Morphology and multigene phylogeny reveal four new Xylaria (Xylariales, Xylariaceae) species from karst region in China.

This study presents the identification of four novel Xylaria species, discovered in the karst region of China. The discovery was facilitated by a rigorous analysis that encompassed both morpho-anatomical features and multi-locus phylogenetics utilizing sequences from the ITS, rpb2, and TUB2 loci. The newly identified species are designated as Xylariajichuanii sp. nov., X.nanningensis sp. nov., X.orientalis sp. nov., and X.taiyangheensis sp. nov. The distinction of these species from their known counterparts was verified through comparison of morphological features and phylogenetic analysis. The study further provides detailed morphological descriptions, illustrative representations, and a phylogenetic tree, all of which contribute to the taxonomic positioning of these novel species.

Genomic prediction of yield-related traits and genome-based establishment of heterotic pattern in maize hybrid breeding of Southwest China.

When genomic prediction is implemented in breeding maize (Zea mays L.), it can accelerate the breeding process and reduce cost to a large extent. In this study, 11 yield-related traits of maize were used to evaluate four genomic prediction methods including rrBLUP, HEBLP|A, RF, and LightGBM. In all the 11 traits, rrBLUP had similar predictive accuracy to HEBLP|A, and so did RF to LightGBM, but rrBLUP and HEBLP|A outperformed RF and LightGBM in 8 traits. Furthermore, genomic prediction-based heterotic pattern of yield was established based on 64620 crosses of maize in Southwest China, and the result showed that one of the parent lines of the top 5% crosses came from temp-tropic or tropic germplasm, which is highly consistent with the actual situation in breeding, and that heterotic pattern (Reid+ × Suwan+) will be a major heterotic pattern of Southwest China in the future.

Three new species of Isodon (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae) from China.

Three new species of Isodon (Lamiaceae) from China are described and illustrated, based on both morphological evidence and our recent phylogenomic studies of the genus. Isodonattenuatus, a herbaceous new species known only from the Fanjing Mountain, is shown to be sister to I.villosus, but they can be easily distinguished by leaf and inflorescence indumentum, calyx teeth shape and corolla tube morphology. Isodongongshanensis, a herbaceous new species collected from the Hengduan Mountains in southwest China, represents a distinct lineage within the genus. Isodonsukungii, a shrubby new species also endemic to the Hengduan Mountains, was previously misidentified as I.tenuifolius, but they are phylogenetically distantly related and differ in lamina size and margin, inflorescence type and corolla length and shape.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatiotemporal Clustering of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Among Students in Southwest China From 2016 to 2022: Analysis of Population-Based Surveillance Data.

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), as a respiratory infectious disease, poses significant risks of covert transmission and dissemination. The high aggregation and close contact among students in Chinese schools exacerbate the transmission risk of PTB outbreaks. Objective: This study investigated the epidemiological characteristics, geographic distribution, and spatiotemporal evolution of student PTB in Chongqing, Southwest China, aiming to delineate the incidence risks and clustering patterns of PTB among students. Methods: PTB case data from students monitored and reported in the Tuberculosis Information Management System within the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention were used for this study. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize the epidemiological features of student PTB. Spatial trend surface analysis, global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses, and disease rate mapping were performed using ArcGIS 10.3. SaTScan 9.6 software was used to identify spatiotemporal clusters of PTB cases. Results: From 2016 to 2022, a total of 9920 student TB cases were reported in Chongqing, Southwest China, with an average incidence rate of 24.89/100,000. The incidence of student TB showed an initial increase followed by a decline, yet it remained relatively high. High school students (age: 13-18 years; 6649/9920, 67.03%) and college students (age: ≥19 years; 2921/9920, 29.45%) accounted for the majority of student PTB cases. Patient identification primarily relied on passive detection, with a high proportion of delayed diagnosis and positive etiological results. COVID-19 prevention measures have had some impact on reducing incidence levels, but the primary factor appears to be the implementation of screening measures, which facilitated earlier case detection. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated Moran I values of >0 for all years except 2018, ranging from 0.1908 to 0.4645 (all P values were <.05), suggesting strong positive spatial clustering of student PTB cases across Chongqing. Local spatial autocorrelation identified 7 high-high clusters, 13 low-low clusters, 5 high-low clusters, and 4 low-high clusters. High-high clusters were predominantly located in the southeast and northeast parts of Chongqing, consistent with spatial trend surface analysis and spatiotemporal clustering results. Spatiotemporal scan analysis revealed 4 statistically significant spatiotemporal clusters, with the most likely cluster in the southeast (relative risk [RR]=2.87, log likelihood ratio [LLR]=574.29, P<.001) and a secondary cluster in the northeast (RR=1.99, LLR=234.67, P<.001), indicating higher reported student TB cases and elevated risks of epidemic spread within these regions. Conclusions: Future efforts should comprehensively enhance prevention and control measures in high-risk areas of PTB in Chongqing to mitigate the incidence risk among students. Additionally, implementing proactive screening strategies and enhancing screening measures are crucial for early identification of student patients to prevent PTB outbreaks in schools.

Biomass burning in Peninsular Southeast Asia intensifies meteorological drought in Southwest China.

Biomass burning in Peninsular Southeast Asia (BB-PSEA) affects the climate in downwind regions, especially precipitation (PRE) in southern China. However, the impact of BB-PSEA on the meteorological drought in Southwest China (SWC), where closes to PSEA and often occurs seasonal drought, have not been clear yet. We selected a severe drought event in SWC from January to April 2010 and conducted sensitivity simulations using WRF-Chem (Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry) to evaluate the impact of BB-PSEA on the meteorological drought in SWC. Comparisons with observations revealed that the model performed well in simulating the spatiotemporal evolution of the drought in SWC. BB-PSEA increased the drought severity by 0.01-0.75 levels, enlarged drought areas by about 10%, and prolonged the drought duration mainly by one month in SWC. The impact of BB-PSEA on the drought in SWC in March/April was almost tenfold that in January/February, due to the higher emissions of BB-PSEA in March/April. The mechanism that BB-PSEA influenced drought predominantly involved the reduction of PRE, potential evapotranspiration (PET), and moisture fluxes in SWC. BB-PSEA aerosols warmed the air at 600-800 hPa and cooled the air near the surface in SWC, which stabilized the atmosphere and suppressed PRE and reduced PET in SWC. BB-PSEA aerosols also increased the sea surface temperature in South China Sea and the geopotential heights in the north of the Bay of Bengal, where the moisture sources of SWC originated from. This perturbation reduced the moisture fluxes across the west and south boundaries of SWC, resulting in the reduction of the water vapor content and PRE in SWC. Through elucidating the impact of BB-PSEA on the drought in SWC, this study clarified how BB-PSEA affected the climate in the downwind region and provided new understanding for drought prediction in SWC.

Prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus infection among 66000 women from 2014 to 2023 in the plateau region of Southwest China.

BACKGROUND: Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) plays a key role in the onset of cervical cancer. This study was designed to examine the epidemiological trends and genotype distribution of HPV from 2014 to 2023 in the plateau region of Southwest China. METHODS: The findings could offer valuable insights for clinical screening of cervical cancer and the formulation of HPV vaccination policies. This retrospective study analyzed 66,000 women who received HPV-DNA testing at the First People's Hospital of Qujing, Yunnan, China, between 2014 and 2023. The cohort consisted of 33,512 outpatients, 3,816 inpatients, and 28,672 individuals undergoing health examinations. Cervical cells were collected for DNA extraction, and PCR amplification along with Luminex xMAP technology were used to detect 27 HPV genotypes. The data analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism and IBM SPSS Statistics 27 software. RESULTS: The overall HPV infection rate at the First People's Hospital of Qujing declined from 24.92% in 2014 to 16.29% in 2023, averaging 16.02%. Specific infection rates were 18.50% among outpatients, 12.97% among inpatients, and 13.53% for health examination attendees. The predominant high-risk HPV genotypes identified were HPV52 (2.61%), HPV16 (2.06%), HPV58 (1.81%), HPV53 (1.55%), and HPV39 (1.09%). Meanwhile, the most frequent low-risk HPV genotypes were HPV6 (1.30%), HPV61 (1.21%), and HPV11 (0.85%). In HPV-positive cases, the distribution of single, double, triple, and quadruple or more infections were 79.90%, 15.17%, 3.59%, and 1.33%, respectively. The proportions of pure LR-HPV, pure HR-HPV, and mixed infections were 22.16%, 67.82%, and 10.02%, respectively. Age-specific analysis revealed a bimodal distribution of HPV infection, with the infection rate rapidly decreasing from 44.02% in the ≤ 19 age group to 19.55% in the 20-29 age group and 13.84% in the 30-39 age group, followed by a gradual increase to 14.64% in the 40-49 age group, 16.65% in the 50-59 age group, and 22.98% in the ≥ 60 age group. The coverage rates of the three available vaccines are all below 50%. The results of this study indicated a declining trend in HPV prevalence in the plateau region of Southwest China over the period from 2014 to 2023, especially in the reduction of genotypes targeted by vaccines. CONCLUSION: There were significant variations in the genotypes prevalent among different age groups, years, and patient sources within the same region. The underwhelming vaccination rates emphasize the critical need for developing either a multivalent vaccine or a personalized vaccine that targets the HPV genotypes common in the Chinese population. Furthermore, vaccinating adolescents to curb HPV infection and ensuring regular cervical cancer screenings for postmenopausal women are crucial steps.

Associations Between Sleep Duration and Cardiometabolic Diseases Among Residents in Southwest China.

Introduction: The burden of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), defined as stroke, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus, continues to pose a global challenge. Sleep duration has been linked to cardiovascular health. However, there is a lack of focused investigations on CMDs in underdeveloped areas of China. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between sleep duration and CMDs among residents from southwest China. Patients and Methods: This large cross-sectional study screened data from the National Key Research and Development Program (2018YFC1311400). Based on sleep duration reported through a standardized questionnaire, encompassing the sleep patterns of the past five years, participants were classified into three groups: <6, 6-8, >8 hours. Baseline characteristics were compared, and Poisson regression models were used to assess the relationship between sleep duration and CMDs. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on age and gender. Results: This study included 28,908 participants with an average age of 65.6 ± 10.0 years, of whom 57.6% were female. The overall prevalence of CMDs was 22.6%. After multivariate adjustments, the prevalence ratios (PR) (95% CI) for CMDs across the three groups (6-8h, <6h and >8h) were: reference, 1.140 (1.068-1.218), 1.060 (0.961-1.169) (P for trend =0.003), respectively. The subgroup analysis revealed that among older females, a longer sleep duration (>8h) was also associated with an increased prevalence risk of CMDs, with PR 1.169 (1.001-1.365) (p=0.049). Conclusion: A shorter sleep duration (<6 hours) was associated with an increased risk of CMDs in the general population, while a longer sleep duration (>8 hours) also raised the prevalence risk among older females.

Characterization of atmospheric nitroaromatic compounds in Southwest China by direct injection liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of aerosol extracts.

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) in ambient particles are of great concern due to their adverse effects on human health and climate. However, investigations on the characteristics and potential sources of NACs in Southwest China are still scarce. In this study, a field sampling campaign was carried out in the winter of 2022 at a suburban site in Mianyang, Southwest China. A direct injection liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to rapidly determine 10 NACs in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) extracts. The method was sensitive for the quantification of the NACs, with a limit of quantification (LOQ) in the range of 0.092-0.52 ng mL-1. Then, the developed method was applied to determine the concentrations of nitrophenols (NPs), nitrocatechols (NCs), nitrosalicylic acids (NSAs), and nitronaphthol in PM2.5 in Mianyang. The average concentration of total NACs was 78.2 ± 31.2 ng m-3, with daily concentrations ranging from 20.7 to 127.9 ng m-3. Among the measured NACs, 4-nitrocatechol was the most abundant, accounting for 57.8% of the NACs in winter. The five NPs compounds together contributed to 14% of the NACs, which was lower than in other Chinese cities due to the warm climate in winter in Southwest China. NSAs and nitronaphthol each accounted for less than 5% of the NACs. Three major sources of NACs were identified based on the principal component analysis, including vehicle emissions, biomass burning, and secondary formation. The significant correlation between individual NACs and NO2 supported their secondary formation sources. The good correlation between NPs and cloud amount further suggested that gas-phase oxidation was the possible NPs formation mechanism. Our findings revealed the important role of nitrocatechols in NACs in Southwest China, implying that more measures should be taken to control biomass burning and aromatic volatile organic compounds emissions to reduce the level of NACs.

Reconstructing high-resolution gridded precipitation data in the southwest China highland canyon area using an improved (MGWR) downscaling method.

High-spatiotemporal-resolution rainfall data are vital for investigating local terrestrial water cycles. Although remote-sensing satellite retrieval of precipitation products effectively reproduces spatial patterns of rainfall, it suffers from low spatial resolution. To overcome such limitations, a two-step downscaling approach is proposed here. First, 80 % of the meteorological-station data is utilized to calibrate the original Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) data, enhancing the correlation between GPM and station data. Subsequently, utilizing elevation, slope, aspect, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), wind direction, water vapor, and land surface temperature, as well as slope and aspect correction factors, as independent variables, multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) and temporal lag MGWR (TL-MGWR) models were constructed. Through the aforementioned steps, downscaled monthly and daily precipitation data for the geographic region under investigation in 2022 at a spatial resolution of 0.01° were obtained. Our findings indicate that selectively employing suitable MGWR or TL-MGWR models on a monthly basis can effectively downscale monthly GPM rainfall data. The downscaled (original) monthly precipitation data exhibited a correlation of 0.94 (0.768), with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 16.233 mm/month, root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 27.106 mm/month, and bias of -0.043. Similar enhancement was likewise noted in daily precipitation, displaying a correlation coefficient of 0.863 (0.318) for downscaled (original) data, and a RMSE of 3.209 mm/day, MAE of 1.082 mm/day, and bias of -0.06. The downscaled results show a correlation increase of 0.172 monthly and 0.545 daily, with MAE reductions of 18.43 mm/month and 1.658 mm/day, RMSE reductions of 26.172 mm/month and 4.183 mm/day, and bias reductions of 82.7 % and 56.8 %. In summary, the data after downscaling, both for monthly and daily datasets, was markedly improved in accuracy. The proposed downscaling method is applicable for reconstructing high-resolution grid data in the complex terrain of the southwest China highland canyon area.

Survey on health literacy and related factors among firefighters of emergency management departments in Southwest China.

OBJECTIVE: Although health literacy (HL) has emerged as a critical public health concern, research on HL in emergency management departments is limited. This study aimed to investigate the awareness of HL and associated factors among firefighters of emergency management departments in southwest China to provide a basis for carrying out targeted health education. METHODS: A cross-sectional convenience sample of 1,742 firefighters from an emergency management department in southwestern China was surveyed from February to April 2023 using the Chinese Citizen's Health Literacy Questionnaire (2019 version). The chi-square test, linear trend chi-square test, Fisher's test, rank sum test, and multifactorial logistic regression model were used to identify influential factors associated with HL. RESULTS: The HL level of the 1742 respondents was 34.3%. Age, ethnicity, education level, length of service, type of job, smoking status, types of parental jobs, annual household income, time of daily internet use, etc. (P < 0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicate that type of job (OR = 0.648, 95%CI:0.426-0.985), length of service (OR = 0.496, 95%CI:0.251-0.981), household income (OR = 1.900, 95%CI:1.443-2.502), daily internet usage time (OR = 0.726, 95%Cl:0.588-0.896), health status (OR = 0.750, 95%Cl:0.585-0.962) and frequency of organizing HL sessions (OR = 1.603, 95%Cl:1.101-2.330) were influencing factors affecting the HL of the officers and soldiers. CONCLUSION: The health literacy level of firefighters in the Emergency Management Department in Southwest China was 34.3%. Lower levels were found in the health-related skills dimension (HRS, 30.1%) and in infectious disease control (ID, 30.7%). Health information literacy (HI, 34.3%) was lower than the national level. The type of urban and rural areas, literacy level, and household income level may be the factors affecting the level of health literacy among the respondents. Therefore, health education and promotion interventions should target high priority dimensions (HRS, HI, and ID) and should focus on strengthening health literacy levels of firefighters with rural types, low education levels, and low household income to improve their health.

The Distribution and Host-Association of the Vector Chigger Species Leptotrombidium imphalum in Southwest China.

Leptotrombidium imphalum is a species of chigger mites, and it can serve as a transmitting vector of scrub typhus. Southwest China is an important focus of scrub typhus. Based on the field investigation in southwest China from 2001 to 2022, this article presents the first report on the distribution and infestation of L. imphalum on rodents and other sympatric small mammals in the region. A total of 2161 L. imphalum were identified from 218 small mammal hosts in 21 of 114 survey sites. The 17 host species of L. imphalum crossed 13 genera and 5 families in 3 orders (Rodentia, Eulipotyphla, and Scandentia), indicating the low host specificity of the mite. The Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi) was the dominant host species in the 21 sites where L. imphalum were collected, and 49.38% of mites were found on R. tanezumi. Different small mammals had different susceptibility to the infestation of L. imphalum. The prevalence (PM = 27.66%), infestation mean abundance (MA = 6 mites/per examined host), and mean intensity (MI = 21.69 mites/per infested host) for L. imphalum on the shrew gymnure (Neotetracus sinensis) were much higher than those on other host species (p < 0.05), indicating N. sinensis had a high susceptibility to the infestation of L. imphalum. The infestation indices for L. imphalum on small mammal hosts varied along different altitude and latitude gradients (p < 0.05), indicating the environmental heterogeneity of the mite infestation. Leptotrombidium imphalum exhibited an aggregated distribution among different individuals of its hosts. Besides the low host specificity of L. imphalum, the prevalence of the mite was positively correlated with the occurrence of scrub typhus, indicating the potential risk of the mite.

Characteristics and risk assessment of heavy metals in groundwater at a typical smelter-contaminated site in Southwest China.

To explore the characteristics and evaluate the risk of heavy metals in groundwater at a typical smelter-contaminated site, this study focuses on a representative a historical arsenic smelting plant in Southwest China, where the primary historical products were metallic arsenic (∼1000 tons/year) and arsenic trioxide (∼2000 ton/year). The results demonstrated As and Pb as the main pollutants in soil, and As and Cd as main pollutants in groundwater through soil profiling and quarterly groundwater analysis. The maximum As and Pb in the surface soil were 76800 and 2290 mg/kg, respectively, with As vertically infiltrating the deep gravel-sand layer (18-20 m). The groundwater pollution distribution progressively increased along flow direction, influenced by seasonal surface runoff and infiltration fluctuations. The groundwater pollutant concentrations during the dry season notably surpassed those during the wet season, with maximum As and Cd concentrations of 111.64 mg/L and 19.85 µg/L during the dry season, respectively. Furthermore, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to evaluate the comprehensive risk of contaminated-site across pollution source load, regional groundwater intrinsic vulnerability, and evaluation of nearby sensitive receptors. The results revealed that the carcinogenic risk of lead in surface soil was moderate to high, while arsenic posed a high carcinogenic risk, contributing to an overall carcinogenic risk proportion of 89.6% in surface soil. Exposure through groundwater intake was identified as the primary pathway, with carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks exceeding those through skin contact. The final weights result demonstrated that the principal risk factors are the intrinsic arsenic load and protective target characteristics of regional groundwater at this site. This study provides a reference for comprehensive assessments of similarly contaminated industrial and smelting sites.

A comprehensive whole genome database of ethnic minority populations.

China, is characterized by its remarkable ethnical diversity, which necessitates whole genome variation data from multiple populations as crucial tools for advancing population genetics and precision medical research. However, there has been a scarcity of research concentrating on the whole genome of ethnic minority groups. To fill this gap, we developed the Guizhou Multi-ethnic Genome Database (GMGD). It comprises whole genome sequencing data from 476 healthy unrelated individuals spanning 11 ethnic minorities groups in Guizhou Province, Southwest China, including Bouyei, Dong, Miao, Yi, Bai, Gelo, Zhuang, Tujia, Yao, Hui, and Sui. The GMGD database comprises more than 16.33 million variants in GRCh38 and 16.20 million variants in GRCh37. Among these, approximately 11.9% (1,956,322) of the variants in GRCh38 and 18.5% (3,009,431) of the variants in GRCh37 are entirely new and do not exist in the dbSNP database. These novel variants shed light on the genetic diversity landscape across these populations, providing valuable insights with an average coverage of 5.5 ×. This makes GMGD the largest genome-wide database encompassing the most diverse ethnic groups to date. The GMGD interactive interface facilitates researchers with multi-dimensional mutation search methods and displays population frequency differences among global populations. Furthermore, GMGD is equipped with a genotype-imputation function, enabling enhanced capabilities for low-depth genomic research or targeted region capture studies. GMGD offers unique insights into the genomic variation landscape of different ethnic groups, which are freely accessible at https://db.cngb.org/pop/gmgd/ .

Relationship between socioeconomic status and hypertension incidence among adults in southwest China: a population-based cohort study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension among adults aged 18 or above in southwest China. METHODS: A multistage proportional stratified cluster sampling method was employed to recruited 9280 adult residents from 12 counties in southwest China, with all participants in the cohort tracked from 2016 to 2020. The questionnaire survey gathered information on demographics, lifestyle habits, and household income. The physical exam recorded height, weight, and blood pressure. Biochemical tests measured cholesterol levels. The chi-square test was employed to assess the statistical differences among categorical variables, while the Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension. RESULTS: The finally effective sample size for the cohort study was 3546 participants, after excluding 5734 people who met the exclusion criteria. Adults in the highest household income group had a significantly lower risk of hypertension compared to those in the lowest income group (HR = 0.636, 95% CI: 0.478-0.845). Besides, when compared to individuals in the illiterate population, the risk of hypertension among adults with elementary school, junior high school, senior high school and associate degree educational level decreased respectively by 34.4% (HR = 0.656, 95%CI: 0.533-0.807), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.436-0.697), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.405-0.750), 46.1% (HR = 0.539, 95%CI: 0. 340-0.854). After conducting a thorough analysis of socioeconomic status, compared with individuals with a score of 6 or less, the risk of hypertension in participants with scores of 8, 10, 11, 12, and greater than 12 decreased respectively by 23.9% (HR = 0.761, 95%CI: 0.598-0.969), 29.7% (HR = 0.703, 95%CI: 0.538-0.919), 34.0% (HR = 0.660, 95%CI: 0.492-0.885), 34.3% (HR = 0.657, 95%CI: 0.447-0.967), 43.9% (HR = 0.561, 95%CI: 0.409-0.769). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate a negative correlation between socioeconomic status and hypertension incidence among adults in southwest China, suggesting that individuals with higher socioeconomic status are less likely to develop hypertension.

Examining the complex relationship between Urbanization and ecological environment in ecologically fragile areas: a case study in Southwest China.

The sustainable development of ecologically fragile areas and the implementation of regional coordinated development strategies cannot be separated from the coordinated development and common progress of urbanization and the ecological environment, and this is particularly the case in Southwest China. This study examines the interplay between urbanization and the ecological environment across 26 cities in Southwest China from 2009 to 2019, utilizing 30 statistical indicators to analyze their coupling coordination relationship and its spatiotemporal evolution. The Entropy TOPSIS method, the coupling coordination degree model, and the obstacle factors model were used to calculate the subsystem score, coupling coordination degree, and obstacle factors, respectively. Our findings reveal an upward trajectory in urbanization scores across the 26 cities, juxtaposed with a fluctuating downward trend in ecological environment scores. The coupling coordination degree of urbanization and ecological environment in most cities maintained a rapid upward trend and showed spatial distribution characteristics of "strong core, weak middle, and edge." Moreover, our analysis identified public transport facilities, aggregate purchasing power, and cultural supply service services as primary obstacle factors impeding the development of coupling coordination degrees. These research results offer valuable insights for informing future endeavors in achieving high-quality development and fostering ecological civilization.

Establishing a protected area network in Xinlong with other effective area-based conservation measures.

Protected areas (PAs) are pivotal to biodiversity conservation, yet their efficacy is compromised by insufficient funding and management. So-called other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) present a paradigm shift and address PA limitations. Such measures can expand conservation areas, enhance connectivity, and improve the existing system. To assess the conservation status of biodiversity in Tibetan cultural areas in China, we investigated the spatial distribution of wildlife vulnerable to human disturbance (large- and medium-sized mammals and terrestrial birds) in Xinlong, a traditional Tibetan cultural area. In particular, we compared a PA (Xionglongxi Nature Reserve) and OECMs targeting species conservation. We also investigated the relationship of wildlife with human temporal and spatial activities. The OECMs complemented areas not covered by PA, especially in rich understory biodiversity regions. More species in OECMs tolerated human presence than species in the PA. Existing biodiversity reserves failed to cover areas of high conservation value in Tibet and offered limited protection capacity. Expanding PAs and identifying OECMs improved Xinlong's system by covering most biodiversity hotspots. Building on the tradition of wildlife conservation in Tibet, harnessing OECMs may be an effective means of augmenting biodiversity conservation capacity. We recommend further evaluation of OECMs effectiveness and coverage in Tibetan area as a way to enhance the current PA system.

自然保护地(protected areas, PAs)被认为是生物多样性保护的最重要且最有效的措施之一。然而, 由于资金不足和管理缺失等因素, 自然保护地体系的有效性被大幅度削弱。"其他有效的基于区域的保护措施(other effective area­based conservation measures, OECMs)"引起了基于区域的保护范式转变, 能够有效弥补PAs的不足。OECMs能够有效实现保护面积的扩大, 加强保护地之间的连通性, 完善现有保护地体系。基于此, 为进一步了解中国藏文化地区生物多样性的保护情况, 评估PAs和OECMs在物种保护上的差异。我们以中国新龙县为例, 调查了当地大中型哺乳动物和地栖鸟类这类容易受人为干扰的野生动物的空间分布和与人类互作的时空活动关系。结果表明, 在保护区无法覆盖的区域, OECMs能够提供有效的补充, 如林下区域的生物多样性保护。在OECMs范围内, 更多的物种能够在时空活动上容忍人类的存在, 尤其是猎物物种。在当前生物多样性优先保护区无法涵盖藏区高保护价值区域以及现有保护区保护能力有限的情况下, 藏区野生动物的保护需要采取更多针对性的措施。通过扩大保护区和确定OECMs区域, 能够覆盖新龙绝大部分生物多样性热点地区。鉴于藏区的野生动物保护传统, 借助OECMs的力量是完善和提高藏区生物多样性保护保护能力的有效手段。我们建议未来进一步评估藏区的OECMs的有效性及覆盖情况, 完善自然保护地体系。 基于其他有效的区域保护措施的中国新龙县保护地体系构建.

Isolation and genetic characteristics of Novel H4N1 Avian Influenza viruses in ChongQing, China.

BACKGROUND: Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) constitute significant zoonotic pathogens encompassing a broad spectrum of subtypes. Notably, the H4 subtype of AIVs has a pronounced ability to shift hosts. The escalating prevalence of the H4 subtype heightens the concern for its zoonotic potential, signaling an urgent need for vigilance. METHODS: During the period from December 2021 to November 2023, we collected AIV-related environmental samples and assessed them using a comprehensive protocol that included nucleic acid testing, gene sequencing, isolation culture, and resequencing. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 934 environmental samples were assessed, revealing a remarkably high detection rate (43.66%, 289/662) of AIV in the live poultry market. Notably, the H4N1 subtype AIV (cs2301) was isolated from the live poultry market and its complete genome sequence was successfully determined. Subsequent analysis revealed that cs2301, resulting from a reassortment event between wild and domesticated waterfowl, exhibits multiple mutations and demonstrates potential for host transfer. CONCLUSIONS: Our research once again demonstrates the significant role of wild and domesticated waterfowl in the reassortment process of avian influenza virus, enriching the research on the H4 subtype of AIV, and emphasizing the importance of proactive monitoring the environment related to avian influenza virus.

Remote sensing estimation of regional PM2.5 based on GTWR model -A case study of southwest China.

Air pollution in China has becoming increasingly serious in recent years with frequent incidents of smog. Parts of southwest China still experience high incidents of smog, with PM2.5 (particulate matter with diameter ≤2.5 µm) being the main contributor. Establishing the spatial distribution of PM2.5 in Southwest China is important for safeguarding regional human health, environmental quality, and economic development. This study used remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) technologies and aerosol optical depth (AOD), digital elevation model (DEM), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), population density, and meteorological data from January to December 2018 for southwest China. PM2.5 concentrations were estimated using ordinary least squares regression (OLS), geographic weighted regression (GWR) and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR). The results showed that: (1) Eight influencing factors showed different correlations to PM2.5 concentrations. However, the R2 values of the correlations all exceeded 0.3, indicating a moderate degree of correlation or more; (2) The correlation R2 values between the measured and remote sensed estimated PM2.5 data by OLS, GWR, and GTWR were 0.554, 0.713, and 0.801, respectively; (3) In general, the spatial distribution of PM2.5 in southwest of China decreases from the Northeast to Northwest, with moderate concentrations in the Southeast and Southwest; (4) The seasonal average PM2.5 concentration is high in winter, low in summer, and moderate in spring and autumn, whereas the monthly average shows a "V" -shaped oscillation change.

Four new species of Anyphaena Sundevall, 1833 from Xizang, China (Araneae, Anyphaenidae).

Four new species of the genus Anyphaena Sundevall, 1833 collected from Xizang, China, are described: A.cibagou Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♂♀), A.linzhi Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♂♀), A.shufui Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♀) and A.yejiei Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♀). Diagnostic photos of the habitus and copulatory organs and a distributional map are provided.

Characteristics analysis of Internet pharmacy consultation services for children in southwest China during the post-epidemic era: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: This study aims to examine the features of online pediatric pharmacy consultations in Southwest China, an area with limited medical resources during the post-epidemic era and to explore the factors affecting the dialogue volume in online consultations. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in southwest China from April 2022 to March 2023. The study encompassed a cohort of 2,526 children, ranging from 0 to 18 years old. The collected data encompassed patient gender, age, weight, department, drugs involved in consultation services, types of questions consulted, consultation start time, and the dialogue volume in online consultations. Descriptive statistics and an ordered multicategorical logistic regression analysis were performed. SPSS 26.0 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Among the total Internet pharmacy consultation services offered, the infant group constituted the largest portion (n = 1021). Children with internal medicine concerns have greater online consultation needs (n = 455). The peak usage of Internet pharmacy consultation occurred in the fall at 11:00 a.m. (n = 73). Factors influencing the dialogue volume in online consultations include the non-availability of Chinese medications [P = 0.033, OR = 0.81, 95 % CI (0.67-0.98)], consultation initiation during the spring [P = 0.002, OR = 1.52, 95 % CI(1.17-1.97)] or afternoon [P = 0.012, OR = 1.36, 95 % CI (1.07-1.72)] and weight＜15 kg group [P = 0.038, OR = 2.19, 95 % CI (1.04-4.58)]. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide important information for peers to carry out their work. In the post-epidemic era, emphasis should be placed on addressing concerns related to children's internal medicine and otolaryngology. Optimizing healthcare resource allocation should take into account the time-seasonal variability of children's consultation behaviors. Furthermore, it is recommended to focus on weight＜15 kg children in inquiries, absorb sufficient knowledge about Chinese medicines, and schedule more pharmacists to participate in consultation services during the spring or in every afternoon. These findings help the authorities of online platforms and the National Health Commission to rationalize the allocation of healthcare resources, optimize the quality of service delivery, and develop new policies.