Identification and characterization of Jingmen tick virus from Rhipicephalus microplus in Hunan, China.

Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) is a tick-borne pathogen known to affect human beings, characterized by a segmented genome structure that defies the conventional understanding of the Flaviviridae family. In the present study, we employed metagenomic analysis to screen for tick-borne viruses in Hunan Province, China, and identified five JMTV variants with complete genomes from Rhipicephalus microplus ticks sampled from cattle. These viral strains exhibited the highest sequence similarity to JMTV isolates previously reported in Hubei Province, China. However, evidence of genomic reassortment was detected, particularly with the S2 segment showing greater similarity to the strains from Japan. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that JMTV strains cluster predominantly based on their geographic origin. In agreement with the homology data, the S1, S3, and S4 segments of the strains identified in this study grouped with those from Hubei Province, while the S2 segment displayed a distinct topological structure. Moreover, JMTV displayed limited replication in mammal-derived cells, but thrived in tick-derived cell lines. In addition to the commonly used R. microplus-derived BME/CTVM23 cells, we found that JMTV also proliferated robustly in both Ixodes scapularis-derived ISE6 and Ixodes ricinus-derived IRE/CTVM19 cells, offering new avenues for in vitro production of the virus. In summary, this study expands the known geographic distribution and genetic diversity of JMTV, providing valuable insights into its epidemiology and potential for in vitro cultivation.

First report of albinism for Achalinussheni (Serpentes, Xenodermidae), with extended diagnosis of the species.

Albinism is an uncommon phenomenon and inherited condition in animals characterized by a partial or complete lack of melanin. The family Xenodermidae Gray, 1849, is a group of caenophidian snakes widely distributed in South, East, and Southeast Asia, including five recognized genera and 36 species. However, there are currently no reports of albinism in any species in Xenodermidae. Achalinussheni Ma, Xu, Qi, Wang, Tang, Huang & Jiang, 2023 was first described based on five male specimens from Loudi City and Nanyue District, Hunan Province, China. At the time, there were no descriptions on female individuals. In this study, we report in detail a collected albinistic specimen of A.sheni, which is the first discovery of wild albinism in the family Xenodermidae. We also provide photographs and descriptions of the first three female specimens of A.sheni and extend the diagnosis of this species.

Residues of veterinary drugs and heavy metal contamination in livestock and poultry meat from Hunan Province, China.

Livestock and poultry meat consumption play an important role in the dietary structure of Chinese residents. However, the extent of residues of veterinary drugs and heavy metal contamination in livestock and poultry meat and their by-products within Hunan province is not extensively studied. This survey aimed to fill this gap by assessing the presence of 76 veterinary drug residues in Hunan province. Additionally, heavy metals in pork and pig liver were also assessed. The obtained findings suggest that residues of veterinary drugs are still present in livestock and poultry meat, as well as their by-products, within Hunan province. However, the contamination of heavy metals remained within the food safety limits. These results underscore the significance of establishing more refined criteria for assessing human exposure, taking into account factors such as consumption patterns, product varieties and chemical compounds of interest.

Polygalaqii, a new species of Polygalaceae from limestone landform in Southern Hunan, China.

Polygalaqii, a new species, is described and illustrated from limestone landform in southern Hunan, China. The new species resembles P.fallax and P.arillata in flower structure of the plants, but readily differs from the latter two in having erect and shorter inflorescences (0.2-1cm VS 10-15cm VS 7-10cm), and fewer flowers (1-5 flowers VS 10-30 flowers VS 10-20 flowers), and the latter two have a later flowering period (late March to mid-April VS May to August VS May to October). And it is an extremely unique new species that will hibernate in the hot summer of July and August. Following the IUCN Red List Criteria, P.qii is assessed as 'Data Deficient (DD)'.

[Characteristics and drivers of vegetation temporal dynamics in Hunan Province of China during 2002-2020]. / 湖南省2002­2020å¹´æ¤è¢«åŠ¨æ€æ¼”å˜ç‰¹å¾åŠå½±å“å› å­.

Understanding the influences of climate change and human activities on vegetation change is the foundation for effective ecosystem management. Based on the 250 m MODIS-NDVI data from 2002 to 2020, we employed Theil-Sen Median trend analysis and the Mann-Kendall test to quantify vegetation change in Hunan Province. By combining with meteorological, nighttime light index, land cover and other data, residual analysis and correlation analysis, we examined the impacts of human activities and climate change on vegetation dynamics at both the pixel level and the county level. The results showed that the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in Hunan Province exhibited a spatial pattern of "overall improvement with localized degradation" during 2002-2020. Approximately 64.9% of the study area experienced significant vegetation improvement, mainly occurring in the western and central-southern parts of Hunan Province. 1.4% of the study area experienced significant vegetation degradation, mostly in the newly developed urban areas and the farmland in the Dongting Lake Plain. Human activities and climate change jointly promoted vegetation improvement in 67.9% of the study area. Human activities and climate contributed to 96% and 4% of the NDVI change, respectively. At the county level, human activities contributed to over 80% of the NDVI change in each district or county. The impacts of human activities on vegetation change exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity. Urban expansion led to vegetation degradation in the newly developed areas, while vegetation growth appeared in the old developed urban areas. The ecological restoration projects promoted vegetation restoration in the western part of Hunan Province. This study could help us better understand the spatiotemporal variations of vegetation and their responses to climate change and human activities, which would offer scientific basis for effective ecological restoration policy.

A united framework modeling of spatial-temporal characteristics for county-level agricultural carbon emission with an application to Hunan in China.

Effectively tackling extreme climate change requires sound knowledge about carbon emissions and their driving forces. Currently, agricultural carbon emission assessment often deals with its inventory, efficiency, determinants, and response independently, which will leave out the complex interactions among its various components, thus there is a lack of comprehensive, scalable, comparable explanations for agricultural carbon emissions. Herein, we introduce an integrated agricultural carbon emission assessment framework (IEDR): Inventory (I) × Efficiency (E) × Determinants (D) × Response (R), which was then applied to an illustration for the county-level agricultural carbon emissions in Hunan Province, China. Results show that: (1) Agricultural carbon emission inventory (ACEI) increased from 20.06 × 106 tC in 2006 to 21.99 × 106 tC in 2014 and decreased to 19.07 × 106 tC by 2020, depicting a fluctuating trend. Meanwhile, there was remarkable spatial heterogeneity, with higher ACEI in the North and South than in the East and West. (2) Agricultural carbon emission efficiency (ACEE) increased from 0.8520 in 2006 to 0.8992 in 2020, depicting a growing trend driven by technological progress. Spatially distributed in contrast to ACEI, regions with higher ACEE were located in the eastern and western areas. (3) ACEI was negatively correlated with ACEE (-0.657), indicating that increasing ACEE is a key strategy for reducing emissions. (4) The natural environment, rural development level, and policy support had critical impacts on ACEE and ACEI. In particular, the cultivated area and rural water affairs development were significant influences on ACEE and ACEI. Given the externalities of carbon emissions and its important public goods characteristics of the atmosphere, local carbon issues are also global concerns. Therefore, the case study of the IEDR model not only validates this theoretical paradigm and realizes regional responsibility for global carbon reduction but also supports and expands the theoretical and empirical corpus in the field of agricultural carbon emissions and efficiency, providing insights and references for other global regions facing similar challenges.

Callicarpayongshunensis (Lamiaceae): A new species from Hunan, China.

This study provides detailed description of a newly-discovered Callicarpayongshunensis Wen B. Xu, Xiao D. Li & Yan Ling Liu (Lamiaceae) species from Hunan, China. The species shares similarities in the inflorescence, glandular colour and leaf shape features with C.luteopunctata H. T. Chang and C.giraldii Hesse ex Rehd., while its white fruits are similar to those of C.longifolia Lamk. However, its procumbent, evergreen shrub and white fruits are distinctly different from those of C.luteopunctata and C.giraldii, while its procumbent, scarless nodes and stellate pubescence free fruits distinguishes it from C.longifolia. Images, distribution, morphological features, molecular phylogenetic classification and conservation assessment of this new Callicarpa species are explored.

Spatial distribution, influencing factors and innovative development countermeasures of farmer cooperatives in Hunan Province, China.

China's rural reform is reliant on farmers' cooperatives as a key organization vehicle. It plays an important role in promoting rural revitalization. Such as, realizing the organic connection between small farmers and agricultural modernization. This study used the nearest neighbor index and kernel density estimation to analyze the spatial distribution and structural characteristics of farmer cooperatives in Hunan Province. It revealed the spatial differentiation law of cooperatives. Also using geographical detectors to figure out the main factors that affect the spatial distribution. The results show that: ① Hunan Farmers Cooperatives show significant spatial agglomeration. The overall spatial distribution shows the spatial characteristics of "one core, one circle, and multiple points". And the spatial distribution pattern of "large agglomeration, finger-shaped radiation distribution". Among them, the distribution of provincial demonstration cooperatives is relatively balanced. ② Cooperatives in six types of industries, such as planting, forestry, and feeding, showed agglomeration distribution. Different industrial cooperatives spread out in different ways, such as in an anti-"L" shape, a dual-core shape, or a one-center area. ③ The 24 influence factors selected from the five dimensions of the natural environment, social economic basis, production basis, output capacity, and facility basis have high, general, and weak influence on cooperatives' spatial distribution. The development and distribution of cooperatives mainly depend on resource endowment, social and economic development level, and market dependence. The spatial distribution heterogeneity of different professional cooperatives is mainly affected by slope, per capita disposable income of rural residents, road density, and other factors. ④ The progression of farmer cooperatives in Hunan Province should prioritize high-quality development, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches and transformative strategies within rural industrial organizations. It is imperative to optimize the spatial distribution of cooperatives, strategically contributing to the establishment of a novel framework for modern agricultural development in Hunan Province. Additionally, there is a critical emphasis on spearheading collaborative initiatives among cooperatives of varied industrial types, aimed at fostering the integrated development of rural primary, secondary, and tertiary industries.

Quantitative Proteomics Reveals the Relationship between Protein Changes and Volatile Flavor Formation in Hunan Bacon during Low-Temperature Smoking.

This study aimed to investigate the changes in proteins and volatile flavor compounds that occur in bacon during low-temperature smoking (LTS) and identify potential correlations between these changes. To achieve this, a combination of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and proteomics was employed. A total of 42 volatile flavor compounds were identified in the bacon samples, and, during LTS, 11 key volatile flavor compounds with variable importance were found at a projection value of >1, including 2',4'-dihydroxyacetophenone, 4-methyl-2H-furan-5-one, Nonanal, etc. In total, 2017 proteins were quantified at different stages of LTS; correlation coefficients and KEGG analyses identified 27 down-regulated flavor-related proteins. Of these, seven were involved in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, metabolic pathways, or amino acid metabolism, and they may be associated with the process of flavor formation. Furthermore, correlation coefficient analysis indicated that certain chemical parameters, such as the contents of free amino acids, carbonyl compounds, and TCA cycle components, were closely and positively correlated with the formation of key volatile flavor compounds. Combined with bioinformatic analysis, the results of this study provide insights into the proteins present in bacon at various stages of LTS. This study demonstrates the changes in proteins and the formation of volatile flavor compounds in bacon during LTS, along with their potential correlations, providing a theoretical basis for the development of green processing methods for Hunan bacon.

Characterization of Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli in Animal Farms in Hunan Province, China.

Multi-drug resistance of bacteria producing extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) is a public health challenge. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) in Hunan Province, China. A total of 1366 fecal samples were collected from pig, chicken, and cattle farms over a six-year period, which were assessed using strain isolation, 16S rRNA identification, polymerase chain reaction, drug sensitivity testing, whole-genome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. The results showed an overall prevalence of 6.66% for ESBL-EC strains, with ESBL positivity extents for pigs, chickens, and cattle isolates at 6.77%, 6.54%, and 12.5%, respectively. Most ESBL-EC isolates were resistant to cefotaxime, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; however, all the isolates were susceptible to meropenem, with relatively low resistance to amikacin and tigecycline. Various multi-locus sequence types with different origins and similar affinities were identified, with ST155 (n = 16) being the most common subtype. Several types of resistance genes were identified among the 91 positive strains, with beta-lactamase blaCTX-M-55 being the most common ESBL genotype. IncFIB was the predominant plasmid type. Widespread use of antibiotics in animal farming may increase antibiotic resistance, posing a serious threat to the health of farmed animals and, thus, to human food security and health.

[Coordinated Control of Carbon Emission Reduction and Air Quality Improvement in the Industrial Sector in Hunan Province].

Climate warming and air pollution are the main environmental problems in China. This study used China's Carbon Accounting Database, energy economic model, and air quality model to analyze the potential carbon emission peaking path and synergistic air quality improvement gain in the industrial sector in Hunan Province. Based on China's Carbon Accounting Database and the local industry/energy statistical yearbooks in Hunan, the total CO2 emissions in Hunan Province in 2019 were 310.6 Mt, of which the industrial sector accounted for over 70% of the emissions, mainly from the production and supply of electricity, steam, and heat; the production of non-metallic minerals; and the smelting and pressing of ferrous metals. Three potential industrial carbon emission peaking scenarios were analyzed using the LEAP energy economic model, including the business-as-usual scenario (peaking by 2030), moderate emission reduction scenario (peaking by 2028), and aggressive emission reduction scenario (peaking by 2025), by employing different economic growth rates, energy technology progress, and energy structures of the industrial sector. Furthermore, by combining the anthropogenic air pollutant emission inventory and the regional air quality model WRF-Chem, we analyzed the air quality improvement associated with various carbon emission peak paths. The results showed that the annual mean concentrations of major air pollutants had decreased in the three scenarios, especially in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Region. The aggressive emission reduction scenario was the most effective scenario, followed by the moderate emission reduction scenario and the business-as-usual scenario. Manufacturing was the sector with the most significant synergistic effect of pollution and carbon reduction. When carbon emission peaks were achieved, the annual average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in Hunan Province could be synergistically reduced by 0.6-1.8 µg·m-3 and 1.8-8.9 µg·m-3, respectively. Our findings offer important insights into carbon emission peaking and can provide useful information for potential mitigation actions.

[Traceability Analysis and Environmental Quality Assessment of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution in West Hunan Province].

In order to explore the status of soil heavy metal pollution and environmental quality in west Hunan, relevant areas of Phoenix County were selected as the study area. Using data from 440 soil samples collected in the study area from June to August 2022, the pH value of the soil and contents of eight heavy metal elements, namely, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn, were analyzed. The PMF model was used for traceability analysis and geochemical evaluation of soil environmental quality. The results showed that the average values of soil heavy metals ω(Zn), ω(Cr), ω(Pb), ω(Ni), ω(Cu), ω(As), ω(Cd), and ω(Hg) were 81.02, 64.67, 31.63, 29.27, 25.52, 9.93, 0.28, and 0.13 mg·kg-1, respectively. The soil in the study area was mainly weakly acidic, and the contents of the Cd and Hg elements were relatively high compared to the national soil background values and were highly variable. The contents of the Hg and Cd elements in forest land were higher than that in other land uses. The PMF model results showed that the contribution rates of heavy metal pollution sources in the study area were mining sources (37.4%), atmospheric sedimentation sources (7.7%), natural sources (41.1%), and agricultural activity sources (13.8%) and provided suggestions on pollution control measures according to the spatial distribution of the four types of pollution sources. Through the comprehensive assessment of soil environmental geochemistry, the study area was divided into three types of plots, namely, non-risk areas (94.27 km2), accounting for 76.38%; risk-controllable areas (27.45 km2), accounting for 22.24%; and high-risk areas (1.7 km2), accounting for 1.38%. This study provided data support for the prevention and control measures of land pollution in the research area, as well as the delineation of the prevention and control scope.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Chlamydia Infection in Pigs in Hunan Province, Southern China, 2017-2018.

Background: Chlamydia is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that is pathogenic for humans and a large variety of veterinary animal species. However, there is no continuous monitoring of chlamydia infection data in pigs in Hunan province, southern China. Therefore, in order to evaluate the seroprevalence and identify risk factors associated with Chlamydia infection in pigs within this region, a comprehensive study was conducted. Methods: A total of 3848 serum samples were collected from pigs (from farmers and companies) between May 2017 and August 2018. The presence of specific antibodies against Chlamydia was determined through the employment of the indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). Results: The overall seroprevalence of Chlamydia was determined to be 26.90% (1038/3848, 95% confidence interval: 25.60-28.40). By employing statistical analysis using SPSS software (p < 0.05), factors such as altitude, sampling regions, and rearing systems of pigs were identified as potential risk factors for Chlamydia infection. Conclusion: These findings elucidate a substantial prevalence of Chlamydia in pigs within the mountainous region of Hunan province, southern China, thereby highlighting a potential risk to human health. These results underscore the need for proactive measures and targeted interventions to mitigate the transmission of Chlamydia in porcine populations, safeguarding both animal welfare and public health.

Risk factors for diagnosis and treatment delay among patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Hunan Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a global health threat associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Diagnosis and treatment delays are associated with poor treatment outcomes in patients with MDR-TB. However, the risk factors associated with these delays are not robustly investigated, particularly in high TB burden countries such as China. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the length of diagnosis and treatment delays and identify their risk factors among patients with MDR-TB in Hunan province. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using MDR-TB data from Hunan province between 2013 and 2018. The main outcomes of the study were diagnosis and treatment delay, defined as more than 14 days from the date of symptom to diagnosis confirmation (i.e., diagnosis delay) and from diagnosis to treatment commencement (i.e., treatment delay). A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted, and an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to identify factors associated with diagnosis and treatment delay. RESULTS: In total, 1,248 MDR-TB patients were included in this study. The median length of diagnosis delays was 27 days, and treatment delays were one day. The proportion of MDR-TB patients who experienced diagnosis and treatment delay was 62.82% (95% CI: 60.09-65.46) and 30.77% (95% CI: 28.27-33.39), respectively. The odds of experiencing MDR-TB diagnosis delay among patients coming through referral and tracing was reduced by 41% (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.45-0.76) relative to patients identified through consultations due to symptoms. The odds of experiencing diagnosis delay among ≥ 65 years were 65% (AOR = 0.35, 0.14-0.91) lower than under-15 children. The odds of developing treatment delay among foreign nationalities and people from other provinces were double (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.31-3.06) compared to the local populations. Similarly, the odds of experiencing treatment delay among severely ill patients were nearly 2.5 times higher (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.41-4.42) compared to patients who were not severely ill. On the other hand, previously treated TB cases had nearly 40% (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42-0.85) lower odds of developing treatment delay compared with new MDR-TB cases. Similarly, other ethnic minority groups had nearly 40% (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.96) lower odds of experiencing treatment delay than the Han majority. CONCLUSIONS: Many MDR-TB patients experience long diagnosis and treatment delays in Hunan province. Strengthening active case detection can significantly reduce diagnosis delays among MDR-TB patients. Moreover, giving attention to patients who are new to MDR-TB treatment, are severely ill, or are from areas outside Hunan province will potentially reduce the burden of treatment delay among MDR-TB patients.

Determinants of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Hunan province, China: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a major public health threat in Hunan Province, with an increasing clinical burden in recent years. This study aimed to identify socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with DR-TB in Hunan province, China. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in Hunan province. Cases were all DR-TB patients who were confirmed by culture and Drug susceptibility testing (DST) and enrolled at the DR-TB treatment center of Hunan Chest Hospital from 2013 to 2018. Controls were all Drug Susceptible TB (DS-TB) patients confirmed by DST and enrolled at the same hospital during the same period. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors significantly associated with DR-TB. RESULTS: A total of 17,808 patients (15,534 DS-TB controls and 2274 DR-TB cases) were included in the study, with a mean age of 42.5 years (standard deviation (SD) ± 17.5 years) for cases and 46.1 years (SD ± 19.1 years) for controls. Age 15-64 years (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI; 1.4, 1.8)), ethnic minorities (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI; 1.4, 1.8), and a history of previous TB treatment (AOR) = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.57, 2.15) was significantly associated with DR-TB. Being resident in a province outside Hunan was also a significant risk factor (AOR = 1.67; 1.27, 2.21) for DR-TB. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: To prevent the occurrence of DR-TB in Hunan Province, interventions should be targeted at high-risk demographic groups such as ethnic minorities, individuals of productive age, and residents living outside the province. Interventions must also be targeted to previously treated cases, suggesting the appropriateness of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Understanding the risk factors at the province level helps design strategies for controlling DR-TB due to variations by socioeconomic differences, quality of health care, and healthcare access.

Investigation on Current Biosafety Management Status in Laboratory Animal Institutions in Hunan Province / 实验动物与比较医学

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the current status of biosafety management in laboratory animal institutions in Hunan Province, identify management shortcomings, and provide targeted recommendations for improvement. MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted in July 2023 among 40 laboratory animal institutions in Hunan Province, covering topics such as the establishment of laboratory management system and its overall operation status, emergency management for incidents, medical waste disposal, animal transportation, personnel practitioner management, environmental disinfection, and equipment maintenance. The awareness of biosafety, animal bite incidents, and vaccination history was surveyed from at least one animal feeder or experimental operation practitioner from each institution, totaling 50 practitioners. Through literature review and comparative analysis, this paper analyzed the current status of biosafety management in production, transportation, and use of laboratory animals in Hunan Province from aspects such as biosafety management systems, personnel training, disinfection of environmental facilities and waste disposal, and provided recommendations. ResultsAmong the 40 laboratory animal institutions in Hunan Province,39 institutions (97.5%) had established laboratory management systems, 37 (92.5%) had emergency response plans for incidents of to transport laboratory animals, 15 (37.5%) had complete records of emergency drills for laboratory animal biosafety, and 39 (97.5%) had established protocols for carcass and waste management. Moreover, 26 institutions (65.0%) had laboratory biosafety risk assessment reports. 4 out of 8 (50.0%) production units had emergency plans for animal transportation, with 7 (87.5%) using special vehicles to transport laboratory animals. 2 (4.0%) of the 50 practitioners were unaware of emergency response plans, 6 participants (12.0%) did not consistently wear personal protective equipment, and 38 participants (76.0%) had been bitten or scratched by laboratory animals. The results of the survey showed that emergency management, transportation management and personnel management of laboratory animal incidents still need improvement in Hunan Province. Relevant functional departments should strengthen supervision and management efforts, establish local regulations for the transportation management of laboratory animals, ensure strict compliance with relevant documents, conduct emergency drills in all units, and strengthen training for practitioners. ConclusionWhile daily management practices in the 40 laboratory animal institutions in Hunan Province are generally satisfactory, there remains a need for further improvement in emergency management, transportation management, personnel management, etc. Gradually enhancing the level of laboratory animal safety management is essential to collectively safeguard public health safety.

Formulation of Emergency Response Plan for Laboratory Animal Biosafety Emergencies in Hunan Province / 实验动物与比较医学

The emergency management of biosafety for laboratory animals in Hunan Province is an essential component of the province’s implementation of the national biosafety strategy. To strengthen the prevention and control of biosafety risks in laboratory animals and to ensure a quick and effective response to laboratory animal biosafety emergencies, Hunan Province has formulated the "Emergency Response Plan for Laboratory Animal Biosafety Emergencies in Hunan Province". This plan aims to minimize damages caused to practitioners, public health, and laboratory animal industry, protect lives and property, and safeguard public safety and social stability. This paper analyzes the necessity, guiding ideology, principles, and basis for formulating the plan. It details the main contents of the plan, which includes scope of application, incident classification, organizational structure and responsibilities, monitoring and early warning mechanisms, emergency reporting and response, post-incident assessment, and safeguard measures. Moreover, this paper provides a summary and outlook on the emergency management of biosafety laboratory animals in Hunan Province in recent years.

Spatial distribution and migration of lead and zinc and the influence of parent materials in typical paddy soils of Hunan Province, China.

This study aimed to investigate the distribution and migration characteristics of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in paddy soils in Hunan Province, China. A total of 343 soil samples from 63 profiles were collected from typical regions. The concentration, spatial distribution, and migration behaviors of Pb and Zn in the paddy soils were examined. The results showed that (1) the concentration ranges of Pb and Zn in the surface layer were 17.62-114.07 mg/kg and 44.98-146.84 mg/kg, respectively. (2) The content was higher in the middle and lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River basin horizontally and exhibited shallow enrichment characteristics vertically. (3) Pb migration was weaker than Zn migration, and the parent material had the most significant influence on Pb and Zn content in the bottom soil layer. The research results will clarify the characteristics of Pb and Zn contents in paddy soils in Hunan Province, further understand the horizontal distribution and vertical migration and transformation characteristics of Pb and Zn contents in paddy soils, and provide basic data for scientific rice cultivation and safe food production.

Effect of shaking manners on floral aroma quality and identification of key floral-aroma-active compounds in Hunan black tea.

Shaking is a key process effecting the floral aroma of Hunan black tea (HBT). In this study, the aroma composition of HBTs shaken in the early withering stage (ES1, ES1 + LS1, and ES2), shaken in the late withering stage (LS1), and not shaken (NS), and the identification of main floral aroma compounds were analyzed using sensory evaluation combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), and aroma recombination experiments. Sensory evaluation results showed that the floral aroma of HBT shaken in the early withering stage was with high intensity, whereas HBT shaken in the late withering stage had low-intensity floral aroma. GC-MS identified a total number of 81 differential volatile compounds in HBT, including 30 esters, 18 aldehydes, 15 alcohols, 12 terpenes, 4 ketones, and 2 nitrogen-containing compounds. Further screening of important floral aroma differential compounds was performed using sensory-guided, odor activity value (OAV), and GC-O analysis, which identified three critical floral aroma differential compounds. Eventually, absolute quantification analysis and aroma recombination experiments confirmed that indole and methyl jasmonate were the most critical compounds of HBT determining floral aroma intensity. The findings of this study provide valuable guidance for the production of HBT with rich floral aroma attributes.

Characteristics and economic burden of hospitalized patients with herpes zoster in China, before vaccination.

Herpes zoster (HZ) brings a significant economic burden. The HZ vaccine was introduced in China for the first time in 2020, and there is a lack of up-to-date information on the hospitalization costs and characteristics prior to vaccination. This study aimed to describe the characteristics and economic burden of HZ inpatients in Hunan Province, China, and analyze the factors influencing the length of stay (LOS) and costs. This was a retrospective study and we extracted information from the Chinese National Health Statistics Network Reporting System on HZ inpatients in Hunan Province, China from 2017 to 2019. Spatial join tools and Global or Local Moran's Index were used for the geographic analysis of hospitalized HZ incidence. Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing LOS and costs. There were 44,311 HZ inpatients included in this study, incurring a total of $31,857,734 medical costs. These patients had a median LOS of 8 days and a median expenditure of $573.47. Older age, more comorbidities, and the presence of complications with nervous system involved were all significantly associated with longer LOS and higher costs. HZ infection resulted in a large direct medical cost and heavy disease burden, especially in patients with advanced age or underlying medical conditions. The HZ vaccine has the potential to effectively reduce the disease burden and should be widely popularized especially among high-risk groups.