Data Envelopment Analysis for Relative Efficiency Measurement of Chinese Hospitals: A Systematic Review

The purpose was to explore the gap between China and the international world in efficiency measurement of hospitals with Data Envelopment Analysis, and to improve the standardization of healthcare efficiency measurement in China. A systematic review was conducted using appropriate search strategies. Studies were included containing DEA approaches regarding general hospital efficiency, published in international literature and in both Chinese and English about Chinese hospitals from January 2004 to October 2014. The results showed that statistical significances were found in indicators such as number of DMUs, percentage of allocative efficiency studies, ratio of studies with multiple years, number of studies with monetary indicators in input and output sets, etc. The statistical insignificance in some indicators such as the number of input and output indicators were also found among China, Europe, USA and others. Some problems were found in current DEA-based hospital efficiency studies in China, such as inappropriate selection of input-output indicators, no bias-correction on efficiency scores, etc. The standardization of DEA methods applied in China’s hospital efficiency research needs to be improved. Chinese researchers should pay more attention to latest international research findings, so as to keep pace with the cutting edge hospital efficiency research

Study on multi-period palaeotectonic stress fields simulation and fractures distribution prediction in Lannigou gold mine, Guizhou

A significant controlling factor for gold mineralisation is the tectonic stress field, and the fractures formed under its action are the migration channels and ore-holding spaces of ore-forming fluids, which often directly control the migration and accumulation of ore-forming fluids. Therefore, performing quantitative prediction research on the distribution of fractures in the Guizhou, Lannigou gold deposit in order to identify potential fluid flow pathways is of utmost importance for ore prospecting in practical. In this study, a 3D geological entity model was generated based on the GOCAD platform by analysing and processing the geological data of the studied area, as well achieved is the accurate characterisation of the study area’s geometric model. By integrating regional tectonic evolution history analysis, geological interpretation, rock mechanics experiments and acoustic emission testing, the finite element method was utilised to create a 3D geomechanical model of the research area, the paleotectonic stress field after the Indosinian and Yanshanian movements were superimposed was simulated, in associated with the rock failure criterion, the comprehensive fracture rate parameter (Iz) is introduced to predict the fracture distribution. The results show that the research area’s maximum principal stress is primarily distributed between 153.85 and 189.53 MPa, and the maximum shear stress is between 83.53 and 98.42 MPa. The spatial distribution of faults influences the stress distribution characteristics significantly, and the stress level is relatively high at the intersection of the fault, the end of the fault and the vicinity of the fault zone, and the stress value between the faults is relatively low. The tectonic stress field primarily controls the distribution and development of fractures, which is usually consistent with the areas with high values of maximum principal stress and maximum shear stress. Using the combined modeling technique of GOCAD and midas GTS to realize the conversion from 3D geological model to geomechanical model, a set of comprehensive fracture distribution prediction technique for the superposition of multi-stage tectonic stress fields of mineral deposits in complex tectonic areas has been formed, and provide a reference for the prediction of fracture distribution in similar complex structural areas.This study was supported by the program of China Scholarships Council (No. 202006670005); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project Nos. 51964007, 52264004, 52104080, 41962008); the Guizhou Province Science and Technology Support Program Project (Number: QIANKEHE Support [2021] General 516); Scientific and Technological Innovation Talents Team in Guizhou Province (Project No. [2019]5619); the Guizhou Province Highlevel Innovative Talents Training Project (Grant No. JZ2016-4011). Major Collaborative Innovation Project for Strategic Action of Mineral Search Breakthrough in Guizhou Province ([2022] ZD005); Natural Science Special (Special Post) Scientific Research Fund Project of Guizhou University (Project No. Guizhou University Special Post (2021) 51).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Measles Resurgence Associated with Continued Circulation of Genotype H1 Viruses in China, 2005

Measles morbidity and mortality decreased significantly after measles vaccine was introduced into China in 1965. From 1995 to 2004, average annual measles incidence decreased to 5.6 cases per 100,000 population following the establishment of a national two-dose regimen. Molecular characterization of wild-type measles viruses demonstrated that genotype H1 was endemic and widely distributed throughout the country in China during 1995-2004. A total of 124,865 cases and 55 deaths were reported from the National Notifiable Diseases Reporting System (NNDRS) in 2005, which represented a 69.05% increase compared with 2004. Over 16,000 serum samples obtained from 914 measles outbreaks and the measles IgM positive rate was 81%. 213 wild-type measles viruses were isolated from 18 of 31 provinces in China during 2005, and all of the isolates belonged to genotype H1. The ranges of the nucleotide sequence and predicted amino acid sequence homologies of the 213 genotype H1 strains were 93.4%-100% and 90.0%-100%, respectively. H1-associated cases and outbreaks caused the measles resurgence in China in 2005. H1 genotype has the most inner variation within genotype, it could be divided into 2 clusters, and cluster 1 viruses were predominant in China throughout 2005

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of GL2-interacting-repressor (GIR) genes during cotton fiber and fuzz development.

peer reviewedMAIN CONCLUSION: GL2-interacting-repressor (GIR) family members may contribute to fiber/fuzz formation via a newly discovered unique pathway in Gossypium arboreum. There are similarities between cotton fiber development and the formation of trichomes and root hairs. The GL2-interacting-repressors (GIRs) are crucial regulators of root hair and trichome formation. The GaFzl gene, annotated as GaGIR1, is negatively associated with trichome development and fuzz initiation. However, there is relatively little available information regarding the other GIR genes in cotton, especially regarding their effects on cotton fiber development. In this study, 21 GIR family genes were identified in the diploid cotton species Gossypium arboreum; these genes were divided into three groups. The GIR genes were characterized in terms of their phylogenetic relationships, structures, chromosomal distribution and evolutionary dynamics. These GIR genes were revealed to be unequally distributed on 12 chromosomes in the diploid cotton genome, with no GIR gene detected on Ga06. The cis-acting elements in the promoter regions were predicted to be responsive to light, phytohormones, defense activities and stress. The transcriptomic data and qRT-PCR results revealed that most GIR genes were not differentially expressed between the wild-type control and the fuzzless mutant line. Moreover, 14 of 21 family genes were expressed at high levels, indicating these genes may play important roles during fiber development and fuzz formation. Furthermore, Ga01G0231 was predominantly expressed in root samples, suggestive of a role in root hair formation rather than in fuzz initiation and development. The results of this study have enhanced our understanding of the GIR genes and their potential utility for improving cotton fiber through breeding.Key Technologies Research and Development Progra

Imbedding Pd Nanoparticles into Porous In₂O₃ Structure for Enhanced Low-Concentration Methane Sensing

Methane (CH4), as the main component of natural gas and coal mine gas, is widely used in daily life and industrial processes and its leakage always causes undesirable misadventures. Thus, the rapid detection of low concentration methane is quite necessary. However, due to its robust chemical stability resulting from the strong tetrahedral-symmetry structure, the methane molecules are usually chemically inert to the sensing layers in detectors, making the rapid and efficient alert a big challenge. In this work, palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) embedded indium oxide porous hollow tubes (In2O3 PHTs) were successfully synthesized using Pd@MIL-68 (In) MOFs as precursors. All In2O3-based samples derived from Pd@MIL-68 (In) MOFs inherited the morphology of the precursors and exhibited the feature of hexagonal hollow tubes with porous architecture. The gas-sensing performances to 5000 ppm CH4 were evaluated and it was found that Pd@In2O3-2 gave the best response (Ra/Rg = 23.2) at 370 °C, which was 15.5 times higher than that of pristine-In2O3 sensors. In addition, the sensing materials also showed superior selectivity against interfering gases and a rather short response/recovery time of 7 s/5 s. The enhancement in sensing performances of Pd@In2O3-2 could be attributed to the large surface area, rich porosity, abundant oxygen vacancies and the catalytic function of Pd NPs

Gene Expression Correlation Analysis Reveals MYC-NAC Regulatory Network in Cotton Pigment Gland Development

Plant NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) family is involved in various development processes including Programmed Cell Death (PCD) associated development. However, the relationship between NAC family and PCD-associated cotton pigment gland development is largely unknown. In this study, we identified 150, 153 and 299 NAC genes in newly updated genome sequences of G. arboreum, G. raimondii and G. hirsutum, respectively. All NAC genes were divided into 8 groups by the phylogenetic analysis and most of them were conserved during cotton evolution. Using the vital regulator of gland formation GhMYC2-like as bait, expression correlation analysis screened out 6 NAC genes which were low-expressed in glandless cotton and high-expressed in glanded cotton. These 6 NAC genes acted downstream of GhMYC2-like and were induced by MeJA. Silencing CGF1(Cotton Gland Formation1), another MYC-coding gene, caused almost glandless phenotype and down-regulated expression of GhMYC2-like and the 6 NAC genes, indicating a MYC-NAC regulatory network in gland development. In addition, predicted regulatory mechanism showed that the 6 NAC genes were possibly regulated by light, various phytohormones and transcription factors as well as miRNAs. The interaction network and DNA binding sites of the 6 NAC transcription factors were also predicted. These results laid the foundation for further study of gland-related genes and gland development regulatory network