Yangzhong City Research Articles

Advancing Whole-Book Reading Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools by Regional Instructional Cooperation: A Case Study of Yangzhong City in Jiangsu Province of China

For primary and secondary school students, enhancing reading skills at the basic education level is crucial for their lifelong linguistic and cognitive development. However, instructors may find reading teaching, particularly the teaching of whole-book reading, time-consuming and unproductive. This article is a case study of the possibilities of advancing whole-book reading education via regional instructional cooperation, citing the practices of Yangzhong City in China’s Jiangsu province as an example. It also highlights the implications of Yangzhong City’s experiences for popularizing regional instructional cooperation in Chinese language education across the nation.

Topological partition based multi-energy flow calculation method for complex integrated energy systems

Multi-energy flow (MEF) calculation is essential for analyzing integrated energy systems (IES) with electricity, gas, and heat. However, for some hybrid-topology IES, conventional MEF calculation methods are hard to converge due to the complex topological structure. To this end, this paper proposes a topological partition based MEF calculation method. First, based on topological structure, the proposed method divides the original system into multiple blocks with only radial or looped topologies, and solves each block with suitable algorithms. This improvement can accelerate the calculation process and broaden the initial solutions range. Second, the proposed method sets the proper balance node of each block such that the convergence of each block becomes independent. This enables the non-convergent blocks can be identified easily. Third, the proposed method sets isobarometric nodes to get equivalent topology reconstruction, which makes the MEF calculation applicable for certain complex systems. Finally, a case study on the IES of Yangzhong City shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Research on operational optimization of urban multi-energy flow system considering seasonal peak shaving of natural gas

In order to alleviate the shortage of natural gas supply in winter, relevant policies have been issued to promote the construction of gas peak-shaving and storage facilities. Large-scale gas storage can transfer the supply-demand relationship of natural gas in time sequence, which has great potential in improving the economy and reliability of urban multi-energy flow system. Facing this issue, this paper proposes a mid- and long-term energy optimization method for urban multi-energy flow system that considers seasonal peak shaving of natural gas. Firstly, the energy supply and demand features of different energy subsystems are analyzed. Then, a network model of the electricity-gas-heat multi-energy flow system is established. Considering time-of-use electricity price mechanism and the seasonal fluctuations of natural gas price, a mid- and long-term energy optimization model maximizing the annual economic revenue is established. The alternative direction multiplier method with Gaussian back substitution (ADMM-GBS) algorithm is used to solve the optimal dispatch model. Finally, the proposed method is verified by employing the actual data of the demonstration zone in Yangzhong City, China. The simulation results show that the proposed method is effective.

Endemic situation of schistosomiasis in a national surveillance site of Yangzhong City from 2015 to 2018

To analyze the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in a national surveillance site of Yangzhong City, so as to provide the scientific evidence for adjusting the local schistosomiasis control strategy and consolidating the control achievements. According to the National Schistosomiasis Surveillance Scheme (2014 version), the snail status, Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans and livestock and wild feces contamination were monitored in Zhinan Village, a national schistosomiasis surveillance site in Yangzhong City from 2015 to 2018. Theareasofsnailhabitatsreducedfrom 8.10 hm2 in 2015 to 2.72 hm2 in 2018, and the mean density of living snails decreased from 0.27 snails/0.1 m2 in 2015 to 0.07 snails/0.1 m2 in 2018 in Zhinan Village; however, no S. japonicum infections were identified in snails during the period from 2015 to 2018. Serological testing for S. japonicum infections was performed in 2 034 local populations and 858 mobile populations from 2015 to 2018, and the sero-prevalence of S. japonicum human infections was 0.59% to 1.98%, with no egg-positives detected. A total of 79 goats were detected for S. japonicum infections from 2015 to 2018, and no egg-positives were found. In addition, no other livestock was found in Zhinan Village from 2015 to 2018, and no wild feces were found in snail habitats. A great success has been achieved in schistosomiasis control in Yangzhong City; however, there are still snails breeding in the city. Monitoring of the risk factors pertaining to schistosomiasis transmission should be further intensified to consolidate the control achievements.

Expression of serum exosomal miR‑23b‑3p in non‑small cell lung cancer and its diagnostic efficacy

The present study aimed to investigate the expression of serum exosomal miR-23b-3p in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to determine its diagnostic efficacy for NSCLC. From October, 2017 to October, 2019, 80 patients with NSCLC, 60 patients with pneumonia and 30 healthy subjects undergoing physical examination were enrolled at the People's Hospital of Yangzhong City. Serum samples were collected from the 3 groups of patients. The expression of miR-23b-3p in exosomes was detected by RT-qPCR. The Chi-squared test was used to analyze the expression level of miR-23b-3p in exosomes, and the patients with NSCLC were divided into 2 groups according to the expression level. The association between the patient clinicopathological parameters and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of serum exosomal miR-23b-3p in NSCLC. The expression level of serum exosomal miR-23b-3p in the patients with NSCLC was significantly higher than that in patients with pneumonia (t=10.332, P<0.001) and healthy subjects (t=12.810, P<0.001); serum exosomal miR-23b-3p was significantly associated with tumor size, depth of invasion, liver metastasis and TNM stage (P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) for miR-23b-3p was 0.915 (95% CI, 0.84-0.92), the optimal relative expression of miR-23b-3p was 3.46, the sensitivity of diagnosis was 87.4%, and the specificity was 93.8%, all higher than that of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The ROCAUC of NSCLC was 0.645 (95% CI, 0.641-0.772) and for Cyfra21-1 it was 0.745 (95% CI, 0.701-0.812). Compared with the patients with pneumonia and the healthy subjects, the patients with NSCLC exhibited a higher level of serum exosomal miR-23b-3p. On the whole, these findings indicate that miR-23b-3p has a higher clinical diagnostic efficacy and may thus be a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of NSCLC.

Multi-objective stochastic expansion planning based on multi-dimensional correlation scenario generation method for regional integrated energy system integrated renewable energy

Efficiently using multiple energy sources, including renewable energy, is a focus of applied energy research. A regional integrated energy system (RIES) involves coupling use of multiple energy sources, which can improve energy efficiency using multi-energy complementarity. However, increasingly renewable energies and multi-energy sources load access into an energy system increase the multiple uncertainties of RIES, which has considerable impact on both system planning and operation. This study proposes a multi-objective stochastic planning method that is based on the multi-dimensional correlation scenario set generation method for RIES’ expansion planning. The scenario generation method considers the characteristics, time sequence, autocorrelation, and cross-correlation of renewable energies and multi-energy loads. The pipeline risk index for energy network expansion planning is defined considering the energy pipeline’s importance. A multi-objective stochastic planning model based on chance constraints of the energy network is developed to minimize the investment cost and the energy pipeline risk. Finally, to confirm the effectiveness and the applicability of the proposed model and method, certain numerical cases at Yangzhong City, China, are simulated. Two RIES expansion planning scenarios are then compared. Moreover, the Pareto fronts of the optimized expansion planning schemes are demonstrated, providing reference for balancing the energy network planning scheme economy and the energy pipeline risk.

Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis of upper gastrointestinal cancer screening in Yangzhong City, Jiangsu Province, from 2009 to 2015

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and benefit of the upper gastrointestinal cancer screening in Yangzhong city, Jiangsu province, from 2009 to 2015. Methods: From 2009 to 2015, 31 natural villages with high-incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer were selected from Baqiao town, Youfang town and Xinglong sub-district in Yangzhong city. 13 776 residents aged 40 to 69 years old were recruited and screened for upper gastrointestinal cancer by using endoscopic examination and pathological diagnosis. Two economic evaluation methods, cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-benefit analysis, were performed to evaluate the current screening schemes. Results: The mean age of all respondents were (53.60±8.14) years old and the males accounted for 43.64% (6 012). A total of 502 cases of upper gastrointestinal tract lesions were detected, including 100 cases of cancer (62 cases of esophagus, gastric/cardiac early stage cancer, 38 cases of advanced stage cancer), 38 cases of severe esophageal hyperplasia/carcinoma in situ, and 15 cases of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in stomach/cardia, the detection rate was 0.73%, 0.28% and 0.11%, respectively; the early diagnosis rate was 75.16% (115/153). The cost of a precancerous lesion, a case diagnosed at the early stage and a positive case identified through the upper gastrointestinal cancer screening in Yangzhong City was 10 037.17, 30 460.64 and 22 895.25 RMB, respectively. The early detection cost index from 2009 to 2015 was 0.52, 0.56, 0.48, 0.48, 0.21, 0.30, and 0.26, respectively. The effectiveness-cost ratio from 2009 to 2015 was 3.41, 2.77, 2.66, 2.58, 4.99, 3.12, and 3.48, respectively. Conclusions: The project of early diagnosis and treatment of upper gastrointestinal tract cancer in Yangzhong city has achieved good results and benefits.

Time Trends of Gastrointestinal Cancers Incidence and Mortality in Yangzhong From 1991 to 2015: An Updated Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are the common cause of morbidity and mortality in China which seriously threaten people's health and lives. The aim of this study was to describe the temporal trend in the epidemiology of GI cancers from 1991 to 2015, with an emphasis on the effects of age, period and cohort in Yangzhong City, Jiangsu province, a high-risk area of GI cancers in China.Methods: Our study extracted cases of gastric cancer, esophageal cancer and colorectal cancer diagnosed from 1991 to 2015 from Yangzhong Cancer Registry. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) were calculated and joinpoint regression was used to compute the estimated annual percent changes. Age-period-cohort (APC) model was performed to investigate the independent effects of age, calendar period, and birth cohort.Results: Between 1991 and 2015, 18,006 new cases and 10,262 deaths were registered with GI cancers in Yangzhong. The age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) of gastric cancer decreased in both sexes during the study period. And the incidence rates of esophageal cancer stabilized at first then continued to decline, the turning point was in 2005 for men and 2001 for women. Changes in the mortality rates of gastric cancer and esophageal cancer showed significant declined trends around 2000–2010 in both genders. The incidence rates of colorectal cancer increased steadily during the entire study period, and the increase was more pronounced in the mortality rates of men. The results of APC analysis suggest that general decreases in incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer and gastric cancer might be caused by the downward trend of the period and cohort effects, while the increases in colorectal cancer might be caused by the uptrend of the period effects.Conclusions: The incidence and mortality rates of esophageal and gastric cancers showed a downward trend and colorectal cancer was on the rise as a whole in Yangzhong City. The different burden of gastrointestinal cancer indicating heterogeneous risk factors exist and may have contributed to these temporal variations.

The Spatio-Temporal Evolution of River Island Based on Landsat Satellite Imagery, Hydrodynamic Numerical Simulation and Observed Data

A river island is a shaped sediment accumulation body with its top above the water’s surface in crooked or branching streams. In this paper, four river islands in Yangzhong City in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River were studied. The spatio-temporal evolution information of the islands was quantitatively extracted using the threshold value method, binarization model, and cluster analysis, based on Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper+ (ETM+) images of the Landsat satellite series from 1985 to 2015. The variation mechanism and influencing factors were analyzed using an unstructured-grid, Finite-Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM) hydrodynamic numerical simulation, as well as the water-sediment data measured by hydrological stations. The annual average total area of these islands was 251,224.46 m2 during 1985–2015, and the total area first increased during 1985–2000 and decreased later during 2000–2015. Generally, the total area increased during these 30 years. Taipingzhou island had the largest area and the biggest changing rate, Xishadao island had the smallest area, and Zhongxinsha island had the smallest changing rate. The river islands’ area change was influenced by river runoff, sediment discharge, and precipitation, and sediment discharge proved to be the most significant natural factor in island evolution. River island evolution was also found to be affected by both runoff and oceanic tide. The difference in flow-field caused silting up in the Leigongdao Island and the head of Taipingzhou Island, and a serious reduction in the middle and tail of Taipingzhou Island. The method used in this paper has good applicability to river islands in other rivers around the world.

Students’ Citizenship Competence Learning in China’s Yangzhong City

ABSTRACTWith specific reference to Yangzhong city in China, this study investigates students’ citizenship competence learning – political identity, scientific spirit, legal awareness and public participation. The study uses a mixed methodology of questionnaires, classroom observations, document analyses and interviews to collect data and identifies three patterns of students’ citizenship competence learning. This study provides empirical data that supplements the existing literature on citizenship-as-practice in the context of China.

Brief Analysis of Urban Levee Management with Modern Information Technology – A Case Study in Yangzhong

due to geological location and special landform, Yangzhong City often suffers from flooding of Yangtze River, typhoons and rainstorms, hence facing severe challenges in flood prevention. Meanwhile, with its rapid economic development and urban expansion, the population density increases within the levee, which imposes higher standards for levee safety. With modern information technology and introduction of the concept of whole-life cycle, a levee safety monitoring and early-warning system can be built to monitor the operation, provide technical support for safety management and operation.

Evaluating the Genotoxicity of Surface Water of Yangzhong City Using the Micronucleus Test and the Comet Assay

Evaluating the Genotoxicity of Surface Water of Yangzhong City Using the Micronucleus Test and the Comet Assay

Protective effect of allium vegetables against both esophageal and stomach cancer: a simultaneous case-referent study of a high-epidemic area in Jiangsu Province, China.

To study the relation between allium vegetable intake and cancer of the esophagus (EC) and stomach (SC) in Yangzhong city, which is one of the highest‐risk areas for these cancers in Jiangsu province, China, a simultaneous case‐referent study was conducted using histopathologically confirmed cases (EC: n=81, SC: n=153) and population‐based referents (n=234). A questionnaire was used to collect information on the general status of subjects, their dietary habits, frequency intake of allium vegetables and other foods, tea consumption, smoking and alcohol drinking. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by a multiple logistic regression model. The results showed that frequent intake of allium vegetables (including garlic, onion, Welsh onion and Chinese chives), raw vegetables, tomatoes and snap beans, and tea consumption were inversely associated with the risk for EC and SC. In the highest consumption category (≥1 time/ week) of garlic, onion, Welsh onion and Chinese chives, the adjusted ORs compared with the lowest category (<1 time/month) were 0.30 (CI=0.19−0.47), 0.25 (CI=0.11−0.54), 0.15 (CI=0.08−0.26), and 0.57 (CI=0.23−1.42) for EC, and 0.31 (CI=0.22−0.44), 0.17 (CI=0.08−0.36), 0.22 (CI=0.15−0.31) and 0.40 (CI = 0.17−0.94) for SC, respectively. The main results in the present study suggested that allium vegetables, like raw vegetables, may have an important protecting effect against not only stomach cancer, but also esophageal cancer.