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Raindrop size distribution (DSD) is a basic characteristic for describing the microphysical process of rainfall. A better understanding of DSD and its variations is not only crucial for improving microphysical parameterization schemes in numerical weather forecasting models, but also important for radar quantitative precipitation estimation. It shows that DSD characteristics are not only related to geographical location, climate, terrain, and humidity, but also vary among different rainfall types and rain rate in the same region. At present, there are still some uncertainties and limitations in the understanding of microphysical characteristics of rainfall in Northeast China, and the microphysical parameterization scheme still lacks accurate description of rainfall microphysical process. Based on observations of the precipitation phenomenon instrument at Xinmin of Liaoning Province in summer, DSD characteristics of different rainfall rate classes are investigated and compared with those of other regions in China. Spectral width of DSD increases with an increase in rain rate (R). The spectral width of raindrops is close to 8 mm when R>20 mm·h-1. Small drops are predominant in rainfall of Xinmin, but moderate drops make the most significant contribution to total rainfall. Observed DSD samples are also categorized into convective and stratiform rainfall types. The convective rainfall at Xinmin has large raindrop size and low raindrop concentration. Convective rainfall can be identified as continental clusters, with average Dm and lgNw of 2.14 mm and 3.40, while average Dm and lgNw of stratiform rainfall at Xinmin are 1.23 mm and 3.30, respectively. The μ-Λ and Z-R relationships for convective and stratiform rainfall at Xinmin are thus fitted. Fitted μ-Λ relationship at Xinmin is similar to that in other regions fitted with data observed by PARSIVEL disdrometers, but different from the empirical relationship fitted from two-dimensional video raindrop spectrometers (2DVD) observations in other regions, and the difference of instruments is the main cause for the discrepancies of μ-Λ relationships. Compared with East China and North China, Xinmin rainfall has larger Dm, lower lgNw, and higher exponent value of fitted Z-R power-law relationship for convective rainfall, indicating that the radar reflectivity factor at Xinmin increases more rapidly with the increase of rain rate. Using the Z-R empirical formula fitted at Xinmin can reduce the error of radar-based quantitative precipitation estimation. Results would contribute to the understanding of microphysical characteristics of rainfall in Northeast China and the accuracy of radar quantitative precipitation estimation.

Mêdog and Nagqu are two typical climate regions of the Tibetan Plateau, with different atmospheric conditions and local orography. This may lead to different diurnal variation patterns of clouds and precipitation. This paper investigates the diurnal variations of clouds and precipitation in Mêdog and Nagqu, using ground-based measurements from Ka-band cloud radar and a Particle Size and Velocity (PARSIVEL) disdrometer. High frequencies of cloud cover and precipitation occur from 23:00 local solar time (LST) to 05:00 LST in Mêdog, while low frequencies appear from 11:00 LST to 17:00 LST. The occurrence frequencies in Nagqu maintain high values from 13:00 LST to 21:00 LST. In terms of mean rain rate, heavier rainfall appears in the evening and at night in Mêdog, with peaks at 00:00 LST and 18:00 LST, respectively. In Nagqu, the heaviest rainfall occurs at 12:00 LST. In addition, the afternoon convective rainfall in Nagqu is characterized by a much higher concentration of large drops, which can be classified as continental-like. The morning rainfall has the lowest concentration of large drops and can be classified as maritime-like. Finally, the mechanisms of diurnal variations in the two regions are discussed. The diurnal cycle of clouds and precipitation in Mêdog may be associated with the nocturnal convergence of moisture flux and mountain–valley wind circulation. Diurnal variations in Nagqu have a high correlation with the diurnal cycle of solar radiation. The high nocturnal frequency of clouds and precipitation in the two regions at night is closely related to the convergence of moisture flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background ORFV attenuated live vaccines have been the main prophylactic measure against contagious ecthyma in sheep and goats in the last decades, which play an important role in preventing the outbreak of the disease. However, the available vaccines do not induce lasting immunity in sheep and goats. On the other hand, variation in the terminal genome of Orf virus vaccine strains during cell culture adaptation may affect the efficacy of a vaccine. Currently, there are no more effective antiviral treatments available for contagious ecthyma. Results We constructed three eukaryotic expression vectors pcDNA3.1-ORFV011, pcDNA3.1-ORFV059 and pcDNA3.1-ORFV011/ORFV059 and tested their immunogenicity in mouse model. High level expression of the recombinant proteins ORFV011, ORFV059 and ORFV011/ORFV059 was confirmed by western blotting analysis and indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA) tests. The ORFV-specific antibody titers and serum IgG1/IgG2a titers, the proliferation of lymphocytes and ORFV-specific cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) were examined to evaluate the immune responses of the vaccinated mice. We found that mice inoculated with pcDNA3.1-ORFV 011/ORFV059 had significantly stronger immunological responses than those inoculated with pcDNA3.1-ORFV011, pcDNA3.1-ORFV059, or pcDNA3.1-ORFV011 plus pcDNA3.1-ORFV059. Compared to other vaccine plasmids immunized groups, pcDNA3.1-ORFV011/ORFV059 immunized group enhances immunogenicity. Conclusions We concluded that DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1-ORFV011/ORFV059 expressing ORFV011 and ORFV059 chemeric-proteins can significantly improve the potency of DNA vaccination and could be served as more effective and safe approach for new vaccines against ORFV.

In order to estimate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) supplementation on relieving ammonia stress of broilers, 180 22-day-old male broilers were assigned to three groups, six replicates in each group and 10 birds per replicate. The three groups were: (1) a control group without ammonia stress; (2) exposure to 70 ppm atmospheric ammonia (AM); (3) exposure to 70 ppm atmospheric ammonia and administration of 300 mg/kg LA (AM + LA). The experimental period was 3 weeks. Results showed that average daily weight gain was increased and feed conversion ratio was decreased in the AM + LA group, compared with the AM group ( P < 0.05). Total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in serum, and glutathione content in liver were higher in the AM + LA group than that in the AM group ( P < 0.05); however, serum malondialdehyde content was decreased by LA addition ( P < 0.05). Additionally, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were reduced and albumin level was increased by LA addition ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, LA addition could relieve ammonia stress to restore broiler production performance to normal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine idiopathic vesicular disease (PIVD), one of several clinically indistinguishable vesicular diseases of pigs, is caused by the emerging pathogen Senecavirus A (SVA). Despite the widespread prevalence of porcine SVA infection, no effective commercial vaccines for PIVD prevention and control are available, due to high costs associated with vaccine testing in pigs, considerable SVA diversity, and SVA rapid evolution. In this study, SVA CH/JL/2022 (OP562896), a novel mutant SVA strain derived from an isolate obtained from a pig farm in Jilin Province, China, was inactivated then combined with four adjuvants, MONTANIDETM GEL02 PR (GEL 02), MONTANIDETM ISA 201 VG (ISA 201), MONTANIDETM IMG 1313 VG N (IMS1313), or Rehydragel LV (LV). The resulting inactivated SVA CH/JL/2022 vaccines were assessed for efficacy in mice and found to induce robust in vivo lymphocyte proliferation responses and strong IgG1, IgG2a, and neutralizing antibody responses with IgG2a/IgG1 ratios of <1. Furthermore, all vaccinated groups exhibited significantly higher levels of serum cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IFN as compared to unvaccinated mice. These results indicate that all vaccines elicited both Th1 and Th2 responses, with Th2 responses predominating. Moreover, vaccinated mice exhibited enhanced resistance to SVA infection, as evidenced by reduced viral RNA levels and SVA infection-induced histopathological changes. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the SVA-GEL vaccine induced more robust immunological responses in mice than did the other three vaccines, thus highlighting the potential of SVA-GEL to serve an effective tool for preventing and controlling SVA infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Gao, Hu, Huyan, Wang, Cao, Zhao, Lu, Song, Gao, He and Lan.)

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the reporting of workplace violence against nurses and the reasons why they did not reported., Methods: A self-designed questionnaire regarding workplace violence and reporting was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey on nurses who submitted a manuscript to a Chinese nursing journal from 2016 to 2017. A total of 324 nurses agreed to participate in this study and 266 participants from 165 hospitals in 72 cities returned questionnaires., Results: A total of 172 nurses (64.7%) experienced violent incidents during the past year. Of these incidents, 45.5% were reported; and the reporting rate of physical assaults (69.0%) was higher than those of verbal abuse (36.9%), threatening behavior (51.7%), and sexual harassment (60.0%). Formal reporting accounted for 25.4% (15.4% in written form and 10.0% through a computer-assisted reporting system). Almost half of the nurses (49.6%) stated that the hospital had no reporting system or they were uncertain about the reporting system. For reasons of not reporting, 51.9% of the nurses were unware of how and what types of violence to report, and 50.6% of the nurses believed that the hospital paid greater attention to patients rather than staff., Conclusions: A clear definition of workplace violence and reporting procedures, establishment of a facile system for reporting, and supervisory support following a reporting are urgently required., Competing Interests: The authors declare of no conflicts of interest., (© 2021 The authors.)