Ningxia Research Articles

Association between ambient temperature, PM2.5 and tuberculosis in Northwest China

ABSTRACT Existing evidence suggested that the risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection was associated to the variations in temperature and PM2.5. A total of 9,111 cases of TB were reported in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China from 2013 to 2015 on a daily basis, and 57.2% of them were male. The TB risk was more prominent for a lower temperature in males (RR of 1.724, 95% CI: 1.241, 2.394), the aged over 64 years (RR of 2.241, 95% CI: 1.554, 3.231), and the high mobility occupation subpopulation (RR of 2.758, 95% CI: 1.745, 4.359). High concentration of PM2.5 showed a short-term effect and was only associated with an increased risk in the early stages of exposure for the female, and aged 36–64 years group. There were 15.06% (1370 cases) of cases of TB may be attributable to the temperature, and 2.94% (268 cases) may be attributable to the increase of PM2.5 exposures. Low temperatures may be associated with significantly increase in the risk of TB, and high PM2.5 concentrations have a short-term association on increasing the risk of TB. Strengthening the monitoring and regular prevention and control of high risk groups will provide scientific guidance to reduce the incidence of TB.

Effect of Achievement Motivation and Self-Efficacy on General Well-Being among Students at Normal Universities in Ningxia: The Mediating Role of Time Management.

General well-being is a positive evaluation of one's mental health, which is an important topic in mental health. General well-being is fundamental to the positive development of young people. A thorough understanding of the factors that influence happiness have not yet been developed for students at normal universities in Ningxia Province in China. This study examined the mediation effects of time management on the relationship between achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and general well-being among students at normal universities in Ningxia Province in China. Using a random sampling, 163 participants (68 males and 95 females) completed the Achievement Motivation Scale (AMS), General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES), Time Management Questionnaire (TMQ) and General Well-being Scale (GWBS). Achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and time management were positively correlated with general well-being. The mediation effects of time management on the relationships between achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and general wellbeing (0.169 and 0.447) were demonstrated. These results add to the nuanced relationship between self-efficacy, achievement motivation, and general well-being. According to the Achievement Motivation Theory and the Self-efficacy Theory, this study reveals the role of achievement motivation, self-efficacy on general well-being and the mediating effect of time management in the relationship between achievement motivation, self-efficacy, and general well-being. According to the findings, the school can carry out a series of lectures and tutoring activities to enhance students' achievement motivation, self-efficacy, time management, and general well-being.

Genetic Analysis Reveals Relationships Among Populations of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici from Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia-Xinjiang of Northwestern and Sichuan-Yunnan of Southwestern China.

Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the most destructive diseases worldwide. In China, wheat stripe rust generally occurs in the northwestern and southwestern regions; however, the genetic relationships of Pst populations between these regions are largely unclear. To determine the population structure and potential migration route in these regions, 235 isolates collected from Xinjiang (XJ), Gansu (GS), Ningxia (NX), Shaanxi (SX), Sichuan (SC), and Yunnan (YN) provinces in 2021 and 2022 were phenotyped using two sets of Pst differentials and genotyped using 20 competitive allele-specific PCR-single nucleotide polymorphism (KASP-SNP) markers. The phenotype tests indicated that CYR34, CYR32, and CYR33 were the predominant races with different occurrence frequencies in different regions and years. Genotypic analysis revealed that a total of 183 multilocus genotypes were identified, and the genetic diversity in the YN subpopulation was the highest. The genetic background in the SX subpopulation was similar to that in the GS and NX subpopulations, and the genetic background in the YN subpopulation was similar to that in the SC and SX subpopulations. A high level of gene flow (Nm) was found between the SX and GS, SX and NX, GS and NX, and SC and YN subpopulations, suggesting the migration of Pst among these regions, while a small amount of Nm existed between the SX and SC subpopulations. SC may serve as a bridge connecting Pst subpopulations between the northwestern provinces (SX, GS, and NX) and the southwestern provinces (SC and YN). With a relatively high genetic distance and low Nm values compared with other Pst subpopulations, XJ is considered a relatively independent epidemiological region in China. These results improved our current understanding of the wheat stripe rust epidemic in northwestern and southwestern regions of China.

Inverted U-shaped associations between serum uric acid and fasting - plasmaglucose level in non-diabetic, pre-diabetic, and diabetic adults: A population-based study in China.

This study was designed to examine the correlation between serum uric acid (SUA) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels across non-diabetic, pre-diabetic, and diabetic adults from Northwest China. This study utilized data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which investigated the prevalence and risk factors of cardiovascular disease. All subjects underwent tests for SUA and FPG levels. Generalized additive models and two-piecewise linear regression models were applied to explore the relationships between SUA and FPG level. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was examined as a measure of insulin resistance, with an analysis of its mediating effects on the association between SUA and FPG level. A total of 10,217 individuals aged 18 and over were included. Generalized additive models verified the inverted U-shaped association between SUA and FPG levels, and the inflection points of FPG levels in the curves were 6.5 mmol/L in males and 8.8 mmol/L in females. The TyG index is an intermediate variable in the relationship between SUA levels and elevated FPG levels, with mediating effects of 12.82% (P < 0.001) for males and 34.02% (P < 0.001) for females. An inverted U-shaped association betweenFPG and SUA levels was observed in both genders. The threshold ofFPG level was lower in males than in females. The relationship between these variables seems to be partially mediated by serum insulin levels.

Utilizing Grid Data and Deep Learning for Forest Fire Occurrences and Decision Support: A Case Study in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

In order to investigate the geographical distribution of forest fire occurrences in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, this study employs advanced modeling techniques, utilizing diverse data sources, including fuel, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), population, meteorology, buildings, and grid data. This study integrates deep learning Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to predict potential fire incidents. The research findings can be summarized as follows: (i) The employed model exhibits very good performance, achieving an accuracy of 84.35%, a recall of 86.21%, and an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 87.67%. The application of this model significantly enhances the reliability of the forest fire occurrence model and provides a more precise assessment of its uncertainty. (ii) Spatial analysis shows that the risk of fire occurrence in most areas is low-medium, while high-risk areas are mainly concentrated in Longde County, Jingyuan County, Pengyang County, Xiji County, Yuanzhou District, Tongxin County, Xixia District, and Yinchuan City, which are mostly located in the southern, southeastern, and northwestern regions of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, with a total area of 2191.2 square kilometers. This underscores the urgent need to strengthen early warning systems and effective fire prevention and control strategies in these regions. The contributions of this research include the following: (i) The development of a highly accurate and practical provincial-level forest fire occurrence prediction framework based on grid data and deep learning CNN technology. (ii) The execution of a comprehensive forest fire prediction study in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, incorporating multi-source data, providing valuable data references, and decision support for forest fire prevention and control. (iii) The initiation of a preliminary systematic investigation and zoning of forest fires in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, along with tailored recommendations for prevention and control measures.

The interaction of obesity with susceptible gene polymorphisms in the relationship with mild cognitive impairment.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly is threatening the mental health of the elderly, and the interaction of some factors is worth exploring. This study aims to explore the interactions of obesity and gene polymorphisms in the relationship with MCI. A total of 2555 community resident dwellings include 444 participants who met MCI criteria recruited from the Ningxia province of China. Fourteen MCI-susceptible single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected using a high-throughput mass spectrometer. The interaction was examined by performing the multifactor dimensionality reduction model and unconditional logistic regression model. Logistic regression showed that obesity (OR = 1.42, 95%CI: 1.04-1.94), rs2075650G allele carrying (OR = 17.95, 95%CI: 1.32-244.95), rs11556505T allele carrying (OR = 0.06, 95%CI: 0.01-0.87) were statistically associated with MCI. Multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis showed a strong antagonistic effect between obesity and rs4402960 (Interaction dendrogram between obesity and rs4402960 is red) and a weak synergy effect on rs7901695 (Interaction dendrogram between obesity and rs7901695 is green). The hierarchical analysis showed obesity is a risk factor for MCI in the non-rs4402960T allele carrier group (OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.02-2.35). This study found that obesity is an independent risk factor for MCI, and the interactions with MCI-susceptible gene polymorphisms suggest a possible precision preventive intervention program should be developed to reduce the risk of MCI among individuals with obesity in the community.

Simulation of the Spatial Flow of Wind Erosion Prevention Services in Arid Inland River Basins: A Case Study of Shiyang River Basin, NW China

Wind erosion is a key global environmental problem. As an important protective measure to provide services to the ecosystems in wind-eroded areas, the wind erosion prevention service is of great significance to the management of wind and sand hazards and ecological environment restoration in the wind-eroded areas and the neighboring areas. Taking the Shiyang River basin as the study area, the quality of supplies for wind erosion prevention services was estimated using the RWEQ model for the years 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020; the trajectories of air masses at wind speeds higher than the sand-causing wind speeds were simulated based on the forward trajectory module of the HYSPLIT model for a 24 h period; the spatial simulation of the flow of wind erosion prevention services on a daily scale with Minqin Station as the sand source was carried out; and the beneficiary areas of wind erosion prevention services were identified. Based on the RWEQ model, the spatial patterns of potential wind erosion, actual wind erosion, and wind and sand stabilization services were obtained, and the supply areas were divided. From 2005 to 2020, the wind erosion prevention service flow in the Shiyang River basin was distributed along a northwest–southeast direction, with a radial decrease from the center to the periphery, and with an extremely strong extraterritorial effect. The amount of wind erosion in the basin has a variable downward tendency over time and a spatial distribution pattern of high in the north and low in the south. The area of higher sand fixation is distributed in the eastern oasis area and desert junction zone. The HYSPLIT model was used to simulate the transport paths of wind and sand within 24 h during 2005–2020, the transmission paths of the wind erosion prevention service flow were obtained to be 59–134, and the flows were 2.55 × 104–3.85 × 106 t, displaying a changing trend of first decreasing, then increasing, and then decreasing. Gansu Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are the most important areas benefiting from the wind erosion prevention service flow in the Shiyang River basin. The wind erosion prevention service flows in the basin benefit 47 cities in 9 provinces.

Research on Maize Acreage Extraction and Growth Monitoring Based on a Machine Learning Algorithm and Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data

Getting accurate and up-to-date information on the cultivated land area and spatial arrangement of maize, an important staple crop in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, is very important for planning agricultural development in the region and judging crop yields. This work proposes a machine-learning methodology to extract corn from medium-resolution photos obtained from the Sentinel-2 satellite. The Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform is utilized to facilitate the process. The identification of maize cultivation regions in Huinong District in the year 2021 was performed through the utilization of support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) classification techniques. After obtaining the results, they were compared to see if using the random forest classification method to find planting areas for maize was possible and useful. Subsequently, the regions where maize was cultivated were combined with image data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), which has a high temporal resolution. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) contemporaneous difference method, which gives regular updates, was then used to track the growth of maize during its whole growth phase. The study’s results show that using the GEE cloud platform made it easier to quickly map out data about where to plant maize in Huinong District. Furthermore, the implementation of the random forest method resulted in enhanced accuracy in extracting maize planting areas. The confusion matrix’s evaluation of the classification performance produced an average overall accuracy of 98.9% and an average Kappa coefficient of 0.966. In comparison to the statistics yearbook of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the method employed in this study consistently yielded maize-planted area estimates in Huinong District with relative errors below 4% throughout the period spanning 2017 to 2021. The average relative error was found to be 2.04%. By combining MODIS image data with the NDVI difference model in the year 2021, the high-frequency monitoring of maize growth in Huinong District was successful. The growth of maize in Huinong District in 2021 exhibited comparable or improved performance in the seedling stage, nodulation stage, and the early stage of staminate pulling and spitting, possibly attributed to the impact of climate and other relevant elements. After that, the growth slowed down in August, and the percentage of regions with slower growth rates than in previous years gradually increased. However, overall, the growth of maize in Huinong District during the year 2021 showed improvement relative to the preceding years. The present study introduces a novel approach that demonstrates the capability to accurately extract corn crops in the Huinong District while simultaneously monitoring their growth at a high frequency.

Transition to a zero-carbon energy system in the Ningxia area: integrated CO2 reduction measures from the multi-level perspective

China’s commitment to decarbonization has become a foundational principle guiding policymaking at national, provincial, and local levels across diverse sectors. This commitment is especially evident in the active promotion of low-carbon energy transitions by all provinces, aligning with the national goal of carbon neutrality. This paper focuses on Ningxia Province and constructs five scenarios for low-carbon energy transition, adopting the multi-level perspective. These scenarios include the business-as-usual scenario (BAU), high electrification scenario (HES), high outward electricity scenario (HOS), low carbon scenario (LCS), and energy saving scenario (ESS). Utilizing the LEAP-Ningxia model, we simulate energy demand across various sectors until 2060. The quantitative analysis covers primary energy production, secondary energy conversion, final energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. Notably, under scenarios incorporating carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon credits, the total CO2 emissions in Ningxia are projected to decrease to 17∼23 Mt CO2 until 2060 under BAU, HES, and HOS. In LCS and ESS, a remarkable achievement is forecasted with 6∼93 Mt CO2 of negative emissions from the energy sector in Ningxia until 2060. The findings underscore the importance of diverse CO2 reduction measures and their impacts on achieving a zero-carbon energy transition in Ningxia. The implications of scenarios with CCS and carbon credits showcase significant reductions in CO2 emissions, aligning with China’s broader decarbonization goals. The results provide valuable scientific support and insights for policymakers and stakeholders involved in steering Ningxia towards a sustainable and low-carbon future.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Przevalski’s partridge (Alectoris magna)

Przevalski’s partridge (Alectoris magna) is one of the birds in the genus Alectoris endemic to China. The distribution of A. magna was narrow, and it was only found in parts of the Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia provinces. A. magna was considered a monotypic species until it was distinguished into two subspecies. However, external morphological characteristics, rather than genetic differences or evolutionary relationships, are now commonly used as evidence of subspecies differentiation. In this study, a chromosome-level reference genome of A. magna has been constructed by combining Illumina, PacBio and Hi-C sequencing data. The 1135.01 Mb A. magna genome was ultimately assembled. The genome showed 96.9% completeness (BUSCO), with a contig N50 length of 23.34 Mb. The contigs were clustered and oriented on 20 chromosomes, covering approximately 99.96% of the genome assembly. Additionally, altogether 19,103 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 95.10% were functionally annotated. This high-quality genome assembly could serve as a valuable genomic resource for future research on the functional genomics, genetic protection, and interspecific hybridization of A. magna.

Assessment of soil property in the Guyuan region from Ningxia Province of China and prediction of pepper blight.

Soil quality is an important determinant of soil-use efficiency in the Loess Plateau. However, there is no in-depth study on the soil quality of the Loess Plateau. The present study compared the quality of the 0-20 cm soil layer (T0-20) and the 20-40 cm soil layer (T20-40) from the Guyuan region located in the Loess Plateau. The analysis revealed that T0-20 had a higher content of total N, total P, available P, and organic matter, and the activities of microbial enzymes, especially β-grape-glycosidase (β-GC) and sucrase (SC), than T20-40, indicating that soil quality in T0-20 was better than T20-40. Amplicon sequencing found that Pseudombrophila from Ascomycota was the most abundant microbial species and significantly differed between T0-20 (34.2%) and T20-40 (48.7%). This species and another 19 microbial species, such as Ceratobasidiaceae and Mortierellaceae, determined the diversity of soil microorganism. Further analysis of the phenotype and other parameters of pepper seedlings subjected to P. capsici infection isolated from test soil revealed that decreased organic matter content in deep soil layer is related to happening of pepper blight, and 3 h after infection was the critical time point for infection. The peroxidase (POD) activity increased after P. capsici infection and was positively correlated with infection time, suggesting this enzyme may be an indicator of pepper blight occurrence. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for planning pepper blight management and crop cultivation strategies in the Guyuan region.

Ecological Security of Desert–Oasis Areas in the Yellow River Basin, China

The desert–oasis interaction zone plays a crucial role in safeguarding oasis ecological security and maintaining stability within oases. This paper proposed a framework of EN-DSS, based on long-term remote sensing data and fundamental data, adopted morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and Linkage Mapper among other methods, and it took Lingwu City in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which is located in the desert–oasis interaction zone in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, as a case study. The results indicate the following: since 1995, this desert–oasis system has exhibited the characteristics whereby the oasis is expanding eastward and the desert is significantly receding. The vegetation coverage has improved overall, forming an ecological security pattern characterized predominantly by shrub forests, which is referred to as the “one core, two corridors, three zones, and multiple clusters” pattern. This pattern has significantly reduced the risk of wind and sand erosion in the agricultural irrigation areas along the Yellow River. However, the construction of this ecological security pattern still faces challenges, including high construction and maintenance costs and the need to enhance the network’s quality. In the future, it will be necessary to strengthen the integrated ecological network construction of ecological areas, agricultural areas, and urban areas to enhance the stability of this regional ecological network system.

The Effectiveness of Synchronous and Asynchronous Blended Teaching Plan for Preschool Education Major Students at The Institute of Teacher Education in Ningxia Province, People Republic of China

Background and Aims: In recent years, the role of choral conducting courses in China's basic education has been receiving more and more attention. A sudden increase in the demand for chorus and conducting courses in primary school has led to a shortage of teachers in this professional field in underdeveloped areas such as Ningxia. To efficiently train more primary school teachers who possess choral conducting skills for basic education has become the primary focus of colleges and universities offering primary school education majors. The purpose of this article is to explore whether synchronous and asynchronous blended teaching plans can achieve, or even surpass, the academic performance of traditional educational methods while enhancing the efficiency of the curriculum. Methodology: This quasi-experimental study aims to investigate the effects of various teaching plans on participants’ outcomes. The participants consist of students engaged in a chorus and conducting an education setting. In this research procedure, the 39 participants were divided into three groups, each experiencing a different teaching method: the traditional teaching plan group, the synchronous blended teaching plan group, and the asynchronous blended teaching plan group. After implementing the teaching plans, standardized tests are administered to all three groups to measure their learning outcomes and performance. The collected data, comprising participants' test scores, will undergo statistical analysis using ANOVA and the Paired T-test. Result: The final research results indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in the performance of the three participant groups. In other words, all three teaching plans exhibited a positive effect on participants' performance, with similar degrees of improvement. When considering average scores in sub-subjects, participants in the blended program generally outperformed those in the traditional style. Conclusion: The blended teaching plan combines the convenience of online teaching with the benefits of offline practical instruction. The researchers contend that employing a blended teaching approach can enhance course efficiency, offering a viable alternative to the traditional teaching method.

The Changes in Cropland Pattern Enhanced Carbon Storage in Northwest China

Northwest China has experienced dramatic changes in agricultural land area in recent years. The effects of these changes on carbon storage are unknown, and this ambiguity hinders land development policies related to carbon emissions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of annual cropland changes (expansion and abandonment) during 2000 to 2020 on carbon storage in Northwest China by using land use data, carbon density data, and statistical yearbooks using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) method. The results indicated that the area of cropland increased by 1.47 × 106 ha from 2000 to 2020, in that the area of cropland expansion and abandonment are 3.58 × 106 and −2.11 × 106 ha, respectively. Cropland expansion was mainly from other land and grassland, and the conversion of cropland to grassland made up the largest proportion of cropland abandonment, followed by built-up land. The cropland changes resulted in a total carbon sequestration of 4.05 Tg (0.20 Tg C year−1), including a 17.66 Tg decrease and 21.71 Tg increase in carbon storage due to, respectively, cropland expansion and cropland abandonment, in which the conversion of forest to cropland (−8.60 Tg) and cropland to forest (11.16 Tg) were the main causes of the increase and decrease in carbon storage. Specifically, regional carbon storage due to cropland changes exhibited an increasing variation characteristic during 2000 to 2007, a gradually decreasing variation characteristics during 2007 to 2014, and fluctuated stabilization since then (during 2014 to 2020). In addition, the highest carbon emission was found in Xinjiang (−3.68 Tg), followed by Ningxia (−0.21 Tg) province, while Shanxi (3.44 Tg), Gansu (3.17 Tg) and Qinhai (1.33 Tg) had carbon accumulation. Overall, cropland changes acted as a carbon sink in Northwest China from 2000 to 2020. We suggest that the development of high-carbon-density lands or the conversion of low-carbon-density lands are critical to increasing future carbon sequestration due to cropland change.

Paleoenvironmental Significance of Claystone in the Middle Ordovician Miboshan Formation of Ordos Basin, China: Evidence from Trace Elements

The Miboshan Formation in the Middle Ordovician plays a crucial role in the sedimentary evolution of the western margin of the Ordos Basin as it represents the transition from a carbonate platform to a deep-water slope-basin environment. This study focuses on the paleoenvironment of claystone in the Middle Ordovician Miboshan Formation, located in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of the Ordos Basin. The study aims to analyze the influence of sea level and salinity on rare earth elements, investigate terrigenous input and redox conditions through trace element analysis, and exemplify the coupling relationship between depositional and tectonic environments. The Miboshan Formation profile consists of thick- to thin-bedded limestones, mainly composed of lenticular calcirudite with erosion surfaces and horizontal laminae. Grayish black claystone have deformation structures and graptolite fossils. Based on the total number of rare earth elements and the trace element indexes, the seawater properties, redox degree, and terrigenous input are located in two data sets in different parts of the profile (i.e., sample 6-1 to 6-5: Concentrated in lower part, and samples 6-6 to 6-8: Concentrated in upper part), implying that they were deposited at different subaqueous uplifts. Negative Ce anomalies, La/Ce, V/Cr, and Fe3+/Fe2+ ratios indicate an anoxic condition with stratified redox structure, whereas characteristic LaN/NdN, Y/Ho, and Sr/Ba suggest deep-water affected by fresh water. The ∑REEs and Th/U ratios indicated that the study area was mainly deposited from terrigenous materials in the stable tectonic area. According to the ages of deposition, lithologic analyses, and chemical parameters, the Miboshan Formation is related to the deep water environment in a ponded basin influenced by subaqueous uplift resulting from plate subduction in an active continental margin. This study provides valuable insights into paleoenvironment and paleotectonic environments of the Miboshan Formation in the Middle Ordovician.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Source Analysis of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils of Ningxia, Northwest of China

The spatial and temporal dynamic monitoring of the heavy metal concentration in agricultural soils can help us to understand the extent and changes of regional soil heavy metal pollution, allowing us safeguard food safety and human health and provide basic data for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils. The heavy metals’ concentrations, including Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, and As, were measured in surface (0–20 cm) soil samples collected in 2017 and 2021 from agriculture land to evaluate their pollution levels in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Hereinafter referred to as Ningxia), northwest of China. A correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and positive matrix factorization were used jointly to identify possible sources. The results showed that, for most soils, the concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were lower than the contamination thresholds stipulated by the national guideline. The average concentrations of As, Cd, Zn, and Ni in 2021 were significantly lower than the levels in 2017 (p &lt; 0.05), but the average concentration of Cu was significantly higher in 2021 than in 2017 (p &lt; 0.05), and the average concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Hg did not change significantly during the last five years. According to the pollution assessment index (mean Igeo values), Cd and Hg were found to accumulate in the farmland environment and were the major pollutants in the region, and the hotspots with high concentrations of heavy metals were mainly located in the Yellow River irrigation area in Northern Ningxia. Four main sources of heavy metals in the soils were identified: As mainly originated from natural sources; Pb, Cd, and Ni from atmospheric deposition and industrial activities; Cr, Zn, and Cu from agricultural activities; and Hg from the coal-related industrial activities. The concentration of heavy metals from anthropogenic sources accounted for 77.10% in agricultural soils, indicating the strong influence of this source on soil heavy metal accumulation. These findings provide scientific evidence and valuable information to prevent heavy metal contamination and control of farmland.

Exploring the association between latent Plasmopara viticola infection and downy mildew epidemic in commercial vineyards: Application of qPCR assay

AbstractIt is critical to quantify latent Plasmopara viticola infections in commercial vineyards rapidly and accurately to estimate the potential for grapevine downy mildew (GDM) epidemics. In this study, a well‐established quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was employed to quantify the amount of P. viticola in asymptomatic grapevine leaves from various commercial vineyards in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Ningxia), China. The qPCR revealed efficient detection of P. viticola, with 56.6% and 95.8% of the asymptomatic leaves testing positive to the pathogen in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The molecular disease index (MDI), which offers insights into the progression of latent infection preceding the appearance of visible GDM symptoms, showed relatively modest values in the initial phases. However, it increased variably as grapevines grew. The disease index progress curve and the relative area under the disease progress curve revealed that all assessed vineyards experienced different degrees of epidemics after the initial GDM observation, with most vineyards experiencing more severe GDM epidemics in 2019 than in 2018. Bayesian and non‐linear regression analyses demonstrated that MDI data matched well with occurrence of GDM at early, mid and late stages of disease, and the overall accuracy of predictions exceeded 50%, 64% and 70%, respectively. Furthermore, latent infection levels were positively correlated with subsequent assessments of disease progression (p &lt; 0.001). This study provides evidence for the interrelation between latent P. viticola infections and development of GDM epidemics under field conditions. This insight has substantive implications for the formulation of effective disease management strategies.

Genetic characterizations and molecular epidemiology of human echovirus 30 isolated from Ningxia, China

In October 2017, a small outbreak of echovirus 30 (E30) associated with aseptic meningitis in nine cases occurred at a primary school in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. That year, we observed a significant increase in E30 levels in an acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) case surveillance system. To investigate their phylogenetic relationships, we determined the whole genomic sequences of 12 strains isolated from aseptic meningitis cases, AFP cases, and healthy children. We found that the E30 strains circulating in Ningxia belong to two lineages (H and J). The strains isolated in 2010, 2012, and 2016 belonged to the H lineage. In 2017, a new lineage, J, emerged as the dominant lineage. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on the whole genome and P1, P2, and P3 regions; clustering with other types of enterovirus species B was found, suggesting that recombination events had occurred. The recombination sites were mainly in regions 2B, 2C, and 3D. This study confirmed that the E30 strains in Ningxia in 2010, 2012, and 2016 had different recombination patterns and were recombined with different enteroviruses. The 2017 epidemic E30 originated from another new lineage with a complex recombination pattern and formed an independent transmission chain in Ningxia.

Spatial Prediction of Landslide Susceptibility Using Logistic Regression (LR), Functional Trees (FTs), and Random Subspace Functional Trees (RSFTs) for Pengyang County, China

Landslides pose significant and serious geological threat disasters worldwide, threatening human lives and property; China is particularly susceptible to these disasters. This paper focuses on Pengyang County, which is situated in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China, an area prone to landslides. This study investigated the application of machine learning techniques for analyzing landslide susceptibility. To construct and validate the model, we initially compiled a landslide inventory comprising 972 historical landslides and an equivalent number of non-landslide sites (Data sourced from the Pengyang County Department of Natural Resources). To ensure an impartial evaluation, both the landslide and non-landslide datasets were randomly divided into two sets using a 70/30 ratio. Next, we extracted 15 landslide conditioning factors, including the slope angle, elevation, profile curvature, plan curvature, slope aspect, TWI (topographic wetness index), TPI (topographic position index), distance to roads and rivers, NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), rainfall, land use, lithology, SPI (stream power index), and STI (sediment transport index), from the spatial database. Subsequently, a correlation analysis between the conditioning factors and landslide occurrences was conducted using the certainty factor (CF) method. Three landslide models were established by employing logistic regression (LR), functional trees (FTs), and random subspace functional trees (RSFTs) algorithms. The landslide susceptibility map was categorized into five levels: very low, low, medium, high, and very high susceptibility. Finally, the predictive capability of the three algorithms was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The better the prediction, the higher the AUC value. The results indicate that all three models are predictive and practical, with only minor discrepancies in accuracy. The integrated model (RSFT) displayed the highest predictive performance, achieving an AUC value of 0.844 for the training dataset and 0.837 for the validation dataset. This was followed by the LR model (0.811 for the training dataset and 0.814 for the validation dataset) and the FT model (0.776 for the training dataset and 0.760 for the validation dataset). The proposed methods and resulting landslide susceptibility map can assist researchers and local authorities in making informed decisions for future geohazard prevention and mitigation. Furthermore, they will prove valuable and be useful for other regions with similar geological characteristics features.

Resources and Functional Components of Wild Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms in Ningxia Province

The species composition and resource status of wild edible and medicinal fungi in Ningxia Province were meticulously analyzed and systematically organized using available published data on higher fungi. This comprehensive investigation delved into the effectiveness of the dominant edible and medicinal mushrooms. The findings unequivocally demonstrated the abundant presence of wild edible and medicinal mushroom resources in Ningxia Province, encompassing a total of 204 species, spanning edible fungi, medicinal fungi, and edible and medicinal mushrooms. These belong to 10 genera, 8 families, and 3 orders, originating from 2 phyla. Among the 204 species, a substantial 176 are categorized as edible mushrooms, constituting an impressive 86.27% of the total species, while 28 species are recognized as medicinal fungi, contributing 13.73% of the overall species. Additionally, 36 species encompass the unique category of edible and medicinal fungi, accounting for 17.65% of the total species. Notably, 90 species are identified within Agaricus, Cortinarius, Tricholoma, Lactarius, Clitocybe, Coprinus, Gestrum, Suillus, Russula, Ramaria, Melanoluca, and Agrocybe, collectively representing 43.9% of the total species. The species within these dominant genera play a pivotal role in the realm of edible and medicinal mushrooms in Ningxia Province. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of the functional components of these dominant genera unveiled the considerable potential for the utilization of wild edible and medicinal fungi distributed in Ningxia Province. These findings not only offer fundamental insights but also establish a robust foundation for the establishment of a comprehensive resource database of edible and medicinal fungi in Ningxia Province. Moreover, they serve as a crucial resource for researchers in their exploration of locally distinctive edible and medicinal mushrooms.