Controls and Geological Significance of Macerals in Hybrid Shales: A Case Study on the Gaoyou Sag, Subei Basin, East China.

In the Gaoyou Sag located within the Subei Basin, the hybrid shales from the second member of the Funing Formation (Ef) have been identified as a prolific source of shale oil production, despite their characteristically low organic matter content (TOC < 1.5%). This observation suggests that specific macerals within these hybrid shales demonstrate a pronounced hydrocarbon generation potential, thus unveiling a new frontier for shale oil exploration endeavors.

Serological Comparison of Native Antigen ELISAs with Rapid ICT Test Kits for the Diagnosis of Human Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis in China.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of native antigen ELISAs and ADAMU-AE/CE commercial ICT test kits in subjects either exposed to infection or with clinically diagnosed alveolar (AE) or cystic (CE) echinococcosis.

Methods: A total of 370 subjects with a previous clinical confirmation of CE or AE from northwestern China were recruited. Serum samples were also obtained from 3923 children/teenagers during a community survey.

Defining the substrate scope of DNAzyme catalysis for reductive amination with aliphatic amines.

Amines can be alkylated using various reactions, such as reductive amination of aldehydes. In this study, we sought DNAzymes as catalytic DNA sequences that promote reductive amination with aliphatic amines, including DNA-anchored peptide substrates with lysine residues. By selection starting with either N or N random DNA pools, we identified many DNAzymes that catalyze reductive amination between the DNA oligonucleotide-anchored aliphatic amino group of DNA-C-NH (C = short three-carbon tether) and a DNA-anchored benzaldehyde group in the presence of NaCNBH as reducing agent.

Effects of long-term ambient air pollution exposure on township-level pulmonary tuberculosis notification rates during 2005-2017 in Ningxia, China.

Studies examining long-term effects of ambient air pollution exposure, measured as annual averages, on pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) incidence are scarce, particularly in endemic, rural settings. We performed a small-area study in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR), a high TB-burden area in rural China, using township-level (n = 358 non-overlapping townships) annual TB notification data (2005-2017). We aimed to determine if annual average concentrations of ambient air pollution (particulate matter <2·5 μm [PM], nitrogen dioxide [NO] ozone [O]) were associated with TB notification rates (as a proxy for incidence).

Development and Validation of a Sub-National, Satellite-Based Land-Use Regression Model for Annual Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations in North-Western China.

Existing national- or continental-scale models of nitrogen dioxide (NO) exposure have a limited capacity to capture subnational spatial variability in sparsely-populated parts of the world where NO sources may vary. To test and validate our approach, we developed a land-use regression (LUR) model for NO for Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR) and surrounding areas, a small rural province in north-western China. Using hourly NO measurements from 105 continuous monitoring sites in 2019, a supervised, forward addition, linear regression approach was adopted to develop the model, assessing 270 potential predictor variables, including tropospheric NO, optically measured by the Aura satellite.

A high-throughput drug screening strategy against coronaviruses.

The emergence and re-emergence of coronaviruses (CoV) continually cause circulating epidemics and pandemics worldwide, such as the on-going outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The resultant disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has rapidly developed into a worldwide pandemic, leading to severe health and economic burdens. Although the recently announced vaccines against COVID-19 has rekindled hope, there is still a major challenge to urgently meet the global need for rapid treatment of the pandemic.

Caged Proline in Photoinitiated Organocatalysis.

Organocatalysis is an emerging field, in which small metal-free organic structures catalyze a diversity of reactions with a remarkable stereoselectivity. The ability to selectively switch on such pathways upon demand has proven to be a valuable tool in biological systems. Light as a trigger provides the ultimate spatial and temporal control of activation.

Kin recognition is a nutrient-dependent inducible phenomenon.

Recognition and response to prospective competitors are crucial variables that must be considered in resource distribution and utilization in plant communities. Associated behaviors are largely mediated through the exchange of low-molecular weight exudates. These cues can significantly alter the root system architecture (RSA) between neighboring plants and are routinely sensitive enough to distinguish between plants of the same or different accessions, a phenomenon known as kin recognition (KR).

Case studies emphasising the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of alveolar echinococcosis in rural China.

Background: Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the accidental ingestion of the eggs of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. AE occurs frequently in rural western China due to the poor levels of hygiene, the close contact of people with dogs, and the lack of appropriate facilities for the correct and rapid diagnosis of the disease.

Findings: We describe a case of a patient with hepatic AE, and AE metastases of the brain.