Xinjiang Uygur Research Articles

Investigation of some physico-chemical properties of Elaeagnus L. GUM

As is known, most polysaccharides have biological activity, play important roles in life processes, and are widely used in healthcare, food processing, and cosmetic production due to their therapeutic effects and relatively low toxicity. Among polysaccharides, this class’s representatives do not have a biological activity to some pathogens of diseases but have a huge potential to use them in various sectors of the national economy, such as in the food industry, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. One such polysaccharide is the gum obtained from the plant Elaeagnus L. germinating in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and Central Asia. The local people call it jidah. This article is devoted to the extraction, purification, the determination of the monomeric composition, molecular weight, viscosity, spectral analysis, and some chemical properties of the polysaccharide obtained from the gum of the named plant Elaeagnus L.

Optimization of Phenylalanine Cut-Off Value in Newborn Screening Based on Blood Sampling Time.

The aim of this study was to optimize the cut-off value of phenylalanine (Phe) for phenylketonuria (PKU) screening in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region based on the time of blood sampling. In this study, 110,806 neonates born in 91 obstetrics and gynecology hospitals of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between June 2017 and December 2019 were divided into two groups (i.e., groups 1 and 2) based on the sampling time. The concentration of Phe was determined using fluorimetric method. The optimization of the Phe cut-off value was conducted using the receiver operating characteristic curve from the treating set involving 80,354 neonates. Then, the diagnostic values of the optimized Phe cut-off value were evaluated using validation set involving 30,452 neonates, based on the comparison of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) obtained from conventional cut-off value. A range of cut-off values was used for preliminary Phe concentrations in the two groups to analyze the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV. The optimized cut-off value of Phe in group 1 was 2.0, while that in the group 2 was 2.21. A comparison was given to PPV, NPV, sensitivity, and specificity generated by the optimized cut-off value and the conventional cut-off value, which yielded similar sensitivity, specificity, and PPV, and less recalled number of samples. The optimization of cut-off value of Phe based on sampling time is feasible for PKU screening in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In addition, the false positive rate was significantly reduced, which may save more efforts in sample recalling process. · The optimization of Phe cut-off value for Xinjiang Region.. · The optimized cut-off value reduced the recalling samples.. · Our cut-off value is feasible for PKU screening in Xinjiang..

Permafrost in the Cretaceous supergreenhouse

Earth’s climate during the last 4.6 billion years has changed repeatedly between cold (icehouse) and warm (greenhouse) conditions. The hottest conditions (supergreenhouse) are widely assumed to have lacked an active cryosphere. Here we show that during the archetypal supergreenhouse Cretaceous Earth, an active cryosphere with permafrost existed in Chinese plateau deserts (astrochonological age ca. 132.49–132.17 Ma), and that a modern analogue for these plateau cryospheric conditions is the aeolian–permafrost system we report from the Qiongkuai Lebashi Lake area, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Significantly, Cretaceous plateau permafrost was coeval with largely marine cryospheric indicators in the Arctic and Australia, indicating a strong coupling of the ocean–atmosphere system. The Cretaceous permafrost contained a rich microbiome at subtropical palaeolatitude and 3–4 km palaeoaltitude, analogous to recent permafrost in the western Himalayas. A mindset of persistent ice-free greenhouse conditions during the Cretaceous has stifled consideration of permafrost thaw as a contributor of C and nutrients to the palaeo-oceans and palaeo-atmosphere.

On two species of Dracocephalum L. (Lamiaceae)

A composition of taxa included in Dracocephalum imberbe Bunge s. l. is discussed. Species rank of D. laniflorum Rupr. is reinstated based on the following characters: underground part is represented by a system of branching rhizomes, bracts absent, calyx 12–14 mm long, with triangular or narrowly triangular, pointless teeth, the middle tooth of the upper lip up to 1.5 times wider than the lateral ones and plant being nearly scentless. In contrast, in D. imberbeunderground part is represented by the taproot and developed branches of the caudex, bracts present, with well-developed non-rigid points, calyx 15–18 mm long, with lanceolate or narrowly triangular pointed (though not rigid) teeth, the middle tooth of the upper lip 1.5–2 times wider than the lateral ones, the presence of a smell that persists in herbarium specimens. Dracocephalum laniflorum is firstly reported for flora of Kazakhstan (Almaty Region) and China(Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region) based on the study of herbarium materials stored in AA and LE, as well as scanned herbarium specimens stored in MW, HNWP and PE, which were available through the Moscow Digital Herbarium and Chinese Virtual Herbarium (CVH) systems.

Effect of nitrogen reduction on the remobilization of post‐anthesis assimilates to grain and grain‐filling characteristics in a drip‐irrigated spring wheat system

AbstractDrip‐irrigation is a cultivation mode that uses water and fertilizer efficiently and is the main cultivation technique for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. The amount of nitrogen (N) fertilizer used in drip‐irrigated wheat production is strongly connected to land productivity. However, the effect of reduced N application on the translocation of assimilates to grains and grain‐filling in wheat under drip irrigation is unknown. A 2‐yr field experiment (2018–2019) was conducted in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with two varieties of spring wheat (Xinchun 38 [XC38] and Xinchun 49 [XC49]) and five N application levels (300 [N1], 275 [N2], 250 [N3], 225 [N4], and 0 [N0] kg hm−2). The results showed that N application significantly affected the dry matter accumulation, transport amount, transport rate, and the contribution rate of wheat (stem sheaths, leaves, and spikes). The maximum values of the above parameters of XC38 and XC49 were observed in response to N3 and N4, respectively. In addition, N affected the dry weight and grain‐filling characteristic parameters. Nitrogen affected the rate of grain‐filling during the three periods, with N3 and N4 being the best treatments for XC38 and XC49, respectively. The results of this study provide an understanding of the translocation of assimilates and the grain‐filling characteristics of spring wheat, and the optimum N application levels were different for XC38 and XC49. Among the N treatments in this study, the optimum nitrogen levels were 250 and 225 kg hm−2 for XC38 and XC49, respectively.

Devosia ureilytica sp. nov., isolated from Kuche River in China.

Two novel strains, designated XJ19-45T and XJ19-1, were isolated from water of Kuche River in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Their cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and motile rods. The phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes and genomes showed that the two isolates belonged to the genus Devosia and the closest relative was Devosia subaequoris HST3-14T. The 16S rRNA genes sequences pairwise similarities, average nucleotide identities, digital DNA-DNA hybridizations and average amino acid identities between type strain XJ19-45T and other relatives were all less than 98.3, 80.3, 23.6 and 85.7 %, respectively, all below the species delineation thresholds. Pan-genomic analysis indicated that the novel isolate XJ19-45T shared 1594 core gene clusters with the 11 closely related type strains in Devosia, and the number of strain-specific clusters was 390. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) of the two isolates were summed feature 8, C18 : 1 ω7c 11-methyl and C16 : 0. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and glycolipids were the major polar lipids, and Q10 was the detected respiratory quinone. Based on the results of phenotypic, physiological, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characterizations, we propose that the isolates represent a novel species, for which the name Devosia ureilytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XJ19-45T (=CGMCC 1.19388T=KCTC 92263T).

Limnobacter parvus sp. nov., a Thiosulfate-Oxidizing Bacterium Isolated from Lake Water.

A novel bacterium, designated as strain YS8-69T, was isolated from an inland closed lake, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, PR China. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence shows the strain was affiliated to the genusLimnobacter, in the family Burkholderiaceae, with the highest similarities toLimnobacter alexandrii LZ-4T (98.93%), Limnobacter thiooxidans DSM 13612T (98.55%), Limnobacter humi NBRC 111650T (97.66%), andLimnobacter litoralisKP1-19T(97.04%). Strain YS8-69T was a Gram stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium, and growth was observed at 4-40°C (optimum, 25°C), pH 7.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0), and 0-3% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5%). The principal fatty acids were C16:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), and summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c). The sole respiratory quinone was Q-8 and total polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), an unidentified aminolipid (AL), two unidentified glycolipids (GL1,2), an unidentified amino phosphoglycolipid (APGL), two unidentified phospholipids (PL1,2), two unidentified aminophospholipids (APL1,2), and three unidentified lipids (L1,2,3). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values and in silico DDH between strain YS8-69T andL. alexandrii LZ-4T, L. thiooxidans JCM 13612T, and L. humi DSM 111650T were 73.0-80.6% and 15.8-50.2%, respectively. The genome sequence showed a length of 3,162,663bp, with 20 contigs and 51.7% of G + C content. Based on physiological, chemotaxonomic, genotypic characteristics, and phylogenetic results, we propose that strain YS8-69T represents a novel specie of the genus Limnobacter, for which the name Limnobacter parvus sp. nov. is proposed (type strain YS8-69T = MCCC 1K08015T = KCTC 92278T).

Influence of sleep quality on symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: the mediating role of working memory

To study the mediating role of working memory between sleep quality and symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The cluster random sampling method was used to select 110 ADHD children and 124 normal children as subjects from grade 3-5 students in two primary schools in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. SNAP-IV, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and visual-spatial working memory paradigm were used for investigation and comparison. Compared with the normal group, the ADHD group had a significantly higher total score of PSQI and scores of subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, and a higher incidence of sleep quality problems (P<0.001). The working memory score in the ADHD group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (P<0.001). In the ADHD group, the working memory score was negatively correlated with the total score of PSQI (rs=-0.271, P<0.001) and the score of symptoms (rs=-0.439, P<0.001), and the total score of PSQI was positively correlated with the score of symptoms (rs=0.540, P<0.001). Working memory had a partial mediating effect in the influence of sleep quality on symptoms in children with ADHD, accounting for 18.10% of the total effect. Sleep quality issues are observed in some children with ADHD, and working memory plays a mediating role between sleep quality and symptoms in ADHD children.

Spatial homogeneity pursuit of regression coefficients for hand, foot and mouth disease in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2018

To explore the complex spatial pattern between the incidence of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and meteorological factors [average temperature (AT), average relative humidity (ARH), average air pressure (AP), average wind speed (AW)], this paper constructed a Spatial Clustering coefficient (SCC) regression model to detect spatial clustering patterns of each regression coefficients in different seasons. The results revealed that compared with geographically weighted regression (GWR), the coefficients estimated by SCC method were more smooth with clearly identified spatial and improved edge effects. Therefore, interesting spatial patterns were easy to identify in the SCC estimated coefficients. And then, the SCC method had better estimation accuracy in estimating the relationship between potential meteorological factors and HFMD cases. Meteorological factors had different significance in their effect on HFMD incidence depending on the season. Specifically, the influence of AT on HFMD was negatively correlated in summer and winter, especially in the Altay region, Bayingoleng Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Turpan region and Hami region. Second, AW had positive effects with HFMD in summer, but the AW played a negative role in the whole Xinjiang in winter. In Tianshan district, Shayibake district, Shuimogou district, etc. in summer, ARH showed a strong negative correlation, but in Alar city it had a high positive correlation, however, in winter ARH showed a high negative correlation in Altay regions, Aksu region and other places had negative effects, and it showed a strong positive correlation in Shayibak district. Finally, AP had a strong positive correlation with HFMD in summer in Shaybak district, but in winter, AP showed a strong negative correlation in Altay district and Buxel Mongolia Autonomous county. In summary, Xinjiang should adapt measures to local conditions, and formulate appropriate HFMD prevention strategies according to the characteristics of different regions, time, and meteorological factors.

Risk factors analysis on high-risk behaviors of drowning among students in Shufu county, Kashgar area, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Objective: To understand the incidence and risk factors of high-risk drowning behaviors among primary and middle school students in Shufu county, Kashgar area, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and provide a theoretical basis for the development of drowning prevention policies and intervention measures. Methods: Cluster random sampling method was adopted in Bulakesu and Uppal of Shufu county. A total of 28 primaries and 2 middle schools were selected, and questionnaires surveyed all the students in grades 1-8. Results: A total of 14 543 questionnaires were sent out. 23.9% of primary and secondary school students had experienced high-risk drowning behavior in the past 12 months. Higher swimming level, introversion, intense curiosity, poor relationship with classmates, poor relationship with family, and open water near the school and open water near home were the risk factors of high-risk drowning behaviors. Conclusions: More attention should be paid to the psychology and high-risk behaviors of primary and middle school students, and the education of drowning knowledge and skills should be strengthened. Meanwhile, schools and communities should pay attention to the management and intervention of open water.

Improving soil organic matter estimation accuracy by combining optimal spectral preprocessing and feature selection methods based on pXRF and vis-NIR data fusion

Rapid and accurate estimation of soil organic matter (SOM) content is of great significance for agricultural production and carbon stock estimation. Visible-near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis-NIR) and portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF), with the fast, low-cost, and environmental friendly characteristics, can realize the rapid large-scale detection of SOM. However, due to the heterogeneity and complexity of soil, estimation of SOM using a single sensor often leads to high uncertainty in result. Multi-sensor data fusion is one of the approaches to solve this problem, but suitable spectral preprocessing methods and data fusion methods still need further research. In this study, 500 soil samples were collected from two watersheds with large differences in soil parent material, soil type, and climate in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. The effects of different spectral preprocessing methods for vis-NIR and pXRF spectra on SOM estimation were compared, and the effects of five feature selection methods on single sensor estimation and three different multi-sensor fusion estimations were evaluated. The results showed that vis-NIR spectrum was better than pXRF spectrum for SOM estimation, and the 1.6th-order derivative and baseline correction were the optimal preprocessing method for vis-NIR and pXRF spectra (Beam 3), respectively. Feature selection could improve the accuracy of the single sensor and multi-sensor fusion estimations. The competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) method was the optimal feature selection method for single sensor estimation and Granger–Ramanathan averaging (GRA) fusion estimation, and the variable importance in projection (VIP) was the optimal feature selection method for direct concatenation and outer-product analysis fusion estimation. In general, the optimal SOM estimation (RMSEp = 3.59 g kg−1, LCCCp = 0.84, RPIQp = 2.67) could be achieved based on CARS feature selection method and GRA fusion. This study proves that the combination of spectral preprocessing and feature selection can effectively improve the accuracy of the single sensor and multi-sensor fusion estimations. Especially, the multi-sensor fusion estimation has higher accuracy than the single sensor estimation. This study will provide a reference for the application of proximal soil sensing.

Evaluation Method of Equalization of Basic Medical Services from the Spatial Perspective: The Case of Xinjiang, China

Protecting residents’ health and improving equality are important goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has placed a heavy burden on the medical systems of many countries and been disastrous for the low-income population of the world, which has further increased economic, health, and lifelong inequality in society. One way to improve the population’s health is to equalize basic medical services. A scientific evaluation of the status quo or the equalization of basic medical services (EBMS) is the basic prerequisite and an important basis for realizing the equitable allocation of medical resources. Traditional evaluation methods ignore the spatial characteristics of medical services, mostly using the indicator of equal weight evaluation, which restricts the objectivity of the evaluation results. Given this, this research proposes a set of EBMS evaluation methods from a spatial perspective and takes the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China (Xinjiang) as an example for studying the status quo of EBMS. This study puts forward a set of EBMS evaluation methods from a geospatial perspective and makes full use of spatial analysis and information theory techniques to construct a two-level evaluation indicator that takes into account the spatial characteristics of EBMS. The entropy weight method and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method have been used to reveal the current status quo of EBMS in Xinjiang to objectively reflect the differences in EBMS. When using the entropy and TOPSIS methods, the evaluation is always based on the data so that the results can more objectively reveal the medical resources available to the residents. Therefore, the government can realize a reasonable allocation of medical resources.

The role of the TGF-β/LIF signaling pathway mediated by SMADs during the cyst formation of Echinococcus in young children

ObjectiveThe present study aims to explore the correlation of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein gene (SMAD) 2/3/4, and leukemia inhibitory factors (LIF) with the cyst formation of hepatic Echinococcus granulosus in young children.MethodsA total of 40 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for children's hydatid disease in people's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between January 2020 and June 2021 were enrolled a s the study subjects. The cystic fluid of these children was collected as the case group and the corresponding infected viscera or pericystic tissue as the control group, with 40 cases in each group. In vitro cultured protoscolice of hydatid cyst, four groups including control group, LIF siRNA group, LIF factor group and SMAD4 siRNA group were divided by inhibiting TGF-β/SMADs signal pathway. Each assay was performed in triplicate. The expression of TGF-β, SMAD2/3/4 and LIF were detected.ResultsThe results of the clinical trial showed that the contents of SMAD2 and SMAD3 were increased in the case group compared with the control group; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The expression levels of TGF-β, Smad4, and LIF increased in the case group compared with the control group; however, the differences were not statistically significant. The results of further in vitro experiments, the expression levels of TGF-β, SMAD 2/3/4, and LIF after adding siRNA to interfere with Smad4 decreased in the case group compared with the control group; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of TGF-β, SMAD2/3/4, and LIF increased after treatment with added LIF in the case group, and the expression levels of TGF-β, SMAD2/3/4, and LIF decreased after adding siRNA to interfere with LIF in the case group; the differences were all statistically significant (P < 0.05).ConclusionSMAD2 and SMAD3 have a certain clinical relevance with hydatidosis in young children. The LIF expression level may be related to the cystic transformation of protoscoleces. It has been suggested that the TGF-β/Smads/LIF signaling pathway may be present in the process of protoscoleces cyst formation; this provides a research basis for the prevention and treatment of post-infection parasitism of E. multilocularis eggs in young children.

Redescription of the dorsal vertebrae of the mamenchisaurid sauropod Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis Wu et al. 2013

ABSTRACT The dorsal vertebrae of Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis (SSV12001) from the Late Jurassic Qigu Formation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, are redescribed based on the further exposure and preparation of the holotype. As a mamenchisaurid sauropod dinosaur, Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis displays a unique combination of autapomorphic and plesiomorphic features, such as the presences of both lateral spinopostzygapophyseal laminae (L.SPOL) and medial spinopostzygapophyseal lamina (M.SPOL) in dorsal vertebrae and a shallow intralaminar fossa (SPOL-F) between the L.SPOL and M.SPOL; anterior spinodiapophyseal laminae (A.SPDL), posterior spinodiapophyseal laminae (P.SPDL) and middle spinodiapophyseal lamina (M.SPDL) in dorsals 3–5; bifurcated anterior and middle dorsal neural spines with the median tubercle and the triangular lateral processes. Phylogenetic analysis and morphological comparison show that Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis probably shares a close relationship with Hudiesaurus and Mamenchisaurus and provide new information for future taxonomic revision of the mamenchisaurids.

Changes in Agri-Food Export Competitiveness Based on the Sophistication Analysis: The Case of Xinjiang, China

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is a major agri-food export contributor within China. Growing quality requirements for agri-food export, increasing green trade barriers, and a desire to emphasize sustainable trade at regional levels have prompted Xinjiang to pay increased attention to agri-food export competitiveness. The paper uses the export sophistication index to investigate the overall and classificatory export competitiveness of Xinjiang’s Agricultural Products (APs). The results are compared to the national average within China by calculating the relative export sophistication. The research finds that (1) Xinjiang’s APs exports are predominant in medium and medium-low-sophistication products. Along with the expanding scale, its structure has been optimized overall. (2) Horticultural products keep a leading position, not having strong competitiveness in Xinjiang but also far exceeding the national average. However, the bulk APs, livestock products, aquatic products, beverages and tobacco, and other APs have no significant export competitiveness compared to the national average. (3) The export structure of Xinjiang’s APs is highly concentrated in horticultural products, showing an adverse trend in export competitiveness distribution—”the strong getting stronger and the weak getting weaker,” and a slower upgrading than the national average since the outbreak of COVID-19, which requires the attention of policymakers.

Lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling associated with four Yutian earthquakes in China from GPS TEC and electromagnetic observations onboard satellites

During 2008–2020, four strong earthquakes occurred in Yutian, Xinjiang Uygur Automous Region, northwest China, in particular, two M7 + and two M6 + earthquakes demonstrating the high tectonic activity of this region. We systematically use multiple electromagnetic data from satellites and ground, such as GIM TEC (Global Ionospheric Mapping Total Electron Content) published by JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), and the ULF (Ultra Low Frequency) electromagnetic waves and plasma parameters onboard DEMETER (Detection of Electro-Magnetic Emission Transmitted from Earthquake Regions), Swarm and CSES (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite) satellites. The ionospheric perturbations were revealed frequently around the four case studies, but mostly within 10 days before, over the epicentral area, and sometimes over its conjugate region at southern hemisphere. The abnormal amplitude is quite larger in years with high solar activity than in those with low solar activity. We employ the SAMI2 model to simulate the variations from the effects of E × B under different plasma background in 2008 and 2014 to explain the great difference in different solar years. The similarity of the anomalies in this region demonstrates the higher electromagnetic and chemical emissions, implying that the electric field is possibly generated by the preparation of the seismic events in the epicentral area inducing the ionospheric disturbances above this area and its conjugate region through this coupling channel.

Rothia nasimurium as a Cause of Disease: First Isolation from Farmed Chickens.

Rothia nasimurium is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccus belonging to the Rothia genus of the Micrococcaceae family. While Rothia nasimurium is considered an opportunistic pathogen, to date few studies have investigated its pathogenicity and drug resistance. In January 2022, chickens at a poultry farm in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region became ill and died. Treatment with commonly used Chinese medicines and antibiotics was ineffective, causing economic losses to the poultry farm. In order to determine the cause of the disease in these poultry farm chickens, the isolation and identification of the pathogens in the livers and other internal organs of the sick and dead chickens were performed. Further, animal pathogenicity tests, antibiotic susceptibility tests, and the detection of antibiotic resistance genes were carried out to analyze the pathogenicity and drug resistance of the identified pathogens. A Gram-positive coccus was isolated from the livers of the diseased chickens. The isolate was resistant to 17 antibiotics, including ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and florfenicol, and was only sensitive to penicillin, amikacin, and tigecycline, to varying degrees. The results of the drug resistance gene testing indicated that the isolated bacterium carried 13 kinds of resistance genes. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, morphological observations, biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis were performed on the isolated bacterium, and it was determined that the isolated bacterial strain was Rothia nasimurium. The animal pathogenicity tests showed that the isolate caused feather loss and death in chicks; the clinical symptoms and necropsy lesions of the test chicks were consistent with those observed in the farmed chickens. A review of the literature revealed that, to date, there are no reports of infection with Rothia nasimurium in chickens. Thus, in this study, Rothia nasimurium was isolated from chickens for the first time and an investigation of the biological characteristics of the bacterium was carried out in order to provide a reference for the clinical treatment, prevention, and control of Rothia nasimurium infection.

A new species and new records species of Pluteus from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China embraces a unique geographical and ecological environment, and the macrofungi represent a rich resource. However, few studies on the genus Pluteus have been reported from Xinjiang. In 2021, the macrofungal resources in Xinjiang were surveyed, and 10 specimens belonging to the genus Pluteus were collected. Based on the morphological study and molecular analysis, three species were recognized, P. aletaiensis, P. brunneidiscus, and P. hongoi. Pluteus aletaiensis is proposed as a new species. It is characterized by its bright yellow lamellae and stipe, brittle texture, subfusiform to vesicular pleurocystidia, with short pedicels to broadly lageniform to obtuse at apices, a hymeniderm pileipellis, containing dark brown intracellular pigment, and it grows on the ground. Pluteus brunneidiscus, a new record to China, is characterized by uneven, smooth, grayish brown to brown pileus, with an entire margin, and pointed or flatter apices intermediate cystidia, without apical hooks. Pluteus hongoi, a new record to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, is characterized by the apical hook's structure (commonly bifid) of pleurocystidia. The nuclear internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1-a) region were used for the molecular analysis. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using both the maximum likelihood analysis (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI). Detailed descriptions of the three species are presented herein. Finally, a key to the list of eight species of the genus Pluteus knew from Xinjiang is provided.

Analysis of long-term wetland variations in China using land use/land cover dataset derived from Landsat images

Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth and play an important role in maintaining ecological balance and regulating climate. In this paper, 30 m resolution land use/land cover (LULC) data (2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020) were employed to analyze the characteristics of spatial and temporal changes in the distribution of wetlands in China and their evolution patterns in the last two decades. The results indicated that the total area of wetlands in China showed an increasing trend during 2000–2020. During the study period, provinces with more increase in wetland area were concentrated in Qinghai Province, Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. And the provinces with more reduction in wetland area were mainly in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The analysis of wetland change driving mechanism by introducing PLS-SEM model and GWR model found that good climate conditions as well as agricultural and economic conditions are favorable for wetland conservation in 2000–2020, while accelerated urbanization and population growth showed negative effects on wetland change. The spatial distribution pattern of wetland and NPP (Net Primary Production) changes showed spatial consistency in the extent of NPP changes and wetland transfer. The results of this study are intended to provide a basis for wetland conservation, rational use of wetland resources and scientific restoration in China.

Occurrence of Root-Lesion Nematode Pratylenchus coffeae on Corn in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Pratylenchus coffeae Filipjev & Schuurmans Stekhoven, 1941, is one of the most important root-lesion nematodes (RLN) parasitizing many agronomic and industrial crops (Wang et al. 2021). Corn (Zea mays L.) is one economically important crop in China, with 35 million hectares cultivated annually (Li et al. 2019). In July 2019, a survey of RLN was carried out in corn field planting with cultivar Heyu 187 in Chuanba village in Qitai County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Five root/soil samples were collected from poor growing plants with distinct brown lesions. Nematodes were extracted from the collected root/soil samples with the modified Baermann funnel method (Hooper et al. 2005). The average of 157 RLN per 100 cm3 of soil and 43 RLN per gram of fresh root were extracted. The obtained RLN were sterilized with 0.3% streptomycin sulfate and cultured on carrot disks at 25°C. Twenty petri dishes with carrot disks, each inoculated with one female. The morphological and molecular characteristics of RLN cultured on carrot disks were examined for species identification. Morphological measurements of adult females (n=15) included body length (range = 529.0 to 658.0 μm, mean = 571.0 μm), head with two lip annuli, stylet (15.5 to 17.0 μm, 16.0 μm), tail length (27.5 to 32.5 μm, 30.5 μm), a (23.8 to 32.9, 28.5), b (5.8 to 7.1, 6.5), c (16.5 to 23.4, 18.9), and V (76.6 to 83.1%, 80.8%). Morphological measurements of adult males (n=15) were body length (range = 479.5 to 568.0 μm, mean = 516.0 μm), head with two lip annuli, stylet (14.5 to 15.5 μm, 15.0 μm), tail length (24.0 to 29.0 μm, 26.0 μm), spicule length (16.4 to 19.0 μm, 17.5 μm), gubernaculum length (4.4 to 5.3 μm, 4.9 μm), a (29.2 to 32.5, 31.0), b (5.7 to 6.9, 6.2), and c (18.2 to 22.6, 19.8). The morphological characters of this population are consistent with the description of P. coffeae (Castillo and Vovlas, 2007). Nematode DNA was extracted from an individual female. The primers of D2A/D3B (5'-ACAAGTACCGTGAGGGAAAGTTG-3'/5'-TCGGAAGGAACCAGCTACTA-3') (Subbotin et al. 2006) and 18S/26S (5'-TTGATTACGTCCCTGCCCTTT-3' / 5'-TTTCACTCGCCGTTACTAAGG-3') (Vrain et al. 1992) were used to amplify the D2/D3 expansion region of the 28S rRNA gene and the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, respectively. The PCR products were purified and transformed to E. coli strain DH5α, and then sequenced by Sangon Biotech Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China). The obtained sequences of the D2/D3 region (793 bp) and the ITS region (1,242 bp) were submitted to GenBank, and the accession numbers for D2/D3 region were OK103614 and OK103619 which had 98.6% and 100% identity with the reported P. coffeae sequences (KC490925); the two obtained ITS sequences accession numbers OK103603 and OK103613) had more than 99% identity with published P. coffeae sequences from GenBank (e.g., LC030410, LC030395, MH134508 and LC030380). Hence, both morphological and molecular data demonstrated the presence of P. coffeae. To further confirm reproduction on corn, the obtained RLN population was used to inoculate corn plants in 2-liter pots containing 1.8-liter sterilized and mixed soil with 2 pastoral soil: 1 substrate in greenhouse at 27°C. About 15 days after sowing, each pot with one corn plant (cv. Heyu 187) with the same growth status was selected to inoculate P. coffeae. Five small holes near the roots were made using a glass rod. Approximately 1,000 mixed stage nematodes of P. coffeae were then pipetted into the holes of each plant. Eight replications were performed. Eight additional pots of uninoculated corn plants were used as control. After 2 months, corn roots were washed and brown lesions were observed on roots. The average number of RLN/pot was approximately 5,030 in soil and 2,870 in roots, and each pot had an average of 7.9 reproduction factors (final population/initial population), indicating that this nematode population infects and reproduces well on this corn cultivar. No nematodes and symptoms was detected in the control pot. The nematode of P. coffeae has only been reported on corn in Guangdong, Liaoning, Shangdong and Henan Provinces in China (Liu et al. 1996; Liu et al. 2001; Xia et al. 2021). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. coffeae infecting corn in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Since RLN can cause considerable damage to corn, one of the most important food crops produced in China, strategic measures should be taken to prevent the spread of P. coffeae to other regions.