Chinese Science Research Articles

Revitalizing Smallholder Farming in Africa: Insights from China's Science and Technology Backyard Model

Revitalizing Smallholder Farming in Africa: Insights from China's Science and Technology Backyard Model

Efficacy and safety of intrapleural perfusion with hyperthermic chemotherapy for malignant pleural effusion: a meta-analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of intrapleural perfusion with hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) in treating malignant pleural effusion (MPE).MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), VIP Chinese Science and Technology Journal Full-text Database (VP-CSJFD), and Wanfang database were searched by computer from database establishment to January 17, 2024. Relevant randomized controlled articles with IPHC as the observational group and intrapleural perfusion chemotherapy (IPC) as the control group for MPE were included. Then, the methodological quality of the included articles was evaluated and statistically analyzed using Stata 16.0.ResultsSixteen trials with 647 patients receiving IPHC and 661 patients receiving IPC were included. The meta-analysis found that MPE patients in the IPHC group had a more significant objective response rate [RR = 1.31, 95%CI (1.23, 1.38), P < 0.05] and life quality improvement rate [RR = 2.88, 95%CI (1.95, 4.24), P < 0.05] than those in the IPC group. IPHC and IPC for MPE patients had similar incidence rates of asthenia, thrombocytopenia, hepatic impairment, and leukopenia.ConclusionCompared with IPC, IPHC has a higher objective response rate without significantly increasing adverse reactions. Therefore, IPHC is effective and safe. However, this study is limited by the quality of the literature. Therefore, more high-quality, multi-center, large-sample, rigorously designed randomized controlled clinical studies are still needed for verification and evaluation.

Comparative efficacy and safety of ginkgo-based Chinese patent medicines in patients with hypertension: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The efficacy and safety of different oral ginkgo-based Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) regimens for hypertension patients were analyzed based on the network meta-analysis of the frequency framework. We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database to gather data on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of 8 ginkgo biloba oral preparations for the treatment of hypertension. The trials included in the analysis were conducted from the inception of the databases up to September 2023. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the RoB 2.0 evaluation tool, and a reticulated meta-analysis was conducted using STATA MP 14 software. The RCTs included in this study were published studies and therefore did not require ethics committee review or patient consent. We ultimately included 46 RCTs covering 8 CPMs including ginkgo biloba tablet (GBT), GB capsule (GBC), ginkgo biloba drop (GBD), ginkgo biloba ketone ester drop, Fufangyinxing capsule, fufangyinxingtongmai oral liquid, Yinxingmihuan oral liquid, Yindanxinanotong softgel capsule (YDXNT). GBD + CT demonstrated the highest effectiveness in reducing systolic blood pressure (surface under the cumulative ranking [SUCRA] = 78.7%) and improving total effective rate (SUCRA = 86.7%). GBC + CT exhibited the greatest efficacy in reducing diastolic blood pressure (SUCRA = 92.6%). GBT + CT was identified as the most effective in lowering total cholesterol (TC) (SUCRA = 100%). Additionally, YDXNT + CT demonstrated notable improvements in triglyceride levels (SUCRA = 92.2%), Nitric oxide (NO) (SUCRA = 93.9%), and ET-1 (SUCRA = 67.5%). In terms of safety, 14 studies reported the occurrence of adverse reactions with a high degree of clinical heterogeneity, which was only qualitatively analyzed in this study. We found that a combination of 8 ginkgo-based CPMs + CT was effective in hypertension compared with CT. The evidence showed that GBD + CT were the best in improving systolic blood pressure and total effective rate, GBC + CT improved diastolic blood pressure, GBT + CT were the most effective in improving TC, and YDXNT + CT was the most effective in improving TG, NO, and ET-1. Adverse effects were only analyzed qualitatively, and the number of adverse effects of CPMs treatment was relatively low compared to CT. In addition, the quality of the literature included in the study was low, and further validation through RCTs with larger sample sizes, higher quality, and more rigorously designed is needed.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine in treating postcholecystectomy diarrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Postcholecystectomy diarrhea (PCD) is among the most distressing and well-known clinical complications of cholecystectomy. Despite various available treatment options, clinical outcomes are greatly limited by unclear pathophysiological mechanisms. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is widely used as a complementary and alternative therapy for the treatment of functional diarrhea. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM for the treatment of PCD. Electronic database searches were conducted using the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Wanfang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Chinese Scientific Journal Database. All RCTs on CHMs for managing patients with PCD were included. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. The present meta-analysis included 14 RCTs published between 2009 and 2021 in China. The primary findings indicated that CHM had a higher total efficacy and cure rate as a monotherapy for PCD (P < .00001). Two trials reported the scores of the main symptoms with statistically significant differences in stool nature (P < .00001), defecation frequency (P = .002), and abdominal pain and bloating (P < .00001). In addition, CHM reduced CD3+ and CD4+ levels more effectively in terms of T lymphocyte subset determination (P < .00001). The main symptoms of PCD in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are splenic deficiency and liver stagnation. All treatments were used to strengthen the spleen and (or) soothing the liver. CHM had a favorable effect on PCD. No adverse events were observed. Larger, high-quality RCTs are warranted to draw definitive conclusions and standardize treatment protocols.

Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: High-Intensity Electroacupuncture Outperforms Low-Intensity Electroacupuncture for Knee Osteoarthritis

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proven to be efficacious and safe in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), yet the superior intensity current for pain control in KOA remains unspecified. The present meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficiency of high-intensity and low-intensity EA in pain relief and functional improvement in KOA. Methods: A thorough and comprehensive literature search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), all looking at the intensity of EA for KOA, was carried out in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science Journal Citation Report (VIP) and Wanfang database. All databases were searched from the available date of inception until the latest issue (Apr 2022). The study quality was evaluated via the Jadad five-point scale. Ultimately, a meta-analysis of all eligible RCTs was conducted utilizing Review Manager 5.3. Results: Three studies with 472 individuals were included in the Meta-analysis. The pain intensity reductions are significantly different between the high-intensity EA group and low-intensity EA group (MD=-0.22, 95%CI=-0.26 to -0.18, P&amp;lt; 0.00001). There is no significant difference between the two groups in the WOMAC index (MD=-3.62, 95%CI=-12.22 to 4.98, P= 0.41). High-intensity EA group significantly improve the emotional scale (ES) in comparison to the low-intensity EA group (MD=-0.72, 95%CI=-0.76 to -0.67, P&amp;lt; 0.00001). Conclusion: The findings of this work indicated that high-intensity EA provides superior pain relief and emotional scale in KOA patients. Moreover, both high-intensity and low-intensity EA exert a significant functional improvement effect in KOA.

Emergency cervical cerclage in delayed-interval delivery of twin pregnancies: a scoping review

BackgroundThe protocol for delayed-interval delivery of the second twin in twin pregnancies has not been standardized. Cervical cerclage is often performed, but its use is debated. To conduct a scoping review on cervical cerclage for prolonging the intertwin delivery interval and improving second twin survival and maternal outcomes after preterm delivery or spontaneous abortion of the first twin in twin pregnancies.MethodsSeven Chinese and English language databases were searched from inception to March 1, 2023, including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP Chinese Science Journal Database, and Sinomed. Relevant observational studies that assessed the effectiveness of the use of cervical cerclage in delayed-interval delivery of twins were screened and selected, and raw data were extracted, and descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were performed.ResultsA total of 102 articles were retrieved. After screening and exclusion of duplicate and irrelevant articles, 22 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were obtained. Studies in which cerclage was performed reported longer intertwin delivery intervals than those that did not perform cerclage, and the difference was statistically significant. The cerclage group also tended to have lower rates of chorioamnionitis and maternal complications, but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant.ConclusionAfter excluding patients with contraindications, emergency cervical cerclage can be considered in cases of spontaneous abortion of the first twin in twin pregnancies to prolong the gestation and improve the prognosis of the remaining fetus until it becomes viable and increases its birth weight.

Research on the construction of technology intermediary innovation ecosystem and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises

With the in-depth implementation of the "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" strategy in China, scientific and technological innovation has become the main driving force of economic development, and the transformation of scientific and technological achievements is the main channel of scientific and technological innovation, and is the key link of the close combination of science and technology and economy. However, at present, China's science and technology intermediary system is not perfect and the performance of innovation transformation is low, which brings huge problems to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the ecosystem. As the carrier of technology diffusion and achievement transformation, the science and technology intermediary and the innovation ecosystem built play a vital role. From the perspective of the construction of the science and technology intermediary innovation ecosystem, Innovative view of science and technology intermediary as the main body, Further study on Wuhu General Aviation Innovation Park through literature analysis method, questionnaire survey method and interview method, The two complementary assets of technology intermediary are selected as the explanatory variables, Introducing resource sharing and knowledge spillover as intermediary variables, To analyze the constructed theoretical framework and mechanism, At the same time, four theoretical frameworks from the perspective of science and technology intermediary innovation ecosystem, For the formation and improvement of the science and technology intermediary innovation ecosystem, the effective promotion of innovation transformation ability and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Brief discussion of the differences in the acupoint location between Meridians and Acupoints and Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

There are the differences in the location of some acupoints between textbooks Meridians and Acupoints and Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Both of the textbooks are in the category of the "14th Five-Year Plan". The differences in acupoint location have brought some confusion for students, full-time teachers and researchers in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. In the paper, based on GB/T 12346-2021： Nomenclature and Location of Meridian Points, published in2021, and in reference with GB/T 12346-2006： Nomenclature and Location of Acupuncture Points, published in 2006, the discrepancy in the acupoint location was systematically collated in the aspects of the expression style and layout, text expression and potential difference of location between these two textbooks, published by China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, People's Medical Publishing House and China Science Publishing. Based on the historical evolution and the academic controversy of acupoint positioning, the reasons of the differences in acupoint location were analyzed, the potential influences on the teaching, examination, competition and research of Chinese medicine acupuncture were explored, and the suggestions for solution were proposed.

Why Chinese “Society” is So Called: How Social and Managerial Discourse Caused the Choice of the Word at the Turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries

 Introduction. The purpose of this article is to investigate the reasons for the choice of the   term “shehui” to designate the concept of “society” in China at the turn of the 19th and 20th   centuries. The research novelty of the work is manifested in the complex analysis of social   and managerial discourse of that time and in the identification of factors that influenced the   terminological choice. The relevance of the study is conditioned by the necessity to   understand the processes of formation of social sciences in China, which is important for   the interpretation of modern socio-political processes in the country, including in the   context of modern sociology of management. This is especially important for Russian   sociology, since its area of interest includes the search for mutually beneficial strategies of   interaction between Russian and Chinese societies. And this is impossible without studying   China's approaches to managing the country's development processes, its internal and   external social relations.   Methodology and sources. The study applies a system-historical approach, as well as   discursive, terminological, etymographic and factor analysis. The paper analyzes classical   Chinese texts and works of Chinese enlighteners of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and   also uses some materials collected by modern researchers, in particular, by N.M. Kalyuzhnaya. Results and discussion. The main results of the study were the identification and analysis   of factors (including internal political, social, foreign policy and linguistic factors) that   determined the social and managerial discourse of the period under study and the choice   in favor of “shehui” among the main terms competing for the right to designate the concept   of “society”. Author pointed out that the process of formation of social and managerial   discourse was in line with the gradual decline in the influence of traditionalism and   strengthening of the ideas of anti-monarchism, people's power and self-government.  Conclusion. Author emphasized that the term “shehui” became one of the key terms in the   social and managerial discourse of China at the turn of the century, reflecting global socio[1]political trends. The choice of this term is the result of a complex interaction of various   factors in the formation of discursive practices, which themselves were further modified   under the influence of the term and its derivatives. 

Risk factors of central catheter bloodstream infections in intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Central catheter bloodstream infections (CRBSI) is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections. However, few factors are generally accepted and some studies have conflicting finding about some factors, possibly caused by limitation associated with an individual study. This study was to identify risk factors for CRBSI in intensive care units. We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of science and EMBASE databases and the 4 top Chinese-language databases, including WanFang data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), China Biology Medicine disc (CBM) as of July 2023. Case control and cohort studies were included. Two authors independently screened the literature and evaluated the quality of the studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). The pooled effect size was estimated using the odds ratio (OR), and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. The Cochrane Q (χ2) and I2 tests were used to assess heterogeneity among studies, and each risk factor was tested for its robustness using fixed- or random-effects models. A total of 32 studies enrolled, among which eleven factors were identified, they were divided into two categories: modifiable and unmodifiable factors. Modifiable factors: duration of catheterization (≥ 5d) (OR: 2.07, 95%CI: 1.41-3.03), duration of catheterization (≥ 7d) (OR: 3.62, 95%CI: 2.65-4.97), duration of catheterization (≥ 14d)(OR: 4.85, 95%CI: 3.35-7.01), total parenteral nutrition (OR: 2.27,95%CI: 1.56-3.29), use of multiple-lumen catheters(OR: 3.41, 95%CI: 2.27-5.11), times of tube indwelling (OR: 3.50, 95%CI: 2.93-4.17), length of ICU stay (OR: 4.05, 95%CI: 2.41-6.80), the position of indwelling(OR: 2.41, 95%CI: 2.03-2.85); Unmodifiable factors: APACHEII scores (OR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.54-2.20), Age≥ 60 years old (OR: 2.19, 95%CI: 1.76-2.73), the extensive use of antibiotic (OR: 3.54, 95%CI: 1.65-7.61), Diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.06, 95%CI: 2.56-3.66), Immunosuppression (OR: 2.87, 95%CI: 2.08-3.95). Effective interventions targeting the above modifiable factors may reduce the risk of developing CRBSI in ICU and improve the clinical outcome of patients. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Wind Profile Reconstruction Based on Convolutional Neural Network for Incoherent Doppler Wind LiDAR

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning has revolutionized the field of data analysis in recent years, including signal data acquired by remote sensors. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology is widely used in atmospheric research for measuring various atmospheric parameters. Wind measurement using LiDAR data has traditionally relied on the spectral centroid (SC) algorithm. However, this approach has limitations in handling LiDAR data, particularly in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regions. To overcome these limitations, this study leverages the capabilities of customized deep-learning techniques to achieve accurate wind profile reconstruction. The study uses datasets obtained from the European Centre for Medium Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) and the mobile Incoherent Doppler LiDAR (ICDL) system constructed by the University of Science and Technology of China. We present a simulation-based approach for generating wind profiles from the statistical data and the associated theoretical calculations. Whereafter, our team constructed a convolutional neural network (CNN) model based on the U-Net architecture to replace the SC algorithm for LiDAR data post-processing. The CNN-generated results are evaluated and compared with the SC results and the ERA5 data. This study highlights the potential of deep learning-based techniques in atmospheric research and their ability to provide more accurate and reliable results.

Effects of human milk odor stimulation on feeding in premature infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Previous studies suggested odor stimulation may influence feeding of premature neonates. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to assess the effect of human milk odor stimulation on feeding of premature infants. All randomized controlled trials related to human milk odor stimulation on feeding in premature infants published in PubMed, Cochrane, Library, Medline, Embase, Web of science databases and Chinese biomedical literature databases, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) and Wanfang Chinese databases were searched, and The Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 was used to evaluate the quality and authenticity of the literature. Relevant information of the included studies was extracted and summarized, and the evaluation indexes were analyzed using ReviewManager5.3. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to July 28, 2022.12 articles were assessed for eligibility, and six randomized controlled studies were eventually included in the meta-analysis (PRISMA). A total of 6 randomized controlled studies with 763 patients were finally included in the study, and the quality evaluation of literatures were all grade B. Human milk odor stimulation reduced the transition time to oral feeding in premature infants [SMD = − 0.48, 95% CI (− 0.69, − 0.27), Z = 4.54, P < 0.00001] and shortened the duration of parenteral nutrition [MD = − 1.01, 95% CI (− 1.70, − 0.32), Z = 2.88, P = 0.004]. However, it did not change the length of hospitalization for premature infants [MD = − 0.03, 95% CI (− 0.41, 0.35), Z = 0.17, P = 0.86]. The implementation of human milk odor stimulation can reduce the transition time to oral feeding and the duration of parenteral nutrition in premature infants, but further studies are needed to determine whether it can reduce the length of hospital stay in premature infants. More high-quality, large-sample studies are needed to investigate the effect of human milk odor stimulation on the feeding process and other outcomes in premature infants.

Efficacy and safety of tetrandrine in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a meta analysis.

To explore the efficacy and safety of tetrandrine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Randomized controlled studies of tetrandrine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis were searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), World Wide Web Database, SinoMed, PubMed, Springer, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails database. A meta-analysis was conducted using R software version 3.5.3 to evaluate the clinical outcomes, including the total effective rate, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, disease activity score (DAS), tender joint count (TJC), swollen joint count (SJC), and morning stiffness duration, as well as adverse events of RA patients. A total of 10 articles were included in the study. The meta-analysis indicated that tetrandrine significantly improved the total effective rate (OR=3.27, 95%CI: 2.01-5.37, P<0.01), ESR (SMD=1.12, 95%CI: 0.06-2.19, P<0.05), CRP (SMD=0.75, 95%CI: 0.28-1.22, P<0.01), VAS (SMD=0.55, 95%CI: 0.21-0.89, P<0.01), SJC (SMD=0.85, 95%CI: 0.40-1.31, P<0.01), TJC (SMD=1.16, 95%CI: 0.58-1.74, P<0.01), and morning stiffness (SMD=1.09, 95%CI: 0.68-1.50, P<0.01). However, no statistical significance was found in RF (SMD=1.70, 95%CI: －1.10-4.51, P>0.05) and DAS (SMD=0.26, 95%CI: －0.59-1.11, P>0.05). The overall incidence of adverse events associated with tetrandrine treatment for rheumatoid arthritis was 20% (95%CI: 12%-27%, I2=60%, P<0.05), with mild severity and favorable outcomes. Tetrandrine is effective in the treatment of RA patients with a mild degree of adverse events.

Effects of quercetin on polycystic ovary syndrome in animal models: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Metformin is an insulin sensitizer that is widely used for the treatment of insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome patients. However, metformin can cause gastrointestinal side effects. This study showed that the effects of quercetin are comparable to those of metformin. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of quercetin in treating PCOS. The present systematic search of the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Information Site, Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), SinoMed, Web of Science, and PubMed databases was performed from inception until February 2024. The methodological quality was then assessed by SYRCLE's risk of bias tool, and the data were analyzed by RevMan 5.3 software. Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with those in the model group, quercetin in the PCOS group had significant effects on reducing fasting insulin serum (FIS) levels (P = 0.0004), fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels (P = 0.01), HOMA-IR levels (P < 0.00001), cholesterol levels (P < 0.0001), triglyceride levels (P = 0.001), testosterone (T) levels (P < 0.00001), luteinizing hormone (LH) levels (P = 0.0003), the luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio (P = 0.01), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels (P < 0.00001), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (P = 0.03), superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels (P = 0.01) and GLUT4 mRNA expression (P < 0.00001). This meta-analysis suggested that quercetin has positive effects on PCOS treatment. Quercetin can systematically reduce insulin, blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in metabolic pathways. In the endocrine pathway, quercetin can regulate the function of the pituitary-ovarian axis, reduce testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and lower the ratio of LH to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Quercetin can regulate the expression of the GLUT4 gene and has antioxidative effects at the molecular level.

A Bibliometric Study on The Application of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training in The Nursing Field in China

Objective: To systematically analyze the research status and application of progressive muscle relaxation training (PMRT) in the nursing field in China, and provide a reference basis for scientific research in this field. Methods: The bibliometric method was adopted in “progressive muscle relaxation training” or “PMRT,” and “nursing.” The established database was included in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Wanfang Medical Network. The relevant articles in the Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP) were analyzed. Results: A total of 169 literatures were included. The journals, years, and regions of literature publication were uneven, mainly originating from the eastern region (43.19%), and listed the application of progressive muscle relaxation training in the field of nursing in China. Intervention literature information was mainly dominated by experimental studies (97%). Conclusion: The related research and application of progressive muscle relaxation training in nursing in China is increasing, but there is a lack of objective evaluation of outcome indicators and a short intervention period. Further research should be conducted in the future to effectively guide the development of PMRT in the field of nursing in China.

The Effects of Blended learning on University Students’ Critical Thinking Dispositions in College English Course

This research aims to introduce and examine the effects of blended learning environment on learners’ critical thinking dispositions for undergraduate students of business major at North China University of Science and Technology (NCSTU) in China. The participants are 28 freshmen from College English Course. The research tools are Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory Chinese Version and Blended Learning Environment Questionnaire. The findings show that blended learning environment is beneficial for improving Chinese students’ critical thinking dispositions (CTD). The students are willing to take part in the learning activities both online and offline. They find out it is most difficult part is to understand the teacher’s English instructions. Majority of students’ CTD is positive after one semester learning in the blended learning environment. Open-mindedness, self- confidence, and inquisitiveness of CTD are significantly correlated with students’ gender, English scores of college entrance exam, and science and liberal arts respectively

The Origin and Spread of the Green Leaves

Joseph Needham, an expert in the history of Chinese science and technology in the United Kingdom, once said, "Tea is China's fifth contribution to humankind after the four inventions of gunpowder, papermaking, printing, and compass. Tea is popular and people’s taste vary according to different tea names. Now there are more than 50 countries planting tea in five big continents, and 120 countries import tea from China. Most of the people among 5 billion in the world like to drink tea and tea culture cover the world. And tea drinking customs and culture in various regions have its own characteristics of drinking custom. Different tea customs reflect different values and cultural orientations of different nations, regions and countries.

Comparison of the imaginary parts of the atmospheric refractive index structure parameter and aerosol flux based on different measurement methods

Abstract. The complexity of aerosol particle properties and the diversity of characterizations make aerosol vertical transport flux measurements and analysis difficult. Although there are different methods, such as aerosol particle number concentration flux and aerosol mass flux based on the eddy covariance principle as well as aerosol mass flux measurements based on the light-propagated large-aperture scintillation principle, there is a lack of mutual validation among the different methods. In this paper, a comparison of aerosol mass flux measurements based on the eddy covariance principle and aerosol mass flux measurements based on the light-propagated large-aperture scintillation principle is carried out. The key idea of aerosol mass flux measurements based on the light-propagated large-aperture scintillation principle is the determination of the imaginary part of the atmospheric equivalent refractive index structure parameter (AERISP). In this paper, we first compare the AERISPs measured by two different methods and then compare the aerosol mass vertical transport fluxes obtained by different methods. The experiments were conducted on the campus of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). A light propagation experiment was carried out between two tall buildings to obtain the imaginary and real parts of the AERISPs for the whole path, which in turn can be used to obtain the aerosol vertical transport flux. An updated visibility meter is installed on the meteorological tower in the middle of the light path, which is utilized to obtain the single-point visibility, which is then converted to the imaginary part of the atmospheric equivalent refractive index (AERI). The imaginary parts of the AERISP were obtained via spectral analysis with visibility data. The results show that the imaginary parts of the AERISPs obtained by different methods are in good agreement. The imaginary part of the AERI measured by the visibility meter and the vertical wind speed obtained by the ultrasonic anemometer were used for covariance calculations to obtain the aerosol vertical transport flux. The trends in aerosol vertical transport fluxes obtained by the different methods are consistent, and there are differences in some details, which may be caused by the inhomogeneity in the vertical transport of aerosol fluxes. The experimental results also showed that urban green land is a sink area for aerosol particles.

International Mobility and Knowledge Exchange Between China and the West: A Study of Chinese Humanities and Social Sciences Scholars

Purpose This study examines the impact of international academic mobility on knowledge exchange between China and the West, including its potential benefits and risks, specifically in the humanities and social sciences (HSS) fields. Design/Approach/Methods This study employed qualitative research methods; specifically, data were collected through interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings With increasing knowledge flows in global academia, Chinese HSS scholars are benefiting from international academic mobility. They engage in various activities, such as international visits, conferences, and research collaborations, and praise the role of mobility in building an understanding of Western culture and knowledge, including research dynamics, embodied and encultured knowledge, and location-specific textual materials. However, international mobility has inadvertently exacerbated global knowledge asymmetries, with some Chinese scholars uncritically adopting Western paradigms. Nonetheless, pioneering Chinese HSS scholars aim to promote a two-way knowledge exchange between China and the West by fostering cultural reflexivity and enhancing their global visibility. Originality/Value Chinese HSS scholars serve as an illuminating example in the context of global knowledge asymmetries dominated by the Anglo-American West. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for fostering equitable and inclusive knowledge exchange between Western and non-Western societies through international academic mobility.

Efficacy of manual therapy on shoulder pain and function in patients with rotator cuff injury: A systematic review and meta‑analysis.

To critically evaluate the effects of manual therapy (MT) on pain and functional improvement in patients with rotator cuff injury (RCI), a systematic review of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on MT for RCI was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan-fang Data, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature database from inception to March 28, 2023. A total of 1,110 participants from 24 eligible RCTs were included in the analysis. Compared with placebo, MT could not effectively relieve pain [standardized mean difference (SMD)=-0.25; 95% CI: -0.51 to 0.01; P=0.06], although its impact on functional improvement appears limited (SMD=0.20; 95% CI: -0.09 to 0.49; P=0.18). Combining MT with exercise had significant advantages over exercise alone, as combined therapy contributed to both pain reduction (SMD=0.36; 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.64; P=0.01) and functional enhancement (SMD=0.32; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.52; P=0.002). Furthermore, MT combined with multimodal physiotherapy showed additional benefits in pain reduction (mean difference=1.57; 95% CI: 0.18 to 2.96; P=0.03) and functional improvement (SMD=0.77; 95% CI: 0.43 to 1.12; P<0.0001) compared with multimodal physiotherapy alone. These findings highlight the superior pain alleviation and functional improvement provided by MT when combined with exercise or physiotherapy. Consequently, MT has emerged as a pivotal component of therapeutic intervention for RCI.