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The establishment of a quantitative relationship between land subsidence and its influencing factors is a crucial task in developing prevention strategies of land subsidence in specific areas. In this study we examined the dynamic patterns of land subsidence before and after establishing the South-to-North Water Division Project (SNWDP) in the Tianjin Plain (TJP) that aims to reduce groundwater extractions in certain areas. Statistical analyses were used to determine the key attributing factors contributing to land subsidence that were subsequently used to derive the so-called 'critical water level of land subsidence'(CWLS), which were used to manage groundwater extractions with the objective of minimizing further land subsidence. The main results obtained were as follows: under the influence of the SNWDP, the groundwater level in the TJP stopped declining and the water level rose in most areas. The area of 'strong' subsidence, defined as the area with a subsidence rate greater than 50 mm a−1, decreased from 16.0% before the SNWDP to 2.5% after. The results of the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model revealed that groundwater drawdown in the second and third confined aquifer was the main contributor to the areas classified as 'strong' and 'medium' land subsidence areas. Following the reduction in groundwater extractions, the behaviour of surface deformation can be grouped into two categories: first, a rebound in surface elevation; and, second, continuous compression with a lower subsidence rate. The first mode occurs mainly in the area of 'medium' and 'weak' subsidence, and the second mode occurs mainly in the 'strong' subsidence area. Supplementary material: The result of the MGWR model is available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.7103611 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The China–Nepal Transportation Corridor is vital to the country's efforts to build a land trade route in South Asia and promote the Ring-Himalayan Economic Cooperation Belt. Due to the complex geological structure and topographical environment of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, coupled with the impact of climate change, the frequent occurrence of geological disasters has increased the operational difficulty of the China–Nepal Highway and the construction difficulty of the China–Nepal Railway. However, to date, there has been no systematic study of the spatial distribution of landslides along the entire route within the area, the factors influencing landslides at different scales, or the causes of landslides under different topographic backgrounds. There is an even greater lack of research on areas threatened by potential landslides. This study comprehensively applies remote sensing, mathematical statistics, and machine learning methods to map landslides along the China–Nepal transportation corridor, explore the influencing factors and causes of different types of landslides, and investigate the distribution characteristics of potential landslides. A total of 609 historic landslides have been interpreted in the study area and were found to be distributed along faults and locally concentrated. The strata from which landslides develop are relatively weak and are mainly distributed within 2 km of a fault with a slope between 20° and 30°. The direction of slope for the majority of landslides is south to south-west, and their elevation is between 4000 and 5000 m. In addition, we discovered a power law relationship between landslide area and volume (VL = 2.722 × AL1.134) and determined that there were 47 super-large landslides, 213 large landslides, and 349 small and medium-sized landslides in the area, respectively. Slope is the most significant influencing factor for the development of landslides in the area. Apart from slope, faults and strata significantly influence the development of large and medium-small landslides, respectively. We have identified 223 potential landslides in the region, 15 of which directly threaten major transport routes, mainly in the Renbu Gorge section of the China–Nepal Highway and the proposed China–Nepal Railway section from Peikucuo to Gyirong County. In addition, we also discussed the causes of landslides within three geomorphic units in the region. First, the combined effects of faulting, elevation, and relatively weak strata contribute to the development of super-large and large landslides in the Gyirong basin and gorge. Second, the relatively weak strata and the cumulative damaging effects of earthquakes promote the development of small and medium-sized landslides in the Xainza-Dinggye rift basin. Third, under the combined effect of the hanging wall effect of thrust faults and the relatively weak material composition, landslides of various types have developed in the Nagarzê mountain. It is worth noting that potential landslides have developed in all three geomorphic units mentioned above. This study provides data and theory to assist in the accurate mitigation and control of landslide hazards in the corridor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive investigation of the levels, distribution patterns, and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in agricultural soils of the coal production area surrounding Xinzhou, China, was conducted, and the potential human health risks associated with the levels observed were addressed. A total of 247 samples collected from agricultural soils from the area were analyzed for sixteen PAHs, including highly carcinogenic isomers. The PAH concentrations had a range of n.d. to 782 ng g−1, with a mean value of 202 ng g −1. The two–three ring PAHs were the dominant species, making up 60 percent of total PAHs. Compared with the pollution levels and carcinogenic potential risks reported in other studies, the soil PAH concentrations in the study area were in the low to intermediate range. A positive matrix factorization model indicates that coal/biomass combustion, coal and oil combustion, and coke ovens are the primary PAH sources, accounting for 33 percent, 26 percent, and 24 percent of total PAHs, respectively. The benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPeq) concentrations had a range of n.d. to 476 ng g−1 for PAH7c, with a mean value of 34 ng g−1. The BaPeq concentrations of PAH7c accounted for more than 99 percent of the ∑PAH16, which suggests that seven PAHs were major carcinogenic contributors of ∑PAH16. According to the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines, only six of the soil samples had concentrations above the safe BaPeq value of 600 ng g−1; the elevated concentrations observed at these sites can be attributed to coal combustion and industrial activities. Exposure to these soils through direct contact probably poses a significant risk to human health as a result of the carcinogenic effects of PAHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia, Theileria and Plasmodium are very closely related organisms. Interestingly, their mitochondrial (mt) genomes are highly divergent. Among Babesia, Babesia orientalis is a new species recently identified and specifically epidemic to the southern part of China, causing severe disease to water buffalo. However, no information on the mt genome of B. orientalis was available. Methods Four pairs of primers were designed based on the full genome sequence of B. orientalis (unpublished data) and by aligning reported mt genomes of B. bovis, B. bigemina, and T. parva. The entire mt genome was amplified by four sets of PCR. The obtained mt genome was annotated by aligning with published apicomplexan mt genomes and Artemis software v11. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by using cox1 and cob amino acid sequences. Results The complete mt genome of B. orientalis (Wuhan strain) was sequenced and characterized. The entire mt genome is 5996 bp in length with a linear form, containing three protein-coding genes including cytochrome c oxidase I(cox1), cytochrome b (cob) and cytochrome c oxidase III (cox3) and six rRNA large subunit gene fragments. The gene arrangement in B. orientalis mt genome is similar to those of B. bovis, B. gibsoni and Theileria parva, but different from those of T. orientalis, T. equi and Plasmodium falciparum. Comparative analysis indicated that cox1 and cob genes were more conserved than cox3. Phylogenetic analysis based on amino acid sequences of cox1, cob and cox1 + cob, respectively, revealed that B. orientalis fell into Babesia clade with the closest relationship to B. bovis. Conclusions The availability of the entire mt genome sequences of B. orientalis provides valuable information for future phylogenetic, population genetics and molecular epidemiological studies of apicomplexan parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the genus Nazeris Fauvel collected from Nabanhe Nature Reserve, Yunnan Province, are described under the names of N. nabanhensis sp. n. and N. caoi sp. n. Th e male sexual characters are described and illustrated. A key to the Nazeris species of Yunnan is provided. A map of the collecting sites is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 13 Fusarium isolates were obtained from samples of malformed mango seedlings from Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China, and five morphologically similar isolates were confirmed causing the disease by satisfying Koch's postulates. One typical isolate (MG4) was selected for detailed morphological and molecular studies. Based on the following morphological characteristics, isolate MG4 was identified as Fusarium proliferatum: white aerial mycelium on PSA (potato sucrose agar: potato 200 g; sucrose 15 g; agar 18 g; distilled water 1000 ml) medium; hyaline reverse of colonies on PSA; production of pink pigment on rice medium and the production of conidia on branched conidiophore with monophialides bearing false heads of conidia. On carnation leaf agar medium, the microconidia were ovate to elongated ovoid, 0-1 septate, 3.1-10.2 × 1.5-2.2 μm; the macroconidia were fusiform, 3-5 septate, 18-38 × 1.8-2.4 μm, whereas chlamydospores and sexual structures were absent on all media used. The identity of the pathogen was confirmed by its high similarity (99.8-100%) in the sequence alignment of rDNA-ITS 1 and 4 with both isolates of F. proliferatum in the GenBank database . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on rich material (381 specimens examined) from two Cambrian echinoderm faunas, the early Cambrian Balang fauna and middle Cambrian Kaili fauna in Guizhou Province, South China, the taphonomy of gogiid echinoderms is described in detail, and the preservation of stereomic microstructure and organic remains of Cambrian gogiid echinoderms is reported here for the first time. Taphonomic considerations include entombment patterns, decay sequences, individual specific diagenetic histories, unusual burial postures, selective disarticulation patterns, and postmortem elongation. In particular, five categories of gogiid entombment patterns are proposed to describe the multi-directional orientations recorded at the burial time of articulated gogiids. Gogiid-bearing slabs of Guizhou material primarily (70 %) display the type 2 entombment pattern (articulated gogiids preserved with fan-shaped brachioles); thus, most Guizhou gogiids were buried with brachioles preserved in feeding posture during obrution events. Balang gogiid faunas contain the oldest evidence of palaeoecological interactions among echinoderms and other indigenous taxa. In addition to preburial and post-burial decay, other potential causes for unusual disarticulation patterns exhibited by the gogiids from the lower Cambrian Balang Formation include pre-burial bio-disturbance and post-burial bioturbation based on ichnogenera, including Rusophycus and Planolites. Chemical analyses reveal that carbon, calcium, manganese and iron are the major elements responsible for the variety of colours exhibited by Guizhou gogiids. Three-dimensional stereomic microstructure (mean stereom pore size = 8.4-8.7 µm; average trabecular thickness = 4.5-4.6 µm) occurs on the external surfaces of thecal plates in two gogiid species. Stereom preservation in calcite suggests that the dissolution of calcareous echinoderm plates, yielding characteristic mouldic preservation, is sub-Recent (after lithificaiton and exposure of gogiid-bearing, marine sedimentary successions on or near the land surface). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Feitai, a Chinese medicine formulation, has been shown to protect against lung fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM). In the present study, we investigated the effect of Feitai on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), which play important roles in the pathogenesis of BLM-induced lung fibrosis. 2. The results demonstrated that Feitai could significantly attenuate BLM-induced acute lung inflammation and subsequent lung fibrosis. Meanwhile, the expression of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 mRNA in the lungs increased in the BLM-treated group compared with the saline-instilled control group and Feitai treatment significantly decreased cytokine expression in BLM-treated mice. In addition, Feitai diminished the accumulation of MCP-1- and TGF-β1-positive cells in lung tissues at the time of peak mRNA levels. 3. In summary, the results of the present study indicate that treatment with Feitai ameliorates BLM-induced lung fibrosis, at least in part via the inhibition of MCP-1 and TGF-β1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: We investigated the age-related bone mineral density (BMD), accumulated bone loss rate (ABLR) and the prevalence of osteoporosis at different skeletal sites in Chinese women. BMD was measured at the anteroposterior (AP) spine, supine lateral spine (areal BMD at the midarea [mLat] and the whole region [Lat], volumetric BMD at the middle region [MVD] and total region [TVD]), hip (femoral neck [FN], trochanter [Troc] and Ward’s triangle [Ward’s]) and forearm (radius + ulna ultradistal [RUUD], 1/3 region [RU1/3] and total region [RUT]) using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) fan-beam bone densitometer (Hologic QDR 4500A) in 2702 females aged from 5 to 96 years old. Data were analyzed by eight different regression models. We found that the cubic regression model was the best for describing age-related changes in BMD. The coefficients of determination (R2) of the fitting curve were 0.398 to 0.612 (p= 0.000). The data were then analyzed by 5-year age groups. This showed that the earliest peak BMD was at the age of 20–24 years at Troc and Ward’s, and the latest at the age of 40–44 years at RU1/3 and RUT of the distal forearm. Compared with BMD, the ABLRs were highest at Ward’s (-66.2%) and the lowest at RU1/3 of the distal forearm (-31.3%) in subjects over 80 years old. The prevalence of osteoporosis at at least one site in these women was 0.5 ± 0.4% in those 30–39, 4.6 ± 4.4% in those 40–49, 23.9 ± 13.3% in those 50–59, 56.3 ± 20.3% in those 60–69, 71.8 ± 16.7% in those 70–79 and 83.2 ± 12.1% those over 80 years of age, respectively. The prevalence of osteoporosis in these women was 8.6–11.1% at the age of 40–49 and 36.5–40.6% at the age of 50–59 at the lateral spine regions (mLat, Lat, MVD and TVD), and 0.5–3.7% at the age of 40–49 and and 3.9–21.7% at the age of 50–59 years at the other skeletal sites (AP, FN, Troc, Ward’s, RUUD, RU1/3 and RUT). Significant differences were found in the prevalence of osteoporosis between the lateral spine regions and other skeletal sites (p<0.001) at the age of 40–59 years. In summary, we demonstrated significant age-related differences in peak BMD, ABLR and osteoporosis prevalence among various skeletal sites. Our data suggest that the supine lateral spine is the most sensitive site for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, especially in the early menopausal period, although the prevalence of osteoporosis varied with age and with different sites measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the northern Beijing Plain (BPN), ground failures associated with land subsidence have occurred and rapidly progressed, damaging hundreds of buildings and roads in recent years. In 2016, an 8.7-km-long ground failure, named the Songzhuang (SZ) ground failure, was discovered in the eastern part of the Beijing Plain. Geological surveys, mapping, creep measurements, trenching, drilling, and geophysical exploration indicate that the SZ ground failure has geometric structural features and surface deformation that differ from those of other ground failures in the BPN: First, the SZ ground failure consists of one main fissure and many secondary fissures. Second, the SZ failure shows tensile deformation with negligible vertical dislocation. Third, in the profile, the SZ ground failure shows extensional cracks with limited extension depths that close gradually with depth. Based on the relationships between ground failures and influencing factors, including a pre-existing fault, earthquakes, and groundwater pumping, we conclude that this failure took shape after the earthquake, and was enlarged under the action of groundwater pumping. The pre-existing fault, which is a subsidiary fault of the northern section of the Nanyuan-Tongxian (NTN) fault, determined the area in which the SZ ground failure first formed. • An extension-dominant ground failure was discovered on the eastern Beijing Plain. • The structural characteristics of the extension-dominant ground failure are different from those of BPN failures. • Differential subsidence caused the ground failure. • The pre-existing fault determined the area where the opened ground failure occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The umami was significantly negative correlating with sourness in Douchi. • The richness was positively correlated with astrigent and after-astrigent in Douchi. • The arginine biosynthesis and glutamate metabolism pathway were enriched in Douchi. • Other than glutamate, the succinic acid play a more key role for umami in Douchi. • The lactic acid was the key sour metabolite in LY, and YJ, as the l -malic acid in YC. Douchi is a traditional famous seasoning in China. This study adopted electronic tongue and metabolomics to analyze the taste characteristics and taste active compounds of 12 samples from three most famous types of Douchi (Liuyang Douchi, Yangjiang Douchi, Yongchuan Douchi). Thirty-six differential metabolites mainly enriched from the arginine biosynthesis were identified among these Douchis. Umami and bitterness are considered as two taste that bring positive and negative perceptions for Douchi. The succinic acid was found to be responsible for the umami in LY, YJ and YC Douchi, with the TAVs of 2054, 643, 174, respectively, rather than the glutamic acid and aspartic acid. The leucine was identified as the main metabolite for bitterness, with the TAVs of 9, 9, 7 respectively. KEGG enrichment analysis found that the umami, sourness and saltiness might be related to alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism and the bitterness might be related to aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although knowledge of Cambrian fossil eggs and/or embryos has increased dramatically, embryos were previously unknown in siliciclastic settings of coeval strata. Here we report for the first time egg clusters in a fine-grained siliciclastic matrix from the Middle Cambrian Kaili Formation lagerstätte (513-501 Ma), south China. Some were imaged under synchrotron radiation. These spheroids are preferentially preserved as microcrystalline quartz and interpreted as marine invertebrate fossil eggs based on patterns of spheroid arrangement, shape, and analogues of fossil and modern invertebrate eggs. Embryos with cleavage cells are evident in at least one cluster. Detailed element analyses show that eggs are primarily preserved as solid silica replacement, and there is a calcite layer covering the eggs replacing the original organic layer. Silicification of intact invertebrate egg clusters is reported here as a new mode of preservation associated with a Burgess Shale-type deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leucine arylamidase (LAP) is a type of proteinase. During pregnancy, the LAP value of women will continue to rise, but there is currently no established normal range for this value., Methods: A total of 26,208 records of LAP information from pregnant women who visited Qingdao Municipal Hospital between 2016 and 2022 were selected, including 25,582 records of healthy pregnant women. The study used the AU5800 Series Clinical Chemistry Analyzer as the detection equipment. The Wilcoxon method was appropriate for calculating confidence intervals in this study since LAP values in pregnant women have a skewed distribution., Results: The reference ranges obtained were 64.00 - 70.50 U/L, 161.00 - 166.00 U/L, and 174.50 - 182.50 U/L for the first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester, respectively., Conclusions: LAP can rise significantly during pregnancy, so it is essential to establish an appropriate reference range for pregnant women. Abnormal values of LAP carry a risk of developing various pregnancy disorders.

Background: Meier-Gorlin syndrome 7 (MGS7) is a rare autosomal recessive condition. We reported a fetus diagnosed with Meier-Gorlin syndrome 7. The antenatal sonographic images were presented, and compound heterozygous mutations of CDC45 on chromosome 22 were identified by whole-exome sequencing (WES)., Case Presentation: Fetal growth restriction (FGR), craniosynostosis, and brachydactyly of right thumb were found in a fetus of 28th gestational weeks. The fetus was diagnosed as MGS7 clinically. After extensive counseling, the couple opted for prenatal diagnosis by cordocentesis and termination of pregnancy. Karyotype analysis and WES were performed. Chromosomal karyotyping showed that the fetus was 46, XY. There were 2 mutations of CDC45, the causal gene of MGS7 on chromosome 22, which were inherited from the couple respectively were identified by WES. Facial dysmorphism, brachydactyly of right thumb, and genitalia abnormally were proved by postpartum autopsy, and craniosynostosis was confirmed by three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) reconstruction., Conclusions: It is possible to detect multiple clinical features of Meier-Gorlin syndrome in prenatal sonography. Deteriorative FGR complicated with craniosynostosis indicates MGS7. Combination of 2D and 3D ultrasonography helps to detect craniosynostosis. The affected fetus was confirmed a compound heterozygote of CDC45 related MGS by whole-exome sequencing, which is critical in identifying rare genetic diseases.