Zhejiang Area Research Articles

Assessment of Compliance Status and Its Determinants Among Hypertensive Patients From County Areas in Zhejiang, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Compliance is crucial for patients to control and manage their high blood pressure. This study assesses the compliance levels of hypertensive patients in China and explores the factors influencing compliance. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was conducted. A total of 371 hypertensive patients were recruited from six County hospitals and 12 township health centers in Zhejiang Province, China. Patient compliance was measured using the Hypertensive Patient Scale (CHPS). Independent-sample T-test or variance analysis was applied to analyze CHPS scores by sociodemographic factors, and linear regression was used to explore the significant correlates of the total CHPS score. The total score of CHPS was 50.18 ± 6.12. Among the seven domains, drug treatment and lifestyle had the highest and lowest average scores, 3.59 ± 0.87 and 2.74 ± 0.73, respectively. The total score of CHPS positively associated with age (β = 0.075, p = 0.028), > 7 years of hypertension (β = 1.896, p = 0.022; Ref: < 3 years), and negatively associated with males (β = -2.224, p = 0.001; Ref: female) and rural area (β = -2.008, p = 0.007; Ref: urban area). These findings highlight the importance of related measurements of thelocal "health-oriented" healthcare system. Primary health professionals should strengthen their health behavior intervention capacity and improve hypertension management among their patients.

Surveillance of fluoroquinolones resistance in rifampicin-susceptible tuberculosis in eastern China with whole-genome sequencing-based approach.

Leveraging well-established DNA-level drug resistance mechanisms, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has emerged as a valuable methodology for predicting drug resistance. As the most effective second-line anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drugs, fluoroquinoloness (FQs) are generally used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB, defined as being resistant to resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid) or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB). However, FQs are also commonly used in the management of other bacterial infections. There are few published data on the rates of FQs resistance among rifampicin-susceptible TB. The prevalence of FQs resistance among TB patients who are rifampicin-susceptible has not been studied in Zhejiang Province, China. The goal of this study was to provide a baseline characterization of the prevalence of FQs resistance, particularly among rifampicin-susceptible TB in Zhejiang Province, China. Based on WGS, we have investigated the prevalence of FQs resistance among rifampicin-susceptible TB in Zhejiang Province. All pulmonary TB patients with positive cultures who were identified in Zhejiang area during TB drug resistance surveillance from 2018 to 2019 have enrolled in this population-based retrospective study. The rate of FQs resistance was 4.6% (32/698) among TB, 4.0% (27/676) among rifampicin-susceptible TB, and 22.7% (5/22) among RR-TB. According to WGS, strains that differ within 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were considered to be transmission of FQ-resistant strains. Specifically, 3.7% (1/27) of FQs resistance was caused by the transmission of FQs-resistant strains among the rifampicin-susceptible TB and 40.7% (11/27) of FQs resistance was identified as hetero-resistance. The prevalence of FQs resistance among TB patients who were rifampicin-susceptible was severe in Zhejiang. The emergence of FQs resistance in TB isolates that are rifampicin-susceptible was mainly caused by the selection of drug-resistant strains. In order to prevent the emergence of FQs resistance, the WGS-based surveillance system for TB should be urgently established, and clinical awareness of the responsible use of FQs for respiratory infections should be enhanced.

The Evolution of Forest Landscape Connectivity and Ecological Network Construction: A Case Study of Zhejiang’s Ecological Corridors

As main components of terrestrial ecosystems, forests play irreplaceable roles in maintaining ecological balance and protecting the basic environment for human survival and development. In this study, the dynamic changes in the forest landscape connectivity in Zhejiang province in 2000, 2010, and 2020 were detected by identifying ecological sources and evaluating connectivity indexes based on morphological spatial analysis (MSPA) and a minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model. The results are as follows: (1) The forest area of Zhejiang increased by 64.88% from 2000 to 2020, indicating that the overall habitat quality has improved and that ecological risks have decreased, which are attributed to Zhejiang’s adherence to comprehensive environmental management. (2) Regions with low connectivity are distributed mainly in the north, where human activities are intensive. The overall pattern of high connectivity in the middle of the region and low connectivity elsewhere demonstrates the uneven distribution of forest landscape connectivity across the province. (3) The extracted ecological corridors have a mesh-like structure that is dense in the middle and slack in the north. Important corridors have disappeared over time, indicating potential issues in maintaining connectivity for species migration. (4) These results can provide optimization strategies for ecological infrastructure planning in Zhejiang province and offer a theoretical reference for the optimization of the ecological network system.

New camaenid genus and species from Zhejiang, East China (Eupulmonata, Helicoidea).

We report a new land snail species representing a new genus from the mountainous area of Zhejiang, China. The snail has a depressed shell with granules all over the surface. The soft part of the new taxon is characterized by the presence of a mantle lobe whose form is reviewed herein across a wide range of helicoid snails, the presence of a developed epiphallic papilla, and the absence of a penial sheath, a dart sac apparatus and a flagellum. As indicated by a molecular-based phylogeny (16S + ITS2), the new taxon is deeply nested in the eastern Asian camaenid genera and shows a close relationship with the camaenids distributed in Central China.

Combined stomach contents and stable isotope analysis reveal feeding habits of Japanese jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) in the East China Sea

Japanese jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) is an economically important pelagic fish in the East China Sea. Knowledge is still limited regarding the feeding habits of this species in this area. Based on bottom trawl surveys conducted in the southern coastal area of Zhejiang during August in 2019 and 2020, we analyzed the feeding ecology of T. japonicus using stomach contents analysis and the stable isotope approach. The results indicated that the δ13C value for T. japonicus ranged from − 17.72 % to ;−14.30 %, and the δ15N value ranged from 10.89 % to 13.03 %. Two-way analysis of variance indicated significant annual and ontogenetic variations in the δ13C value, thereby suggesting changes in the final nutrient sources for T. japonicus in different growth stages and years. The trophic level of T. japonicus was estimated as from 3.35 to 4.46. In general, the trophic level of T. japonicus increased with growth, although the ontogenetic variation was not significant. The main food groups identified for T. japonicus based on stomach contents analysis were fish, shrimp, crabs, cephalopods, and small crustaceans. The results obtained by stable isotope analysis showed that the nutrient contribution rate of small crustaceans to the diet of T. japonicus was highest in both years, followed by shrimp. The feeding habits of T. japonicus had obvious ontogenetic variations, and the average contribution of fish species increased as the size of the predator increased. The results obtained in this study provide detailed feeding information about T. japonicus in the East China Sea.

Regional environmental differences significantly affect the genetic structure and genetic differentiation of Carpinus tientaiensis Cheng, an endemic and extremely endangered species from China.

Differences in topography and environment greatly affect the genetic structure and genetic differentiation of species, and endemic or endangered species with limited geographic ranges seem to be more sensitive to changes in climate and other environmental factors. The complex topography of eastern China is likely to affect genetic differentiation of plants there. Carpinus tientaiensis Cheng is a native and endangered plants from China, and exploring its genetic diversity has profound significance for protection and the collection of germplasm resources. Based on AFLP markers, this study found that C. tientaiensis has low genetic diversity, which mainly came from within populations, while Shangshantou and Tiantai Mountain populations have relatively high genetic diversity. The Nei genetic distance was closely related to geographical distance, and temperature and precipitation notablely affected the genetic variation and genetic differentiation of C. tientaiensis. Based on cpDNA, this study indicated that C. tientaiensis exhibits a moderate level of genetic diversity, and which mainly came from among populations, while Tiantai Mountain population have the highest genetic diversity. It demonstrated that there was genetic differentiation between populations, which can be divided into two independent geographical groups, but there was no significant phylogeographic structure between them. The MaxEnt model showed that climate change significantly affects its distribution, and the suitable distribution areas in Zhejiang were primarily divided into two regions, eastern Zhejiang and southern Zhejiang, and there was niche differentiation in its suitable distribution areas. Therefore, this study speculated that the climate and the terrain of mountains and hills in East China jointly shape the genetic structure of C. tientaiensis, which gived rise to an obvious north-south differentiation trend of these species, and the populations located in the hilly areas of eastern Zhejiang and the mountainous areas of southern Zhejiang formed two genetic branches respectively.

浙江地区农村老人适老化改造服务需求与现况分析

浙江地区农村老人适老化改造服务需求与现况分析

Health Risk Assessment of Antibiotic Pollutants in Large Yellow Croakers from Zhejiang Aquaculture Sites.

Intensive aquaculture combatting the decline of large yellow croaker populations can trigger bacterial outbreaks, resulting in extensive antibiotic use. In this study, we screened 5 aquaculture sites in the coastal areas of Zhejiang and identified 17 antibiotics in large yellow croakers using UPLC-MS/MS. The distribution and occurrence of antibiotic pollutants were different in the different tissues of large yellow croakers, being primarily dominated by quinolones. Relatively higher average residue levels of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were detected in the inedible parts, specifically the gills (37.29 μg/kg). Meanwhile, relatively high average residue levels of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were also found in the edible parts, particularly in the muscle (23.18 μg/kg). We observed that the residue levels detected in the swim bladder exceeded the prescribed limit for fish muscle, but there is currently no specific regulatory limit established for this particular tissue. Despite the HI values of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin being below 0.01, the health risks should not be disregarded. The findings of this research provide significant practical implications for assessing antibiotic contamination and enhancing the risk management of coastal regions.

Effects of jellyfish and black seabream releasing on marine ecosystems: A mass balance approach for the coastal area of southern Zhejiang, China

This study evaluated the potential effect of stock enhancement on a coastal ecosystem. Based on data collected from the 2020 bottom trawl survey and literature information, an Ecopath model was constructed containing 19 functional groups representing the coastal area of southern Zhejiang, China. Jellyfish (Rhopilema esculenta) and black seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii were selected as target-enhancing species based on their extensive juvenile release records. The maximum carrying capacity of these two species was estimated by static Ecopath and the potential ecological effects of enhancement activity for these two species were evaluated by the Ecosim routine. The trophic level (TL) of the functional groups in the coastal area of southern Zhejiang ecosystem ranged from 1 (primary producers) to 4.56 (sharks). The mean transfer efficiency of the coastal area ecosystem of southern Zhejiang was 8.71%, in which the relatively low transfer efficiency from TL2 to 3 was considered the main bottleneck that limited the biomass of higher TL species in this ecosystem. System characteristics indicated that the coastal area ecosystem of southern Zhejiang was vulnerable to disturbances and had low recovery ability. Enhancement simulation results indicated that the enhancement of jellyfish and black seabream had a partial impact on the functional groups of the ecosystem. Both jellyfish and black seabream enhancements adversely affected most groups of fish, cephalopods, and crabs, while jellyfish release stimulated the biomass of crabs. Ultimately, the present study indicates that the enhancement of black seabream decreased the total fish biomass via complex trophic interactions in the food web. Additionally, this study shows that recapture rates might not be sufficient to evaluate the net effect of stock enhancement, and therefore highlight the importance of ecosystem-based assessments for stock enhancement.

Immunization coverage, knowledge, satisfaction, and associated factors of non-National Immunization Program vaccines among migrant and left-behind families in China: evidence from Zhejiang and Henan provinces

BackgroundMigrant and left-behind families are vulnerable in health services utilization, but little is known about their disparities in immunization of non-National Immunization Program (NIP) vaccines. This study aims to evaluate the immunization coverage, knowledge, satisfaction, and associated factors of non-NIP vaccines among local and migrant families in the urban areas and non-left-behind and left-behind families in the rural areas of China.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in urban areas of Zhejiang and rural areas of Henan in China. A total of 1648 caregivers of children aged 1–6 years were interviewed face-to-face by a pre-designed online questionnaire, and their families were grouped into four types: local urban, migrant, non-left-behind, and left-behind. Non-NIP vaccines included Hemophilus influenza b (Hib) vaccine, varicella vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, enterovirus 71 vaccine (EV71) and 13-valent pneumonia vaccine (PCV13). Log-binomial regression models were used to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the difference on immunization coverage of children, and knowledge and satisfaction of caregivers among families. The network models were conducted to explore the interplay of immunization coverage, knowledge, and satisfaction. Logistic regression models with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were used to estimate the associated factors of non-NIP vaccination.ResultsThe immunization coverage of all non-NIP vaccines and knowledge of all items of local urban families was the highest, followed by migrant, non-left-behind and left-behind families. Compared with local urban children, the PRs (95% CIs) for getting all vaccinated were 0.65 (0.52–0.81), 0.29 (0.22–0.37) and 0.14 (0.09–0.21) among migrant children, non-left-behind children and left-behind children, respectively. The coverage-knowledge-satisfaction network model showed the core node was the satisfaction of vaccination schedule. Non-NIP vaccination was associated with characteristics of both children and caregivers, including age of children (> 2 years-OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.07–2.68 for local urban children; 2.67, 1.39–5.13 for migrant children; 3.09, 1.23–7.76 for non-left-behind children); and below caregivers’ characteristics: family role (parents: 0.37, 0.14–0.99 for non-left-behind children), age (≤ 35 years: 7.27, 1.39–37.94 for non-left-behind children), sex (female: 0.49, 0.30–0.81 for local urban children; 0.31, 0.15–0.62 for non-left-behind children), physical health (more than average: 1.58, 1.07–2.35 for local urban children) and non-NIP vaccines knowledge (good: 0.45, 0.30–0.68 for local urban children; 7.54, 2.64–21.50 for left-behind children).ConclusionsThere were immunization disparities in non-NIP vaccines among migrant and left-behind families compared with their local counterparts. Non-NIP vaccination promotion strategies, including education on caregivers, and optimization of the immunization information system, should be delivered particularly among left-behind and migrant families.Graphical

Comparative Analysis and Influencing Factors of Comprehensive Competitiveness of Urban Commercial Bank in Jiangsu and Zhejiang Areas

In the fierce competition of the market economy, it is difficult for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) to obtain enough financing, which affects their further development, and urban firms can help them. This paper selects several urban business firms in Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, compares their comprehensive strength and explores the influencing factors, and draws the conclusion that the economic development level, government policies, the positioning of banks and strategic investors will all have an effect on the comprehensive strength of urban commercial banks. This paper also gives some suggestions that the government should be more responsible to regulate the urban banks, banks should choose whether to need strategic investors according to their own conditions, and the urban commercial banks should insist on providing financing services for small and medium-size companies, so as to promote the coordinated development of regional finance.

Zircon U-Pb Ages, Petrogenesis, and Tectono-Magmatic Evolution of Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous S-Type Granitoid in Wujinshan Area of Northwestern Zhejiang, South China

Northwest Zhejiang area (NWZJ) is one of the important parts of the large Qingzhou-Hangzhou mineralized belt in South China formed during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous period. Through the study of zircon LA-ICPMS U-Pb dating, whole-rock geochemistry, and Sr-Nd isotopes for the Wujinshan granitoid in NWZJ, two distinct S-type granitic rocks of porphyry type granodiorite and granite were identified, and the two ages of 146.4 ± 1.5 Ma for granodiorite porphyry and 141.9 ± 1.4 Ma for granite porphyries were obtained. These rocks exhibited a geochemical affinity for S-type granitoid, and the two magmatic ages indicate that these rocks were intruded in two magmatic pulses. The Late Jurassic granodiorite porphyry showed moderate SiO2 (64.38–67.89 wt.%) with higher K2O + Na2O (6.22–6.78 wt.%), lower K2O/Na2O (0.57–0.96), moderate Zr (170–215 ppm), high Sr (302–475 ppm), and low Mg# (31–32) contents. The Early Cretaceous granite porphyries contained high SiO2 (69.68–74.85 wt.%), variable K2O + Na2O (4.60–6.99), high K2O/Na2O (1.72–23.53), slightly higher Zr (160–255 ppm), variable Sr (25–412 ppm), and very low to intermediate Mg# (13–44). The granodiorites had intermediate ∑REE (149–177 ppm), while granite samples showed moderate to high ∑REE content (147–271 ppm), and both rocks showed negative Eu anomalies (0.18–0.29). We propose that these two rocks were predominantly generated by the partial melting of Mesoproterozoic metamorphic basement and underwent variable degrees of fractionation and evolution. The Late Jurassic granodiorite porphyry was formed by the partial melting of Mesoproterozoic metamorphic basement with slab-derived melts or basaltic lower crust input following fractional crystallization, while the Early Cretaceous granite porphyries were generated by the partial melting of Mesoproterozoic metamorphic basement and crystal fractionation with variable magma mixing and assimilation in the upper crust. Tectonically, the Wujinshan granitoid formed in a volcanic arc setting largely affected by the subduction and slab rollback of the paleo-Pacific Plate.

Spatial Morphological Characteristics and Evolution of Traditional Villages in the Mountainous Area of Southwest Zhejiang

National-level traditional villages in Liandu District and Qingyuan County, Lishui City, in the southwestern mountainous area of Zhejiang Province serve as research objects in our exploration of the external representation and deep spatial structure changes in traditional village spatial forms from a synchronic and diachronic perspective. We use morphological indices, space syntax, city image surveys, and other analysis methods to reveal the formation and evolution of these forms. We find that: (1) Traditional village boundaries in the mountainous area of southwest Zhejiang are mainly clusters and bands, which are restricted by geographical conditions and tend to expand in the direction of rivers and roads. (2) The original spatial forms of settlements effectively organize the travel activities of local residents and external visitors, while the corresponding two fabric centers basically coincide. However, with the continuous evolution of settlements and the intervention of modern construction projects, the centers have shifted slightly. (3) Factors such as the natural environment, clan consanguinity, and economic and technological conditions jointly act on spatial forms manifesting as “stability maintenance” and “sudden change” games; thus, the forms show overlapping and integration across multiple temporal and spatial points.

A Comparison of Different Station Data on Revealing the Characteristics of Extreme Hourly Precipitation Over Complex Terrain: The Case of Zhejiang, China

AbstractBoth long‐term but small number of national stations and short‐term but large number of regional stations have been frequently used to study the extreme hourly precipitation (EXHP) in China. However, few studies focus on the differences of the two for revealing the features of EXHP. In this study, the characteristics of EXHP in Zhejiang Province are investigated using three rainfall data sets at three threshold criteria. The comparison between different data sets shows that increasing the station density can better reflect the climatic spatial distribution of EXHP thresholds if long‐term data is absent. The majority of EXHP can be classified into four weather types: the southwesterly wind type (30.7%–48.5%), the trough type (12.2%–23.6%), the tropical cyclone (TC) type (11.4%–17.5%) and the easterly wind type (4.9%–17.9%). The selection of stations is more sensitive to the proportions of the four weather types than the statistical years and threshold criteria. The monthly and diurnal variations of EXHP, as well as their differences revealed by the three data sets, are varied by weather type. Only using national stations cannot distinguish the spatial differences between the TC type and the easterly wind type, and there is an underestimation for southwesterly wind type and trough type in the mountainous area of southwest Zhejiang. The statistical year and station height are the main reasons for the differences in the duration of EXHP events calculated by different data sets, with the TC type having the largest effect and the southwesterly wind type the smallest.

Comparative study on secondary metabolites from different citrus varieties in the production area of Zhejiang.

To investigate the distribution pattern of bioactive components and their correlations between citrus varieties, we thoroughly analyzed secondary metabolites (including flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids, and limonoids) in the peel and pulp of 11 citrus varieties from the production area of Zhejiang. Citrus peels accumulated metabolites far more than the pulp, and the accumulation varied significantly between species. Flavonoids were the most abundant compounds, followed by phenolic acids, with carotenoids and limonoids being far less abundant than the first two, but limonoids were more abundant than carotenoids. Hesperidin was the main flavonoid in most varieties, but cocktail grapefruit and Changshanhuyou contained naringin, with Ponkan having the most abundant polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs). The major components of phenolic acids, carotenoids, and limonoids were ferulic acid, β-cryptoxanthin, and limonin, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated that these components were mostly correlated with each other, and these citrus varieties could be categorized into four groups by pulp and three groups by peel. The obtained results filled the data gap for secondary metabolites from local citrus and could provide data references for citrus resource utilization, selection and breeding of superior varieties, and other research.

Quantitative analysis of the contribution of sources, diffusion pathways, and receptor attributes for the spatial distribution of soil heavy metals and their nested structure analysis in China

Investigation of heavy metal pollution degree, pollution sources, and spatial distribution structure is crucial for the country's soil pollution prevention, but relevant research is lacking. In this study, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in the national scope are taken as research objects. Among them, Cd has the highest pollution level. Four sources were quantitatively allocated as soil type, mining and dressing industry, GDP, and NDVI, which accounted for 92.93, 97.81, 99.30 and 96.24 % of Cr, Cd, Zn and As contamination, respectively. In addition, according to the geographical detector, the spatial distribution of As was affected by three diffusion pathways, whose influence degree were 0.822–0.947, especially the slope. Cadmium was primarily affected by both receptor attributes and diffusion pathways, with an influence degree of 0.010–0.175, especially soil water content and slope; Cr and Pb were affected by receptor attributes, with an influence degree of 0.886–0.986 and 0.007–0.288, respectively, especially for soil water content and soil organic carbon; Cu and Zn were affected by receptor attributes, with an influence degree of 0.182–0.823 and 0.002–0.150, respectively, especially for soil texture. There are two spatial distribution structures with nested scales in east–west and north–south directions. The large spatial structure has a more significant impact on the spatial distribution of heavy metals, especially in the east–west direction. Overall, the mining and dressing industry is the main source in Hunan, Yunnan, and Liaoning, where many mines exist and mining activities are frequent. GDP was the main source in Shanghai and Zhejiang areas, where the economy is developed. NDVI was the main source in Guangdong and Anhui areas, where agriculture is relatively developed. These results provide a basis for determining remediation and prevention objectives in soil pollution remediation and prevention in the national scope.

Siting MPAs for multiple protecting purposes by co-consideration of ecological importance and anthropogenic impacts

The global marine ecosystem has been significantly altered by the combined effects of multiple anthropogenic impacts. Systematic planning of marine protected areas (MPAs) is of paramount importance in alleviating conflicts between humans and the sea. Existing approaches, however, merely integrate both ecological and anthropogenic factors for multiple conservation purposes. By combining the three main anthropogenic impact factors with two main ecological importance factors, this study used a GIS-based AHP-OWA method to identify different levels of priority protection for MPAs in Zhejiang, China. Our results proved that: 1) the multi-objective MPA siting issues can be addressed by the GIS-based AHP-OWA method through scenario simulation; 2) the best locations for MPAs are in the northeast, central, and southern marine areas of Zhejiang; 3) considering the trade-off degree, spatial conservation efficiency, and spatial heterogeneity, an optimized MPA siting scheme can be developed for decision-makers. The proposed MPA siting method and case study may provide an effective technical reference for solving regional marine spatial planning (MSP) issues in the future.

Antibiotic governance and use on commercial and smallholder farms in eastern China.

China is one of the largest consumers of agricultural antibiotics in the world. While the Chinese government has been tightening its regulations to control antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from animal sources in recent years, the extent of antimicrobial oversight and the practices of antibiotic use in animal agriculture in China has not yet been explored. This study describes the practices of antimicrobial management in eastern China and current scenarios of antibiotic use in commercial farms and smallholder backyard farming. 33 semi-structured interviews were conducted with government agriculture officials, veterinary drug sellers, farmers and smallholders in two contrasting areas of rural Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, China. Interview transcripts were analyzed in NVivo12 using a thematic approach. Findings revealed that although the governance of antibiotic use has made progress, especially in controlling irrational antibiotic use in commercial farms, smallholders are under-regulated due to a lack of resources and assumptions about their marginal role as food safety governance targets. We also found that smallholders resort to human antibiotics for the treatment of backyard animals because of economic constraints and lack of access to professional veterinary services. More attention needs to be devoted to the local structural needs of farmers to reduce antibiotic misuse. Considering the extensive links of AMR exposure under the One Health framework, efforts to integrate smallholders in antibiotic governance are required to address the AMR burden systematically in China.

Carrier screening and prenatal diagnosis for thalassemia-associated mutations in Jiaxing area of Zhejiang

To study the molecular epidemiology of thalassemia in Jiaxing area of Zhejiang province and provide a basis for prenatal diagnosis, genetic counseling and prevention and control of birth defects. A total of 24 003 pregnant women who presented at the Jiaxing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from April 2017 to September 2021 were enrolled. Capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis in combination with routine blood test were used for primary screening for carriers of thalassemia-associated mutations, and those with positive results were subjected to fluorescence quantitative PCR assay. Prenatal diagnosis was provided for couples with a risk of giving birth to children with intermediate or severe thalassemia. Among the 24 003 pregnant women, 1 211 cases were suspected as carriers of thalassemia-associated mutations, among whom 443 (36.58%) were confirmed by genetic testing. Among these, carriers of α-, β- and α-complex β-globin gene mutations have accounted for 27.31% (121/443), 70.65% (313/443) and 2.04% (9/443), respectively. The result of prenatal diagnosis for an at-risk couple was --SEA/αCSα, and the fetus was predicted to have intermediate or severe thalassemia. Termination of the pregnancy was recommended. Hemoglobin electrophoresis combined with routine blood test during pregnancy may be used as a preliminary screening measure for carriers of thalassemia-associated variants. Combined with genetic testing, this will be of great significance for the control of thalassemia in this region.

Pollution Characteristics of PM2.5 Chemical Composition in Zhejiang Province

To investigate the seasonal and regional pollution characteristics of PM2.5 chemical composition in Zhejiang province, this study was based on manual sampling monitoring data from 11 sampling sites of four regions in Zhejiang province from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020. The results showed that during the observation period, the average ρ(PM2.5) of the four regions ranged from 34.3 μg·m-3 to 46.4 μg·m-3. The PM2.5 mass concentrations in the hinterland areas of western Zhejiang and northern Zhejiang were relatively high, 15.1% and 13.2% higher than the mean value, respectively. The PM2.5 mass concentrations in the coastal areas of eastern Zhejiang and southern Zhejiang were relatively low, 8.4% and 14.9% lower than the average, respectively. The seasonal characteristics showed a higher concentration in autumn and winter and lowest concentration in summer. The seasonal variation in PM2.5 mass concentration from autumn to spring was not obvious in southern Zhejiang, whereas in western Zhejiang, the PM2.5 mass concentration followed a descending sequence of autumn>winter>spring>summer. In northern Zhejiang and eastern Zhejiang, the trend was winter>autumn>spring>summer. During the observation period in the inland area, the ρ(PM2.5) of the scenic area, administrative area, residential area, and mixed area of commercial traffic and residents were (40.2±10.2), (46.3±9.6), (50.1±10.6), and (46.7±10.2) μg·m-3, respectively. The highest value of ρ(PM2.5) was in the residential area. During the sampling period in coastal areas, the ρ(PM2.5) of the cultural and entertainment area and mixed area of commercial traffic and residents were (27.4±5.8) μg·m-3and (37.2±5.6) μg·m-3, respectively. The contribution rates of organic matter (OM), NO3-, SO42-, NH4+, trace elements, and crustal matter in PM2.5were 26.4%, 15.4%, 12.4%, 9.0%, 7.1%, and 5.7%, respectively. The SNA, including SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+, contributed 36.8% in PM2.5. In terms of seasons, the contribution of OM to PM2.5 in autumn, spring, and summer was higher than that of other compositions, which accounted for 28.3%, 27.7%, and 26.3%, respectively. The contribution rate of NO3- in PM2.5 was the largest in winter, reaching 24.3%. In terms of spatial distribution, SNA contributed the most to PM2.5 in all regions, ranging from 32.8% to 39.7%, with the highest in northern Zhejiang and the lowest in southern Zhejiang. The SNA of all regions presented NO3->SO42->NH4+. Based on the backward trajectory clustering analysis, the main air sources of northern Zhejiang were the Yellow Sea-southern Jiangsu (autumn), northern Anhui (winter), East China Sea (spring), and western Jiangsu (summer) areas, with contribution rates of 38.11%, 35.28%, 37.46%, and 27.87%, respectively. The main air sources of western Zhejiang were the Yellow Sea-southern Jiangsu (autumn), southern Anhui (winter), eastern Zhejiang (spring), and northern Zhejiang (summer), with contribution rates of 38.11%, 37.50%, 46.55%, and 32.58%, respectively. The air of autumn, winter, spring, and summer in eastern Zhejiang were influenced by air masses from northern Hebei (36.07%), eastern Shandong (38.06%), East China Sea (30.17%), and southern Guangdong (34.43%), respectively. In autumn, winter, spring, and summer, southern Zhejiang was affected by air masses from the Yellow Sea (35.66%), northeast Anhui (34.44%), East China Sea (26.72%), and southern Fujian coast (35.00%), respectively. The regions in Zhejiang province showed large seasonal differences. The difference value between the maximum value of ρ(PM2.5) in the northwest and the lowest value in the southeast was 21.0 μg·m-3 and 20.5 μg·m-3 in autumn and winter, respectively; the difference values in spring and summer were 10.4 μg·m-3 and 6.1 μg·m-3. Thus, the northern air mass had a certain exogenous contribution to PM2.5 in autumn and winter in Zhejiang province. However, with the weakening of the northern air mass trajectory in spring and summer and the increasing contribution of the southern and east China Sea air mass to the air flow in Zhejiang province, PM2.5 pollution showed a trend of improvement.