Energy and Environmental Efficiency Evaluation of Transportation Systems in China’s 255 Cities

China’s transportation sector suffers from excessive energy consumption and serious pollutant emissions. There is increasing pressure to improve energy and environmental efficiency (EEE). This paper researches the EEE of transportation systems in 255 Chinese cities from 2015 to 2019 with the assistance of the super-efficiency SBM model. Research results show that the five-year average EEE of the Chinese transportation system is 0.4420, indicating an overall low performance, with most regions still needing improvement. There are significant differences in the transportation system EEE between cities, with Guangzhou, Maoming, and Zhoushan ranking in the top three, and Heihe, Xining, and Taiyuan in the bottom. Cities with a better economic base, developed water systems and more relevant policy documents do better in energy use and environmental protection compared to other cities. Moreover, the development of the transportation systems is uneven, with noticeable regional differences. The general trend is that cities located in the eastern have better transportation systems EEE than cities in other economic zones. The findings should have a far-reaching impact on the sustainable development of cities. It also provides an essential reference for the research on EEE efficiency of transportation systems in China and other countries

COVID-19 information seeking and individuals’ protective behaviors: examining the role of information sources and information content

Abstract Background Seeking COVID-19 information promotes individuals to adopt preventive behaviors, including wearing a mask, social distancing, staying away from risky places, and washing hands. This study aims to investigate which information and sources individuals relied on in seeking COVID-19 information and further examine their roles in individuals’ adoption of preventive behaviors. Methods Through a statistical analysis of 1027 valid responses from citizens in different Chinese cities in 2022 to the self-designed items in an online survey, this study identified individuals’ preferred information sources and content on COVID-19. Regarding the information sources and content, the study used multiple regression analysis to examine their associations with individuals’ preventive behaviors, and further applied fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore their configurations that increase the likelihood of individuals adopting preventive behaviors. Results Individuals preferred information about the newest prevention and control policies, precautions and treatment, and symptoms from the sources of workplace and community, social media, and social live streaming services. Additionally, individuals’ preventive behaviors were positively related to the workplace and community (β = 0.202, p <.001), social live streaming services (β = 0.089, p <.01), government department websites (β = 0.079, p <.05), television (β = 0.073, p <.05), and online news media (β = 0.069, p <.05), but were negatively associated with newspapers (β=-0.087, p <.05). Regarding information content, precautions and treatments (β = 0.211, p <.001), the newest prevention and control policies (β = 0.173, p <.001), symptoms (β = 0.152, p <.001), and official rumor-dispelling information (β = 0.082, p <.05) had a positive relationship with individuals’ preventive behaviors. In addition, fsQCA results presented eight configurations that promote individuals to adopt preventive behaviors. The total coverage and solution consistency values were 0.869 and 0.987, respectively. Furthermore, COVID-19 information content, the sources of social media and interpersonal sources, and official news media played an essential role in increasing the likelihood of individuals adopting preventive behaviors. Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that individuals seek various COVID-19 information from multiple sources. The direct and degree of association of information sources and content with individuals’ preventive behaviors vary from source to source and from content to content. Information sources and content could combinatorially promote individuals to adopt preventive behaviors through several configurations

Nimotuzumab Combined with Chemotherapy as Second- or Later-line in the Treatment of Advanced Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background and objective Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is commonly overexpressed in lung squamous cell carcinoma and has been associated with impaired prognosis. The aim of this study was to observe the efficacy and safety of nimotuzumab, a anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, combined with chemotherapy as second- or later-line in the treatment of advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma. Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted in 13 patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma, who were administered with nimotuzumab combined with chemotherapy as second-line or later-line treatment. The efficacy of therapy was evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and safety by National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) 4.0. Results Of the 13 advanced squamous-cell lung cancer patients, one patient had complete response (CR), 2 patients had partial response (PR), 4 cases had stable disease (SD), and 6 patients had progressive disease. The overall response rate (ORR) was 23.1% and clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 53.8%. EGFR expression were detected by immunohistochemistry in 6 patients and the results showed 5 patients were EGFR 3+ and the other was EGFR 2+. Of these 6 EGFR positive patients, 1 case had CR, 1 case had PR and 4 cases had SD; ORR was 33.3% and CBR was 100.0%. Grade 3/4 hematological toxicities were observed in 3 (23.1%) patients, and non-hametological toxicities were mild. Nimotuzumab-associated skin rash was found in 2 (15.4%) patients. Conclusion Nimotuzumab combined with chemotherapy as second- or later-line therapy for advanced squamous cell lung carcinoma was active and well-tolerated, especially for those patients with EGFR positive

Exploring the Interactive Coercing Relationship between Urban Rail Transit and the Ecological Environment

The Chinese environment is experiencing the “U-Type” course from sharp deterioration to significant improvement. In order to achieve the fundamental improvement of the ecological environment, China has implemented several relevant policies and strategies. Among them, the development of urban rail transit, as an essential measure to improve the ecological environment in China, has attracted more and more attention, but the research on the interactive coercion relationship between rail transit and the ecological environment is minimal. Therefore, this study selected ten cities opening urban rail transit before 2005 in mainland China as research objects and established an urban rail transit and ecological environment comprehensive evaluation index system. Then, the interactive coercing model and coupling coordination model were used, and the dynamic relationship between urban rail transit and the ecological environment was explored. The research results in this study showed that (1) there is an apparent interactive coercion relationship between urban rail transit and the ecological environment, and the evolution trajectory conforms to a double exponential curve. (2) From 2006 to 2019, Wuhan’s ecological environment pressure index showed a continuous downward trend. The ecological environment improved the fastest. The rest of the cities showed a trend of first rising and then falling. (3) The type of coupling coordination degree of urban rail transit and ecological environment showed a changing coordination trend from severe incoordination—slight to incoordination—basic to coordination—good. Beijing has the highest degree of overall coordinated development in urban rail transit and the ecological environment. The results of this study can provide a theoretical reference for the realisation of the virtuous circle development of rail transit and the ecological environment