Regions Of China Research Articles

Differentiated growth of the most widely planted conifer in response to extreme droughts across semi-arid regions in Northern China

Global warming is leading to more frequent and intense drought events, exerting unprecedented pressure on forest growth. Although post-drought recovery in plantation growth has been studied enormously, the variation of planted populations across the whole distribution range of a species is not well understood. In this study, the growth suitability of the most widely planted conifer species in dry lands of northern China, Mongolian Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica), was estimated, based on tree-ring data sampled in 289 plots of afforestation across most of its planting range. According to changes in the hydrothermal condition during the last forty years (1980–2018), the distribution range was divided into three parts: warming, warming-wetting, and non-significant trends (NT) regions. Two severe droughts in 2000 and 2007 were identified using the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Then, the resistance (Rt), recovery (Rc), and resilience (Rs) growth indices were calculated and compared among these three parts. The growth of planted Mongolian Scots pine has overall significantly increased from 1980 to 2018 (p < 0.001). The pine plantations in warming regions were sensitive to annual precipitation, while warming-wetting regions were more influenced by the growing season climate. Pines reverted to pre-drought growth levels within 3 years after the drought event in 2000 but failed in 2007, and populations in the warming region showed significantly lower post-drought recovery. Furthermore, high pre-drought growth levels were linked to low Rs in both drought events (p < 0.001). Post-drought precipitation enhanced the Rc of plantations, compensating for the growth reduction caused by droughts. Soil moisture during the drought events enhanced Rt and Rs. The Rt and Rs indices decreased significantly with the age of plantations (p < 0.05). Overall, our results revealed that pre-drought growth and post-drought precipitation were key factors influencing the resilience of planted Mongolian Scots pine. Besides, the plantations experiencing wetting trends revealed favorable drought resilience and stable radial growth, which indicated promising potential for planted Mongolian Scots pine in those areas. Controlling the age of plantations seems to be crucial for maintaining drought resilience in large-scale plantations and maximizing ecological benefits.

Evolution of pore structure and cement composition during weathering of conglomerate at Mogao Grottoes in alkaline and arid regions, NW China

Numerous conglomerate grottoes have been excavated and preserved in the arid and alkaline regions of NW China. After millennia of weathering, these conglomerate grottoes have suffered from various weathering issues (such as seepage and collapse) that are internally governed by the distribution of pore networks and the degree of cementation. However, studies on conglomerate weathering have mostly been reported in humid and tropical climates, where intensive chemical weathering occurs. Additionally, characterizations of pore evolution during conglomerate weathering have been restricted due to limitations in detecting pore size and pore type using a single pore characterization method. To fill this gap, this study jointly used mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and computed tomography (CT) to characterize the pore evolution process during conglomerate weathering at Mogao Grottoes, a world heritage site in NW China. Mineralogical, hydrological, mechanical and microscopic characterization were also conducted to understand the changes in compositions of bulk samples and cements during weathering. Results revealed that the majority of pores in conglomerate are concentrated in macropores > 5 μm, followed by mesopores and micropores. During weathering, volume fraction of macropores significantly increases and that of micropores decreases, with median/average pore diameters experiencing an 8- to 10-fold increase. Permeability, porosity and fractal dimension exhibited strong positive linear correlations with median/average pore diameters. Throughout weathering, the abundances of calcite and clay minerals show notable decrease, particularly in cements, resulting in an enrichment of feldspars. Frequently occurring sand-carrying wind activities and salt weathering in arid regions are inferred to be responsible for the major cement loss and porosity generation through physical processes. Our combined MIP-CT method for pore network characterization is also applicable to other lithologies with a wide range of pore sizes. The proposed mechanism of pore evolution and cementation failure provides a scientific base for protecting stone heritages in arid zones.

Oral solid dosage form using alternate crystalline neratinib maleate anhydrous form: Pharmaceutical, bioequivalent, and clinical perspectives.

Neratinib (an active pharmaceutical ingredient [API]) is an irreversible pan-human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) inhibitor used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer. The dosage form (marketed in the United States, China, Europe, and other regions) is a tablet for oral administration, and the brand product (NERLYNX) has patent protection for the crystalline neratinib maleate monohydrate form. This paper describes the product development using stable crystalline neratinib maleate anhydrous form, stability study, bioequivalence (BE) study of the products, and discussion of the adverse effects observed in the clinical study.

An Updated Review on the Spatial Distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Across Ticks, Animals and Humans in Northeastern China and Adjacent Regions.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and is prevalent in northeastern Asia, particularly in the forested area of Northeastern China. However, a lack of systematic data on the spatial distribution of B. burgdorferi in this region hinders the prediction of its transmission risk across the landscape. To provide an updated overview and establish a comprehensive spatial distribution database, we conducted a systematic review of literature published between 2000 and 2022. We collected and compiled relevant data on B. burgdorferi in Northeastern China and its neighbouring regions, outlining its distribution in ticks, wild animals, livestock and humans. Spatial analysis was performed to identify spatial clusters of tick positivity and host infection rates. From a total of 1823 literature, we selected 110 references to compile 626 detection records of B. burgdorferi, including 288 in ticks, 109 in wildlife, 111 in livestock and domestic animals and 100 in humans. The average detection rate of B. burgdorferi in ticks was approximately 20%, with wildlife, livestock and domestic animal host positivity rates below 50% and human seroprevalence rates varying from 0.94% to 44.18%. The study identified the presence of 17 tick species and ten genotypes of B. burgdorferi in the region, indicating a broad distribution. Notably, B. burgdorferi exhibited notable clustering, particularly in the central and eastern areas of Jilin Province, warranting further investigation.

Using metabolomics to explore the effects of epigenetic-modification strategies on the metabolites of Acanthus ilicifolius L. endophytic fungi against ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is a serious threat to women's health and safety. So far, people have discovered more than 130 small molecule compounds of natural origin for anti-tumor, of which approximately 50% are of microbial origin. The Acanthus ilicifolius L. species is primarily distributed in the Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi regions of China and grows in tidally accessible coastal areas. Recent studies have revealed that Acanthus ilicifolius L. extracts are endowed with a range of pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and antitumor activities. Endophytic fungi are commonly found in the healthy tissue and organs of medicinal plants. These fungi and the plants they inhabit form mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships. Endophytic fungi produce a series of secondary metabolites, with active substances having shown great economic value and applications prospects in drug research and development as well as for the biological control of plant diseases. Secondary metabolites production by endophytic fungi is regulated by specific gene clusters, and several techniques have been used to stimulate the secondary metabolic processes of fungi, including epigenetic-modification and OSMAC (one strain many compounds) strategies, co-culturing, and gene modification. Among these, epigenetic modification has been shown to be effective; this strategy involves the addition of small-molecule epigenetic modifiers to the culture medium, thereby activating silenced biosynthetic gene clusters without altering the DNA sequences of the fungi. This approach facilitates the expression of silenced genes in endophytic fungi, thereby increasing the number and diversity of secondary metabolites. Furthermore, it assists in overcoming the inhibition of microbial secondary-metabolite synthesis under laboratory conditions, and enhances silenced-gene expressions. The advent of novel analytical techniques and bioinformatics has provided a comprehensive, multifaceted, and holistic understanding of fungal metabolism through the development of metabolomics as a research platform. However, few studies have combined anti-ovarian cancer-activity screening with metabolomic approaches in the search for activity-differentiating metabolites from endophytic fungi under the intervention of epigenetic modifiers. Herein, we investigated the impact of epigenetic modifiers on the secondary metabolites of the endophytic Diaporthe goulteri fungus from Acanthus ilicifolius L. to determine their potential anti-ovarian cancer activities. Crude extracts were obtained by controlling three variables: the number of fermentation days, the type of epigenetic modifier, and its concentration, with activities screened using the CCK-8 (cell counting kit-8) method. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was subsequently employed for non-targeted metabolomic analysis. A multivariate statistical analysis model was constructed using principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis, which combines model and variable importance projection, with qualitative screening performed and significant changes (variable importance in the projection (VIP)≥1; P<0. 05) determined. Fifteen differential metabolites were identified in the fungal and epigenetic modification group, primarily comprising polyketides, amino acids, derivatives, alkaloids, and organic acids, including prenderol, glycine, valine, 2-ethylcaproic acid, rubratoxin B, finasteride, 6-silaspiro[5.5]undecane, 1-(2-nitrophenoxy)octane, heptadecene, 1-pentadecene, 11-ketoetiocholanolone, 3-(1-ethyl-1,3,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-5-yl)butanal, N2-benzoylarginine, tabutrex, (3aR,6S,6aS)-6-(4-hydroxy-2-methoxy-2-butanyl)-4,4-dimethylhexahydro-1(2H)-pentalenone, and 8-aminoquinoline. The expressions of prenderol, 1-(2-nitrophenoxy)octane, 3-(1-ethyl-1,3,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-5-yl)butanal, N2-benzoylarginine, and 8-aminoquinoline were downregulated, whereas the expressions of the remaining 10 substances were upregulated. Polyketides were the main components that exhibited higher expressions. This study showed that latent active differential metabolites can be searched by combining anti-ovarian cancer-activity screening with metabolomics analysis, thereby providing a reference for the further development of Acanthus ilicifolius L. resources and the subsequent targeted isolation of active compounds.

MEASUREMENT AND CHARACTERISTIC ANALYSIS OF SKELETAL GEOMETRIC PARAMETERS IN CHINESE HUMANS

Problem: Significant differences exist between the body dimensions of Chinese and Western individuals, and these differences affect the injury characteristics of passengers in traffic accidents. Most current parametric finite element human models are based on Western body data, which does not adequately assess the injury risks for Chinese individuals. Therefore, it is imperative to establish a digital model that reflects the anatomical features of Chinese humans. This requires comprehensive anthropometric data specific to the Chinese population. Aim: This study aims to collect and analyze skeletal geometric parameters from various representative regions in China across different age groups to fill the gap in Chinese anthropometric data. Additionally, it seeks to explore regional and age-related differences in these parameters, providing a scientific basis for developing finite element models that reflect the characteristics of the Chinese population. Methods: Clinical CT data of skeletal geometric parameters were collected from 224 individuals across seven representative regions of China, including parameters of the head, chest, and lower limbs. Descriptive statistics, K-W tests, and U-tests were used to analyze regional differences. Spearman correlation and linear regression analyses were employed to assess the impact of age. Furthermore, weighted averages and weighted variances of skeletal geometric parameters were calculated to reflect the characteristics of individuals from various regions across the country, which will be applied in the development of Chinese human models. Results: The results indicate significant regional differences in the skeletal geometric parameters of Chinese individuals, exhibiting regional patterns between the north–south and east–west areas. While skeletal geometric parameters showed significant differences with age, no clear statistical pattern was observed. Conclusion: This study systematically extracts and analyzes the skeletal geometric parameters of the Chinese population from regional and age perspectives for the first time. These data will be applied in the development of Chinese human models, providing crucial support for improving passenger safety in traffic accidents, enhancing vehicle safety design, and establishing anthropometric standards suitable for the Chinese context.

Unveiling environmental transmission risks: comparative analysis of azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus clinical and environmental isolates from Yunnan, China.

Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus poses a significant clinical challenge globally. Our previous epidemiological analysis revealed a remarkably high frequency (~80%) of azole-resistant A. fumigatus in Yunnan's greenhouse environments, prompting increased local and regional research for targeted control strategies. In this study, we analyzed 94 clinical A. fumigatus isolates from Yunnan, comparing their susceptibility profiles and genotypic characteristics with environmental strains previously isolated. While the overall frequency of azole resistance in clinical isolates was lower than that in environmental samples, a significant prevalence of cross-resistance, with varying resistance patterns based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels was observed, which exceeded rates in other regions of China. Specific mutation combinations in the cyp51A gene were linked to elevated MIC values in clinical and/or environmental samples, while some resistant strains with wild-type cyp51A remain unexplained, indicating a need for further investigation into their resistance mechanisms. The differences in unique genetic elements and the distinct genetic differentiation observed between clinical and environmental isolates can be attributed to Yunnan's unique geomorphology and potential genotype importation from other provinces and abroad. Extensive allele exchanges and sharing contributed to the selection of azole-resistant clinical isolates, suggesting a common environmental origin, and the transmission routes of local drug-resistant strains cannot be excluded. These findings emphasize the imperative for regional and targeted surveillance to monitor resistance trends and guide effective antifungal therapy, and management strategies to mitigate invasive aspergillosis risk in this region.IMPORTANCEAzole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus is a major global health concern, with particularly high rates (~80%) observed in Yunnan's greenhouse environments. This study compares azole resistance in 94 clinical isolates from Yunnan with environmental strains, revealing lower clinical resistance but significant cross-resistance and distinct resistance patterns. Specific mutations in the cyp51A gene were associated with elevated minimum inhibitory concentration values, though some resistant strains had wild-type cyp51A, highlighting the need for further research. The unique genetic profiles and potential external genotype influences in Yunnan emphasize the need for targeted regional surveillance. Effective monitoring and control strategies are essential to manage and mitigate the risk of invasive aspergillosis.

Heterogeneous influences of specialization and diversification on regional R&amp;D performance: a China, Europe, and US comparison

Abstract We study the impact of industrial specialization and diversification on regional R&amp;D performance. We respond to a need to consider specialization and diversification as being complementary and to cover a broad geographical scope. Based on Malmquist-based data envelopment analysis, we disclose disparity in R&amp;D productivity and underlying efficiency and technical change in regions in China, Europe, and in the USA in the period 2015–19. For provinces in China, industrial diversification affects regional R&amp;D productivity growth and efficiency enhancement in a U-shape mode. For European countries, specialization has a U-shaped influence on R&amp;D productivity change, and diversification has an inverted U-shaped influence on productivity and efficiency change. We find no significant influence of specialization and diversification on the improvement of R&amp;D performance at the level of states in the USA. Our findings point to place-based specificities and complementarity between specialization and diversification and come with policy recommendations for enhancing regional R&amp;D performance.

Climate-related risk to maize crops in China from Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

AbstractThe Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, invaded China late in 2018 and was responsible for substantial crop losses, especially to maize. This work focuses on the suitability of climate across China for Fall Armyworm survival and spread. It uses climate metrics derived with guidance from experts to enable assessment of the risks posed by Fall Armyworm on maize production in different regions of China. The locations and time of year when temperature conditions are within a viable range for Fall Armyworm survival (minimum temperature higher than 9.7$$^\circ$$ ∘ C and maximum temperature lower than 39.2$$^\circ$$ ∘ C) are used to estimate the spatial distribution of winter breeding and overwintering zones, which helps understand the regions and timing of Fall Armyworm migration risk into northern maize production regions. In addition, meridional wind conditions across the Yangtze River basin area are assessed, and a metric of migration potential from the winter breeding and overwintering regions in the south towards northern regions with maize production is established. Results show that temperature during the winter months currently limits Fall Armyworm winter breeding populations to the very southern regions of China (and bordering countries to the south). However, due to the consistent timing and direction of the East Asian Summer Monsoon winds, the Fall Armyworm could easily be directed northwards to the Yangtze River basin during summer months with a peak in July. For this reason, pest management actions against the Fall Armyworm on summer maize should be taken.

Study on HPLC fingerprint of Saposhnikovia divaricata lipophilic components and anti-aging effects

Saposhnikovia divaricata is commonly used in clinical practice as a heat-clearing and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicine. Current research on Saposhnikovia divaricata has mostly focused on chromones, while studies on its lipophilic parts remain scarce. In this study, samples of the lipophilic components of Saposhnikovia divaricata (SDL) from different regions in China were collected to establish an HPLC fingerprint. The quality of SDL was evaluated through chemical pattern recognition and multi-component content determination. Furthermore, using the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model, the anti-aging ability of SDL was preliminarily studied. In the HPLC fingerprints of 11 batches of SDL, 19 common peaks were identified, and 4 components were characterized as follows: peak 14, linolenic acid (ALA); peak 15, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); peak 16, linoleic acid (LA); peak 17, oleic acid (OA). The similarity of the fingerprint ranged from 0.704 to 0.929. The results indicate that the content of ALA, DHA, LA, and OA are 0.040–0.440 mg/g, 0.003–0.116 mg/g, 1.047–6.460 mg/g, and 0.040–0.294 mg/g, respectively. HCA analysis divided 11 batches of SDL into two categories, and PCA analysis extracted 6 principal components with a cumulative contribution rate of 85.91%. The anti-aging ability of the SDL was proved by measuring the lifespan, reproductive capacity, body length, mobility, lipofuscin content, and heat stress resistance of C. elegans. The combination of high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint and chemical pattern recognition for multi-component content determination is a reliable, comprehensive, and promising evaluation of the quality of SDL. The confirmation of SDL’s anti-aging ability provides the possibility for the research of Saposhnikovia divaricata in the field of healthy food and cosmetics.

Chinese Public Attitudes and Opinions on Health Policies During Public Health Emergencies: Sentiment and Topic Analysis.

By the end of 2021, the new wave of COVID-19 sparked by the Omicron variant spread rapidly due to its highly contagious nature, affecting more than 170 countries worldwide. Nucleic acid testing became the gold standard for diagnosing novel coronavirus infections. As of July 2022, numerous cities and regions in China have implemented regular nucleic acid testing policies, which have had a significant impact on socioeconomics and people's lives. This policy has garnered widespread attention on social media platforms. This study took the newly issued regular nucleic acid testing policy during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example to explore the sentiment responses and fluctuations of netizens toward new policies during public health emergencies. It aimed to propose strategies for managing public opinion on the internet and provide recommendations for policy making and public opinion control. We collected blog posts related to nucleic acid testing on Weibo from April 1, 2022, to July 31, 2022. We used the topic modeling technique latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to identify the most common topics posted by users. We used Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) to calculate the sentiment score of each post. We used an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to examine the relationship between sentiment scores and changes over time. We compared the differences in sentiment scores across various topics, as well as the changes in sentiment before and after the announcement of the nucleic acid price reduction policy (May 22) and the lifting of the lockdown policy in Shanghai (June 1). We collected a total of 463,566 Weibo posts, with an average of 3799.72 (SD 1296.06) posts published daily. The LDA topic extraction identified 8 topics, with the most numerous being the Shanghai outbreak, nucleic acid testing price, and transportation. The average sentiment score of the posts was 0.64 (SD 0.31), indicating a predominance of positive sentiment. For all topics, posts with positive sentiment consistently outnumbered those with negative sentiment (χ27=24,844.4, P<.001). The sentiment scores of posts related to "nucleic acid testing price" decreased after May 22 compared with before (t120=3.882, P<.001). Similarly, the sentiment scores of posts related to the "Shanghai outbreak" decreased after June 1 compared with before (t120=11.943, P<.001). During public health emergencies, the topics of public concern were diverse. Public sentiment toward the regular nucleic acid testing policy was generally positive, but fluctuations occurred following the announcement of key policies. To understand the primary concerns of the public, the government needs to monitor social media posts by citizens. By promptly sharing information on media platforms and engaging in effective communication, the government can bridge the information gap between the public and government agencies, fostering a positive public opinion environment.

High-resolution assessment of wind energy potential in the Hami region of Northwestern China

Abstract Wind energy plays a pivotal role in the global effort to mitigate climate change, with China emerging as a leader in renewable energy adoption. The Hami region in northwestern China stands out as a crucial area for wind power development, given its substantial wind resources and strategic importance in China’s energy landscape. However, existing studies on wind energy potential vary widely and involve large uncertainties due to sparse measurements and coarse resolution, highlighting the need for more precise assessments to guide policy decisions and optimize energy utilization. This study leverages high-resolution ERA5 reanalysis data and advanced wind turbine technology to assess wind energy potential in the Hami region, taking into account factors including wind speed patterns, turbine heights, and geographical constraints. The comparison with in-situ data demonstrated that high-resolution ERA5 reanalyzed wind speeds enable to capture multi-year wind speed variations in this region. We find substantial potential for wind energy in Hami, with energy densities exceeding 200 W/m² in the high-potential wind zones. Importantly, this study identifies a new high-potential area in eastern Hami, termed the East Wind Zone. Our high-resolution assessment of wind energy potential at different heights over the past two decades reveals long-term trends and seasonal variations. Increasing the hub height from 95 m to 140 m raises the average wind power generation potential across Hami by 31.3 GWh/year. Our findings highlight the importance of strategic wind farm placement to maximize renewable energy output and provide insights for policy and industry, supporting China's renewable energy goals.&amp;#xD;

Investigation of the impact of diverse climate conditions on the cultivation suitability of Cinnamomum cassia using the MaxEnt model, HPLC and chemometric methods in China

Cinnamomum cassia Presl. is a subtropical plant that is used for food and medicine. Climate change has changed the suitable habitats of medicinal plants, which might have repercussions for the efficacy of herbal remedies. In this study, the potential distribution in each period of Cinnamomum cassia was predicted and the quality in different suitable habitats was evaluated. According to the results, (1) precipitation, temperature, and soil are the primary environmental variables influencing C. cassia distribution. (2) The high-suitable habitats of current climate scenarios were predominantly located in the southern regions (Guangdong and Guangxi etc.) of China, with an area of 706,129.08 km2. Under future climate scenarios, suitable habitats will increasingly move northward, with a greater concentration south of the Yangtze River, particularly in the 2090s SSP585 scenario, the total area of newly extended suitable habitat reaches 312,963.53 km2. (3) HPLC and FTIR, combined with chemometrics, can be effective methods for identifying different suitable habitats of C. cassia. The content of trans-cinnamaldehyde (0.85%) is significantly higher in the high suitability habitat compared to the medium-low suitability habitat (0.30%). Our findings can offer valuable guidance for the identification of suitable C. cassia cultivation areas in China, as well as for the evaluation of C. cassia resource quality and the rational use of resources in different suitable habitats.

Disparities by region, age, and sex in cardiovascular disease burden attributable to high fasting plasma glucose in China, 2010-2018: a nationwide, population-based study

Abstract Background Elaborating and understanding disparities in the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) attributable to high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is important to improve diabetes prevention and promote cardiovascular health. In this study, we aimed to estimate the burden of CVD and its subtypes attributable to high FPG between 2010 and 2018 in China, by age, sex, region and socio-demographic index (SDI). Methods We pooled data on 791 373 people aged 25 years and older from three population-based surveys, and the temporal-spatial Bayesian hierarchical model was used to estimate age- specific, sex- specific, province- specific, and year-specific average FPG levels from 2010 to 2018. We estimated population attributable fraction for CVD by age and sex for 31 provinces. Data on CVD deaths at the provincial level were obtained from surveillance systems, which were used to compute death numbers and years of life lost (YLLs) due to CVD that could be attributed to high FPG using the counterfactual scenario of theoretical minimum risk level. We also decomposed changes in attributable burdens into four explanatory components, including population growth, population aging, risk exposure to FPG, and in risk-deleted mortality rates for CVD. Results In 2018, an estimated total of 512·29 thousand (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 488·60 to 538·65) adults aged 25 or older were attributable to high FPG in China, with 281·54 thousand (95%UI 267·89 to 295·05) of these deaths occurring in men and 229·75 thousand (95%UI 210·98 to 251·89) in women. The age composition of CVD mortality caused by high FPG suggested a trend toward older ages from 2010 to 2018 (Figure 1). High FPG accounted for 1 093·45 crude YLLs per 100 000 people (95%UI 1 059·13 to 1 131·73) due to FPG-related CVD in 2018, with substantial variation across provinces. The age-standardised CVD mortality rate attributable to high FPG increased by 3·99%, from 41·93 per 100 000 people (95%UI 40·07 to 43·88) in 2010 to 43·60 per 100 000 (95%UI 41·77 to 45·62) in 2018. In 2018, the higher age-standardised CVD mortality rate attributable to high FPG was observed in the high-middle SDI region and the middle SDI region. By province, the age-standardised mortality rate due to FPG-related CVD in both sexes combined varied from 21·31 per 100 000 people in Tibet to 77·66 per 100 000 people in Heilongjiang in 2018. Nationally, compared to 2010, exposure to high FPG and population aging in 2018 were the primary drivers of increased FPG-related deaths due to CVD (Figure 2). Conclusions The CVD burden attributable to high FPG was still large in China, and varied markedly across regions and provinces. Exposure to high FPG and population ageing were associated with substantial changes in the number of FPG-related CVD deaths between 2010 and 2018. Findings of this study emphasize the importance of developing population-specific tailored measures in China and other regions with similar condition.Figure 1Figure 2

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Grassland Species Diversity and Their Driving Factors in the Three Rivers Headwater Region of China from 2000 to 2021

Biodiversity loss will lead to a serious decline for ecosystem services, which will ultimately affect human well-being and survival. Monitoring the spatial and temporal dynamics of grassland biodiversity is essential for its conservation and sustainable development. This study integrated ground monitoring data, Landsat remote sensing, and environmental variables in the Three Rivers Headwater Region (TRHR) from 2000 to 2021. We established a reliable model for estimating grassland species diversity, analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns, trends of change, and the driving factors of changes in grassland species diversity over the past 22 years. Among models based on diverse variable selection and machine learning methods, the random forest (RF) combined stepwise regression (STEP) model was found to be the optimal model for estimating grassland species diversity in this study, which had an R2 of 0.44 and an RMSE of 2.56 n/m2 on the test set. The spatial distribution of species diversity showed a pattern of abundance in the southeast and scarcity in the northwest. Trend analysis revealed that species diversity was increasing in 80.46% of the area, whereas 16.59% of the area exhibited a decreasing trend. The analysis of driving factors indicated that the changes in species diversity were driven by both climate change and human activities over the past 22 years in the study area, of which temperature was the most significant driving factor. This study effectively monitors grassland species diversity on a large scale, thereby supporting biodiversity monitoring and grassland resource management.

Interactivity, humanness, and trust: a psychological approach to AI chatbot adoption in e-commerce

This study aims to investigate the impact of interactivity and perceived humanness on trust toward AI chatbots in the e-commerce setting. Moreover, this study also aims to examine the mediation effect of trust toward AI chatbots in the relationship between interactivity and intention to adopt AI chatbots for e-commerce as well as in the relationship between perceived humanness and intention to adopt chatbots for e-commerce. This study used a time lag approach to collect the data from 343 customers from the southern region of China. The data were collected online through a questionnaire designed in Chinese language using a survey firm. The findings of this study indicated that there is a significant impact of interactivity and humanness on the trust toward chatbots. Moreover, the findings of this study indicated that there is a significant mediating effect of trust toward chatbots in the relationships of interactivity and perceived humanness to adopt chatbots for e-commerce. In addition, this study found a significant moderating influence on the perceived enjoyment of using chatbots in e-commerce settings. This study provides a unique perspective of expectation-confirmation theory for adopting emerging technologies for online shopping and also provides insights for designers and business firms to develop businesses to facilitate the AI chatbot feature for e-commerce.

Influencing Factors and Model of Shallow Gas Enrichment in the Quaternary Sediments of the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea

Investigating the primary influencing factors that regulate the enrichment of shallow gas not only deepens our understanding of the rules governing shallow gas enrichment in deep-ocean environments but also has the potential to enhance the success rate of locating shallow gas reservoirs. Recent drilling activities in the LS36 gas field located in the central Qiongdongnan Basin have revealed a substantial shallow gas reserve within the sediments of the Quaternary Ledong Formation, marking it as the first shallow gas reservoir discovered in the offshore region of China with confirmed natural gas geological reserves surpassing 100 billion cubic meters. However, the formation mechanism and influencing factors of shallow gas enrichment remain elusive due to the limited availability of 3D seismic and well data. This study employs seismic interpretation and digital simulation to decipher the dynamics of shallow gas accumulation and utilizes the carbon isotope composition of methane to ascertain the origin of the shallow gas. Our results show that the shallow gas is primarily concentrated within a large-scale submarine fan, covering a distribution region of up to 2800 km2, situated in the deep-sea plain. The δ13 C1 methane carbon isotope data ranges from −69.7‰ to −45.2‰ and all δ13 C2 values are above −28‰, suggesting that the shallow gas within the Ledong Formation is derived from a mix of biogenic gas produced in shallow strata and thermogenic gas generated in deeper source rocks. The results of gas sources, seismic profiles, and digital simulations suggest that thermogenic gas originating from the Lingshui and Beijiao sags was transported to the Quaternary submarine fan via a complex system that includes faults, gas chimneys, and channel sands. The mass-transported deposits (MTDs) in the upper reaches of the submarine fan have effectively acted as a seal, preventing the escape of shallow gas from the fan. Therefore, the factors contributing to the enrichment of shallow gas in the Qiongdongnan Basin include the presence of favorable submarine fan reservoirs, the availability of two distinct gas sources, the effective sealing of MTDs, and the presence of two efficient transport pathways. A conceptual model for the accumulation of shallow gas is developed, illuminating the complex formation–migration–accumulation process. This study underscores the importance of aligning multiple influencing factors in the process of shallow gas accumulation, and the suggested accumulation model may be pertinent to shallow gas exploration in other marginal sea basins.

Significant Association Between Arctic Oscillation and Winter Wildfires in Southern China

AbstractThe recent increase of regional wildfire occurrences has been associated with climate change. In this study, we investigated the association between the February to March wildfire points and burned area in the southern region of China (20°N–30°N and 105°E–115°E) and the simultaneous Arctic Oscillation (AO) index during 2001–2022 and 2001–2020, respectively. After removing the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole signals, time series of the regional mean fire points and burned area over the study area is significantly correlated with the AO index at − 0.37 and − 0.47, significant at the 0.1 level. Precipitation significantly affects wildfire variations. The positive AO could trigger a southeastward Rossby wave train and induce anomalous cyclone activity approximately located in the area encompassed by 15°N–27°N and 85°E–100°E. This outcome could help to enhance the southern branch trough and results in positive precipitation anomalies in southern China. This increasing moisture is conductive to reducing wildfire risks, vice versa. Our results are potentially useful for strengthening the understanding of the mechanisms of wildfire occurrences in southern China.

Dynamic Changes in and Driving Factors of Soil Organic Carbon in China from 2001 to 2020

It remains unclear what changes have occurred in the distribution pattern of and trend in soil organic carbon (SOC) in China against the background of climate and land use change. Clarifying the dynamic changes in SOC and their driving factors in different regions of China is therefore crucial for assessing the global carbon cycle. In this study, we collected and supplemented a large amount of soil organic carbon density (SOCD) data in China from 2001 to 2020 and extracted data on environmental covariates (ECs) for the corresponding years. A random forest model was used to estimate the SOCD at a depth of 0–20 cm and 0–100 cm in China for the years 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, and we explored the trend of SOCD changes and their key driving factors. The results showed the following: (1) Compared with previous studies, the predictive ability of the 0–100 cm depth model was greatly improved; the coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.61 and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC) was =0.76. (2) From 2001 to 2020, China’s soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) were 38.11, 39.11, 39.88, 40.16, and 41.12 Pg C for the 0–20 cm depth and 110.49, 112.67, 112.80, 113.06, and 114.96 Pg C for the 0–100 cm depth, respectively. (3) The effects of temperature and precipitation on SOCD in China showed obvious regional variability, and land use changes had mainly positive effects on SOCD in all regions of China, which was related to the large-scale implementation of ecological protection and restoration and the policy of returning farmland to forests and grasslands in China. This study provides strong scientific support for addressing climate change and rationalizing the use of land resources.

Characteristics of the Spatial Structure of Traditional Villages in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China and Their Influence Mechanisms

Traditional villages are one of the basic types of rural revitalisation and one of the important carriers of cultural inheritance. This research is based on the data of 53 traditional villages in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with the aid of the ArcGIS10.8.1 spatial analysis platform. The study identifies the spatial evolution characteristics from the spatial distribution type, distribution direction, distribution density, distribution balance, etc., and explores their influence mechanisms. The study shows that 1. the spatial structure of traditional villages in Xinjiang was analysed as a cohesive structure type by using the nearest neighbour index method, which shows the evolutionary characteristics of the agglomerative tendency to increase gradually. Among them, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and Turpan City have the highest degree of concentration. 2. The establishment and development of traditional villages in Xinjiang is mainly influenced by natural factors such as geographical features and hydrography. Social factors such as population distribution, transport conditions and economic progression have very important implications for the preservation and continuation of traditional villages.