Spatial differentiation characteristics of the Hemiptera insects in China.

The Hemiptera insects are the largest incomplete metamorphosis insect group in Insecta and play a vital role in ecosystems and biodiversity. Previous studies on the spatial distribution of Hemiptera insects mainly focused on a specific region and insect, this study explored the spatial distribution characteristics of Hemiptera insects in China (national scale), and further clarified the dominant factors affecting their spatial distribution. We used spatial autocorrelation analysis, hot spot analysis, and standard ellipse to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of Hemiptera insects in China. Furthermore, we used geographic detectors to identify the main factors affecting their spatial distribution under China's six agricultural natural divisions and explore the influencing mechanism of dominant factors. The results show that: (i) The spatial differentiation characteristics of Hemiptera insects in China are significant, and their distribution has obvious spatial agglomeration. The Hu Huanyong Line is an important dividing line for the spatial distribution of Hemiptera insects in China. From the city scale, the HH type (high-high cluster) is mainly distributed on both sides of the Hu Huanyong Line. (ii) The hot spots of Hemiptera insects are mainly distributed in southwest China, along the Qinling Mountains, the western side of the Wuyi Mountains, the Yinshan Mountains, the Liupanshan Mountains, the Xuefeng Mountains, the Nanling Mountains, and other mountainous areas. (iii) Under agricultural natural divisions, the influence of natural environmental factors on the spatial distribution of Hemiptera insects is obviously different. Temperature and precipitation are the dominant factors. Natural factors and socio-economic factors have formed a positive reinforcement interaction mode on the spatial distribution of Hemiptera insects. These can provide the decision-making basis for biodiversity conservation and efficient pest control.

An Updated Review on the Spatial Distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Across Ticks, Animals and Humans in Northeastern China and Adjacent Regions.

BACKGROUND: Lyme disease is a tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and is prevalent in northeastern Asia, particularly in the forested area of Northeastern China. However, a lack of systematic data on the spatial distribution of B. burgdorferi in this region hinders the prediction of its transmission risk across the landscape. METHODS: To provide an updated overview and establish a comprehensive spatial distribution database, we conducted a systematic review of literature published between 2000 and 2022. We collected and compiled relevant data on B. burgdorferi in Northeastern China and its neighbouring regions, outlining its distribution in ticks, wild animals, livestock and humans. Spatial analysis was performed to identify spatial clusters of tick positivity and host infection rates. RESULTS: From a total of 1823 literature, we selected 110 references to compile 626 detection records of B. burgdorferi, including 288 in ticks, 109 in wildlife, 111 in livestock and domestic animals and 100 in humans. The average detection rate of B. burgdorferi in ticks was approximately 20%, with wildlife, livestock and domestic animal host positivity rates below 50% and human seroprevalence rates varying from 0.94% to 44.18%. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified the presence of 17 tick species and ten genotypes of B. burgdorferi in the region, indicating a broad distribution. Notably, B. burgdorferi exhibited notable clustering, particularly in the central and eastern areas of Jilin Province, warranting further investigation.

The spatial-temporal distribution of hepatitis B virus infection in China,2006-2018.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and is highly prevalent in China. To better understand the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B in China and develop effective disease control strategies, we employed temporal and spatial statistical methods. METHODS: We obtained HBV incidence data from the Public Health Science Data Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the years 2006 to 2018. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and SaTScan scanning technology, we conducted spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatiotemporal scan analysis to create a map and visualize the distribution of hepatitis B incidence. RESULTS: While hepatitis B incidence rebounded in 2011 and 2017, the overall incidence in China decreased.In the trend analysis by item, the incidence varies from high to low. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed a clustered distribution, and the Moran index analysis of spatial autocorrelation within local regions identified five provinces as H-H clusters (hot spots), while one province was an L-L cluster (cold spot). Spatial scan analysis identified 11 significant spatial clusters. CONCLUSIONS: We found significant clustering in the spatial distribution of hepatitis B incidence and positive spatial correlation of hepatitis B incidence in China. We also identified high-risk times and regional clusters of hepatitis B incidence.

Evolution stage identification and spatial pattern analysis of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas based on Gaofen-2 satellite data.

The quantitative extraction and evolution stage identification of the Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas are the basis for the restoration of regional plants and the reconstruction of degraded ecosystems. In this paper, the Nitraria tangutorum nebkha in Dengkou County of China was taken as the research object. Through the spectral and texture information of Gaofen-2 satellite image, the quantitative extraction of Nitraria tangutorum nebkha area and coverage information was completed using methods of gray threshold method, mathematical morphology, FCLSU mixed pixel decomposition, kernel density spatial analysis; the current evolution stage of the Nitraria tangutorum nebkha was identified, and their spatial distribution characteristics were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) The user accuracy and mapping accuracy of Nitraria tangutorum nebkha extracted from Random Forest combined with object-oriented classification method were up to 90.32%. (2) The method proposed can achieve an accuracy of 93.76% in extracting the spatial position of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas. (3) The evolution of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas can be divided into three stages: embryonic or developmental stage, stable stage, and declining stage, with a proportion of 60.70%, 20.97%, and 18.33%, respectively; The Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas in the study area is mainly in their embryonic or developmental stage, and the proportion of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas in the declining stage is also large. It can provide technical and theoretical support for the precise extraction of nebkhas in arid and semi-arid desert areas, the identification of their current evolutionary stages, and the study of their spatial distribution patterns.

Liver Cancer Mortality Disparities at a Fine Scale Among Subpopulations in China: Nationwide Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Trends.

Background: China has the highest number of liver cancers worldwide, and liver cancer is at the forefront of all cancers in China. However, current research on liver cancer in China primarily relies on extrapolated data or relatively lagging data, with limited focus on subregions and specific population groups. Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify geographic disparities in liver cancer by exploring the spatial and temporal trends of liver cancer mortality and the years of life lost (YLL) caused by it within distinct geographical regions, climate zones, and population groups in China. Methods: Data from the National Death Surveillance System between 2013 and 2020 were used to calculate the age-standardized mortality rate of liver cancer (LASMR) and YLL from liver cancer in China. The spatial distribution and temporal trends of liver cancer were analyzed in subgroups by sex, age, region, and climate classification. Estimated annual percentage change was used to describe liver cancer trends in various regions, and partial correlation was applied to explore associations between LASMR and latitude. Results: In China, the average LASMR decreased from 28.79 in 2013 to 26.38 per 100,000 in 2020 among men and 11.09 to 9.83 per 100,000 among women. This decline in mortality was consistent across all age groups. Geographically, Guangxi had the highest LASMR for men in China, with a rate of 50.15 per 100,000, while for women, it was Heilongjiang, with a rate of 16.64 per 100,000. Within these regions, the LASMR among men in most parts of Guangxi ranged from 32.32 to 74.98 per 100,000, whereas the LASMR among women in the majority of Heilongjiang ranged from 13.72 to 21.86 per 100,000. The trend of LASMR varied among regions. For both men and women, Guizhou showed an increasing trend in LASMR from 2013 to 2020, with estimated annual percentage changes ranging from 10.05% to 29.07% and from 10.09% to 21.71%, respectively. Both men and women observed an increase in LASMR with increasing latitude below the 40th parallel. However, overall, LASMR in men was positively correlated with latitude (R=0.225; P<.001), while in women, it showed a negative correlation (R=0.083; P=.04). High LASMR areas among men aligned with subtropical zones, like Cwa and Cfa. The age group 65 years and older, the southern region, and the Cwa climate zone had the highest YLL rates at 4850.50, 495.50, and 440.17 per 100,000, respectively. However, the overall trends in these groups showed a decline over the period. Conclusions: Despite the declining overall trend of liver cancer in China, there are still marked disparities between regions and populations. Future prevention and control should focus on high-risk regions and populations to further reduce the burden of liver cancer in China.

Mass spectrometry imaging as a promising analytical technique for herbal medicines: an updated review.

Herbal medicines (HMs) have long played a pivotal role in preventing and treating various human diseases and have been studied widely. However, the complexities present in HM metabolites and their unclear mechanisms of action have posed significant challenges in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Over the past two decades, mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has garnered increasing attention as a robust analytical technique that enables the simultaneous execution of qualitative, quantitative, and localization analyses without complex sample pretreatment. With advances in technical solutions, MSI has been extensively applied in the field of HMs. MSI, a label-free ion imaging technique can comprehensively map the spatial distribution of HM metabolites in plant native tissues, thereby facilitating the effective quality control of HMs. Furthermore, the spatial dimension information of small molecule endogenous metabolites within animal tissues provided by MSI can also serve as a supplement to uncover pharmacological and toxicological mechanisms of HMs. In the review, we provide an overview of the three most common MSI techniques. In addition, representative applications in HM are highlighted. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and propose several potential solutions. We hope that the summary of recent findings will contribute to the application of MSI in exploring metabolites and mechanisms of action of HMs.

Nationwide Investigation on Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Tea from China: Migration from Packaging Materials and Implications for Global Risk Assessment.

In this study, we measured 15 common organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in six categories of tea samples across China. OPFRs were found in all the tea samples, with the total concentrations of OPFRs (∑OPFRs) at 3.44-432 ng/g [geometric mean (GM): 17.6 ng/g]. Triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) was the dominant OPFR, accounting for 39.0-76.2% of ∑OPFRs across all tea categories. The potential factors influencing the residual OPFRs in tea were thoroughly examined, including the agricultural environment, fermentation, and packaging of teas. Tea packaging materials (TPMs) were then identified as the primary sources of OPFRs in teas. The migration test revealed that OPFRs with lower molecular weights and log Kow values exhibited a higher propensity for facilitating the migration of OPFRs from TPMs to teas. The estimated daily intakes of OPFRs from teas were relatively higher for the general populations in Mauritania, Gambia, Togo, Morocco, and Senegal (3.18-9.79 ng/kg bw/day) than China (3.12 ng/kg bw/day). The health risks arising from OPFRs in Chinese teas were minor. This study established a baseline concentration and demonstrated the contamination sources of OPFRs in Chinese tea for the first time, with an emphasis on enhancing the hygiene standards for TPMs.

Optimizing the spatial immune landscape of CD103+CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells in non-small cell lung cancer by neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) combined with immunotherapy is increasingly used in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells are the primary subset responding to anti-cancer immunity. However, the immunomodulatory effects of NAC on TRM cells remain unknown. METHODS: We established two NSCLC cohorts including patients undergoing upfront surgery (US) and NAC followed by surgery. Beyond the unpaired comparison between the US cohort (n = 122) and NAC cohort (n = 141) with resection samples, 58 matched pre-NAC biopsy samples were available for paired comparisons. Using multiplex immunofluorescence, we characterized TRM cells (CD103+CD8+) and four heterogeneous TRM subsets, including naive TRM1 (PD-1-Tim-3-), pre-exhausted TRM2 (PD-1+Tim-3-), TRM3 (PD-1-Tim-3+), and terminally exhausted TRM4 (PD-1+Tim-3+). Cell density, cytotoxicity, and two spatial features were defined to evaluate the effect of NAC on TRM subsets. RESULTS: The cell densities, infiltration scores, and cancer-cell proximity scores of TRM cells, especially TRM1&2 subsets, were significantly increased after NAC and associated with better prognosis of patients. In Contrast, no significant change was observed in the TRM4 subset, which was associated with poor prognosis. Besides, the cytotoxicity of TRM subsets was unaltered after NAC. Compared with patients without major pathologic response (MPRs), patients with MPR had higher densities of TRM1&2 subsets and higher cancer-cell proximity scores of TRM2&3 subsets. Furthermore, increased density of CD31 + cancer microvessels was positively associated with both TRM and Tnon-RM cells after NAC. CONCLUSIONS: NAC may remodel the cell density and spatial distribution of TRM subsets, which is associated with favorable therapeutic effect and prognosis in patients with NSCLC.

Spatial Distribution and Birth Prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease in Iran: A Systematic Review and Hierarchical Bayesian Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the overall congenital heart disease (CHD) prevalence in live births and children in Iran, along with evaluating the spatial distribution of CHD birth prevalence across various geographical regions within the country. METHODS: A Bayesian hierarchical meta-analysis (PROSPERO 2022: CRD42022331281) was performed to determine the pooled prevalence. A systematic search was conducted using Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc), Scientific Information Database (SID), and Magiran until October 4, 2023. Cross-sectional and cohort studies in both English and Persian languages, focusing on the age range of 0-10 years, were considered for the study population. The study quality was evaluated using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Risk of Bias tool. Heterogeneity was assessed by I2 and τ2 statistics, and publication bias by Egger's and Begg's tests. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 62 studies, revealing an overall CHD prevalence of 2.5 per 1000 births. Over time, CHD birth prevalence in Iran has consistently increased. Spatial distribution analysis, including spatial autocorrelation and local spatial autocorrelation, indicated no spatial clustering (P=.46) or aggregation (P=.65) among Iran's provinces. Geographic disparities were significant (P=.000), with the northern and eastern regions showing the highest and lowest CHD prevalence, respectively. CONCLUSION: The overall CHD prevalence in Iran is lower than global rates, but it continues to rise. Furthermore, there are variations in birth prevalence among different regions of Iran. Environmental, genetic, socioeconomic, and diagnostic accessibility differences are possibly involved in regional variation. The limitations like heterogeneity among studies, the potential inaccuracy of reports due to limited use of accurate diagnostic methods in some studies, and the absence of population-based models to investigate prevalence, underscore the urgent need for standardized diagnostic approaches, and the utilization of population-wide birth defect registries to accurately assess CHD prevalence in Iran.

Multi-scale beta-diversity patterns in testate amoeba communities: species turnover and nestedness along a latitudinal gradient.

The relationship between species diversity and spatial scale is a central topic in spatial community ecology. Latitudinal gradient is among the core mechanisms driving biodiversity distribution on most scales. Patterns of ß-diversity along latitudinal gradient have been well studied for aboveground terrestrial and marine communities, whereas soil organisms remain poorly investigated in this regard. The West Siberian Plain is a good model to address diversity scale-dependence since the latitudinal gradient does not overlap with other possible factors such as elevational or maritime. Here, we collected 111 samples following hierarchical sampling (sub-zones, ecosystem types, microhabitat and replicate samples) and performed multi-scale partitioning of ß-diversity of testate amoeba assemblages as a model of study. We found that among-ecosystem ß-diversity is a leading scale in testate amoeba assemblages variation. Rare species determine ß-diversity at all scale levels especially in the northern regions, where rare taxa almost exclusively accounted for the diversity at the ecosystem level. ß-Diversity is generally dominated by the turnover component at all scales in lower latitudes, whereas nestedness prevailed at among-ecosystem scale in higher latitudes. These findings indicate that microbial assemblages in northern latitudes are spatially homogeneous and constrained by historical drivers at larger scales, whereas in southern regions, it is dominated by the turnover component both at the microhabitat and ecosystem scales and therefore determined by recent vegetation and environmental heterogeneity. Overall, we have provided the evidence for the existence of negative latitudinal gradient for among-ecosystem ß-diversity but not for among-microhabitat and among-sample ß-diversity for terrestrial testate amoeba communities.

Comprehensive spatial distribution profiling of bioactive emodin in mouse organs using mass spectrometry imaging.

Emodin is an important anthraquinone compound with good anti-inflammatory activity in Chinese traditional medicine rhubarb. Detailed spatial distribution information in bio-tissues plays an important role in revealing the pharmacodynamics, toxicology and chemical mechanism of emodin. Herein, the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-TOF-MSI) analytical method was established to obtain information on the spatial and temporal changes of emodin in multiple mouse tissue sections (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and brain) after intraperitoneal injection of emodin in mice. The measurements were accomplished in the negative ion mode in the range of m/z 250-285 Da with a spatial resolution on 40 µm. It was found that emodin was predominantly distributed in the arteriolar vascular region of the heart, the capsule region of the spleen, and the cortex of the kidney. Moreover, the MALDI-TOF-MSI result implied that emodin might be distributed in the brain. These more detailed spatial distribution information provides the significant reference for investigating the action mechanism of emodin, which cannot be obtained from conventional LC-MS analysis. The distribution trend of emodin in the results of MALDI-TOF-MSI analysis agreed with the ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) results well, demonstrating the complementarity and reliability of the established MALDI-TOF-MSI method. Our work provided a label-free molecular imaging method to investigate the precise spatial distribution of emodin in various organs, which prove great potential in studying the effective substances and mechanism of rhubarb.

Modeling the horizontal distribution of tree crown biomass from terrestrial laser scanning data.

Tree crown biomass is rarely assessed individually in forest monitoring, but when it is to be reported, standard conversion factors are commonly used for predicting crown biomass as a function of stem biomass. Further, in the conventional methods, the predicted total tree biomass is assigned exclusively to the stem position. In reality, however, tree and in particular crown biomass is spatially distributed over the entire crown projection area. In this study, we investigated the "Horizontal Biomass Distribution (HBD)" model, which serves to depict this biomass as a spatial distribution over the crown projection area: here, the individual tree crown biomass is modeled as a continuous distribution within the area defined by the crown projection. We examined two empirical HBD prediction models: (1) Weibull distribution; and (2) Segmented polynomial regression; which describe the biomass contained up to a given crown radius on the horizontal projection of individual trees, i.e., spatial distribution of crown biomass as a function of the horizontal distance from the stem. The approach was demonstrated using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) on a sample of 33 urban trees from eight species. We found that (1) the segmented polynomial regression model revealed better performance in defining the HBD for various tree species; (2) a certain variability in HBD patterns was observed between the sample trees, with the variability being more pronounced between species groups than within species; and (3) the methodological approaches using TLS proxies are suitable and convenient to non-destructively assess the HBD, which would be otherwise impractical by direct measurements.

Spatial distribution pattern of mustelids in the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Evolutionary theory predicts that the species of an evolutionarily successful taxon would not overlap in spatial distribution. To test the prediction, we document our research on the spatial associations of mustelids, an evolutionarily successful group of order Carnivore, using infrared camera trap data on species distribution collected from the national nature reserves (NNRs) of Liancheng, Wolong, Tangjiahe and Heizhugou in China in 2017-2021. Data showed seven mustelid species occurring in the study area, including Arctonyx collaris, Meles leucurus, Martes foina, Martes flavigula, Mustela altaica, Mustela nivalis and Mustela sibirica. Following Ricklef's definition of biological community, we identified five networks of species associations. The mustelids occurred in the networks. Species from the same genus, such as M. foina and M. flavigula, stayed in different networks to avoid competition owing to similar feeding habits or habitat preferences. Species with different feeding habits or habitat preferences either occurred in different networks, such as M. altaica and M. flavigula, or coexisted in the same networks but avoided direct spatial associations, such as M. foina and A. collaris. Asymmetrical associations were found between different genera, such as M. foina and M. altaica, or between different subfamilies, such as M. flavigula and A. collaris. These associations may be attributed to interspecific killing or seed dispersal. However, these associations accounted for only a small proportion and would not impact the species diversity of Mustelidae. It is thus concluded that the prediction is supported by our research findings and that spatial avoidance may be the biogeographic strategy of maintaining the species diversity of the family. We also found that the well protection of the mustelids may benefit the overall biodiversity conservation in Heizhugou, an NNR that has experienced severe deforestation.

Factors Associated With the Spatial Distribution of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in Zhejiang Province, China: Risk Analysis Based on Maximum Entropy.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease that was first identified in mainland China in 2009 and has been reported in Zhejiang Province, China, since 2011. However, few studies have focused on the association between ticks, host animals, and SFTS. Objective: In this study, we analyzed the influence of meteorological and environmental factors as well as the influence of ticks and host animals on SFTS. This can serve as a foundational basis for the development of strategic policies aimed at the prevention and control of SFTS. Methods: Data on SFTS incidence, tick density, cattle density, and meteorological and environmental factors were collected and analyzed using a maximum entropy-based model. Results: As of December 2019, 463 laboratory-confirmed SFTS cases were reported in Zhejiang Province. We found that the density of ticks, precipitation in the wettest month, average temperature, elevation, and the normalized difference vegetation index were significantly associated with SFTS spatial distribution. The niche model fitted accurately with good performance in predicting the potential risk areas of SFTS (the average test area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the replicate runs was 0.803 and the SD was 0.013). The risk of SFTS occurrence increased with an increase in tick density, and the response curve indicated that the risk was greater than 0.5 when tick density exceeded 1.4. The risk of SFTS occurrence decreased with increased precipitation in the wettest month, and the risk was less than 0.5 when precipitation exceeded 224.4 mm. The relationship between elevation and SFTS occurrence showed a reverse V shape, and the risk peaked at approximately 400 m. Conclusions: Tick density, precipitation, and elevation were dominant influencing factors for SFTS, and comprehensive intervention measures should be adjusted according to these factors to reduce SFTS incidence in Zhejiang Province.

Survey of trematodes in Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum on the west coast of Korea: A preliminary study.

The Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum on the west coast of Korea harbors several digenetic trematodes. However, most studies in this region have been restricted to a few sampling sites and the current species designation of some trematodes is largely based on morphology, leaving the molecular phylogenetic position among the Digenea unsolved. Thus, we first provide both morphology and molecular phylogeny of some components in the trematodes community in the Manila clam based on a large-scale survey of 26 sites on the west coast, where well-developed tidal flats serve as large commercial clam culture beds. Our study revealed that the trematodes community in the clams consisted of at least 5 species that belong to 3 families (Himasthlidae, Gymnophallidae, Baccigeridae) and 1 superfamily (Monorchioidea). The life mode of the 5 different species included the metacercaria and sporocyst, with one species (Parvatrema duboisi) utilizing the clams as both the first and/or second intermediate host. Trematode infection prevalences were not evenly distributed among the study sites, although the reasons behind this are yet to be determined. Morphological identification was confirmed with the molecular analyses based on ITS and 28S rDNA; phylogenetic analysis also revealed that Cercaria pectinata infecting the clam gonad should be referred to as Bacciger bacciger hereafter. The present preliminary study provides a crucial baseline that could be further developed in a future study on the digenean trematodes community in the Manila clam.

RhizoMAP: a comprehensive, nondestructive, and sensitive platform for metabolic imaging of the rhizosphere.

BACKGROUND: Elucidating the intricate structural organization and spatial gradients of biomolecular composition within the rhizosphere is critical to understanding important biogeochemical processes, which include the mechanisms of root-microbe interactions for maintaining sustainable plant ecosystem services. While various analytical methods have been developed to assess the spatial heterogeneity within the rhizosphere, a comprehensive view of the fine distribution of metabolites within the root-soil interface has remained a significant challenge. This is primarily due to the difficulty of maintaining the original spatial organization during sample preparation without compromising its molecular content. RESULTS: In this study, we present a novel approach, RhizoMAP, in which the rhizosphere molecules are imprinted on selected polymer membranes and then spatially profiled using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). We enhanced the performance of RhizoMAP by combining the use of two thin (< 20 µm) membranes (polyester and polycarbonate) with distinct MALDI sample preparations. This optimization allowed us to gain insight into the distribution of over 500 different molecules within the rhizosphere of poplar (Populus trichocarpa) grown in rhizoboxes filled with mycorrhizae soil. These two membranes, coupled with three different sample preparation conditions, enabled us to capture the distribution of a wide variety of molecules that included phytohormones, amino acids, sugars, sugar glycosides, polycarboxylic acids components of the Krebs cycle, fatty acids, short aldehydes and ketones, terpenes, volatile organic compounds, fertilizers from the soil, and others. Their spatial distribution varies greatly, with some following root traces, others showing diffusion from roots, some associated with soil particles, and many having distinct hot spots along the plant root or surrounding soil. Moreover, we showed how RhizoMAP can be used to localize the origin of the molecules and molecular transformation during root growth. Finally, we demonstrated the power of RhizoMAP to capture molecular distributions of key metabolites throughout a 20 cm deep rhizosphere. CONCLUSIONS: RhizoMAP is a method that provides nondestructive, untargeted, broad, and sensitive metabolite imaging of root-associated molecules, exudates, and soil organic matter throughout the rhizosphere, as demonstrated in a lab-controlled native soil environment.

Experimental study on the influence of non-penetrating crack spatial distribution on brittle fracture process.

To gain insights into the spatial distribution of non-penetrating cracks during the rock fracture process, a comprehensive uniaxial compression test is conducted on cubic gypsum specimens (100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) containing two non-penetrating cracks. The two pre-formed cracks are rectangular, with dimensions of 25 mm length, 2 mm width, and depths of 80 mm and 35 mm on adjacent sides of the specimen. The depth of the 80 mm crack can be adjusted from 0° to 150° in increments of 30°, while the other is fixed at a 45° angle. The results show that the spatial distribution of non-penetrating cracks can significantly influence the strength of the specimen. Initially, the strength of the specimen exhibits an upward trend and subsequently declines as the pre-crack inclination angle of the main rupture plane increases, ultimately reaching its pinnacle at 90°. The total percentage of tensile cracks in specimens with different inclinations are found to be 57%, 57%, 63%, 77%, 68%, and 61%, respectively. This change aligns seamlessly with the fluctuation in specimen strength as influenced by the angle of inclination. Non-penetrating cracks can also induce spalling on the specimen surface and give rise to anti-wing cracks, thereby exacerbating the spalling on the specimen surface. The inclinations of non-penetrating cracks can inevitably exert a certain influence on the propagation of neighboring non-penetrating cracks. Additionally, the macro-scale shear fracture of the specimen often occurs on the side of the non-penetrating crack that is deeper. The curved tensile fracture surface formed by the extension of the non-penetrating crack bears resemblance to the non-penetrating region in its ability to somewhat restrain the propagation of new cracks. Even under uniaxial compression, the spalling surface of the specimen containing spatial non-penetrating cracks frequently exhibits fracture characteristics belonging to I-III mode fracture, while its interior may display characteristics belonging to I-II-III mode fracture. These findings hold significant implications for comprehending and elucidating the genuine fracture process and three-dimensional fracture theory of rocks.

Drivers of change behind the spatial distribution and fate of typical trace organic pollutants in fresh waste leachate across China.

There have been growing concerns regarding the health and environmental impacts of trace organic pollutants (TOPs). However, fresh leachate from municipal solid waste (MSW) has been overlooked as a potential reservoir of TOPs. Therefore, we investigated 90 legacy and emerging TOPs in fresh leachate from 14 provinces and municipalities in China. Additionally, the fate and final discharge impacts of TOPs in 14 leachate treatment systems were analyzed. The results revealed that the detection rate of 90 TOPs was over 50 % in all samples. Notably, polychlorinated biphenyls, banned for 40 years, were frequently detected in fresh leachate. The concentration of pseudo-persistent TOPs (105-107 ng/L) is significantly higher than that of persistent TOPs (102-104 ng/L). Spatial distribution patterns of TOPs in fresh leachate suggest that economy, population, climate, and policies impact TOPs discharge from MSW. For example, economically developed and densely populated areas displayed higher TOPs concentrations, whereas warmer climates facilitate TOPs leaching from MSW. We confirmed that waste classification policies were a key driver of the decline in multiple TOPs in leachate. Mass balance analysis shows that the final effluent and sludge from current dominant leachate treatment systems contain refractory TOPs, especially perfluoroalkyl acids, which must be prioritized for control. This paper was the first comprehensive investigation of multiple TOPs in fresh leachate at a large geographic scale. The factors affecting the occurrence, spatial distribution, and fate of TOPs in fresh leachate were revealed. It provides a valuable reference for the establishment of policies for the management of TOPs in MSW and the associated leachate.

A trawl collected dataset of Johnius (Actinopterygii, Sciaenidae) species in central-western Taiwanese waters.

Background: Sciaenidae is one of the most important coastal fisheries in Taiwan, both in production and economic value. It is also significant as the main targetted diet of Chinese white dolphins, Sousachinensis, especially for the genus Johnius, such as J.taiwanensis, J.belangerii and J.distinctus, which is primarily found in central-western Taiwan coastal waters. Despite an abundance of Johnius species occurrences reported in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the Taiwan Biodiversity Information Facility (TaiBIF) data portals (Mozambique, Australia, Taiwan, Korea, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Pakistan, Vietnam and China), there are no specific datasets that properly document the regional distribution of this genus, especially in Taiwanese waters. Thus, this paper describes a dataset of genus Johnius occurrences in waters on the central-western coast of Taiwan. The data collection for the present study was conducted from 2009 until 2020 and comprised 62 sampling events and 133 occurrence records. All fish specimens were collected by trawling in Miaoli, Changhwa and Yunlin Counties, Taiwan and brought back to the lab for identification, individual number count and body weight measurement. These processing data have been integrated and established in the Taiwan Fish Database and published in GBIF. This dataset contains six Johnius species and 2,566 specimens, making it comprehensive Johnius fish fauna and spatial distributional data on the coastal habitat in central-western Taiwanese waters. New information: This dataset contains 133 occurrence records of Johnius species (Sciaenidae) with 2,566 specimens, making it the most extensive public dataset of Johnius distribution records in Taiwan. The publication of this dataset through the TaiBIF and GBIF dataset platforms demonstrated that the number of Johnius spatial and temporal records in Taiwan waters is influenced by the topographical structure of the Changyun Rise (CYR) in combination with the cold current of the China Coastal currents and bound with the warm currents of the Kuroshio and the South China Sea on the central-western coast of Taiwan. The data serve as the foundation for understanding the biogeography and Johnius species ecology in Taiwan's coastal waters, which present a 2°C water temperature difference split at the CYR.

[Effects of"Grain for Green "on the Spatial Distribution of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen in Purple Hilly Area of China].

In order to remedy the lack of research on the effect of "Grain for Green" on soil carbon （C） and nitrogen （N） distribution on slope soil in purple hilly areas of Sichuan Basin, China, a study was conducted on a long-term observation site established in the Wanan small watershed of Yanting Agro-ecological Experimental Station of Purple Soil, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The morphology, content, and storage of C and N in soil at different slope positions of farmland and the artificial forests in rehabilitated land with a history of approximately 30 years were compared. Our results showed that "Grain for Green" significantly increased soil organic carbon （SOC） content and SOC stock in all soil layers. The SOC stock of the surface layer （0-20 cm） increased by 25.86 t·hm-2, and the annual SOC stocks ratio was 0.89 t·hm-2. Soil total nitrogen （TN） content increased slightly but only in the 0-20 cm soil layer. Compared with those in sloping farmland, the differences in available C and N nutrients such as soil nitrate N （NO3--N）, ammonia N （NH4+-N）, and dissolved organic C （DOC） in the whole soil profile （0-70 cm） were basically not significant （P > 0.05）. In addition, our research also found that slope position had significant effects on the contents of TN, SOC, NO3--N, NH4+-N, and DOC in farmland soil （P< 0.05）. The variation trend of soil NO3--N, NH4+-N, and DOC contents along the slope was as follows： upper slope < middle slope < lower slope, whereas the soil TN and SOC contents were highest in the lower slope, followed by the upper slope and middle slope. The position of the slope had a significant impact only on DOC content in forest soil, which increased along the slope. This research indicated that when evaluating the impact of land use changes on soil C and N stocks in the purple soil hilly region, the influence of topographic factors cannot be ignored.