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Prior to this study, no species of Pseudophanias Raffray had been reported from Nanling, a vast biodiversity conservation area that spans five provinces in southern China. In this paper, three new species of the genus are described: Pseudophanias furcilobus sp. nov. (Guizhou, Guangxi), P. leigong sp. nov. (Guizhou), and P. mulun sp. nov. (Guangxi), suggesting that additional study on the diversity of this group in the area is required. These species are characterized, keyed, and compared to similar congeners, supplemented with illustrations of the habitus and other morphological characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, due to adverse geological conditions, intense human engineering activities, and extreme weather conditions, catastrophic landslides have frequently occurred in southwest China, causing severe loss of life and property. Identifying the kinematic features of potential landslides can effectively support landslide hazard prevention. This study proposes a remote sensing identification method for rotational, planar traction, and planar thrust slides based on geomorphic features as well as vertical and slope-oriented deformation rates. Rotational landslides are characterized by similar vertical and horizontal deformation rates, with vertical deformation mainly occurring at the head and gradually decreasing along the slope, while horizontal deformation mainly occurs at the foot and gradually increases along the slope. As for the planar slide, the dominant deformation is in the horizontal direction. It is further classified into the planar traction and planar thrust types according to the driving position. The vertical deformation of planar traction slides is concentrated at the foot, while the vertical deformation of planar thrust slides is concentrated at the head of the landslide. We identified 1 rotational landslide, 10 planar traction landslides and 10 planar thrust landslides in the basalt weathering crust area of Guizhou. Field investigations of three landslides verified the method's accuracy. Combining two-dimensional rainfall and time-series deformations, we found that there is a significant positive correlation between landslide deformation acceleration and precipitation. The landslide kinematic identification method proposed in this paper overcomes the shortcomings of the inability to accurately characterize landslide motion by line-of-sight displacement and realizes the non-contact identification of active landslide motion patterns, which is an essential reference value for geological disaster prevention and control in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many species of terrestrial Mollusca with rapid reproduction rates, a wide distribution range, and a large population. They are not only an important wildlife resource but also an important component of biodiversity. Previously, basic research has been conducted on the species diversity and distribution of terrestrial Mollusca in some nature reserves in Guizhou and Yunnan. The existing sample data of terrestrial Mollusca in Guizhou and survey results from Guiyang, Libo, and Xishui from July 2019 to December 2020 listed 316 species and subspecies (including 13 undefined species) belonging to two subclasses, four orders, 20 families, and 76 genera in Guizhou Province. From the perspective of species composition, the dominant family is Cyclophoridae, with 16 genera and 71 species; the second most dominant family is Bradybaenidae, with 15 genera and 61 species, followed by Helicinidae and Cochlicopidae with one genera and one species. The dominant species are Kaliella cavicola, Bradybaena similaris, Diplommatina herziana, Diplommatina consularis, Chamalycaeus nanus, and Plectotropis pseudopatula. From the perspective of geographical distribution, terrestrial Mollusca are the most abundant in the central region of Guizhou, with 17 families, 54 genera, and 170 species. The areas with the second greatest abundance of terrestrial Mollusca are the sub-subtropical humid areas in southern Guizhou and the sub-subtropical areas in southwestern Guizhou, with 18 families, 56 genera, and 152 species and 17 families, 57 genera, and 150 species, respectively. There are only 10 families, 18 genera, and 27 species in the eastern area of Guizhou. Similarity analysis of species in different regions of Guizhou Province showed that the species composition of terrestrial Mollusca in the southern area, northern area, and southwestern area of Guizhou is similar, whereas the species composition of terrestrial Mollusca in the eastern area of Guizhou is markedly different from that of other regions. This paper discusses the species and distribution pattern of terrestrial Mollusca in Guizhou Province and their resource characteristics to provide a scientific basis for the protection and rational utilization of terrestrial Mollusca resources and to further enrich the research data of terrestrial Mollusca in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraphlomis kuankuoshuiensis (Lamiaceae), a new species found in the limestone areas of northern Guizhou, China, is described and illustrated in this paper. Based on its tubular-campanulate calyx, this taxon should be a member of sect. Paraphlomis Prain. The new species resembles P. patentisetulosa C.Y. Wu & H. W. Li, P. hispida C.Y. Wu, and P. hirsutissima C.Y. Wu & H.W. Li, but differs from these three taxa in the following aspects: the stems are very short (<7 cm), with one or two short internodes, giving the impression of having a tuft of basal leaves; it has sparsely setose hairs on the outer surface of the calyces and short fruiting calyces. The florescence, fruit period, habitat, and the geographical distribution of P. kuankuoshuiensis are also quite different from the three closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ｋａｉｌｉ ｍａｒｋｅｔ， ｉｎ ａ ｃｉｔｙ ｉｎ Ｇｕｉｚｈｏｕ Ｐｒｏｖｉｎｃｅ， Ｓｏｕｔｈｗｅｓｔ Ｃｈｉｎａ ｗａｓ ｓｐｏｎｔａｎｅｏｕｓｌｙ ｏｒｇａｎｉｚｅｄ ｂｙ ｌｏｃａｌ ｍｉｎｏｒｉｔｙ． Ｌｏｔｓ ｏｆ Ｍｉａｏ ｍｅｄｉｃｉｎａｌ ｐｌａｎｔｓ ｗｅｒｅ ｔｒａｄｅｄ ｈｅｒｅ， ａｎｄ ｔｈｅｒｅ ａｒｅ ａｌｓｏ ｖａｒｉｏｕｓ ｅｔｈｎｏｍｅｄｉｃｉｎａｌ ｐｌａｎｔｓ ｕｓｅｄ ｂｙ Ｄｏｎｇ ｅｔｈｎｉｃ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ， ｐｌａｙｉｎｇ ａｎ ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔ ｒｏｌｅ ｆｏｒ ｔｈｅ ａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎ， ｃｏｎｓｅｒｖａｔｉｏｎ ａｎｄ ｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｃａｔｉｏｎ ｏｆ ｔｒａｄｉｔｉｏｎａｌ Ｄｏｎｇ ｍｅｄｉｃｉ ｎａｌ ｋｎｏｗｌｅｄｇｅ． Ｈｏｗｅｖｅｒ， ｆｅｗ ｒｅｃｏｒｄｓ ａｂｏｕｔ Ｄｏｎｇ ｍｅｄｉｃｉｎａｌ ｐｌａｎｔｓ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ ｍａｒｋｅｔ ｈａｄ ｂｅｅｎ ｒｅｐｏｒｔｅｄ． Ｂａｓｅｄ ｏｎ ｔｈｅ ａｐｐｒｏａｃｈｅｓ ｏｆ ｅｔｈｎｏｂｏｔａｎｙ ａｎｄ ｔａｘｏｎｏｍｙ， ｓｉｘ ｉｎｖｅｓｔｉｇａｔｉｏｎｓ ｗｅｒｅ ｃａｒｒｉｅｄ ｏｕｔ ｄｕｒｉｎｇ ２０１４－２０１７． Ｔｈｅ ｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｍｅｄｉｃｉｎａｌ ｐｌａｎｔｓ ａｎｄ ｔｈｅ ｐｌａｎｔ ｓａｍｐｌｅｓ ｗｅｒｅ ｃｏｌｌｅｃｔｅｄ ｗｉｔｈ ａｓｓｉｓｔａｎｃｅ ｆｒｏｍ ｔｈｅ ｌｏｃａｌ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｍｅｄｉｃｉｎａｌ ｍａｒｋｅｔ ａｎｄ ｓｕｒｒｏｕｎｄｉｎｇ ａｒｅａｓ ｄｕｒｉｎｇ ｔｈｅ ｆｉｅｌｄ ｉｎｖｅｓｔｉｇａｔｉｏｎｓ． Ｔｈｅ ｒｅｓｕｌｔ ｓｈｏｗｅｄ ｔｈａｔ ａ ｔｏｔａｌ ｏｆ １１１ ｍｅｄｉｃｉｎａｌ ｐｌａｎｔ ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓ ｕｓｅｄ ｂｙ Ｄｏｎｇ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ｗｅｒｅ ｉｄｅｎｔｉｆｉｅｄ， ｗｈｉｃｈ ｂｅｌｏｎｇ ｔｏ ６５ ｆａｍｉｌｉｅｓ ａｎｄ １００ ｇｅｎｅｒａ． Ｔｈｅ ｎｕｍｂｅｒ ｏｆ ｆａｍｉｌｉｅｓ ｃｏｎｔａｉｎｉｎｇ ｍｏｒｅ ｔｈａｎ ｆｏｕｒ ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓ ｉｎｃｌｕｄｅｓ Ｌｉｌｉａｃｅａｅ （６ ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓ， ５．４％）， Ｕｍｂｅｌｌｉｆｅｒａｅ （５ ｓｐｐ．， ４．５％）， Ｃｏｍｐｏｓｉｔａｅ （５ ｓｐｐ．， ４．５％）， Ａｒａｃｅａｅ（５ ｓｐｐ．， ４．５％）， ａｎｄ Ｇｅｓｎｅｒｉａｃｅａｅ （４ ｓｐｐ．， ３．６％）． Ｌｉｆｅ ｆｏｒｍｓ ｓｈｏｗｅｄ ｔｈａｔ ｈｅｒｂａｃｅｏｕｓ ｐｌａｎｔｓ ｃｏｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｄ ｔｈｅ ｈｉｇｈｅｓｔ ｐｒｏｐｏｒｔｉｏｎ （７９．３％） ｒｅｐｒｅｓｅｎｔｅｄ ｂｙ ８８ ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓ． Ｕｓｉｎｇ ｐａｒｔ ａｌｓｏ ｓｈｏｗｅｄ ｔｈｅ ｄｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ， ｗｈｉｌｅ ｔｈｅ ｗｈｏｌｅ ｐｌａｎｔｓ ｕｓｅｄ ｆｏｒ ｔｒｅａｔｉｎｇ ａｉｌｍｅｎｔｓ ｒｅａｃｈｅｄ ｔｏ ５０％ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｔｏｔａｌ ｍｅｄｉｃｉｎｅ． Ｂｙ ｃｏｍｐａｒｉｎｇ ｗｉｔｈ Ｍｉａｏ ｍｅｄｉｃｉｎｅ， Ｄｏｎｇ ｐｅｏｐｌｅ ｈａｖｅ ｕｎｉｑｕｅ ｍｅｔｈｏｄｓ ａｎｄ ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ ｔｏ ｔｒｅａｔ ｄｉｓｅａｓｅｓ， ｅｓｐｅｃｉａｌｌｙ ｆｏｃｕｓｉｎｇ ｏｎ ｔｒａｕｍａｔｉｃ ｉｎｊｕｒｙ ａｎｄ ｒｈｅｕｍａｔｉｓｍ． Ｔｈｅｉｒ ｍｅｄｉｃｉｎａｌ ｕｓｅｓ ａｒｅ ｃｌｏｓｅｌｙ ｒｅｌａｔｅｄ ｗｉｔｈ ｒｅｇｉｏｎａｌ ａｎｄ ｎａｔｉｏｎａｌ ｃｈａｒａｃｔｅｒｉｓｔｉｃｓ． Ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ， ｓｕｇｇｅｓｔｉｏｎｓ ｆｏｒ ｓｕｓｔａｉｎａｂｌｅ ｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｔｒａｄｉｔｉｏｎａｌ ｍｅｄｉｃｉｎａｌ ｍａｒｋｅｔ ｉｎ Ｋａｉｌｉ ｗｅｒｅ ｐｒｏｐｏｓｅｄ ｉｎ ｔｈｅ ｔｈｉｓ ｐａｐｅｒ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the quality of human–computer interaction, it is important for computers to be able to identify the images quickly that can trigger pleasant feelings and create a good user experience. To reach this goal, the affective classification of images is an important prerequisite. Prior research into affective image classification used image features as categorical measurable signals. However, these techniques failed to provide a good correlation between the signal properties of image features and the expected affective experience of the viewer, leaving the research unable to bridge the affective gap. To solve this problem, in this paper we propose a method of affective image classification based on information about the user's experience collected through measurable eye movements and electroencephalography (EEG) signals. This approach bridges the affective gap by establishing an association between experience information (measurable signal properties) and the expected affective experience of the viewer. First, we screened eye movement indexes and EEG indexes to provide an affective correlation index. Then we built an experience space based on participants' physiological data obtained using an eye tracker and EEG recorder simultaneously. Next, physiological experience data from the experience space were extracted, analyzed mathematically and normalized to obtain parametric physiological experience data. Using a multiple linear regression technique, we connected the participants' affective states and physiological experience data. We developed a quantitative mapping between the affective experience states and the sample images to acquire the classification of affective images. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed classification method, we conducted a study in which 16 abstract art paintings were classified as positive, negative or neutral based on subjects' physiological responses. The results showed that the proposed affective image classification method was accurate and successful in identifying images that can lead to a pleasurable experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Soil erosion is a main cause of land degradation, and in its accelerated form is also one of the most serious ecological environmental problems. Moreover, there are few studies on migration of mercury (Hg) induced by soil erosion in seriously Hg-polluted districts. This paper selected Wanshan Hg mining area, SW China as the study area. Revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and Geographic information system (GIS) methods were applied to calculate soil and Hg erosion and to classify soil erosion intensity. Our results show that the soil erosion rate can reach up to 600,884tkm−2 yr−1. Surfaces associated with very slight and extremely severe erosion include 76.6% of the entire land in Wanshan. Furthermore, the cumulative erosion rates in the area impacted by extremely severe erosion make up 90.5% of the total. On an annual basis, Hg surface erosion load was predicted to be 505kgyr−1 and the corresponding mean migration flux of Hg was estimated to be 3.02kgkm−2 yr−1. The erosion loads of Hg resulting from farmland and meadow soil were 175 and 319kgyr−1 respectively, which were enhanced compared to other landscape types due to the fact that they are generally located in the steep zones associated with significant reclamation. Contributing to establish a mass balance of Hg in Wanshan Hg mining area, this study supplies a dependable scientific basis for controlling soil and water erosion in the local ecosystems. Land use change is the most effective way for reducing Hg erosion load in Wanshan mining area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper illustrates a real environmental concern and draws attention to the fact that natural processes can mobilize thallium (Tl), a highly toxic metal, which may enter the food chain as a “hidden health killer” with severe health impacts on local human population. Natural processes may be exacerbated by human activities such as mining and farming, and may cause enrichment of Tl in the environment. In geochemically anomalous areas with concentrated levels of Tl in the surface environment (bedrocks, waters, soils, and crops), such as the Lanmuchang area in southwestern Guizhou Province, China, it is essential to establish base-level values and to pay heed to the geological context of “natural contamination,” as high concentrations of Tl in bedrocks/ores (6–35,000 mg/kg) can lead to enrichment of Tl in the aquatic system (0.005–1100 μg/l in groundwaters and 0.07–31 μg/l in surface waters) and soil layers (1.5–124 mg/kg). In sensitive areas such as the Yanshang area of southwestern Guizhou, elevated natural levels of Tl from bedrocks may also cause higher concentrations of Tl in the surface environment, and thus more attention must be paid to geoenvironmental management of human activities if socio-economic catastrophes are to be avoided. Due to high uptake of Tl by crops, Tl can be transferred from soils to crops and remarkably concentrated in food crops. Concentrations of 1–500 mg/kg Tl based on dry weight (DW) were determined in many food crops growing on Tl-contaminated arable soils from the Lanmuchang area. The daily intake of 1.9 mg of Tl from consumed food crops was estimated for the local adult inhabitant of Lanmuchang. Thus, Tl is regarded as a latent health hazard with potential risk of toxicity in humans within areas of “natural” contamination by Tl. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Strong laboratory capacity is essential for detecting and responding to emerging and re-emerging global health threats. We conducted a quantitative laboratory assessment during 2014-2015 in two resource-limited provinces in southern China, Guangxi and Guizhou in order to guide strategies for strengthening core capacities as required by the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).Methods: We selected 28 public health and clinical laboratories from the provincial, prefecture and county levels through a quasi-random sampling approach. The 11-module World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory assessment tool was adapted to the local context in China. At each laboratory, modules were scored 0-100% through a combination of paper surveys, in-person interviews, and visual inspections. We defined module scores as strong (> = 85%), good (70-84%), weak (50-69%), and very weak (< 50%). We estimated overall capacity and compared module scores across the provincial, prefecture, and county levels.Results: Overall, laboratories in both provinces received strong or good scores for 10 of the 11 modules. These findings were primarily driven by strong and good scores from the two provincial level laboratories; prefecture and county laboratories were strong or good for only 8 and 6 modules, respectively. County laboratories received weak scores in 4 modules. The module, 'Public Health Functions' (e.g., surveillance and reporting practices) lagged far behind all other modules (mean score = 46%) across all three administrative levels. Findings across the two provinces were similar.Conclusions: Laboratories in Guangxi and Guizhou are generally performing well in laboratory capacity as required by IHR. However, we recommend targeted interventions particularly for county-level laboratories, where we identified a number of gaps. Given the importance of surveillance and reporting, addressing gaps in public health functions is likely to have the greatest positive impact for IHR requirements. The quantitative WHO laboratory assessment tool was useful in identifying both comparative strengths and weaknesses. However, prior to future assessments, the tool may need to be aligned with the new WHO IHR monitoring and evaluation framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]