Privacy risks have significant increase with the widespread use of geosocial networking applications (GSNAs). The Facebook data breach case in 2018 triggered many users’ concerns and focused ...attention on the debate about the trustworthiness of GSNAs globally. Particularly, the rapid development of Chinese GSNAs such as WeChat and Momo has been frequently cited as contributing to an increase in privacy risks in recent years. However, existing studies have primarily focused on the privacy risks of using GSNAs in Western contexts, while little is known about these issues in the Chinese context. This study thus attempts to expand upon prior research by examining concerns about GSNAs, as well as attitudes and strategies to address these concerns among Chinese university students. By conducting 47 semi-structured interviews, this study finds that although participants are generally concerned about the privacy risks of GSNAs, a few of them have taken steps to address their concerns. Five types of social privacy concerns, including information leakage/misuse, location tracking, malicious personal attacks, sexual harassment, and individual-targeted advertising, and three types of institutional privacy concerns, including information leaks, information tracking, and surveillance by apps and the Chinese government, have been identified in this research. Most participants have taken little action to address their privacy concerns and display an attitude of trust, ignoring and accepting the privacy risks of GSNAs. Comparatively, few participants have developed active strategies to mitigate their concerns, such as abstaining from or exercising caution when using apps and functions, and reporting privacy threats to app platforms. Significantly, this study offers new insights into users’ privacy concerns that are specifically associated with Chinese social and cultural contexts. However, as this research mainly focuses on privacy concerns and strategies from users’ perspectives, future studies are encouraged to delve into solutions and strategies to mitigate users’ privacy concerns in the global context of social media.
Accurate identification of glacier surges aids in promoting a better understanding of the mechanisms of rapid glacier movement and predicting possible surge-related hazards. Surges of 10 glaciers in ...the Kongur Tagh area of the Tibetan Plateau were examined based on 128 scenes of Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery with 12-day and 24-day time intervals from 2015 to 2019. To identify the surges, a set of quantifiable multi-feature criteria was used, including higher glacier velocity, surge front position movement and continuous higher velocity at contiguous time intervals based on surge-type glacier characteristics. The results showed that the Karayaylak Glacier surge reported in May 2015 was more likely initiated in summer 2014, and an unreported pulse event occurred in 2019. Another new and complete surge in the Jangmanjiar Glacier from 2016 to 2018 was further identified. Another two pulse events in the Jangmanjiar Glacier and the Kokodak Glacier in 2015 were discovered. The elevation changes from ASTER images and glacier terminus evolution based on Landsat 8 images also provided positive evidence for the occurrence of two surges. In the Kongur Tagh area, the surge-type glaciers might have larger areas (above 40 km2), longer lengths (above 13 km), lower slopes (below 10°) and higher mean quiescent velocities (above 0.1 ± 0.05 m d−1) than non-surging glaciers. The temperature and precipitation data of ECMWF Re-Analysis 5 (ERA5) showed that the surges in the Kongur Tagh area were mainly induced by thermal and hydrological trigger mechanisms together.
•Shorter and more stable time intervals of Sentinel-1 SAR data guarantee detailed measurements of glacier velocity change.•The multi-feature identification method provides simpler and quicker glacier surge identification.•The start time of the Karayaylak Glacier entering the active phase is earlier than previous studies suggest.•First identification and complete description of the Jangmanjiar Glacier surge are provided.
The purpose of this study was to explore the correlations of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 gene polymorphisms with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A total of 200 patients with HCM were enrolled as ...disease group, and 200 healthy individuals were included as control group. Peripheral blood was collected from all subjects in both disease and control groups. Gene polymorphisms and serum expression levels of IL-1 and IL-6 were detected, and conjoint analysis was performed based on results of cardiac color Doppler ultrasound examination. The allele distribution of IL-1 rs1878320 showed a difference between disease and control groups (P=0.000). The frequency of the allele T was lower in disease group. The genotype distribution of IL-1 rs1878320 (P=0.001) and IL-6 rs1474347 (P=0.000) in disease group was different from that in control. The frequency of TC genotype of IL-1 rs1878320 was lower in disease group, and that of CA genotype of IL-6 rs1474347 was higher in disease group. There was a difference in the distribution of the dominant model of IL-6 rs1474347 between disease and control groups (P=0.021), and the frequency of CC + CA in the dominant model was 171 (0.855). The frequency of AC haplotype of IL-1 gene was overtly higher in disease group (P=0.000), while the frequency of AT haplotype was lower in disease group (P=0.000). The IL-1 rs1516792 polymorphism had an association with serum IL-1 level (P<0.05), the IL-1 level was notably increased in the patients with the genotype AA, and it was higher in disease group. The polymorphism of rs1878320 locus in IL-1 gene was correlated with interventricular septal (IVS) (P=0.047), and IVS was reduced in the patients with TC genotype. The polymorphism of rs1516792 locus in IL-1 gene was distinctly related to left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) (P=0.041), and LVOT was lowered in the patients with GG genotype. The IL-6 rs2069831 polymorphism was associated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (P=0.035), and LVEF declined in the patients with TT genotype. The IL-1 and IL-6 gene polymorphisms are correlated with the susceptibility and progression of HCM.
This article explores racial exclusion, bias, and prejudice in the context of same-sex mobile dating, focusing on the experiences of a group of Australian-based Chinese queer women. Semi-structured ...in-depth interviews and participant observation were used to examine participants’ racialized experiences. The findings indicate that Western dating apps, such as Tinder, Bumble, and HER, served as crucial channels of these women’s interracial and intercultural encounters while living in Australia. However, they largely perceived these apps, and HER in particular, as White-dominated and ill-suited to their dating practices, thus reinforcing their sense of exclusion and ostracism. Although the participants frequently encountered subtle prejudice on dating apps, they experienced more blatant and aggressive forms of racism triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak. Multiple factors, including their language capability, the COVID-19 pandemic, and their racial, ethnic, and diasporic identities, played an intersectional role in these women’s racialized experiences. Correspondingly, the participants developed diverse interpretations of and responses to their racialized experiences. This study reveals how the anti-Asian racism in the global West permeates the realm of queer women in the context of mobile dating. It contributes to understanding the digital dating practices and racialized experiences of queer women and the broader Chinese diaspora.
•A combination treatment of CTS and AsA maintained firmness in plums.•A combination treatment of CTS and AsA reduced respiration rates and decreased color changes in plums.•The inhibition of ...softening was associated with decreased PME and PG activities.•Anthocyanin synthesis was inhibited with the combination of AsA and CTS.•A combination treatment of CTS and AsA has the potential to maintain fruit quality.
The combined effects of chitosan (CTS) and ascorbic acid (AsA) on the quality maintenance and shelf life of harvested plums (Prunus salicina Lindley. cv. ‘Sanhuali’) were investigated. The fruits were treated with aqueous solutions including water (control), 40.0mM AsA, 1.0% CTS, and 40.0mM AsA combined with 1.0% CTS; all samples were stored at 5±1°C and 90±5% relative humidity for 20 days. Fruit firmness, weight loss, respiration rate, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, color characteristics (L*, C*, and h°), and anthocyanin contents were measured, along with the specific activities for superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (POD), polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL). The results showed that AsA and CTS combined maintained tissue firmness, inhibited an increased respiration rate, and decreased color changes, as compared with the control. The efficiency was better for the combined AsA and CTS treatment than AsA or CTS alone. The inhibition of softening was associated with decreased PME and PG activities. Furthermore, plums treated with the AsA and CTS combination also exhibited a significantly lower PPO activity and significantly higher SOD, POD, and CAT activities throughout the storage period. During postharvest storage, anthocyanin synthesis was significantly inhibited with the combination of AsA and CTS and was accompanied by decreased PAL activity. Moreover, the production of superoxide free radicals (O2−) and malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly decreased in the treated fruits. These results clearly indicated that the 40.0mM AsA and 1.0% CTS treatment could be an effective means to contribute to the shelf-life extension and quality maintenance of plums during storage.
Auxin and auxin signaling are involved in a series of developmental processes in plants. Auxin Response Factors (ARFs) is reported to modulate the expression of target genes by binding to auxin ...response elements (AuxREs) and influence the transcriptional activation of down-stream target genes. However, how ARF genes function in flower development and fruit ripening of papaya (Carica papaya L.) is largely unknown. In this study, a comprehensive characterization and expression profiling analysis of 11 C. papaya ARF (CpARF) genes was performed using the newly updated papaya reference genome data.
We analyzed CpARF expression patterns at different developmental stages. CpARF1, CpARF2, CpARF4, CpARF5, and CpARF10 showed the highest expression at the initial stage of flower development, but decreased during the following developmental stages. CpARF6 expression increased during the developmental process and reached its peak level at the final stage of flower development. The expression of CpARF1 increased significantly during the fruit ripening stages. Many AuxREs were included in the promoters of two ethylene signaling genes (CpETR1 and CpETR2) and three ethylene-synthesis-related genes (CpACS1, CpACS2, and CpACO1), suggesting that CpARFs might be involved in fruit ripening via the regulation of ethylene signaling.
Our study provided comprehensive information on ARF family in papaya, including gene structures, chromosome locations, phylogenetic relationships, and expression patterns. The involvement of CpARF gene expression changes in flower and fruit development allowed us to understand the role of ARF-mediated auxin signaling in the maturation of reproductive organs in papaya.
Circular RNA (circRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are known to participate in adipogenesis and myogenic differentiation, but their impact on porcine muscle traits is not well understood. We ...compared their expressional profiles in the longissimus dorsi muscle of Chinese Huainan pigs (HN, the fat type) and Western commercial Duroc×(Landrace×Yorkshire) (DLY, the thin type) pigs, and 854 mRNAs, 233 lncRNAs, and 66 circRNAs (p < 0.05 and ｜log₂FoldChange｜>1) were found to be differentially expressed. The differentially expressed mRNA and circRNA parental genes were enriched in the Wnt signaling pathway (adipogenesis), the transition between fast and slow fibers (myogenic differentiation), and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism (pork flavor). The potential lncRNAs/circRNAs-miRNAs-mRNAs regulatory networks shared
,
, miR-423-5p and miR-874, which were associated with skeletal muscle muscular proliferation, differentiation/regeneration and adipogenesis. Taken together, these differentially expressed non-coding RNAs may be involved in the molecular basis of muscle traits, acting as the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miRNAs.
The state and fate of snow on sea ice are crucial in the mass and energy balance of sea ice. The function of atmospheric rivers (ARs) on snow depth over sea ice has not been measured thus far, ...limiting the understanding of the mechanism of snow depth changes. Here, the effect of ARs on snow depth changes was explored. We found that increased AR frequency is responsible for winter‐autumn snow accumulation and spring‐summer snow melting. The 2 m air temperature (T2m), rainfall, snowfall, mean net longwave radiation (NLR), mean net shortwave radiation (NSR) and cloud radiative effect (CRE) during ARs explain the changes in snow depth triggered by AR occurrence. This work helps us understand how ARs affect snow depth changes through related physical processes, promotes an understanding of climate systems and provides a theoretical basis for snow treatment in sea ice models.
Plain Language Summary
Snowpack, one of the most essential parts of the cryosphere, affects the energy exchange between sea ice and the atmosphere, thus contributing to sea ice change and the global climate system. Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are long and narrow transient corridors of water vapor. Because ARs transmit more than 90% of water vapor to high latitudes, increasing scientific and societal interest has focused on the impact of ARs on sea ice. However, little attention has been given to the relationship between ARs and snow depth. Therefore, reliable ARs and snow depths from 2002 to 2022 were obtained. We found that increased ARs drive autumn‐winter snow depth increases and spring‐summer snow depth decreases based on ARs and snow depth records. ARs cause changes in snow depth by altering physical processes related to ARs (e.g., 2 m air temperature (T2m), rainfall, snowfall, mean net longwave radiation (NLR), mean net shortwave radiation (NSR) and the cloud radiative effect (CRE)).
Key Points
A novel snow depth record over Arctic sea ice was generated using the triple collocation method
More frequent atmospheric rivers (ARs) lead to autumn‐winter snow depth increases and spring‐summer snow depth reductions
The 2 m air temperature, rainfall, snowfall, and cloud radiative effect (CRE) are important in the AR‐induced changes in snow depth
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can regulate autophagy and ovarian cancer (OC) progression. However, autophagy-associated circRNAs involved in OC progression are largely unknown. Bioinformatics, RNA ...sequencing, and qRT-PCR were conducted to detect circRNF144B expression in OC as well as its relationship with patient prognosis. Functional experiments were used to determine the effects of circRNF144B on the proliferation, mobility and autophagy of OC. Double luciferase reporter assays, immunoprecipitation, and ubiquitination detection were performed to determine the molecular mechanisms of circRNF144B in autophagy and OC progression. CircRNF144B was elevated in OC tissues with low autophagy levels, and associated with poor prognosis. CircRNF144B promoted the malignant biological properties of OC cells, and inhibited the autophagy. Mechanistically, circRNF144B acts as a sponge for miR-342-3p and inhibits miR-342-3p-induced degradation of lysine demethylase 2 A (FBXL11) mRNA, leading to elevated FBXL11 protein levels. Elevated FBXL11 promoted the ubiquitination and degradation of Beclin-1, thus inhibiting autophagy. In conclusion, CircRNF144B increased FBXL11 level by sponging miR-342-3p, whereas elevated FBXL11 promoted the ubiquitination and protein degradation of Beclin-1, thus suppressing autophagy flux and promoting OC progression. Thus, circRNF144B may be an effective target for OC therapy.
The main social contradictions in China have changed: the core concept is high quality development. Health care investment improves the health of residents and promotes regional economic growth.
To ...analyse the direct and indirect economic effects of health expenditure during 2012-2018 and to test whether China's investment in health care meets the requirements for high quality development.
We selected spatial panel data reflecting the input and output of health resources. We used the knowledge production function and a model of spatial economics to conduct empirical analysis of 31 provinces to show the effects of health expenditure on economic growth.
Economic development (LnGDP) was the dependent variable; explanatory variables included health financial input (LnHI), health personnel input (LnHR), health assets (LnCW) and health insurance expenditure (LnHIE). The regression coefficients for indirect, direct and total effects of LnHI were 0.4346, 0.0623 and 0.4970 respectively (all statistically significant). The direct effect coefficient of LnHR (0.3343) was statistically significant. The regression coefficients for the indirect and total effects were -0.6779 and -0.3436, respectively. The direct, indirect and total effect regression coefficients for LnCW and LnHIE were all statistically significant.
Both LnHI and LnHIE positively promote economic growth within provinces and in neighbouring provinces, i.e. there are direct and indirect positive effects from investing in health care. Increasing the input of health care personnel can promote the economic growth of a province but not that of neighbouring provinces. Overall planning and coordinated development will facilitate high quality development and economic advancement.
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