Crop switching can enhance environmental sustainability and farmer incomes in China.

Achieving food-system sustainability is a multidimensional challenge. In China, a doubling of crop production since 1990 has compromised other dimensions of sustainability1,2. Although the country is promoting various interventions to enhance production efficiency and reduce environmental impacts3, there is little understanding of whether crop switching can achieve more sustainable cropping systems and whether coordinated action is needed to avoid tradeoffs. Here we combine high-resolution data on crop-specific yields, harvested areas, environmental footprints and farmer incomes to first quantify the current state of crop-production sustainability. Under varying levels of inter-ministerial and central coordination, we perform spatial optimizations that redistribute crops to meet a suite of agricultural sustainable development targets. With a siloed approach-in which each government ministry seeks to improve a single sustainability outcome in isolation-crop switching could realize large individual benefits but produce tradeoffs for other dimensions and between regions. In cases of central coordination-in which tradeoffs are prevented-we find marked co-benefits for environmental-impact reductions (blue water (-4.5% to -18.5%), green water (-4.4% to -9.5%), greenhouse gases (GHGs) (-1.7% to -7.7%), fertilizers (-5.2% to -10.9%), pesticides (-4.3% to -10.8%)) and increased farmer incomes (+2.9% to +7.5%). These outcomes of centrally coordinated crop switching can contribute substantially (23-40% across dimensions) towards China's 2030 agricultural sustainable development targets and potentially produce global resource savings. This integrated approach can inform feasible targeted agricultural interventions that achieve sustainability co-benefits across several dimensions.

Assessment of association between the carotid web and dissection in spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection patients using vessel wall MRI.

BACKGROUND: Internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD) is the major cause of ischemic stroke in young to middle-aged people. Recognition of predisposing factors may facilitate in early individual risk prediction and expand treatment. PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between a carotid web and dissection in patients with ICAD using vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 223 patients who underwent VW-MRI. Of these patients, 58 patients with craniocervical artery dissection (CCAD) (33 ICAD and 25 vertebrobasilar artery dissection [VBAD]) were included. The control group (n = 165) consisted of patients without arterial dissection who had undergone VW-MRI . The presence of a carotid web in the posterior aspect of carotid bulb was recorded. The distance between the carotid web and start of dissection in ICA was recorded. RESULTS: The presence of a carotid web showed a significant difference between the ICAD, VBAD, and control groups (19 [57.6%] vs. 5 [20%] vs. 36 [21.8%], respectively; P < 0.001). In multi-nominal analysis, the presence of a carotid web showed a significant difference between the ICAD and VBAD groups and the ICAD and control groups (P < 0.05), with odds ratios of 5.41 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.634-17.973) and 4.81 (95% CI=2.176-10.651), respectively. Out of 19 ICAD patients with carotid web, 16 had occurrence of dissection in the C1 segment of the ICA with a mean distance of 1.91 ± 1.71 cm from the carotid web. CONCLUSION: Presence of a carotid web was more frequent in patients with ICAD. The carotid web may be one of the predisposing factors for development of dissection in patients with ICAD.

Peanut and cotton intercropping increases productivity and economic returns through regulating plant nutrient accumulation and soil microbial communities.

BACKGROUND: Intercropping (IC) has been widely adopted by farmers for enhancing crop productivity and economic returns; however, the underpinning mechanisms from the perspective of below-ground interspecific interactions are only partly understood especially when intercropping practices under saline soil conditions. By using permeable (100 µm) and impermeable (solid) root barriers in a multi-site field experiment, we aimed to study the impact of root-root interactions on nutrient accumulation, soil microbial communities, crop yield, and economic returns in a peanut/cotton IC system under non-saline, secondary-saline, and coastal saline soil conditions of China. RESULTS: The results indicate that IC decreased the peanut pods yield by 14.00, 10.01, and 16.52% while increased the seed cotton yield by 61.99, 66.00, and 58.51%, respectively in three experimental positions, and consequently enhanced the economic returns by compared with monoculture of peanut (MP) and cotton (MC). The higher accumulations of nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were also observed in IC not only in the soil but also in vegetative tissues and reproductive organs of peanut. Bacterial community structure analysis under normal growth conditions reveals that IC dramatically altered the soil bacterial abundance composition in both peanut and cotton strips of the top soil whereas the bacterial diversity was barely affected compared with MP and MC. At blossom-needling stage, the metabolic functional features of the bacterial communities such as fatty acid biosynthesis, lipoic acid metabolism, peptidoglycan biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of ansamycins were significantly enriched in MP compared with other treatments. Conversely, these metabolic functional features were dramatically depleted in MP while significantly enriched in IC at podding stage. Permeable root barrier treatments (NC-P and NC-C) counteracted the benefits of IC and the side effects were more pronounced in impermeable treatments (SC-P and SC-C). CONCLUSION: Peanut/cotton intercropping increases crop yield as well as economic returns under non-saline, secondary-saline, and coastal saline soil conditions probably by modulating the soil bacterial abundance composition and accelerating plant nutrients accumulation.

Chinese Consensus Report on Family-Based Helicobacter pylori Infection Control and Management (2021 Edition).

OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori infection is mostly a family-based infectious disease. To facilitate its prevention and management, a national consensus meeting was held to review current evidence and propose strategies for population-wide and family-based H. pylori infection control and management to reduce the related disease burden. METHODS: Fifty-seven experts from 41 major universities and institutions in 20 provinces/regions of mainland China were invited to review evidence and modify statements using Delphi process and grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation system. The consensus level was defined as ≥80% for agreement on the proposed statements. RESULTS: Experts discussed and modified the original 23 statements on family-based H. pylori infection transmission, control and management, and reached consensus on 16 statements. The final report consists of three parts: (1) H. pylori infection and transmission among family members, (2) prevention and management of H. pylori infection in children and elderly people within households, and (3) strategies for prevention and management of H. pylori infection for family members. In addition to the 'test-and-treat' and 'screen-and-treat' strategies, this consensus also introduced a novel third 'family-based H. pylori infection control and management' strategy to prevent its intrafamilial transmission and development of related diseases. CONCLUSION: H. pylori is transmissible from person to person, and among family members. A family-based H. pylori prevention and eradication strategy would be a suitable approach to prevent its intra-familial transmission and related diseases. The notion and practice would be beneficial not only for Chinese residents but also valuable as a reference for other highly infected areas.

Assessment of EGFP-Q74 degradation for the measurement of autophagic flux.

Autophagy plays a major role in physiological and pathological processes. The quantitation of the abundance of autophagy-specific substrates constitutes an efficient strategy for assessing autophagic activity. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for quantifying the decay of a fusion protein composed by enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and glutamine repeats (Q74) using regular or high-throughput fluorescence microscopy. This method provides a direct measurement of autophagic flux in a Huntington's disease model.

Estimated assessment of dietary exposure to artificial sweeteners from processed food in Nanjing, China.

The objective of this study was to measure the concentrations of three intensity sweeteners (Acesulfame-K, cyclamate and saccharin) in different categories of food available on the Nanjing market, and to investigate whether the Nanjing general population was at risk for exceeding the ADI of sweeteners. A set of 1885 foods was collected and analysed using the National Food Safety Standard procedure in order to establish the concentration levels of the sweeteners. Dietary exposure was estimated using probabilistic modelling software and compared directly with each sweetener's ADI. Consumption data from the China National Nutrition and Health Survey (conducted in 2010-2013) and the actual concentrations of sweeteners in the collected food products were used to perform the intake assessment. The results indicated that Acesulfame-K and cyclamate were commonly used in processed food, and processed nuts, preserved fruit, beverages, and bakery products are the main sources of sweeteners in Nanjing. The estimated exposure of sweeteners in Nanjing was well below the ADIs, as relative intakes at the 95th percentile were 29.7% for saccharin, 79.8% for cyclamate, and 35.9% for Acesulfame-K of the respective ADIs. It was concluded that adults were not at risk of exceeding ADIs for these sweeteners, but the intake of cyclamate at the higher percentiles by children may approach or slightly exceed ADI values.

Ultrastable low-cost colloidal quantum dot microlasers of operative temperature up to 450 K.

Quantum dot microlasers, as multifunctional optical source components, are of great importance for full-color high-pixel display, miniaturized coherent lighting, and on-chip integrated photonic and electronic circuits. Since the first synthesis of colloidal quantum dots (CQD) in the 1990s, motivation to realize high-performance low-cost CQD micro-/nanolasers has been a driving force for more than three decades. However, the low packing density, inefficient coupling of CQDs with optical cavities, and the poor thermal stability of miniaturized complex systems make it challenging to achieve practical CQD micro-/nanolasers, especially to combine the continuous working ability at high temperatures and the low-cost potential with mass-produced synthesis technologies. Herein, we developed close-packed CQD-assembled microspheres and embedded them in a silica matrix through the rapid self-aggregation and solidification of CdSe/ZnS CQD. This technology addresses the core issues of photoluminescence (PL) quenching effect and low optical gain in traditional CQD laser research. High-efficiency low-threshold CQD microlasers are demonstrated together with long-playing (40 min) working stability even at 450 K under pulsed laser excitation, which is the highest operational temperature for CQD lasers. Moreover, single-mode CQD microlasers are obtained with tunable wavelengths across the entire visible spectral range. The chemosynthesis process supports the mass-produced potential of high-density integrated CQD microlasers, promoting CQD-based low-cost high-temperature microdevices.

A risk score based on pediatric sequential organ failure assessment predicts 90-day mortality in children with Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection (Kp-BSI) is a serious threat to pediatric patients. The objective of this study was to explore the risk factors, validate the prediction efficiency of pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and establish better early predictors of mortality in pediatric patients with Kp-BSI. METHODS: All children diagnosed with Kp-BSI were included in this retrospective cohort study from January 2009 to June 2019. Basic characteristics, symptoms and physical examinations, treatments, laboratory statistics, and SOFA at the onset of Kp-BSI were recorded. The Cox proportional hazard model and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the association between the variables and the 90-day mortality and their predictive value. DeLong's test of receiver operating characteristic curves and integrated discrimination improvement index were used to determine the improvement in predictive capacity of the modified SOFA models. A predictive score was developed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 146 children enrolled, 33 (22.6%) patients died within 90 days. Hospitalization in the last 6 months, intra-abdominal source of infection, presence of organ failure, and altered levels of blood biomarkers, including C-reactive protein, albumin, and lactate were significant risk factors for 90-day mortality. The area under the curve (AUC) of SOFA for predicting 90-day mortality was 0.80 (95% CI 0.71-0.89). Moreover, we found that a prediction model combining SOFA with two other parameters, namely hospitalization in the last 6 months and intra-abdominal source of infection, was better at predicting mortality (AUC = 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.96; sensitivity = 0.86; specificity = 0.84). According to this novel risk model, we defined three statistically different groups: low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk groups, with an observed 90-day mortality of 5.4, 35.7, and 72.0%, respectively. With reference to the low-risk patients, the medium-risk and high-risk groups had a higher mortality, with hazard ratios of 8.36 (95% CI 3.60-27.83) and 20.27 (95% CI 7.47-54.95), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The modified SOFA may be better than the original score to predict 90-day mortality in pediatric patients with Kp-BSI. Future prospective studies are required to validate this novel scoring system in external cohorts.

The Moderated-Mediation Effect of Workplace Anxiety and Regulatory Focus in the Relationship between Work-Related Identity Discrepancy and Employee Innovation.

Extant research on work-related identity discrepancy mostly has probed its effects on employees' attitudes and emotions but has paid little attention to its impact on employee behaviors. Drawing on self-discrepancy theory, we examined the influencing mechanism and conditions of work-related identity discrepancy on employee innovation behavior. With data collected from 563 employees who personally experienced leadership transition in the workplace, we found that work-related identity discrepancy predicts employee innovation behavior through workplace anxiety. We also discovered that employees' personality traits-promotion regulatory focus and prevention regulatory focus in particular-can intensify or buffer the negative relationship between work-related identity discrepancy and employee innovation behavior. We further discuss the conceptual and practical implications of these findings.

Sustainability evaluation based on the Three-dimensional Ecological Footprint and Human Development Index: A case study on the four island regions in China.

Sustainable development emphasizes the sustainability of natural resources and the environment as well as the development of social welfare. Under the background of resource scarcity and environmental constraints, maximizing social welfare is an inevitable choice to achieve sustainable development. Ecological Wellbeing Performance (EWP) can comprehensively reflect the efficiency of natural capital conversion into social welfare, and improving EWP is a feasible measure to achieve sustainable development. Moreover, island areas are the extremely complicated ecological-social-economic systems due to the traits that are geographical isolation, scarce resources, and frequent natural disasters, so that emphasizing the sustainability of island systems is a key step for achieving sustainable development goals. This study developed the EWP model based on the improved Three-dimensional Ecological Footprint (EF) and urban-scale Human Development Index (HDI), to synthetically evaluate and analyze the sustainable development of four major island regions in China with the data in 2017. Results found that: (1) The four regions are all in ecological deficits, being in exchange for overdraft natural capital for economic development. The EFdepth is greater than the original length 1 indicating the excessive consumption of the natural capital stock. The EFsize reflects the abundance and liquidity of regional natural capital, all the four regions are with the generally low level of flow capital utilization. Hainan with highest EFsize 0.428 is due to its comparatively sparse population density, abundant resources, and strong ecological capacity, while the relatively large population density and more restricted natural capital flows make Taiwan in the lowest value. (2) Judging from the evaluation results of the HDI, Chongming (0.796) and Hainan (0.773) high development level are relatively behind Taiwan (0.912) and Zhoushan (0.827) very high development level, for the impact of income is greater, that is, economic development in Hainan and Chongming is slightly weak. (3) Taiwan, with the highest EWP 3.646, shows the excellent natural resource utilization efficiency and sustainability, followed by Zhoushan, Chongming, and Hainan. In general, increasing HDI while reducing EF can be an ideal way to improve the efficiency of ecological resources and achieve sustainable urban development.

Risk assessment of first upper gastrointestinal bleeding using computerized tomoscanning in esophageal varices patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

To evaluate the risk of first upper gastrointestinal bleeding by computerized tomoscanning (CT) for esophageal varices patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.One hundred thirty two esophageal varices patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who are also complicated with gastrointestinal bleeding were recruited as bleeding group, while another 132 patients without bleeding as non-bleeding group. The diameter of esophageal varices, number of vascular sections, and total area of blood vessels were measured by CT scanning. The sensitivity and specificity of these indicators were calculated, and Youden index was adjusted with the critical point.The diameter of esophageal varices was 7.83 ±â€Š2.76 mm in bleeding group, and 6.57 ±â€Š3.42 mm in non-bleeding group. The Youden index was 0.32 with the critical point 5.55 mm. The area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) was 0.72. The number of venous vessels was 4.5 ±â€Š2 in bleeding group, whereas being 4 ±â€Š2 in non-bleeding group. The Youden index was 0.35 with a critical point 4, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.68. The blood vessel area was 1.73 ±â€Š1.15 cm in bleeding group, and 1.12 ±â€Š0.89 cm in non-bleeding group. The Youden index was 0.48 with the critical point being 1.03 cm, and corresponding AUC was 0.82.Among all 3 indicators of the total area, diameter, and number of sections of the esophageal varices, the total area of esophageal varices showed more accuracy as a potential and novel indicator for bleeding prediction.

The reasonable drainage option after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration for the treatment of choledocholithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a reasonable drainage after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) for the treatment of choledocholithiasis. METHODS: Data of 350 consecutive patients who underwent LCBDE in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients were divided into three groups according to different drainage types after LCBDE, including T-tube group with 116 cases, primary closure (PC) group with 114 cases and stent insertion group with 120 cases. Operative parameters and outcomes were compared. RESULTS: The operative time was no significant difference between the T-tube group (106.71 ± 5.19 min), PC group (105.46 ± 5.77 min) and stent insertion group (106.88 ± 5.91 min) (F = 2.175, P = 0.115). The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the stent insertion group (5.62 ± 0.70 d) than in the T-tube group (7.79 ± 0.85 d) and PC group (7.60 ± 0.80 d) (F = 279.649, P = 0.000). The hospitalization cost was significantly less in the stent insertion group (19,432.78 ± 661.74 yuan) than in the T-tube group (22,059.90 ± 697.98 yuan) and PC group (21,927.20 ± 772.02 yuan) (F = 512.492, P = 0.000). The incidence of postoperative biliary-specific complications was 2.59% (3/116 cases) in the T-tube group, 2.63% (3/114 cases) in the PC group, and 0% (0/120 cases) in the stent insertion group, but this difference was not statistically significant (χ2 = 3.177, P = 0.204). The return to normal levels of postoperative liver function tests (LFTs) was significantly faster in the stent insertion group and T-tube group than in the PC group (P < 0.05). The number of 314 patients were followed up for a median time of 20 months (range from 1-48 months), and no biliary stricture, cholangitis or stone recurrence occurred in these patients during that time. CONCLUSIONS: Stent insertion shows better results when compared with T-tube drainage and primary duct closure in terms of postoperative hospital stay and hospitalization cost. It is the prior option for the choledochotomy closure after LCBDE in suitable patients.

Dynamic Economic Resilience and Economic Recovery from Disasters: A Quantitative Assessment.

This article analyzes the role of dynamic economic resilience in relation to recovery from disasters in general and illustrates its potential to reduce disaster losses in a case study of the Wenchuan earthquake of 2008. We first offer operational definitions of the concept linked to policies to promote increased levels and speed of investment in repair and reconstruction to implement this resilience. We then develop a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model that incorporates major features of investment and traces the time-path of the economy as it recovers with and without dynamic economic resilience. The results indicate that resilience strategies could have significantly reduced GDP losses from the Wenchuan earthquake by 47.4% during 2008-2011 by accelerating the pace of recovery and could have further reduced losses slightly by shortening the recovery by one year. The results can be generalized to conclude that shortening the recovery period is not nearly as effective as increasing reconstruction investment levels and steepening the time-path of recovery. This is an important distinction that should be made in the typically vague and singular reference to increasing the speed of recovery in many definitions of dynamic resilience.

A techno-economic evaluation of anaerobic biogas producing systems in developing countries.

Biogas production has been the focus of many individuals in the developing world; there have been several investigations that focus on improving the production process and product quality. In the developing world the lack of advanced technology and capital has hindered the development of energy production. Renewable energy has the potential to improve the standard of living for most of the 196 countries which are classified as developing economies. One of the easiest renewable energy compounds that can be produced is biogas (bio-methane). Biogas can be produced from almost any source of biomass through the anaerobic respiration of micro-organisms. Low budget energy systems are reviewed in this article along with various feedstock sources. Adapted gas purification and storage systems are also reviewed, along with the possible economic, social, health and environmental benefits of its implementation.

Safety assessment of the fermented Phylloporia ribis (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) mycelia by oral acute toxicity study in mice and 90-day feeding study in rats.

Phylloporia ribis is an edible fungus in China. Its fermented mycelia have been approved by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of PR China for use as a novel food material, but little information on its safety is available. The present research was the first to evaluate acute and subchronic toxicity in experimental animals of fermented Phylloporia ribis mycelia (FPM) following standard procedures. In acute toxicity study, FPM was orally administered to male and female mice twice a day at single dose of 10 g/kg bw. The Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of FPM for mice of both sexes was over 10 g/kg bw. No death and abnormal behaviors occurred during 14 days study except for an increased locomotor activity in three animals. In 90-day feeding study, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets containing 10.0%, 5.0%, 2.5%, 1.25% and 0% (control) FPM for 90 days. The treatment caused no effects on mortality, gross pathology, histology, hematology, and blood chemistry, no dose-dependent changes in food consumption, but caused effect on body weight gain compared with control group. The No Observed Adverse-Effect Level (NOAEL) of FPM was greater than 8.7 g/kg bw/day in both sexes of rats.

[Field evaluation of a novel plant molluscicide "Luo-wei" against Oncomelania hupensis IV molluscicidal effect in field of river beach in Dongzhi County, Anhui Province].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the field effect of the plant molluscicide "Luo-wei" (tea-seed distilled saponins, TDS) against the snail Oncomelania hupensis in the river beach in Anhui Province. METHODS: The immersing and spraying experiments were carried out in the river beach in Dongzhi County, Anhui Province, to assess the molluscicidal effect of 4% TDS comparing with 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (WPN). The chi(2) test or Fish's exact test was used to examine the differences between or among the molluscicidal effects by different environments, molluscicides, application methods, or days after the intervention. Meanwhile, the cost-effectiveness of the two molluscicides was analyzed. RESULTS: After 1, 2 , 3 d and 7 d of the immersion, the snail death rates in both TDS group and WPN group increased gradually, the snail death rates in the two groups after immersing for 7 d were 94.62% and 99.24%, respectively, and there was no significant difference between them ( chi(2) = 3.30, P > 0.05). After 1 , 3 , 7 d and 15 d of spraying, the snail death rates were 70.82%, 79.75%, 85.11% and 91.65% in the TDS group, and 77.71%, 84.27%, 91.90% and 95.58% in the WPN group, respectively, and the differences among the snail death rates of the two groups at each time point were statistically significant (all P values < 0.05). The costs of spraying were 316.71 yuan per 100 m2 for TDS and 309.71 for WPN. CONCLUSIONS: The molluscicidal effect of TDS has reached the requirements of national standard on nature source pesticides in the river beach of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It is necessary to further evaluate its cost-effectiveness in large-scale field experiments in the future.

Meranzin hydrate exhibits anti-depressive and prokinetic-like effects through regulation of the shared α2-adrenoceptor in the brain-gut axis of rats in the forced swimming test.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the brain-gut axis theory has received increasing attention in studies of depression. However, most studies separately address potential antidepressant and prokinetic treatments. Investigations of drugs that could potentially treat comorbid depression and gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction via a common mechanism of action have not yet been performed in detail. AIM: To find a common mechanism of action of our patented drug, meranzin hydrate (MH), in the antidepressant and prokinetic treatment. METHODS: The forced swimming test (FST) model of depression, plasma ghrelin measurement, and in vivo and in vitro measurements of GI motility were used. RESULTS: 1. Administration of MH (9 mg/kg) decreased the immobility time during the FST after acute treatment; this effect was inhibited by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine, but not by the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin. 2. After chronic treatment, the immobility time of rats during the FST was decreased significantly by MH (2.25 mg/kg). 3. MH (9 mg/kg) increased plasma ghrelin levels in rats subjected to the FST; this increase was enhanced by the ghrelin receptor agonist, GHRP-6. 4. MH (9 mg/kg) also promoted gastric emptying and intestinal transit in rats with or without FST. 5. In vitro, MH (10 µM) increased jejunal contractions in rats subjected to the FST; this effect was inhibited by yohimbine. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of yohimbine was partly reversed by the ghrelin receptor agonist, GHRP-6. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that MH from natural resources exhibits antidepressive and prokinetic-like effects through the regulation of the common mediator, the alpha 2-adrenoceptor.

The return periods and risk assessment of severe dust storms in Inner Mongolia with consideration of the main contributing factors.

This study presents a methodology for return period analysis and risk assessment of severe dust storm disaster. Meteorological observation data, soil moisture data, and remote sensing data from 30 meteorological stations in Inner Mongolia (western China) from 1985 to 2006 were used for the study. A composite index of severe dust storm disaster (Index I (SDS)) based on the influence mechanisms of the main contributing factors was developed by using the analytic hierarchy process and the weighted comprehensive method, and the hazard risk curves (i.e., the transcendental probability curves of I (SDS)) for the 30 stations were established using the parameter estimation method. We then analyzed the risk of the occurrence of severe dust storm under different scenarios of 5-, 10-, 20-, and 50-year return periods. The results show that the risk decreased from west to east across Inner Mongolia, and there are four severe dust storm occurrence peak value centers, including Guaizihu, Jilantai, Hailisu, and Zhurihe-Erenhot. The severity of dust storms in seven places will be intolerable in the 50-year return period scenario and in three places in the 20-year return period scenario. These results indicate that these locations should concentrate forces on disaster prevention, monitoring, and early warning. The I (SDS) was developed as an easily understandable tool useful for the assessment and comparison of the relative risk of severe dust storm disasters in different areas. The risk assessment was specifically intended to support local and national government agencies in their management of severe dust storm disasters in their efforts to (1) make resource allocation decisions, (2) make high-level planning decisions, and (3) raise public awareness of severe dust storm risk.

Comparison of dye photodegradation and its coupling with light-to-electricity conversion over TiO(2) and ZnO.

Through comparing the photocatalytic performance of microscale ZnO, nano ZnO, and Degussa P25 titania (P25), it was found that the microscale ZnO exhibited 2.6-35.7 times higher photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of various dye pollutants than P25 under both UV-visible and visible irradiation and showed much better photostability than the nano ZnO. The photocatalysts were characterized with XRD, Raman, BET, DRUV-vis, adsorption of dye, photoelectrochemical measurement, and PL. The much higher photocataltyic activity of the microscale ZnO than P25 under UV-visible irradiation is attributed to the higher efficiency of generation, mobility, and separation of photoinduced electrons and holes. The much higher visible photocataltyic activity of the microscale ZnO than P25 is due to the higher photosensitization efficiency of electron transfer from an excited dye to the conduction band of the microscale ZnO than that of P25. The much better photostability of the microscale ZnO than the nano ZnO is due to its better crystallinity and lower defects. The photostability of the microscale ZnO is greatly improved by the surface modification of ZnO with a small amount of TiO(2). On the basis of the excellent photocatalytic performance of the microscale ZnO and TiO(2)-modified ZnO, a novel device of coupling photodegradation with light-to-electricity conversion was developed, which is a promising candidate for the photocatalytic removal of dye pollutants and a renewable energy source.

Dissecting nucleosome free regions by a segmental semi-Markov model.

BACKGROUND: Nucleosome free regions (NFRs) play important roles in diverse biological processes including gene regulation. A genome-wide quantitative portrait of each individual NFR, with their starting and ending positions, lengths, and degrees of nucleosome depletion is critical for revealing the heterogeneity of gene regulation and chromatin organization. By averaging nucleosome occupancy levels, previous studies have identified the presence of NFRs in the promoter regions across many genes. However, evaluation of the quantitative characteristics of individual NFRs requires an NFR calling method. METHODOLOGY: In this study, we propose a statistical method to identify the patterns of NFRs from a genome-wide measurement of nucleosome occupancy. This method is based on an appropriately designed segmental semi-Markov model, which can capture each NFR pattern and output its quantitative characterizations. Our results show that the majority of the NFRs are located in intergenic regions or promoters with a length of about 400-600bp and varying degrees of nucleosome depletion. Our quantitative NFR mapping allows for an investigation of the relative impacts of transcription machinery and DNA sequence in evicting histones from NFRs. We show that while both factors have significant overall effects, their specific contributions vary across different subtypes of NFRs. CONCLUSION: The emphasis of our approach on the variation rather than the consensus of nucleosome free regions sets the tone for enabling the exploration of many subtler dynamic aspects of chromatin biology.