Optimizing soil profile nitrogen distribution alleviates nutrient limitations in wheat fields by influencing the microbial network and soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry.

A nationwide assessment of heavy metal accumulation in rapeseed across China: Distribution patterns, driving factors, and safety thresholds.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), also known as kala-azar, is a significant vector-borne and largely zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania spp. The disease is naturally transmitted by sandflies as vectors and affects dogs and wild dogs in many countries worldwide. A literature review and meta-analysis were conducted to estimate the prevalence of CVL in Mainland China from 2013 to 2023. A total of 17 publications on CVL investigation in Mainland China were screened from the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), Medline database via PubMed interface, and ScienceDirect. The study utilized a random-effect model to determine the pooled prevalence of CVL. The analyzed data were selected, and the estimated prevalence of CVL in Mainland China was 21.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.0-29.6). The prevalence of CVL in Northwestern China (39.4%, 95% CI: 33.9-45.0) was significantly higher than in other regions. The main cases of CVL are located mainly in Northwest and Southwest China. In nonendemic areas, the infection occurred in samples collected, but the prevalence was lower, only 3.5% (95% CI: 1.7-5.7). Conversely, it was much higher in endemic areas (33.0%, 95% CI: 23.66-443.1). Additionally, we presented potential factors, such as detection methods, age, and sex. Our data showed that CVL infection still exists in some parts of China.

Introduction Xinjiang Brown cattle are an important beef breed in Northwest China. Although multigenerational selective breeding has improved their growth performance, the accompanying molecular adaptations and potential physiological trade- ofs remain insufficiently elucidated at the systemic level. This study aimed to decipher the dynamic serum proteomic profiles shaped by both ontogeny and generational selection in Xinjiang Brown cattle, and to identify the associated key proteins and pathways. Methods Serum samples from 18 bulls across three genera- tions (A, B, C) at 3 and 9 months of age were analyzed using Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics. Results Under stringent quality control (FDR < 1%), 583 high-confidence proteins were identified. Diferentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were screened using thresholds of |fold change| ≥ 1.2 and p -value < 0.05. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to elucidate protein functions, and 12 key DEPs were validated by Parallel Reaction Monitoring (PRM). Serum pro- teome variations were primarily driven along two dimensions: age and genera- tion. Age-related diferences, marked by upregulated proteins such as APOA4 at 3 months, were enriched in lipid metabolism and skeletal development pathways. In contrast, generational shifts revealed a coordinated downregulation of proteins involved in immune-vascular homeostasis, including VWF, THBS1, TGFB1, CCN2, and TIMP3, alongside an increase in the chromatin regulator HIST2H2AC. Enrichment analysis highlighted “platelet activation” and the “TGF-beta signal- ing pathway” as significantly altered intergenerational regulatory networks. PRM validation confirmed the reliability of the proteomic data. Discussion This study reveals that the breeding strategy for Xinjiang Brown cattle prioritizes shaping a proteomic landscape that promotes growth and metabolism, potentially at the cost of atten- uated immune-vascular reactivity. The identified panel of candidate proteins pro- vides a molecular framework for evaluating breeding outcomes and designing balanced selection strategies. Follow-up research should further investigate the functions of these candidate proteins and validate their predictive value for health and production performance in independent herds.

Changes in glacier meltwater runoff in the Qilian Mountains situated on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau are important for sustaining water resources in the arid regions of Northwest China. Combining multi-period remote sensing, historical data and modeling, we evaluate the glacier mass and area changes as well as associated runoff change of all glaciers in the area. Glacier area shrunk by 516.8 km 2 (∼26%, 0.53% ± 0.15% a −1 ) between 1970 and 2020 and glacier surface elevation change was −0.35 ± 0.04 m a −1 between 2000 and 2014. In general, glaciers in the eastern Qilian Mountains retreated faster than those in the western part. A mass balance model calibrated against geodetic estimates derived from DEM differencing was used to reconstruct annual glacier mass changes and runoff from 1990 to 2017. Across the 11 glacierized large-scale river basins (0.02%–2.5% glacierization), the index-based glacier runoff ratio relative to basin water input ranged from 0.1% to 6.2%. Results show an increase in glacier runoff volumes during 1990–2001, but no statistically significant trend thereafter (2002–2017) despite increasing glacier thinning. This slowdown is attributed to decreasing glacier area as the glaciers retreated. Overall, our findings highlight that while glacier runoff continues to play a critical role in sustaining river runoff in the Qilian Mountains, its buffering effect is weakening as glacier runoff approach peak water, implying increasing vulnerability of regional water resources to precipitation variability under future climate change.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. The usage of its therapeutic drugs is increasing with the intensification of population aging. These drugs cannot be completely metabolized in the human body and enter wastewater systems in the form of the originals or metabolites. In-depth investigation of the occurrence characteristics of these drugs in wastewater is of great significance for effective control and management. The concentrations and associated factors of four main AD drugs (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and memantine) and their metabolites in the influent of 210 wastewater treatment plants across 31 Chinese provinces were analyzed. The results indicated that detection rates of the above drugs in wastewater were high, with concentrations ranging from 7.47-21.60 ng·L-1. Among them, the concentration of donepezil was significantly higher in East China and the Northwest and Northeast regions than that in Central China; the concentrations of rivastigmine and galantamine in Southwest China were significantly higher than those in East China; and the concentrations of memantine in Northwest and North China were significantly higher than those in East China. The above results indicated that the occurrence of these drugs showed a significant regional difference. Further, the AD drugs and metabolites with detection rates above 90% and excretion rates exceeding 20% (donepezil, rivastigmine metabolite, galantamine metabolite, and memantine) were chosen as biomarkers to evaluate AD prevalence. The prevalence of AD in different regions was estimated by wastewater-based epidemiology method, and the results were highly consistent with official statistical data. These results showed that the concentrations of AD drugs in wastewater influent were closely related to the AD prevalence. Additionally, correlation analysis also found that socioeconomic factors (such as stress, aging population, level of economic development, and health care services) had a significant positive correlation with the AD prevalence, indicating that socioeconomic factors may influence the occurrence of AD drugs in wastewater by affecting the AD prevalence. These results provide a scientific basis for further understanding of the characteristics of AD drugs in wastewater treatment plants and the development of corresponding control measures.

The Bosten Lake, as an ecological key hub in the arid region of Northwest China, has a relatively unique ecological environment, making it challenging to maintain ecological balance. Studying the dynamic changes of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the Bosten Lake Basin and its driving factors is of great significance for maintaining the stability and sustainable development of the basin's ecosystem. Based on Landsat data from 2001 to 2023, the NDVI values of the Bosten Lake Basin were calculated. The Mann-Kendall trend significance test, Sen's slope estimation method, and Hurst index were used to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamic changes of NDVI in the Bosten Lake Basin, and the relationship between climatic factors and NDVI was explored. The results showed that: ① The annual maximum NDVI in the Bosten Lake Basin generally showed an increasing trend, with a growth rate of 0.003 3 a-1. The spatial distribution characteristics of NDVI were relatively obvious, mainly dominated by high vegetation coverage, with 52.18% of the area showing an increasing trend. ② Seasonally, the NDVI during the growing season showed an increasing trend, with the highest NDVI in summer and the lowest in spring, and the trend of summer NDVI changes was consistent with the annual maximum NDVI changes. ③ The Hurst index predicted that 34.72% of the area in the Bosten Lake Basin would show a degradation trend in NDVI, while 65.28% would show an improvement trend. ④ The annual maximum NDVI in the Bosten Lake Basin from 2001 to 2020 was positively correlated with rainfall, temperature, sunshine hours, and evaporation and significantly correlated with sunshine hours and total evaporation, with correlation coefficients of 0.374 and 0.494, respectively. Therefore, the NDVI in the Bosten Lake Basin has shown an improving trend over the past 23 years, positively correlated with climatic factors. This study provides a scientific basis for the ecological environment construction, ecosystem management, and ecological balance maintenance in the Bosten Lake Basin.

Abstract Aiming at the seismic safety of hydraulic metal structures in the high-intensity seismic region of Northwest China, this study considers the spillway radial service gate of the Jishixia Hydropower Station in the Yellow River Basin as the research object. A dynamic timehistory analysis method was employed to numerically simulate the complex dynamic response under Intensity VIII seismic action. The results indicated the significant spatial distribution characteristics of the dynamic response. The peak displacement is concentrated in the central area of the top of the skin plate, and a significant stress concentration occurs in the mid-span areas of the main girder and radial arms, which are key components of the gate. A comparison with the static stress experimental results confirms that the peak dynamic response under a seismic load can reach 1.7 times the static experimental value. To enhance the seismic performance of the gate, structural optimization schemes involving local stiffening of the main girder and diagonal bracing of the radial arms were proposed without altering the existing structure. The simulation results show that, after optimization, the maximum displacement of the overall gate structure is reduced by 7.9%, and the amplitude of the dynamic stress at key parts of the gate is attenuated by more than 6.21%. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support with significant engineering application value for safe design and performance improvement of gates in high-intensity seismic regions.

The effectiveness of substituting organic fertilizers for chemical fertilizers in enhancing crop yield and soil quality remains uncertain. This study conducted a two-year field experiment to investigate the effects of replacing chemical fertilizer nitrogen with organic fertilizer nitrogen at varying levels (0%, 30%, 60%, 100%) on soil nitrogen transformation and crop yield in potato and wheat cultivation. We measured soil nitrogen pools and key nitrogen-transforming enzyme activities to evaluate how various fertilization treatments affect the soil nitrogen cycling process. Results showed that replacing 60% of chemical fertilizer nitrogen with organic fertilizer (T2) significantly increased soil nitrate nitrogen content during the potato tuber expansion and wheat jointing stages. It also maintained high mineral nitrogen levels in the later growth period. Additionally, the T2 treatment significantly boosted soil urease (SU) activity by 14 - 38% and Soil alkaline protease (ALPT) activity by 9 - 22%, optimizing nitrogen transport to potato tubers and wheat grains. Compared to full chemical fertilizer treatment, T2 increased potato yield to 47.13 t·ha - ¹ and wheat yield to 6.06 t·ha - ¹, marking increases of 18.8% and 22.8%, respectively, and improved nitrogen use efficiency by 73.4 - 76.1%. This study demonstrates that substituting 60% of chemical fertilizer nitrogen with organic fertilizer effectively meets crop needs through a “quick-release and slow-release” coordinated nitrogen supply mechanism. It enhances nutrient release by boosting soil enzyme activities during critical fertilizer-demanding periods, offering a viable solution for reducing fertilizer use and increasing efficiency in arid and cool regions.

Abstract In sandy desert environments, plants experience substantial variation in growing conditions throughout the dune fixation process. Despite its ecological importance, the link between xerophytic plant trait adaptation and dune stabilization remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we evaluated 13 leaf functional traits related to physiological, structural, and biochemical properties in selected xerophytic species across four dune stabilization stages in northwest China, namely semi-fixed dunes (D1; vegetation cover, 23%), fixed dunes (D2; 32%), biocrusted-fixed dunes (D3; 46%), and herbaceous-plant-fixed dunes (D4; 60%). We applied leaf trait network (LTN) analysis to explore complex trait interrelationships and assess changes in network parameters during stabilization. Results revealed that both leaf traits and LTNs varied with stabilization stage. At the fixed dune stage (D2), xerophytes shifted from a resource-acquisitive strategy emphasizing rapid carbon and nutrient uptake to a more conservative strategy characterized by slower returns on investment. Leaf trait network connectivity increased with stabilization, as indicated by decreasing average path length and increasing edge density. Connectivity was positively correlated with soil bulk density (BD) and negatively correlated with soil volumetric water content, suggesting that increasing BD and water stress drove plants to adopt broader trait combinations, enhancing stress tolerance and physiological plasticity during dune stabilization.

Association study of internal exposure levels of perfluoroalkyl substances and blood lipid levels in the elderly population and adverse Outcome pathway analysis.

Development and validation of a risk stratification score for hemophagocytic syndrome in chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection: A 10-year retrospective cohort study.

The inverted U-shaped association between body roundness index and cognitive function among Chinese older adults.

Explainable machine learning for joint estimation of evapotranspiration and gross primary productivity in a winter wheat cropland in Northwest China

Spatial distributed management strategies for maize high-yield and high-efficiency under different production-demand scenarios in Northwest China

Ore-forming processes of the Uragen giant sandstone-hosted Zn-Pb deposit in the Ulugqat Basin, Xinjiang, Northwest China: Constraints from sphalerite micro-texture, elemental and in-situ sulfur isotopic compositions

Quantifying crop-livestock integration for the green transition of herbivorous livestock farmers: Development of a novel index and its application in Northwest China

Uranium disequilibrium in groundwater downgradient of the Bayan Obo rare earth tailings, Northwest China.

Closing the yield gap of spring maize by synergizing drip nitrogen-fertigation with plant density in the arid region of Northwest China

Corrigendum to “Carbon sink potential and contributions to dual carbon goals of the grain for green program in the arid regions of Northwest China” [Resources, Conservation & Recycling 220 (2025) 108355/j.resconrec.2025.108355