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Jiangsu High-Tech Fluorochemical Industrial Park in Changshu City, Jiangsu Province, is the largest fluorochemical industrial park in Asia. The occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in surface water and widespread local plants was investigated in Jiangsu High-Tech Fluorochemical Industrial Park. Thirty-two target PFASs were detected in dissolved-phase, particle-phase and plant samples. The concentrations of total PFASs ranged from 1650 to 8250 ng/L in the dissolved-phase samples, 132 to 6810 ng/g dw in the particle-phase samples and 25.8 to 9460 ng/g dw in different plant tissues. Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), Perfluorooctanoate acid (PFOA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (6:2 FTCA) were predominant PFASs and contributed 80−91% to ΣPFAS in water samples. A total of 67 emerging PFAS were identified in all samples using nontargeted analysis. Typha orientalis showed better accumulation ability, with an average ΣPFAS concentration of 3450 ng/g dw and the highest root concentration factor (RCF) of 171. Typha orientalis, Eichhornia crassipes and Alternanthera sessilis have potential for use in PFAS phytostabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paying attention to the relationship between EIA signatures and earthquakes can be useful to further understand the earthquake anomalies and seismo-ionospheric coupling mechanism. Based on the GIM TEC data, the EIA north crest signature in the south Asia region was investigated for 92 M ≥ 6.0 earthquakes from 1999 to 2022. A running mean method was utilized to extract the anomalies potentially associated with earthquakes. It was found that before the strong earthquakes, the EIA north crest significantly moves equatorward, and the formation time of the crest appears earlier than that in normal days. The TEC strength of EIA north crest can both increase or decrease prior to earthquakes. The results in this study further imply that the abnormal electric field formed around the epicenter is potential the main channel of Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) mechanisms during the earthquake preparation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pampus is a genus of fish of commercial importance in Asia. This is a comprehensive study on the species delimitation and evolution history of Pampus species. This study integrated information on the skeletal structure and mitochondrial and nuclear molecular data of the genus Pampus to define their species delimitation. Based on these findings, we suggest that P. argenteus and P. echinogaster should be classified as the same species and P. liuorum is speculated to be a valid species. P. cinereus is closely related to P. minor, P. chinensis and P. punctatissimus, but these are different species. Pampus can be divided into six species: P. argenteus, P. punctatissimus, P. cinereus, P. chinensis, P. minor, and P. liuorum. The aim of this study was to resolve the controversies about the phylogeny and taxonomy of Pampus and provide a robust delimitation of Pampus for fisheries management. Pampus is a widespread species of fish in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans that has significant commercial worth. Its evolutionary history and phylogenetics are still poorly understood, and details on its intraspecific taxonomy are debatable, despite some morphological and molecular research. Here, we analyzed this species using skeletal structure data as well as nuclear (S7 gene) and mitochondrial genetic information (COI, D-loop and mitogenomes). We found that the genetic distance between P. argenteus and P. echinogaster was much smaller than that between other Pampus species, and both maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic trees yielded almost identical tree topologies. An additional and adjacent M repeat was found in the downstream region of the IQM gene cluster of P. argenteus and P. echinogaster, and the trnL2 gene of P. minor was translocated. The genus Pampus experienced early rapid radiation during the Palaeocene with major lineages diversifying within a relatively narrow timescale. Additionally, three different methods were conducted to distinguish the genus Pampus species, proving that P. argenteus and P. echinogaster are the same species, and P. liuorum is speculated to be a valid species. Overall, our study provides new insights not only into the evolutionary history of Pampus but its intraspecific taxonomy as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Building Capacity for Conservation in Southeast Asia" symposium was held at the 2015 Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Asia-Pacific Chapter meeting. The range of programs discussed fell into three categories: career development, project-specific activities and outreach, and delivering conservation information to diverse audiences. Though different approaches were used, we identified practices and methods which increased the meaning, relevance, and applicability of the messages provided. We found that delivering successful conservation education requires understanding conservation's place in society, developing a feeling of community among students, providing students with financial support, practical teaching, and crafting culturally appropriate messages.

The ionosphere exhibits some characteristic perturbations during sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events, of which the mechanism is not thoroughly understood. This study focuses on the latitudinal and interhemispheric differences of the enhanced semi-diurnal lunitidal (M2) perturbations related to SSW using total electron content calculated from the network of Global Navigation Satellite System and ionosonde data in the eastern Asia–Australia sector during the January 2009 SSW. Our results show that the most distinct M2 perturbations in the northern and southern hemispheres occur near the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly crest regions around ± 15° geomagnetic latitudes, but corresponds to different moon phases, respectively. Clear M2 perturbations extend to middle latitudes only in the southern hemisphere and have another local maximum in the southern middle latitude. Such latitudinal and interhemispheric features of ionospheric M2 perturbations in the low latitude in the eastern Asia–Australia sector are similar as those in the American sector during the same SSW event. This supports previous suggestion that such latitudinal and interhemispheric differences in the low latitude can be primarily explained by the summer–winter thermospheric wind modulation on equatorial plasma fountain and thus emphasize its role in the vertical coupling process of M2 perturbation. The clear differences of M2 perturbations in the southern middle latitude between the eastern Asia–Australia and American sectors indicate that the thermospheric circulation related to the Weddell Sea Anomaly may have influence on the lower atmosphere–ionosphere coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus spp. and its rice fermentation products have been used as food colorants and flavor enhancers, as well as for meat preservation and wine brewing in the Asia for centuries. A novel application of Monascus purpureus in semi‐soft cheese making was introduced in this paper. The changes in the dynamics of the microbiota during cheese ripening were investigated in this study using high through‐put methods. The most dominant bacterial genus was determined to be Lactococcus, and the dominant fungal genus was Monascus. Also, some other genera were detected in the red cheese samples, such as Leuconostoc. Samples of the Cheese were analyzed using dynamic oscillating rheology and the result indicated an elastic solid character rheological behavior. It was observed that the level of citrinin produced by Monascus and other fungal genera in the examined Cheese samples was lower than that produced in the red yeast rice. Furthermore, the mevinolin and γ‐ aminobutyric acid were also presence in Cheese samples. Therefore, the results of this study suggested that M. purpureus has positive effects on cheese making processes. Novelty impact statement: A Novel Application of Monascus in Semi‐Soft Cheese making has been introduced by our investigated team, which is referred to as Red Cheese. The processing of the Red Cheese has been researched and introduced in this paper. The nutrient content, texture, microbiota, and some other features were also tested in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the surveillance of avian influenza viruses in East Dongting Lake, China (2014–2015), two H11N8 avian influenza viruses were detected in the bean goose (Anser fabalis) and the falcated teal (Anas falcata). Phylogenetic analysis showed that these two novel reassortant H11N8 avian influenza viruses contain genes from poultry and wild birds. This is the first report detecting the H11N8 subtype influenza virus from wild birds in Asia. These findings indicate a dissemination of avian influenza virus along the East Asian-Australian flyway. In addition, the interaction between poultry and wild birds was addressed suggesting the need for intensive surveillance of wild bird populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Comprehensive worldwide population relationships reported first based on Indels. • First batch of genotype, allele frequencies and forensic parameters of 30 InDels of Tai-Kadai-speaking Gelao. • Chinese Gelao is genetically closer with Hmong-Mien-speaking Miao than other Tai-Kadai speakers. • Forensic bio-geographic ancestry power was analyzed. Abstract Genetic analyses of geographically and ethno-linguistically different populations are essential for understanding population stratification and genomic structure in medical Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and genetic variation and diversity related to forensic and population genetics studies. Here, we genotyped 30 autosomal insertion/deletion (Indel) markers from 502 Tai-Kadai-speaking Gelao individuals residing in the rugged topographical area in Southeastern China. In addition, two comprehensive population genetic comparisons of 15,327 individuals from 95 worldwide populations and of 6122 individuals from Asia and adjoining populations were conducted based on allele frequency data and raw genotype data, respectively. All studied markers were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The combined power of discrimination in the Gelao minority group was 0.999999999975, and the combined probability of exclusion was 0.9879. Our results from the forensic statistical parameters indicated that this Indel panel can be independently used as a powerful tool in forensic individual identification but can only be used as a complementary tool in paternity cases involving East Asians. We also found significant allele frequency differences between the Gelao and other continental populations with respect to the markers grouped in clusters ∼Ⅳ, suggesting that these can be used as forensic ancestry informative Indel markers to distinguish the Gelao from other continental populations. Genetic ancestry analyses demonstrated that Tai-Kadai-speaking Gelao share a dominant ancestry component with Hmong-Mien-speaking Miao. Our population genetic results from multidimensional scaling plots, principal component analysis, neighboring-joining tree construction and hierarchical clustering also suggested that the Zunyi Gelao are genetically closer to their linguistically or geographically close populations, such as the Han Chinese, Guizhou Bouyei and the Hubei Tujia, than to Turkic and Tibeto-Burman speakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ddRAD data reveal a credible phylogenetic relationship of the four main genera of BDG complex. • Phylogenetic relationships were largely supported by morphological data. • The four genera may have undergone a complicated evolutionary history with introgression. • There were conflicts between the plastome and ddRAD topologies. The Bambusa-Dendrocalamus-Gigantochloa complex (BDG complex) is the most diversified and phylogenetically recalcitrant group of the paleotropical woody bamboos. Species of this complex occur in tropical and subtropical Asia and most of them are of great economic, cultural and ecological value. The lack of resolution achieved through the analyses of previous molecular datasets has long confounded its phylogenetic estimation and generic delimitation. Here, we adopted a ddRAD-seq strategy to investigate phylogenetic relationships of the four main genera (Bambusa , Dendrocalamus , Gigantochloa , and Melocalamus) in the BDG complex. A total of 102 species were sampled, and SNP data were generated. Both MP and ML analyses of the ddRAD-seq data resulted in a well-resolved topology with Gigantochloa and Melocalamus confirmed as monophyletic, and Melocalamus resolved as sister to the rest of the complex. Bambusa and Dendrocalamus were both resolved as paraphyletic. The phylogenetic relationships were mostly supported by morphological evidence including characters of the branch complement, rachilla, lodicules, filaments and stigma. We also generated and assembled complete plastid genomes of 48 representative species. There were conflicts between the plastome and the ddRAD topologies. Our study demonstrated that RAD-seq can be used to reconstruct evolutionary history of lineages such as the bamboos where ancient hybridization and polyploidy play a significant role. The four genera of the BDG complex have a complex evolutionary history which is likely a product of ancient introgression events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the reanalysis data and local weather station data, the relationship between El Niño and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the summer precipitation over Northwest China (SPNWC) is investigated. A pronounced rainfall response is observed in post‐ENSO summer, especially over North Xinjiang and Yili River valley. A possible mechanism is proposed for such a seasonal lagged impact. El Niño could induce Indian Ocean warming that persists into boreal spring and summer although El Niño itself has dissipated. The warmer Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) would heat the tropospheric atmosphere and elevate the tropical geopotential height at the upper level. As a result, the South Asian High (SAH) exhibits a southward extension due to the increasing geopotential height in its southern flank. A southward displacement of subtropical jet is evident associated with such SAH shift, which further induces a barotropic low pressure anomaly over central Asia. Meanwhile, associated with the southward displacement of subtropical jet, the water vapor from tropical Indian Ocean tends to transport across Iranian Plateau and bring wet and warm air into central Asia. The resultant convergence of water vapor with cold and dry air from high latitude leads to the observed rainfall anomaly to the south and east of Balkhash Lake, explaining the lagged relationship between ENSO and SPNWC. Our results have potential applications on the seasonal prediction of SPNWC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Astragalus is monophyletic dated to the mid Miocene. • The medifixed hair type and the annual habit each evolved multiple times. • Astragalus is supported to be sister to the Oxytropis + Coluteoid clade. • The atpF intron loss in the chloroplast genome is detected in the Oxytropis + Coluteoid clade. • Ten major clades were recovered in eastern Asian Astragalus. Astragalus , as the largest genus of the flowering plants, is well-known for its high species richness and morphological diversity. Previous studies suggested that many of the subgenera of Astragalus are not monophyletic and the phylogenetic relationships within the genus are still poorly known. In this study, we sampled 117 accessions of Astragalus and its close relatives, covering 55 sections of the genus plus 30 outgroup taxa to recover the main clades of eastern Asian Astragalus based on sequences of the whole chloroplast genome and 65 chloroplast CDSs. Astragalus is supported to be monophyletic and it is sister to the Oxytropis + Coluteoid clade. Within Astragalus , we recovered ten clades, and the ten clades differ substantially from Bunge's subgenera. The former segregate genus Astracantha is also monophyletic, but embedded within Astragalus s. str., supporting the merge of the spiny former genus Astracantha with Astragalus. We detected the atpF intron losses in the chloroplast genome of the Oxytropis + Coluteoid clade, i.e., the sister clade to Astragalus. Furthermore, we estimated the ancestral states of the trichome morphology and habit via the Bayesian Binary Method. The medifixed hair type is inferred to have developed at least five times and the annual habit originated at least six times. In addition, Astragalus is estimated to have originated in the mid Miocene (stem age, 16.09 Ma, 95% HPD: 12.46–20.50 Ma). The divergence times of the medifixed hair groups ranged from 4.03 to 0.87 Ma, mostly 2–1 Ma, which are correlated with the estimated phased uplifts of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). We hypothesize that the uplifts of the QTP, which contributed to aridification in eastern Asia and the adjacent regions, may have accelerated the rapid speciation of Astragalus , especially the xerophilous groups (i.e. the medifixed hair groups). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been increasing global concern about the spillover transmission of pangolin-associated microbes. To assess the risk of these microbes for emergence as human pathogens, we integrated data from multiple sources to describe the distribution and spectrum of microbes harbored by pangolins. Wild and trafficked pangolins have been mainly recorded in Asia and Africa, while captive pangolins have been reported in European and North American countries. A total of 128 microbes, including 92 viruses, 25 bacteria, eight protists, and three uncharacterized microbes, have been identified in five pangolin species. Out of 128 pangolin-associated microbes, 31 (including 13 viruses, 15 bacteria, and three protists) have been reported in humans, and 54 are animal-associated viruses. The phylogenetic analysis of human-associated viruses carried by pangolins reveals that they are genetically close to those naturally circulating among human populations in the world. Pangolins harbor diverse microbes, many of which have been previously reported in humans and animals. Abundant viruses initially detected in pangolins might exhibit risks for spillover transmission., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Long-term exposure to ambient and household particulate matter (PM2.5) causes death and health loss, and both are the leading risk factor to global disease burden. We assessed spatiotemporal trends of ambient and household PM2.5 attributable burdens across various diseases at the global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2017., Methods: Data on PM2.5-attributable disease burdens were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2017. Numbers and age-standardized rates (ASRs) of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and corresponding estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were estimated by disease, age, sex, Socio-demographic Index (SDI), locations., Results: Exposure to PM2.5 contributed to 4.58 million deaths and 142.52 million DALYs globally in 2017, among which ambient PM2.5 contributed to 64.2% deaths and 58.3% DALYs. ASRs of deaths and DALYs in 2017 decreased to 59.62/10 5 persons with an EAPC of -2.15 (95% CI: 2.21 to -2.09) and 1856.61/10 5 persons with an EAPC of -2.58 (95% CI: 2.64 to -2.51), respectively compared to those in 1990. Ambient PM2.5-attributable Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have dominated major concern in middle and low SDI countries especially in South Asia and East Asia, while household PM2.5-attributable lower respiratory infections (LRIs) still caused the largest burden in low SDI countries in Africa and Asia. Those under 5 and over 70 years old had the largest burdens in PM2.5 attributable LRI and NCDs, respectively., Conclusion: In conclusion, ambient PM2.5-attributable NCDs have threatened public health in middle and low SDI countries, while household PM2.5-attributable LRI still caused the largest burden in low SDI countries. More positive strategies should be tailored to reduce PM2.5-attributable burdens considering specific settings globally., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technologies can sequence many targeted regions of multiple samples simultaneously and are gaining great interest in the forensic community. The Precision ID Identity Panel contains 90 autosomal SNPs and 34 upper Y-Clade SNPs, which was designed with small amplicons and optimized for forensic degraded or challenging samples. Here, 184 unrelated individuals from three East Asian minority ethnicities (Tibetan, Uygur and Hui) were analyzed using the Precision ID Identity Panel and the Ion PGM System. The sequencing performance and corresponding forensic statistical parameters of this MPS-SNP panel were investigated. The inter-population relationships and substructures among three investigated populations and 30 worldwide populations were further investigated using PCA, MDS, cladogram and STRUCTURE. No significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) tests was observed across all 90 autosomal SNPs. The combined matching probability (CMP) for Tibetan, Uygur and Hui were 2.5880 × 10 -33 , 1.7480 × 10 -35 and 4.6326 × 10 -34 respectively, and the combined power of exclusion (CPE) were 0.999999386152271, 0.999999607712827 and 0.999999696360182 respectively. For 34 Y-SNPs, only 16 haplogroups were obtained, but the haplogroup distributions differ among the three populations. Tibetans from the Sino-Tibetan population and Hui with multiple ethnicities with an admixture population have genetic affinity with East Asian populations, while Uygurs of a Eurasian admixture population have similar genetic components to the South Asian populations and are distributed between East Asian and European populations. The aforementioned results suggest that the Precision ID Identity Panel is informative and polymorphic in three investigated populations and could be used as an effective tool for human forensics., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)