Search

Aiming at the problems such as slow traceability efficiency, poor sharing, and the difficulty of matching the throughput of a blockchain single chain structure due to the complexity of the grain food supply chain links, the large number of participants, and the large amount of data information, this paper proposes a grain food blockchain traceability information management model based on the master-slave multichain structure by analyzing the processes and data characteristics of each link in the grain food supply chain; on this basis, the PLEW consensus algorithm based on Raft + improved PoW algorithm is designed for the master chain, and the CI-PBFT consensus algorithm based on trusted information degree is designed for the slave chain. The master chain and slave chain are anchored to each other through hash locking, and the data is uploaded and queried through smart contracts. In order to verify the effectiveness of the model, the blockchain traceability system is designed and implemented based on Hyperledger Fabric2.2. At the same time, it is compared with the transaction throughput and traceability efficiency of the blockchain single chain structure. Through the safety analysis of the data information of a company in Hubei, the results show that the grain traceability system designed and implemented in this study has certain advantages over the blockchain single chain structure in all aspects. It can also solve the grain food security problems that consumers worry about, and provide reference for the research of grain blockchain traceability information management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study describes the epidemiologic features of an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Tianjin caused by a novel coronavirus and provides the scientific basis for prevention and control measures. Methods: Data from COVID-19 cases were collected from daily notifications given to the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China and Tianjin Health Committee. All of the data were analyzed with SPSS, version 24.0 software (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). Results: As of February 24, 2020, there have been 135 confirmed cases, 3 deaths, and 87 recoveries in Tianjin, China. The incidence of COVID-19 was 8.65/1 000 000 with a 2.22% case fatality rate. Regarding geographic distribution, the incidence was 8.82 per 1 000 000 in urban areas and 8.00 per 1 000 000 in suburbs. During the early stage of the epidemic, most cases came from urban areas and in patients with a history of sojourning in Hubei Province. The majority of patients were 31–70 years old (75.97%). A familial clustering was the most important characteristic of COVID-19 (accounting for 74.81%). Conclusions: Current information suggests that people are generally susceptible to COVID-19, which has shown a familial clustering in Tianjin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2019, the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The epidemic quickly broke out and spread throughout the country. Now it becomes a pandemic that affects the whole world. In this study, three models were used to fit and predict the epidemic situation in China: a modified SEIRD (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered-Dead) dynamic model, a neural network method LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory), and a GWR (Geographically Weighted Regression) model reflecting spatial heterogeneity. Overall, all the three models performed well with great accuracy. The dynamic SEIRD prediction APE (absolute percent error) of China had been ≤ 1.0% since Mid-February. The LSTM model showed comparable accuracy. The GWR model took into account the influence of geographical differences, with R2 = 99.98% in fitting and 97.95% in prediction. Wilcoxon test showed that none of the three models outperformed the other two at the significance level of 0.05. The parametric analysis of the infectious rate and recovery rate demonstrated that China's national policies had effectively slowed down the spread of the epidemic. Furthermore, the models in this study provided a wide range of implications for other countries to predict the short-term and long-term trend of COVID-19, and to evaluate the intensity and effect of their interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ordovician sequences at Huanghuachang, northern Yichang City of Hubei Province, Central China, are representative of an outer‐shelf setting of the Yangtze epicontinental sea, South China Block. Continuous drill cores of the Well Yihuang 1 penetrated the Upper Ordovician units of the Miaopo, Pagoda, Linhsiang, Wufeng, and Kuanyinchiao Formations in ascending order. Such a continuous succession gives valuable insights into environmental changes and an extinction event through Late Ordovician time. Results suggest that sluggish circulation and oligotrophic conditions were characteristic of the region from Sandbian to early Hirnantian Epochs of the Late Ordovician. Thin‐bedded limestones within the Miaopo Formation shales and nodular limestones of the Pagoda and Linhsiang Formations are mainly wackestones and mudstones with sparse and fine‐grained trilobite, cephalopod, gastropod, ostracod, and crinoid bioclasts with rare brachiopod and bivalve bioclasts, further showing gradual decreasing in abundance and grain size upwards through the succession. Such biological and lithological changes are interpreted as a trend towards a deeper and calmer seafloor below storm wave‐base. The Kwangsian Orogeny of the late Katian Epoch altered the geography of the region, creating a large embayment in the area of the Well Yihuang 1 core. Thus the sequence developed upwards to the Wufeng Formation graptolitic black shales consistent with formation in a dysoxic and stagnant embayment that excluded carbonate production and benthic biota, but ideal for preservation of planktic graptolite fossils. Bioclastic packstone and quartz grain lenses interlayered with the black shales are occasionally sourced from southeastward shallow submarine highs closed to the Cathaysian Land. Change from this interpreted sluggish ocean circulation affecting the ocean floor was delayed to the early Hirnantian Epoch, when active circulation is related to the onset of the latest Ordovician glaciation which resulted in an oxygenated ocean floor during regression, favorable for the thriving shelly Hirnantia Fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: More than 80% of schistosomiasis patients in China live in the lake and marshland regions. The purpose of our study is to assess the effect of a comprehensive strategy to control transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in marshland regions. Methodology/Principal Findings: In a cluster randomized controlled trial, we implemented an integrated control strategy in twelve villages from 2009 through 2011 in Gong'an County, Hubei Province. The routine interventions included praziquantel chemotherapy and controlling snails, and were implemented in all villages. New interventions, mainly consisting of building fences to limit the grazing area for bovines, building safe pastures for grazing, improving the residents' health conditions and facilities, were only implemented in six intervention villages. Results showed that the rate of S. japonicum infection in humans, bovines, snails, cow dung and mice in the intervention group decreased from 3.41% in 2008 to 0.81% in 2011, 3.3% to none, 11 of 6,219 to none, 3.9% to none and 31.7% to 1.7%, respectively (P<0.001 for all comparisons). In contrast, there were no statistically significant reductions of S. japonicum infection in humans, bovines and snails from 2008 to 2011 in the control group (P>0.05 for all comparisons). Moreover, a generalized linear model showed that there was a higher infection risk in humans in the control group than in the intervention group (OR = 1.250, P = 0.001) and an overall significant downward trend in infection risk during the study period. Conclusions/Significance: The integrated control strategy, designed to reduce the role of bovines and humans as sources of S. japonicum infection, was highly effective in controlling the transmission of S. japonicum in marshland regions in China. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-PRC-12002405. Author Summary: More than 80% of schistosomiasis patients in China live in the lake and marshland regions. Hence, how to control transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in these regions is especially important. From 2009 through 2011, we implemented an integrated control strategy, designed to reduce the role of bovines and humans as sources of S. japonicum infection, in twelve villages Gong'an County of Hubei Province, which is located in typical marshland. After three years, the rate of S. japonicum infection in humans, bovines and snails significantly declined in the six intervention villages. In contrast, there was no significant decline in these indexes in the six control villages. Moreover, there was a higher infection risk in humans in the control group than the intervention group. Our study showed that the integrated control strategy was highly effective in controlling the transmission of S. japonicum in marshland regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on the questionnaire inquiring for landslide disaster of Enshi Autonomous Prefecture in Hubei province, the biophysical, socio-economic, experience, and emergency preparedness and adaptation strategies to disasters characteristics are classified by using SPSS cluster analysis method. It aims to ascertain landslide prone areas in China and assess their vulnerability to flooding and landslide. The results of the cluster analysis of the survey data generated three clusters, high vulnerable-traditional farmers, medium vulnerable-large economical farmers and low vulnerable-commercial and less-farm. The local government should take some accurate and effective measures to protect people and their property from destroying from rainfall-related landslide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]