Human-to-human transmission of Chlamydia psittaci in China, 2020: an epidemiological and aetiological investigation.

Background: Chlamydia psittaci can infect a wide range of avian species, occasionally causing psittacosis (also known as parrot fever) in humans. Most human psittacosis cases are associated with close contact with pet birds or poultry. In December, 2020, an outbreak of severe community-acquired pneumonia of unknown aetiology was reported in a hospital in Shandong province, China, and some of the patients' close contacts had respiratory symptoms.

Expansion of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes is related to acute leukemia.

Objective: Aim to investigate the proportion of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes and understand the pathogenesis of this monocyte subset in acute leukemia.

Methods: Flow cytometry was utilized to study the phenotype expression of CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes and CD3(+) T lymphocytes in peripheral blood derived from patients with acute leukemia. All the data were analyzed by SPSS 13.

Amino acid substitutions in the neuraminidase protein of an H9N2 avian influenza virus affect its airborne transmission in chickens.

Cases of H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) in poultry are increasing throughout many Eurasian countries, and co-infections with other pathogens have resulted in high morbidity and mortality in poultry. Few studies have investigated the genetic factors of virus airborne transmission which determine the scope of this epidemic. In this study, we used specific-pathogen-free chickens housed in isolators to investigate the airborne transmissibility of five recombinant H9N2 AIV rescued by reverse genetic technology.

Quality and seasonal variation of rainwater harvested from concrete, asphalt, ceramic tile and green roofs in Chongqing, China.

There is an urgent requirement to examine the quality of harvested rainwater for potable and non-potable purposes, based on the type of roofing material. In this study, we examined the effect on the quality of harvested rainwater of conventional roofing materials (concrete, asphalt and ceramic tile roofs) compared with alternative roofing materials (green roof). The results showed that the ceramic tile roof was the most suitable for rainwater-harvesting applications because of the lower concentrations of leachable pollutants.

Airborne spread and infection of a novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Background: The novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-O 2009 IV) can cause respiratory infectious diseases in humans and pigs, but there are few studies investigating the airborne spread of the virus. In January 2011, a swine-origin H1N1 epidemic emerged in eastern China that rapidly spread to neighboring farms, likely by aerosols carried by the wind.

Methods: In this study, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect viruses in air samples from pig farms.

The temporal changes in road stormwater runoff quality and the implications to first flush control in Chongqing, China.

This study investigates the quality of stormwater runoff from a driveway in the southwest mountainous urban area of Chongqing, China, from 2010 to 2011. The results showed that the mean concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) were 4.1, 2.

Effects of elevated O₃ exposure on nutrient elements and quality of winter wheat and rice grain in Yangtze River Delta, China.

With the open-top chambers (OTCs) in situ in Yangtze River Delta, China in 2007 and 2008, the effects of elevated O₃ exposure on nutrient elements and quality of winter wheat and rice grain were investigated. Grain yield per plant of winter wheat and rice declined in both years. The N and S concentrations increased under elevated O₃ exposure in both years and C-N ratios decreased significantly.

[Analysis of first flush effect of typical underlying surface runoff in Beijing urban city].

Rapid increase of the urban impervious underlying surfaces causes a great increase of urban runoff and the accumulation of pollutants on the roof and road surfaces brings many pollutants into the drainage system with the runoff, and it thus becomes a great threat to the urban water environment. To know the runoff pollution process and to build scientific basis for pollutant control, runoff processes from the roof and road surfaces were monitored and analyzed from 2004 to 2006, and the runoff EMC (Event Mean Concentration) was calculated. It was found that two types of runoff were seriously polluted by COD and TN.

[Diurnal variation and evaluation of water quality in different seasons of Panxi River in Chongqing].

Based on the investigation of water quality of Panxi River in different seasons, 2010, we assessed the diurnal variation of water quality in different seasons and the characteristics of water quality changes within a day by using non-parametric test, analysis of variance and grey relationship analysis. The results showed that the differences were not significant for Zn and Cu (P > 0.05), but significant differences existed among the pH, EC, DO, COD, TP, TSS, BOD5, NO(3-)-N, TN, NH(4+)-N, Pb and Cd contents.

Effects of elevated O₃ concentration on winter wheat and rice yields in the Yangtze River Delta, China.

The effects of a continuing rise of ambient ozone on crop yield will seriously threaten food security in China. In the Yangtze River Delta, a rapidly developing and seriously air polluted region in China, innovative open-top chambers have been established to fumigate winter wheat and rice in situ with elevated O(3). Five years of study have shown that the yields of wheat and rice decreased with increasing O(3) concentration.

[Diurnal variation and evaluation of water quality of Panxi River in spring].

Based on the investigation of water quality of Panxi River in spring, 2010, we assessed the diurnal variation of water quality in spring and the characteristics of water quality changes within a day by using non-parametric test, analysis of variance and grey relationship analysis. The results showed that the differences were not significant for t, DO, COD, Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu (P > 0.05) in upstream, midstream and downstream, but significant difference existed among the pH, EC, TP, TSS, BOD5, NO3(-) -N, TN and NH4(+) -N contents.

[Characterization and source apportionment of pollutants in urban roadway runoff in Chongqing].

By investigating surface runoff from urban roadway in Chongqing, we assessed the characteristics of surface runoff pollution and the effect of rainfall intensity and antecedent dry weather period on water quality. Using multivariate statistical analysis of data of runoff quality, potential pollutants discharged from urban roadway runoff were identified. The results show that the roadway runoff has high levels of COD, TP and TN, the EMC were 60.

[Research on evaluation of water quality of Beijing urban stormwater runoff].

The natural rainwater and stormwater runoff samples from three underlying surfaces (rooftop, campus road and ring road) were sampled and analyzed from July to October, 2010 in Beijing. Eight rainfall events were collected totally and thirteen water quality parameters were measured in each event. Grey relationship analysis and principal component analysis were applied to assess composite water quality and identify the main pollution sources of stormwater runoff.

Soil warming effect on net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide during the transition from winter carbon source to spring carbon sink in a temperate urban lawn.

The significant warming in urban environment caused by the combined effects of global warming and heat island has stimulated widely development of urban vegetations. However, it is less known of the climate feedback of urban lawn in warmed environment. Soil warming effect on net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of carbon dioxide during the transition period from winter to spring was investigated in a temperate urban lawn in Beijing, China.