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Background The efficacy and safety of tenapanor has not been confirmed in Chinese end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with hyperphosphatemia on haemodialysis (HD). Methods This was a randomised, double blind, phase 3 trial conducted at 26 dialysis facilities in China (https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx ; CTR20202588). After a 3-week washout, adults with ESRD on HD with hyperphosphatemia were randomised (1:1) using an interactive web response system to oral tenapanor 30 mg twice a day or placebo for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in mean serum phosphorous level from baseline to the endpoint visit (day 29 or last serum phosphorus measurement). Efficacy was analysed in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of the study drug. Results Between 5 March 2021 and 8 June 2022, 77 patients received tenapanor and 73 received placebo. Tenapanor treatment (n  = 75) resulted in a significantly greater least squares (LS) mean reduction in serum phosphate at the endpoint visit versus placebo (n  = 72): LS mean difference −1.17 mg/dl (95% CI −1.694 to −0.654, P  < .001). More patients receiving tenapanor achieved a serum phosphorous level <5.5 mg/dl at the endpoint visit (44.6% versus 10.1%). The most common treatment-related adverse event was diarrhoea [tenapanor 28.6% (22/77), placebo 2.7% (2/73)], which was mostly mild and led to treatment discontinuation in two patients receiving tenapanor. Conclusions Tenapanor significantly reduced the serum phosphorous level versus placebo in Chinese ESRD patients on HD and was generally well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the bamboo-feeding genus Neobelocera Ding & Yang, 1986, N. furcata sp. nov. and N. parvula sp. nov., are described and illustrated from China. A key based on the male genitalia is given to distinguish species of this genus and a map provided to show their geographic distribution. Habitus photos for adults and illustrations of male genitalia are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To help in the prevention of large-scale loss of agricultural production caused by crop pests, a visual analysis was performed on the main research areas, key countries, organizational cooperation, citation sources and current trends in pest research by searching the literature of Web of Science database and using CiteSpace 5.8.R3 and VOSviewer 1.6.18 software. Additionally, the effects and mechanisms of natural products with anti-insect activity were summarized through visual analysis. According to the bibliometric analysis, keywords such as mortality (232 occurrences), natural enemy (232 occurrences) and spinosad (110 occurrences) were common, and insecticides and natural enemies of pests were the main methods for killing pests. However, pesticide use exhibits numerous limitations. Co-occurring terms in visualization analysis mainly included residue (193 occurrences), detection (153 occurrences), degradation (133 occurrences), recovery (103 occurrences), pyrethroid (97 occurrences) and pesticide residues (65 occurrences). Thus, pesticides cannot fundamentally solve food security; pesticides also pollute the environment and endanger human health. Therefore, green and efficient pesticides that can replace synthetic pesticides are urgently needed. Natural products have recently gained attention in Brazil, China, the USA and other countries because they are green and pollution-free, and new natural pesticides have been developed. This visual analysis combined data mining with literature review and summarize the anti-pest activities and mechanisms of action of natural products. This information provides a foundation and ideas for researchers to study the application and development of natural products in pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy is a pure and reproducible energy. China has paid more and more consideration to the investigation and employment of solar energy. The investigation focuses on the phenomenon of PID capability degradation of inactivation mediums for instance alumina/silicon nitride in transparent silicon high-efficiency solar cells. Through the laboratorial investigation on the effect of individual inactivation membrane processes on the PID damping behavior, it is found that the deposition approach of silicon oxide and silicon nitride inactivation membranes on the surface of transparent silicon cells directly affects the PID damping. Excellent anti-PID capability; single-layer silicon oxide membrane with the same thickness has better anti-PID capability than silicon nitride membrane. Double-layer silicon oxide/silicon nitride superimposed membrane with the enhancement of refractive index, the anti-PID damping capability gradually enhancements, and better anti-PID capability than monolayer silicon nitride. Investigation on the PID capability damping of inactivation mediums is of great significance to further the capability of solar cells and help to further the effective employment of solar energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two years, COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented health emergency. All countries have taken their own measures to mitigate the spread of the virus in the first and subsequent mini-outbreaks of infection. In view of the current situation of small outbreaks of COVID-19, guidelines on epidemic prevention should be developed specifically for reproductive medical centers. It is necessary to establish a dynamic patient assessment and management system to identify patients who need priority fertility treatment during epidemic control. Female Patients were assigned as grade A and required hospitalization in the inpatient ward after egg retrieval. Patients who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation were classified as grade B, and they can choose to be hospitalizedat home according to their own convenience. Patients undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle or planned downregulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists were defined as grade C, who could continue the assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment cycle with negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test and there was no fever or respiratory symptoms. This brief comment summarizes the working procedure of the reproductive medical center in the first hospital of Lanzhou University in China to minimize the probability of hospital infection and ensure the safe conduct of assisted reproductive technology therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bipolaris setariae NY1 strain, isolated from a diseased green foxtail plant in Henan Province, China, showed strong pathogenicity towards green foxtail. In order to clarify the role of phytotoxic substances in the fungal pathogenicity, bioassay-directed isolation and bioactivity assays of secondary metabolites produced by the fungal strain were carried out. Five ophiobolins were obtained: 3-anhydro- ophiobolin A, 6-epi-ophiobolin A, 6-epi-ophiobolin B, 3-anhydro-6-epi-ophiobolin B and ophiobolin I. Bioassays on punctured and intact detached leaves of green foxtail indicated that 3-anhydro-ophiobolin A was the most phytotoxic, followed by 6-epi-ophiobolin A. The other three ophiobolins appeared to be inactive against green foxtail. The effects of 3-anhydro-ophiobolin A and 6-epi-ophiobolin A were synergistic. The symptoms on green foxtail caused by 3-anhydro-ophiobolin A or its mixture with 6-epi-ophiobolin A resembled those caused by the fungus. 3-Anhydro-ophiobolin A and 6-epi-ophiobolin A are likely the main pathogenic determinants of B. setariae. 6-epi-Ophiobolin A caused cytotoxicity against five kinds of human cancer cells: human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HCT-8), human liver cancer cells (Bel-7402), human gastric cancer cells (BGC-823), human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549), and human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells (A2780). The results provide information for the development of herbicides and antitumor potential of the ophiobolin sesterterpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the delphacid genus Malaxa Melichar, 1914, M. hamuliferum sp. nov. and M. tricuspis sp. nov., are described and illustrated from southwest China (Yunnan and Hainan), providing the genus with eleven species in total. A key is provided to distinguish the seven Chinese species in the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the bamboo-feeding genus Purohita Distant, 1906, P. castaneus sp. nov. and P. circumcincta sp. nov., are described and illustrated from southwest China (Yunnan), giving the genus thirteen species in total. A key is provided to distinguish eight Chinese species in the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An international spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has attracted global attention in 2015. The infection also affected Guangdong province, which is located in southern China. Multiple factors, including frequent communication with South America and Southeast Asia, suitable climate (sub-tropical) for the habitat of Aedes species, may increase the risk of ZIKV disease transmission in this region.Methods: An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to develop a semi-quantitative ZIKV risk assessment model. After selecting indicators, we invited experts in related professions to identify the index weight and based on that a hierarchical structure was generated. Then a series of pairwise comparisons were used to determine the relative importance of the criteria. Finally, the optimal model was established to estimate the spatial and seasonal transmission risk of ZIKV.Results: A total of 15 factors that potentially influenced the risk of ZIKV transmission were identified. The factor that received the largest weight was epidemic of ZIKV in Guangdong province (combined weight [CW] =0.37), followed by the mosquito density (CW = 0.18) and the epidemic of DENV in Guangdong province (CW = 0.14). The distribution of 123 districts/counties' RIs of ZIKV in Guangdong through different seasons were presented, respectively.Conclusions: Higher risk was observed within Pearl River Delta including Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Jiangmen, and the risk is greater in summer and autumn compared to spring and winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese species of Metriocnemus van der Wulp s. str., 1874 is reviewed. M. (M.) calcaneum sp. n. is described and illustrated as adult male. M. (M.) albolineatus (Meigen) is recorded from China for the first time. M. (M.) beringensis (Cranston & Oliver), M. (M.) bilobatus Makarchenko & Makarchenko, M. (M.) caudigus Sæther, M. (M.) intergerivus Sæther, M. (M.) tamaokui Sasa and M. (M.) tristellus Edwards are recorded from the Oriental Region for the first time. A key to the males of 17 Chinese Metriocnemus (Metriocnemus) species is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese species of Parametriocnemus Goetghebuer are reviewed. Two species, P. fortis sp. n. and P. vittatus sp. n. are described and illustrated as males, and P. ornaticornis (Kieffer), P. scotti (Freeman) and P. brundini Sinharay & Chaudhuri are recorded from China for the first time. A key to the males of the seven Chinese Parametriocnemus species is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the discovery of Famennian tentaculitids in China. Extinction of the tentaculitids by the end of the Frasnian; Extension of the known range of the tentaculitids; Measurement of stratigraphic sections in Guanxi Province; Evidence for the zonal determination of the range extensions for the tentaculitids; Identification of the conodonts.

Somatic mutations accumulate with age and are associated closely with human health, their characterization in longevity cohorts remains largely unknown. Here, by analyzing whole genome somatic mutation profiles in 73 centenarians and 51 younger controls in China, we found that centenarian genomes are characterized by a markedly skewed distribution of somatic mutations, with many genomic regions being specifically conserved but displaying a high function potential. This, together with the observed more efficient DNA repair ability in the long‐lived individuals, supports the existence of key genomic regions for human survival during aging, with their integrity being of essential to human longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence and rapid spread of the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 have confirmed that animal coronaviruses represent a potential zoonotic source. Porcine deltacoronavirus is a worldwide evolving enteropathogen of swine, detected first in Hong Kong, China, before its global identification. Following the recent detection of PDCoV in humans, we attempted in this report to re-examine the status of PDCoV phylogenetic classification and evolutionary characteristics. A dataset of 166 complete PDCoV genomes was analyzed using the Maximum Likelihood method in IQ-TREE with the best-fitting model GTR + F + I + G4, revealing two major genogroups (GI and GII), with further seven and two sub-genogroups, (GI a-g) and (GII a-b), respectively. PDCoV strains collected in China exhibited the broadest genetic diversity, distributed in all subgenotypes. Thirty-one potential natural recombination events were identified, 19 of which occurred between China strains, and seven involved at least one China strain as a parental sequence. Importantly, we identified a human Haiti PDCoV strain as recombinant, alarming a possible future spillover that could become a critical threat to human health. The similarity and recombination analysis showed that PDCoV spike ORF is highly variable compared to ORFs encoding other structural proteins. Prediction of linear B cell epitopes of the spike glycoprotein and the 3D structural mapping of amino acid variations of two representative strains of GI and GII showed that the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike glycoprotein underwent a significant antigenic drift, suggesting its contribution in the genetic diversity and the wider spread of PDCoV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world. Previous genome-wide association studies suggested that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in some genes could indicate the susceptibility to TB in some populations. Herein, we studied the association of SNPs in the immunity-related genes, i.e., ASAP1 and SP110 genes with the susceptibility to TB in a Mongolian population in China. A case-control study was performed with 197 TB patients and 217 healthy controls. Six SNPs in ASAP1 and six SNPs in SP110 were selected for genotyping test by second-generation sequencing technique. A SNP in SP110 gene (rs722555) was identified to be associated with susceptibility to TB in the Mongolian population (p < 0.05). The T allele of rs722555 in SP110 gene was associated with a 36% increase of risk at TB (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.03-1.81), and the CT+TT genotype of rs722555 was associated with a 74% increase of risk at TB (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.16-2.60) in the dominant genetic model. None of SNPs in ASAP1 gene tested in this study were significantly associated with TB susceptibility, while some individuals with SNPs (rs10956514, rs4733781, rs2033059, rs12680942, rs1017281, rs1469288, and rs17285138) in the ASAP1 gene tended to have a reduced risk at TB. In conclusion, this study suggested that the rs722555 SNP in SP110 gene might be a risk factor for TB in a Mongolian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to fully understand the carbon emission from different fuels in rural villages of China, especially in the typical atmospheric pollution areas. The characteristics of carbonaceous aerosols and carbon dioxide (CO 2) with its stable carbon isotope (δ13C) were investigated in six households, which two households used coal, two households used wood as well as two households used biogas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), from two rural villages in Fenwei Plain from March to April 2021. It showed that the fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) emitted from biogas and LPG couldn't be as lower as expected in this area. However, the clean fuels could relatively reduce the emissions of organic carbon (OC) and element carbon (EC) in PM 2.5 compare to the solid fuels. The pyrolyzed carbon (OP) accounted more total carbon (TC) in coal than the other fuels use households, indicating that more water-soluble OC existed, and it still had the highest secondary organic carbon (SOC) than the other fuels. Meantime, the coal combustions in the two villages had the highest CO 2 concentration of 527.6 ppm and 1120.6 ppm, respectively, while the clean fuels could effectively reduce it. The average δ13C values (−26.9‰) was much lighter than almost all the outdoor monitoring and similar to the δ13C values for coal combustion and vehicle emission, showing that they might be the main contributors of the regional atmospheric aerosol in this area. During the sandstorm, the indoor PM 2.5 mass and CO 2 were increasing obviously. The indoor cancer risk of PAHs for adults and children were greater than 1 × 10−6, exert a potential carcinogenic risk to human of solid fuels combustion in rural northern China. It is important to continue concern the solid fuel combustion and its health impact in rural areas. [Display omitted] • Biogas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) emitted high PM 2.5 as unexpected. • Biogas and LPG emitted lower PM 2.5 bounded PAHs and CO 2. • The CO 2 produced by coal burning was greater than other fuels, with lighter δ13C. • Sandstorm could aggravate the accumulation of indoor atmospheric CO 2. • Solid fuel users might face more serious cancer risks than biogas and LPG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous trials of iron supplementation in infancy did not consider maternal iron supplementation.Objective: This study assessed effects of iron supplementation in infancy and/or pregnancy on infant iron status, illnesses, and growth at 9 mo.Methods: Enrollment occurred from December 2009 to June 2012 in Hebei, China. Infants born to women in a pregnancy iron supplementation trial were randomly assigned 1:1 to iron [∼1 mg Fe/(kg · d) as oral iron proteinsuccynilate] or placebo from 6 wk to 9 mo, excluding infants with cord ferritin <35 μg/L. Study groups were pregnancy placebo/infancy placebo (placebo/placebo), pregnancy placebo/infancy iron (placebo/iron), pregnancy iron/infancy placebo (iron/placebo), and pregnancy iron/infancy iron (iron/iron). The primary outcome was 9-mo iron status: iron deficiency (ID) by cutoff (≥2 abnormal iron measures) or body iron <0 mg/kg and ID + anemia (hemoglobin <110 g/L). Secondary outcomes were doctor visits or hospitalizations and weight or length gain from birth to 9 mo. Statistical analysis by intention to treat and dose-response (between number of iron bottles received and outcome) used logistic regression with concomitant RRs and general linear models, with covariate control as applicable.Results: Of 1482 infants randomly allocated, 1276 had 9-mo data (n = 312-327/group). Iron supplementation in infancy, but not pregnancy, reduced ID risk: RRs (95% CIs) were 0.89 (0.79, 0.998) for placebo/iron compared to placebo/placebo, 0.79 (0.63, 0.98) for placebo/iron compared to iron/placebo, 0.87 (0.77, 0.98) for iron/iron compared to placebo/placebo, and 0.86 (0.77, 0.97) for iron/iron compared to iron/placebo. However, >60% of infants still had ID at 9 mo. Receiving more bottles of iron in infancy was associated with better infant iron status at 9 mo but only among iron-supplemented infants whose mothers were also iron supplemented (i.e., the iron/iron group). There were no group differences in hospitalizations or illnesses and no adverse effects on growth overall or among infants who were iron sufficient at birth.Conclusions: Iron supplementation in Chinese infants reduced ID at 9 mo without adverse effects on growth or illness. Effects of iron supplementation in pregnancy were observed only when higher amounts of iron were distributed in infancy. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00613717. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin D may be involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Group-specific component (GC) gene is the most important transporter of vitamin D and plays a regulatory role in vitamin D metabolism. We aimed to evaluate the association of GC gene polymorphisms with T2D susceptibility and vitamin D status in the Chinese rural population.Methods and Study Design: A total of 1372 subjects were eligible in this cross-sectional study. Three SNPs of the GC gene (rs7041, rs4588, and rs2282679) were genotyped by TaqMan probe assays. Logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis were performed to determine the possible risk genotype for T2D and vitamin D metabolite concentrations, respectively.Results: The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] and vitamin D binding protein (DBP) concentrations were significantly lower in the T2D group than the non-T2D group. GG genotype carriers of rs7041 (T>G) were more likely to have T2D compared with AA carriers (OR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.19-3.37). Variants of rs4588 (C>A) and rs2282679 (A>C) were associated with a lower risk of T2D under the dominant inheritance model (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.48-0.88; OR=0.66, 95% CI: 0.49-0.90, respectively). We further found that non-T2D subjects with the AA genotype of rs4588 had significantly higher 25(OH)D3 concentrations than the CC genotype (p=0.022). In contrast, the T2D cases with the CC genotype of rs2282679 had lower DBP concentrations compared to the AA genotype (p=0.020).Conclusions: Our study indicates a potential role for GC gene polymorphisms in T2D susceptibility and vitamin D metabolite concentrations in the Chinese rural population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii (Cb). From January 2018 to November 2019, plasma samples from 2,382 patients with acute fever of unknown cause at a hospital in Zhuhai city of China were tested using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Of those tested, 138 patients (5.8%) were diagnosed with Q fever based on the presence of Cb genomic DNA detected by mNGS. Among these, 78 cases (56.5%) presented from Nov 2018 to Mar 2019, suggesting an outbreak of Q fever. 55 cases with detailed clinical information that occurred during the outbreak period were used for further analysis. The vast majority of plasma samples from those Cb-mNGS-positive patients were positive in a Cb-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n = 38) and/or indirect immunofluorescence assay (n = 26). Mobile phone tracing data was used to define the area of infection during the outbreak. This suggested the probable infection source was Cb-infected goats and cattle at the only official authorized slaughterhouse in Zhuhai city. Phylogenic analysis based on genomic sequences indicated Cb strains identified in the patients, goat and cattle were formed a single branch, most closely related to the genomic group of Cb dominated by strains isolated from goats. Our study demonstrates Q fever was epidemic in 2018–2019 in Zhuhai city, and this is the first confirmed epidemic of Q fever in a contemporary city in China. Author summary: Generally, the clinical diagnosis of acute Q fever, which is caused by Coxiella burnetii, is based on serologic methods that detect the presence antibodies produced by the body to fight the infection. However, the lag time between becoming infected and production of antibodies limits early diagnosis using this method. Here, we confirmed an epidemic of human Q fever in Zhuhai, a contemporary city in China, using clinical metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and cell phone location data. Our results indicate that Cb-infected goats and cattle at the only official authorized slaughterhouse in Zhuhai were the likely infection source for the Q fever epidemic. More importantly, we demonstrate that mNGS is a useful tool for rapid and effective public health responses to acute bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks. (Pt) is one of the most devastating fungal pathogens affecting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production worldwide. Deployment of resistant cultivars is the most environmentally friendly approach to control the disease. In this study, thirty-seven wheat lines from the Hubei and Shaanxi provinces in China were evaluated for seedling resistance in the greenhouse using eighteen Pt races. These lines were also tested for slow rusting resistance in the field in the 2014 to 2018 growing seasons. Eleven molecular markers closely associated with known Lr genes were used as part of the postulation process. Seven known Lr genes, 1, 13, 18, 14a, 26, 34 and 46 either singly or in combination were postulated in twenty-five cultivars. Lr1 and Lr26 were the most commonly identified genes detected in thirteen and ten cultivars, respectively. Lr13 and Lr46 were each found in four and five cultivars. Lr34 was present in three cultivars. Lr18 and Lr14a were identified in cultivar Xi'nong 538. Six cultivars displayed slow rusting resistance in the field tests. The resistant cultivars identified in the present study can be used as resistance parents in crosses aimed at pyramiding and the deployment of leaf rust resistance genes in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the association between dietary patterns and lipid levels in Henan rural area.Methods and Study Design: Fasting blood samples, information on dietary intakes (with food frequency questionnaires) and other data were collected from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. Principal component analysis was used to identify the dietary patterns. Binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression models were performed to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The study recruited 38,983 available participants aged from 18 to 79 from rural areas in Henan province.Results: The study showed that, three patterns were identified by higher factor loadings: namely the "meat" (high intakes of red meat, white meat and fish), "grain-egg-nut complex" (high intakes of nuts, milk, eggs, grains and beans), and "vegetablesstaple food-fruits" pattern (high intakes of vegetables, staple food and fruits). "Grain-egg-nut complex" pattern was significantly positively related to the risk of dyslipidemia (OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.05-1.16, p<0.05). The multivariable- adjusted ORs across tertiles of each dietary pattern were significantly associated with each component of dyslipidemia indexes.Conclusions: Grain-egg-nut complex dietary pattern was positively associated with dyslipidemia. All three dietary patterns were associated with blood lipid profiles aberrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Full-length genomes of DHAV-1 worldwide were sorted into seven sub-groups. • Full-length genomes of DHAV-3 worldwide were sorted into five sub-groups. • DHAVs identified in China displayed great genetic diversity. • Recombination hotspot of DHAV genome is at the 5′ end and upstream of the capsid coding region. • The highest variability of DHAV polyprotein is at the upstream region of n terminus P-loop. Duck hepatitis A virus (DHAV) is one of key pathogens for duck viral hepatitis, especially in Asian duck industry. Currently, two main genotypes (DHAV-1 and -3) exist. To explore insightfully the evolutionary character, we assessed the available 141 full-length genome sequences of DHAV isolated in 1986–2020 globally and divided DHAV-1 and DHAV-3 into further seven (DHAV-1 a-g) and five (DHAV-3 a-e) sub-clades, respectively. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic network analyses indicated great genetic diversity of DHAV identified in China, where the DHAV-1 cluster and DHAV-3 cluster were linked by virus strain HDHV1-BJ (GenBank ID: FJ157172.1) and Du_CH_LSD_090612 (GenBank ID: JF828995.1) via a long mutational branch and intermediate strains. Several strains previously identified as DHAV-1 according to the partial gene sequences were actually clustered within DHAV-3 in full-length genome-based analysis. Furthermore, we identified 32 recombination events across virus genome with the recombination hotspot at the 5′ end and upstream of the capsid coding region. The highest variability of DHAV polyprotein was shown at the upstream region of the N terminus P-loop region, e.g., amino acids 672–716, followed by the aa 334–359 in the Capsid encoding region. The results presented here provides a robust insight into the genetic exchange patterns of DHAV genomes during the past decades, which may be used to map the evolutionary history and facilitate preventive measures of DHAVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LPC, C/P and N/P of arbors, herbs and shrubs belong to strong variation indicators; • Altitude was also one of the main factors affecting plant functional traits; • Soil factors and leaf functional traits of different types plants respond to each other. Subsequent findings reveal the combination characteristics and spatial patterns of plant functional traits, and their response and adaptation to environmental changes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We analyzed the variation in characteristics and the influence of environmental factors on leaf functional traits from 78 quadrats in July 2021, using: one-way ANOVA, Tukey's Honest Significant Difference (HSD) post hoc test, Pearson correlation coefficient (r) analysis, and redundancy analysis (RDA) in the Qilian Mountains. Only the leaf carbon content (LCC) of arbors was a weak variation indicator in leaf function traits of different plant types, whereas other leaf function traits including: the LCC of herbaceous plants (herbs) and shrub plants (shrubs), and the leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio of arbors were medium variation indicators. The LNC, leaf phosphorus content (LPC), C/N ratio(C/N), C/P ratio(C/P), and N/P ratio (N/P)of herbs and shrubs, and the LPC, C/P, and N/P of arboreal plants (arbors) were strong variation indicators. Altitude was also one of the main factors affecting functional traits of plants in cold regions. Electrical conductivity (EC) and soil phosphorus content (SPC) were the main factors affecting changes in the leaf functional traits of herbs. Soil bulk density (SBD) and Soil salinity (SAL) were the main factors affecting changes in the leaf functional traits of shrubs. Soil nitrogen content (SNC) and soil temperature (ST) were the main factors affecting changes in the leaf functional traits of arbors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the major crop cultivated in Xinjiang and Anhui provinces of China. The climate in these two provinces is favourable for wheat leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) (Pt) infection. Here, we demonstrate a detailed investigation on the leaf rust resistance of 60 major wheat cultivars cultivated in these two regions. A mixture of high virulent Pt races (THTT, THTS, THTQ and PHPS) were used to phenotype all the collected wheat cultivars at an adult plant stage. Phenotypic disease severity (FDS) and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) for each of these wheat cultivars was calculated. Among all the tested wheat cultivars, three cultivars (Xindong20, Xindong 29 and 99AR142-1) with the lowest FDS and AUDPC may carry major resistance genes. Twenty-seven cultivars (45% of the total tested ones) showed a relatively lower resistance with an average of 12.52% FDS and 126.3 AUDPC. Minor resistance or slow rusting genes may be present in this group of cultivars. Molecular markers for the leaf rust resistance genes Lr1, Lr9, Lr19, Lr24, Lr26 and Lr34 were further used for genotypic screening. Lr1, Lr19, Lr26 and Lr34 were detected in 19 (31.7%), 1 (1.7%), 12 (20%) and 6 (10%) wheat cultivars, respectively. Neither Lr9 nor Lr24 could be detected in any of the tested cultivars. These results will greatly improve wheat molecular breeding for leaf rust resistance in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is implicated in some diseases, including cardiovascular. Few studies have assessed the correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH) D3] and serum lipids. In this study, we explored the correlation between serum 25(OH) D3 concentrations and serum lipids with a typical sample of the rural population in China. Methods: Face-to-face research was used to gather some basic information. Fasting serum concentrations of 25-(OH) D3, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) tested in the laboratory. Results: The mean of serum 25(OH) D3 level was 28.71 ± 29.29 ng/mL. The results showed that the dyslipidemia was strongly associated with gender (P = 0.031), drinking (P = 0.043), high-fat diet intake (P = 0.017), HDL-C (P<0), TG (P<0), body mass index (BMI) (P<0) and serum 25(OH)D3 levels (P = 0.002). There was a positive correlation between serum 25(OH)D3 and HDL-C (P<0) in all groups. The relationship between 25(OH) D3 and LDL-C (P = 0.024) was discovered only in normal lipid group. The multivariable adjusted odds ratio (95%CI) of hypoalphalipoproteinemia/HDL and dyslipidemia by comparing the sufficiency vs. the deficiency serum 25-(OH) D3 level were 0.31 (0.192, 0. 499) (P = 0.001) and 0.52 (0.36, 0.73) (P = 0.005), respectively. Conclusions: Serum 25(OH) D3 concentrations were associated with the serum lipids level and the association was different in normal serum lipid group and dyslipidemia group. With the increase of serum 25(OH) D3 levels, the incidence of dyslipidemia decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue fever is a severe public heath challenge in south China. A dengue outbreak was reported in Chaozhou city, China in 2015. Intensified interventions were implemented by the government to control the epidemic. However, it is still unknown the degree to which intensified control measures reduced the size of the epidemics, and when should such measures be initiated to reduce the risk of large dengue outbreaks developing?Methods: We selected Xiangqiao district as study setting because the majority of the indigenous cases (90.6%) in Chaozhou city were from this district. The numbers of daily indigenous dengue cases in 2015 were collected through the national infectious diseases and vectors surveillance system, and daily Breteau Index (BI) data were reported by local public health department. We used a compartmental dynamic SEIR (Susceptible, Exposed, Infected and Removed) model to assess the effectiveness of control interventions, and evaluate the control effect of intervention timing on dengue epidemic.Results: A total of 1250 indigenous dengue cases was reported from Xiangqiao district. The results of SEIR modeling using BI as an indicator of actual control interventions showed a total of 1255 dengue cases, which is close to the reported number (n = 1250). The size and duration of the outbreak were highly sensitive to the intensity and timing of interventions. The more rigorous and earlier the control interventions implemented, the more effective it yielded. Even if the interventions were initiated several weeks after the onset of the dengue outbreak, the interventions were shown to greatly impact the prevalence and duration of dengue outbreak.Conclusions: This study suggests that early implementation of rigorous dengue interventions can effectively reduce the epidemic size and shorten the epidemic duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated monthly and annual reference evapotranspiration ETo changes over southwestern China (SWC) from 1960 to 2012, using the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' report 56 (FAO-56) Penman-Monteith equation and routine meteorological observations at 269 weather sites. During 1960-2012, the monthly and annual ETo decreased at most sites. Moreover, the SWC regional average trend in annual ETo was significantly negative (p < 0.05); this trend was the same in most months. A new separation method using several numerical experiments was proposed to quantify each driving factor's contribution to ETo changes and exhibited higher accuracy based on several validation criteria, after which an attribution analysis was performed. Across SWC, the declining annual ETo was mainly due to decreased net radiation (RN). Spatially, the annual ETo changes at most sites in eastern SWC (excluding southeastern West Guangxi) were generally due to RN, whereas wind speed (WND) or vapor pressure deficit (VPD) was the determinant at other sites. Nevertheless, the determinants differed among 12 months. For the whole SWC, increased VPD in February and decreased WND in April, May, and October were the determinant of decreased ETo; however, decreased RN was the determinant in other months. Overall, the determinant of the monthly ETo changes exhibited a complex spatial pattern. A complete analysis of ETo changes and the related physical mechanisms in SWC is necessary to better understand hydroclimatological extremes (e.g., droughts) and to develop appropriate strategies to sustain regional development (e.g., water resources and agriculture). Importantly, this separation method provides new perspective for quantitative attribution analyses and thus may be implemented in various scientific fields (e.g., climatology and hydrology). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Similar to herb and shrub, arbor plant shows significant differences with altitude. • LA, LL, LW, LC, and SC showed the same trend among different vegetation types. • There was negative correlation between soil temperature and NBI, ChI, FIv, and SC. Plant functional traits are adaptive traits formed by interactions between plants and the environment. Considering the Three-River Headwaters Region as a case study, this study systematically analyzed the relationship between plant functional traits and environmental factors in cold regions. The results show that there were significant differences in plant functional traits among the different vegetation types (herbs, shrubs, and arbor plants). Leaf traits such as leaf area (LA), leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), leaf circumference (LC), and shape coefficient (SC) showed the same trends among herbs, shrubs, and arbor plants. The correlation between leaf functional traits of plants in alpine regions shows that the unique growth mode of different plants and their degree of adaptation to alpine environments ultimately determine the leaf functional trait variations. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between soil temperature and the nitrogen balance index (NBI), chlorophyll content (Chl), flavonoid content (Flv), and SC, whereas there was a trend of first increasing and then decreasing relationship between soil temperature, LL (P < 0.05), and LC (P < 0.05). Similar to herb and shrub plants, arbor plants also showed significant differences in altitude in cold regions. There were significant negative correlations between altitude and NBI (P < 0.05), Chl (P < 0.05), Flv (P < 0.05), and anthocyanin content (P < 0.05), whereas LA (P < 0.05), LL (P < 0.05), and LC (P > 0.05) were significantly positively correlated with altitude. Conversely, there was no significant negative correlation between LW and altitude (P > 0.05). We conclude that climate factors play a decisive role in the distribution of plant functional traits at a global scale, whereas land use and disturbances play a major role at a regional scale, and topographic and soil factors determine the distribution of local characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue cases have been reported each year for the past 25 years in Guangdong Province, China with a recorded historical peak in 2014. This study aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics of this large outbreak in order to better understand its epidemic factors and to inform control strategies. Methods: Data for clinically diagnosed and laboratory-confirmed dengue fever cases in 2014 were extracted from the China Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System. We analyzed the incidence and characteristics of imported and indigenous cases in terms of population, temporal and spatial distributions. Results: A total of 45 224 dengue fever cases and 6 deaths were notified in Guangdong Province in 2014, with an incidence of 47.3 per 100 000 people. The elderly (65+ years) represented 11.7 % of total indigenous cases with the highest incidence (72.3 per 100 000). Household workers and the unemployed accounted for 23.1 % of indigenous cases. The majority of indigenous cases occurred in the 37th to 44th week of 2014 (September and October) and almost all (20 of 21) prefecture-level cities in Guangdong were affected. Compared to the non-Pearl River Delta Region, the Pearl River Delta Region accounted for the majority of dengue cases and reported cases earlier in 2014. Dengue virus serotypes 1 (DENV-1), 2 (DENV-2) and 3 (DENV-3) were detected and DENV-1 was predominant (88.4 %). Conclusions: Dengue fever is a serious public health problem and is emerging as a continuous threat in Guangdong Province. There is an urgent need to enhance dengue surveillance and control, especially for the high-risk populations in high-risk areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occurrence and distribution of 15 antibiotics belonging to families of sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and chloramphenicols were investigated in water and sediment in Gaoqiao mangrove area, China, using LC-MS-MS. The influence of tidal level and mangrove vegetation on antibiotic residues were examined. The levels of antibiotics were found to be ranged from 0.15 to 198 ng L −1 in water and from 0.08 to 849 μg kg −1 in sediment. No significant difference in concentrations of 15 different antibiotics from water and sediment samples was observed among the high, middle and low intertidal channel. The residues of SMZ, SMTZ, OFL, NOR, ENR, OXY and FLO were significantly higher in Aegiceras corniculatum assemblage than in Avicennia marina assemblage. Although no significant difference in tested antibiotics was found between the surface and bottom sediment, mangrove vegetation can to some extent reduce the accumulation for SMZ, SMTZ, OFL, NOR, CIP, OXY and TET in sediments relative to corresponding bare mudflats, implying that the environmental pollution from antibiotics may be mitigated by mangrove vegetation. Principal components analysis revealed that the terrestrial input and different habitats directly influenced the occurrence and distribution of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.--Cardiac troponins have become the gold standard for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the general population; however, their diagnostic accuracy for hemodialysis (HD) patients presenting with chest pain or dyspnea is uncertain. Objective.--To examine the diagnostic accuracy of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) assay for AMI in HD patients. Design.--In this prospective study, we enrolled 670 consecutive stable HD patients presenting with chest pain or dyspnea on routine predialysis therapy in the nephrology department. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to examine the diagnostic accuracy of hs-cTnT levels at enrollment in HD patients presenting with chest pain or dyspnea, and the dynamic change in these levels after 3 hours. Results.--Acute myocardial infarction was the adjudicated final diagnosis in 12% of HD patients. Among patients with a final diagnosis other than AMI, 97% had a plasma hs-cTnT concentration above the 99th percentile. At the time of enrollment, the area under the ROC curve of hs-cTnT levels for diagnosis of AMI was 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.74; P < .001) with a cutoff value of 107.7 ng/L; the relative change after 3 hours was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.82-0.96, P < .001) with a cutoff value of 24%, and the absolute change was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.94, P < .001) with a cutoff value of 32.6 ng/L. The prognostic value for 40-day mortality varied with the magnitude of elevation in hs-cTnT levels. Conclusions.--Tracking the dynamic change in hs-cTnT levels during the short term significantly increased this measure's diagnostic accuracy for AMI in HD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of severe cases of human influenza A (H7N9) viral infection in China in the spring of 2003 resulted in a global effort to rapidly develop an effective candidate vaccine. In this study, a cold-adapted (ca), live attenuated monovalent reassortant influenza H7N9 virus (Ah01/AA ca) was generated using reverse genetics that contained hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from a 2013 pandemic A H7N9 isolate, A/Anhui/01/2013 virus (Ah01/H7N9); the remaining six backbone genes derived from the cold-adapted influenza H2N2 A/Ann Arbor/6/60 virus (AA virus). Ah01/AA ca virus exhibited temperature sensitivity (ts), ca, and attenuation (att) phenotypes. Intranasal immunization of female BALB/c mice with Ah01/AA ca twice at a 2-week interval induced robust humoral, mucosal, and cell-mediated immune responses in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the candidate Ah01/AA ca virus was immunogenic and offered partial or complete protection of mice against a lethal challenge by the live 2013 influenza A H7N9 (A/Anhui/01/2013). Protection was demonstrated by the inhibition of viral replication and the attenuation of histopathological changes in the challenged mouse lung. Taken together, these data support the further evaluation of this Ah01/AA ca candidate vaccine in primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early spring 2013, the emergence of the influenza A (H7N9) virus in humans in Eastern China raised concerns of a new influenza pandemic. Development of a safe and effective H7N9 influenza vaccine is urgently needed. To this end, we first synthesized the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the influenza A (H7N9) virus A/AnHui/1/2013. Using reverse genetics, we rescued a reassortant virus (H7N9/PR8) that contained the HA and NA genes from wild-type H7N9 and six genes encoding internal proteins from the A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (PR8) virus. Next, the pathogenicity of the reassortant virus was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro. We found that the virus was non-pathogenic in mice and was stable after serial passaging in eggs. Furthermore, we found that a monovalent influenza A (H7N9) split vaccine prepared from the virus was immunogenic in mice and ferrets. When given intramuscularly, the vaccine (two doses of at least 15-µg) completely protected mice from normally lethal wild-type H7N9 virus challenge. In summary, our H7N9 vaccine, developed over a short time, is a potential candidate for further clinical evaluation and human use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhou 8425B, possessing the leaf rust resistance gene LrZH84, is an elite wheat (Triticum aestivum) parental line in the Yellow-Huai Valley region of China. In the present study, 2,086 F2 plants derived from Zhou 8425B/Chinese Spring were used for fine mapping of LrZH84 with expressed sequence tag (EST) and sequence-tagged site (STS) markers Seventy inter-simple sequence repeat EST and STS markers on 1BL were used to screen the two parents and resistant and susceptible bulks; those polymorphic were used to analyze the entire F2 population. Three EST markers (BF474863, BE497107, and CD373538) were closely linked to LrZH84, with genetic distances of 0.7, 0.7, and 1.7 cM, respectively. STS marker Hbsf-I was developed from the sequences of polymerase chain reaction fragments amplified from EST marker BF474863. LrZH84 was 8.19 cM proximal to Lr44, but may be allelic to LrXi and LrG98 although they showed different reactions with some Puccinia triticina pathotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land Use/Land Cover change (LUCC) is a key aspect of global environmental change, which has a significant impact on climate change. In the background of increasing global warming resulting from greenhouse effect, to understand the impact of land use change on climate change is necessary and meaningful. In this study, we choose China as the study area and explore the possible land use change trends based on the AgLU module and ERB module of global change assessment model (GCAM model and Global Change Assessment Model). We design three scenarios based on socioeconomic development and simulated the corresponding structure change of land use according to the three scenarios with different parameters. Then we simulate the different emission of CO2 under different scenarios based on the simulation results of structure change of land use. At last, we choose the most suitable scenario that could control the emission of CO2 best and obtain the relatively better land use structure change for adaption of climate change. Through this research we can provide a theoretical basis for the future land use planning to adapt to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal iron status is thought to be related to postpartum depressive symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between pre- and postnatal maternal iron status and depressive symptoms in pilot (n = 137) and confirmatory (n = 567) samples of Chinese women. Iron status was evaluated at mid- and late pregnancy and 3 days postpartum. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess maternal postpartum depression 24-48 hours after delivery and 6 weeks later. In the pilot sample, correlations between early- and late-pregnancy maternal Hb and EPDS scores at 6 weeks were r = 0.07 and -0.01, respectively (nonsignificant). In the confirmatory sample, the correlations between maternal iron measures (Hb, MCV, ZPP, ferritin, sTfR, and sTfR Index) in mid- or late pregnancy or 3 days postpartum and EPDS scores shortly after delivery or at 6 weeks were also low (r values < 0.10). EPDS scores in anemic and nonanemic mothers did not differ, regardless of sample or timing of maternal iron status assessment. In addition, women with or without possible PPD were similar in iron status in both samples. Thus, there was no relationship between maternal iron status and postpartum depression in these samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Drug safety and postmarketing surveillance have become important public health issues in China. This study reviews the relatively new drug safety surveillance system in China and compares it with the systems in the United States and Europe. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted in the following four areas: 1) the organizational structure of the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) in China; 2) the development of an adverse drug reaction (ADR) monitoring system in China; 3) regulatory issues related to drug safety in China; and 4) similarities and differences between drug safety surveillance in China and surveillance in the United States and Europe. Results: The SFDA oversees an extensive network of drug safety “watchdogs,” including the China National Center for ADR Monitoring and 32 regional centers throughout China. China's system has faced a number of recent challenges. It has had to respond quickly to the withdrawal of various high-profile drugs like Vioxx (rofecoxib) and Baycol (cerivastatin) from other markets. Together with China's Ministry of Health, the SFDA has faced several unique drug safety events. Three of those events, involving the injectable form of the heartleaf houttuyinia herb (Yu Xing Cao), Armillarisni A injections, and clindamycin glucose infusions (Xinfu), are discussed. The rapid development of drug safety surveillance in China is manifested in extensive organizational structure, development of large databases, and laws and regulations supporting drug safety. The two major laws are the China Drug Administration Law issued in February 2001 and the Regulation for the Administration of ADR Reporting and Monitoring issued in March 2004. The study also discusses and compares recent developments in drug safety surveillance in the United States and the European Union. These developments will most likely have implications for the Chinese system in the near future. Conclusions: While postmarketing surveillance guidelines are not yet available in China, we fully expect their eventual issuance after adaptation to the particular culture and clinical practices in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid improvements in industrialization and urbanization, antibiotics are now extensively used to prevent and treat human and animal diseases and husbandry and aquaculture. Some research has been conducted to assess the environmental distribution and risk level of antibiotics, but their distribution remains largely uncharacterized. Thus, this study investigated the distribution and abundance of 39 antibiotics belonging to five groups, and their associated risks in surface water around Luoma Lake in the north of Jiangsu province, China. Nineteen antibiotics were detected, at a detection frequency (DF) ranging from 2.27% to 100%. The total antibiotics (ΣABs) concentrations ranged from 34.91 to 825.93 ng/L, with a median concentration of 195.45 ng/L. Among these antibiotics, chlortetracycline (DF: 100%; median: 172.02 ng/L) was the dominant antibiotic, accounting for a median percentage of 91.0% of ΣABs concentrations. Spearman rank correlation method found a significant correlation between clindamycin (DF: 72.7%; median: 2.01 ng/L) and lincomycin (DF: 79.5%; median: 4.58 ng/L). The ecological risk quotient (RQ) values for two out of 44 sampling sites were higher than 1, indicating a high risk; 11.4% of the RQ values fell between 0.1 and 1, indicating a medium risk. Moreover, roxithromycin was found to be the dominant contributor to the ecological risk, accounting for a median of 79.7% of ΣABs. However, the total non-carcinogenic (<6.54 × 10−4) and carcinogenic risks (<1.64 × 10−7) of ΣABs were negligible at the detected concentrations. Image 1 • Concentrations and distributions of 39 antibiotics around Luoma Lake were revealed. • Chlortetracyclin was found to be the dominant antibiotic, with a median of 172.02 ng/L. • Ecological risks of antibiotics were at medium level (11.4%) or slightly high level (4.6%). • Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of antibiotics were low at the detected concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Landscape adjacency is a key mechanism of impact of urban expansion on natural areas. • A novel index (Eco-erosion index, EEI) was proposed based on landscape adjacency. • EEI is a useful indicators to assess ecological stress at different scales. • The Yangtze River Delta showed an increasing ecological stress from 1990 to 2010. Urban agglomeration (the spread of cities into large agglomerations) has become the main form of urbanization in China, and natural ecosystems surrounding the urban areas are becoming degraded and fragmented as a result. Although ecological indicators have been widely used to assess the regional ecological stress resulting from urbanization, few of them consider spatial adjacency relationships between urban and natural landscapes. From this perspective a novel ecological indicator, the Eco-Erosion Index (EEI), was developed and applied to assess the regional ecological stress caused by urban agglomeration development across 26 cities in the Yangtze River Delta, China (YRD). We analyzed: i) temporal change in land use and land cover (LULC) and ecosystem services value (ESV) in YRD from 1990 to 2010, ii) spatiotemporal dynamics of EEI of YRD at different scales: provincial, municipal, and 5 km-grid, iii) inter-relationships between EEI and LULC and ESV to explore its effectiveness as an indicator. The results showed that urban agglomeration in YRD has led to increasing regional ecological stress from 1990 to 2010. EEI values increased from 0.197 in 1990 to 0.321 in 2010. The closer to Shanghai City, the greater the EEI values of the cities become. EEI is highly related with LULC and ESV but integrates these two variables as it represents both the spatial occupation and landscape adjacency effects. The EEI values demonstrate some scale effects, and EEI at fine scale provides useful information to guide sustainable urban landscape management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water vapor has been proposed to amplify the severe haze pollution in China by enhancing the aerosol-radiation feedback (ARF). Observations have revealed that the near-surface PM2.5 concentrations ([PM2.5]) generally exhibits an increasing trend with the relative humidity (RH) in North China Plain (NCP) during 2015 wintertime, indicating that the aerosol liquid water (ALW) caused by hygroscopic growth might play an important role in the PM2.5 formation and accumulation. Simulations during a persistent and heavy haze pollution episode from 05 December 2015 to 04 January 2016 in NCP have been performed using the WRF-CHEM model to comprehensively quantify contributions of the ALW effect to near-surface [PM2.5]. The WRF-CHEM model generally performs reasonably in simulating the temporal variations of RH against measurements in NCP. The factor separation approach (FSA) is used to evaluate the contribution of the ALW effect on the ARF, photochemistry, and heterogeneous reactions to [PM2.5]. The ALW not only augments particle sizes to enhance aerosol backward scattering, but also increases effective radius to favor aerosol forward scattering. Therefore, the contribution of the ALW effect on the ARF and photochemistry to near [PM2.5] is not significant, generally within 1.0 μg m-3 on average in NCP during the episode. Serving as an excellent substrate for heterogeneous reactions, the ALW substantially enhances the secondary aerosol (SA) formation, with an average contribution of 71%, 10%, 26%, and 48% to near-surface sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, and secondary organic aerosol concentrations. Nevertheless, the SA enhancement due to the ALW decreases the aerosol optical depth and increases effective radius to weaken the ARF, reducing near-surface primary aerosols. The contribution of the ALW total effect to near-surface [PM2.5] is 17.5% on average, which is overwhelmingly dominated by enhanced SA. Model sensitivities also show that when the RH is less than 80%, the ALW progressively increases near-surface [PM2.5], but commences to decrease with the RH exceeding 80% due to the high occurrence frequencies of precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]