiloxin A (UA) and ustiloxins B (UB), which are two predominant ustiloxins, were measured in 240 rice samples from China and 72 rice samples from 12 other counties. The detection rates (DRs) of UA and UB were 82.1% and 49.3%, respectively, and their concentrations in rice ranged from below detection limit (LOD: 0.22 μg/kg) to 85.96 μg/kg dw. Furthermore, for the first time, we reported the occurrence of UA (DR = 22.8%) in urine collected from residues of Enshi city, China. Urinary UA were significantly correlated with the activities of alanine aminotransferase in male, and this male-biased hepatotoxicity was further confirmed in mice exposure experiment. This study for the first time reported the widespread geographical distribution of ustiloxins in rice, as well as emphasized the occurrence of internal exposure and potential health risk in humans. [Display omitted] • Ustiloxin contamination in polished rice was ubiquitous globally. • Occurrence of UA in human urine was observed with detection ratio of 22.8%. • Urinary UA level was significantly correlated with ALT activity in male. • Male-biased hepatotoxicity of UA was confirmed in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's Western Development Strategy (WDS) has been carried out since 1999 with remarkable achievements, whereby Western China also experienced a rapid and stable development during the past decade. This paper analyzes policy actions and effects of WDS. The findings indicate that Western China's economic development has experienced a dramatic reversion after implementation of WDS, which to a certain extent, proves that WDS has played a significant role in promoting western regions' development. This paper also reveals some key constraints on Western China's economic development and then offers a set of policy ideas for the next stage of Western development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2005, a wilt disease on Coleus forskohlii of high severity has been observed in Tongcheng County, Hubei province, China, with the annual crop area affected estimated to be over 100 ha. Symptoms of disease, which included leaves wilting, stem brown discolouration and root rot, were observed after seed germination of C. forskohlii during the spring and summer growing seasons. After isolation and pathogenicity testing, the pathogen was identified as Fusarium oxysporum on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics. Subsequent analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA and the β-tubulin gene sequence confirmed F. oxysporum as the causal agent. This is the first report of F. oxysporum infecting C. forskohlii worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined the influence of the global reach of the product, multinational vs. domestic, on the degree of standardization of and the use of advertising values in 2008 Beijing Olympic commercials telecasted in China. This study is the first to examine systematically advertising standardization and values within one country in a mega-sporting event context. Overall, the study revealed that multinational product advertisements are more likely to be standardized, and more likely to portray Western-oriented values in their advertisements compared to domestic product advertisements. These findings indicate the importance of considering the global reach of the product in advertising to meet the expectations of the customers, especially during international sporting events such as Olympic Games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new minor oleanane triterpenoid saponins acetylated with monoterpenoid acid, julibroside J32, julibroside J35 and julibroside J36, along with one new natural product, prosapogenin 9, were isolated from the stem bark of Albizia julibrissin. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of the chemical and spectroscopic evidences. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Leaf blight caused by Stemphylium solani is a major fungal disease of garlic (Allium sativum) in central China where it has caused severe crop losses during the winter growing season from the end of autumn to the middle of spring. Epidemiology, cultivar resistance, and chemical controls were investigated during the 2006 to 2008 growing seasons in Dangyang County to improve disease control methods. Disease severity monitoring revealed that the activity of S. solani was variable between growing seasons, and this may have been due to weather conditions. Disease severity was positively correlated with increasing temperatures, but no consistent relationship was found between total rainfall and disease. Additionally, the study demonstrated that conidia and mycelium of S. solani could survive in garlic debris for long periods and serve as the primary inoculum source for the subsequent season. Relatively few of the commonly grown cultivars had high levels of resistance to leaf blight. Garlic cultivars 'Qingganruanye', 'Ruanruanye' and 'Zixuan-2' were among the most resistant, but except for 'Zixuan-2', did not produce sufficient harvestable bolts as would be desirable for the local market. All fungicide treatments applied to cloves used as planting material seemed to promote seedling emergence, but significant effects (P = 0.05) were observed only with fludioxonil (0.05 g kg-1) and thiram (1.25 g kg-1). Fungicide applications in the field were effective in controlling leaf blight, and flusilazole (50 g ha-1), flusilazole plus famoxadone (50 g plus 104 g ha-1) or mancozeb (350 g ha-1) had the highest efficacy in reducing leaf blight severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the cultural factors influencing the use of advertising appeals in two culturally diverse countries: China and the US. Findings from the content analyses of the Chinese and the US food advertisements support eight of the 10 hypotheses, suggesting that community, popular, ornamental, status, dear, health, and nutrition appeals are more frequently used in countries with a more collectivist, greater power distance, and stronger long-term orientation culture such as in China than in the US, whereas an independence appeal was more frequently used in an individualistic society like the US than in China. Overall, findings suggest that advertising appeals in global markets reflect the dominant cultural values in each country. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the rapid labor transfer from agricultural to non-agricultural activities in China. Chinese villagers' decision to pursue non-agricultural employment; Results of a nationally-representative survey of rural and urban households in 1996; Economic distress and enabling sociopolitical conditions; Local employment and migration options for Chinese peasants contemplating off-farm work.

Researchers recently developed new mid-test warning faking-mitigation procedures to address the faking issue found in personality tests. The use of warning messages may unexpectedly make faking on personality tests a more cognitively loaded task, resulting in a positive relationship between personality scores and cognitive ability. The primary purpose of the present research is to investigate the effect of a mid-test warning on the personality-cognitive ability relationship. Graduate school applicants at a large public university in China (n = 2032) went through a test-warning-retest procedure. A true experimental design was used wherein each participant received a mid-test warning or a control message randomly. Results indicated that the mid-test warning significantly lowered personality scores over retesting, whereas the control message had little impact on applicants. The mid-test warning, however, did not induce positive and significant correlations between measures of personality and cognitive ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warning messages delivered in the middle of a personality test (i.e., mid-test warnings) have emerged as a promising method to mitigate applicant faking in terms of lowering personality mean scores. However, little is known about whether mid-test warnings might also affect personality factor structure. The present study investigated this prominent issue through a field experiment. Participants were applicants for graduate programs at a large public university in China, who were instructed to complete an online Big-Five personality test as part of the selection procedure. During the personality test, three messages (control, mid-test warning with accusation, and mid-test warning without accusation) were randomly delivered to applicants. Our analysis focused on the ten personality subscales included in both the initial block (before the mid-test messages) and the main block (after the mid-test messages). Results indicated that (a) the control message did not lead to the violation of configural, metric, and scalar invariance, and (b) the two mid-test warnings did not result in the violation of configural and metric invariance but led to scalar non-invariance. These findings suggest that mid-test warnings reduce faking by lowering intercepts, but do not adversely affect the configural and metric aspects of personality factor structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• News consumption behavior is conceptualized as the process of news topics viewing. • MDMR is employed to examine the factors that cause individual differences in news-viewing sequence. • Users with different familial roles demonstrate various sequence length and turbulence of news consumption. • The results demonstrate the unique feature of mobile news consumption in mainland China. News consumption is deeply and widely situated in families. Employing role theory as theoretical framework, this study argues that users' familial role would influence their mobile news consumption behavior through shaping their personal news interests and regulating their time budget of news viewing. We extracted data from the server log of the Sohu News mobile application, one of the most popular mobile news applications in China. We found that users with different familial roles demonstrate various sequential patterns of news consumption, as represented by various sequence length and turbulence. This study expands the theoretical horizons by integrating the traditional role theory and big user data analytics to address the mobile news consumption in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the problems associated to the diagnosis and treatment of transsexualism in China. Topics discussed include the conditions to meet the diagnostic criteria for transsexualism, the diagnostic process used in the country, and the criteria for patient to be eligible for surgery. Also mentioned is information regarding the need for the country to learn from other nations about the standardization of diagnosis and management procedures to help improve patients' conditions.

Abstract: Citrobacter gastroenteritis became an increasingly significant health problem in intensive aquaculture in China. In this study, three bacterial strains were isolated from the intestinal tract of farmed grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), and were tentatively numbered C9414, C0520 and C0934, and then they were identified as Citrobacter freundii, C. gillenii and C. werkmanii by the biochemical properties and molecular techniques. The strain C9414, namely C. freundii showed the pathogenicity to mice and zebrafish, respectively. Furthermore, the fingerprint patterns with distinct bands of three isolates were generated by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the bacteria Citrobacter spp. isolated from the intestine of fish in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Qinglong deposit is a newly-characterized, large Sb-(Au) deposit in the Youjiang basin (Guizhou, SW China). Four mineralization stages are identified (i.e., pre-ore, early-ore, late-ore and post-ore) in this study based on crosscutting relationships. Our study shows that the Qinglong Sb mineralization (early-ore stage) was dominated by quartz-stibnite ± fluorite, whilst the Sb-Au mineralization (late-ore stage) comprises quartz-stibnite ± pyrite. Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) indicates that the Au is present as Au 1+ in the arsenian pyrite. Besides, our new fluid inclusion data from fluorite, stibnite and quartz show that the Sb-Au-rich hydrothermal fluids were derived from the mixing fluids consisting of H 2 O, NaCl, hydrocarbon and minor CO 2 . In the early-ore stage, the ore-forming fluids are characterized by medium to low temperatures (161–294 °C, mean: 220 °C), medium to low salinities (0.35–13.18 wt% NaCl equiv.), low pH, and the presence of hydrocarbons and CO 2 . In comparison, the late-ore stage ore-forming fluids are featured by low temperatures (113–255 °C, mean: 175 °C), low salinities (0.18–6.30 wt% NaCl equiv.) and nearly neutral pH. The δ 34 S ∑S values (−2.8 to 2.3‰) of the ore-forming fluids suggest that the sulfur at Qinglong was dominantly magmatic-derived. From the early-ore to late-ore stage, the ore-forming fluid temperature and oxygen fugacity ( f O 2 ) decrease but the pH increases (from acidic to neutral). Such physicochemical transition may have significantly decreased the Sb solubility from 10 s to 100 s of ppm to 0.001 ppm. Therefore, we propose that fluid mixing was the main process that substantially reduced the fluid temperature and oxygen fugacity, which effectively lowered the Sb solubility and led to abundant stibnite precipitation. The stibnite precipitation had likely decreased the H 2 S concentrations of the ore-forming fluids, thereby destabilizing the AuHS 0 complexes in the fluids and caused local Au precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alleviating global climate change requires the development and adoption of green innovation. This study compares the impact of cooperative and independent green innovation on carbon reduction based on the panel data covering 252 cities in China from 2003 to 2019. We examine the heterogeneous impacts of cooperative green innovation across units, and explain the transmission mechanism. The two-way fixed effects model and interaction model are adopted. Results show that: (1) Cooperative green innovation can reduce carbon emissions more effectively than independent green innovation. A 1% increase in cooperative green patents (inventions) will reduce carbon emissions by 0.023% (0.037%), while independent green patents or inventions play a weak role. (2) For research and development (R&D) partners, firms' cooperative green innovation has a stronger positive effect on carbon reduction than research organizations. The carbon reduction effect of cooperative green innovation is better for listed firms and universities. (3) Mechanism analysis shows cooperative green innovation can reduce carbon emissions by improving the industrial structure and decreasing energy intensity. These effects are stronger when cities have more talent, funds and higher marketability. (4) We also find that listed firms' cooperative green inventions with a ten-year lag can still reduce carbon emissions effectively. Cooperative green innovation is conducive to carbon reduction among eastern and central cities of China. [Display omitted] • This paper explores the impact of green innovation on carbon reduction from the new perspective of cooperation. • Cooperative green innovation is more effective than independent green innovation in carbon reduction. • Cooperative green innovation of listed firms and universities is more conducive to carbon reduction. • Cooperative green innovation can optimize the industrial structure and decrease energy intensity for better carbon reduction. • Cooperative green innovation with more talent, funds and market has better carbon reduction effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart city concept was proposed in the wave of "New Urbanism". To improve the quality of urbanization, China has launched smart city construction since 2012. Taking 153 cities from China as the research sample, we evaluated the impact of smart city policy (SCP) on urban ecological total factor energy efficiency (ETFEE) using the generalized synthetic control method. The main results are as follows. (1) SCP significantly improves urban ETFEE after controlling the endogeneity and unobserved time-varying confounders, and this conclusion is strongly supported by multiple robustness tests. (2) There is a two-stage mediating mechanism through which SCP functions. Specifically, SCP promotes innovation by enhancing intelligence (including informatization, human capital, and technology), thereby improving urban ETFEE. (3) Public participation and market conditions play moderating effects, and they improve the contribution of SCP on urban ETFEE. (4) For heterogeneity, SCP plays a significant role in eastern cities, large-size cities, non-resource-based cities, and non-old industrial base cities, whereas it has little impact on other cities' ETFEE. This study provides empirical evidence and policy insights for constructing smart cities in China and even other emerging economies. • The generalized synthetic control method is used to explore SCP on urban EFTEE. • Game-cross efficiency DEA is used to measure urban EFTEE. • Innovation is the intermediary channel by which SCP improves EFTEE. • Public participation and market conditions enhance the role of SCP. • SCP functions better in cities with a sound economic base and industrial structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to simulate the economic and environmental effects of energy-carbon-water (ECW) policies in China. The main novelty works are to clarify the theoretical ECW nexus mechanism at macro-economic level and develop the ECW-CGE policy assessment model with ECW policy modules integrated. Using this model, isolated and integrated ECW policy scenarios are designed and simulated in 2050. Policy effectiveness and co-effects are further discussed. The main findings are: (1) For economic effects, GDP losses grow from 0.31 % in water policy scenario W1 to 1.51 % in integrated policy scenario ECW2. Energy and carbon emission policies cause greater outputs losses in energy and carbon intensive sectors, while water policy impacts stronger on agricultural and service sectors. (2) For environmental effects, integrated policy scenarios reduce the most of ECW, and isolated ones mainly affect their targeted ECW elements. (3) For policy effectiveness, isolated policy scenarios have greater individual effectiveness, integrated ones could balance overall ECW management. (4) Synergy and trade-off effects exist in all scenarios. Governance cooperation and differentiated sectoral policies are needed to realize sustainable development in ECW system. The main findings could inspire ECW management policy makings both for China and countries with similar environmental constraints. • ECW-CGE policy simulating model is built based on ECW nexus mechanism. • Assessing economic and environmental effects of ten ECW policy scenarios in 2050. • Integrated policy scenarios better control ECW nexus with larger economic losses. • Isolated policy scenarios have stronger impact on their targeted ECW elements. • Co-benefit and trade-off effects exist significantly in all scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a strategy, industrial convergence is an important link in building a new economic system. To explore the impact of industrial convergence on the energy efficiency of manufacturing, we first incorporated industrial convergence and energy efficiency into a conventional macro-growth model and output density model, and analyzed the relationship between them at the theoretical level. Then, taking the convergence of the information industry and manufacturing in China as the research object, the impact and transmission mechanism of industrial convergence on energy efficiency were empirically investigated. Furthermore, three new techno-economic relevance matrices were constructed to study the spillover effect of industrial convergence using a spatial autoregressive combined model. The results showed that: (1) Industrial convergence improved the energy efficiency of manufacturing, which remained robust after overcoming endogeneity. Moreover, there was a scale effect whereby the deeper the convergence, the greater the marginal effect. (2) There was a spillover effect with regard to industrial relevance. Through cross-industry imitation and learning, industrial convergence improved the energy efficiency of the entire manufacturing sector. (3) Technological innovation was an effective mediating channel for industrial convergence to function. Industrial convergence not only had a direct impact on technological innovation, but also had an indirect impact through industrial scale expansion and factor structure optimization, thereby improving energy efficiency. Our findings provided insights for newly industrialized countries to promote the convergence of informatization and industrialization in an effort to transform and upgrade manufacturing. • The impact of industrial convergence on manufacturing energy efficiency in China is investigated. • Two models of the relationship between industrial convergence and energy efficiency are derived. • Industrial convergence has a positive effect on improving energy efficiency. • A spatial autoregressive combined model is employed to examine the inter-industry spillovers. • Positive impacts on technological innovation, scale expansion and factor structure optimization are main influence channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hydrothermal silica, fluorite and Sb-Au ores at Qinglong deposit are genetically linked. • REE and H-O-Sr isotopes of fluorite point to a basinal fluid source. • Mixing between magmatic-hydrothermal and basinal fluids formed early Sb mineralization. • Late Au mineralization formed via intense fluid/rock exchange led by meteoric water incursion. Silicic and fluorite alterations are widespread and spatially linked to Au and Sb mineralization in the Youjiang basin, SW China. However, metallogenic studies on the hydrothermal quartz and fluorite, and their implications on the fluid source(s) and evolution are very limited, leading to ambiguity about the Au-Sb ore formation. The large Qinglong Sb-(Au) deposit in the basin is characterized by an early-ore jasperoid + stibnite + fluorite assemblage, and a late-ore stibnite + Au-bearing pyrite + veined-quartz assemblage. Early-ore jasperoid-fluorite-stibnite precipitated mainly in open-space wallrock breccias. The relatively wide fluorite 87Sr/86Sr range (0.70776–0.70931) suggests the mixing of two 87Sr isotopically distinct end-members. The highly-radiogenic Sr (87Sr/86Sr > 0.70800) of the Qinglong fluorite suggests that the fluids were likely originated from the Lower Paleozoic basement rocks of the basin. MREE-enriched patterns of the fluorite samples suggest that MREEs were leached from these Lower Paleozoic sulfate-rich basement rocks by the fluids (which contain mainly metal sulfate complexes), as also supported by the positive Y anomalies (Y/Y* = 2.89 – 4.50) and elevated Y/Ho ratios (86.76 – 134.73) of the fluorite. Moreover, the depleted radiogenic Sr, absence of Eu anomalies, negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 0.72 – 0.87), and the presence of hydrocarbon-rich fluid inclusions indicate basinal fluid (paleo-seawater/formation water) incursion into the ore fluids. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions of the fluid inclusions (in fluorite) also indicate that the ore fluids have had basinal carbonic fluid contribution. A compilation of the published H-O-S isotope compositions of coeval Carlin-like gold deposits in the Youjiang basin suggests that the initial fluid may have had a magmatic origin. A general fluid δ18O drop may have occurred during the ore formation, and was likely attributed to the varying degree of fluid dilution. Taken together, the ore fluids may have mixed with the circulating basinal fluids at shallow depths, causing significant temperature and f O 2 drop, which further lowered the stibnite solubility and triggered its precipitation (together with jasperoid and fluorite). At the late-ore stage, the lack of fluorite suggests that the basinal fluid incursion had waned, and the hydrothermal fluid was again dominantly magmatic-hydrothermal. Quartz veins/stockworks were developed in non-brecciated tuffaceous wallrocks and have disseminated sulfide mineralization. This, and the presence of CO 2 -rich fluid inclusions, could be caused by the dissolution of wallrock carbonate minerals by the magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. Therefore, we proposed that the mixing between magmatic-hydrothermal and basinal fluids had formed the early-ore Sb mineralization, whilst fluid-rock interactions had formed the varying fluid compositions and late-ore Au mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn, as one of the three major grain crops in China, plays a crucial role in ensuring national food security through its yield and quality. With the advancement of agricultural intelligence, agricultural robot technology has gained significant attention. High-precision navigation is the basis for realizing various operations of agricultural robots in corn fields and is closely related to the quality of operations. Corn leaf and stalk recognition and ranging are the prerequisites for achieving high-precision navigation and have attracted much attention. This paper proposes a corn leaf and stalk recognition and ranging algorithm based on multi-sensor fusion. First, YOLOv8 is used to identify corn leaves and stalks. Considering the large differences in leaf morphology and the large changes in field illumination that lead to discontinuous identification, an equidistant expansion polygon algorithm is proposed to post-process the leaves, thereby increasing the average recognition completeness of the leaves to 86.4%. Secondly, after eliminating redundant point clouds, the IMU data are used to calculate the confidence of the LiDAR and depth camera ranging point clouds, and point cloud fusion is performed based on this to achieve high-precision ranging of corn leaves. The average ranging error is 2.9 cm, which is lower than the measurement error of a single sensor. Finally, the stalk point cloud is processed and clustered using the FILL-DBSCAN algorithm to identify and measure the distance of the same corn stalk. The algorithm combines recognition accuracy and ranging accuracy to meet the needs of robot navigation or phenotypic measurement in corn fields, ensuring the stable and efficient operation of the robot in the corn field.

The trimester-specific associations of maternal dietary patterns with preterm birth (PTB) are unclear. In a prospective prebirth cohort study, we aimed to examine the critical time window of maternal prenatal dietary patterns and the risk of PTB. We assessed prenatal dietary intake among 1500 pregnant women with validated food frequency questionnaires during the 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd trimester, respectively. We used logistic regression models and generalized estimating equation models to examine the trimester-specific associations and longitudinal associations between maternal dietary patterns in relation to risk of PTB and PTB subtypes. The incidence rate of PTB was 11.9% (179 out of 1500 pregnant women) in the present study. We observed that maternal adherence to a fish-seafood pattern in the 1 st trimester was associated with higher risk of PTB [tertile 3 (T3) vs. tertile 1 (T1): OR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.32-3.96] and iatrogenic preterm birth (IPTB) (T3 vs. T1: OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.21-4.20), while a fish-seafood pattern in the 2 nd trimester was associated with lower risk of PTB (T3 vs. T1: OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.25-0.93). Maternal adherence to a dairy-egg pattern in the 2 nd or 3 rd trimester was associated with higher risks of PTB and IPTB. No dietary patterns were associated with spontaneous preterm birth. Our findings provide new evidence that specific dietary patterns during different trimesters may have different and even inverse health effects on pregnant women. This supports the necessity of guiding the maternal diet according to different periods of pregnancy to prevent PTB.