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Background: Accurate species delimitation is fundamental for testing evolutionary theory and provides essential implications for conservation management. The arctic-alpine genus Saxifraga L. (Saxifragaceae) is taxonomically complex and many species have not been critically assessed. The taxonomic and phylogenetic status of Saxifraga lancangensis Y.Y.Qian, considered as a synonym of Saxifraga mengtzeana Engl. & Irmsch. in previous studies, is re-evaluated in light of new evidence presented here. Results: Evidence from morphological comparison and sequencing of plastid genome indicate that S. lancangensis belongs to Saxifraga sect. Irregulares Haw., and is closely related to Saxifraga geifolia Balf.f., and S. mengtzeana. However, S. lancangensis can be diagnosed by its petals with red and clawless base, leaf blade orbicular and leaf margin shallowly dentate. Conclusions: The morphological and molecular evidence support the resurrection of S. lancangensis as a distinct species. An updated morphological description based on protologue and fresh material, diagnostic characters, and original photographs of the resurrected species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution landslide images are required for detailed geomorphological analysis in complex topographic environment with steep and vertical landslide distribution. This study proposed a vertical route planning method for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which could achieve rapid image collection based on strictly calculated route parameters. The effectiveness of this method was verified using a DJI Mavic 2 Pro, obtaining high-resolution landslide images within the Dongchuan debris flow gully, in the Xiaojiang River Basin, Dongchuan District, Yunnan, China. A three-dimensional (3D) model was constructed by the structure-from-motion and multi-view stereo (SfM-MVS). Micro-geomorphic features were analyzed through visual interpretation, geographic information system (GIS), spatial analysis, and mathematical statistics methods. The results demonstrated that the proposed method could obtain comprehensive vertical information on landslides while improving measurement accuracy. The 3D model was constructed using the vertically oriented flight route to achieve centimeter-level accuracy (horizontal accuracy better than 6 cm, elevation accuracy better than 3 cm, and relative accuracy better than 3.5 cm). The UAV technology could further help understand the micro internal spatial and structural characteristics of landslides, facilitating intuitive acquisition of surface details. The slope of landslide clusters ranged from 36° to 72°, with the majority of the slope facing east and southeast. Upper elevation levels were relatively consistent while middle to lower elevation levels gradually decreased from left to right with significant variations in lower elevation levels. During the rainy season, surface runoff was abundant, and steep topography exacerbated changes in surface features. This route method is suitable for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landslide surveys in complex mountainous environments. The geomorphological analysis methods used will provide references for identifying and describing topographic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Articulated natural assemblages contain direct evidence of the element numbers, morphologies, positions and structures for reconstructing the feeding apparatuses of conodont animals, but these kind of materials are very rare in fossil records. Here we report ten new conodont natural assemblages from Member II of the Guanling Formation in Luoping County, eastern Yunnan Province, southwestern China. These assemblages were obtained from the fossil-bearing layers of the Luoping Biota, dated to the early Middle Triassic Anisian stage (Pelsonian substage). These fossiliferous laminated limestones mainly consist of calcites and dolomites, with platy clay minerals and pyrites as subordinate components, indicating that the conodont assemblages were preserved in a lower energy and anoxic sedimentary environment. The new natural assemblages preserve the primary collapse orientations of the Nicoraella feeding apparatus from the Luoping Biota, showing the relative original positions of the S, M and P elements, that could be further used to refine the architecture of this apparatus in space variable M elements and the position unclear P1 elements. Integrating previously reported three-dimensional and bilaterally symmetrical fused clusters, we statistically analyze the size of the positional homogenous elements within different sized materials, in particular S4, S3, or S2 elements, indicates that elements ontogenic changes do not affect the apparatus architecture. Architecture of Nicoraella apparatus remains stable in the process of ontogeny, so our reconstructed model is credible. It is the first time that ample types of materials have been used to restore a conodont apparatus within one genus, namely natural assemblages (articulated and disarticulated), fused clusters (articulated, disarticulated, compressed, and relatively three-dimensional), and abundant discrete elements, respectively. These materials together record the most complete information on architecture in the gondolelloid apparatuses, thus enabling us to reconstruct a reliable fifteen-element apparatus and propose it as a standard template for gondolelloid apparatus reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats are reservoir hosts for many zoonotic viruses. Despite this, relatively little is known about the diversity and abundance of viruses within individual bats, and hence the frequency of virus co-infection and spillover among them. We characterize the mammal-associated viruses in 149 individual bats sampled from Yunnan province, China, using an unbiased meta-transcriptomics approach. This reveals a high frequency of virus co-infection (simultaneous infection of bat individuals by multiple viral species) and spillover among the animals studied, which may in turn facilitate virus recombination and reassortment. Of note, we identify five viral species that are likely to be pathogenic to humans or livestock, based on phylogenetic relatedness to known pathogens or in vitro receptor binding assays. This includes a novel recombinant SARS-like coronavirus that is closely related to both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. In vitro assays indicate that this recombinant virus can utilize the human ACE2 receptor such that it is likely to be of increased emergence risk. Our study highlights the common occurrence of co-infection and spillover of bat viruses and their implications for virus emergence. Viral diversity and abundance in bats are incompletely understood. Here, analyzing individual bat viromes, the authors observe a high frequency of co-infection and spillover among the animals and identify viruses with the potential to infect humans or livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sampling efficiency, composition and detection biases associated with pitfall-trap and sample plot (standardised hand-collecting) methods were compared at seven high montane sites at Lasha Mountain, Yunnan, China. Rarefaction-interpolation curves showed total species diversity and sample coverage from each method were undifferentiated. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance showed highly overlapping communities. However, of all species collected, just 53% of all species found were shared between the two methods; 30% were exclusive to sample plot samples and 17% were exclusive to pitfall traps. Modelled comparisons of species richness (alpha) and proportion of species from the population (beta diversity) showed differences between methods. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance blocked by site showed community composition differed between methods, defined largely by the presence of a few dominant species. Implications for insect conservation: Our findings suggest that results from the two methods cannot be directly compared and are imperfect substitutes to one another. For long-term monitoring of biodiversity in complex forest mosaic systems, we suggest integrating a suite of complementary methods to achieve more complete representation of ant composition and diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant latex is sequestered in laticiferous structures and exuded immediately from damaged plant tissues. The primary function of plant latex is related to defense responses to their natural enemies. Euphorbia jolkinii Boiss. is a perennial herbaceous plant that greatly threaten the biodiversity and ecological integrity of northwest Yunnan, China. Nine triterpenes (1–9), four non-protein amino acids (10–13) and three glycosides (14–16) including a new isopentenyl disaccharide (14), were isolated and identified from the latex of E. jolkinii. Their structures were established on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data analyses. Bioassay revealed that meta-tyrosine (10) showed significant phytotoxic activity, inhibiting root and shoot growth of Zea mays, Medicago sativa, Brassica campestris, and Arabidopsis thaliana, with EC50 values ranging from 4.41 ± 1.08 to 37.60 ± 3.59 µg/mL. Interestingly, meta-tyrosine inhibited the root growth of Oryza sativa, but promoted their shoot growth at the concentrations below 20 µg/mL. meta-Tyrosine was found to be the predominant constituent in polar part of the latex extract from both stems and roots of E. jolkinii, but undetectable in the rhizosphere soil. In addition, some triterpenes showed antibacterial and nematicidal effects. The results suggested that meta-tyrosine and triterpenes in the latex might function as defensive substances for E. jolkinii against other organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable earthquake fatality prediction is an important reference for post-earthquake emergency response efforts. Seismic data are the basis for constructing earthquake casualty prediction models, but the selection and evaluation of earthquake features are more critical due to the scarcity of destructive earthquake samples. In order to make full use of the high-dimensional survey data of destructive earthquake disasters in the Earthquake Reports in Yunnan Province since 1992, and effectively use it to improve the ability to predict the number of earthquake casualties, this paper proposes a hybrid feature importance evaluation method based on four conventional feature contribution methods (IG, PPMCC, SRCC and MDI), ranking the importance of 63 features that affect the number of earthquake casualties in Yunnan Province, and reducing the feature dimension accordingly. Then, cross-validation is used to compare the accuracy of the four machine models before and after dimensionality reduction. We found that (1) among the 10 features with the highest hybrid importance, there were 8 population distribution features, 1 geological hazard feature (number of landslides) and 1 damage degree feature (highest intensity of earthquakes); (2) the feature dimensionality reduction based on the importance of hybrid features can effectively improve the prediction accuracy of machine learning models; and (3) in the comparison of several methods, the Particle Swarm Optimized Support Vector Machine model had the highest prediction accuracy, with an R2 over 0.934. The research results showed that this method can significantly improve the prediction accuracy of the machine learning model and has some reference value for earthquake emergency rescue and post-disaster reconstruction work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We detailed the valve morphology of five new species of diatom genus Nupela from wetwall communities in Yunnan Province, China, with light and scanning electron microscope. The five new species demonstrate great variability within the genus, as three of them are biraphid and two are monoraphid. In addition, variation was noted in the structure of internal proximal raphe ends, with some species having anchor-shaped ends and other species have hooked ends. The genus Nupela has grown considerably in 30 years since it was first proposed, going from a monotypic genus to over 85 taxa. Diagnosis of the genus is based on the presence of an external covering over the areolae. We discussed the systematic placement of Nupela within the naviculoid diatoms. Yunnan Province appears to harbor many endemic diatom taxa, and many regions of the province have yet to be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The railway embankment slope is a complex open system including uncertainty of soil parameters. Considering the influencing factors with randomness, ambiguity and uncertainty, the reliability analysis of slope stability is often accompanied by an implicit state equation, subtle changes of the input variables may result in drastic changes to the slope stability. In this work, a coupled Markov chain model is used to describe the staggering occurrence of different geotechnical types. To further describe the inherent variability of soil parameters, a response surface method (RMS) based Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is conducted to perform the reliability analysis. One case study is carried out using borehole data collected from Masao District in Yunnan, China. The results indicate the proposed RMS-based MCS approach could be utilized as a practical and efficient tool for the slope reliability analysis to address the system reliability analysis for complex slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The odd-pinnately compound leaves of short pod-branch surrounding the fruit growth of Roxburgh rose (Rosa roxburghii Tratt.) are the source organ of photosynthesis, and the photosynthetic capacity of leaves is an important factor determining the yield. To analyze the relationship between the distribution of palisade cells in different leaf positions and photosynthesis in the flowering and fruiting stage, the microstructure, photosynthetic physiology, and gas exchange parameters of each leaf position were measured. The leaves located in the middle of short pod-branches were rich in columnar cells and showed higher chlorophyll content and, thus, higher light absorption by the leaves than other leaf positions, which conducted to enhanced photosynthesis and outstanding photosynthetic capacity under sufficient light environment. Yet, the first leaf was immature, and the differentiation of mesophyll cells was not completed, which resulted in a weakening of photosynthesis per unit leaf area under adiquate light environment. The lower leaves of short pod-branches showed smaller leaf area and looser spongy mesophyll in an environment with light blocking, which resulted in insufficient photosynthetic capacity. Our findings indicate that the photosynthetic conversion ability of the middle leaf of short pod branch is the most prominent. Therefore, regulating leaf mesophyll cells distribution according to leaf position is essential for effective leaf photosynthesis at the flowering and fruit stage in Roxburgh rose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular mechanism of durable and broad-spectrum resistance to rice blast disease in japonica rice remained unknown. The Oryza sativa subs. japonica cultivar, Ziyu44, a local japonica rice in Yunnan Province of China, has shown durable broad-spectrum blast resistance for more than 30 years, which provides an opportunity for us to explore the molecular basis of broad-spectrum resistance to rice blast in japonica rice. In this study, we conducted a comparative study of mycelium growth, appressorium formation, the accumulation of endogenous salicylic acid (SA), endogenous jasmonic acid (JA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the expression of SA- and JA-associated genes between resistant rice variety Ziyu44 and susceptible rice variety Jiangnanxiangnuo (JNXN) in response to Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) infection. We found that appressorium formation and invasive hyphae extention were greatly inhibited in Ziyu44 leaves compared with that in JNXN leaves. Both Ziyu44 and JNXN plants maintained high baseline levels of endogenous SA that showed a little change following infection by M. oryzae and low baseline levels of endogenous JA that showed a marked increase in Ziyu44 plants but not in JNXN upon M. oryzae infection. The expression levels of key genes involving JA- and SA-signaling pathway OsCOI1b, OsNPR1, OsMPK6 as well as pathogenesis-related (PR) genes OsPR1a, OsPR1b and OsPBZ1(also known as OsPR10a) were markedly up-regulated in resistant rice Ziyu44 compared to susceptible rice JNXN. Taken together, our results indicate that the sharply increased accumulation of endogenous JA in rice Ziyu44 plants in response to M. oryzae infection plays crucial roles in enhancing accumulation of H2O2, the expression of SA- and JA-associated defense genes, activating the SA-JA defense signaling, and mediating broad-spectrum rice blast resistance in rice Ziyu44. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco bushy top disease (TBTD) is a devastating tobacco disease in the southwestern region of China. TBTD in the Yunnan Province is often caused by co-infections of several plant viruses: tobacco bushy top virus (TBTV), tobacco vein distorting virus (TVDV), tobacco bushy top virus satellite RNA (TBTVsatRNA) and tobacco vein distorting virus-associated RNA (TVDVaRNA). Through this study, two new poleroviruses were identified in two TBTD symptomatic tobacco plants and these two novel viruses are tentatively named as tobacco polerovirus 1 (TPV1) and tobacco polerovirus 2 (TPV2), respectively. Analyses of 244 tobacco samples collected from tobacco fields in the Yunnan Province through RT-PCR showed that a total of 80 samples were infected with TPV1 and/or TPV2, and the infection rates of TPV1 and TPV2 were 8.61% and 29.51%, respectively. Thirty-three TPV1 and/or TPV2-infected tobacco samples were selected for further test for TBTV, TVDV, TBTVsatRNA and TVDVaRNA infections. The results showed that many TPV1 and/or TPV2-infected plants were also infected with two or more other assayed viruses. In this study, we also surveyed TBTV, TVDV, TBTVsatRNA and TVDVaRNA infections in a total of 1713 leaf samples collected from field plants belonging to 29 plant species in 13 plant families and from 11 provinces/autonomous regions in China. TVDV had the highest infection rates of 37.5%, while TVDVaRNA, TBTV and TBTVsatRNA were found to be at 23.0%, 12.4% and 8.1%, respectively. In addition, TVDV, TBTV, TBTVsatRNA and TVDVaRNA were firstly detected of co-infection on 10 plants such as broad bean, pea, oilseed rape, pumpkin, tomato, crofton weed etc., and 1 to 4 of the TBTD causal agents were present in the samples collected from Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Liaoning, Inner mongolia and Tibet autonomous regions. The results indicated that TBTD causal agents are expanding its host range and posing a risk to other crop in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lime mud (i.e., micrite) is a major component of carbonate deposits. Various mechanisms (biotic versus abiotic) have been proposed for the formation of lime mud in Earth's history. However, the detailed role that microbes play in the nucleation and subsequent precipitation of micrites remains to be resolved. Herein we undertook a detailed geobiological characterization of laminated lime mudstone from the Middle Triassic Guanling Formation in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Morphological features, together with previous geobiological investigations, suggest that the laminated lime mudstones represent the former presence of microbial mats. These lime mudstones consist mainly of calcite, dolomite and quartz, with clay minerals and pyrites as subordinate components. In particular, micro-analysis shows copious nano-globules (65–878 nm) and capsule-shaped nano-rods in laminations. These low-Mg calcite nano-globule aggregates are closely associated with mucilaginous biofilms resembling extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Nano-sized globules coalesce to form semi-euhedral micrite crystals. We suggest that a decaying hydrolytic destruction of the EPS by microbial communities within microbial mat leads to the precipitation of the nano-globules by enhancing alkalinity in local micro-environment. As an intermediate, these nano-globules further aggregate to form micrite crystals possibly through a dissolution-reprecipitation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small Kedengjian volcanic rock-hosted hydrothermal vein-type Cu deposit (100,000 t Cu metal content at about 3% Cu) is located in the Lanping Basin, one of several Mesozoic–Cenozoic continental sedimentary basins in the northern part of the Indochina block and in the eastern part of the North Qiangtang block. Many sediment-hosted base metal ore deposits with ages of < 65 Ma, which coincide with the Indian–Asian continental collision or the Himalayan orogeny, are present in these basins and are collectively referred to as the Sanjiang sediment-hosted base metal metallogenic belt. The Kedengjian volcanic rock-hosted hydrothermal vein-type Cu deposit has been commonly regarded as part of the Cenozoic Sanjiang sediment-hosted base metal metallogenic belt. We determined the age of mineralization for the Kedengjian deposit using hydrothermal titanite and molybdenite. The U–Pb ages of the first and second generations of titanite are 107.4 ± 5.6 Ma and 100.1 ± 3.4 Ma (2 σ), respectively. The associated molybdenite yields a Re–Os isochron age of 98.2 ± 2.2 Ma (2 σ) and a mean age of 98.3 ± 2.2 Ma, which are identical (within analytical error) to the U–Pb age of the younger titanite. Our new results indicate that the Kedengjian deposit formed at ~ 100 Ma, much older than the Cenozoic sediment-hosted base metal deposits in the Lanping Basin. This significant age difference dismisses the Kedengjian deposit as a member of the Cenozoic Sanjiang sediment-hosted base metal metallogenic belt. The Kedengjian deposit formed during the Late Cretaceous subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic plate beneath the previously amalgamated Indochina and North Qiangtang blocks of the Asian continent. On the basis of this tectonic correlation, we suggest that there is potential for pre-Cenozoic hydrothermal Cu mineralization in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study combining U-Pb zircon dating, lithogeochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic analyses was carried out upon the Xinping granodiorite porphyry in the Dayaoshan metallogenic belt to understand its petrogenesis and tectonic significance. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon dating yielded a 442.7 ± 5.8 Ma age, indicating that the granodiorite porphyry was emplaced during the Llandovery Silurian of the Early Paleozoic. The granodiorite porphyry shares the same geochemical characteristics such as Eu negative anomaly as other syn-tectonic granite plutons in the region, including the granodiorite porphyry in Dawangding and granite porphyries in the Dali Cu–Mo deposit and Longtoushang old deposit, indicating a similar magma evolution process. The Xinping granodiorite porphyry has high contents of SiO2 (67.871.8%) and K2O (1.78–3.42%) and is metaluminous–peraluminous with A/CNK ratios ranging from 0.97 to 1.06, indicative of high-potassium calc-alkaline to calc-alkaline affinity. It is a I-type granite enriched in large ion lithophile elements Rb, Sr, while depleted in Ba and high field-strength element Nb. Tectonically, a collision between the Yunkai Block from the south and the Guangxi Yunnan-North Vietnam Block from the north during the Early Paleozoic was followed by uplifting of the Dayaoshan terrane. The Xinping granodiorite porphyry was likely emplaced during the collision. Sr–Nd isotopic analyses show that the granodiorite porphyry has initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (Isr) of 0.7080–0.7104, εNd(t) range from − 0.08 to − 4.09, and t2DM between 1.19 and 1.51 Ga, well within the north-east low-value zone of the Cathaysia block, indicating a Paleoproterozoic Cathaysia basement source and an involvement of under plating mantle magma. Field observations, geochronological data, and 3D spatial distribution all lead to the conclusion that the Early Paleozoic Xinping granodiorite porphyry does not have any metallogenic and temporal relationships with the Xinping gold deposit (which has a Jurassic-Early Cretaceous age based on previous studies) but a close metallogenic relation to W–Mo mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aggravation of flood risk has been regarded as a serious threat to the natural ecological environment and the development of human society worldwide. There is a large population living on the banks of rivers, lakes and other flood plains. Since the introduction of the concept of disaster resilience, it has developed rapidly and has been widely applied in the field of disaster management. We introduce a new method by taking prospect theory as the main idea and incorporating the hesitant fuzzy linguistic term sets into the evaluation process. We illustrate its application through a case study of the provincial-level regions along the Yangtze River Basin. We find that the flood resilience in the west is generally stronger than that in the east. The strongest one is in Yunnan due to its unique natural environmental advantages while the weakest one is in Jiangxi because of its poor and immature natural, social, economic and management performance. We put forward specific management insights that consider different levels of resilience and the actual situation in each region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbes play an important role in host disease and health. The Asian honey bee Apis cerana is an important pollinator of agricultural crops in China. However, there are still few studies on the structure and composition of the microbiota in the intestine of A. cerana, especially A. cerana in Yunnan. To understand the species and composition of the microbiota in the intestine of A. cerana in Yunnan, we used high-throughput sequencing technology to carry out 16S rRNA sequencing on 50 samples from Kunming, Xishuangbanna and Mengzi. The results show that both from the phylum level and the genus level, the structure and abundance of the microbiota in the gut of A. cerana from the three regions tended to be the same. At the phylum level, the abundance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and other species was high in A. cerana from different areas. At the genus level, the abundance of Lactobacillus, Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, Apibacter, Candidatus Schmidhempelia and other species was high in A. cerana from different areas. Due to its unique geographical environment and climatic conditions, at the genus level, the diversity of bacterial communities in Xishuangbanna was significantly lower than that in the other two regions, which was about 100 genera less. In conclusion, our results reveal the composition and structure of the intestinal microbiota of bees in Yunnan and deepen our understanding of the intestinal microbiota of bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice stripe virus (RSV) causes viral disease and yield losses in rice. Leaves of rice plants showing yellowing, stripes and curling were collected in Sichuan Province, China and tested for rice strip virus (RSV) by RT-PCR using specific primers. Nine of the nineteen symptomatic samples were positive for RSV. The complete sequence of RSV RNA1 to RNA4 was determined by assembling cDNA fragments obtained from isolate Huid04 in Huidong County, Sichuan Province (GenBank accession Nos. KX611337 to KX611340). Phylogenetic analyses of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase sequences showed a close relationship of RSV isolate Hui0d4 and isolates DaL08 and KunM08 from Yunnan Province, China. This is the first complete genomic sequence of an RSV isolate from Sichuan Province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longchuan River Basin is located in Chuxiong (central Yunnan province, China) that is subject to severe drought. Agriculture is critical to local economy, which can lead to intense agricultural activity. Accordingly, delineating groundwater potential zones and developing usable groundwater resources are required to meet potable and irrigating water demands in the zone. Remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS) and improved fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) were adopted to delineate the groundwater potential zones to assess the groundwater availability in Longchuan River Basin. The surveys of China geological map, Landsat 8 OLI and GDEM Aster satellite images were employed to generate eight thematic layers, i.e., lithology, land use/land cover (LULC), lineaments density, rainfall, slope, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), drainage density and elevation; subsequently, the mentioned layers were converted into raster data in ArcGIS. According to the ability of thematic layer to impact groundwater potential, the mentioned criteria were weighted differently by improved FAHP. Next, a map based on weighted linear combination (WLC) model was generated. Lastly, the groundwater potential zones of study area fell into 'poor' zone, 'moderate' zone and 'good' zone. As revealed from the results of the study, nearly 31.22% of the area exhibited 'good' groundwater potential, approximately 36.46% was terrain exhibiting 'moderate' groundwater potential, and the residual 32.23% were considered to exhibit 'poor' groundwater potential. The results provide more insights, and the groundwater potential zones map can be exploited by local governments for groundwater resources management and exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Spectrum-STI model, structured by sub-groups within a population, was used in a workshop in Yunnan, China, to estimate provincial trends in active syphilis in 15 to 49-year-old adults. Syphilis prevalence data from female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), and lower-risk women and men in Yunnan were identified through literature searches and local experts. Sources included antenatal care clinic screening, blood donor screening, HIV/STI bio-behavioural surveys, sentinel surveillance, and epidemiology studies. The 2017 provincial syphilis prevalence estimates were 0.26% (95% confidence interval 0.17–0.34%) in women and 0.28% (0.20–0.36%) in men. Estimated prevalence was 6.8-fold higher in FSW (1.69% (0.68–3.97%) than in lower-risk women (0.25% (0.18–0.35%)), and 22.7-fold higher in MSM (5.35% (2.74–12.47%) than in lower-risk men (0.24% (0.17–0.31%). For all populations, the 2017 estimates were below the 2005 estimates, but differences were not significant. In 2017 FSW and MSM together accounted for 9.3% of prevalent cases. These estimates suggest Yunnan's STI programs have kept the overall prevalence of syphilis low, but prevalence remains high in FSW and MSM. Strengthening efforts targeting FSW and MSM, and identification of other risk populations e.g. among heterosexual men, are critical to reduce syphilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral populations are valuable for conservation because of their potential genetic distinctiveness and ecological differentiation, but they tend to be smaller and more easily isolated than central populations. The Indochinese gray langurs living in the Wuliang Mountains of southwestern China, which form the northernmost peripheral population of the species, have ecological and behavioral features distinct from those of other such populations. We conducted semistructured interviews and field surveys on the population census and distribution of Indochinese gray langurs in Jingdong County from July 2013 to November 2013. These interviews provided the first large-scale data about the distribution and habitat use of these langurs; however, the group sizes estimated from interview reports were smaller than those obtained from direct counts. We estimate that 43 groups comprising ca. 1960 individual Indochinese gray langurs reside in evergreen broadleaf forests at an altitudinal distribution of 1700-2900 m in Jingdong. Of the 43 langur groups, 21 groups were observed outside the nature reserve or had estimated home ranges that straddle the boundary of the reserve. Because of the intensive conservation efforts to protect sympatric Nomascus concolor, hunting pressure on Indochinese gray langurs is minimal. However, the langur home ranges outside the nature reserve are not protected and remain threatened by deforestation for plantations (walnut, tea, etc.) and forest degradation caused by livestock grazing. More conservation attention than currently applied is needed to conserve langur groups living outside the reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The daily fluorine (F)/arsenic (As) intake (DFI/DAsI) for residents at different ages with different dietaries and dietary changes was investigated to analyze the fluorosis risk in coal-burning fluorosis area in Yunnan, Southwest China. The DFI for residents with a dietary of roasted corn and roasted chili was 5.06, 9.60, and 14.38 mg for age groups 3-7, 8-15, and over 15 years, respectively. Over 90 % of DFI was from roasted foodstuffs. The DFI for residents of the same age group living on rice and roasted chili was 1.94, 3.50, and 4.95 mg, respectively, which were less than that for the former dietary type, and 65 % of DFI was from roasted chili. The main sources for their DFI are roasted foodstuffs. Both were higher than the dietaries with non-roasted foodstuffs and the recommended daily allowances (RDAs) for USA and China at different levels. The DAsI for all residents ranged from 25 to 135 μg, and at this level of DAsI, it would not influence human health. However, As pollution of roasted foodstuffs might have an important influence for the fluorosis. Residents are changing their staple food from roasted corn to rice, and especially, younger people are more focused on quality life. However, even if residents change their staple food, the habit of eating chili will not change, which also may cause them getting fluorosis. Developing economy, changing dietary types, and changing the habit of drying and keeping chili will help to reduce the fluorosis risk in coal-burning fluorosis area of Southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional mapping and section work undertaken by us in 2008 have identified 11 stratigraphic units at Maludong site. AMS radiocarbon dating of charcoal established an accurate and internally consistent age profile for the sequence of 17.8±0.2 ka to 13.2±0.1 ka. Archaeomagnetic analysis showed changes in externally derived pedogenically enhanced material consistent with a warming in climate between the cold period of Henrich Event 1 and the Bølling-Allerød interstadial. Human remains recovered during the 1989 excavation were derived from a deposit dating to this interstadial, or between 14.3±0.3 ka and 13.5±0.1 ka. Anthropogenic features, including burnt rocks, baked sediment and thick charcoal and ash layers, were identified and examined through archaeomagnetic analysis. Two monkey fossils are described here, one of them being reassigned from Macaca robustus to M. aff. M. assamensis. They confirm the young age of the site and also show signs of anthropogenic alteration in the form of burning. Additional human cranial remains are reported for the first time and new data are provided for some specimens described previously. A range of new features is identified that strengthen the affinities of the Maludong remains to archaic humans. The presence of this globally unique mosaic of archaic and modern features raises important questions about human evolutionary history in East Asia during the Late Upper Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major and trace elements analysis has been carried out on the Late Ladinian Tabai basalts from Yunnan Province with the aim of studying their petrogenesis. Their SiO contents range from 43.63 wt.% to 48.23 wt.%. The basalts belong to the weakly alkaline (average total alkalis NaO+KO=3.59 wt.%), high-Ti (3.21 wt.% to 4.32 wt.%) magma series. The basalts are characterized by OIB-like trace elements patterns, which are enriched in large ion lithosphile elements (LILE) including Rb and Ba, and display negative K, Zr and Hf anomalies as shown on the spider diagrams. The Tabai basalts display light rare-earth elements (LREE) enrichment and are depleted in heavy rare-earth elements (HREE) on the REE pattern. Those dates indicate that the parental magma of the Tabai basalts was derived from low-degree (1%-5%) partial melting of garnet peridotite. The magma underwent olivine fractional crystallization and minor crustal contamination during their ascent. The Tabai basalts were related to a relaxation event which had triggered the Emeishan fossil plume head re-melting in the Middle Triassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountains and plateaus in Southwest China contain many subalpine and alpine wetlands, with significant hydroecological functions. But ungauged or poorly gauged conditions limit the study and understanding of hydrological regimes of these wetland types. This study selects an ungauged subalpine wetland - Napahai in Northwest Yunnan, China - as a case for developing a practical approach to revealing its storage-area relationship of open water. A Trimble R8 GNSS (Global Navigation Satellites Systems) RTK (Real-time Kinematic system) and sonar fathometer were used to survey fine-resolution elevation data and generate a digital elevation model of the Napahai Wetland. Forty-four Landsat images from 1987 to 2011 were collected, and the Normalized Difference Water Index was used to classify open water features in the area. The area of open water in Napahai was calculated for each phase. With these data and a developed conceptual model, the storage of open water for each phase was estimated using ArcGIS tools. Both storage and area of open water showed significant intra-annual and inter-annual variations. In the rainy season, the monthly change of average storage of open water in Napahai showed about 1-2 months lag behind mean monthly rainfall. The storage-area relationship of open water was well fit by a power function equation ( R≈0.91, n=44). This study indicates that if detailed elevations are available for similarly ungauged subalpine wetlands in Southwest China, researchers can use this practical approach to estimate multi-temporal areas and storages and reveal the storage-area relationship of open water in the wetlands. The study provided valuable information of this case wetland for optimizing its hydro-ecological managements and a new method to wetland researchers and managers for the hydrological study of similarly ungauged wetland complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both of the samples reacted with the TSWV antibody and further confirmed that TSWV was the causal agent of the diseased tamarillo. Keywords: TSWV; Tamarillo; Yunnan EN TSWV Tamarillo Yunnan 1037 1037 1 08/18/21 20210801 NES 210801 Tamarillo ( I Solanum betaceum i ), previously known as "tree tomato", a semi-woody evergreen shrub native to temperate regions of South America, is now cultivated in Colombia, Ecuador, New Zealand, Australia, USA, central Africa, India, and provinces of Yunnan and Tibet in China (Villegas et al. [1]). [Extracted from the article]

Reports the discovery of vertebrate fish fossils from the Cambrian period in Yunnan, China. Importance of the discovery in light of the lack of vertebrate fossils from this period; Implications for evolutionary dating methods; Comparison of the fossils to lampreys and hagfish.

The Yunnan province has one of the most serious outbreaks of the plague epidemic in China. Small mammals and fleas are risk factors for the occurrence of plague in commensal plague foci. Understanding the relationship between fleas and small mammals will help control fleas and prevent the onset of the plague. Four hundred and twenty-one small mammals, belonging to 9 species, were captured. Of these, 170 small mammals (40.4%) were found infested with fleas. A total of 992 parasitic fleas (including 5 species) were collected. The number of Leptopsylla segnis and Xenopsylla cheopis accounted for 91.03% (903/992). The final multiple hurdle negative binomial regression model showed that when compared with Rattus tanezumi, the probability of flea infestation with Mus musculus as well as other host species decreased by 58% and 99%, respectively, while the number of flea infestations of the other host species increased by 4.71 folds. The probability of flea prevalence in adult hosts increased by 74%, while the number of fleas decreased by 76%. The number of flea infestations in small male mammals increased by 62%. The number of fleas in small mammals weighing more than 59 g has been multiplied by about 4. R. tanezumi is the predominant species in households in the west Yunnan province, while L.segnis and X. cheopis were dominant parasitic fleas. There is a strong relationship between the abundance of fleas and the characteristics of small mammals (e.g. Species, age, sex, and body weight). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the redistribution on the Shangmanggang red-clay gold deposit in western Yunnan Province, China. Geology and climate at the deposit; Geomorphology and mineralogy of the deposit; Migration of gold.

Camellia taliensis (W. W. Smith) Melchior is a wild tea plant endemic from the west and southwest of Yunnan province of China to the north of Myanmar and is used commonly to produce tea by the local people of its growing areas. Its chemical constituents are closely related to those of C. sinensis var. assamica, a widely cultivated tea plant. In this study, the α diversity and phylogeny of endophytic fungi in the branches of C. taliensis were explored for the first time. A total of 160 fungal strains were obtained and grouped into 42 species from 29 genera, which were identified based on rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis. Diversity analysis showed that the endophytic fungal community of the branches of C. taliensis had high species richness S (42), Margalef index D′ (8.0785), Shannon–Wiener index H′ (2.8494), Simpson diversity index DS (0.8891), PIE index (0.8947) and evenness Pielou index J (0.7623) but a low dominant index λ (0.1109). By contrast, that in the branches of C. taliensis had abundant species and high species evenness. Diaporthe tectonigena, Acrocalymma sp. and Colletotrichum magnisporum were the dominant endophytic fungi. The phylogenetic tree was established by maximum parsimony analysis, and the 11 orders observed for endophytic fungi belonging to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were grouped into 4 classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]