Against the backdrop of the contradiction between economic development and the "dual carbon" policy, it is of great significance to explore the decoupling effect and driving factors of China's carbon emissions. Here, we used the Tapio decoupling model to characterize the decoupling state of China's carbon emissions and economic growth, optimizing and expanding the decoupling index based on the LMDI model, systematically exploring the driving factors and their contribution to carbon emissions decoupling, further predicting the driving factors based on the grey breakpoint model, and then exploring the main contradictions of carbon emission decoupling in China in the next few years. The results showed that the decoupling state of carbon emissions in various regions of China was mainly weak decoupling, with the western region performing the worst. Under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, most regions have shown a strong decoupling state, but the decoupling index of carbon emissions rebounded during the economic recovery stage. Energy efficiency and technological progress were the main driving forces for carbon emission decoupling, while economic growth was the main obstacle. The impact of fossil energy consumption structure and demographic factors was relatively small. In the next few years, the decrease in energy efficiency will weaken the role of the energy intensity effect in promoting carbon emission decoupling, and the decline in innovation efficiency will inhibit carbon emission decoupling.

Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker 1860, one of the fastest-growing genera in the Gekkonidae, comprises 22 species distributed in China, among which Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis is believed to be a species complex. Despite the gradual description of Hemiphyllodactylus populations in various regions of China as new species in the past decade, the taxonomy of the Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis complex remains unresolved. We collected Hemiphyllodactylus populations of the yunnanensis complex from 11 locations. Based on 1809bp dataset (1039bp mitochondrial ND2 gene, fragments of 375bp nuclear C-mos + 395bp PDC genes) and a solo 1039bp NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) sequence fragment dataset, the constructed phylogenetic topology revealed that our samples fell into seven independent lineages of Clade 7. Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) results are consistent with our phylogenetic findings. The uncorrected genetic pairwise distance between populations exceeded 4.2% in ND2 gene, and there were also significant morphological differences among them. Therefore, we consider the specimens that cluster with the topotype specimens as true Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis, and describe the other six lineages as new species, respectively.

The aim of the study was to develop a nursing-sensitive quality indicator system for emergency care of patients with severe trauma, providing a scientific measurement tool for evaluating the quality of emergency trauma nursing. A modified Delphi study. Experts working in emergency surgery or trauma surgery departments were recruited. First, initial nursing-sensitive quality indicators were derived from an analysis and synthesis of existing evidence and semistructured interviews with 12 clinical experts. Subsequently, two-round expert consultations were conducted with 15 experts from various regions of China to refine and finalise the indicators. Finally, the analytic hierarchy process was used to determine the weights of each indicator. The valid response rates of questionnaires in the two rounds of expert consultation reached 88.89% and 93.75%, respectively, and the expert authority coefficients were 0.856 and 0.880. The experts ultimately reached a consensus, establishing a nursing-sensitive quality indicator system for emergency care of patients with severe trauma, comprising 3 first-level indicators, 11 second-level indicators and 49 third-level indicators. This study provides a tool for the assessment of emergency nursing service quality for patients with severe trauma, establishing a scientific and effective nursing-sensitive quality indicator system to evaluate and improve the quality of nursing services provided by emergency nurses to patients with severe trauma.

Rapid population and economic growth have led to an increased demand for water and food, thereby exacerbating the water scarcity crisis. Therefore, an objective assessment of water usage in crop production is crucial for ensuring national food security and alleviating water scarcity. However, the city-scale crop production water footprint (CWF) in China remains incomplete, while grid-scale CWF data are plagued by the limitations of coarse crop statistics. To fill this knowledge gap, we propose a novel methodology for developing a high-resolution inventory of CWFs. Based on this methodology, we quantified the city-scale water footprint (WF) of three major crops (rice, wheat, and maize) in China and allocated the CWFs of individual cities to 3 km × 3 km grids through a top-down downscaling approach to create a high-resolution CWF inventory. The results show that the average annual CWF of the three crops from 2000 to 2020 was in the order of rice (2.50 × 1012 m3), maize (1.55 × 1012 m3) , and wheat (1.21 × 1012 m3). During the study period, the dependence on green water resources for crop production in China increased, especially for maize, which showed a relative increase of 106.76% in green water demand, in addition to optimal water use efficiency, with the dual advantages of combining high yield and low irrigation dependence. At a grid scale of 3 km × 3 km, the CWFs of the three crops followed the same order as at the city scale. Furthermore, the green water footprint (GWF) of each of the three crops increased at different rates during the study period, with maize showing a particularly significant increase of 59.26%. Meanwhile, the blue water footprint (BWF) per unit area for rice and wheat increased, while the BWF for maize decreased by 0.94%. This finding implies that maize cultivation is more efficient in utilizing rainwater resources, thereby reducing dependence on blue water. The inventory established in this study can assist in optimizing crop production in various regions of China, thereby mitigating the effects of water scarcity and facilitating sustainable agricultural development.

Over the past few decades, Fusarium root rot has gradually become the most prevalent soil-borne disease affecting tobacco plants across various regions in China. Nevertheless, only a limited number of effective biological control agents are currently available for agricultural application. This study was designed to investigate the control efficacy of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HN11 against tobacco Fusarium root rot, as well as its influence on soil microbial diversity and community structure. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HN11 was screened as a strain with superior control capacity, reducing the incidence of tobacco root rot in the field by 58%. Analysis of tobacco rhizosphere microbial communities revealed that HN11 inhibits the proliferation of pathogens such as some species of Fusarium, and interacts with symbiotic fungi including species of Conocybe, Pyrenochaetopsis, Echria, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, facilitating a shift in fungal trophic modes from saprotroph to symbiotroph. In addition, it was found that HN11 significantly diminished the carbon metabolic function of bacteria, reduced the relative abundance of the dominant genera Sphingomonas and Gemmatimonas, altered the composition of soil bacterial communities while maintaining their diversity. Tracing the strain with green fluorescent labeling (HN11-sfGFP) demonstrated its capability to colonize tobacco roots. Furthermore, based on the knockout of the core genes of the biosynthetic gene cluster responsible for different secondary metabolites of HN11, we hypothesized that bacillibactin siderophores can inhibit pathogenic fungi. The lack of difficidin and bacillaene may also be important in the inhibition of pathogenic fungi. The interaction between Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HN11 and microbial communities in tobacco soil contributes to disease prevention and plant growth enhancement. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

This study aimed to investigate the predictors of parental burnout among Chinese parents of children with developmental disabilities (DD), focusing on the potential nonlinear and interactive effects of socio-demographic characteristics, Big Five personality traits, and parenting perfectionism. A total of 528 parents of children with DD were recruited from various regions in China. Participants completed standardized questionnaires assessing parental burnout, Big Five personality traits, parenting perfectionism, and socio-demographic characteristics. To examine both linear and nonlinear associations between these predictors and parental burnout, we employed generalized linear model (GLM)-the extension of linear regression that accommodates non-normal outcome distributions-and generalized additive model (GAM), which allow for the flexible modeling of nonlinear effects. Interaction effects between personality traits and parenting perfectionism were also tested using GAM. Results indicated that GAM outperformed GLM in capturing complex relationships, revealing significant nonlinear associations between parental burnout and several predictors, including parental age, education, income, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, and both dimensions of parenting perfectionism. Notably, personality traits and parenting perfectionism interacted in predicting burnout. For example, high neuroticism combined with high perfectionistic concerns significantly increased the risk of burnout. The study underscores the need to consider nonlinear and interactive effects in understanding parental burnout. GAM offers a useful approach for revealing complex patterns, especially in non-Western contexts.

Sarcopenia has emerged as a significant public health issue that threatens the health of older adults. The association between sleep duration and sarcopenia is receiving increasing attention. Based on data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study investigates the dynamic characteristics of sleep duration trajectories and their relationship with the onset of sarcopenia. A retrospective cohort study. The study used data from the CHARLS across various regions of China. Data were drawn from the 2011, 2013 and 2015 waves of CHARLS, including 2521 participants aged 45 years or older at baseline who had complete 3-year records of sarcopenia diagnosis. Sarcopenia was defined according to the 2019 criteria established by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia and was assessed across three dimensions: grip strength, estimated appendicular skeletal muscle mass and physical function. Participants were categorised by changes in sleep duration, and linear mixed-effects models were used to identify three trajectories of sleep duration change (decrease-increase, decrease-no recovery and continuous increase). Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between these trajectories and the risk of sarcopenia, adjusting for confounders, such as education level, body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors. The median age of the cohort was 57.00 years, 61.40% of participants were female and the median BMI was 23.44. During the 5-year follow-up, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 14.09%. Compared with the non-sarcopenia group, individuals with sarcopenia had a higher median age (60.00 vs 56.00 years, p<0.001), lower BMI (23.06 vs 23.44, p=0.020), a higher proportion of unmarried/divorced individuals (16.34% vs 11.5%, p=0.010) and lower education levels (p<0.001). After adjusting for gender, age, BMI, residential area, education level, marital status, health insurance status, smoking and alcohol consumption, both increased and decreased sleep durations were associated with higher odds of sarcopenia relative to unchanged sleep duration, though the associations were not statistically significant (increased sleep duration: OR=1.081, 95% CI 0.807 to 1.449, p=0.601 and decreased sleep duration: OR=1.225, 95% CI 0.928 to 1.618, p=0.153). These results remained non-significant after further multivariate adjustment. Analysis of the three sleep duration trajectories identified via the linear mixed-effects model showed that, after multivariate adjustment and in comparison with trajectory 1 (sleep duration decreased and then increased significantly, exceeding baseline levels), both trajectory 2 (sleep duration decreased and then slightly increased but remained below baseline) and trajectory 3 (a consistent increase in sleep duration) were associated with a potential reduction in sarcopenia risk. However, these associations were not statistically significant (trajectory 2: OR=0.833, 95% CI 0.620 to 1.120, p=0.226 and trajectory 3: OR=0.844, 95% CI 0.647 to 1.101, p=0.210). This study developed a novel sleep trajectory model using longitudinal data, revealing the non-linear, multidimensional nature of the relationship between sleep duration and sarcopenia risk. Although no independent association was identified between 5-year sleep duration trajectories and sarcopenia in Chinese middle-aged and older adults, the study provides a valuable methodological framework for exploring multifactorial interactions in the ageing process and establishes a foundation for future research.

ObjectiveTo assess geographical disparities in hospice and palliative care (HPC) based on provider-reported practices across Chinese provinces and to identify associated socioeconomic and health system factors.Study designDescriptive cross-sectional study.MethodsA large cross-sectional survey was conducted among 6,393 healthcare providers from 903 institutions across 87 pilot cities in 29 provinces using a multi-stage stratified sampling strategy. Provider practice levels were measured using a validated 14-item scale (Cronbach’s α = 0.98; score range 14–70), reflecting the frequency of essential HPC activities. Spatial patterns were assessed using Global and Local Moran’s I, and factors associated with practice levels were examined using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR).ResultsThe average practice level score was 53.35 ± 1.52. Significant spatial clustering of HPC practice levels was observed, with high-high clusters in Shandong and Yunnan and low-low clusters in Xinjiang. Higher practice levels were unexpectedly associated with lower GDP per capita (β = -0.07, 95%CI: -1.31 to -0.13) and fewer hospitals per 10,000 people (β = -0.67, 95%CI: -1.24 to -0.10).ConclusionsSubstantial geographic disparities in provider practice levels reveals inequities in HPC service delivery across China. These findings underscore the need for region-specific interventions, strengthened community-based services, and policy frameworks to improve equitable access to HPC nationwide.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-025-25331-2.

This article examines the impact of the "Belt and Road Initiative" on the economic development of various regions in China, with a focus on infrastructure improvement, industrial coordination, external openness, and regional cooperation. It analyzes changes in GDP, GDP per capita, and export indicators of Chinese provinces since 2015. Special attention is given to how western regions develop internal open centers through the land Silk Road, while the coastal eastern regions enhance their international competitiveness through the Maritime Silk Road. Based on data analysis and empirical research, the article summarizes the experience of coordinated development of regions along the "Belt and Road" and offers recommendations for deepening coordination between land and sea, synchronizing industrial development, and promoting green development. The goal of the article is to provide a theoretical foundation and practical recommendations for achieving higher-quality coordinated regional development.

Although previous studies have demonstrated that mobile phone addiction is associated with psychological distress among adolescents, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to explore the chain mediating roles of self-control and academic procrastination in the association between mobile phone addiction and psychological distress. Additionally, the moderating role of family functioning in this process was examined. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted among 802 middle school students from various regions in China. Participants completed self-report measures assessing mobile phone addiction, psychological distress, self-control, academic procrastination, and family functioning. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were performed using Amos 29 to test the hypothesized relationships. Robustness was examined via an alternative-direction robustness check reversing the path between self-control and mobile-phone addiction. Mobile phone addiction was significantly and positively associated with psychological distress. A sequential indirect association via self-control and academic procrastination was also statistically significant, such that higher levels of mobile phone addiction were associated with lower self-control, which in turn was associated with greater academic procrastination and, sequentially, with higher psychological distress. In addition, family functioning significantly moderated the association between mobile phone addiction and academic procrastination, such that higher levels of family functioning attenuated this association. Robustness was examined via an alternative-direction robustness check reversing the path between self-control and mobile-phone addiction. This study provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how mobile phone addiction contributes to psychological distress in adolescents. By identifying self-control and academic procrastination as key mediating mechanisms, and family functioning as a protective moderator, the findings offer practical implications for designing targeted interventions to promote adolescent mental well-being.

BackgroundIntegrated health services are advocated for primary health care to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, evidence of care delivery models and means of scaling up is limited. This study examines community-integrated NCD service models in China, providing evidence on the steps that China took to reorient health services towards primary health care to address the NCD epidemic.MethodsA systematic review identified and included 20 studies (from 3959 records screened from five databases) conducted in various regions of China, published in English or Chinese. The evidence synthesis is narrative and thematic. Themes are built upon from the Chronic Care Model framework and issues identified in the World Health Organization package of essential noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions. They cover priority diseases, interventions included in packages of care, delivery strategies at the community level, the roles of stakeholders, approaches to overcome health system challenges, outcomes, and gaps.ResultsDespite facing common challenges like other LMICs, such as inadequate infrastructure and insufficient human resources, various community-level integrated NCD service models have been trialled and scaled up through health reform and policy implementation. Key interventions include health promotion, screening, tiered diagnosis and treatment, patient education, self-management, and digital health models. Family physicians and nurses are the main providers, supported by local governments and hospitals. The review identified creative service delivery strategies at the community, highlighting changes in patient clinical pathways, improved access to services, and positive clinical outcomes.ConclusionsChina's experience with community-integrated NCD service models offers valuable insights for other LMICs. Key elements include prioritising universal health coverage, integrating public health and primary care, and optimising accessibility, efficiency, and patient-centredness. Future research should focus on long-term effects and sustainability, particularly in rural settings.

This study initially employs the Integrated Evaluation Method to assess financial inclusion and the sustainable development index from 2005 to 2021. Subsequently, the study uses fsQCA to examine how a combination of variables, including financial inclusion, technological innovation, foreign direct investment, household consumption levels, industrial structure, and urbanization, affects sustainable development at various levels. The findings indicate that financial inclusion, technological innovation, foreign investment, consumption, and urbanization are core conditions for High-SDI. In addition, the causal configurations associated with Low-SDI indicate that the absence of financial inclusion, technical innovation, and foreign investment are correlated with reduced sustainable development. Based on the results of panel data fsQCA, the sample is divided into three regions eastern, central, and western for empirical analysis. The empirical findings are notably consistent with the fsQCA configuration outcomes. This study provides policymakers with theoretical references on how to improve the level of sustainability in various regions of China.

Understanding intraspecific variation in photosynthetic capacity and leaf structure is critical for optimizing provenance selection of Cinnamomum camphora in afforestation and urban landscaping programs. In this study, we assessed the adaptability of C. camphora seedlings from four provenances (Fuzhou, Wuhan, Shenzhen, and Shanghai) by examining their physiological and anatomical traits under a common garden environment in Henan Province. A total of n = 80 three-year-old seedlings (twenty per provenance) were evaluated for photosynthetic parameters, stomatal characteristics, and leaf structural features. The results revealed that the net photosynthetic rates of C. camphora seedlings from four different provenance sites exhibited a “double-peak” curve and a photosynthetic “lunch break” phenomenon, which was strongly positively correlated with stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) value. Significant differences in stomatal characteristics were observed among the seedlings from four provenances. The seedlings from Fuzhou and Wuhan exhibited larger stomatal width, area, resulting in superior stomatal gas exchange than that in the seedlings from other provenances. Conversely, C. camphora seedlings from Shanghai exhibited smaller stomatal area and density, indicating poorer gas exchange and reduced adaptability. The stem cortex cells, stem phloem, stem pith diameter, leaf palisade tissue thickness, and leaf thickness of the seedlings from Shanghai were significantly lower than those of the seedlings from other provenances, indicating that these structural characteristics do not exhibit any photosynthetic advantages over other provenances. In contrast, the seedlings from Fuzhou and Wuhan exhibited larger stem pith diameter, thicker mesophyll cell, and greater leaf thickness, which enhanced their photosynthetic capabilities. Among the seedlings from the four different origins, those from Fuzhou and Wuhan exhibited the best overall photosynthetic ability and strongest adaptability. Conversely, the seedlings from Shanghai exhibited the poorest overall photosynthetic ability and weakest adaptability. Despite similarities in climate, the environmental conditions of different provenances did not appear to have a significant correlation with leaf anatomy. This study provided valuable insights for the introduction of C. camphora in various regions in China.

ABSTRACTBackgroundVarious ethnicities age differently due to intrinsic genetic factors and inherent responses to UV exposure. The unique facial skeletal structure and function of Chinese skin can result in distinct aging signs compared to those observed in Caucasians. Additionally, there are limited published photo‐numerical scales for cosmetic treatments, which often yield relatively low efficacy compared with aesthetic surgery. Therefore, appropriate and sensitive clinical evaluation tools are needed to accurately assess signs of aging and the efficacy of cosmetic treatments for the Chinese population.AimsDevelop a new set of photo‐numerical scales to evaluate facial wrinkles specifically based on a Chinese population.Patients/MethodsFour photo‐numerical wrinkle scales were developed based on Visia‐CR images from 5310 Chinese females aged 18–69, focusing on forehead, glabella, crow's feet, and nasolabial fold wrinkles. These 10‐point (0–9) scales were rigorously validated for repeatability, reliability, and usability through inter‐ and intra‐grader assessments conducted by multiple clinical research labs. Additionally, the correlation between these scales and objective 3D measurements from the Primos 3D instrument was analyzed. It was further assessed whether the scales were more appropriate and relevant in assessing Chinese skin wrinkles severity when compared to Caucasian skin or mixed population skin scales.ResultsForehead, glabellar, crow's feet, and nasolabial fold wrinkle scales were established based on the Griffith principle with a 10‐point harmonious scale. Inter‐ and intra‐grader validation data among 5 graders from different regions in China showed very high correlation scores, with ICC > 0.9 for intra‐grader and ICC > 0.8 for inter‐grader validation. The results indicate that the scales are highly reproducible and reliable when used by trained graders. Moreover, the grading results by naïve graders correlated well with those by expert graders, suggesting that the scales are user‐friendly and easy to apply. A comparison between grading scores and Primos data revealed a strong correlation between wrinkles' volume and grading scores (r = 0.79) and between wrinkles' depth and grading scores (r = 0.82). This crucial validation confirmed that the core range of the scales (mild to moderate, the general target population for cosmetic products) is particularly effective. When compared to previously used Caucasian skin scales, the grading scores obtained from the Chinese wrinkle scales showed significantly higher mean wrinkle severity values (p < 0.001) for the same set of photos, indicating that the new scales are scientifically sound, practical, and suitable for a Chinese population.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the photo‐numeric wrinkle scales have demonstrated strong repeatability and reproducibility, high practicality, and reliable correlation with objective measurement. Given the tremendous sample size covering various regions in China, these scales are beneficial tools to evaluate the effectiveness of cosmetic products in a Chinese population.

Agriculture is fundamental to food security and environmental sustainability. Advancing its holistic ecological transformation can stimulate socioeconomic progress while fostering human–nature harmony. Utilizing provincial data from mainland China (2013–2022), this research establishes a multidimensional evaluation framework across four pillars: agricultural ecology, low-carbon practices, modernization, and productivity enhancement. Through comprehensive assessment, we quantify China’s low-carbon green agriculture (LGA) development trajectory and conduct comparative regional analysis across eastern, central, and western zones. As for methods, this study employs multiple econometric approaches: LGA was quantified using the TOPSIS entropy weight method at the first step. Moreover, multidimensional spatial–temporal patterns were characterized through ArcGIS spatial analysis, Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition, Kernel density estimation, and Markov chain techniques, revealing regional disparities, evolutionary trajectories, and state transition dynamics. Last but not least, Tobit regression modeling identified driving mechanisms, informing improvement strategies derived from empirical evidence. The key findings reveal the following: 1. From 2013 to 2022, LGA in China fluctuated significantly. However, the current growth rate is basically maintained between 0% and 10%. Meanwhile, LGA in the vast majority of provinces exceeds 0.3705, indicating that LGA in China is currently in a stable growth period. 2. After 2016, the growth momentum in the central and western regions continued. The growth rate peaked in 2020, with some provinces having a growth rate exceeding 20%. Then the growth rate slowed down, and the intra-regional differences in all regions remained stable at around 0.11. 3. Inter-regional differences are the main factor causing the differences in national LGA, with contribution rates ranging from 67.14% to 74.86%. 4. LGA has the characteristic of polarization. Some regions have developed rapidly, while others have lagged behind. At the end of our ten-year study period, LGA in Yunnan, Guizhou and Shanxi was still below 0.2430, remaining in the low-level range. 5. In the long term, the possibility of improvement in LGA in various regions of China is relatively high, but there is a possibility of maintaining the status quo or “deteriorating”. Even provinces with a high level of LGA may be downgraded, with possibilities ranging from 1.69% to 4.55%. 6. The analysis of driving factors indicates that the level of economic development has a significant positive impact on the level of urban development, while the influences of urbanization, agricultural scale operation, technological input, and industrialization level on the level of urban development show significant regional heterogeneity. In summary, during the period from 2013 to 2022, although China’s LGA showed polarization and experienced ups and downs, it generally entered a period of stable growth. Among them, the inter-regional differences were the main cause of the unbalanced development across the country, but there was also a risk of stagnation and decline. Economic development was the general driving force, while other driving factors showed significant regional heterogeneity. Finally, suggestions such as differentiated development strategies, regional cooperation and resource sharing, and coordinated policy allocation were put forward for the development of LGA. This research is conducive to providing references for future LGA, offering policy inspirations for LGA in other countries and regions, and also providing new empirical results for the academic community.

Abstract Due to advancements in technology in recent decades, profit-driven cybercrime has undergone significant changes. While the types of cybercrime have greatly expanded, leading to a shift in its definition, the methods of committing cybercrime have also evolved. Notably, cybercrime groups have begun to recruit ordinary law-abiding individuals to unwittingly participate in their operations. Although some studies have reviewed this phenomenon and examined how the recruitment process is carried out, little attention has been paid to understanding the reasons behind this shift. To address this gap in the literature, this paper examines the phenomenon of unwitting recruitment through the lens of cybercrime industrialisation. Using a qualitative research approach, 66 semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from diverse backgrounds related to cybercrime across various regions in China. Our empirical findings reveal that the industrialisation of cybercrime has lowered recruitment barriers for cybercrime groups and obscured the illegality of many crime-related processes, thereby enabling these groups to recruit unwitting law-abiding individuals. Combined with the active risk-management strategies employed by cybercrime groups, this has further reduced the risks associated with recruitment and successfully transitioned many law-abiding individuals from being “butchered” to becoming “butchers” themselves.

Depression is a prevalent mental disorder globally, significantly impacting university students who face unique challenges such as academic and family pressures. This study investigates the prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students, examining the mediating role of stress in the relationship between family health and depressive symptoms, and the moderating role of self-efficacy in these relationships during COVID-19. A survey was conducted across various regions in China, collecting data from 1,193 university students. The instruments used included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depressive symptoms, the Family Health Scale-Short Form to measure family health, the Subjective Life Stress Scale to evaluate stress levels, and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale to assess self-efficacy. The results indicated a 26.8% prevalence of depressive symptoms among participants. Family health was found to negatively correlate with depressive symptoms, with stress mediating this relationship. Additionally, self-efficacy moderates both the direct and indirect effects of family health on depressive symptoms. This study underscores the need to develop comprehensive mental health strategies that consider the combined associations of family health, stress management, and self-efficacy with depressive symptoms among university students. It is particularly important to provide more effective support and interventions for the mental health of university students in the post-pandemic era.

Sepsis is the leading cause of death in critically ill patients, with an in-hospital mortality rate of approximately 25% to 40%. Coagulation activation serves as an initial factor to the progression of sepsis into multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Therefore, anticoagulant therapy may be beneficial. Both preclinical experiments and clinical studies have evaluated the protective effect of nafamostat mesilate (NM) in sepsis. However, there is still a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to further confirm the therapeutic effect and safety of NM in sepsis patients. This multicenter, double-blind, RCT was designed to recruit 778 subjects who met Sepsis 3.0 criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either intravenous administration of NM or glucose along with standard treatment. The primary outcome is the all-cause mortality rate in the intensive care unit (ICU), and the secondary outcomes include the improvement in SOFA scores, changes in Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM)/International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) scores, 28-day all-cause mortality rate, and the incidence of adverse events. The allocation will remain concealed from investigators, participants, and statisticians to maintain blinding. The EASNMS trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of NM for treating sepsis across various regions in China. As an additional treatment option, NM may potentially enhance the prognosis of sepsis patients. Ethical approval has been obtained from all ethics committees of the involved centers. The findings of this study will be shared in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at conferences. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06078839. Registered on September 20, 2023.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a highly mutable pathogen, poses a significant threat to the cattle industry in China. Therefore, the development of a rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic assay is essential for effective surveillance and control. In this study, a TaqMan real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay utilizing a minor groove binder (MGB) probe was developed for the detection of BVDV, with a focus on strains currently circulating in China. Universal primers and an MGB probe targeting the conserved 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) of both BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 were designed based on complete genome sequences available in GenBank. Following optimization of the reaction conditions, the assay demonstrated a detection limit of 1.265 copies/μL using a plasmid standard. The method exhibited high specificity for BVDV-1 and BVDV-2, with no cross reactivity observed with other common bovine pathogens. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were below 1.5%, indicating excellent repeatability and reproducibility. When applied to field serum samples collected from free-range cattle in various regions of China, the assay achieved a 100% concordance rate with a commercial reference kit (IDEXX RealPCR™ BVDV RNA Test). These results suggest that the established TaqMan MGB qPCR assay is a reliable and efficient tool for the detection and epidemiological investigation of BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 infections in cattle herds across China.

Anaerobic digestion or biogas technology represents a viable approach to addressing existing problems with the disposal and treatment of organic waste where organic substances are converted to methane, a source of renewable energy. The quarterly review paper covers all facets of methane generation from organic waste, especially the functional model and performance of AD systems in China’s diversified industries. In the paper, the author divides AD systems into four sections: batch, continuous, single-stage, and multi-stage, and explains the best practices of each for large-scale operations as well as for certain types of waste. Technical problems, high moisture content, foaming, and the problem of acidification are described along with their influence on the effectiveness of the process and with reference to ways to avoid these problems. Economic challenges are also addressed, with an emphasis on the costs associated with scaling up AD systems from pilot to full-scale operations, the economic viability of these systems, and the barriers to technology adoption. Case studies from various regions in China are examined to demonstrate the practical applications and the potential of these systems to contribute to energy sustainability and waste reduction. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and development to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of methane production from organic waste, underscoring the need for technological innovations and supportive policies.