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Introduction: Codonopsis pilosula is widely sought-after in China as a substitute for the more expensive ginseng. Continuous cropping of C. pilosula supports a vibrant health-supplement industry but requires significant inputs of fertilizers which increase production costs and degrade the environment. Methods: Here, three environmentally-friendly natural fertilizers, including biochar, bacterial fertilizer, and vermicompost, were used at different concentrations (undiluted, diluted 10 times, diluted 50 times) to determine their efficacy in seed germination and growth physiology of C. pilosula in continuous cropping. Results: The results showed that biochar, bacterial fertilizer, and vermicompost with different concentrations of leachate could all increase the germination rate, germination potential and germination index of C. pilosula seeds treated with inter-root soil leachate of continuous C. pilosula; increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) in C. pilosula seedlings under the stress of inter-root soil leachate of continuous C. pilosula, reduce the over-accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and increase the resistance of C. pilosula seedlings. After transplanting, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased by an average of 16.1%. Peroxidase (POD) levels showed an average increase of 16.4%. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in the MDA content, with an average decrease of 50%, and the content of osmoticregulating substances (free proline content and soluble protein content) exhibited a significant increase. Discussion: In conclusion, biochar, bacterial manure, and vermicompost have the potential to overcome the challenges of extensive fertilizer use in continuous cropping of C. pilosula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Hedi virus (HEDV) and Wuxiang virus (WUXV) are newly discovered Bunyaviruses transmitted by sandflies. The geographical distribution of isolation of these two viruses continues to expand and it has been reported that WUXV causes neurological symptoms and even death in suckling mice. However, little is known about the prevalence of the two viruses in mammalian infections. Methods: In order to understand the infection status of HEDV and WUXV in humans and animals from regions where the viruses have been isolated, this study used Western blotting to detect the positive rates of HEDV and WUXV IgG antibodies in serum samples from febrile patients, dogs, and chickens in the forementioned regions. Results: The results showed that of the 29 human serum samples, 17.24% (5/29) tested positive for HEDV, while 68.96% (20/29) were positive for WUXV. In the 31 dog serum samples, 87.10% (27/31) were positive for HEDV and 70.97% (22/31) were positive for WUXV, while in the 36 chicken serum samples, 47.22% (17/36) were positive for HEDV, and 52.78% (19/36) were positive for WUXV. Discussion: These findings suggest there are widespread infections of HEDV and WUXV in mammals (dogs, chickens) and humans from the regions where these viruses have been isolated. Moreover, the positive rate of HEDV infections was higher in local animals compared to that measured in human specimens. This is the first seroepidemiological study of these two sandfly-transmitted viruses. The findings of the study have practical implications for vector-borne viral infections and related zoonotic infections in China, as well as providing an important reference for studies on the relationship between sandfly-transmitted viruses and zoonotic infections outside of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the performance of various grape hybrids for yield and quality traits, and to identify hybrid vigor for specific traits that can be utilized in future breeding programs. The research involved evaluating 76 hybrids derived from two diverse parents i.e., Pinot Noir and Marselan, during 2021 and 2022. Multiple fruit yield and biochemical traits were examined and quality traits of peel, flesh, and seeds were recorded. Two-way analysis of variance for parents was performed for all the traits under study to understand the significance of these traits over two years. Likewise, statistical analysis, such as the coefficient of variation, combined transmissibility rate, heterosis, and heterobeltiosis were computed to compare the performance of the hybrids against mid and better parents. The highest CV and Ta values were observed for fruit yield and peel phenolic contents respectively, across both years. The two-year data suggested that certain hybrids displayed superior heterosis and heterobeltiosis for numerous individual traits. Hybrid number 7 exhibited negative hybrid vigor for most of the traits and must be avoided for general cultivation. while hybrid number 25 showed increased hybrid vigor fruit yield and total flavonoids in peel, flesh, and seeds as well as a higher concentration of tannins in seeds. This research underscores the potential of hybrid number 25 for grape farmers and the wine industry in China, hinting at the untapped potential of hybrid grapes in producing superior wines. The study's insights aim to aid the development of indigenous grape varieties, reducing China's reliance on imports and fostering a unique Chinese wine identity in the global market. The data derived from this two-year evaluation can guide future breeding programs and further exploration of grape hybrid vigor to optimize both yield and wine-making quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China experienced another widespread Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak recently caused by the Omicron variant, which is less severe but far more contagious than the other COVID-19 variants, leading local governments to focus efforts on eliminating the spread of the disease. Previous studies showed that after "recovering" from the virus, some patients could re-test positive for COVID-19 with nucleic acid tests, challenging the control of disease spread. In this study, we aimed to analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics of re-positive COVID-19 patients in Northeast China. We retrospectively analyzed data from confirmed reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) re-positive COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin Province, China, from March to June 2022. Detailed clinical symptoms, medical history, anti-Corona Virus (CoV) IgG and IgM levels, and CoV nucleic acid cycle threshold (Ct) values during the re-positive period were collected and analyzed. A total of 180 patients were included in this study, including 62 asymptomatic cases and 118 mild cases. The cohort included 113 men and 67 women, with an average age of 45.73 years. The median time between recovery from the virus and re-positivity was 13 days. Our results showed that the proportion of re-positive patients with symptoms was lower, and the nucleic acid testpositive duration was shorter during the re-positive period. Furthermore, in patients with underlying disease, the proportion of patients with symptoms was higher, anti-CoV IgG levels were lower, and the total disease duration was longer. In conclusion, during the re-positive period, the symptoms were milder, and the CoV nucleic acid test-positive course was shorter. The concomitant underlying disease is an important factor associated with clinical symptoms, and the overall course of COVID-19 re-positive patients may be associated with lower anti-CoV IgG levels. Large-scale and multicenter studies are recommended to better understand the pathophysiology of recurrence in patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: A programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor coupled with radiotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy is a potential therapeutic strategy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to determine if circulating tumor cells (CTCs) positive for programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) could be employed as a predictive biomarker in HCC patients receiving triple therapy. Methods: In this study, HCC patients received a PD-1 inhibitor in combination with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and antiangiogenic therapy. Following IMRT, the PD-1 inhibitor was administrated once every 3 weeks, while the antiangiogenic drug was given once a day. Treatment was continued until the disease progressed. Two mL of peripheral blood was collected at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment for CTC enrichment using the CytoSorter®system system with a CytoSorter™ CTC PD-L1 Kit (Watson Biotech., China). Result: A total of 47 HCC patients receiving the triple therapy were enrolled in this study. Patients with < 2 PD-L1+ CTCs at baseline had a higher objective response rate (ORR) and longer overall survival (OS) than those with = 2 PD-L1+ CTCs (56.5% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.007; not reach vs. 10.8 months, p = 0.001, respectively). The count of PD-L1+ CTCs was found to be an independent predictive biomarker of OS. Furthermore, the objective response was more likely to be achieved in patients with a dynamic decrease in PD-L1+ CTC counts at 1 month after treatment. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that PD-L1+ CTCs could be a predictive biomarker for HCC patients receiving PD-1 inhibitors in combination with IMRT and antiangiogenic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the popularization of late-maturing and high-yielding maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids, high kernel moisture concentration at the usual harvest time has resulted in increased kernel breakage and additional drying costs. To achieve low kernel moisture at harvest in China's maize-growing areas, there is a need for the selection of fast dry-down hybrids and the prediction of the ideal harvest time. During 2014-2017, the time-series kernel moisture concentrations of three maize hybrids were measured in the field in three major maize-producing regions in China. Our goal was to accurately predict maize kernel dry-down in the field. We found that the Logistic Power model M = 90/[1 + (T/a)b] could be used to accurately predict the entire dry-down process of maize kernels across hybrids and regions (concordance correlation coefficient, 0.884-0.996; RMSE, 2.76-5.16%; R², .943-.986; and coefficient of residual mass, -0.09-0.14), where M is the kernel moisture concentration (wet basis), a and b are parameters that reflect the dry-down characteristics of the hybrids, and T is the thermal time (°C d) from silking based on mean daily temperature over the periods of grain-filling and grain-drying. This work provides a new and convenient model for predicting kernel moisture concentration and evaluating the dry-down characteristics of hybrids using parameters a and b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present studies were aimed to investigate the impact of cultivating different cover crops on soil fertility for 2-yrs at different cropping densities and cropping patterns during the summer fallow period in the loess plateau of China. In the first experiment, under split plot design a summer fallow treatment was compared with four different cover crops including mung bean (Phaseolus radiatus L.), huai bean (Glycine ussuriensis Regel et Maack), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) under varying cover cropping patterns (crop rotation and crop relay intercropping). The second experiment was conducted with RCDB design to investigate four different cover crops (Huai bean, mung bean, hairy vetch and rapeseed) and four planting densities (75, 100, 125 and 150% of the recommended planting density). The results revealed that mung bean, huai bean and hairy vetch at 150% of planting density produced the highest biomass, while the rapeseed at 75% planting densities yielded higher biomass compared to the local recommended rate. Moreover, huai bean and rapeseed rotation resulted in higher contents of soil organic matter, total and mineral N, available P and K contents in comparison to the fallow treatment. Thus, Huai bean and rapeseed wheat rotations are effective strategies in order to improve crops productivity and soil quality in the Loess Plateau of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the causes of sudden water pollution accidents in the main canal of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China. Triangular fuzzy function and fault tree analysis method were combined, and qualitative and quantitative fuzzy fault tree analyses of sudden water pollution accidents in main canals of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China were conducted. Results show that the probability of sudden water pollution accident in the main canal of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is 0.0205%, which is in accordance with the actual situation. The instantaneous deterioration of water quality, excessive water quality, artificial poisoning, and terrorist attacks have the greatest impacts on sudden water pollution accidents, followed by vessel traffic accidents and geological hazards, and finally by road traffic accidents. The conclusion provides a decision-making reference for the prevention and treatment of sudden water pollution accidents in the main canal of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases. The causative agent of schistosomiasis in China, Schistosoma japonicum, has long been a major public health problem. An understanding of fundamental evolutionary and genetic processes in this species has major implications for its control and elimination. Intensive control efforts have greatly reduced the incidence of schistosomiasis in China, but little is known about the genetic consequences of these efforts. Methods: To investigate this, we sampled twice (years 2003 and 2011) from two endemic regions where populations of S. japonicum had persisted despite control efforts and genotyped these samples using ten microsatellite markers. Our main hypothesis was that parasite genetic diversity would be greatly reduced across this time period. Conclusions: There was no apparent reduction in allelic diversity, and a non-significant reduction in clonal diversity in these parasite populations between 2003 and 2011. We did, however, detect temporal genetic differentiation among the samples. Such a significant temporal genetic variation of S. japonicum populations has not been reported before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schistosoma japonicum is a significant public health risk in parts of China and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. To gain an insight into the epidemiology of schistosomiasis japonica, a detailed investigation of S. japonicum genetic population structure is needed. Methods: Using three mitochondrial DNA fragments and ten microsatellite loci, we investigated the genetic diversity within and structure among twelve populations of S. japonicum sampled on a geographical scale covering most major endemic areas. Results: Schistosoma japonicum lineages from Indonesia, the Philippines and Chinese Taiwan were clearly distinct from each other and from those in mainland China. Within mainland China, there was some evidence for genetic divergence between populations from the mountain and lake regions. However, the analysis inferred no clear sub-population structure in the lake region of mainland China. High genetic diversity was found among S. japonicum populations of mainland China and this was significantly higher than those from island regions. Conclusions: High genetic diversity within and substantial differentiation among populations were demonstrated in S. japonicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the promulgation of "the Regulations on Open Government Information", the information publicity work of Chinese government at all levels has made great progresses through practice. In recent years, the publicity of government information through micro blog is attracting more and more attention of scholars. This article analyzes the micro blogs of @Guangdong Politicsc & Law Committee and related administration from October to December in 2012 and points out that Open Government Information of @Guangdong Politics & Law Committee and related Administration is a combination of static and dynamic information and has an obvious feature of the administration it belongs to the governmental information publicity on micro blog mainly depends on mass media; during the process of crisis communication the micro blog became an information platform of communicating access to the public and mass media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefit of steels with a combination of high strength and good ductility has attracted generations of researchers to work in this area. The strength of current Chinese structural steels typically falls in the range 400-1000 MPa. Higher strengths are desired to achieve the aims of saving energy and raw materials and protecting the environment, through reducing the weight of steel parts, or of improving safety standards. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop ultrahigh strength steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sorts and detection methods of environmental hormone were analyzed firstly, and then the effects of environmental hormone on organisms and humanity were discussed. Finally the control measures of environmental hormone pollution, such as reducing the use of goods and pesticide and the study of new substitutes and degradation technology are advanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]