Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis clusters and transmission in Taiwan: a population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains a challenge in the TB program of Taiwan, where 0.5% of new cases and 2.1% of previously treated cases were resistant to at least rifampin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH).

[Analysis of Temporal and Spatial Carbon Stock Changes and Driving Mechanism in Xinjiang Region by Coupled PLUS-InVEST-Geodector Model].

Based on the goal of "dual-carbon" strategy, it is important to explore the impacts of land use change on carbon stock and the drivers of spatial differentiation of carbon stock in Xinjiang. Here, we predicted the land use types in Xinjiang in 2035 under different scenarios and analyzed the impacts of land use on carbon stock, which is of great theoretical and practical importance for policy formulation, land use structure adjustment, and carbon neutrality target achievement in Xinjiang. The coupled PLUS-InVEST-Geodector model was used to explore the spatial and temporal patterns of carbon stock change under the scenarios of rapid development, natural change, arable land protection, and ecological protection in Xinjiang in 2035 and to quantitatively reveal the attribution of influences on the changes in carbon stock from the perspectives of land use change and the combination of nature-socioeconomic-accessibility.

Define SNP thresholds for delineation of tuberculosis transmissions using whole-genome sequencing.

Unlabelled: For facilitating tuberculosis (TB) control, we used a whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based approach to delineate transmission networks in a country with an intermediate burden of TB. A cluster was defined as isolates with identical genotypes, and an outbreak was defined as clustered cases with epidemiological links (epi-links). To refine a cluster predefined using space oligonucleotide typing and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit variable tandem repeat typing, we analyzed one pansusceptible TB (C1) and three multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB (C2-C4) clusters from different scenarios.

[Seasonal variation of water utilization sources and responses to precipitation in the dominant species of broad-leaved and needle-leaved mixed forests in Mount Lushan, China].

Elucidating the seasonal patterns of water sources for dominant species in the sub-tropical humid mountainous forest, analyzing the eco-hydrological complementarity and competition mechanisms among coexisting species, investigating the responses of plant water utilization to precipitation, could provide a theoretical basis for vegetation restoration and management. Based on the stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope technique, we analyzed the δH and δO characteristics of precipitation, xylem water from and , and soil water from 0-100 cm depth in Mount Lushan, China. The MixSIAR model, Levins index, and PS index were used to calculate the relative contribution rate of each water source, the hydrological niche breadth, and niche overlap of and .

[Ecological Environment Assessment and Driving Mechanism Analysis of Nagqu and Amdo Sections of Qinghai-Xizang Highway Based on Improved Remote Sensing Ecological Index].

The ecological environment along the Qinghai-Xizang highway is an important part of the construction of the ecological civilization in the Xizang region, and current research generally suffers from difficulties in data acquisition, low timeliness, and failure to consider the unique "alpine saline" environmental conditions in the study area due to the unique geographical environment of the Qinghai-Xizang plateau. Based on the GEE platform and the unique geographical environment of the study area, the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) was improved, and a new saline remote sensing ecological index (SRSEI) applicable to the alpine saline region was constructed by using principal component analysis as an ecological environment quality evaluation index. The spatial distribution pattern and temporal variation trend of ecological environment quality along the Qinghai-Xizang Highway Nagqu-Amdo section were analyzed at multiple spatial and temporal scales using the ArcGIS 10.

Constant ratio between the genomic components of bipartite begomoviruses during infection and transmission.

The genomic components of multipartite viruses are encapsidated in separate virus particles, and the frequencies of genomic components represent one of the key genetic features. Many begomoviruses of economic significance are bipartite, and the details of the association between their genomic components remain largely unexplored. We first analyzed the temporal dynamics of the quantities of DNA-A and DNA-B and the B/A ratio of the squash leaf curl China virus (SLCCNV) in plants and found that while the quantities of DNA-A and DNA-B varied significantly during infection, the B/A ratio remained constant.

[Enrichment Characteristics, Source Apportionment, and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Industrial and Mining Area of Northern Guangdong Province].

In order to understand the heavy metal pollution of the industrial and mining area in northern Guangdong Province, topsoil samples (0-20 cm) from 209 sites in study area were collected, and the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn were analyzed. The source and distribution characteristics of Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, As, Cu, and Zn in soil samples were analyzed using the geographic information system (GIS) and principal component analysis (PCA), and the geo-accumulation index and potential ecological hazard index were used to evaluate their pollution status and ecological risk. The results showed that:① Except Ni, all seven heavy metal elements exceeded the national soil background value but were below the pollution risk screening value.

Whole-genome sequencing-based analyses of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Taiwan.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) posed challenges to global TB control. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is recommended for predicting drug resistance to guide DR-TB treatment and management. Nevertheless, data are lacking in Taiwan.

Development and Assessment of a Novel Whole-Gene-Based Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Assay for Detecting the Susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to 14 Drugs.

Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) has emerged as an alternative method for detecting drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). To provide comprehensive drug susceptibility information and to address mutations missed by available commercial molecular diagnostics, we developed and evaluated a tNGS panel with 22 whole-gene targets using the Ion Torrent platform to predict drug resistance to 14 drugs, namely, rifampicin (RIF), isoniazid (INH), ethambutol (EMB), pyrazinamide (PZA), moxifloxacin (MFX), levofloxacin (LFX), amikacin (AMK), capreomycin (CM), kanamycin (KM), streptomycin (SM), bedaquiline (BDQ), clofazimine (CFZ), linezolid (LZD), and delamanid (DLM). We selected 50 and 35 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates with various DR profiles as the training set and the challenge set, respectively.

[Effects of CO concentration and soil water content on short-term water-use efficiency at whole-plant level].

Uncovering the variations of short-term water-use efficiency (WUE) at whole-plant level in response to CO concentration () and soil water content (SWC) can improve the understanding of plant survival strategies under climate change. In this study, saplings were cultured in simulated climate chambers.There were totally 15 treatments, including of 400 (), 600 () and 800 () μmol·mol and SWC of 35%-45% field water holding capacity (FC), 50%-60%FC, 60%-70%FC, 70%-80%FC and 95%-100%FC.

[Erosion process of loess slope and influencing factors in the loess hilly-gully region, China].

Rainfall intensity, slope length, and slope gradient are the important factors affecting runoff and sediment yield. In order to quantitatively analyze the effects of rainfall intensity, slope length, and slope gradient on the erosion process of Ansai loess slope in loess hilly and gully region, we analyzed the variation of runoff and sediment yield on Ansai loess with two slope lengths (5, 10 m), three slopes (5°, 10°, 15°) and two rainfall intensities (60, 90 mm·h) in an indoor simulated rainfall experiment. The results showed that the initial runoff generation time decreased with the increases of slope length, though the overall change was not significant.

Effects of thinning intensity on the understory water-holding capacity of var. plantation in the Bashang area of north China.

The complex terrain and poor climatic conditions in Bashang area of Hebei Province result in water and soil loss and geological disasters, which pose a serious threat to ecological safety in North China. In order to improve local environmental quality, barren-resistant and fast-growing tree species such as var. and are planted with large areas.

[Quantitative separation of evapotranspiration components of ecosystem based on multiple isotope models].

To fully understand the changes in the evapotranspiration components in forest ecosystem and their contribution to evapotranspiration at daily scale, we used the hypothesis theory of isotopic steady state and non-steady state combined with the water isotope analyzer system to quantitatively split and compare the evapotranspiration components of ecosystem during the growing season. Results showed that the O of water from different sources during the four mea-surement days (August 5, 8, 10, 11, 2016) all showed surface soil water and oxygen isotope composition (δ) > branch water and oxygen isotope composition (δ) > atmospheric water vapor oxygen isotopes composition (δ), with obvious differences due to the isotope fractionation. Oxygen isotopes composition of soil evaporated water vapor (δ) was between -26.

Eight new species of (Araneae: Phrurolithidae) from southern China.

Eight new species were collected from Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, China during a survey of the phrurolithid fauna of the region: Liu, (♂♀), Liu, (♂), Liu, (♂♀), Liu, (♂♀), Liu, (♂♀), Liu, (♂♀), Liu, (♂♀) and Liu, (♀). All species are described and illustrated with photographs and SEM micrographs, and their distribution is also mapped.

A survey of Phrurolithidae spiders from Jinggang Mountain National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi Province, China.

Phrurolithidae spiders were collected from Jinggang Mountain National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi Province, China, during the past six years. The new genus Liu, , with the type species Song & Kim, 1991, is described, and its previously unknown male is described for the first time. Furthermore, seven new species of are described: Liu, (♂♀), Liu, (♂♀), Liu, (♀), Liu, (♂♀), Liu, (♂♀), Liu, (♂♀), and Liu, (♀).

[Partitioning ecosystem respiration of a Platycladus orientalis forest in the west mountainous area of Beijing, China using stable carbon isotope].

Based on stable carbon isotope, we quantitatively partitioned ecosystem respiration in a Platycladus orientalis forest in the west mountainous area of Beijing. Results from this study could lay the foundation for carbon exchange research in forest ecosystems of this region. The spectroscopy technique was used to continuously measure CO concentrations and δC values at different height of the forest.

[Simulation of δO in Platycladus orientalis leaf water with different kinetic fractionation coefficients].

Clarifying O isotope composition of leaf water (δ) would provide theoretical refe-rence for the study of leaf physiology and forest hydrology. We continuously monitored the concentration of atmospheric water vapor (W) and O isotope composition of atmospheric water vapor (δ) at the canopy of Platycladus lateralis plantation in the mountain area of Beijing. We analyzed the effects of kinetic fractionation coefficients Δ(32%) and Δ(28%) on the prediction of δ by combining the measured leaf water O isotope (δ) and δ of P.

[Assessing water sources for Populus simonii with different degrees of degradation based on stable isotopes].

Water availability is the key factor limiting plant growth in arid regions. Populus simonii is a typical shelterbelt tree species in Zhangbei County, Hebei Province, with an important role in constructing ecological barrier. With stable isotope technique, graphical method, and multiple linear mixing model, we analyzed water sources and water use strategies of P.

[Effects of soil water stress and atmospheric CO concentration on photosynthetic and post-photosynthetic fractionation].

Analysis of plant photosynthesis and post-photosynthetic fractionation can improve our understanding of plant physiology and water management. By measuring δC in the atmosphere, and δC of soluble compounds in leaves and branch phloem of Platycladus orientalis, we examined discrimination pattern, including atmosphere-leaf discrimination during photosynthesis (ΔC) and leaf-twig discrimination during post-photosynthesis (ΔC), in response to changes of soil water content (SWC) and atmospheric CO concentration (C). The results showed that ΔC reached a maximum of 13.

[Soil respiration and its temperature sensitivity among different vegetation types in Beijing mountain area, China.].

As an important component of terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle, soil respiration is a hot topic in the studies of carbon cycle. The temperature sensitivity (Q) of soil respiration is a critical index to estimate the effects of global warming on soil respiration. Understanding Q of different vegetation types is of important significance for assessing the carbon budget of forest ecosystems.

Water use efficiency and its influencing factors of Platycladus orientalis plantation in Beijing mountains area, China.

Water use efficiency (WUE) is an important index to evaluate plant drought resistance. Studying the dynamics of WUE and its influencing factors can provide reference for the vegetation restoration in Beijing mountainous area. We measured WUE of Platycladus orientalis in growing season and investigated the influence of meteorological factors, soil factors, and atmospheric CO concentration on WUE, based on the stable carbon isotope techniques.

[Water utilization characteristics of the degraded poplar shelterbelts in Zhangbei, Hebei, China.].

In Zhangbei County, Hebei Province, poplar-dominated shelterbelts are degraded to different extents. Water availability is the main limiting factor for plant survival in arid areas. The purpose of this study was to reveal the relationship between water availability and poplar degradation.

[A review of water and carbon flux partitioning and coupling in SPAC using stable isotope techniques].

Soil-vegetation-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) is one of the important research objects in the field of terrestrial hydrology, ecology and global change. The process of water and carbon cycling, and their coupling mechanism are frontier issues. With characteristics of tracing, integration and indication, stable isotope techniques contribute to the estimation of the relationship between carbon sequestration and water consumption in ecosystems.

[Variations and determinants of CO concentration and δC in Platycladus orientalis plantation in Beijing mountainous area, China].

This research employed off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy technique to observe CO concentration and δC values of planted Platycladus orientalis in Beijing mountainous area. We compared the variation between CO concentration and δC values in the plantation at different heights observed by every 0.5 h to explore how the CO concentration and δC values responded to the meteorological factors.