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Background: Promoting the work adaptation of nurses returning to work after childbirth is key to improving their physical and mental health and ensuring the quality of nursing care. Although postpartum nurses have reported high work stress and poor adaptation after returning to work, little is known regarding the experiences, problems and further needs. This study aimed to explore the adaptation experiences of postpartum nurses returning to work. Methods: This was a qualitative study with descriptive phenomenological approach. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and May 2023 in four tertiary hospitals in Changsha, mainland China, which were selected using convenience sampling. A total of 16 postpartum nurses returning to work within one year were recruited using purposive sampling and maximum variation sampling. The interviews were analysed using the Colaizzi's 7-step method. Results: 'Breakdown and healing' is a strong thread in postpartum nurses' work adaptation. It links 13 subthemes in the interview data, which can be grouped under three overarching themes: (a) changes and challenges of multiple roles; (b) self-coping and social support; and (c) further needs after returning to work. The phrase 'breakdown and healing' reflects the mutual relationship between stress and coping among postpartum nurses. The changes and challenges associated with being required to fulfil multiple roles of mothers, wives and nurses make the subjects feel on the verge of 'breakdown'. When returning to work, most of them move slowly towards 'healing' through positive self-management and support from their partners, families, supervisors and colleagues. Moreover, their ongoing demands and unsolved problems – such as their desire for a workplace that is friendly and serves their needs – were generated by the constant process of 'breakdown and healing'. Conclusions: Understanding how postpartum nurses returning to work perceive adaptation experiences is essential for nursing managers, who can use the findings to implement targeted measures to shorten postpartum nurses' maladaptation period after returning to work and promote their work adaptation. This study underscores the critical importance of personalized return-to-work training, flexible work arrangements, support from colleagues and managers, well-established maternal facilities and services, and targeted policy efforts in enhancing postpartum nurses' work adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax notoginseng is a highly valued perennial medicinal herb in China and is widely used in clinical treatments. The main purpose of this study was to elucidate the changes in the composition of P. notoginseng saponins (PNSs), which are the main bioactive substances, triggered by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) via ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–ESI–MS/MS). A total of 202 putative terpenoid metabolites were detected, of which 150 triterpene glycosides were identified, accounting for 74.26% of the total. Correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS–DA) of the metabolites revealed that the samples treated with AMF (group Ce) could be clearly separated from the CK samples. In total, 49 differential terpene metabolites were identified between the Ce and CK groups, of which 38 and 11 metabolites were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, and most of the upregulated differentially abundant metabolites were mainly triterpene glycosides. The relative abundances of the two major notoginsenosides (MNs), ginsenosides Rd and Re, and 13 rare notoginsenosides (RNs), significantly increased. The differential saponins, especially RNs, were more easily clustered into one branch and had a high positive correlation. It could be concluded that the biosynthesis and accumulation of some RNs share the same pathways as those triggered by AMF. This study provides a new way to obtain more notoginsenoside resources, particularly RNs, and sheds new light on the scientization and rationalization of the use of AMF agents in the ecological planting of medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the extreme drought that occurred in the Yangtze River valley in China during the summer of 2022. The drought was characterized by low precipitation and high temperatures, breaking records since 1961. The study examines the factors contributing to the drought, including atmospheric anomalies, land-air interactions, and anthropogenic global warming. The research findings indicate that human-induced climate change intensified the drought, increasing its intensity and likelihood. The article emphasizes the need for adaptation strategies to address the increasing risk of drought in the future. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The programmed death 1 inhibitor toripalimab plus the angio-immuno kinase inhibitor surufatinib showed a tolerable safety profile and preliminary efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors in a phase I study. Methods: This open-label, multi-cohort study in China enrolled patients with advanced solid tumors who had failed or were intolerable to standard treatment into tumor-specific cohorts. Patients received surufatinib (250 mg orally, once daily) plus toripalimab (240 mg intravenously, once every three weeks). Results for three cohorts (gastric/gastroesophageal junction [GC/GEJ] adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [ESCC], and biliary tract carcinoma [BTC]) are reported here. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR) per Response Evaluation criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Results: Between December 17, 2019, and January 29, 2021, 60 patients were enrolled (GC/GEJ, n = 20; ESCC, n = 20; BTC, n = 20). At data cutoff (February 28, 2023), ORRs were 31.6%, 30.0%, and 11.1%, respectively. Median progression-free survival was 4.1, 2.7, and 2.9 months, respectively. Median overall survival was 13.7, 10.4, and 7.0 months, respectively. Overall, grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 28 (46.7%) patients. Conclusions: Surufatinib plus toripalimab showed promising antitumor activity and a tolerable safety profile in immunotherapy-naïve patients with GC/GEJ adenocarcinoma, ESCC, or BTC. These findings warrant further study in larger randomized trials comparing surufatinib plus toripalimab with standard therapies in these tumors. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04169672. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HALE is now a regular strategic planning indicator for all levels of the Chinese government. However, HALE measurements necessitate comprehensive data collection and intricate technology. Therefore, effectively converting numerous diseases into the years lived with disability (YLD) rate is a significant challenge for HALE measurements. Our study aimed to construct a simple YLD rate measurement model with high applicability based on the current situation of actual data resources within China to address challenges in measuring HALE target values during planning. Methods: First, based on the Chinese YLD rate in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019, Pearson correlation analysis, the global optimum method, etc., was utilized to screen the best predictor variables from the current Chinese data resources. Missing data for predictor variables were filled in via spline interpolation. Then, multiple linear regression models were fitted to construct the YLD rate measurement model. The Sullivan method was used to measure HALE. The Monte Carlo method was employed to generate 95% uncertainty intervals. Finally, model performances were assessed using the mean absolute error (MAE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Results: A three-input-parameter model was constructed to measure the age-specific YLD rates by sex in China, directly using the incidence of infectious diseases, the incidence of chronic diseases among persons aged 15 and older, and the addition of an under-five mortality rate covariate. The total MAE and MAPE for the combined YLD rate were 0.0007 and 0.5949%, respectively. The MAE and MAPE of the combined HALE in the 0-year-old group were 0.0341 and 0.0526%, respectively. There were slightly fewer males (0.0197, 0.0311%) than females (0.0501, 0.0755%). Conclusion: We constructed a high-accuracy model to measure the YLD rate in China by using three monitoring indicators from the Chinese national routine as predictor variables. The model provides a realistic and feasible solution for measuring HALE at the national and especially regional levels, considering limited data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delineation of hydrothermal alteration zoning is important for exploration vectoring toward mineralization centers in porphyry systems, and shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectroscopy is widely used to map hydrothermal minerals distribution for porphyry Cu exploration. However, the SWIR method cannot effectively detect anhydrous alteration minerals (e.g., K-feldspar) in the potassic zone. Magnetite can be formed by potassic alteration and destroyed by phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) alteration. The relative intensity of these two alteration types can be quantified by magnetic susceptibility. Here, we integrate the SWIR and magnetic susceptibility measurements to map hydrothermal alteration zones at the Pulang porphyry Cu-Au deposit in northwestern Yunnan, one of the largest porphyry deposits in the SW China-mainland SE Asia region. White mica, chlorite, and montmorillonite + kaolinite were identified in ~ 60%, ~ 30%, and ~ 15% of the analyzed samples from the Pulang deposit, respectively. Volumetric bulk magnetic susceptibility (Kbulk) values are high in the potassic-altered rocks, but low in phyllic-altered rocks. Using white mica as a proxy for sericite alteration, white mica-chlorite assemblage for chlorite-sericite alteration, chlorite-epidote-actinolite assemblage for propylitic alteration, montmorillonite-kaolinite-dickite assemblage for argillic alteration, and Kbulk (> 0.5 × 10–3 SI) for potassic alteration, we delineate the alteration zoning at Pulang. From the causative porphyry center outward, four alteration zones are delineated (potassic → chlorite-sericite → sericite → argillic). The ore-distal propylitic alteration was developed both in the shallow and deeper levels of the hydrothermal system, resembling typical porphyry-style alteration zoning patterns. Our work shows that high Kbulk value is a useful vector toward Cu mineralization at Pulang, whereas illite crystallinity (SWIR-IC), white mica Al–OH spectral absorption peak, and chlorite Fe-OH spectral absorption peak are less effective. We highlight that magnetic susceptibility measurement is an effective alteration-mapping method when mineralization is developed in the potassic zone (with largely aspectral minerals such as quartz, K-feldspar, and magnetite), while SWIR scalars are more useful when mineralization is developed in the phyllic and/or propylitic zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemaphysalis longicornis, a three-host tick with a wide host range, is widely distributed in different countries and regions. It stands out among ticks due to its unique feature of having both parthenogenetic and bisexual populations. Despite their morphological resemblance, the characteristics of the parthenogenetic population have been overlooked. In this comprehensive study, we systematically compared the similarities and differences between these two populations. Our investigation revealed that the parthenogenetic H. longicornis, widely distributed in China, was found in ten provinces, surpassing the previously reported distribution. Notably, individuals from the parthenogenetic population exhibited a prolonged blood-feeding duration during the larval and nymph stages compared to their bisexual counterparts. Additionally, the life cycle of the parthenogenetic population was observed to be longer. A flow cytometry analysis indicated a DNA content ratio of approximately 2:3 between the bisexual and parthenogenetic populations. A phylogenetic analysis using whole mitochondrial genome sequences resulted in the separation of the phylogenetic tree into two distinct branches. A molecular analysis unveiled a consistent single T-base deletion at nucleotide 8497 in the parthenogenetic population compared to the bisexual population. Both populations displayed high viral infection capability and significant resistance to ivermectin. Intriguingly, despite these differences, the parthenogenetic population exhibited a similar life cycle to the bisexual population, retaining the ability to transmit pathogens such as Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) and Heartland Virus (HRTV). These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the distinct characteristics and similarities between different populations of H. longicornis, laying the foundation for future research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) are key leaf functional traits commonly used to reflect tree resource utilization strategies and predict forest ecosystem responses to environmental changes. Previous research on tree resource utilization strategies (SLA and LDMC) primarily focused on the species level within limited spatial scales, making it crucial to quantify the spatial variability and driving factors of these strategies. Whether there are discrepancies in resource utilization strategies between trees in planted and natural forests, and the dominant factors and mechanisms influencing them, remain unclear. This study, based on field surveys and the literature from 2008 to 2020 covering 263 planted and 434 natural forests in China, using generalized additive models (GAMs) and structural equation models (SEMs), analyzes the spatial differences and dominant factors in tree resource utilization strategies between planted and natural forests. The results show that the SLA of planted forests is significantly higher than that of natural forests (p < 0.01), and LDMC is significantly lower (p < 0.0001), indicating a "faster investment–return" resource utilization strategy. As the mean annual high temperature (MAHT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) steadily rise, trees have adapted their resource utilization strategies, transitioning from a "conservative" survival tactic to a "rapid investment–return" model. Compared to natural forests, planted forest trees exhibit stronger environmental plasticity and greater variability with forest age in their resource utilization strategies. Overall, forest age is the dominant factor influencing resource utilization strategies in both planted and natural forests, having a far greater direct impact than climatic factors (temperature, precipitation, and sunlight) and soil nutrient factors. Additionally, as forest age increases, both planted and natural forests show an increase in SLA and a decrease in LDMC, indicating a gradual shift towards more efficient resource utilization strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest biomass allocation is a direct manifestation of biological adaptation to environmental changes. Studying the distribution patterns of forest biomass along elevational gradients is ecologically significant for understanding the specific impacts of global change on plant resource allocation strategies. While aboveground biomass has been extensively studied, research on belowground biomass remains relatively limited. Furthermore, the patterns and driving factors of the belowground biomass proportion (BGBP) along elevational gradients are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the specific influences of climatic factors, soil nutrients, and key leaf traits on the elevational pattern of BGBP using data from 926 forests at 94 sites across China. In this study, BGBP data were calculated from the root biomass to the depth of 50 cm. Our findings indicate considerable variability in forest BGBP at a macro scale, showing a significant increasing trend along elevational gradients (p < 0.01). BGBP significantly decreases with increasing temperature and precipitation and increases with annual mean evapotranspiration (MAE) (p < 0.01). It decreases significantly with increasing soil phosphorus content and increases with soil pH (p < 0.01). Key leaf traits (leaf nitrogen (LN) and leaf phosphorus (LP)) are positively correlated with BGBP. Climatic factors (R2 = 0.46) have the strongest explanatory power for the variation in BGBP along elevations, while soil factors (R2 = 0.10) and key leaf traits (R2 = 0.08) also play significant roles. Elevation impacts BGBP directly and also indirectly through influencing such as climate conditions, soil nutrient availability, and key leaf traits, with direct effects being more pronounced than indirect effects. This study reveals the patterns and controlling factors of forests' BGBP along elevational gradients, providing vital ecological insights into the impact of global change on plant resource allocation strategies and offering scientific guidance for ecosystem management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The allocation of plant biomass above and below ground reflects their strategic resource utilization, crucial for understanding terrestrial carbon flux dynamics. In our comprehensive study, we analyzed biomass distribution patterns in 580 broadleaved and 345 coniferous forests across China from 2005 to 2020, aiming to discern spatial patterns and key drivers of belowground biomass proportion (BGBP) in these ecosystems. Our research revealed a consistent trend: BGBP decreases from northwest to southeast in both forest types. Importantly, coniferous forests exhibited significantly higher BGBP compared to broadleaved forests (p < 0.001). While precipitation and soil nutrients primarily influenced biomass allocation in broadleaved forests, temperature and soil composition played a pivotal role in coniferous forests. Surprisingly, leaf traits had a negligible impact on BGBP (p > 0.05). Climatic factors, such as temperature and rainfall, influenced biomass partitioning in both strata by altering soil nutrients, particularly soil pH. These findings provide valuable insights into understanding carbon sequestration dynamics in forest ecosystems and improving predictions of the future trajectory of this critical carbon cycle component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have provided evidence about adverse pregnancy outcomes of nurses involved in occupational exposure. However, the pregnancy outcomes among nurses in middle-income countries are not well demonstrated. The main aim of this study is to present the prevalence and influencing factors of pregnancy outcomes among female nurses in China. Methods: We included 2243 non-nurse health care workers, and 4230 nurses in this national cross-sectional study in China. Information on occupational exposures and pregnancy outcomes was collected using a face-to-face investigation. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated through logistic regression. Results: The proportion of threatened abortion, spontaneous abortion, and stillbirth of female nurses was 2.6%, 7%, and 2.1%, respectively. We found an increased risk of threatened abortion among nurses with overtime work (OR = 1.719, 95% CI 1.158–2.550). The risk of threatened abortion and spontaneous abortion was elevated among nurses handling disinfectant (OR = 2.293 and 1.63, respectively). We found a nearly twofold increased risk of premature birth (OR = 2.169, 95% CI 1.36–3.459) among nurses handling anti-cancer drugs. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that maternal occupational exposures might be associated with the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes among female nurses in China. We recommend that policy-markers and hospital managers work together to reduce exposure to occupational hazards and improve pregnancy outcomes among female nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social question‐and‐answer (Q&A) communities are becoming increasingly important for knowledge acquisition. However, some users withhold knowledge, which can hinder the effectiveness of these platforms. Based on social exchange theory, the study investigates how different types of questions influence knowledge withholding, with question difficulty and user anonymity as boundary conditions. Two experiments were conducted to test hypotheses. Results indicate that informational questions are more likely to lead to knowledge withholding than conversational ones, as they elicit more fear of negative evaluation and fear of exploitation. The study also examines the interplay of question difficulty and user anonymity with question type. Overall, this study significantly extends the existing literature on counterproductive knowledge behavior by exploring the antecedents of knowledge withholding in social Q&A communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing industrial policies to develop the new energy vehicle industry and improve technological innovation related to new energy vehicles is essential for countries dealing with environmental pollution and climate change. This paper first examines the impact of a demand-side industry policy related to new energy vehicles on the technological innovation level of supply-side vehicle enterprises. Regarding the new energy vehicle purchase tax exemption policy implemented by the Chinese government in 2014 as a quasi-experiment, this paper constructs a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model to identify the impact of the demand-side preferential tax policy on the technological innovation level of vehicle enterprises. In our DID design, 178 enterprises are in the treatment group and 166 enterprises in the control group, with 3,440 balanced panel data of observations. The results show that this policy can significantly promote the technological innovation of new energy vehicle enterprises. This promotion effect is greater in magnitude in large-scale enterprises, high-tech enterprises, and enterprises producing passenger vehicles. Theoretically, we believe that the demand-side tax exemption policy mainly indirectly promotes the technological innovation level of automobile enterprises through the signal channel and profit channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The venting of methane from coal mining is China's main source of methane emissions. Accurate and up-to-date methane emission factors for coal mines are significant for reporting and controlling methane emissions in China. This study takes a typical coal mine in Shanxi Province as the research object and divides the coal mine into different zones based on the occurrence structure of methane in Shanxi Province. The methane emission characteristics of underground coal mine types and monitoring modes were studied. The emissions of methane from coal seams and ventilation methane of six typical coal mine groups in Shanxi Province were monitored. The measured methane concentration data were corrected by substituting them into the methane emission formula, and the future methane emissions were predicted by the coal production and methane emission factors. The results show that the number of methane mines and predicted reserves in Zone I of Shanxi Province are the highest. The average methane concentration emitted from coal and gas outburst mines is about 22.52%, and the average methane concentration emitted from high-gas mines is about 10.68%. The methane emissions from coal and gas outburst mines to the atmosphere account for about 64% of the total net methane emissions. The predicted methane emission factor for Shanxi coal mines is expected to increase from 8.859 m3/t in 2016 to 9.136 m3/t in 2025, and the methane emissions from Shanxi coal mines will reach 8.43 Tg in 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute pediatric vasculitis affecting genetically susceptible infants and children. Although the pathogenesis of KD remains unclear, growing evidence links genetic susceptibility to the disease. Methods: To explore the genes associated with susceptibility in KD, we applied whole-exome sequencing to KD and control subjects from Yunnan province, China. We conducted association study analysis on the two groups. Results: In this study, we successfully identified 11 significant rare variants in two genes (MYH14 and RBP3) through the genotype/allele frequency analysis. A heterozygous variant (c.2650G > A, p.V884M) of the RBP3 gene was identified in 12 KD cases, while eight heterozygous variants (c.566G > A, p.R189H; c.1109 C > T, p.S370L; c.3917T > G, p.L1306R; c.4301G > A, p.R1434Q; c.5026 C > T, p.R1676W; c.5329 C > T, p.R1777C; c.5393 C > A, p.A1798D and c.5476 C > T, p.R1826C) of the MYH14 gene were identified in 8 KD cases respectively. Conclusion: This study suggested that nine variants in MYH14 and RBP3 gene may be associated with KD susceptibility in the population from Yunnan province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sedentary behavior (SB) and physical inactivity have been associated with an increased risk of all‐cause mortality. Evidence in China is scarce, and it is unclear whether physical activity (PA) attenuates or even eliminates the harmful effects of prolonged SB in the Chinese population. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 17 084 Chinese adults. PA and sitting time (ST) were assessed using the IPAQ. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of PA and ST with all‐cause mortality. Interaction plots were used to visualize the interaction effects. Results: During a median follow‐up of 6.01 years, a total of 1106 deaths occurred. PA level was inversely associated with the incidence of all‐cause mortality, while ST showed a detrimental association (all ptrend < 0.05). In the stratified analysis, ST was associated with all‐cause mortality in the low PA, while the association was attenuated in the moderate PA group: the HRs (95% CI) comparing ST of 4–8, 8–11, and ≥11 to <4 h/day were 1.15 (0.73–1.81), 1.55 (0.92–2.59), and 2.70 (1.52–4.80), respectively. In the high PA group, no significant association was found across all ST levels. In the joint analysis, compared with the high PA and ST <4 h/day, the harmful effect was found only in the combined low PA and moderate PA groups with ST ≥11 h/day (HR:2.71, 95% CI:1.69–4.35). In addition, a significant interaction association was found. Conclusion: Our study, based on a prospective cohort, suggests that the detrimental effect of ST on all‐cause mortality is attenuated or eliminated by high PA levels in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to reveal the nutritional value and antioxidant activity of 34 edible flowers that grew in Yunnan Province, China, through a comprehensive assessment of their nutritional composition and antioxidant indices. The results showed that sample A3 of Asteraceae flowers had the highest total flavonoid content, with a value of 8.53%, and the maximum contents of vitamin C and reducing sugars were from Rosaceae sample R1 and Gentianaceae sample G3, with values of 143.80 mg/100 g and 7.82%, respectively. Samples R2 and R3 of Rosaceae were the top two flowers in terms of comprehensive nutritional quality. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of Rosaceae samples was evidently better than that of three others, in which Sample R1 had the maximum values in hydroxyl radical (·OH) scavenging and superoxide anion radical (·O2−) scavenging rates, and samples R2 and R3 showed a high total antioxidant capacity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-pyridylhydrazine (DPPH) scavenging rate, respectively. Taken together, there were significant differences in the nutrient contents and antioxidant properties of these 34 flowers, and the comprehensive quality of Rosaceae samples was generally better than the other three families. This study provides references for 34 edible flowers to be used as dietary supplements and important sources of natural antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lucaogou Formation, located in the Jimsar Sag, Junggar Basin, NW China, has great potential for shale oil resources. In the process of CO2‐EOR (CO2 enhance oil recovery), mineral dissolution, precipitation and transformation, leading to the local corrosion or blockage of reservoirs, have a significant influence on recovery. In this study, a combination of high‐temperature and high‐pressure laboratory experiments and coupled temperature/fluid‐chemistry multi‐field numerical simulations are used to investigate CO2‐water‐rock reactions under various reservoir conditions in the upper and lower 'sweet spots', to reveal the mechanisms underlying CO2‐induced mineral dissolution, precipitation and transformation. In addition, we quantitatively calculated the evolution of porosity over geological timescales; compared and analyzed the variability of CO2 transformation in the reservoir under a variety of temperature, lithology and solution conditions; and identified the main factors controlling CO2‐water‐rock reactions, the types of mineral transformation occurring during long‐term CO2 sequestration and effective carbon sequestration minerals. The results demonstrate that the main minerals undergoing dissolution under the influence of supercritical CO2 are feldspars, while the main minerals undergoing precipitation include carbonate rock minerals, clay minerals and quartz. Feldspar minerals, especially the initially abundant plagioclase in the formation, directly affects total carbon sequestration, feldspar‐rich clastic rocks therefore having considerable sequestration potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of trauma exposure on the posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS) of children who resided near the epicenter of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The mechanisms of this impact were explored via structural equation models with self-esteem and coping strategies included as mediators. The findings suggested that the effect of trauma exposure was partially mediated by self-esteem, which subsequently affected coping strategies and finally determined PTSS. These results imply that self-esteem and coping strategies may impact children's resilience to trauma exposure. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)

Sediment plays an important role in controlling biogeochemical cycling of heavy metals in aquatic environment. The Ya-Er Lake is a typical lake which was historically contaminated by heavy metals in Hubei province, China. After industries surrounding the Ya-Er Lake being shut down, oxidation pond treatment and dredging program were conducted for pollution management since 1970s. To date, the Ya-Er Lake has been used for aquaculture for several decades. However, the status of heavy metal levels and ecological risks in this lake remains unclear. Herein, concentrations, chemical fractions, and risk assessment of heavy metals were investigated in the Ya-Er Lake sediment. Results showed that concentrations of heavy metals in the Ya-Er Lake sediment were higher than other reported lake systems, suggesting that heavy metal pollution in the Ya-Er Lake is still serious. Relatively higher proportions of carbonates bound form of Cd and Ni indicated high-risk potential of these two heavy metals, and Cd and Ni should be listed as the primary heavy metal pollutants in the Ya-Er Lake according to the results of potential ecological risk index (PERI) and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). The risk assessment code (RAC) analysis showed that Ni and Cd poses higher bioavailability and mitigation potential, and may affect the Ya-Er Lake ecosystem and downstream aquatic environment. These findings reflected that oxidation pond treatment and dredging sediment to near place are not effective to control heavy metal pollution, and a long-term ecological risk is still posed to surrounding aquatic environment. Our study provides scientific basis on pollution control and management in aquatic system contaminated by heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has become an effective treatment for early‐stage oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs). We aimed to analyze the clinical safety and efficacy of TORS for human papilloma virus (HPV)‐positive and HPV‐negative OPSCC in China. Methods: Patients with OPSCC of pT1‐T2 stage who underwent TORS from March 2017 to December 2021 were analyzed. Results: A total of 83 patients (HPV‐positive, n = 25; HPV‐negative, n = 58) were included. The median age of the patients was 57.0 years and 71 were men. The majority of primary tumor sites were palatine tonsils (52, 62.7%) and base of tongues (20, 24.1%). Three patients have a positive margin. A total of 12 (14.5%) patients received tracheotomies, the average duration of tracheostomy tube use was 9.4 days, and nasogastric tube was 14.5 days. No patient had a long‐term tracheotomy. The 3‐year overall survival (OS), disease‐free survival (DFS), and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) for all 83 patients were 89.5%, 80.1%, and 83.3%, respectively. The OS at 3 years between the HPV‐positive group and HPV‐negative group were 100% versus 84.3% (P =.07), while the DFS and RFS between two groups also showed no significant difference. Among multivariate cox regression analysis of all potential risk factors, smoking was the significant risk factors for disease recurrence (P <.05). Conclusion: Transoral robotic surgery achieved encouraging oncologic outcomes and safety in T1‐T2 stage OPSCC treatment, regardless of HPV status. Level of Evidence: 4 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is the most widespread natural disaster in the world. How to monitor regional drought scientifically and accurately has become a hot topic for many scholars. In this paper, Geographically Integrated Dryness Index (GIDI) was integrated from an assortment source including Precipitation Condition Index (PCI), Temperature Condition Index (TCI), Soil Moisture Condition Index (SMCI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) (as the dependent variable) based on geographically weighted regression method. Besides, the comprehensive drought situation and changing trends in China from 2001 to 2019 were also examined. The results showed that (1) GIDI has excellent performance in monitoring medium- and long-term droughts and the monitoring results shows 2003, 2016, and 2019 were relatively wet years, while 2007, 2009, and 2011 were major drought years, and spring and March were the most frequent droughts season and month, respectively, and (2) except for the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River and Northeastern China, which have a tendency to become wet, other places have a tendency to fluctuating dry. This study took advantage of simple and efficient methods to integrate existing indices to obtain a new index for monitoring a wider range of droughts, taking into account the physical mechanism of drought formation and the time scale of drought development, so it can scientifically evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of drought and changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During May 2020 to July 2022, 269 rectal swab samples were collected from six sheep farms and 25 mutton samples were obtained from eight supermarkets in Xinjiang Province, China. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales are a severe challenge in healthcare settings, and have been globally reported, not only in humans, but also in animals, food products and the environment.[[1], [3]] In this study, we report the first detection of NDM-1 encoded on megaplasmids in I Moellerella wisconsensis i from mutton in China. This 13 095 bp structure was highly similar to the corresponding regions in some NDM-1-encoding plasmids, pHFK418-NDM (MH491967), pNDM NMG38-2 (CP085482) and P13 chromosome (CP097327), except that a 2319 bp segment containing IS I Aba125 i (936 bp, 5'- end) and I aphA6 i upstream of I bla i SB NDM sb , and I tat i and I trpF i (199 bp, 3'- end) downstream, was absent in pNDM NMG38-2 (Figure 1b). [Extracted from the article]

The RPMS1 gene is the only member of the BamHI‐A rightward transcripts (BARTs) family for which a full‐length complementary DNA has been identified, and RPMS1 transcript has been confirmed in many Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐positive malignancies. However, the effects of sequence variations of RPMS1 in hematological malignancies and their biological significance are unclear. To explore the association between RPMS1 gene variations and hematological malignancy, the RPMS1 gene of 391 EBV‐positive samples from patients with EBV‐positive leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and lymphoma in northern China were sequenced. On the basis of phylogenetic tree and mutation characteristics of RPMS1, all the sequences were divided into five major types: RPMS1‐A, RPMS1‐B, RPMS1‐C, RPMS1‐E, and RPMS1‐F. RPMS1‐A type, similar to the prototype B95‐8, was identified in 71.87% (281/391) of samples and was the major type in all subpopulations. The frequency of RPMS1‐F type was significantly higher in all malignant hematopathy groups than in healthy donors. The Hodgkin lymphoma group contained more RPMS1‐F than other malignant hematopathy groups, and acute myeloid leukemia contained more RPMS1‐C type than other malignant hematopathy groups. Therefore, RPMS1‐A is the main type of RPMS1 gene in northern China, and RPMS1‐F may be associated with hematologic malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is no effective treatment plan for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We employed a combination of Chinese and Western medicine treatment for some COVID-19 inpatients. Methods: This study was a prospective cohort study that observed non-critical COVID-19 inpatients. The differences will be observed in the time from admission to two consecutive 2019-nCoV nucleic acid test negatives and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score between the two groups. Results: A total of 254 confirmed COVID-19 patients were included in this study. The median time from the admission to two consecutive negative nucleic acid tests was 14 days for the integrated Chinese and Western Medicine (ICWM) group, while the Western Medicine (WM) group was 16 days. Besides, the median VAS score of the ICWM group was 0, which was an average decrease of 2 points compared to the time of admission. Conclusion: For non-critical COVID-19 patients, it was safe and have more benefits to add traditional Chinese medicine decoction based on WM treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In newly reclaimed coastal soil, saline conditions and nutrient deficiency are the restraining factors for crop yield. Manure and plastic film mulch are proved to play a vital role in reducing soil salt, increasing soil water, and improving soil nutrients and plant growth. A field experiment was carried out with plastic film mulch, manure, and their combinations in the Tiaozini reclamation area; four treatments were set up as (1) control treatment (CK), (2) plastic film mulch (PM), (3) farmyard manure (FM), and (4) combined application of plastic film mulch and farmyard manure (PM+FM). The main results showed that, compared with CK treatment, the average soil water content under the FM+PM treatment was increased by 5.8% and 3.6%, and the average soil salt content was reduced by 20.2% and 10.0% at 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil layers, respectively. This was because of the decrease in soil bulk density and increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity and saturated water content. Meanwhile, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus were significantly increased under the PM+FM treatment, except that for AN, which was significantly decreased at the 0–10 cm soil layer owing to plant uptake. Based on the decrease in soil salt, there was an improvement in soil hydraulic properties and soil nutrients, which resulted in summer maize biomass and yield being increased by 106% and 137%, respectively, and barley biomass and yield were increased by 133% and 106%, respectively, under FM+PM treatment. Consequently, combined manure and plastic film mulch application was better at reducing soil salt; increasing soil water content; and improving soil nutrients, plant growth, and yield production in newly reclaimed salt-affected soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health emergency, such as COVID‐19 pandemic, generally has severe impacts on mental health in public. One of the often‐neglected negative consequences is that the control and prevention measures of COVID‐19 in the post‐epidemic can pose psychological threats to public mental health. This study aimed to seek the factors and mechanisms to alleviate this mental health threat based on a sample of university students in China. Accordingly, this study proposed an environmental‐individual interaction model examining the multiple mediating effects of self‐esteem and resilience in the association between social support and anxiety among university students during COVID‐19 control phase. A questionnaire containing multiple scales were administered on the sample of 2734 Chinese university students. Results indicated that social support negatively predicted anxiety through the serial mediating effects of self‐esteem and resilience sequentially. Our results highlight the impact of social support and the internal factors on relieving anxiety among university students in COVID‐19 control phase. Findings suggest that effective psychological intervention tools should be designed and offered to college students to reduce anxiety distress and improve mental health in the post‐epidemic era or the similar situations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With global climate change, atmospheric nitrogen deposition is intensifying. However, the specific impact of nitrogen deposition on forest ecosystem productivity remains unclear. Additionally, due to the differences in the origin of planted and natural forests, it is not clear whether the effects of nitrogen deposition on different types of forest functions are consistent. This study utilizes data from 384 planted forests and 541 natural forests in China, collected through field surveys and literature research from 2005 to 2020, to explore the specific effects of nitrogen deposition on the productivity of natural and planted forests. The results show that the levels of six forms of nitrogen deposition (gaseous NO 2 , HNO 3 , NH 3 , and particulate NH 4 +, NO 3 - as well as total dry nitrogen deposition (TN)) are significantly higher in planted forests than in natural forests (P < 0.001). With increasing nitrogen deposition, the NPP (Net Primary Productivity) of planted forests significantly linear increased, while that of natural forests significantly decreased. Compared to natural forests, nitrogen deposition contributes more to the spatial variability of NPP in planted forests. Under the background of nitrogen deposition, forest climate factors (MAP, MAT) and soil phosphorus content have a positive effect on the NPP of natural and planted forests, while soil pH and soil nitrogen content have a negative effect. MAT is the dominant factor for the spatiotemporal variability of NPP in natural forests, while community functional traits (Trait PC1) are the dominant factor for the spatial variability of NPP in planted forests. Nitrogen deposition can not only directly affect the NPP of natural and planted forests but also indirectly through its impact on plant functional traits, forest climate, and soil nutrient factors. Our findings reveal the specific impacts of nitrogen deposition on the productivity of natural and planted forests, providing data support for effective forest management. • Nitrogen deposition in planted forests significantly exceeds that in natural forests P < 0.001 • With rising nitrogen deposition, planted forests' NPP significantly rises, but natural forests' decreases (P < 0.001). • Nitrogen deposition not only directly affects forests' NPP but also indirectly through its impact on leaf traits, climate, and soil nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-situ geochemical and isotopic analyses of zircon and monazite can provide compelling and detailed insights into the source and evolution of their hosting granite. Here we investigated the U-Th-Pb and Hf/Nd-O isotopic signatures of zircon and monazite in two petrological zones (i.e., fine- to medium-grained zone and medium-grained zone) of the Laojunshan granite pluton in the Qinling Orogen, central China, to better constrain their source nature and evolution processes. Co-existing magmatic zircon and monazite in both zones gave identical crystallization ages of ca. 113 Ma. In the fine- to medium-grained zone, both magmatic and xenocrystic zircons were identified, which respectively have ε Hf (t) values of −6.5 to −5.0 and − 17.4 to +5.1, and δ18O VSMOW values of +5.25‰ to +5.78‰ and + 5.17‰ to +9.15‰. The age distribution pattern and Hf O isotopic characteristics of the xenocrystic zircons are similar to those of detrital zircons from the wall rock, i.e., meta-sedimentary rocks in the Kuanping unit. Monazite grains in this zone have relatively low SiO 2 , ThO 2 but high CaO contents, dominated by cheralite-type substitution. These monazites have ε Nd (t) values of −5.8 to −4.6 and δ18O values of +3.79‰ to +5.66‰, except one grain (ε Nd (t) = −10.4 to −9.6, δ18O = +9.22‰ to +9.81‰), which is likely a xenocrystic crystal assimilated from wall rocks. The identical U Pb age but contrasting Nd O isotopic compositions between the xenocrystic monazite and the magmatic monazite grains indicate that the former might have experienced solid-state recrystallization process and completely lost radiogenic Pb. Both zircon and monazite geochemical and isotopic signatures consistently indicate that crustal assimilation occurred in the fine- to medium-grained granite zone. In contrast, in the medium-grained zone, only magmatic zircons and monazites were identified. The magmatic zircons have ε Hf (t) values of −3.2 to +2.7, and δ18O values of +4.65‰ to +6.36‰. The magmatic monazites are characterized by huttonite-type substitution with high SiO 2 , ThO 2 but low CaO contents. Their ε Nd (t) values vary from −5.7 to +1.6 (mostly < −4.4) and δ18O values from +4.65‰ to +6.36‰. Given that the isotopic features of zircons and monazites in this zone are consistent with their whole-rock isotope features and no inherited/xenocrystic grains were observed, the zircons and monazites should record the source isotope compositions. The presence of highly radiogenic Nd isotopes in monazite coupled with its normal mantle-like O isotopes suggest minor involvement of juvenile mantle-derived components in the magma source. Accordingly, we advocate combined study of zircon and monazite, which can better track granite source nature and evolution processes than individual mineral. • Zircon and monazite U Pb dating constrain the Laojunshan pluton formed at ca. 113 Ma. • Slight crustal contamination and magma injection have been effectively identified. • In-situ Hf/Nd-O isotopes can refine evolution processes and source nature of granite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A training strategy that trains the model under diagnostic report supervision is introduced to improve the model generalization performance. • A COVID-19 related image-text pairs dataset composed of chest CT scans and diagnostic reports are constructed. • We demonstrate the advantages on model interpretability of the proposed model training strategy. COVID-19 is a highly contagious infectious disease that necessitates timely assessment and effective diagnosis, although it is no longer a health emergency. Most existing computer-aided diagnosis systems for COVID-19 can achieve high accuracy, but they show insufficient generalization performance and weak interpretability. To address these issues, we propose diagnostic report supervised contrastive learning (DRSCL), a model training strategy that incorporates textual information from medical reports into model pretraining and then only transfers the pretrained image encoder into model inference. Due to the issue of data recurrence in medical diagnosis reports, which is common in the medical domain and can cause nonconvergence of the pretraining stage of DRSCL, we improve the loss function calculation of contrastive learning by integrating an operation to merge identical text or image features. In addition, for the fine-tuning and inference stage of DRSCL, we design a hierarchical fine-tuning strategy to better evaluate the pretraining performance and importance of each module. In case study, we build a medical image-text pair dataset of lung diseases for pretraining, with samples collected from hospitals in East China, and then conduct the fine-tuning and inference operation of DRSCL with a publicly available SARS-CoV-2 dataset. The comparative experimental results show that DRSCL helps all involved image encoders obtain better classification accuracy and superior generalization performance in the given COVID-19-related diagnostic application. This finding indicates that DRSCL enhances deep models to learn more deep information with supervision of medical textual information. Furthermore, we adopt the Grad-CAM method to visualize pretrained models, and the results demonstrate that the DRSCL strategy is advantageous for improving model interpretability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural reclamation is widely regarded as a primary cause of marshes degradation. However, the process of marshes degradation on different geomorphology has rarely explored, which fail to explain the marshes degradation driven by natural restrictions in detail. The information deficiency unable propounded the targeted suggestions for the sustainable management of marshes. According to the development of China, we quantified the degradation rate of marshes on different geomorphic types from 1954 to 2020 in a typical transect in the Sanjiang Plain. The results indicated that (1) A total of 1633.92 km2 of marshes reduced from 1954 to 2020. And 97% (1582.35 km2) of marshes were converted to crop cultivation. The process of marshes degradation had obvious historical stages characteristics. The marshes degradation rate showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The most serious period was 1995–2005 (6.29%) which was approximately 35 times of the period of before the reform and opening up (1954–1976) a minimal shrunk period. (2) The background of geological tectonic decided the whole trends in marshes degradation process. The degradation occurred first and worst in the meco-scale recent slow ascent region, and then extended to substantially recent slow subsidence region and the small-amplitude recent slow ascent region. (3) Significant location characteristics of marshes degradation reflected in this research. The spatial location of marshes degradation on the sub-regions sequentially consisted of alluvial plain, lower terrace, high floodplain, micro-knoll, low floodplain, and depressions. (4) Most of the existing marshes of the sub-Sanjiang Plain distribution in the national reserves. This study provides important scientific information for restoration and conservation of marshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, more than 10,000 Tailings storage facilities (TSF) have been created on the ground surface through mineral mining processes, these TSF occupy a large amount of land. The strength of the tailings is too low to be able to stand on its own without strengthening. In order to save land resources and alleviate the damage to the environment caused by mineral mining, it is necessary to reinforce the TSF so that they can store more tailings. China is one of the countries with the largest area of permafrost and seasonal frozen regions, accounting for about 75% of the country's total land area. The problem can be exacerbated in these regions where the freeze–thaw effect can further degrade the strength of tailings. A review of the literature suggests that there is little research on the mechanical and microstructural properties of tailings reinforced with cement-based materials under freeze–thaw conditions, especially when the tailings are to be discharged to land for sustainable development. This study investigates the effect of freeze–thaw cycles on the mechanical properties and microstructural changes of tailings reinforced with cement-based materials to mitigate environmental hazards. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests, scanning electron microscopic images, X-Ray Diffraction tests, thermogravimetry tests and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests were conducted on samples of tailings. The results from this study show that freeze–thaw cycles reduce the UCS of all the tested samples eventually, but the frozen temperature does not significantly affect the UCS. The larger number of freeze–thaw cycles, the more damage is to the surface morphology and the matrix of the tailings. The results presented in the paper can help engineers and managers to effectively transport the TSF to other locations to minimize environmental hazards to achieve sustainable production of mineral mining processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is a traditional edible medicinal herb with a wide range of uses and long cultivation history. Fresh ginger (Zingiberis Recens Rhizoma; Sheng Jiang in Chinese, SJ) and dried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma; Gan Jiang in Chinese, GJ) are designated as two famous traditional Chinese herbal medicines, which are different in plant cultivation, appearances and functions, together with traditional applications. Previous researches mainly focused on the differences in chemical composition between them, but there was no systematical comparison on the similarity concerning research achievements of the two herbs. Meanwhile, ginger has traditionally been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, but so far, the possible interaction with human gut microbiota has hardly been considered. This review comprehensively presents similarities and differences between SJ and GJ retrospectively, particularly proposing them the significant differences in botany, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology, which can be used as evidence for clinical application of SJ and GJ. Furthermore, the pharmacology of gut microbiota-related gastrointestinal benefits has also been discussed in order to explore better ways to prevent and treat gastrointestinal disorders, which can be used as a reference for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insect data of 93 national nature reserves in China was used to identify the underlying drivers' potential for species richness along geographical gradients. We assessed the correlations between predictors (climate and soil) and response variables (insect richness). We found that the following: insect diversity decreased significantly at higher latitudes. The latitudinal variation in insect richness seems to be driven by climate and soil variations and also the diversity of other biota. Among all the tested predictors, plant diversity explained the most latitudinal patterns of insect richness (R2 = 0.498). Insect richness showed a positive correlation with the diversity of other biota and climate factors (mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation) and was negatively associated with soil pH. Overall, the interspecific relationship between organisms was the main driver of insect diversity's latitudinal pattern. However, the effects of climate and soil factors cannot be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the context of global climate change, studies have focused on the ambient temperature and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, little is known about the effect of ambient temperature on year of life lost (YLL), especially the life loss per death caused by ambient temperature. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between ambient temperature and life loss and estimate the impact of ambient temperature on life loss per death. Methods: We collected daily time series of mortality and meteorological data from 70 locations in Hunan province, central China, in periods ranging from Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2017. Crude rates of YLL were calculated per 100,000 people per year (YLL/100,000 population) for each location. A distributed lag nonlinear model and multivariate meta-regression were used to estimate the associations between ambient temperature and YLL rates. Then, the average life loss per death attributable to ambient temperature was calculated. Results: There were 711,484 CVD deaths recorded within the study period. The exposure-response curve between ambient temperature and YLL rates was inverted J or U-shaped. Relative to the minimum YLL rate temperature, the life loss risk of extreme cold temperature lasted for 10 to 12 days, whereas the risk of extreme hot temperature appeared immediately and lasted for 3 days. On average, the life loss per death attributable to non-optimum ambient temperatures was 1.89 (95% CI, 1.21-2.56) years. Life loss was mainly caused by cold temperature (1.13, 95% CI, 0.89‑1.37), particularly moderate cold (1.00, 95% CI, 0.78‑1.23). For demographic characteristics, the mean life loss per death was relatively higher for males (2.07, 95% CI, 1.44‑2.68) and younger populations (3.72, 95% CI, 2.06‑5.46) than for females (1.88, 95% CI, 1.21-2.57) and elderly people (1.69, 95% CI, 1.28-2.10), respectively. Conclusions: We found that both cold and hot temperatures significantly aggravated premature death from CVDs. Our results indicated that the whole range of effects of ambient temperature on CVDs should be given attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fragmentation is an integral part of global change. Understanding forest fragmentation patterns and dynamics are of great significance for maintaining ecosystem stability. There are great differences in the interference of natural and human factors on forests in different towns of mountainous cities, and the characteristics of forest fragmentation are also obviously different. Forest fragmentation has been broadly studied, yet, it remains poorly understood at the township-scale within mountainous cities. In this study, the spatial form of forest landscape and forest fragmentation modes of towns were examined in Qujing City, Yunnan Province, China for the years of 2006 and 2016, relying heavily on the morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and K-means clustering algorithm. Results in 2016 showed that the forest landscape morphology of Qujing could be divided into seven classes: core, perforation, islet, bridge, edge, branch and ring; with landscape areas of 41.94%, 1.22%, 7.04%, 11.12%, 23.26%, 11.74% and 3.68%, respectively, while landscape areas of these types are 1.71%, −0.02%, 0.30%, −1.65%, −0.20%, −0.19% and 0.05%, respectively, in 2006. The townships in Qujing varied significantly in their landscape fragmentation patterns, and these patterns were spatially dependent. Different forest landscape forms have positive spatial correlations and differences. The forest fragmentation modes of towns can be divided into four types: Low anthropogenic towns, high anthropogenic towns, complex terrain towns and gentle terrain towns. Different ways of human activities play a decisive role in forest landscape fragmentation. The expansion of construction land and agricultural land intensifies forest fragmentation; however, man-made orderly and planned ecological restoration will greatly improve the forest coverage and improve the spatial form of urban forest landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle, as an important tool for agricultural production in ancient China, have a complex history of domestication and distribution in China. Although it is generally accepted that ancient Chinese taurine cattle originated from the Near East, the explanation regarding their spread through China and whether or not this spread was associated with native aurochs during ancient times are still unclear. In this study, we obtained three nearly complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from bovine remains dating back ca. 4,000 years at the Taosi and Guchengzhai sites in North China. For the first time at the mitogenome level, phylogenetic analyses confirmed the approximately 4,000-year-old bovines from North China as taurine cattle. All ancient cattle from both sites belonged to the T3 haplogroup, suggesting their origin from the Near East. The high affinity between ancient samples and southern Chinese taurine cattle indicated that ancient Chinese cattle had a genetic contribution to the taurine cattle of South China. A rapid decrease in the female effective population size ca. 4.65 thousand years ago (kya) and a steep increase ca. 1.99 kya occurred in Chinese taurine cattle. Overall, these results provide increasing evidence of the origin of cattle in the middle Yellow River region of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of industrial and agricultural production, the cadmium (Cd) pollution in farmland soil is increasing which threatens the quality and safety of agricultural products in China. The purpose of this research is to explore the potential of chelated iron amendments for reducing the bioavailability of Cd to maize plants. The experiment of maize cultivation was carried out in pots. Maize was cultivated in brown soil collected from a northeast region in China and then artificially contaminated with Cd with an average concentration of 10 mg/kg. The potential of ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid ferric-sodium (EDTANa2Fe) and ethylenediamine-N, N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) ferric-sodium (EDDHAFe) as amendments for Cd immobilization in soils were tested. Effects of different concentrations (0.013, 0.026, 0.053, and 0.08 g/kg) of EDTANa2Fe and EDDHAFe (calculated by iron) on the growth of maize and the Cd and Fe uptake in maize were evaluated. Principle component analysis (PCA) was performed to further analyze the overall effects of iron amendments on Cd accumulation in plants. The results showed that EDTANa2Fe and EDDHAFe at dose of 53 mg/kg reduced available Cd in soil to the value of 5.19 and 4.59 mg/kg, respectively. EDTANa2Fe of 80 mg/kg and EDDHAFe of 26, 53, and 80 mg/kg increased Fe concentration in grains by 34.86%, 36.88%, 41.46%, and 44.05%, respectively, while reduced the Cd content in grains by 39.82%, 42.67%, 48.41%, and 35.08%, respectively. Fe concentration in grains showed a significant negative correlation with the concentration of Cd (P < 0.05). EDTANa2Fe of 53 mg/kg treatment increased the maize yield by 30.45% which was higher than in all other treatments. EDDHAFe treatments of 26 and 53 mg/kg increased the total root length by 39.72% and 48.68%, respectively, and increased the total root surface area by 19.95% and 22.98%, respectively. In general, the application of EDTANa2Fe and EDDHAFe at dose of 53 mg/kg can effectively immobilize Cd in soil and reduce Cd accumulation in maize and improve Fe uptake in grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Astragalus -containing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used as adjunctive treatment to platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) in China. However, evidence regarding its efficacy remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Astragalus -containing TCM combined with PBC in AGC treatment. Methods: We searched for literature (up to July 19, 2020) in eight electronic databases. The included studies were reviewed by two researchers. The main outcomes were the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), survival rate, quality of life (QOL), adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and peripheral blood lymphocyte levels. The effect estimate of interest was the risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to detect the robustness of the primary outcome and to calculate the required information size (RIS). Certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE profiler. Results: Results based on available literature showed that, compared with patients treated with PBC alone, those treated with Astragalus -containing TCM had a better ORR (RR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.15–1.34, P < 0.00001), DCR (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06–1.14, P < 0.00001), 1-year survival rate (RR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.09–1.82, P = 0.009), 2-year survival rate (RR: 3.13, 95% CI: 1.80–5.46, P < 0.0001), and QOL (RR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.70–2.43, P < 0.00001 and MD: 12.39, 95% CI: 5.48–19.30, P = 0.0004); higher proportions of CD3+ T cells and CD3+ CD4+ T cells; higher ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells; nature killer cells; and lower incidence of ADRs. Subgroup analysis showed that both oral and injection administration of Astragalus -containing TCM increased tumor response. Whether treatment duration was ≥8 weeks or <8 weeks, Astragalus -containing TCM could increase tumor response in AGC patients. Furthermore, Astragalus -containing TCM combined with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy could increase the ORR and DCR; when with cisplatin, it could only increase the ORR. Conclusion: Current low to moderate evidence revealed that Astragalus -containing TCM combined with PBC had better efficacy and less side effects in the treatment of AGC; however, more high-quality randomized studies are warranted. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42020203486. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Owing to the government's effective epidemic control measures, universities in some areas of China gradually resumed offline teaching six months after the COVID-19 outbreak. Although attention should now be paid to the experiences of students after they returned to campus, few studies have explored the factors and mechanisms that have influenced these students' school adaptation. The present study investigated the multiple roles of social support and resilience in mediating associations the relationship between Chinese university students' interpersonal relationships and their school adaptation during COVID-19 control period.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 4534 Chinese university students (Mage = 19.70, SD = 1.14) at two universities in Jiangxi provinces. The independent variable was interpersonal relationships; mediating variables were social support and resilience; and the dependent variable was school adaptation. Multiple mediation analysis was performed using the MPlus software.Results: Controlling for demographic variables, the quality of students' interpersonal relationships was significantly and positively related to their school adaptation, with students' ratings of social support and resilience mediating these associations. More interestingly, social support and resilience played multiple mediating roles in the relationship between interpersonal relationships and school adaptation.Limitations: The age stage of the sample and the methods in which the data were collected may affect the generalizability of the results.Conclusions: During COVID-19 control period, interpersonal relationships can influence school adaptation either directly or indirectly by enhancing social support or resilience (parallel mediation) or by activating resilience via the experience of social support (serial mediation). This study's results emphasize the role of interpersonal relationships, as well as the contributions of positive external and internal factors on students' school adaptation during the epidemic control period. Accordingly, these findings may have implications for the mental health education of college students in the post-epidemic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leigh syndrome, the most common mitochondrial syndrome in pediatrics, has diverse clinical manifestations and is genetically heterogeneous. Pathogenic mutations in more than 75 genes of two genomes (mitochondrial and nuclear) have been identified. PDHA1 encoding the E1 alpha subunit is an X‐chromosome gene whose mutations cause pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency. Methods: Here, we have described a 12‐year‐old boy with lethal neuropathy who almost died of a sudden loss of breathing and successive cardiac arrest. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation rescued his life. His diagnosis was corrected from Guillain–Barré syndrome to Leigh syndrome 1 month later by clinical exome sequencing. Furthermore, we used software to predict the protein structure caused by frameshift mutations. We treated the boy with vitamin B1, coenzyme Q10, and a ketogenic diet. Results: A PDHA1 mutation (NM_000284.4:c.1167_1170del) was identified as the underlying cause. The amino acid mutation was p.Ser390LysfsTer33. Moreover, the protein structure prediction results suggested that the protein structure has changed. The parents of the child were negative, so the mutation was de novo. The comprehensive assessment of the mutation was pathogenic. His condition gradually improved after receiving treatment. Conclusion: This case suggests that gene detection should be popularized to improve diagnosis accuracy, especially in developing countries such as China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, Chinaʼs retail industry has been completely opened to the outside world, and it is exactly the same. The retail industry has become one of Chinaʼs most market-oriented and competitive industries. At the same time, the changes in consumer demand are becoming more and more diversified. In order to meet the diversified and personalized needs of consumers, retail companies must continue to increase investment in services, management, marketing, and branding. This paper combines virtual technology and 5G mobile communication technology to design and realize a set of 3D virtual fitting system. According to peopleʼs fitting needs, the research is carried out from two aspects: clothing style and body type matching degree and clothing fabric drape. In the comparison of body shape test results with conventional body shape judgment experience, the correct rate of the virtual fitting systemʼs body shape judgment was 86%, and the error rate was 14%. In the comparison of online shopping data of consumers on different communication networks, it was found that the speed of different networks is different. The shopping experience has a relatively large impact. As a newly developed network mobile communication technology, 5Gʼs ultra-high speed advantage has a great impact on the consumer experience; in the analysis and comparison of the traditional operation mode and the combination of online and offline operation modes, it is concluded that the traditional marketing model is far from meeting peopleʼs current life needs, and new retail is catering to the consumer needs of people in the new era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a major health concern in China. We aim to summarize interventions related to the screening and detection of DR-TB in Jiangsu Province, analyse their impact, and highlight policy implications for improving the prevention and control of DR-TB. Methods: We selected six prefectures from south, central and north Jiangsu Province. We reviewed policy documents between 2008 and 2019, and extracted routine TB patient registration data from the TB Information Management System (TBIMS) between 2013 and 2019. We used the High-quality Health System Framework to structure the analysis. We performed statistical analysis and logistic regression to assess the impact of different policy interventions on DR-TB detection. Results: Three prefectures in Jiangsu introduced DR-TB related interventions between 2008 and 2010 in partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Gates Foundation). By 2017, all prefectures in Jiangsu had implemented provincial level DR-TB policies, such as use of rapid molecular tests (RMT), and expanded drug susceptibility testing (DST) for populations at risk of DR-TB. The percentage of pulmonary TB cases confirmed by bacteriology increased from 30.0% in 2013 to over 50.0% in all prefectures by 2019, indicating that the implementation of new diagnostics has provided more sensitive testing results than the traditional smear microscopy. At the same time, the proportion of bacteriologically confirmed cases tested for drug resistance has increased substantially, indicating that the intervention of expanding the coverage of DST has reached more of the population at risk of DR-TB. Prefectures that implemented interventions with support from the Global Fund and the Gates Foundation had better detection performance of DR-TB patiens compared to those did not receive external support. However, the disparities in DR-TB detection across prefectures significantly narrowed after the implementation of provincial DR-TB polices. Conclusions: The introduction of new diagnostics, including RMT, have improved the detection of DR-TB. Prefectures that received support from the Global Fund and the Gates Foundation had better detection of DR-TB. Additionally, the implementation of provincial DR-TB polices led to improvements in the detection of DR-TB across all prefectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance management has a long tradition in China, but questions remain as to its effectiveness. This article presents the results of a comparative time-series analysis that assessed the impact of performance management reform in the province of Guangdong, China, on two outcomes of interest—improved citizen satisfaction with government performance and improved government financial performance. The study used data survey data on citizen satisfaction from the Government Performance Evaluation Center in China and financial data from the statistical yearbook and the fiscal yearbook from 2010 to 2014. This coincides with two periods of development of performance management in China: (1) before 2012, when efforts focused on economic development followed by an emphasis on citizen-oriented and sustainable government services; and (2) between 2012 and 2014, when pilot programs of performance management systems were implemented. A difference-in-differences test comparing the outcome variables before and after the pilot project in Guangdong suggests that overall performance management reform had a positive impact on citizen satisfaction but it had mixed results on financial performance in the county-level jurisdictions that implemented the pilot program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cd immobilization can be affected by many factors, among which the soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and amendment types are the most critical factors that have been considered in many previous studies. The objective of this study was to find the amendments with best performance for Cd remediation in soils with different range of soil pH and SOM. Materials and methods: The effects of soil pH, SOM, and amendment types on soil Cd fractions and Cd uptake by rice were investigated by meta-analysis performed on MetaWin software, based on relevant data of 513 observations from 51 published papers that studied the soil fields in China from 2000 to 2020. Results and discussion: Cd immobilization was more responsive to amendments when soil pH ≤ 6.0 as compared with those with pH higher than 6.0, which is probably because most amendments increased the soil pH and thus decreased the Cd activity. The Cd immobilization was most effective with the presence of 20–30 g/kg SOM; excessive SOM activated Cd in soil. Synthetic material appeared to be the most effective amendment on immobilization of the exchangeable fraction of Cd in soil by 42.5% inhibition rate. Biochar showed the strongest inhibition effect on the Cd uptake by rice (65.2% inhibition rate), while organic material exhibited the lowest immobilization effect. Conclusions: We demonstrated that amendments showed best performance under conditions of soil pH ≤ 6.0 and SOM of 20–30 g/kg, and biochar is an effective amendment to remediate Cd-contaminated soils. The findings enable us to remediate Cd contamination on farmland more effectively and efficiently according to the local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chemotherapy is the standard treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), but chemotherapy resistance and adverse reactions remain major problems. Although Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is wildly applied for patients with SCLC in China, the evidence of TCM in the treatment for SCLC is limited. Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TCM combined with chemotherapy for patients with SCLC. Method: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the VIP Information Database, and the Wanfang Database for randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) that are relevant. The included studies were reviewed by two investigators, with relevant data extracted independently. The effect estimate of interest was the relative risk (RR) or mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: 22 RCTs involving 1887 patients were included in this study. Compared with patients treated with chemotherapy© alone, those with Chinese herbal medicine and chemotherapy (TCM-C) had better therapeutic effects (RR = 1.295, 95% CI 1.205–1.391, P < 0.001), KPS scores (RR = 1.310, 95% CI 1.210–1.418, P < 0.001), 1-year survival rate (RR = 1.282, 95% CI 1.129–1.456, P < 0.001), 3-year survival rate (RR = 2.109, 95% CI 1.514–2.939, P < 0.001), and 5-year survival rate (RR = 2.373, 95% CI 1.227–4.587, P = 0.01). The incidence of gastrointestinal reaction (RR of = 0.786, 95% CI 0.709–0.870, P < 0.000) and bone marrow depression (RR = 0.837, 95% CI 0.726–0.965, P = 0.014) in TCM-C group were lower than that in the C group. Conclusion: The systematic review indicated that TCM combined with chemotherapy may improve therapeutic effect, quality of life, and prolong survival time. More large-scale and higher quality RCTs are warranted to support our findings. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42016038016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A putative novel positive-sense (+) RNA virus was detected in isolate CF16158 of the fungus Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight and crown rot in wheat in China. The full genome of this virus was sequenced and characterized. The complete cDNA sequence is 7,051 nt long and contains four open reading frames (ORFs). ORF2 is predicted to encode helicase (Hel) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domains that are conserved among the alphavirus-like viruses. Pairwise comparisons and phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of Hel and RdRp indicated that this (+) RNA mycovirus is a novel member of a new, yet to be established family of alphavirus-like viruses. Therefore, we named this virus "Fusarium graminearum alphavirus-like virus 1" (FgALV1). This is the first report of a full-length genomic sequence of a putative alphavirus-like virus in F. graminearum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Mobile health service (MHS) can provide users with convenient health services and information to reduce their medical costs from aging or other health issues. Previous studies confirm the underdevelopment of the Chinese MHS. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors that affect the intention to use MHS. Design/methodology/approach: This paper develops a research model that integrates personal health differences with theory of planned behavior (TPB) and protection motivation theory (PMT). This model is empirically tested using data from 494 valid questionnaires. Structural equation modeling is used to test the hypotheses. Findings: Perceived vulnerability to disease, perceived severity of disease, response efficacy and self-efficacy positively affect attitude, thereby exerting a positive influence on the behavioral intention to use MHS. Subjective norms also influence users' behavioral intention. Personal health status and personal health value have quasi-moderating effects on the relationship between attitude and behavioral intention. Originality/value: This paper presents an early attempt to conceptualize and validate a research model of MHS acceptance by integrating TPB and PMT in a complementary manner. The integrated model provides a holistic view of people's intention to use MHS by considering health threat beliefs, individual role (i.e. attitude and self-efficacy) and social influences (i.e. subjective norms). Furthermore, this research highlights the role of two individual health characteristics (i.e. personal health status and personal health value) in MHS adoption. These new findings are beneficial toward an in-depth understanding of technology adoption in the MHS context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Donation after cardiac death (DCD) and living-donor (LD) kidney transplantation are the main kidney transplantation types in China. But the outcome of DCD kidney transplantation compared with LD kidney transplantation remains unclear. In this study, 325 DCD and 409 LD kidney transplantations were included. We retrospectively compared 3-year graft survival, death-censored graft survival, recipient survival, and graft function. All kidneys of the DCD group were procured from voluntary donation after the citizens' death by the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) in the presence of the Red Cross, and the transplantation application was approved by the Organ Transplant Ethics Committee. The graft function at year 3 in the DCD group was superior to that of the LD group (eGFR: 71.14±22.28 vs 64.29±16.76 mL/min/1.73 m2; P <.001). After matching donor age, there was no significant difference between the paired DCD and LD group (eGFR: 62.22±18.50 vs 66.99±17.81 mL/min/1.73 m2; P =.068). The 3-year graft survival (94.7% vs 97.4%; P =.041) and recipient survival (97.2% vs 99.5%; P =.011) were a little worse in the total DCD group. However, once the DCD kidney transplantation recipients survived more than 2 months, graft and recipient survival rates were similar between the DCD and LD groups (97.7% vs 97.4%, P =.866 and 99.5% vs 99.0%, P =.466). These results were confirmed in an age-paired groups study. Severe infection was the main cause of graft loss and recipient death in the early stage of DCD transplantation. Medium- and long-term graft function of DCD kidney transplantation were comparable to LD kidney transplantation. Our results supported the continued use of DCD kidneys. • Midterm graft function of donation after cardiac death (DCD) kidney recipients was comparable to (living donor) LD kidney recipients. Midterm overall graft and recipient survival of the DCD group was worse than the LD group. • After the first 2 months post-transplantation, the DCD group had a similar survival rate as the LD group. • Infection was the main cause of recipient and graft loss in the early stage in the DCD group. • DCD kidney transplantation is a safe and effective for end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]