Geographical Regions In China Research Articles

Occupational identity, job satisfaction and their effects on turnover intention among Chinese Paediatricians: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThis study contributes to research on the paediatrician shortage by examining occupational identity, job satisfaction and their effects on turnover intention among paediatricians in China.MethodsA multi-stage stratified random sampling method was employed to conduct a questionnaire survey. Of the 4906 survey recipients, valid data were collected from 4198 of the respondents (85.6%). The participants were from seven geographic regions of China (south, central, north, east, northwest, southwest, and northeast). Paediatricians who volunteered and provided written informed consent participated. All variables including basic socio-demographics and work-related characteristics, occupational identity, job satisfaction and turnover intention were based on available literature, and measured on a 5- point Likert scale. Statistical methods such as exploratory factor analysis (EFA), descriptive analysis, common method bias, one-way ANOVA test, Pearson correlation analysis and mediation analysis were used.ResultsSignificant differences were observed among the respondents in terms of turnover intention based on age, education level, marital status, region, the type and grade of practice setting, professional title, years in practise, workload, rest days, and monthly income. Occupational identity and job satisfaction were both negatively related to turnover intention, and occupational identity was positively correlated with job satisfaction (r1 = − 0.601, p < 0.01; r2 = − 0.605, p < 0.01). The results also showed that job satisfaction played a mediating role in the association between occupational identity and turnover intention among Chinese paediatricians.ConclusionsWork conditions, workload and salary are crucial factors of turnover intention among paediatricians in China. Therefore, we suggest that healthcare managers should increase investment in paediatrics, implement salary reforms and dedicate more attention to female and young paediatricians, thus reducing turnover intention among Chinese paediatricians.

Economic growth efficiency and carbon reduction efficiency in China: Coupling or decoupling

The size of global and China’s economy expanded rapidly in recent years, and working on emission of carbon dioxide increased due to environmental change. The relationship between decoupling, economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions has been examined extensively, but economic growth efficiency can decouple from carbon reduction efficiency is less explore area specially in country like China. Our work extracted respective productive for economic growth and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, and further evaluated the decoupling relationship at the efficiency level for China’s provinces during 2005–2017. Economic growth efficiency showed a downward trend, whereas the efficiency in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions showed a slight improvement in the whole of China, which was consistent with China’s strong negative decoupling. All three geographic regions in China had an enormous division between efficiency and its decoupling status. In particular, the eastern provinces had the highest efficiency, but the central region exhibited the highest decoupling. Furthermore, the overall performance of the two efficiency indices declined gradually from the eastern provinces to the western provinces and, over time, more provinces improved their decoupling relationship. Above results also helpful to policy implications, which were conductive to balance economy and environment.

Increasing prevalence of cerebral palsy among children and adolescents in China 1988-2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ObjectivesTo investigate the pooled prevalence of cerebral palsy in China, analyse the differences between different subgroups, and explore the trend over the 32-year period from 1988 to 2020.MethodsAll potential studies related to the prevalence of cerebral palsy among children and adolescents in China were identified from 3 English-language databases and 4 Chinese-language databases. Pooled prevalence was calculated to estimate the prevalence of cerebral palsy among 0-18 years old and different geographical regions in China, using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Continuous fractional polynomial regression modelling was used to estimate the trend in prevalence of cerebral palsy over time. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were conducted to investigate heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Egger’s test were used to explore potential publication bias.ResultsThe pooled prevalence of cerebral palsy over the study period among 0–18 years old and different geographical regions in China was 2.07‰ (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.66–2.47‰), and the prevalence of cerebral palsy was higher in males compared with females (2.25‰ vs 1.59‰), and in rural residents compared with urban residents (2.75‰ vs 1.90‰), respectively. The prevalence of cerebral palsy varied significantly between different geographical regions. In subjects with birthweights < 2.5 and > 4 kg, the prevalence of cerebral palsy was significantly higher than in subjects with birthweights between 2.5 and 4 kg. The trend in pooled prevalence of cerebral palsy increased continuously over the period studied, and could be divided into 3 stages; the mean annual increase in prevalence from 1988 to 1996 and from 2008 to 2019 was more rapid. Multivariate meta-regression found that the year of study was one of the sources of heterogeneity among overall prevalence. (p-value = 0.006).ConclusionThe pooled prevalence of cerebral palsy over the 32-year period from 1988 to 2020 was 2.07‰. There was an increasing trend in prevalence of cerebral palsy among children and adolescents in China over this period.LAY ABSTRACTThere are few reports regarding trends in childhood cerebral palsy in China over the past 30 years. This study searched and statistically analysed all potentially relevant studies regarding cerebral palsy. The trend in childhood cerebral palsy in China increased continuously over the period studied, and could be subdivided into 3 stages. From 1988 to 1996, and from 2008 to 2019, the mean annual increase in prevalence was more rapid than for the other years studied. Counter-measures, such as health monitoring and management of infants and young children, are recommended to reduce the prevalence of childhood cerebral palsy in China.

In Vitro Activity of Imipenem/Relebactam Against Enterobacteriaceae Isolates Obtained from Intra-abdominal, Respiratory Tract, and Urinary Tract Infections in China: Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART), 2015-2018.

Considering the increasing incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in China, this study aimed to establish the in vitro effectiveness of imipenem/relebactam (IMI/REL) on clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates derived from intra-abdominal infections (IAIs), respiratory tract infections (RTIs), and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in China between 2015 and 2018. In total, 8781 Enterobacteriaceae isolates from IAI, RTI, and UTI samples were collected from 22 hospitals across 7 geographic regions of China. Susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs was tested using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution and breakpoints, and IMI/REL activity was assessed using United States Food and Drug Administration guidelines. In 2015-2018, the most frequently identified Enterobacteriaceae species was Escherichia coli (n = 4676 [53.3%]), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 2949 [33.6%]) and Enterobacter cloacae (n = 542 [6.2%]). The Enterobacteriaceae isolates showed 95.2% overall susceptibility to IMI/REL, of which the susceptibility rates in isolates from IAI, RTI, and UTI were 95.8%, 91.4%, and 96.6%, respectively. Overall, the susceptibilities of both intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU Enterobacteriaceae isolates to colistin were 92.9%, followed by IMI/REL (90.7% [95.9%]) and amikacin (83.3% [92.3%]). In addition, IMI/REL restored 66.3% susceptibility in imipenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacteriaceae. Given their high in vitro susceptibility, Enterobacteriaceae infections in China should be considered for IMI/REL treatment, especially with isolates that are not susceptible to carbapenems.

Prevalence, risk factors, and management of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in adults aged 60 years or older in China: a cross-sectional study

China has a large population of older people, but has not yet undertaken a comprehensive study on the prevalence, risk factors, and management of both dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). For this national cross-sectional study, 46 011 adults aged 60 years or older were recruited between March 10, 2015, and Dec 26, 2018, using a multistage, stratified, cluster-sampling method, which considered geographical region, degree of urbanisation, economic development status, and sex and age distribution. 96 sites were randomly selected in 12 provinces and municipalities representative of all socioeconomic and geographical regions in China. Participants were interviewed to obtain data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, medical history, current medications, and family history, and then completed a neuropsychological testing battery administered by a psychological evaluator. The prevalence of dementia (Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and other dementias) and MCI were calculated and the risk factors for different groups were examined using multivariable-adjusted analyses. Overall age-adjusted and sex-adjusted prevalence was estimated to be 6·0% (95% CI 5·8-6·3) for dementia, 3·9% (3·8-4·1) for Alzheimer's disease, 1·6% (1·5-1·7) for vascular dementia, and 0·5% (0·5-0·6) for other dementias. We estimated that 15·07 million (95% CI 14·53-15·62) people aged 60 years or older in China have dementia: 9·83 million (9·39-10·29) with Alzheimer's disease, 3·92 million (3·64-4·22) with vascular dementia, and 1·32 million (1·16-1·50) with other dementias. Overall MCI prevalence was estimated to be 15·5% (15·2-15·9), representing 38·77 million (37·95-39·62) people in China. Dementia and MCI shared similar risk factors including old age (dementia: odds ratios ranging from 2·69 [95% CI 2·43-2·98] to 6·60 [5·24-8·32]; MCI: from 1·89 [1·77-2·00] to 4·70 [3·77-5·87]); female sex (dementia: 1·43 [1·31-1·56]; MCI: 1·51 [1·43-1·59]); parental history of dementia (dementia: 7·20 [5·68-9·12]; MCI: 1·91 [1·48-2·46]); rural residence (dementia: 1·16 [1·06-1·27]; MCI: 1·45 [1·38-1·54]); fewer years of education (dementia: from 1·17 [1·06-1·29] to 1·55 [1·38-1·73]; MCI: from 1·48 [1·39-1·58] to 3·48 [3·25-3·73]); being widowed, divorced, or living alone (dementia: from 2·59 [2·30-2·90] to 2·66 [2·29-3·10]; MCI: from 1·58 [1·44-1·73] to 1·74 [1·56-1·95]); smoking (dementia: 1·85 [1·67-2·04]; MCI: 1·27 [1·19-1·36]), hypertension (dementia: 1·86 [1·70-2·03]; MCI: 1·62 [1·54-1·71] for MCI), hyperlipidaemia (dementia: 1·87 [1·71-2·05]; MCI: 1·29 [1·21-1·37]), diabetes (dementia: 2·14 [1·96-2·34]; MCI: 1·44 [1·35-1·53]), heart disease (dementia: 1·98 [1·73-2·26]; MCI: 1·17 [1·06-1·30]), and cerebrovascular disease (dementia: 5·44 [4·95-5·97]; MCI: 1·49 [1·36-1·62]). Nine of these risk factors are modifiable. Dementia and MCI are highly prevalent in China and share similar risk factors. A prevention strategy should be developed to target the identified risk factors in the MCI population to thwart or slow down disease progression. It is also crucial to optimise the management of dementia and MCI as an important part of China's public health system. Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Scientific Instrument and Equipment Development Project, Mission Program of Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals, Beijing Scholars Program, Beijing Brain Initiative from Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, Project for Outstanding Doctor with Combined Ability of Western and Chinese Medicine, and Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning.

Comparative study and quality evaluation regarding morphology characters, volatile constituents, and triglycerides in seeds of five species used in traditional Chinese medicine

Volatile compounds (VCs) and triglycerides (TGs) are the primary groups of constituents in the fruits of five well-known species used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), viz. Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. (AO), Alpinia katsumadai Hayata (AK), Amomum villosum Lour. (FAL), Amomum villosum Lour. var. xanthioides T. L. Wu et Senjen (FALX), and Amomum longiligulare T. L. Wu (FALO). The fruits of these species are morphologically similar and commonly used in both foods and TCM. Each species is purportedly endowed with different medicinal properties. Efficient and environmentally friendly methods are desirable for the quality control of these species. The current study attempted to establish both comprehensive profiles and quality standards for the five TCM species. External morphology characters were provided to distinguish 18 fruit samples belonging to the five species, which were collected from different geographical regions of China. The VCs of each sample were analyzed by SPME GC/Q-ToF. The identification of marker compounds from each species allowed for the differentiation of the fruits from the five plants. Characterization and quantification of 21 TGs were achieved using SFC/MS with an analysis time of less than 15 min. The complex TGs were unambiguously identified using the MS detection with correct attribution of the acyl group to the sn-2 position. Moreover, the quantification of TGs was improved by using reference standards whenever possible or a single standard strategy to determine multiple TGs. The validity of the proposed SFC/MS method was assessed by analyzing fatty acids from the hydrolysis and transesterification products of the same sample set using GC/MS. The quantification results from both TGs and fatty acids were consistent, and were further substantiated by chemometric analysis. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study utilizing the morphology, VCs, and TGs for quality evaluation purpose of these five TCM species.

Economic differences and coordinated development in Northwest China

Northwest China is one of the seven major geographical regions in China, including Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang. Since the implementation of a series of national policies such as the western development, the economy of the provinces and autonomous regions in Northwest China has been greatly developed. But the imbalance in the development process is also very prominent. Through the analysis of the factors that affect the transfer of the center of gravity and the impact of the shift on the region, we can explore a better path of regional coordinated development. This paper selects five northwest provinces, according to the center of gravity transfer model, studies the changes of the economic center of gravity from 2000 to 2018, and uses the Theil index method to calculate the difference degree of regional economy. The results show that: the development of Northwest China is not balanced, the economic gap between provinces is large. The economic center of gravity moves to the southeast and deviates from the geographical center of Northwest China. There is a positive relationship between the change of gravity center and the size of economic difference.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of double low-dose budesonide and low-dose budesonide plus montelukast among pediatric patients with persistent asthma receiving Step 3 treatment in China

Aims For children aged 1–5 years with persistent asthma, double low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are recommended as the preferred Step 3 treatment and low-dose ICS plus leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) as an alternative. Budesonide inhalation suspension (0.5 mg daily) and montelukast (4.0 mg daily) are commonly used low-dose ICS and LTRA, respectively, among children in China. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of double low-dose budesonide vs. low-dose budesonide plus montelukast from a Chinese healthcare payer’s perspective. Methods A Markov model was constructed with four health states (i.e. no exacerbation, mild exacerbation, moderate-to-severe exacerbation, and death). Transition probabilities were estimated based on exacerbation rates, case-fatality of hospitalized patients due to exacerbation, and natural mortality. Treatment adherence was considered and assumed to impact both drug costs and exacerbation rates. Costs (in 2019 Chinese Yuan [¥]) included drug costs and exacerbation management costs. Cost inputs and utilities for each health state were obtained from a public database and the literature. In-depth interviews were conducted with a health economics expert to validate the model, and a clinical expert to verify inputs and assumptions related to clinical practice. Costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were estimated over a year. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Compared with low-dose budesonide plus montelukast, double low-dose budesonide was associated with lower costs (¥1,534 vs. ¥2,327), fewer exacerbation events (0.43 vs. 1.67) and slightly better QALYs (0.98 vs. 0.97). Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the results and the generalizability of findings across geographic regions in China. Conclusion The cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that double low-dose budesonide is a dominant Step 3 treatment strategy compared with low-dose budesonide plus montelukast for patients aged 1–5 years with persistent asthma in China.

Nutritional value and antioxidant activity of Chinese black truffle (Tuber indicum) grown in different geographical regions in China

Nutritional and health-promoting properties of Tuber indicum are still unclear. In this study, total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) were determined by colorimetric methods; free phenolic acids, vitamin D2 and ergosterol content were determined by HPLC; antioxidant activity were evaluated using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays; in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by protease inhibitory assay. Our results indicated that geographical origin exhibits a significant impact on the nutritional and pharmaceutical properties of Tuber indicum. The samples collected from Sichuan present significant higher proteins (23.2 g/100 g dw), ash (6.38 g/100 g dw), 1,3:1,6-β-glucan (14.7 g/100 g dw) and ergosterol content (0.76 mg/g dw); whereas the samples collected from Yunnan present the highest amount of pectin (4.52 g/100 g dw), food energy (345.20 kcal/100 g dw), TPC (1.53 mg GAE/g dw), TFC (1.66 mg CAE/g dw) and the highest ABTS and DPPH values, and potent anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, the samples collected from Jilin presented the highest amount of total carbohydrate (51.7 g/100 g dw), reducing sugar (7.3 g/100 g dw) and total phenolic acids (66.76 μg/g dw). These results will enhance current knowledge about nutritional values, chemical compositions, and biological properties of T. indicum.

Population-Level Configurations of Gut Mycobiome Across 6 Ethnicities in Urban and Rural China

Beyond bacteria, the human gastrointestinal tract is host to a vast diversity of fungi, collectively known as the gut mycobiome. Little is known of the impact of geography, ethnicity, and urbanization on the gut mycobiome at a large population level. We aim to delineate the variation of human gut mycobiome and its association with host factors, environmental factors, and diets. Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we profiled and compared the fecal mycobiome of 942 healthy individuals across different geographic regions in China (Hong Kong and Yunnan), spanning 6 ethnicities: Han, Zang, Bai, Hani, Dai, and Miao (including both urban and rural residents of each ethnicity). In parallel to fecal sampling, we collected participant metadata (environmental exposure, bowel habits, anthropometrics, and medication), diet, and clinical blood measurement results (a total of 118 variables) and investigated their impact on the gut mycobiome variation in humans. The human gut mycobiome was highly variable across populations. Urbanization-related factors had the strongest impact on gut mycobiome variation, followed by geography, dietary habit, and ethnicity. The Hong Kong population (highly urbanized) had a significantly lower fungal richness compared with Yunnan population. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was highly enriched in urban compared with rural populations and showed significant inverse correlations with liver pathology-associated blood parameters, including aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and direct bilirubin. Candida dubliniensis, which was decreased in urban relative to rural populations, showed correlations with host metabolism-related parameters in blood, including a positive correlation with fasting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and a negative correlation with fasting glucose levels. The fungal-blood parameter correlations were highly geography- and ethnicity-specific. Food choices had differential influences on gut mycobiome and bacterial microbiome, where taxa from the same genus tended to be coregulated by food and thereby cobloom. Ethnicity-specific fungal signatures were associated with distinct habitual foods in each ethnic group. Our data highlight, for the first time to our knowledge, that geography, urbanization, ethnicity, and habitual diet play an important role in shaping the gut mycobiome composition. Gut fungal configurations in combination with population characteristics (such as residing region, ethnicity, diet, lifestyle) influence host metabolism and health.

Occurrence, Distribution, and Human Exposure of Several Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Indoor Dust: A Nationwide Study.

Parabens, triclosan (TCS), triclocarban (TCC), and bisphenol A and its analogues (BPs) are used in various industrial and consumer products and are typical endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In this study, six parabens, TCS, TCC, and eight BPs were determined in 289 indoor dusts collected from different geographical regions in China. Ten of 16 target compounds were found in >50% samples. Concentrations of Σ6parabens, Σ(TCS+TCC), and Σ8BPs in indoor dust ranged from 8.66-21,500 (median: 288), 19.6-8940 (104), and 8.80-37,400 (377) ng/g dw, respectively. The Σ(TCS+TCC) concentrations in dust from Northeast China were higher than those from Central South China (p < 0.05). The concentrations of Σ8BPs in dust from Eastern China were approximately 2 times higher than those found for North China (p < 0.05), whereas there was no significant spatial difference in concentrations of parabens among different geographical regions (p > 0.05). Human exposure to these EDCs through indoor dust ingestion and dermal absorption was evaluated. The median and 95th percentile estimated daily intakes of Σ16EDCs ranged from 0.439 (adults)-4.57 (infants) and 6.26 (adults)-62.1 (infants) ng/kg bw/day, respectively, generally decreasing with increasing age. This nationwide survey establishes a baseline concentration for parabens in the indoor environment in China.

A comparison of the holiday climate index:beach and the tourism climate index across coastal destinations in China.

Climatic resources are vitally important for tourism, driving major intra- and inter-regional travel flows for sun-sand-surf (3S) tourism around the world. The development of climate indices to measure the suitability of climate for major tourism market segments has evolved over three decades. This study provides the first application of the holiday climate index (HCI):Beach specification in the Asia-Pacific tourism region. The HCI is designed from international tourist climate preference studies and is compared with the tourism climate index (TCI), which is widely applied, but not based on tourist climate preferences. The index inter-comparison is conducted at 14 of the most popular beach resort destinations in China, which include four geographic regions of China with four different Köppen classifications. The results show key differences between the two indices in rating the climatic suitability of the selected beach destinations in China, with the TCI rating beach destinations in the north and south higher during the spring and fall seasons, which is not consistent with beach tourism visits. During the summer months, southern destinations have much higher HCI:Beach rating, reflecting the 3S tourists’ desire for higher temperatures. The findings reinforce those from other tourism regions that indicate the TCI is not appropriate for assessing 3S tourism potential and that additional cross-cultural studies of tourist climate indices are needed to better inform market segment climate service development and to understand the potential impacts of future climate change.

Phenylmethylsiloxanes and trifluoropropylmethylsiloxanes in municipal sludges from wastewater treatment plants in China: Their distribution, degradation and risk assessment

Based on wastewater and raw/digested sludge samples from 29 wastewater treatment plants in 25 Chinese cities, the nationwide profiles of cis- and trans- isomers of phenylmethylsiloxanes (P3 and P4) and trifluoropropylmethylsiloxanes (D3F and D4F) were investigated. Calculated with paired influents/sludges positive for these compounds, majority (93% at mean) of them were found accumulating in raw sludges [<LOQ-188 ng/g dw (dry weight), df (detection frequency) = 0–96.6%, n = 58] during wastewater treatment. Overall, trifluoropropylmethylsiloxanes were merely found in 6 cities, while phenylmethylsiloxanes were found in all cities distributed over seven geographic regions of China. Sludge emissions of phenylmethylsiloxanes in each region correlated with their reported consumption volume (R2 = 0.81, except for the Southwest China), per capita gross domestic products (R2 = 0.20), and annual average temperature (R2 = 0.63). Although not found in wastewater biological treatment processes, degradation of phenylmethylsiloxanes and trifluoropropylmethylsiloxanes was apparent (3.0–25.9%) during sludge-digestion processes. In digestion experiments, detection of silanediols and silanetriols indicated possible biodegradation pathway, i.e., hydrolysis of Si-O and Si-C bones, with half-lives ranging from 33.7–57.7 d The calculated hazard quotients of these compounds in soils undergoing one year sludge-fertilization were less than 0.01, but their ecological risks should be further studied in view of their potential accumulation in soils.

Foliar epidermal micromorphology and its taxonomic significance in Polygonatum (Asparagaceae) using scanning electron microscopy.

In the current investigation, 16 samples of six species of the genus Polygonatum were collected from different geographical regions in China. Leaf micromorphological traits were studied in detail using scanning electron microscopy. About five-leaf samples were used for each species collected from different geographical regions. A significant variation was found in the foliar epidermal traits such as stomata types and their distribution, epidermal cell shape, anticlinal wall pattern, and various types of trichomes. Polygonal epidermal cells were observed in P. cyrtonema, P. odoratum, P. sibiricum, and P. filipes, rectangular in P. zanlanscianense and P. odoratum and irregular shape in P. filipes and P. zanlanscianense. Straight anticlinal wall pattern was observed in most of the species, but straight to little undulate was observed in P. cyrtonema, P. filipes, and P. zanlanscianense. Similarly, various shape stomata that are, oval, oblong, and elliptical and types that is, paracytic, anomocytic, and actinocytic have been observed. Based on the foliar traits, the P. odoratum and P. sibiricum were found closely related to one another. On the other hand, P. involucratum and P. zanlanscianense shows a strong association. However, P. filipes showed very less similarity with the other five species. Hence this study adds useful information that may be helpful in the further taxonomic classification of the taxa at subspecies level and was found significant in the correct identification and discrimination of the closely related taxa of the genus Polygonatum.

Identifying Forest Fire Driving Factors and Related Impacts in China Using Random Forest Algorithm

Reasonable forest fire management measures can effectively reduce the losses caused by forest fires and forest fire driving factors and their impacts are important aspects that should be considered in forest fire management. We used the random forest model and MODIS Global Fire Atlas dataset (2010~2016) to analyse the impacts of climate, topographic, vegetation and socioeconomic variables on forest fire occurrence in six geographical regions in China. The results show clear regional differences in the forest fire driving factors and their impacts in China. Climate variables are the forest fire driving factors in all regions of China, vegetation variable is the forest fire driving factor in all other regions except the Northwest region and topographic variables and socioeconomic variables are only the driving factors of forest fires in a few regions (Northwest and Southwest regions). The model predictive capability is good: the AUC values are between 0.830 and 0.975, and the prediction accuracy is between 70.0% and 91.4%. High fire hazard areas are concentrated in the Northeast region, Southwest region and East China region. This research will aid in providing a national-scale understanding of forest fire driving factors and fire hazard distribution in China and help policymakers to design fire management strategies to reduce potential fire hazards.

Dynamic energy performance evaluation of Chinese textile industry

The rapid growth of population and economy will result in a substantial increase in textile production and consumption. Due to the uneven management level and especially the major fossil fuel production process, the Chinese textile industry needs to be transformed and upgraded for emission-reduction as a national backbone industry. Using a global meta-frontier approach founded on a non-radial distance function, energy performance is measured at the provincial level from 1985 to 2016. Given the study’s long interval, all data samples in different statistical calibers are successively adjusted and standardized. From different spatial and time scales, the dynamic energy efficiency goes up and becomes more balanced over time in three geographical regions of China. Examined by statistics, the study also reveals that during the implementation of low-carbon textile policies, the energy performance improved significantly, which mainly benefits from speeding up of technological innovation. Besides, the dynamic performance of the eastern region rises by 11.347%, while the central and western regions obtain a higher growth rate of 27.295% and 32.980% respectively. With the decomposition of the dynamic performance index into three separate components, policy-makers should prioritize the appropriate policies to attain environmental management goals considering provincial heterogeneity.

Sex Differences in Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in China.

Despite improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to combat cardiovascular disease (CVD) in recent decades, there are significant ongoing access gaps and sex disparities in prevention that have not been adequately quantified in China. A representative, cross-sectional, community-based survey of adults (aged ≥45 years) was conducted in 7 geographic regions of China between 2014 and 2016. Logistic regression models were used to determine sex differences in primary and secondary CVD prevention, and any interaction by age, education level, and area of residence. Data are presented as adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. Of 47 841 participants (61.3% women), 5454 (57.2% women) had established CVD and 9532 (70.5% women) had a high estimated 10-year CVD risk (≥10%). Only 48.5% and 48.6% of women and 39.3% and 59.8% of men were on any kind of blood pressure (BP)-lowering medication, lipid-lowering medication, or antiplatelet therapy for primary and secondary prevention, respectively. Women with established CVD were significantly less likely than men to receive BP-lowering medications (OR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.65-0.95]), lipid-lowering medications (OR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.56-0.84]), antiplatelets (OR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.45-0.62]), or any CVD prevention medication (OR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.52-0.73]). Women with established CVD, however, had better BP control (OR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.14-1.50]) but less well-controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.57-0.76]), and were less likely to smoke (OR, 13.89 [95% CI, 11.24-17.15]) and achieve physical activity targets (OR, 1.92 [95% CI, 1.61-2.29]). Conversely, women with high CVD risk were less likely than men to have their BP, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and bodyweight controlled (OR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.38-0.55]; OR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.52-0.69]; OR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.48-0.63], respectively), despite a higher use of BP-lowering medications (OR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.01-1.45]). Younger patients (<65 years) with established CVD were less likely to be taking CVD preventive medications, but there were no sex differences by area of residence or education level. Large and variable gaps in primary and secondary CVD prevention exist in China, particularly for women. Effective CVD prevention requires an improved overall nationwide strategy and a special emphasis on women with established CVD, who have the greatest disparity and the most to benefit.

Quantitative Assessment of Phenolic Acids, Flavonoids and Antioxidant Activities of Sixteen Jujube Cultivars from China.

Increasing attention has been paid to the nutritional values and pharmacological effects of Ziziphus jujuba. Therefore, in this study, four phenolic and flavonoid fractions of 16 jujube cultivars from different geographic regions of China were separated and quantified. In addition, the antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) scavenging method and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The total phenols and flavonoids contents ranged from 253.4 to 494.9mg GAE/100g and 125.3 to 425.4mg rutin/100g, respectively. Subsquently, a total of 10 phenolic acids and two flavonoids were identified, and most quantified phenolic acids with antioxidant activity were mainly present in the glycosided and insoluble-bound phenolic fractions. The results of this study indicate that some jujube cultivars, especially Zanghuang Z. jujuba, Leling Z. jujuba, and Jiaxian Z. jujuba could be selected to promote a healthy diet due to their more plentiful nutritional and phytochemical beneficial effects.

A survey of Chinese consumers' knowledge, beliefs and behavioural intentions regarding salt intake and salt reduction.

Globally, China is among the 'saltiest' nations. In order to support current nationwide salt reduction initiatives, we investigated Chinese consumers' knowledge, beliefs and behaviours related to salt intake and salt reduction. A cross-sectional face-to-face survey was carried out, focusing on salt knowledge, beliefs and behaviours related to salt intake and salt reduction, perceptions of salt reduction responsibility and support for different national strategies. The survey was carried out in China mainland. Consumers (n 2444) from six of seven major geographical regions in China participated in the survey. After data cleaning, a sample of 2430 was included in the final analysis. A majority of Chinese consumers believed that salt added during home cooking was the biggest contributor to their salt intake. Knowledge gaps existed in the awareness of salt hidden in certain foods and flavouring products. Chinese consumers in general were interested in lowering their salt intake. They were aware of salt reduction tools, but the adoption level was low. Consumers expressed strong support for promotion of salt-restriction spoons and public education, but not fiscal policies (e.g. salt-related tax or subsidies). In terms of individual differences, education status demonstrated a substantial impact on salt reduction knowledge and behaviour. There is still big room to 'shake' Chinese consumers' salt habit. The present study provides important evidence and consumer insights to support China's efforts to meet its salt reduction targets.

A Framework for Land Use Scenes Classification Based on Landscape Photos

Space-earth integrated stereoscopic mapping promotes the progress of earth observation technologies. The method which combined remote sensing images with zenith perspectives and ground-level landscape photos with slanted viewing angles improves the efficiency and accuracy of land surveys. Recently, numerous efforts have been devoted to combining deep learning and remote sensing images for the classification of land use scenes. However, improvement of classification accuracy has been limited because of the lack of sectional representation. Landscape photos can describe the cross-sections in detail. For this reason, this study constructed a land-use semantic photo dataset (LSPD) and proposed a land-use classification framework for photos (LUCFP) based on Inception-v4. LSPD was constructed through semantic planning, scene segmentation, supervised iteration transfer learning, and augmentation of photos. LSPD has 1.4 million photos collected from seven geographic regions of China, and covers 13 land-use categories and 44 semantic categories. LUCFP adapts scene segmentation based on depth of field, multisemantic block labeling, and weighting of semantic joint spatial ranges to determine the land use category. To validate LUCFP, nine semantic samples (9×3×2000 photos) were chosen from LSPD, obtaining an overall accuracy of 97.64%. The best photo cropping method was masking, which crops the boundary of the scene labeled by the photo, leading to an accuracy of 90.32%. The optimal pixel size that balances speed and accuracy is 675×675, with speed reaching 30 photos per second with an average accuracy of 93.80%. LUCFP has been successfully applied to the automatic verification of land surveys in China.