A randomized phase 2b study of subcutaneous PD-L1 antibody ASC22 in virally-suppressed, HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Studies have shown that blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway may lead to a potential cure for HBV infections. ASC22 (Envafolimab) is a humanized, single-domain PD-L1 antibody administered subcutaneously. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ASC22 in virally suppressed chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients on nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs). APPROACH AND RESULTS: This randomized, single-blind, phase IIb trial enrolled CHB patients in two cohorts for a 24-week treatment with ASC22 or placebo (PBO) once every 2 weeks and 24-week follow-up. In total, 60, 59, and 30 patients were treated with 1.0, 2.5 mg/kg ASC22 and PBO, respectively. The mean HBsAg changes from baseline at week 24 and 24 week follow-up periods were -0.309 (p<0.001) and -0.272 (p<0.023) log10 IU/mL in the 1.0 mg/kg ASC22 group, -0.231 (p=0.007) and -0.205 (p=0.12) log10 IU/mL in the 2.5 mg/kg ASC22 group, and-0.003 and -0.063 log10 IU/mL in the PBO group, respectively (ITT population). Three out of ten patients with baseline HBsAg levels ≤100 IU/mL in the 1.0 mg/kg group obtained on-treatment HBsAg loss. Most AEs were mild (97.9%). There were no study drug-related serious AEs in the 1.0 mg/kg ASC22 group. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous administration of 1.0 mg/kg ASC22 Q2W for 24 weeks was shown to be safe and well tolerated in virally suppressed CHB patients on NAs and can induce HBsAg decline, especially in patients with HBsAg ≤100 IU/mL.

Triangular Triazine-Triphenylamine Functionalized Hybrid Fluorescent Porous Polymers for Detection and Photodegradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride.

First, an organic semiconductor fluorescent molecule of 4',4″,4"'-(2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine)-4-(N,N-diphenyl-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4-amine (TPTz) is successfully synthesized by the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction of 2,4,6-tris(4-bromophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine with 4-(diphenylamino)phenylboronic acid. TPTz offers as high as 85% fluorescence quantum yield and a strong solvent effect, with fluorescent colors across the visible spectrum in different solvents. Then, an organic-inorganic hybrid fluorescent porous polymer of PCS-TPTz with a surface area of 714 m2 g-1 and pore volume of 0.660 cm3 g-1 is prepared by the Friedel-Crafts reaction of TPTz and octavinylsilsesquioxane; PCS-TPTz showed a high fluorescence quantum yield of 17% with a large Stokes shift of up to 280 nm. The excellent fluorescence properties and insolubility of PCS-TPTz make it to act as a heterophase sensor for tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) with a KSV of 2.39 × 104 M-1. In addition, PCS-TPTz exhibits an excellent photodegradation activity for antibiotic TH without the requirement for additional oxidants or pH adjustments. ESR spectra and free radical trapping experiment indicate that superoxide radical (•O2-) is the active radical for achieving the photodegradation. The simultaneous detection and degradation of TH are achieved by PCS-TPTz.

Recent Progress on Dominant Sulfide-Type Solid-State Na Superionic Conductors for Solid-State Sodium Batteries.

Over the past decade, solid-state batteries have garnered significant attentions due to their potentials to deliver high energy density and excellent safety. Considering the abundant sodium (Na) resources in contrast to lithium (Li), the development of sodium-based batteries has become increasingly appealing. Sulfide-based superionic conductors are widely considered as promising solid eletcrolytes (SEs) in solid-state Na batteries due to the features of high ionic conductivity and cold-press densification. In recent years, tremendous efforts have been made to investigate sulfide-based Na-ion conductors on their synthesis, compositions, conductivity, and the feasibility in batteries. However, there are still several challenges to overcome for their practical applications in high performance solid-state Na batteries. This article provides a comprehensive update on the synthesis, structure, and properties of three dominant sulfide-based Na-ion conductors (Na3PS4, Na3SbS4, and Na11Sn2PS12), and their families that have a variety of anion and cation doping. Additionally, the interface stability of these sulfide electrolytes toward the anode is reviewed, as well as the electrochemical performance of solid-state Na batteries based on different types of cathode materials (metal sulfides, oxides, and organics). Finally, the perspective and outlook for the development and practical utilization of sulfide-based SE in solid-state batteries are discussed.

A "food insecurity poverty line" to replace the official threshold in Canadian rural and urban settings? A single-person household perspective.

Household food insecurity is associated with both low income and high cost of living, it is a potentially better measure for consumption compared to income. We use data on food insecurity and income from 10 years of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2007-2017) of single-person households (n = 145,044) to estimate the probability of being food insecure at the Canadian poverty thresholds (Market Basket Measure thresholds, or MBMs), and determine the income required to reach that probability in each MBM region, aggregated by province and rural/urban status. A regression model shows the probability of being food insecure at the MBM is approximately 30% which we call the Food Insecurity Poverty Line (FIPL). The income required to meet the FIPL is substantially different from the MBM, sometimes 1.25 times the MBM. This implies that food insecurity is a potential sentinel measure for poverty.

Differences in the Development of Mathematics Motivation within and across Socioeconomic Status: Do Early Adolescents' Failure Beliefs Matter?

Interest in socioeconomic differences in academic motivation has been longstanding. However, previous research has often treated both low- and high-SES students as homogenous groups. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the developmental trajectory profiles of mathematics motivation during early adolescence, with a focus on variations within and across SES groups. Multigroup latent class growth analysis was used on a sample of 3718 early adolescents in China (initial Mage was 9.40 ± 0.52 years; 48.0% girls) across 2 years from grades 4 through 6. The analysis identified three distinct self-determined mathematics motivation trajectory profiles within each SES group: a good-quality profile (i.e., initially high autonomous but low controlled), a high-quantity profile (i.e., initially high both autonomous and controlled), and a low-quantity profile (i.e., initially low both autonomous and controlled). A greater proportion of low-SES students were observed within the low-quantity profile than within the good-quality profile. The study found that the failure-is-enhancing view was a protective factor against two relatively maladaptive motivational trajectory profiles (i.e., high-quantity profile and low-quantity profile), irrespective of socioeconomic background. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing motivational interventions for early adolescents that consider both structural factors (e.g., socioeconomic backgrounds) and psychological factors (e.g., failure beliefs), to foster students' academic development.

Circulating long noncoding RNA, Zfpm2-As1, and XIST based on medical data analysis are potential plasma biomarkers for gastric cancer diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in diseases, especially tumorigenesis, including gastric cancer (GC). Although lncRNAs in GC tissues have been extensively studied in previous research, the possible significance of circulating lncRNAs in diagnosing GC is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: The present work investigated lncRNAs ZFPM2-AS1 and XIST with high expression in GC tissues proved as potential plasma biomarkers from 20 early GC cases, 100 GC cases, and 90 normal subjects. METHODS: The possible correlation between ZFPM2-AS1 and XIST expression levels was analyzed with general characteristics and clinicopathological features. The performance in diagnosis was assessed according to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: According to the results, XIST and ZFPM2-AS1 expression remarkably increased within GC plasma relative to normal subjects (P< 0.01); besides, lncRNA XIST expression after surgery had a tendency of downregulation compared with preoperative levels (P< 0.05). Moreover, the area under ROC curve (AUC) values were 0.62 for ZFPM2-AS1 and 0.68 for XIST, while the pooled AUC value of CA-724 and two lncRNAs was 0.751. CONCLUSION: Circulating lncRNAs ZFPM2-AS1 and XIST can serve as the candidate plasma biomarkers used to diagnose GC.

An efficient method of preparing Si-Fe-Al-Ca alloy from coal gasification fine slag via plasma smelting and alternating current magnetic field.

It is of great significance to solve the environmental problems caused by the unreasonable treatment of coal gasification slag. This study successfully produced Si-Fe-Al-Ca alloy from low-carbon fine slag with petroleum coke as reducing agent in a plasma furnace with an alternating current magnetic field, which solved the problem of the high reactivity requirement of carbon reductant for plasma smelting. The optimum carbon content of the mixed low-carbon fine slag and petroleum coke is 105% of the theoretical value. As the strength of the alternating current magnetic field increased (from 0% to 100% of the maximum power), the yield of the alloy (from 25.46% to 58.19%) and the recovery ratios of each element (Si, Fe, Al, Ca, Ti) increased. In addition, as the magnetic field strength increased, the pores inside the alloy became smaller, the composition of the alloy became more homogeneous, and a better separation of the alloy from the slag was observed. The main composition of the alloy at the strongest alternating current magnetic field is Si: 51.14 wt%, Fe: 28.41 wt%, Al: 9.14 wt%, Ca: 7.15 wt%, Ti: 2.03 wt%. We attribute the enhanced smelting effect of the alternating current magnetic field to the resistive heat and Lorentz force produced by the induced current. In addition, the skin effect concentrated the induced current on the surface of the oxide particles and carbon particles, which increased the temperature of the reaction interface and promoted the carbothermal reduction reaction.

Recent Advances in Nanomaterials for the Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious clinical syndrome with high morbidity, elevated mortality, and poor prognosis, commonly considered a "sword of Damocles" for hospitalized patients, especially those in intensive care units. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, caused by the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), play a key role in AKI progression. Hence, the investigation of effective and safe antioxidants and inflammatory regulators to scavenge overexpressed ROS and regulate excessive inflammation has become a promising therapeutic option. However, the unique physiological structure and complex pathological alterations in the kidneys render traditional therapies ineffective, impeding the residence and efficacy of most antioxidant and anti-inflammatory small molecule drugs within the renal milieu. Recently, nanotherapeutic interventions have emerged as a promising and prospective strategy for AKI, overcoming traditional treatment dilemmas through alterations in size, shape, charge, and surface modifications. This Review succinctly summarizes the latest advancements in nanotherapeutic approaches for AKI, encompassing nanozymes, ROS scavenger nanomaterials, MSC-EVs, and nanomaterials loaded with antioxidants and inflammatory regulator. Following this, strategies aimed at enhancing biocompatibility and kidney targeting are introduced. Furthermore, a brief discussion on the current challenges and future prospects in this research field is presented, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of nanotherapeutic interventions for AKI.

Fundamentals and Recent Progress in Magnetic Field Assisted CO2 Capture and Conversion.

CO2 capture and conversion technology are highly promising technologies that definitely play a part in the journey towards carbon neutrality. Releasing CO2 by mild stimulation and the development of high efficiency catalytic processes are urgently needed. The magnetic field, as a thermodynamic parameter independent of temperature and pressure, is vital in the enhancement of CO2 capture and conversion process. In this review, the recent progress of magnetic field-enhanced CO2 capture and conversion is comprehensively summarized. The theoretical fundamentals of magnetic field on CO2 adsorption, release and catalytic reduction process are discussed, including the magnetothermal, magnetohydrodynamic, spin selection, Lorentz forces, magnetoresistance and spin relaxation effects. Additionally, a thorough review of the current progress of the enhancement strategies of magnetic field coupled with a variety of fields (including thermal, electricity, and light) is summarized in the aspect of CO2 related process. Finally, the challenges and prospects associated with the utilization of magnetic field-assisted techniques in the construction of CO2 capture and conversion systems are proposed. This review offers a reference value for the future design of catalysts, mechanistic investigations, and practical implementation for magnetic field enhanced CO2 capture and conversion.

Fast and sensitive smartphone colorimetric detection of whole blood samples on a paper-based analytical device.

BACKGROUND: Methods based on paper-based analytical devices (PAD) and smartphone photographic colorimetric detection have become representative instrument-independent point-of-care testing (POCT) platforms due to their low cost and simplicity. However, the detection of target components from whole blood sample still presents challenges in terms of field preparation of small amounts of blood sample and detection sensitivity. This paper presents a rapid online processing method for whole blood samples on PAD based on plasma separation membrane (PSM), and combined with electrokinetic stacking and selective chromatic reaction. Real-time smartphone-based colorimetric detection of free hemoglobin (FHb) and human serum albumin (HSA) was successfully demonstrated. RESULTS: With the proposed method, both detections for low and high concentration analytes could be implemented. The limits of detection of 16.6 mg L-1 for FHb and 0.67 g L-1 for HSA were obtained, respectively, with RSD below 8 %. The reliability of the method was verified by the recovery test and desktop spectrophotometric method. The detection results for real blood samples were in agreement with that by clinical methods. SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY: The PAD method is inexpensive, simple and fast, and detection of a whole blood sample of 5 µL can be finished in 5 min. This work shows that POCT of biomarkers from whole blood with PAD is possible without using any desktop facilities.

A genome-wide association study of coat color in Chinese Rex rabbits.

Coat color is an important phenotypic characteristic of the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and has specific economic importance in the Rex rabbit industry. Coat color varies considerably among different populations of rabbits, and several causal genes for this variation have been thoroughly studied. Nevertheless, the candidate genes affecting coat color variation in Chinese Rex rabbits remained to be investigated. In this study, we collected blood samples from 250 Chinese Rex rabbits with six different coat colors. We performed genome sequencing using a restriction site-associated DNA sequencing approach. A total of 91,546 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), evenly distributed among 21 autosomes, were identified. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using a mixed linear model, in which the individual polygenic effect was fitted as a random effect. We detected a total of 24 significant SNPs that were located within a genomic region on chromosome 4 (OCU4). After re-fitting the most significant SNP (OCU4:13,434,448, p = 1.31e-12) as a covariate, another near-significant SNP (OCU4:11,344,946, p = 7.03e-07) was still present. Hence, we conclude that the 2.1-Mb genomic region located between these two significant SNPs is significantly associated with coat color in Chinese Rex rabbits. The well-studied coat-color-associated agouti signaling protein (ASIP) gene is located within this region. Furthermore, low genetic differentiation was also observed among the six coat color varieties. In conclusion, our results confirmed that ASIP is a putative causal gene affecting coat color variation in Chinese Rex rabbits.

Identification and Expressional Analysis of Putative PRDI-BF1 and RIZ Homology Domain-Containing Transcription Factors in Mulinia lateralis.

Mollusca represents one of the ancient bilaterian groups with high morphological diversity, while the formation mechanisms of the precursors of all germ cells, primordial germ cells (PGCs), have not yet been clarified in mollusks. PRDI-BF1 and RIZ homology domain-containing proteins (PRDMs) are a group of transcriptional repressors, and PRDM1 (also known as BLIMP1) and PRDM14 have been reported to be essential for the formation of PGCs. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide retrieval in Mulinia lateralis and identified 11 putative PRDMs, all of which possessed an N-terminal PR domain. Expressional profiles revealed that all these prdm genes showed specifically high expression levels in the given stages, implying that all PRDMs played important roles during early development stages. Specifically, Ml-prdm1 was highly expressed at the gastrula stage, the key period when PGCs arise, and was specifically localized in the cytoplasm of two or three cells of blastula, gastrula, or trochophore larvae, matching the typical characteristics of PGCs. These results suggested that Ml-prdm1-positive cells may be PGCs and that Ml-prdm1 could be a candidate marker for tracing the formation of PGCs in M. lateralis. In addition, the expression profiles of Ml-prdm14 hinted that it may not be associated with PGCs of M. lateralis. The present study provides insights into the evolution of the PRDM family in mollusks and offers a better understanding of the formation of PGCs in mollusks.

The Relationship between Dispositional Mindfulness and Relative Accuracy of Judgments of Learning: The Moderating Role of Test Anxiety.

Research has demonstrated that metacognition accuracy is far from perfect. The accuracy of judgments of learning (JOLs) is of critical importance in self-regulated learning. To explore what factors constrain JOL accuracy, the current study focused on mindfulness, which is intimately related to metacognition and anxiety. A total of 203 undergraduates (198 valid samples) were recruited to determine the relationships among five dimensions of dispositional mindfulness, test anxiety, and relative accuracy of JOLs. Results revealed that the interaction term for acting with awareness and test anxiety significantly predicted JOL accuracy. Further analyses indicated that for individuals with high test anxiety, but not for those with low test anxiety, acting with awareness positively predicted JOL accuracy. Considering that dispositional mindfulness is modifiable, these results help to inspire researchers to further explore whether mindfulness training can be used as a remedy to improve JOL accuracy.

Leaching kinetic mechanism of iron from the diamond wire saw silicon powder by HCl.

The diamond wire saw silicon powder (DWSSP) is considered to be a harmful to the environment because of finer particles, the large specific surface area and flammability. Removal of Fe impurity is very essential for recovering Si from DWSSP due to the large amount of Fe introduced during the silicon powder generation process. In the study, the thermodynamics of Fe leaching with HCl was analyzed and determined iron was theoretically present as ions in solution. Furthermore, the effects of different concentrations, temperatures and liquid-solid ratios on Fe leaching from HCl were investigated. The leaching rate of Fe reached 98.37% at the optimal parameters (HCl concentration of 12 wt%, leaching temperature of 333 K, liquid-solid ratio of 15 ml/g) with 100 min. The leaching kinetics of Fe in HCl was analyzed by shrinking core model and homogeneous model, respectively. The study indicated the process of leaching Fe from DWSSP conforms to the secondary reaction model of homogeneous model which coincided with the porous structure of DWSSP due to agglomeration. The apparent activation energy required (49.398 kJ/mol) in the first stage is lower than that (57.817 kJ/mol) in the second stage because of the porous structure. In conclusion, this paper provided a suitable way to purify the diamond wire saw silicon powder. This work provides an important guide for the industrial recovery and preparation of high purity silicon from DWSSP by the most environment-friendly and low-cost approach.

Does Being Prosocial Pay Off? Testing Positive Developmental Cascades of Prosocial Behavior, Social Preference, and Subjective Well-Being in Chinese Adolescents.

Positive aspects of adolescent development recently have raised researchers' interests; however, studies examining reciprocal links between prosocial behavior, social preference, and subjective well-being are lacking. The present longitudinal study investigated the bidirectional relations between prosocial behavior, social preference, and subjective well-being within a theoretical framework of the developmental cascade model. A total of 1248 Chinese adolescents (M = 13.44, SD = 0.65; 47.0% girls) were surveyed across three waves with 6-month intervals. The results of analyses utilizing the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model demonstrated that prosocial behavior was positively associated with both social preference and subjective well-being, and social preference was not associated with subjective well-being at the between-person level. At the within-person level, prosocial behavior was positively reciprocally associated with social preference, while no significant relations between prosocial behavior and subjective well-being and between social preference and subjective well-being were found. The findings highlight adolescents' prosocial behavior and social preference could mutually facilitate each other over time, which can be used to guide adolescents' positive development.

Photothermal CO-PROX reaction over ternary CuCoMnOx spinel oxide catalysts: the effect of the copper dopant and thermal treatment.

The purification of carbon monoxide in H2-rich streams is an urgent problem for the practical application of fuel cells, and requires the development of efficient and economical catalysts for the preferential oxidation of CO (CO-PROX). In the present work, a facile solid phase synthesis method followed by an impregnation method were adopted to prepare a ternary CuCoMnOx spinel oxide, which shows superior catalytic performance with CO conversion of 90% for photothermal CO-PROX at 250 mW cm-2. The dopant of copper species leads to the incorporation of Cu ions into the CoMnOx spinel lattice forming a ternary CuCoMnOx spinel oxide. The appropriate calcination temperature (300 °C) contributes to the generation of abundant oxygen vacancies and strong synergetic Cu-Co-Mn interactions, which are conducive to the mobility of oxygen species to participate in CO oxidation reactions. On the other hand, the highest photocurrent response of CuCoMnOx-300 also promotes the photo-oxidation activity of CO due to the high carrier concentration and efficient carrier separation. In addition, the in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) confirmed that doping copper species could enhance the CO adsorption capacity of the catalyst due to the generation of Cu+ species, which significantly increased the CO oxidation activity of the CuCoMnOx spinel oxide. The present work provides a promising and eco-friendly solution to remove the trace CO in H2-rich gas over CuCoMnOx ternary spinel oxide with solar light as the only energy source.

A novel process to recycle coal gasification fine slag by preparing Si-Fe-Al-Ca alloy.

Maximizing the use of valuable components in coal gasification slag is of great significance for resource recovery and the environment due to the huge annual emission of coal gasification slag. This study successfully produced Si-Fe-Al-Ca alloy with a composition of 63.83 wt% Si, 19.73 wt% Fe, 7.09 wt% Al, 6.32 wt% Ca, 1.70 wt% Ti, 0.03 wt% P, 0.66 wt% Mn, 0.05 wt% Cr, 0.53 wt% C, and 0.06 wt% others through electric arc furnace smelting from mixed coal gasification fine slag. The alloy composition is close to the standard 65% ferrosilicon, which can be used in the deoxidation of the molten steel industry. Moreover, the alloy yield was increased from 20.53% to 67.78% by using the residual carbon of the coal gasification slag as the reductant directly instead of adding petroleum coke. The transformation of coal gasification fine slag during the smelting process and the formation mechanism of the alloy were studied and the carbothermal reduction mechanism of Al2O3 and CaO can be explained by the reduction and decomposition theory of carbides. The complex liquid phase of the reactant system and product system in the smelting process made the carbothermal reaction of Al2O3 and CaO easier to occur, but it also brought the problem that the reactions were not fully completed.

A Sustainable Wood-Based Iron Photocatalyst for Multiple Uses with Sunlight: Water Treatment and Radical Photopolymerization.

A sustainable photocatalyst for use with multiple purpose comprising demethylated lignin (Fe3 O4 @D-wood) was made by treatment of wood and iron oxide. Characterization followed by XRD, UV/Vis, photo-current studies, and electrochemical measurements. This material became subject of photocatalytic explorations for water treatment and material synthesis by radical photopolymerization. Exposure of Fe3 O4 @D-wood with artificial sunlight showed an improved activity considering photochemical oxidation of organic pollutants in the presence of H2 O2 . The efficient generation of reactive radicals brought this system also to photopolymerization. Here, radicals based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in the catalytic cycle can be seen as the dominating species to initiate radical polymerization. A mixture of UDMA and TPGDA showed good reactivity with cumene hydroperoxide (CHP). Photocatalyst used for water treatment facilitates reuse for photopolymerization.

The relation between family socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in mainland China: a meta-analysis.

Family socioeconomic status (SES) is widely believed to be associated with depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. The correlation between SES and depressive symptoms changes based on social culture and the economic development level. In China, which includes many children and adolescents, the magnitude of the relationship between SES and depressive symptoms and its potential moderators remains unclear. The current meta-analysis was conducted to determine the overall association between SES and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents in mainland China. We included 197 estimates in mainland China from 2000-2023. Among 147,613 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years, the results showed a weak but significant overall negative association between SES and depression (r = -0.076). Moderator testing showed that the composite SES indicator (r = -0.104) had a stronger association with depression than parental educational level (r = -0.065) and occupational status (r = -0.025) but not family income (r = -0.088). Additionally, the negative association between SES and depression became weaker over the past 20 years in China (ß = 0.010). Furthermore, the magnitude of the relationship between SES and depression was stronger in West China (r = -0.094) than in Middle China (r = -0.065), but not East China (r = -0.075). These findings indicate that the relationship between SES and depression among children and adolescents in mainland China may vary based on social contexts. It is necessary to further explore the effect of these social factors and the underlying mechanisms.

How Does the Land Rental Market Participation Affect Household Efficiency? Evidence from Rural China.

The active land rental market affects inter-household efficiency. Using nationally representative household panel data in China from 2017 to 2019, we estimate rural household efficiency with consideration of diversification, and analyze the effect of land rental market participation on household efficiency using a control function approach. Results show that: (1) the mean technical efficiency and allocative efficiency were 0.45 and 0.64 in 2017 and 0.44 and 0.66 in 2019, respectively, suggesting the existence of efficiency loss; (2) land rented-in activities improve rural households' technical efficiency but not allocative efficiency; (3) land rented out activities decrease household technical efficiency but increase allocative efficiency. Further analysis showed that farm size heterogeneity might be the main reason for the efficiency difference. Households with large farms and plot sizes on rented land have significant advantages in technical efficiency and insignificant impacts on allocative efficiency. The results explain why the land rental market promotes efficient land transfer, but households with a large farm size are still rare in rural areas. Finally, we provide suggestions on how to stimulate the land rental market under diversification circumstances.