Search

As an important migratory bird habitat along the East Asian-Australasian route, the coastal wetlands along the Yellow Sea have experienced significant human losses and threats due to the impact of wind farms. In this study, the radar data was adopted to examine and analyse the spatial and temporal changes of the human-made characteristic areas that caused the change of the migration route of birds in the Yellow Sea from 2015 to 2022. The results show that the areas of impact zones in the study area on water of the Yellow Sea, during the last 8 years, increased 14 times, from 35.7 km2 to 506.3 km2. The areas of impact zones in the study area on land, during the last 8 years, increased almost two times, from 303.4 km2 to 544.2 km2, which also has a serious impact on the number of migratory birds. Therefore, China should carefully evaluate the impact and potential threat of domestic wind farms under operation and construction on birds and other wildlife, and provide scientific solutions for the site selection of new wind farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underlying mechanisms between family income and mental health of children merit further investigation. Based on the family stress model and the psychological factors model, we proposed that familial factors (parental depression and parenting) and the individual factor (child self-esteem) would mediate the relationship between family income and child depression concurrently. Data were obtained from a nationally representative longitudinal survey (i.e., the China Family Panel Studies), involving 1,283 families (2,732 parents and 1,384 children). The age of the children ranged from 4 to 15 years (Mage = 8.04, SD = 1.87) at baseline. Path analysis showed that the effect of family income (in 2010, T1) on child depression (in 2014, T3) was mediated by parental depression (in 2012, T2), parental bonding (in 2012 or 2014, T2 or T3), and child self-esteem (in 2012 or 2014, T2 or T3), in a parallel rather than sequential manner. The findings indicate that health policies and psychosocial interventions that simultaneously improve parental depression, parenting techniques, and child self-esteem would be an effective approach to alleviate the impact of family income on child depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients' attitudes toward medication have been shown to be a predictor of nonadherence to antipsychotic treatment. However, most previous studies that explored this relationship used a cross-sectional design. It is important to explore the association of attitudes toward drugs with discontinuation at different time points during antipsychotic treatment. In this study, we investigated the association of attitudes toward drugs (measured by the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10)) with adherence at seven time points (baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 26 weeks, 39 weeks, and 52 weeks) during 1 year of treatment. Factors that were potentially associated with attitudes toward drugs at the time point of interest were also studied. Methods: Demographic characteristics, psychopathology, social functioning, and attitudes toward drugs (measured by the DAI-10) were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 26 weeks, 39 weeks and 52 weeks. The association of attitudes toward drugs (measured by DAI-10) with adherence at the seven time points was calculated using the Mann‒Whitney U test. The optimal cutoff point for the DAI-10 was then determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Cox regression analysis was conducted to further investigate the association of DAI-10 scores with discontinuation, controlling for potential confounding variables. We used multiple regression analysis to identify the factors associated with DAI-10 scores. Results: Among the six time points, only baseline DAI-10 total scores were significantly different between the completed and discontinued groups (p = 0.004). Female sex and a baseline DAI-10 total score greater than − 1 were found to be independent protective factors against discontinuation of antipsychotic drug treatments during the 1-year follow-up. At baseline, the severity of the disease (CGI-s) and insight regarding the disease were shown to be associated with DAI-10 total scores. Conclusion: Attitudes toward antipsychotic drugs at baseline were shown to play a crucial role in predicting treatment discontinuation. Trial registration: The data were collected from a clinical trial and the clinical trials.gov ID of the study is NCT01057849. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alnus cremastogyne is a rapidly growing broad-leaved tree species that is widely distributed in southwest China. It has a significant economic and ecological value. However, with the expansion of the planting area, the influence of phenotypic variation and differentiation on Alnus cremastogyne has increased, resulting in a continuous decline in its genetic quality. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the phenotypic variation of Alnus cremastogyne and select excellent breeding materials for genetic improvement. Herein, four growth-related phenotypic traits (diameter at breast height, the height of trees, volume, height under the branches) and twelve reproductive-related phenotypic traits (fresh weight of single cone, dry weight of single cone, seed weight per plant, thousand kernel weight, cone length, cone width, cone length × cone width, fruit shape index, seed rate, germination rate, germination potential, germination index) of 40 clones from four provenances were measured and analyzed. The phenotypic variation was comprehensively evaluated by correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis, and excellent clones were selected as breeding materials. The results revealed that there were abundant phenotypic traits variations among and within provenances. Most of the phenotypic traits were highly significant differences (p < 0.01) among provenances. The phenotypic variation among provenances (26.36%) was greater than that of within provenances clones (24.80%). The average phenotypic differentiation coefficient was accounted for 52.61% among provenances, indicating that the phenotypic variation mainly came from among provenances. The coefficient of variation ranged from 9.41% (fruit shape index) to 97.19% (seed weight per plant), and the repeatability ranged from 0.36 (volume) to 0.77 (cone width). Correlation analysis revealed a significantly positive correlation among most phenotypic traits. In principal component analysis, the cumulative contribution rate of the first three principal components was 79.18%, representing the main information on the measured phenotypic traits. The cluster analysis revealed four groups for the 40 clones. Group I and group II exhibited better performance phenotypic traits as compared with group III and group IV. In addition, the four groups are not clearly clustered following the distance from the provenance. Employing the multi-trait comprehensive evaluation method, 12 excellent clones were selected, and the average genetic gain for each phenotypic trait ranged from 4.78% (diameter at breast height) to 32.05% (dry weight of single cone). These selected excellent clones can serve as candidate materials for the improvement and transformation of Alnus cremastogyne seed orchards. In addition, this study can also provide a theoretical foundation for the genetic improvement, breeding, and clone selection of Alnus cremastogyne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts have emerged as a global problem in contemporary societies. China suffers from different degrees of drought almost every year, with increasing drought severity each year. Droughts in China are seasonal and can severely impact crops. This study used spatiotemporal trend and characteristics analysis of drought disaster data from 1991 to 2018 in Chinese provinces, in addition to the Mann–Kendall test and wavelet analysis. The drought disaster data included the crop damage area, drought-affected area of the crops, and crop failure area. The outputs of the crops decreased by 10%, 30%, and 80%, respectively. The population with reduced drinking water caused by drought, and the domestic animals with reduced drinking water caused by drought, were numbered in the tens of thousands. The results of the study show that the crop damage areas owing to drought disasters, drought-affected areas of crops, and crop failure areas in China were mainly distributed in the northern, eastern, northeaster, and southwestern regions. The number of people and domestic animals with reduced drinking water owing to drought in China were mainly concentrated in the northern and southwestern regions. These indicators showed a general increasing trend. Tibet, Fujian, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Henan provinces and autonomous regions also showed a slightly increasing trend. In particular, the number of domestic animals with reduced drinking water caused by drought in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region showed a clear increasing trend with a significant Z-value of 2.2629. The results of this research can be used to provide scientific evidence for predicting future trends in drought and for practising the best management of drought prevention and resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutrophication is a serious threat to water quality and human health, and chlorophyll- a (Chla) is a key indicator to represent eutrophication in rivers or lakes. Understanding the spatial-temporal distribution of Chla and its accurate prediction are significant for water system management. In this study, spatial-temporal analysis and correlation analysis were applied to reveal Chla concentration pattern in the Fuchun River, China. Then four exogenous variables (wind speed, water temperature, dissolved oxygen and turbidity) were used for predicting Chla concentrations by six models (3 traditional machine learning models and 3 deep learning models) and compare the performance in a river with different hydrology characteristics. Statistical analysis shown that the Chla concentration in the reservoir river segment was higher than in the natural river segment during August and September, while the dominant algae gradually changed from Cyanophyta to Cryptophyta. Moreover, air temperature, water temperature and dissolved oxygen had high correlations with Chla concentrations among environment factors. The results of the prediction models demonstrate that extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and long short-term memory neural network (LSTM) were the best performance model in the reservoir river segment (NSE = 0.93; RMSE = 4.67) and natural river segment (NSE = 0.94; RMSE = 1.84), respectively. This study provides a reference for further understanding eutrophication and early warning of algal blooms in different type of rivers. [Display omitted] • Chlorophyll-a in the reservoir river segment (RRS) were higher than the natural river segment (NRS) in August and September. • Temperature and DO were higher correlated with Chlorophyll- a , and the relationship was stronger in RRS than in NRS. • The successful application of machine learning algorithms enabled highly accurate predictions for water blooms. • XGBoost and LSTM were the best performance model in RRS and NRS, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the non-linear impact of technological progress on carbon emission intensity under different economic development levels, based on the adjusted STIRPAT model and threshold panel model, this study uses the IPCC inventory method and the DEA-Malmquist method to measure the carbon emissions intensity and technological progress index of 30 provinces in China from 2001 to 2016 to empirically examine the impact of technological progress on carbon emissions intensity. The results reveal that technological progress will increase carbon emissions intensity; technological progress with economic development level as the threshold variable has a single threshold effect on carbon emissions intensity, and the threshold value is 10.5656. Correspondingly, when the per capita GD is lower than 38,777.68 yuan, technological progress will increase the intensity of carbon emissions; when it is higher than 38,777.68 yuan, there will be a reduction effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a measure of autonomy for adolescents in contemporary China. First, data from 44 interviewees—40 secondary school students, 2 parents, and 2 secondary school teachers—were used to explore the connotation and theoretical structure of autonomy in adolescents in China. Next, a preliminary Adolescent Autonomy Questionnaire was created from the interview data and administered to 775 secondary school students. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to verify the factor structure. Finally, 614 secondary school students completed the Adolescent Autonomy Questionnaire, Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II, and Adolescence Ego Identity Crisis Scale to evaluate criterion validity. The final version of the Adolescent Autonomy Questionnaire included 16 items and four subscales: autonomous decision-making, autonomous regulation, autonomous protection, and autonomous problem-solving. The total variance of the cumulative interpretation questionnaire was 62.54%. The CFA results showed that the four-factor model fits the data well: χ 2/df = 2.340, CFI = 0.949, RMSEA = 0.042, SRMR = 0.046. Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Adolescent Autonomy Questionnaire provided support for the reliability and validity of the measure. Thus, it serves as an effective measurement tool for assessing the autonomy of adolescents in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method for quickly identifying individual buildings' function at large scale. • Verifying the effectiveness of built environment by migration experiments. • Successfully identifying the functions of 39 million buildings in China. As crucial geographical components shaping urban landscapes, defining the functions of buildings plays one of the pivotal roles in planning urban development and facilitating socio-economic human activities. Existing studies in large-scale mapping mainly ignore the environment around buildings, leading to insufficient meeting the demands of large-scale building-level mapping in certain disciplines. To abridge this gap, this article calculates the geometric characteristics of building footprint, the distances from buildings to adjacent objects, and the kernel densities of Point-of-Interest (POIs) to identify building main functions in three Chinese urban agglomerations (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration, Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, and Pearl River Delta Urban Agglomeration). Leveraging XGBoost, our models attained accuracies of 0.936, 0.934, and 0.940 in the three urban agglomerations, accompanied by kappa coefficients of 0.883, 0.868, and 0.891 respectively, suggesting their capability of identifying building functions in large-scale mapping. Furthermore, the conducted experiments on varying feature combinations and transferability highlight the significance of the built environment in enhancing classification accuracy. Additionally, the analysis of the classification results of buildings in the three urban agglomerations shows harmonized development strategies for Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration and Pearl River Delta Urban Agglomeration, while cities within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration do not show the same development strategies. All results demonstrate the feasibility of employing multi-source accessible data to efficiently categorize building functions over large areas in a cost-effective manner. This methodology can be replicated in China and even on a larger scale to offer insights into complex urban spaces and to help urban planners provide policy support such as old city renovations and new city planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective: Polarized dermoscopy, Wood's lamp, and reflectance confocal microscopy were currently commonly used auxiliary technology in vitiligo clinic diagnosis. To improve the efficiency and accuracy of different periods of lesions of vitiligo, we used a novel ultraviolet (UV)‐dermoscopy (Model CH‐UVDS30, Ultraviolet wavelength range of 360<390nm, Chuanghong Science and Technology Company, China) in clinical observation. Materials and Methods: Three cases of different periods of vitiligo patients were included in this study. Polarised dermoscopy and novel UV‐dermoscopy (UV wavelength range of 360 nm < λ < 390 nm) were performed at 20 × magnification in polarized and UV modes. Characteristic manifestations of different periods of vitiligo lesions were captured and compared. Results: The depigmented and pigmented junctional zone and perifollicular pigmentation areas could be easier and simultaneously identified via UV‐dermoscopy. In a progressive vitiligo patient (woman, 42 years old, face) enhanced perifollicular pigmentation and blurred border were clearly observed. In a stable vitiligo patient (man, 27 years old, right foot) sharply demarcated border and perifollicular depigmentation could be found. In a re‐pigmenting vitiligo patient (woman, 41 years old, neck) telangiectasias and pigmentation reservoirs were observed. Conclusion: Novel UV‐dermoscopy, as a miniature and portable device, might help early diagnosis, active/progress judgment, and treatment effect evaluation of vitiligo in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is significantly associated with the invasion and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the importance of EMT-related long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is little known in ESCC. Methods. GSE53624 (N = 119) and GSE53622 (N = 60) datasets retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used as training and external validation cohorts, respectively. GSE53624 and GSE53622 datasets were all sampled from China. Then, the prognostic value of EMT-related lncRNA was comprehensively investigated by weighted coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and COX regression model. Results. High expression of PLA2G4E-AS1, AC063976.1, and LINC01592 significantly correlated with the favorable overall survival (OS) of ESCC patients, and LINC01592 had the greatest contribution to OS. Importantly, ESCC patients were divided into low- and high-risk groups based on the optimal cut-off value of risk score estimated by the multivariate COX regression model of these three lncRNA. Patients with high risk had a shorter OS rate and restricted mean survival time (RMST) than those with low risk. Moreover, univariate and multivariate COX regression revealed that risk stratification, age, and TNM were independent prognostic predictors, which were used to construct a nomogram model for individualized and visualized prognosis prediction of ESCC patients. The calibration curves and time-dependent ROC curves in the training and validation cohorts suggested that the nomogram model had a good performance. Interestingly, clear trends indicated that risk score positively correlated with tumor microenvironment (TME) scores and immune checkpoints TIGIT, CTLA4, and BTLA. In addition, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) showed that PLA2G4E-AS1, AC063976.1, and LINC01592 were primarily associated with TNF signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and ECM-receptor interaction. Conclusion. We developed EMT-related lncRNA PLA2G4E-AS1, AC063976.1, and LINC01592 for prognostic prediction and risk stratification of Chinese ESCC patients, which might provide deep insight for personalized prognosis prediction in Chinese ESCC patients and be potential biomarkers for designing novel therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-AB) infections have become difficult to treat and are associated with a high mortality rate. Tigecycline is one of the most effective agents used to treat XDR-AB infections, but data from treating bloodstream infection (BSI) in standard dose do not look promising, because of its low plasma concentration. Secondary BSI with primary infection source may indicate tigecycline treatment with a higher dose. Currently, little is known about the application of high-dose tigecycline among patients with secondary BSI caused by XDR-AB. We aimed to investigate the outcomes for high-dose (HD) tigecycline treatment versus standard-dose (SD) treatment of these patients. Methods: An observational cohort study was conducted at four university affiliated hospitals in mainland China. Adult inpatients who were confirmed as having secondary BSI caused by XDR-AB and received definitive tigecycline treatment were consecutively included. Patients who were treated with 50 mg every 12 h were defined as the SD group, and a twice dose was defined as the HD group. Results: Of the enrolled patients, 63 received SD and 88 received HD tigecycline treatment. Patients in the two groups had similar with regard to baseline clinical conditions. The 30-day survival was affected by the source of the primary infection. Survival was significantly better in patients with non-pulmonary-infection-related BSI than in patients with pulmonary-infection-related BSI. Multivariate Cox regression confirmed that HD had a protective effect only observed in patients with non-pneumonia-related BSI. Conclusion: A tigecycline dose that is twice its standard dose is better for the treatment of XDR-AB infection only in BSI associated with non-pulmonary infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicidal ideation (SI) has a high risk in adolescents and is now a significant concern due to its problematic outcome. However, few systemic studies of suicidal ideation have been conducted in adolescent patients. Therefore, the current study was aimed to assess the prevalence and its clinical correlate of suicidal ideation among adolescent patients with depression.Methods: A total of 1635 adolescent patients (748 males/ 887 females) with depression were recruited in this study. The clinical and demographic data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Suicidal ideation was assessed by interview. Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List (ASLEC) was used to assess the stressful life events.Results: The study showed that the prevalence of suicidal ideation in adolescent depression patients was 38.2% (625/1635). Compared to the non-SI patients, SI patients had greater scores on CDI and ASLEC, had inadequate sleeping time, and were more likely to be females. Further logistic regression analysis indicated that suicidal ideation in adolescent patients with depression was significantly associated with females, inadequate sleeping time, the severity of depression, and higher learning pressure.Limitations: No causal relationship could be drawn due to the cross-sectional design.Conclusions: Our results suggest a high prevalence of suicidal ideation in adolescents with depression. Moreover, the severity of depression, sex, sleep time, and learning pressure are all related to suicidal ideation. Early recognition and treatment of suicidal ideation can effectively prevent the occurrence of suicide among adolescent patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Determining the mental health status of parents who chronically care for a child with speech impairment is important for developing appropriate interventions to improve both parents' and children's health and achieve a win-win situation. Unfortunately, no study in China has explored this issue. This study investigated the differences in four aspects of mental health between maternal and paternal caregivers for the Mandarin-speaking children with speech impairment and determine whether depressive symptoms mediate the relationships between anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation, hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in February 2020 by sending a link to the predesigned electronic questionnaire in WeChat. Standardized assessment tools were employed. Hierarchical multiple logistic regression was conducted to examine the associations between various factors and suicidal ideation, and two separate structural equation models were performed to evaluate the mediating effects of depressive symptoms in the relationship between anxiety symptoms and suicidal ideation as well as between hopelessness and suicidal ideation. Results: This study included 446 parental caregivers of Mandarin-speaking children with speech impairment. Paternal caregivers had greater score than maternal caregivers on loss of motivation (one of the subdomains of hopelessness). Somatic complications of the child (OR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.09–6.67) and depressive symptoms (OR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.83–6.30) were positively associated with caregivers' suicidal ideation. Having speech therapy of child (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.29–0.98) was negatively correlated with caregivers' suicidal ideation. There was direct effect of depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation. Depressive symptoms play mediating roles on the relationships between anxiety symptoms (β = 0.171, p < 0.001) as well as between hopelessness and suicidal ideation (β = 0.187, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Paternal and maternal caregivers of Mandarin-speaking children with speech impairment suffered from mental health problems. Preventive strategies and interventions to ameliorate parental psychological well-being, and health care policies to increase the accessibility to speech therapy care of children with speech impairment are imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness with significant sex differences. Cognitive impairment is common in patients with schizophrenia, even in remission. This study was designed to examine the sex differences in the relationship between cognitive impairment and clinical correlations with first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) schizophrenia. Methods: 93 FEDN patients (male/female = 45/48) and 160 controls (male/female = 74/86) were enrolled to compare the sex differences in cognitive functions measured by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were used to evaluate patients' clinical symptoms. We compared cognitive impairment with sociodemographic characteristics and measures of different genders, as well as group-by-sex interactions. Results: Our results showed that male patients had significantly lower scores for symbol coding, digital sequence, and verbal learning than female patients, while the healthy controls showed similar sex differences. In female patients, multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that PANSS negative symptoms and general psychopathology scores, HAMD total score, and education level were independent contributors to MCCB total score. In male patients, only education was an independent contributor to MCCB total score. Conclusions: These findings revealed significant sex differences in cognitive impairments and clinical symptoms in FEDN, which will be worthy of a follow-up study of schizophrenia in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China is the second highest pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) burden country worldwide. However, retreatment of PTB has often developed resistance to at least one of the four first-line anti-TB drugs. The cure rate (approximately 50.0–73.3%) and management of retreatment of PTB in China needs to be improved. Qinbudan decoction has been widely used to treat PTB in China since the 1960s. Previously clinical studies have shown that the Qinbudan tablet (QBDT) promoted sputum-culture negative conversion and lesion absorption. However, powerful evidence from a randomized controlled clinical trial is lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of QBDT as an adjunct therapy for retreatment of PTB. Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in China. People diagnosed with PTB were enrolled who received previous anti-TB treatment from April 2011 to March 2013. The treatment group received an anti-TB regimen and QBDT, and the control group was administered an anti-TB regimen plus placebo. Anti-TB treatment options included isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, streptomycin for 2 months (2HRZES), followed by isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol for 6 months (6HRE), daily for 8 months. Primary outcome was sputum-culture conversion using the MGIT 960 liquid medium method. Secondary outcomes included lung lesion absorption and cavity closure. Adverse events and reactions were observed after treatment. A structured questionnaire was used to record demographic information and clinical symptoms of all subjects. Data analysis was performed by SPSS 25.0 software in the full analysis set (FAS) population. Results: One hundred eighty-one cases of retreatment PTB were randomly divided into two groups: the placebo group (88 cases) and the QBDT group (93 cases). A total of 166 patients completed the trial and 15 patients lost to follow-up. The culture conversion rate of the QBDT group and placebo group did not show a noticeable improvement by using the covariate sites to correct the rate differences (79.6% vs 69.3%; rate difference = 0.10, 95% confidence interval (CI): - 0.02–0.23; F = 2.48, P = 0.12) after treatment. A significant 16.6% increase in lesion absorption was observed in the QBDT group when compared with the placebo group (67.7% vs 51.1%; rate difference = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.02–0.31; χ2 = 5.56, P = 0.02). The intervention and placebo group did not differ in terms of cavity closure (25.5% vs 21.1%; rate difference = 0.04, 95% CI: - 0.21–0.12; χ2 = 0.27, P = 0.60). Two patients who received chemotherapy and combined QBDT reported pruritus/nausea and vomiting. Conclusions: No significant improvement in culture conversion was observed for retreatment PTB with traditional Chinese medicine plus standard anti-TB regimen. However, QBDT as an adjunct therapy significantly promoted lesion absorption, thereby reducing lung injury due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Trial registration: This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02313610. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil properties have an important influence on soil fauna in the grassland ecosystem. However, the relationship between the structural characteristics of soil fauna and properties in the grassland ecosystem in freeze–thaw season remains unclear. Hence, the feature of soil arthropods and properties in Songnen Grassland of China were investigated in fall–winter alternating (T1), completely frozen (T2) and winter–spring alternating periods (T3) during freeze–thaw season in three years. Results showed slight differences in the community composition of soil animals with Oribatida, Prostigmata and Mesostigmata as co-dominant groups in all sampling periods. The total number of individuals of soil arthropod at low temperature was low. The pH value, electrical conductivity (EC), and moisture content had the same order of T3 > T2 > T1. The activities of invertase and urease increased with increasing soil temperature, whereas protease activity had no relationship with soil temperature, soil moisture, EC and soil organic matter (SOM), activities of protease and urease were principal factors affecting individual abundance of soil animals. The sequence of their effect degrees was moisture content > EC > SOM > protease activity > urease activity. The changes in the quantitative characteristics of soil animals were related to soil properties. Therefore, soil properties can affect the structural characteristics of soil arthropod in the Songnen Grassland of China in the freeze–thaw season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-rise television towers are prone to external wind and earthquake-induced oscillations in severe environments. To avoid excessive vibration under strong earthquakes, a large television tower requires certain measures to abate its dynamic responses. Friction dampers are simple and low-cost solutions for realizing the response control of television towers. In this study, response mitigation and performance assessment are conducted on a large-scale television tower with friction dampers under strong earthquakes. A 3D finite element static model of the high-rise television tower is first established, and then a 2D lumped mass dynamic model is developed. The mechanical model for the friction dampers is presented with the axial stiffness considered. The equations of motion of the damper–tower system under seismic excitations are then determined. The control force transformation, displacement increment transformation, and numerical integration of the coupled damper–tower system's equations of motion are defined on the basis of the two aforementioned models. Finally, the seismic responses of a high-rise television tower system constructed in China are taken as an example to investigate the validity of the proposed control approach using the friction dampers. The results demonstrate that the implementation of friction dampers with optimal parameters in a large truss tower can substantially suppress the structural seismic responses in terms of peak responses and vibrant energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicidal ideation (SI) is severe comorbidity of depression that has been extensively studied in the past. Residence differences between SI have rarely been systematically studied, especially in parental rearing behavior. This large-scale explored the residence differences in the prevalence and correlation of SI adolescent patients with depression.Methods: A total of 1417 patients with depression were recruited, and their demographic data and clinical data were collected. The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran (EMBU) scale were used to assess depression, and parental rearing behavior, respectively.Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher in urban patients than in rural patients (43.7 % vs.37.7 %, P < 0.05). Patients with SI scored higher on total CDI scores, parental punishment, parental rejection, and paternal overprotection compared to their respective patients without SI. In the urban group, patients with SI had lower parental emotional warmth scores and higher parental intervention scores compared to patients without SI. Logistic regression analysis showed that total CDI score, gender, alcohol consumption, father's emotional warmth, father's rejection, and mother's intervention were significantly associated with SI in urban patients (P < 0.05); total CDI score and mother's rejection were significantly associated with SI in rural patients (P < 0.05).Limitations: No causal relationship could be drawn due to the cross-sectional design.Conclusions: The results of this study showed significant residential differences in risk and associated factors for SI among adolescents with depression. Focusing on the parenting styles of adolescent patients can help with the early identification and intervention of SI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study examines Chinese consumers' preferences for organic and non-GM (genetically modified) attributes of soybeans used in soymilk. An enumerated consumer survey was conducted in three types of grocery outlets in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. We found that respondents were willing to pay a premium for organic and non-GM attributes as well as for information on where soybeans were produced. The organic attribute certified by U.S. agencies was valued more than that certified by Chinese agencies, but the converse was true for the non-GM attribute. Preferences were heterogeneous, particularly toward U.S.-certified organic and soybeans of Chinese origin. [JEL Classifications: Q13, Q17] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wavelet-transform (WT) method has been applied to logs to extract reservoir-fluid information. In addition to the time (depth)/ frequency analysis generally performed by the wavelet method, we also have performed energy spectral analysis for time/frequency-domain signals by the WT method. We have further developed a new method to identify reservoir fluid by setting up a correlation between the energy spectra and reservoir fluid. We have processed 42 models from an oil field in China using this method and have subsequently applied these rules to interpret reservoir layers. It is found that identifications by use of this method are in very good agreement with the results of well tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface temperature (LST) is a crucial parameter in surface urban heat island (SUHI) studies. A better understanding of the driving mechanisms, influencing variations in LST dynamics, is required for the sustainable development of a city. This study used Changchun, a city in northeast China, as an example, to investigate the seasonal effects of different dominant driving factors on the spatial patterns of LST. Twelve Landsat 8 images were used to retrieve monthly LST, to characterize the urban thermal environment, and spectral mixture analysis was employed to estimate the effect of the driving factors, and correlation and linear regression analyses were used to explore their relationships. Results indicate that, (1) the spatial pattern of LST has dramatic monthly and seasonal changes. August has the highest mean LST of 38.11 °C, whereas December has the lowest (−19.12 °C). The ranking of SUHI intensity is as follows: summer (4.89 °C) > winter with snow cover (1.94 °C) > spring (1.16 °C) > autumn (0.89 °C) > winter without snow cover (−1.24 °C). (2) The effects of driving factors also have seasonal variations. The proportion of impervious surface area (ISA) in summer (49.01%) is slightly lower than those in spring (56.64%) and autumn (50.85%). Almost half of the area is covered with snow (43.48%) in winter. (3) The dominant factors are quite different for different seasons. LST possesses a positive relationship with ISA for all seasons and has the highest Pearson coefficient for summer (r = 0.89). For winter, the effect of vegetation on LST is not obvious, and snow becomes the dominant driving factor. Despite its small area proportion, water has the strongest cooling effect from spring to autumn, and has a warming effect in winter. (4) Human activities, such as agricultural burning, harvest, and different choices of crop species, could also affect the spatial patterns of LST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed images have been increasingly applied for medical education. Although many studies have described the benefits of such applications, the best time to introduce 3D technology into surgical training has not been determined. Therefore, we conducted a randomized study to determine a suitable period for the introduction of this technology. Seventy-one surgical residents were randomized into 2 groups (two-dimensional computed tomography (CT) group and 3D image group), and they completed a test on anatomy and imaging as well as a questionnaire. Post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) residents in the 3D group performed significantly better than those in the CT group, although the third-year residents did not present significant differences in either the score or the time spent answering the questions. Although residents in different years of training held different attitudes toward the difficulty of anatomy and imaging learning, they all showed a high level of acceptance of the 3D training. This study revealed that 3D images improved the junior residents' performance in imaging reasoning. Thus, systematically introducing 3D images early in a surgical resident training program may help produce a better anatomy-imaging-surgery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragalus is a common medicinal food that has many benefits for the human body. Some medicinal components in the astragalus would decompose or volatilize at high temperature. Therefore, vacuum drying at a low temperature is a common post-harvest processing for the astragalus. The components and the internal structure of the astragalus change along with the planting range and the harvest year. Therefore, only trained experts with years' experience can adjust the vacuum drying parameters properly based on their aroma perception, which is backward in the industrial age. In this study, astragalus aroma in microwave vacuum drying was online measured with an electronic nose. Volatiles were verified with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Drying temperature was PID controlled to maintain constant values. Microwave power was automatically regulated through a Triac circuit. Vacuum degree was adjusted instantly with a step motor. The physical and chemical quality changes of astragalus in drying process were investigated at various temperature and vacuum conditions. To optimize the drying effects, an Artificial Neural Network-based predictive control was designed to adjust the vacuum degree intelligently. The astragalus from Dingxi City, Gansu Province, China was conducted for experiments. By applying different control strategies, the astragalus quality was greatly improved, including more contents of total polysaccharides，astragaloside, total flavonoid, total saponin as well as the enhancement of beany flavor. • The mechanism of the intrinsic quality change during microwave vacuum drying of Astragalus was investigated. • The Electronic nose signals of the astragalus volatiles during drying process were online recorded and analyzed. • By applying different control strategies in each drying stages, the astragalus quality was greatly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a severe malignancy with high incidence and mortality rate in China, while the application of standard chemotherapeutic drugs for ESCC meets the barriers of high toxicity and multiple drug resistance (MDR). In recent years, the anticancer effects of artesunate (ART), a Chinese medicine monomer have gained extensive attentions due to its characteristics of low toxicity, high potency, and reversal of MDR. In this study, we develop the artesunate-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNART) to overcome the poor water solubility and bioavailability of ART, further improving the efficiency of ART on ESCC treatment. Especially mentioned, SLNART is shown to present marked inhibitory effects on ESCC development based on the induction of ferroptosis by two pathways included upregulating TFR to increase Fe2+ ions and inhibiting the AKT/mTOR signaling to downregulate GPX4. Collectively, this study is the first to pave a promising approach for ESCC therapy based on a strategy of developing SLNART to induce ferroptosis by mediating Fe2+ ions and AKT/mTOR signaling. • Proposed using artesunate as an ferroptosis inducer for the treatment of ESCC for the first time. • Development of solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with artesunate (SLNART). • SLNART overcome the poor water solubility and bioavailability of artesunate and improve the efficiency of ART on ESCC treatment. • SLNART induces ferroptosis against ESCC cells by inhibiting the activation of AKT/mTOR signaling. • The combined use of SLNART and AKT/mTOR inhibitors can further optimize its therapeutic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ctenothrips yangi sp. nov. is described from Southwestern China, where it causes severe damage to the leaves of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Saxifragales: Crassulaceae). This new species exhibits considerable variation in the position of the metanotal setae and campaniform sensilla. A detailed description of the larval stages is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulnerability research is a new paradigm in the context of global environmental change and sustainable development. Taking vulnerability as a system's sensitivity to pressure and lack of adaptive capacity, this paper adopts territorial space as the research object and establishes a framework for assessing the vulnerability of territorial space from the viewpoint of ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban development as three major functional orientations. The framework consists of pressure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity assessment, as well as an index of 28 indicators, thus emphasizing the application of a comprehensive integration method for vulnerability assessment. Xingyang City, Henan Province, China was chosen as the study area, and the results showed that territorial space vulnerability on the basis of ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban development in 2018 was relatively stable, the identified vulnerable space constituting only about 12%, 9%, and 10%, respectively, of the total land in the study area. By analyzing the causes of the different levels of territorial space vulnerability, corresponding strategies for mitigating pressure, reducing sensitivity, and enhancing adaptive capacity were formulated. From the perspective of local governance, these strategies provide innovative analytical and technical methods for assessing the current status quo in spatial planning and for achieving sustainable development goals. Finally, we point out that research on territorial space vulnerability needs to gradually improve the conceptual framework and assessment indicator system, focus on further research on multiple scales and typical regions, and improve the guidance resulting from vulnerability research. • Carry out the research on the vulnerability of territory and space based on three functional orientations. • Deconstruct the territorial and spatial vulnerability from the pressure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. • The territorial and spatial vulnerability on three functional orientations in Xingyang was relatively stable. • Innovative analytical and technical methods for assessing the current status quo in spatial planning were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Through field sampling of atmospheric dustfall in regions of Zhuzhou City, China for a period of one year, the deposition fluxes of atmospheric dustfall and five heavy metals contained inside, including Cr, As, Cd, Hg and Pb, were analyzed. Meanwhile the enrichment factor and index methods were used to analyze the pollution characteristics of heavy metals of atmospheric dustfall in Zhuzhou. The annual deposition flux of atmospheric dustfall in Zhuzhou was 50.79 g/(m2·year), while the annual deposition fluxes of Cr, As, Cd, Hg and Pb were 9.80, 59.69, 140.09, 0.87 and 1074.91 mg/(m2·year), respectively. The pollution level of atmospheric dustfall in Zhuzhou was relatively lower compared with most other cities in China, but the deposition fluxes of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in atmospheric dustfall in Zhuzhou were much higher than that in most cities and regions around the world. Cd is the typical heavy metal element in atmospheric dustfall in Zhuzhou, and both the enrichment factor and pollution index of Cd were the highest. Cd, Hg, Pb and As in atmospheric dustfall were mainly from human activities. According to the single-factor index, Nemerow index and pollution load index analyses, the atmospheric dustfall in Zhuzhou could easily cause severe heavy metal pollution to urban soil, and the most polluting element was Cd, followed by Pb, As and Hg. Only the pollution level of Cr lay in the safety region and mainly originated from natural sources. Graphical abstract Annual deposition flux of atmospheric dustfall and enrichment factors of heavy metals Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The High energy Direct geometry spectrometer (HD) is a direct geometry time-of-flight chopper spectrometer currently under construction, and it will be the first inelastic neutron scattering instrument at the China Spallation Neutron Source. With its high neutron flux and a 160° angular coverage of 3 m long position-sensitive 3He detectors, the spectrometer will mainly be used to probe inelastic signals of novel spin and lattice dynamics in condensed matters and functional materials. The HD spectrometer is equipped with three switchable Fermi slit packages providing monochromation for both thermal and epithermal neutrons from 10 meV to 1500 meV, as well as a high-resolution repetition-rate multiplication (RRM) mode using curved slits. A special feature as a strict single incident energy mode can be provided using the combination of specially designed disk choppers and Fermi choppers. The design of the HD spectrometer is discussed in details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracture-caved carbonate reservoirs (FCCRs) have been developed worldwide and contribute significantly to world's hydrocarbon reserves. Numerous models for FCCRs were proposed in the previous works. However, with more and more exploitations, some kinds of FCCRs are observed from the field geological information but not reported in the existing literature. In this paper, a novel model for FCCRs is proposed and its corresponding pressure transient analysis (PTA) and rate transient analysis (RTA) solutions are presented. This model has a wider applicability than the previous models proposed by our research team. First, the geological model is established based on the geological information. Sequentially, the simplified physical model and the mathematical model are developed. Through Laplace transformation, Duhamel's principle, and Stehfest numerical inversion, the solutions of dimensionless bottom-hole pressure and dimensionless flow rate integral are derived. Then, the RTA type curves of two-cave model are plotted to recognize the flow characteristics, which can be divided into five regimes comprehensively. In addition, two concaves are observed on the derivative curve. The RTA type curves of three-cave model are also presented. A comparison between the RTA type curves of two-cave model and three-cave model shows that when one more cave exists in the formation, one more concave will be added to the derivative curve. Furthermore, the differences between the proposed model and previous models are presented through comparing the PTA type curves. Next, the effects of key parameters on the RTA curve behavior of two-cave model are demonstrated. Results indicate that the RTA curves are controlled by the friction and fluctuation coefficients, mobility, storage ratio, region radius, and cave storage constant. The friction and fluctuation coefficients influence the depth of first concave, while the storage ratio, region radius, and cave storage constant dominate the middle flow period, and the mobility has an impact on the boundary dominated flow regime. Finally, the application of proposed model on a field well from Shunbei Oilfield, western China is presented to calibrate its accuracy and reliability. ∙ A novel model for fracture-caved carbonate reservoirs is established. ∙The rate transient characteristics of this model is conducted. ∙Sensitivity studies of some key parameters on the pressure response are conducted. ∙An application of proposed model on a field well is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronostratigraphic records in the drylands of north China provide essential archives to reveal the dynamic connections between climate changes and behaviours of aeolian systems. This study presents a detailed investigation of aeolian sediment accumulation around the Tengger Desert during the late Quaternary, comprising of grain-size characteristics and sources, sediment types and burial ages, and potential responses to external and localised forces. A combination of previously published chronostratigraphic records and 91 newly dated optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) samples collected from multiple sites covering a wide region of the south margin of the desert are used to constrain the accumulation of aeolian sediments during the late Quaternary. The prevailing strong near-surface winds at 22–19 ka, 18–14 ka, 13–10 ka, and 3–0 ka are found to be in anti-phase relation with the strength of the East Asia summer monsoon (EASM). The widespread attenuation of aeolian activity occurred between 7 and 3 ka. The accumulation of aeolian sediments during the past 250 ka has been controlled by multiple factors, including wind, aridity, sediment availability, and preservation capacity. We demonstrate that the interpretation of chronostratigraphic records is significantly affected by the number of available records, which emphasises the importance of sampling at multiple sites. The synchronous accumulation of aeolian sand and sandy loess at certain periods and the significant overlapping of volume percentage distributions at certain grain-size intervals between the two types of sediments indicate that their responses to external forces may not be independent and that the palaeoclimatic significance of sandy loess accumulated in the desert-loess transition zone requires a reassessment. • Grain-size analysis and sources of aeolian sediments of the Tengger Desert. • Enrichment of radionuclides in sandy loess containing more clay and silt fractions. • Parallel accumulations of aeolian sand and sandy loess. • Multiple factors control the accumulation of aeolian sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several residential areas in Dalian, north of China, were selected to investigate the influence of combined traffic noise pollution on urban residents. The software Cadna/A was used to estimate the day-night equivalent noise level (L dn) at 1m from the windows of each building, which were modified according to the actual data. Annoyance has been identified as the most important psychological impact of noise. A face-to-face survey on annoyance was carried out among 1536 local residents between the ages of 15 and 75 years. In this study, the relationship between the percentage of “highly annoyed” persons (%HA) and L dn was determined. The L dn was measured and identified as railway dominant noise, road traffic dominant noise or road–rail combined traffic noise. We find that when L dn >63.5 dB, the %HA due to the road–rail combined traffic noise was significantly higher than that due to the one dominant noise source with the same L dn. Thus, it is suggested that the planning permission buildings whose L dn of road–rail combined traffic noise exceeds 63.5–dB be reviewed more strictly. The relationships between %HA induced by different traffic noise and the distance to transportation artery (s) were analyzed. The results showed that as the distance to transportation artery increased, the %HA due to different traffic noise gradually decreased. Furthermore, the %HA due to the road traffic dominant noise at close range (1m≤ s ≤50m) was lower than that at a more remote location (51m≤ s ≤100m), which might be ascribed to the greater tolerance of the noise by the residents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Genitourinary candidiasis, which is most frequently caused by Candida albicans, is a common problem worldwide. The pathogenesis of the infection, especially recurrence of the infection, remains to be elucidated. This study analyzed 199 independent Chinese C. albicans isolates using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and microsatellite typing, with the focus on the isolates associated with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) of Chinese women. MLST data of 221 vaginal isolates from other countries available from the consensus MLST database of C. albicans were retrieved for comparison. A total of 124 diploid sequence types (DSTs) were recognized from the Chinese C. albicans isolates, among which, 98 (79.0%) have not been reported in the MLST database of the species. The majority of the VVC (71.6%) and balanitis (92.3%) isolates from China were located in clade 1 of C. albicans; while only 40.6% of the vaginal isolates and 7.8% of the oral isolates from healthy volunteers were found in the same clade. Furthermore, 69.1% of the VVC and 84.5% of the balanitis isolates concentrated in a cluster of clade 1 with DST 79 as the primary founder. The isolates in this cluster possessed microsatellite genotypes CAI 30–45, CAI 32–46 and their close derivatives. Interestingly, a remarkable difference in genotype distribution patterns between Chinese and non-Chinese vaginal isolates of C. albicans was observed. Only 11.3% of the non-Chinese vaginal isolates compared were located in the cluster concentrated with Chinese VVC isolates. The results suggest significant association of specific and genetically similar genotypes with genital infections in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In 2018, Trima Accel software version 6.4 with autoflow management released in China. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of autoflow management on plateletpheresis procedures, specifically concerning flow-rate alerts, collection efficiency (CE), and collection rate (CR). A total of 2526 procedures using Trima Accel version 6.4 from Nov 2018 to Jan 2019 were included as the test arm in this study. Another 2043 procedures using version 5.1.9 from Nov 2017 to Jan 2018 were included as the control arm. We compared the low-flow alerts and no-flow alerts, collection efficiency (CE), and collections rate (CR) between the two study arms. Also, we analyzed the incidence of autoflow increases and autoflow decreases of version 6.4. The incidence of low-flow alerts for test and control was 16.6 % and 55.3 %(χ2 = 754.024, p = 0.000), with the maximum number of low-flow signals of 6 and 51, respectively. The incidence of no-flow alerts for test and control was 7.8 % and 45.0 %(χ2 = 843.695, p = 0.000), with a maximum of 16 and 27, respectively. The CE of version 6.4 was slightly higher than version 5.1.9 (69.7 ± 6.7 % versus 68.6 ± 7.4 %). Similarly, CR was higher for version 6.4 (7.7 ± 2.1versus 7.0 ± 1.8 × 109/min). For software version 6.4, autoflow increases or autoflow decreases triggered in 99.8 % donors. Autoflow management shows significant advantages in reducing alerts and subsequent manual intervention. We observe a higher CR and CE using Trima Accel version 6.4 than version 5.1.9, which leads to a more efficient platelet collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the variations of sap flow rate of spring maize in the typical mollisol area and its main control factors is of great significance to explore water consumption from transpiration and regulate field water management. In this study, we installed the wrapped sap flow sensors and TDR probes to continuously monitor the sap flow rate of spring maize during filling-maturity stage and soil water and heat conditions of topsoil. In combination with meteorological data collecting from a nearby automatic weather station, we analyzed the correlation between the sap flow rate of spring maize and environmental factors at different time scales. The results showed that the sap flow rate of spring maize in typical mollisol area had an obvious fluctuation of high diurnal and low nighttime. The instantaneous sap flow rate peaked at daytime, with a value of 139.9 g·h -1 , but being weak at nighttime. The starting time, closing time, and peak values of spring maize sap flow were significantly inhibited in cloudy and rainy days, compared with that in sunny days. On hourly scale, the sap flow rate was significantly correlated to solar radiation, saturated vapor pressure deficit (VPD), relative humidity, air temperature, and wind speed. On daily scale, only solar radiation, VPD, and relative humidity were significantly correlated with sap flow rate, with the absolute values of correlation coefficient being all above 0.7. Due to high soil water content during the observation period, the sap flow rate was not significantly correlated with soil water content and soil temperature of 0-20 cm layer, with the absolute values of correlation coefficient being less than 0.1. Under the condition without water stress, solar radiation, VPD, and relative humidity were the top three influencing factors of sap flow rate in this region, on both hourly scale and daily scale.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease. Since the first human monkeypox case was detected in 1970, it has been prevalent in some countries in central and western Africa. Since May 2022, monkeypox cases have been reported in more than 96 non-endemic countries and regions worldwide. As of September 14, 2022, there have been more than 58,200 human monkeypox cases, and there is community transmission. The cessation of smallpox vaccination in 1980, which had some cross-protection with monkeypox, resulted in a general lack of immunity to monkeypox, which caused global concern and vigilance. As of September 14, 2022, there are four monkeypox cases in China, including three in Taiwan province and one in Hong Kong city. Previous foreign studies have shown that children are vulnerable to monkeypox and are also at high risk for severe disease or complications. In order to improve pediatricians' understanding of monkeypox and achieve early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment,  and early disposal, we have organized national authoritative experts in pediatric infection, respiratory, dermatology, critical care medicine, infectious diseases, and public health and others to formulate this expert consensus, on the basis of the latest "Clinical management and infection prevention and control for monkeypox" released by The World Health Organization, the "guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of monkeypox (version 2022)" issued by National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China and other relevant documents. During the development of this consensus, multidisciplinary experts have repeatedly demonstrated the etiology, epidemiology, transmission, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, discharge criteria, prevention, disposal process, and key points of prevention and control of suspected and confirmed cases., (© 2022. Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.)

The objective is to examine the separate and joint effects of dynapenia and abdominal obesity on the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in older adults of different ages (60-74 and over 75 years old). This study comprised 1293 community-dwelling Chinese participants recruited from Shanghai, China, who were aged at least 60 years (753 women; mean age: 72.0 ± 5.9 years). Dynapenia was defined as low-grip strength (<28.0 kg for males and <18.0 kg for females) but normal skeletal muscle index (≥7.0 kg/m 2 for males and ≥5.7 kg/m 2 for females). Abdominal obesity was determined according to waist circumference (≥90 cm for males and ≥85 cm for females), and PAD was diagnosed by an ankle-brachial index  ≤ 0.9. Binary logistic regression models were performed to determine associations between dynapenia, abdominal obesity, and the combination of dynapenia and abdominal obesity and PAD. According to dynapenia and abdominal obesity status stratified by age (60-74 or over 75), the patients were divided into 4 groups: normal, dynapenia alone, abdominal obesity alone, and co-occurring groups. A logistic regression showed that the co-occurring groups (odds ratio = 4.63, 95% confidence interval = 1.41-15.21) had a higher prevalence of PAD than the normal group after adjusting for the covariates in older adults over 75 years of age. The combination of dynapenia and abdominal obesity increase the prevalence of PAD in older adults over 75 years. The present findings have important implications for the early identification of older adults with PAD and appropriate interventions should be implemented.

A surge in the number of international arrivals awaiting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) screening overwhelmed health-care workers and depleted medical resources in designated hospitals in Beijing, China in March 2020. The People's Government of Beijing Municipality therefore issued a policy which required the mandatory transfer of all asymptomatic passengers arriving from a foreign country to designated quarantine hotels, and the transfer of passengers with fever or respiratory symptoms to designated hospitals. Xiaotangshan Designated Hospital, a severe acute respiratory syndrome hospital in 2003, was rapidly renovated and put into operation with the main tasks of screening and isolating symptomatic international arrivals at Beijing Capital International Airport, providing basic medical care for mild to moderate COVID-19-positive cases, and rapidly referring severe to critical COVID-19-positive cases to higher-level hospitals. During the month-long period of its operation, 2171 passengers were screened and 53 were confirmed as having COVID-19 (six severe to critical). We describe how the use of Xiaotangshan Designated Hospital in this way enabled the efficient grouping and assessment of passengers arriving from a foreign country, the provision of optimal patient care without compromising public safety and the prioritization of critically ill patients requiring life-saving treatment. The designated hospital is a successful example of the World Health Organization's recommendation to renovate existing medical infrastructures to improve the COVID-19 response capacity. The flexible design of Xiaotangshan Designated Hospital means that it can be repurposed and reopened at any time to respond to the changing pandemic conditions., ((c) 2021 The authors; licensee World Health Organization.)

This study compared the differences in the clinical manifestations, treatment courses and clinical turnover between mild and moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Clinical data of the patients with imported COVID-19 admitted to Beijing Xiaotangshan Designated Hospital between March 15 and April 30, 2020, were retrospectively analysed. A total of 53 COVID-19 patients were included, with 21 mild and 32 moderate cases. Compared with the mild group, the moderate group showed significant differences in breathing frequency, lymphocyte count, neutrophil percentage, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and dynamic erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In the moderate group, 87.5% exhibited ground-glass opacities, 14% exhibited consolidative opacities, 53.1% exhibited local lesions and 68.8% exhibited unilateral lesions. The proportion of patients who received antiviral or antibiotic treatment in the moderate group was higher than that in the mild group, and the number of cases that progressed to severe disease in the moderate group was also significantly higher (18.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.035). Compared with patients with mild COVID-19, those with moderate COVID-19 exhibited more noticeable inflammatory reactions, more severe pulmonary imaging manifestations and earlier expression of protective antibodies. The overall turnover of the moderate cases was poorer than that of the mild cases.

The current study investigated the clinical manifestations and outcomes of different age groups of patients with overseas imported COVID-19. In total, 53 COVID-19 patients admitted to the designated Beijing Xiaotangshan Hospital between March 16 and April 15 of 2020 were included. Based on the percentage of disease aggravation during hospital stay according to CT, the patients were divided into two groups: ≤40 years (group A; n = 41) and >40 years (group B; n = 12). The demographic data, epidemiological history, disease courses, potential complications, clinical symptoms, lab indices, chest CT outcomes, treatment protocols and turnovers of the two groups were compared. According to clinical typing, compared with group A, group B had a significantly greater proportion of the common type of COVID-19 (P<0.05) and greater comorbidity of type 2 diabetes (P<0.001). The two groups presented significantly different lab indices. Group B showed significantly more frequent CT abnormalities, with greater proportions of multiple lesions and bilateral lung involvement (P<0.05). During hospitalization, group B had a greater proportion of disease aggravation according to CT (P<0.01). Compared with group A, group B received a significantly greater proportion of antiviral therapy and presented a significantly greater occurrence of adverse drug reactions (P<0.05). The two groups did not significantly differ in time from admission to clinical symptom improvement or from disease onset to negative outcomes according to nucleic acid testing, the appearance of IgG or the appearance of IgM. They also did not significantly differ in length of stay. Older imported COVID-19 patients, particularly those with type 2 diabetes, showed a broader pulmonary extent and faster development of the disease, more severe pathogenetic conditions and a greater risk of developing a critically severe type. Increased attention should be given to this population in clinical practice., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

To understand the trends and characteristics of air pollution in Baoding in recent years, an analysis of air quality and air pollutant concentrations in Baoding from 2013 to 2018 was carried out. The results showed that: 1 from 2013 to 2018, the comprehensive index of Baoding dropped from 11.6 to 6.6, the days of severe pollution decreased from 114 days to 27 days, and cumulative concentration of pollutants during severe pollution decreased from 57.34% to 20.59%. This indicated that the air quality of Baoding city has improved year on year from 2013 to 2018. Not only has the number of heavy pollution days and the annual average concentration of pollutants decreased, but also the proportion of cumulative concentrations of pollutants during heavy pollution has decreased. the difference between the average concentration level of Baoding city and "2+26" Cities is getting smaller and smaller. ② Summer ρ (O 3 -8h) increased year on year. In 2017 and 2018, the heavy pollution days caused by O 3 accounted for 17.0% and 14.8% of the heavy pollution days of the year, respectively, and the ozone pollution gradually became prominent; the characteristic value of NO 2 in autumn was higher than that of SO 2 , CO, PM 2.5 , and PM 10 , indicating that the type of pollution in autumn was more motorized. The sources of pollution in winter changed from the partial combustion of coal in 2013-2014 to a mixed influence of partial combustion of coal and incomplete combustion in 2015-2018. ③ In 2016, 2017, and 2018, a high cumulative concentrations of PM 2.5 during the high pollution season that accounted for 5.56%, 6.21%, and 2.58% declined as compared to that during the same period in 2015; this was the largest decline among the six pollutants; PM 10 followed; The decreases of SO 2 and NO 2 were small, indicating that the emergency measures were better in cutting peaks of particulate matter than the gaseous pollutants during heavy pollution in Baoding. In a heavy pollution event during the high pollution season in 2018, partial-burning coal-type pollution increased as compared to that during the high pollution season in 2017, indicating that the coal combustion was still one of the pollution sources that Baoding city needed to control. In summary, Baoding should strengthen the management and control of motor vehicles in autumn, and gradually change from the original coal control measures to a combination of coal control and diesel control in winter; in the future, the focus of air pollution prevention and control should be strengthened toward O 3 pollution.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. Nonrecovery from AKI may increase mortality and early risk stratification seems key to improving clinical outcomes. The aim of the current study was to explore and validate the value of endostatin for predicting failure to recover from AKI., Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 198 patients without known chronic kidney disease who underwent noncardiac major surgery and developed new-onset AKI in the first 48 h after admission to the ICU. The biomarkers of plasma endostatin, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cystatin C were detected immediately after AKI diagnosis. The primary endpoint was nonrecovery from AKI (within 7 days). Cutoff values of the biomarkers for predicting nonrecovery were determined in a derivation cohort (105 AKI patients). Predictive accuracy was then analyzed in a validation cohort (93 AKI patients)., Results: Seventy-six of 198 (38.4%) patients failed to recover from AKI onset, with 41 in the derivation cohort and 35 in the validation cohort. Compared with NGAL and cystatin C, endostatin showed a better prediction for nonrecovery, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.776 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.654-0.892, p < 0.001) and an optimal cutoff value of 63.7 ng/ml. The predictive ability for nonrecovery was greatly improved by the prediction model combining endostatin with clinical risk factors of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and AKI classification, with an AUC of 0.887 (95% CI 0.766-0.958, p < 0.001). The value of the endostatin-clinical risk prediction model was superior to the NGAL-clinical risk and cystatin C-clinical risk prediction models in predicting failure to recover from AKI, which was supported by net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement. Further, the endostatin-clinical risk prediction model achieved sensitivity and specificity of 94.6% (76.8-99.1) and 72.7% (57.2-85.0), respectively, when validated in the validation cohort., Conclusion: Plasma endostatin shows a useful value for predicting failure to recover from AKI. The predictive ability can be greatly improved when endostatin is combined with the SOFA score and AKI classification.

Background: Children as a population have high antimicrobial prescribing rates which may lead to high resistance of bacteria according to data from some single-center surveys of antibiotic prescribing rates in China. The acquirement of baseline data of antibiotic prescribing is the basis of developing intervention strategies on inappropriate antimicrobial prescriptions. Few studies show clearly the pattern and detailed information on classes of antibiotics and distribution of indications of antibiotic prescriptions in children in China. This study aims to assess the antibiotic prescribing patterns among children and neonates hospitalized in 18 hospitals in China., Methods: A 24-hour point prevalence survey on antimicrobial prescribing was conducted in hospitalized neonates and children in China from December 1st, 2016 to February 28th, 2017. Information on the antibiotic use of patients under 18 years of age who were administered one or more on-going antibiotics in the selected wards over a 24-hour period was collected. These data were submitted to the GARPEC (Global Antimicrobial Resistance, Prescribing and Efficacy in Children and Neonates) web-based application ( https://pidrg-database.sgul.ac.uk/redcap/ ). For statistical analysis, Microsoft Excel 2007 and SPSS 22.0 were used., Results: The antibiotic data were collected in 35 wards in 18 hospitals from 9 provinces. In total, 67.76% (975/1439) of the patients (n = 1439) were given at least one antibiotic, including 58.1% (173/298) of neonates (n = 298) and 70.3% (802/1141) of children (n = 1141). In neonates, the three most frequently prescribed antibiotics were third-generation cephalosporins (41.7%), penicillins plus enzyme inhibitor (23.8%), and carbapenems (11.2%). In children, the three most frequently prescribed antibiotics were third-generation cephalosporins (35.5%), macrolides (23.2%), and penicillins plus enzyme inhibitors (15.9%). The most common indication for antibiotics was proven or probable bacterial lower respiratory tract infection (30.9% in neonates and 66.6% in children)., Conclusions: Antibiotics are commonly prescribed in the Chinese children population. It is likely that the third-generation cephalosporins and macrolides are currently overused in Chinese children. Efforts must be made to ensure safe and appropriate antibiotic prescribing to reduce and prevent the future development of antibiotic resistance.

Aims: The present study investigated the association of serum levels of angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (LEPAD)., Methods: The study group is comprised of 105 patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. The control group consisted of 80 individuals without lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. Serum AGF concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationship between AGF and clinical and biochemical parameters was studied. Besides, this study analyzed AGF levels in LEPAD patients according to disease severity and evaluated the prognostic value of AGF for amputation and mortality in LEPAD patients after a follow-up period of 1.7years., Results: Median serum AGF levels were significantly higher in LEPAD group (103.70±64.69ng/mL) as compared with control group (53.83±37.87ng/mL) (P<0.001). In addition, T2DM patients with LEPAD exhibited markedly higher serum AGF concentrations (118.7±60.90ng/mL) than those without LEPAD (60.23±32.62ng/mL) (P<0.0001). Moreover, LEPAD positively predicted AGF concentrations in multivariate linear regression analysis (P<0.0001). Serum AGF levels were independently associated with LEPAD in binary logistic regression analysis model. Among LEPAD patients, those with critical limb ischemia (n=43) showed higher AGF levels (124.9±73.9 vs. 88.98±53.26ng/mL, P=0.01) compared with those with intermittent claudication (n=62). Furthermore, patients with the highest AGF tertile had an increased all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality (P=0.033 and P=0.025, respectively)., Conclusions: Our results suggested that lower extremity peripheral artery disease was positively associated with AGF serum levels. High serum AGF level was a potential risk factor for LEPAD and associates with disease severity and poor outcome in LEPAD patients., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Skin appearance is influenced by biophysical parameters. Seasonal changes affect the condition of normal skin and may trigger cutaneous disorders., Objectives: This study was undertaken to measure the effects of seasonal changes on biophysical parameters in the skin of female subjects living in Guangzhou City in southern China., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 178 healthy, adult Chinese women in whom forehead skin was examined in all four seasons between March 2007 and February 2008. Commercially available, non-invasive devices were used to measure skin hydration, sebum content, pH, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in a closed environment under controlled and constant conditions of temperature and humidity. Correlations between skin parameters and climate conditions were investigated., Results: There were significant seasonal changes in TEWL and pH (autumn and winter > spring and summer), skin hydration (spring and summer > autumn and winter), and sebum content (spring and summer > autumn and winter). Skin hydration was correlated with average temperature and humidity. Skin TEWL and skin pH were correlated with average temperature, humidity, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels. Skin sebum content was correlated with average humidity., Conclusions: Facial skin physiology showed seasonal variations in China. The reasons for the changes may refer to seasonal changes in temperature, humidity, and UV radiation., (© 2014 The International Society of Dermatology.)

Hippeastrum chlorotic ringspot virus (HCRV) is a novel tospovirus that was identified in Yunnan Province, China, in 2013. We have sequenced the HCRV L gene, which is 8909 nt long and encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (2873 amino acids, 330.8 kDa). The HCRV L protein shared highest similarity (89.4 %) with that of tomato yellow ring virus. The L protein contains a negative-sense RNA virus RNA-directed RNA polymerase motif and an endonuclease domain at the N-terminus. Combined with our previous reports of the S and M RNAs, the genome sequence of HCRV is now completed.

With the premium bull plays a growing important role in cattle industry, semen detection technology based on individual identification and phylogenetic relationship is paid more and more attention. In order to lay the foundation for the establishment of the China Holstein bull identification method, this research takes 20 Chinese Holstein dairy bull's blood and their corresponding semen, and then extracts the DNA both from the blood and semen, analysis the genetic polymorphisms of 10 microsatellite loci (TGLA227, INRA23, TGLA122, BM2113, SPS115, ETH3, ETH225, MCM158, MAF45 and UMN0108) by microsatellite marker, discuss the feasibility of this method used to individual identification. The results showed that Chinese Holstein dairy bull genetic diversity in the ten microsatellite loci were both high, and the average polymorphic information content of TGLA227, which highest, is 0.8162, ETH225 has the lowest, which is 0.6224. Use STR loci to identify the bull's semen, the cumulative individual identification capacity is 99.99%, which indication that 10 STR loci can be used to the frozen semen quality test and cows individual identification.

We genotyped 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within Neuregulin 3 (NRG3) to investigate the association between NRG3 and schizophrenia in 488 patients and 506 controls in Northwest China. No association was detected either in SNPs or in haplotypes. Our study provided no evidence that NRG3 confers a risk of schizophrenia susceptibility in the Han Chinese population., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the prevalence rate and risk factors for asthma in children from the Futian District of Shenzhen, China who were aged from 0-14 years between 2010 and 2011, and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of childhood asthma., Methods: A multistage stratified cluster sampling survey of 7168 children aged 0-14 years from the Futian District of Shenzhen was conducted using the Third National Childhood Asthma Epidemiological Questionnaire 2010, to investigate the prevalence rate of childhood asthma. A case-control study (1∶1) and logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the risk factors for childhood asthma., Results: Of the 7168 children surveyed, 169 were diagnosed with asthma, with a total prevalence rate of 2.36%. The prevalence rate was higher in males than in females (3.06% vs 1.55%, P<0.01). Of the 169 cases, 115 (68.1%) had their first asthma attack before the age of 3 years, 95 (56.2%) had moderate attacks, 159 (94.1%) had sudden attacks, 86 (50.9%) suffered from asthma during periods of seasonal change, 97 (57.4%) had attacks before going to bed, 157 (92.9%) suffered from asthma caused by respiratory infection, and 159 (94.1%) had sneezing as the sign of oncoming attack. The case-control study (including the 169 asthma cases and 169 healthy children) and logistic regression analysis both showed that the independent risk factors for asthma in children were a personal history of drug allergy (OR=3.431, 95%CI: 1.240-9.496, P=0.018), a history of food allergy (OR=4.043, 95%CI: 1.669-9.795, P= 0.002), allergic rhinitis (OR=9.686, 95%CI: 5.137-18.263, P<0.001), and a family history of allergy (OR=4.059, 95%CI: 2.054-8.018, P<0.001)., Conclusions: The prevalence rate of asthma was 2.36% in children aged 0-14 years in the Futian District of Shenzhen between 2010 and 2011. The prevalence rate had not increased when compared with the rate in this region 10 years earlier (2.39%). The prevalence rate of childhood asthma is higher in males than in females. Personal history of drug allergy, food allergy, allergic rhinitis and a family history of allergy are the independent risk factors for childhood asthma in this region.