From Macro to Micro: A Summary of Dr. Angel Lin’s Research over Time

This article provides a comprehensive overview of  Lin's scholarly contributions, spanning various periods from her early research endeavors in Hong Kong to her recent work in Canada. Employing a chronological approach, it delves into the distinct phases of Lin's research trajectory, examining how her scholarship has evolved over time. By contextualizing her work within the socio-cultural milieu of each respective period, the article offers insights into the interconnectedness between Lin's research interests and the prevailing social conditions. Through this analysis, readers gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted dimensions of Lin's academic pursuits and their broader implications within the field of study

Concept for a Future Super Proton-Proton Collider

Following the discovery of the Higgs boson at LHC, new large colliders are being studied by the international high-energy community to explore Higgs physics in detail and new physics beyond the Standard Model. In China, a two-stage circular collider project CEPC-SPPC is proposed, with the first stage CEPC (Circular Electron Positron Collier, a so-called Higgs factory) focused on Higgs physics, and the second stage SPPC (Super Proton-Proton Collider) focused on new physics beyond the Standard Model. This paper discusses this second stage.Comment: 34 pages, 8 figures, 5 table

Environmental capacity and fluxes of land-sourced pollutants around the Leizhou Peninsula in the summer

Although the water environment has certain self-purification capability, the natural balance is disrupted, leading to water quality deterioration when the discharge load of wastewater exceeds a certain threshold. This problem implies the urgency of evaluating marine environmental capacity as a necessary parameter for marine sustainable development of marine ecosystems. Through principal component analysis (PCA), clustering, and other methods, we analyzed the average concentration and fluxes of land-sourced pollutants and determined the pollution level around the Leizhou Peninsula. Combined with the Delft3D hydrodynamic numerical model, tidal hydrodynamic forces and pollutants migration and diffusion were calculated. Based on in-situ measured data, the model was validated. The sharing rate method was used to calculate the marine environmental capacity in Zhanjiang Bay and analyzed their impact on seawater eutrophication. The results showed that: (1) The average concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH4 +), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) around Leizhou Peninsula were 22.56 mg/L, 0.69 mg/L, 6.69 mg/L, and 0.69 mg/L, respectively. (2) Six areas (Area A-F) can be divided into, based on the discharge of land-sourced pollutants into the sea area. According to the results of PCA, clustering, and other methods, the average concentration and fluxes of land-sourced pollutants in Area B (i.e. Zhanjiang Bay) were very high. (3) The environmental capacity of Zhanjiang Bay was calculated through Delft3D numerical simulation, and it was found that the COD and TN environmental capacity of 6 sewage outlets exceeded the standard, while the TP environmental capacity of 3 sewage outlets exceeded the standard. (4) According to the statistical research result, most of the Zhanjiang Bay waters has been restricted by nitrogen for over a decade. Therefore, we speculate that although TN environmental capacity exceeds the standard, its impact on eutrophication in Zhanjiang Bay is still limited to a certain extent

Key issues in the response of tertiary public hospitals to public health emergencies in China

ObjectiveTo identify and clarify the key issues faced by tertiary hospitals in responding to public health emergencies.MethodsA literature review index system was constructed, and key issues were identified using hierarchical analysis.ResultsAfter a systematic literature review, 20 types of problems faced by tertiary hospitals in responding to public health emergencies were identified. Three key issues were ultimately identified by prioritizing the issues that needed to be addressed.ConclusionThe key issues of tertiary hospitals in responding to public health emergencies are concentrated in the areas of emergency response capabilities and competencies of medical staff, the number of emergency response personnel, and the standardization and specificity of training and drills. Tertiary hospitals should focus on these issues in developing public health emergency response systems to improve the effectiveness of their emergency response

Allergic rhinitis in college students at Dongguan: a cross-sectional survey on disease burden, knowledge, and self-management

This study examined the prevalence, clinical characteristics, disease knowledge, and quality of life impact of allergic rhinitis (AR) among college students in Dongguan, China. Using a customized questionnaire, we surveyed 1,531 participants (response rate: 85.1%) and identified an AR prevalence of 18.68% (95% CI: 16.72–20.63%). The study identified significant gaps in AR management, including underutilization of allergen testing (only 44.21% of AR patients underwent skin prick testing) and limited medication knowledge among 73% of participants. Environmental control measures were often neglected, and health education was inconsistently delivered, with 72.03% of students relying on the internet for AR information. The findings underscore the need for enhanced health education, improved access to diagnostic testing, and patient-centered communication strategies. Digital platforms and peer-led interventions are recommended to address these gaps and improve AR self-management

Association of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with gout risk: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2007–2018 data emphasizing mixture effects

ObjectiveThis study examined associations between serum concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and gout risk in the U.S. adult population using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018 data. And assessing the potential intermediary effect of uric acid.MethodsThe study included 8,494 participants, with 385 having gout. Four PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA) were measured. PFOS is the most prevalent PFAS in the environment, biota, and human tissues. It is rapidly absorbed and accumulates in the liver, kidneys, and blood, binding to serum albumin and low-density lipoprotein. PFOA is highly persistent in the body, mainly accumulating in the kidneys and liver through enterohepatic circulation, posing risks due to its difficulty in metabolism and excretion. PFHxS has the longest metabolic half-life in humans (7.3 years) and bioaccumulates in the endocrine, immune, nervous, and reproductive systems. PFNA is the second most detected PFAS in human serum after PFOS. It is more likely to accumulate and express toxicity in the reproductive organs, liver, and immune system compared to PFOS and PFOA. Multivariate logistic regression and weighted quantile sum regression were used to assess individual and mixture effects. Mediation analysis was conducted to estimate effect of uric acid.ResultsIn fully adjusted model, the associations were nonsignificant, with PFOA showing a marginally positive association. Mixture analysis revealed a significant positive association with gout risk across all models. PFOS was the largest contributor to the mixture effect. Stronger associations were observed in old people and females. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Mediation analysis indicated significant intermediary effect of uric acid in the associations of PFAS with risk of gout, with the mediated proportion ranging from 48 to 77%.ConclusionThis study provides evidence for a potential link between PFAS exposure and gout risk, particularly when considering mixtures. While associations with individual PFASs are largely explained by demographic and lifestyle factors, the persistent association of mixtures with gout risk highlights the importance of considering combined exposures in environmental health research. Uric acid level plays a crucial intermediary effect

NTIRE 2024 Quality Assessment of AI-Generated Content Challenge

This paper reports on the NTIRE 2024 Quality Assessment of AI-Generated Content Challenge, which will be held in conjunction with the New Trends in Image Restoration and Enhancement Workshop (NTIRE) at CVPR 2024. This challenge is to address a major challenge in the field of image and video processing, namely, Image Quality Assessment (IQA) and Video Quality Assessment (VQA) for AI-Generated Content (AIGC). The challenge is divided into the image track and the video track. The image track uses the AIGIQA-20K, which contains 20,000 AI-Generated Images (AIGIs) generated by 15 popular generative models. The image track has a total of 318 registered participants. A total of 1,646 submissions are received in the development phase, and 221 submissions are received in the test phase. Finally, 16 participating teams submitted their models and fact sheets. The video track uses the T2VQA-DB, which contains 10,000 AI-Generated Videos (AIGVs) generated by 9 popular Text-to-Video (T2V) models. A total of 196 participants have registered in the video track. A total of 991 submissions are received in the development phase, and 185 submissions are received in the test phase. Finally, 12 participating teams submitted their models and fact sheets. Some methods have achieved better results than baseline methods, and the winning methods in both tracks have demonstrated superior prediction performance on AIGC

International expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Lung cancer combined by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (LC-COPD) is a common comorbidity and their interaction with each other poses significant clinical challenges. However, there is a lack of well-established consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of LC-COPD. Methods: A panel of experts, comprising specialists in oncology, respiratory medicine, radiology, interventional medicine, and thoracic surgery, was convened. The panel was presented with a comprehensive review of the current evidence pertaining to LC-COPD. After thorough discussions, the panel reached a consensus on 17 recommendations with over 70% agreement in voting to enhance the management of LC-COPD and optimize the care of these patients. Results: The 17 statements focused on pathogenic mechanisms (n=2), general strategies (n=4), and clinical application in COPD (n=2) and lung cancer (n=9) were developed and modified. These statements provide guidance on early screening and treatment selection of LC-COPD, the interplay of lung cancer and COPD on treatment, and considerations during treatment. This consensus also emphasizes patient-centered and personalized treatment in the management of LC-COPD. Conclusions: The consensus highlights the need for concurrent treatment for both lung cancer and COPD in LC-COPD patients, while being mindful of the mutual influence of the two conditions on treatment and monitoring for adverse reactions