Investigation of bacterial diversity in Cajanus cajan-planted gangue soil via high-throughput sequencing.

The ecological restoration of coal gangue can be achieved by planting Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea) because of its developed root system. The close relationships soil microorganisms have with plants are crucial for improving soil composition; the soil composition affects nutrient absorption. The microbial composition and function of soil planted with C. cajan in reclaimed land were compared with soil that was not planted with C. cajan (the control). Results showed that the dominant microflora in the soil significantly changed after planting C. cajan. Before planting, the dominant microflora included members of the phyla Sulfobacteria and Acidobacteria. After planting, the dominant microflora contained bacteria from phyla and classes that included Actinobacteria, Acidimicubia, Thermoleophilia, and Anaerolineae. Additionally, there were significant differences in the bacterial composition of each layer in soils planted with C. cajan. Principal component analysis revealed that the interpretation degrees of the results for PC2 and PC3 axes were 10.46% and 3.87%, respectively. The dominant microflora were Vicinamibacterales, Nocardioides, and Arthrobacter in the surface soil; Actinophytocola and Sphingomonas in the deep soil; and Sulfobacillus and Acidimicrobium in the mixed-layer soil. Function prediction analysis using the bioinformatics software package PICRUSt revealed that the abundance of operational taxonomic units corresponding to sigma 54-specific transcriptional regulators, serine threonine protein kinase, and histidine kinase increased by 111.2%, 56.8%, and 47.4%, respectively, after planting C. cajan. This study provides a reference for interactions among microorganisms in reclaimed soils for guiding the development and restoration of waste coal gangue hills.

Dependence of pulsed focused ultrasound induced thrombolysis on duty cycle and cavitation bubble size distribution.

In this study, we investigated the relationship between the efficiency of pulsed, focused ultrasound (FUS)-induced thrombolysis, the duty cycle (2.3%, 9%, and 18%) and the size distribution of cavitation bubbles. The efficiency of thrombolysis was evaluated through the degree of mechanical fragmentation, namely the number, mass, and size of clot debris particles. First, we found that the total number and mass of clot debris particles were highest when a duty cycle of 9% was used and that the mean diameter of clot debris particles was smallest. Second, we found that the size distribution of cavitation bubbles was mainly centered around the linear resonance radius (2.5µm) of the emission frequency (1.2MHz) of the FUS transducer when a 9% duty cycle was used, while the majority of cavitation bubbles became smaller or larger than the linear resonance radius when a 2.3% or 18% duty cycle was used. In addition, the inertial cavitation dose from the treatment performed at 9% duty cycle was much higher than the dose obtained with the other two duty cycles. The data presented here suggest that there is an optimal duty cycle at which the thrombolysis efficiency and cavitation activity are strongest. They further indicate that using a pulsed FUS may help control the size distribution of cavitation nuclei within an active size range, which we found to be near the linear resonance radius of the emission frequency of the FUS transducer.

Spatial-temporal variations of Schistosoma japonicum distribution after an integrated national control strategy: a cohort in a marshland area of China.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis transmission is typically focal. Understanding spatial variations of Schistosoma infections and their associated factors is important to help to invent site-specific intervention strategies. METHODS: A five-year longitudinal study was carried out prospectively in 12 natural villages, Guichi district of Anhui province. A GIS-based spatial analysis was conducted to identify geographic distribution patterns of schistosomiasis infections at the household scale. RESULTS: The results of the spatial autocorrelation analysis for 2005 showed that there were significant spatial clusters of human infections at the household level, and these results were in agreement with that of the spatial scan statistic. As prevalence of infections in humans decreased over the course of control, the spatial distribution of these infections became less heterogeneous. CONCLUSIONS: The findings imply that it may be necessary to re-assess risk factors of S. japonicum transmission over the course of control and to adjust accordingly control measures in the communities.

[Investigation on prevalent trends and analysis of control period among floating population in schistosomiasis endemic areas of Guichi District].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the characteristics of the floating population infected with Schistosoma japonicum, so as to provide the evidence for constituting and optimizing control strategy. METHODS: By the cluster random sampling method, six highly endemic villages from the different endemic types in Guichi District were selected as the research areas . The basic information and infected status of the floating population were surveyed by questionnaires and examination between 2000 and 2009. RESULTS: The time when the floating population returned to their homes mainly focused on Spring Festival between 2000 and 2009, and more than 83% of people returned. The infection rate of the floating population was similar to or more than that of the local residents. During the ten years, the reduction of the infection rates in the floating populations (from 5.29% to 2.63%) was consistent with the reduction of the infection rates in the local residents (from 5.28% to 2.68%). However, the reduction of the infection rates in the floating population who worked in the non-endemic areas was more than that in the local residents. CONCLUSION: Spring Festival is the optimal time for detecting and treating schistosomiasis in the floating population.