Impact of long-term mining activity on groundwater dynamics in a mining district in Xinjiang coal Mine Base, Northwest China: insight from geochemical fingerprint and machine learning

Long-term coal mining could lead to a serious of geo-environmental problems. However, less comprehensive identification of factors controlling the groundwater dynamics were involved in previous studies. This study focused on 68 groundwater samples collected before and after mining activities, Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) combining with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) derived that the groundwater samples were classified into five clusters. Clusters 1-5 (C1-C5) represented the groundwater quality affected by different hydrochemical processes, mainly including mineral (carbonate and evaporite) dissolution and cation exchange, which were controlled by the hydrochemical environment at different stages of mining activities. Combining with the time-series data, the Extreme Gradient Boosting Decision Trees (XGBoost) derived that the mine water inflow (feature relative importance of 40.0%) and unit goaf area (feature relative importance of 29.2%) were dominant factors affecting the confined groundwater level, but had less or lagged impact on phreatic groundwater level. This was closely related to the height of the water flow fractured zone and hydraulic connection between aquifers. The results of this study on the coupled evolution of groundwater dynamics could enhance our understanding of the effects of mining on aquifer systems and contribute to the prevention of water hazards in the coalfields.

Tick-borne bacterial agents in Hyalomma asiaticum ticks from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China

BACKGROUND

Hyalomma ticks are widely distributed in semi-arid zones in Northwest China. They have been reported to harbor a large number of zoonotic pathogens.

METHODS

In this study, a total of 334 Hyalomma asiaticum ticks infesting domestic animals were collected from four locations in Xinjiang, Northwest China, and the bacterial agents in them were investigated.

RESULTS

A putative novel Borrelia species was identified in ticks from all four locations, with an overall positive rate of 6.59%. Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae, a human pathogen frequently reported in Europe, was detected for the second time in China. Two Ehrlichia species (Ehrlichia minasensis and Ehrlichia sp.) were identified. Furthermore, two Anaplasma species were characterized in this study: Candidatus Anaplasma camelii and Anaplasma sp. closely related to Candidatus Anaplasma boleense. It is the first report of Candidatus Anaplasma camelii in China.

CONCLUSIONS

Six bacterial agents were reported in this study, many of which are possible or validated pathogens for humans and animals. The presence of these bacterial agents may suggest a potential risk for One Health in this area.

Prevalence and risk factors for astigmatism in 7 to 19-year-old students in Xinjiang, China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors for astigmatism in 7-19-year-old students in Xinjiang, China.

METHODS

A school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on students who underwent refraction examination in Xinjiang, China, between May and December 2019. The prevalence of astigmatism was determined. Astigmatism was defined as cylinder power (C) ≤-0.75 D, undefined astigmatism as ≤-1.50 D, and high astigmatism as C ≤-3.00 D. Astigmatism types were: against-the-rule astigmatism (maximum refraction of the main meridian in 180° ± 30°), with-the-rule astigmatism (maximum refraction of the main meridian at 90°±30°), and oblique astigmatism (all other cases).

RESULTS

Of the 71,838 students examined (51.0% boys, 7 - 19 years old), 25,945 (36.1%, 95%CI: 35.52-36.68%) had astigmatism and 1267 (1.8%, 95%CI: 1.07-2.53%) had high astigmatism. The prevalence of astigmatism was greater in Han individuals (39.6%) compared with the Hui (34.0%), Kazakh (34.0%), Kyrgyz (32.1%), and Uyghur (26.4%) populations. Among the 25,945 students with astigmatism, 19,947 had with-the-rule astigmatism (76.9%), 3405 had against-the-rule astigmatism (13.1%), and 2593 had oblique astigmatism (10.0%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ethnicity (Han individuals more susceptible), male gender, age, and refractive errors (myopia and hyperopia) were independently associated with astigmatism, high astigmatism, and with-the-rule astigmatism (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of astigmatism among children and adolescents in Xinjiang was 36.1%, including 1.8% of high astigmatism. In this population, astigmatism was mainly of the with-the-rule astigmatism type (76.9%). Han ethnicity, male gender, and myopia or hyperopia were independently associated with a high risk of astigmatism.

Measuring and decomposing natural capital use in Xinjiang from a regional-industry perspective

Accurately portraying the mechanism of the flow of natural resource consumption between regions and its impact on ecology is of crucial value in deepening the understanding of the coordinated relationship between population, resources, environment and development. Consequently, this promotes the sustainable development of the natural economy and society. Based on a regional-industrial perspective, this study used a localized three-dimensional ecological footprint model to measure and decompose natural resources in Xinjiang from 2005 to 2020. In doing so, the study clarified the supply, demand, and flow utilization of natural capital in Xinjiang, the balance of spatial and temporal allocation of resources, the coupling between economic growth and resource consumption, and the coordination between industrial structure and ecological environment. The results showed that (1) Xinjiang's per capita ecological deficit grew from 2.096 to 11.667 in 2005-2020. Moreover, the energy footprint was a decisive part of the ecological deficit throughout the study period. Furthermore, the trend of increased ecological pressure was higher in northern and eastern Xinjiang than in southern Xinjiang. (2) The overall Gini coefficient of Xinjiang's ecological carrying capacity was at the critical value of spatial equilibrium (0.4), with differences between the groups: Northern & Southern Xinjiang > Northern & Eastern Xinjiang > Eastern & Southern Xinjiang. The reasons for this inter-regional economic disparity are related to fiscal expenditure/GDP, level of urbanization, and regional industrial output. Overall, the decoupling relationship between environmental pressures and economic growth was optimistic. (3) From an industrial perspective, the levels of industrial structural efficiency and the industrial ecological harmony index were still relatively low, but the overall trend was on the rise. (4) Resource endowment, economic development, consumption structure, and population had significant driving effects on the ecological footprint, whereas environmental protection, science, and technology could inhibit its growth to a certain extent. This study aimed to provide an in-depth analysis of the current situation and problems of natural resource use in Xinjiang and provide theoretical and practical references for sustainable development in the region.

Inferring Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Drug Resistance and Transmission using Whole-genome Sequencing in a High TB-burden Setting in China

Objective

China is among the 30 countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide, and TB remains a public health concern. Kashgar Prefecture in the southern Xinjiang Autonomous Region is considered as one of the highest TB burden regions in China. However, molecular epidemiological studies of Kashgar are lacking.

Methods

A population-based retrospective study was conducted using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to determine the characteristics of drug resistance and the transmission patterns.

Results

A total of 1,668 isolates collected in 2020 were classified into lineages 2 (46.0%), 3 (27.5%), and 4 (26.5%). The drug resistance rates revealed by WGS showed that the top three drugs in terms of the resistance rate were isoniazid (7.4%, 124/1,668), streptomycin (6.0%, 100/1,668), and rifampicin (3.3%, 55/1,668). The rate of rifampicin resistance was 1.8% (23/1,290) in the new cases and 9.4% (32/340) in the previously treated cases. Known resistance mutations were detected more frequently in lineage 2 strains than in lineage 3 or 4 strains, respectively: 18.6% vs. 8.7 or 9%, P < 0.001. The estimated proportion of recent transmissions was 25.9% (432/1,668). Multivariate logistic analyses indicated that sex, age, occupation, lineage, and drug resistance were the risk factors for recent transmission. Despite the low rate of drug resistance, drug-resistant strains had a higher risk of recent transmission than the susceptible strains (adjusted odds ratio, 1.414; 95% CI, 1.023-1.954; P = 0.036). Among all patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), 78.4% (171/218) were attributed to the transmission of DR-TB strains.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that drug-resistant strains are more transmissible than susceptible strains and that transmission is the major driving force of the current DR-TB epidemic in Kashgar.

Historical variability of cotton yield and response to climate and agronomic management in Xinjiang, China

Cotton is the primary fibre crop in the world with high economic value, and its yield can be affected by climate and agronomic management. Xinjiang, the largest cotton-producing province in China, contributes to approximately 90 % of the national and over 20 % of global production. Earlier studies focused on cotton yield variability and/or drivers on the site scale, for only one to several counties or cities within Xinjiang, in several years before 2000, or provincial production for a short period. It remains poorly understood how and why cotton yields change in Xinjiang. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal variability of cotton yields at the provincial and county (73 counties) levels from 1989 to 2017 using yield statistics, and identifies the dominant climate and agronomic management factors as well as their optimal ranges, historical states, and interaction effects using the geographical detector method (Geodetector). The results show that the Xinjiang cotton yield has increased markedly over the past decades, with the long-term trend outweighing the interannual variability. High yields are mostly found in southern and northwestern Xinjiang. Yield has increased significantly in over 95.6 % of cotton-planting areas, primarily in the west. Nitrogen fertilization is the leading driver of cotton yield changes, mainly impacting long-term trends. The combination of nitrogen fertilization and agricultural mechanization enhances the explanatory power in a bivariate way and is the strongest in the interaction effect between factors. Temperature variability has the greatest influence on detrended yield variability, and the explanatory power is enhanced and the highest when combined with precipitation. In addition, historical states of these factors are generally lower than their optimal ranges, indicating potential for cotton yield enhancement through improved agronomic management practices and in the context of global warming. This study could enhance understanding of cotton Xinjiang yield variability and drivers, and provides scientific guidance for local cotton cultivation.

Prevalence and sequence diversity of Balantioides coli in pigs in Xinjiang, China

Balantioides coli is a common intestinal parasitic protozoan in pigs. In the present study, 801 fecal samples of pigs from seven farms in Xinjiang were analyzed based on the ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2 gene. The prevalence of B. coli was 4.2% (34/801), with the highest prevalence of 18.9% (18/95) occurring in Alaer, Xinjiang. B. coli was detected in all age groups (pre-weaned pigs, post-weaned pigs, fattening pigs and sows), with the highest rate in fatteners (6.9%, 9/129) and the lowest (1.2%, 2/169) in pre-weaned pigs. Significant differences (P = 0.000) were found among sampling sites but not among age groups (P = 0.084). Sequence analysis indicated that 34 sequence variants, including sequence type A (n = 11) and sequence type B (n = 23), occurred in all age groups. In this study, the existence of sequence type A suggested that B. coli poses a potential threat to human health. More studies are needed to better understand the distributions and public health significance of B. coli in China.

Activity induced worsening of a tuberculous process in the vertebral column of a Late Bronze Age female from Liushui, Xinjiang (China)?

The partial skeleton of a 22-24-year old female from Liushui, Southern Silk Road, Xinjiang (China) was analyzed using morphological and biochemical methods. The most striking finding in this individual of a Late Bronze Age mounted nomadic population was the complete ossification of the caudal vertebral column including parts of the ligaments of this region due to chronic tuberculosis (Pott's disease). The morphological diagnosis is definitely confirmed by the results of the proteomic analysis. The bacterial protein Ag85 and, for the first time in archaeological skeletal remains, also ESAT-6 was detected, which are typical for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Extremely intense physical stress aggravated the pathological kyphosis primarily caused by the tuberculous process and promoted dislocation of the caudal thoracic versus the lumbar vertebrae. The fate of this young female suffering from tuberculosis and the consequences of this extreme physical stress characterize the harsh living conditions of typical prehistoric population of mounted nomadic pastoralists.

Abortion storm of Yili horses is associated with Equus caballus papillomavirus 2 variant infection

Nine different species of Equus caballus papillomavirus (EcPV) and three bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) have been reported to infect horses. However, there are few descriptions of such infections in China. In our pioneer study on Chinese horses, we identified EcPV-2 in the nasal swabs (4/230, 1.7%) of Yili horses, and the semen (3/18, 16.7%) of thoroughbred horses. This indicated that EcPV is indeed hosted by horses in China, and that EcPV-2 might be transmitted though breeding. Further detection of EcPVs in the lung tissues of aborted fetuses of Yili horses, which were originally negative for equid herpes viruses, demonstrated EcPV-2 positivity in 19 of 50 samples, thereby indicating that EcPV-2 may be a new pathogen responsible for causing abortion. Thereafter, sequence analyses of the L1 genes of 26 EcPV-2 in China were performed, indicating that EcPV-2, which primarily infects horses in China, shared 98.3-99.9% nt identity with the published sequences for EcPV-2. These observations indicated that EcPV-2 identified in the current study were highly similar variants of the previously identified strains of EcPV-2. Phylogenetic analysis based on L1 gene sequences from GenBank showed that the EcPV-2 found in Chinese horses was closely related to and clustered together with an already known EcPV-2a lineage. Our study provides the first evidence related to EcPV-2 infection in Chinese horses, which can serve as a causative agent for Yili horse abortions, and may thus lay the foundation for a systematic and detailed epidemiological study of this infection in Chinese horses.

Two new species of the Longitarsusviolentus group from China (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini)

Two new species of Longitarsus Latreille, 1829 from China are described: L.pekingensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Beijing) and L.xinjiangensis Liang, Konstantinov & Ge, sp. nov. (Xinjiang). Images of dorsal and lateral habitus, pronotum, head, and male and female genitalia are provided. The records of Longitarsusviolentus Weise, 1893 and Longitarsusweisei Guillebeau, 1895 in China are discussed. Holotypes of L.marguzoricus Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 and L.violentoides Konstantinov in Konstantinov & Lopatin, 2000 are illustrated with images of pronotum and median lobe of aedeagus. A key to species of L.violentus species group is provided.

Who drives carbon emissions and what emission reduction potential in the resource curse agglomeration: a case of Xinjiang

The primary problem in achieving carbon emission reduction and carbon peak is to identify the key driving factors and emission reduction potential of the industrial sector, especially in resource-cursed regions like Xinjiang. This study aimed to explore the key driving factors and abatement potential of carbon emissions based on the "energy-environment-economy" hybrid input-output model of Xinjiang during 1997-2017. The result showed that: (1) Industrial carbon emissions have experienced three stages: slow growth-rapid growth-stable growth. (2) Demand change effect and energy intensity effect were the determinants of Xinjiang industrial carbon emission change; Capital formation and domestic trade were the biggest drivers of carbon emissions growth; Especially after entering the "new normal",the driving force of imports in Xinjiang's international trade increased gradually over time. (3) The coal-based energy structure was both the biggest obstacle and the best entry point in carbon emission reduction. (4) Of the 28 key industry sectors, heavy industry including the production and supply of electricity and heat (S22), petroleum processing, coking and nuclear fuel processing (S11), chemical industry (S12), metal smelting and rolling (S14), and energy industries had the greatest potential for carbon reduction. The research findings provide scientific decision-making reference for Xinjiang to accurately grasp the carbon emission reduction potential of the industry and formulate a targeted carbon peak action plan.

Artemisiaqingheensis (Asteraceae, Anthemideae), a new species from Xinjiang, China

Artemisiaqingheensis (Asteraceae, Anthemideae), a new species from Qinghe County, Xinjiang, China, is described and illustrated. We investigated its phylogenetic position and relationships with 35 other species of Artemisia using whole chloroplast DNA sequence data. The molecular phylogenetic results and morphological evidence (multi-layered involucral bracts and homogamous capitula with bisexual flowers) showed that the new species belongs to ArtemisiasubgenusSeriphidium. A diagnostic table and discussion of morphological characters are provided to distinguish the new species from A.amoena, A.gracilescens, A.lessingiana and A.terrae-albae.

Detection of emerging HoBi-like Pestivirus (BVD-3) during an epidemiological investigation of bovine viral diarrhea virus in Xinjiang: a first-of-its-kind report

Xinjiang pastoral area is the second largest pastoral area in China, accounting for 26.8% of the available grassland area in the country, and the geographical advantage of cattle breeding industry is very obvious. Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has always been one of the important viral diseases that have plagued the development of cattle farming industry in the world. As one of the main pastoral areas of China's cattle farming industry, the Xinjiang pastoral area has also been deeply affected. In this study, 6,153 bovine serum samples were collected from 18 large-scale cattle farms in 13 cities in Xinjiang. The antibodies and antigens of 6,153 and 588 serum samples were detected by serological detection methods, respectively. Ten serum samples, which were antigen-positive by ELISA, were randomly selected for RT-PCR detection, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of suspected HoBi-like Pestivirus (HoBiPeV) strains. The results showed that the positive rates of BVDV antibodies and antigens were 53.68% (3,303/6,153) and 6.12% (36/588), respectively. One of the 10 randomly selected seropositive samples was infected with the HoBiPeV strain. HoBiPeV, also referred to as BVDV-3, is an emerging atypical Pestivirus that occurs in cattle and small ruminants, and its clinical signs are similar to those of BVDV infection. Based on the whole genome of the BVDV-3 reference strain (JS12/01) on the GenBank, the homology of the detected strain was 96.02%. The whole genome nucleotide sequence was submitted to the GenBank database, and the gene accession number was obtained: OP210314. The whole genome of isolate OP210314 was 12.239 nucleotides and contained a 5'-UTR of 340 nucleotides, a 3'-UTR of 199 nucleotides, and a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polyprotein consisting of 3,899 amino acids. In conclusion, the prevalence rate of BVDV infection in Xinjiang dairy cows is high, and the genetic diversity is increasing. This study successfully identified and isolated HoBiPeV in Xinjiang for the first time, posing a potential threat to the cattle industry in Xinjiang.

Food-water-land-ecosystem nexus in typical Chinese dryland under different future scenarios

Healthy coupling of the food-water-land-ecosystem (FWLE) nexus is the basis for achieving sustainable development (SD), and FWLE in drylands is frontier scientific issues in the study of coupled human land systems. To comprehensively safeguard the future food, water, and ecological security of drylands, this study examined the implications for FWLE linkages in a typical Chinese dryland from the perspective of future land-use change. First, four different land-use scenarios were proposed using a land-use simulation model with a gray multi-objective algorithm, including an SD scenario. Then, the variation of three ecosystem services was explored: water yield, food production, and habitat quality. Finally, redundancy analysis was used to derive the future drivers of FWLE and explore their causes. The following results were obtained. In the future in Xinjiang, under the business as usual scenario, urbanization will continue, forest area will decrease, and water production will decline by 371 million m³. In contrast, in the SD scenario, this negative impact will be substantially offset, water scarcity will be alleviated, and food production will increase by 1.05 million tons. In terms of drivers, the anthropogenic drivers will moderate the future urbanization of Xinjiang to some extent, with natural drivers dominating the sustainable development scenario by 2030 and a potential 22 % increase in the drivers of precipitation. This study shows how spatial optimization can help protect the sustainability of the FWLE nexus in drylands and simultaneously provides clear policy recommendations for regional development.

Analysis of the relationship between short tandem repeats and lactation performance of Xinjiang Holstein cows

Microsatellite markers, also known as short tandem repeats (STRs), are important for marker-assisted selection to detect genetic polymorphism, and they are uniformly distributed in eukaryotic genomes. To analyze the relationship between microsatellite loci and lactation traits of Holstein cows in Xinjiang, 175 lactating cows with similar birth dates, the same parity, and similar calving dates were selected, and 10 STR loci closely linked to quantitative trait loci were used to analyze the correlation between each STR locus and four lactation traits (daily milk yield, milk fat percentage, milk protein percentage, and lactose percentage). All loci showed different degrees of genetic polymorphism. The average values of observed alleles, effective alleles, expected heterozygosity, observed heterozygosity, and polymorphic information content of the 10 STR loci were 10, 3.11, 0.62, 0.64, and 0.58, respectively. Chi-square and G-square tests showed that all populations of loci were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Analysis of the correlation between STR locus genotype and lactation performance in the whole lactation period showed three loci (namely, BM143, BM415, and BP7) with no significant correlation with all lactation traits, two loci (BM302 and UWCA9) related to milk yield, three loci (BM103, BM302, and BM6425) related to milk fat percentage, two loci (BM302 and BM6425) related to milk protein percentage, and three loci (BM1443, BM302, and BMS1943) related to lactose percentage. The microsatellite loci selected in this study showed rich polymorphism in the experimental dairy cow population and were related to the lactation traits, which can be used for the evaluation of genetic resources and early breeding and improvement of Holstein dairy cows in Xinjiang.

Content level and risk assessment of phthalate esters in surface water of Bosten Lake, China

Bosten Lake is the main fishing and grazing area in Xinjiang. The pollution of phthalate esters (PAEs) in water has attracted much attention, but limited research has been conducted on PAEs in Bosten Lake. The distribution of PAEs in fifteen sampling sites of surface water in the dry and flood seasons were investigated to explore the content level of PAEs in Bosten Lake, and the risk was evaluated. Seventeen PAEs were detected by GC-MS after liquid-liquid and solid-phase purification. Results showed that the content of ∑PAEs in the water during dry and flood seasons is ND-26.226 μg/L and ND-7.179 μg/L. The content of PAEs in the water of Bosten Lake is at a medium level. DBP and DIBP are the main PAEs. The content of PAEs is related to the physicochemical properties of water, and the physicochemical properties of water in dry season have a more serious impact on PAEs. PAEs in water mainly come from domestic pollution and chemical production. The results of health risk assessment indicate that PAEs in water do not pose a carcinogenic risk or a non carcinogenic risk to human, which can meet the conditions of Bosten Lake as a fishing ground and livestock base, but the pollution of PAEs cannot be ignored.

Spatiotemporal variability characteristics of extreme climate events in Xinjiang during 1960-2019

Under the global warming, it is particularly important to explore the response of extreme climate to global climate change over the arid regions. Based on daily temperature (maximum, minimum, and average) and precipitation data from meteorological stations in Xinjiang, China, we analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of extreme temperature and extreme precipitation events via combining thin plate smoothing spline function interpolation, Sen's slope, and Mann-Kendall test. Our results showed that during 1960-2019, the extreme low temperature index of frost days (FD), icing days (ID), cold days (TX10p), cold nights (TN10p), and cold speel duration index (CSDI) all showed the downward trend to varying degrees, and the extreme high temperature index of summer days (SD25), warm days (TX90p), warm night (TN90p), and warm speel duration index (WSDI) all showed an upward trend to varying degrees, and the extreme low temperature index of high altitude mountains decreases more than that of the basin and plains. In addition, all the extreme temperature indices are closely related to the annual average temperature in Xinjiang (R > 0.6). Among the extreme precipitation indices, except for the consecutive dry days (CDD), the other extreme precipitation indices showed increasing trends to different degrees, but the changes in extreme precipitation in Xinjiang were mainly manifested by the increase of heavy precipitation in a short period (the increase of heavy precipitation and extreme heavy precipitation was the largest, 44.8 mm/10a and 17.6 mm/10a, respectively) and spatially concentrated in the Ili River and Altai Mountains in northern Xinjiang. Meanwhile, annual precipitation was positively correlated with the extreme precipitation index (R > 0.4), except for the CDD. This study provides theoretical support for the prevention and control of natural disasters in the dry zone.

Inversion models of aboveground grassland biomass in Xinjiang based on multisource data

Grassland biomass monitoring is essential for assessing grassland health and carbon cycling. However, monitoring grassland biomass in drylands based on satellite remote sensing is challenging.Statistical regression models and machine learning have been used for the construction of grassland biomass models, but the predictive power for different grassland types is unclear. Additionally, the selection of the most appropriate variables to construct a biomass inversion model for different grassland types must be explored. Therefore,1201 ground-truthed data points collected from 2014-2021,including 15 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation indices,geographic location and topographic data,and meteorological factors and vegetation biophysical indicators were screened for key variables using principal component analysis (PCA). The accuracy of multiple linear regression models, exponential regression models, power function models, support vector machine (SVM) models, random forest (RF) models, and neural network models was evaluated for the inversion of three types of grassland biomass. The results were as follows: (1) The biomass inversion accuracy of single vegetation indices was low, and the optimal vegetation indices were the soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI) (R2 = 0.255), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (R2 = 0.372) and optimized soil-adjusted vegetation index (OSAVI) (R2 = 0.285). (2)Grassland above-ground biomass (AGB) was affected by various factors such as geographic location,topography, and meteorological factors, and the inverse models using a single environmental variable had large errors. (3) The main variables used to model biomass in the three types of grasslands were different. SAVI, aspect, slope, and precipitation (Prec.) were selected for desert grasslands; NDVI,shortwave infrared 2 (SWI2), longitude, mean temperature, and annual precipitation were selected for steppe;and OSAVI, phytochrome ratio (PPR), longitude, precipitation, and temperature were selected for meadows. (4) The non-parametric meadow biomass model was superior to the statistical regression model. (5) The RF model was the best model for the inversion of grassland biomass in Xinjiang, and this model had the highest accuracy for grassland biomass inversion (R2 = 0.656, root mean square error (RMSE) = 815.6 kg/ha),followed by meadow (R2 = 0.610, RMSE = 547.9 kg/ha) and desert grassland (R2 = 0.441, RMSE = 353.6 kg/ha).

Spatial and temporal variations of net ecosystem productivity in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China based on remote sensing

Net ecosystem productivity (NEP), which plays a key role in the carbon cycle, is an important indicator of the ecosystem's carbon budget. In this paper, the spatial and temporal variations of NEP over Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China from 2001 to 2020 were studied based on remote sensing and climate re-analysis data. The modified Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model was employed to estimate net primary productivity (NPP), and the soil heterotrophic respiration model was used to calculate soil heterotrophic respiration. Then NEP was obtained by calculating the difference between NPP and heterotrophic respiration. The annual mean NEP of the study area was high in the east and low in the west, high in the north and low in the south. The 20-year mean vegetation NEP of the study area is 128.54 gC·m^-2, indicating that the study area is a carbon sink on the whole. From 2001 to 2020, the annual mean vegetation NEP ranged between 93.12 and 158.05 gC·m^-2, and exhibited an increasing trend in general. 71.46% of the vegetation area showed increasing trends of NEP. NEP exhibited a positive relationship with precipitation and a negative relationship with air temperature, and the correlation with air temperature was more significant. The work reveals the spatio-temporal dynamics of NEP in Xinjiang Autonomous Region and can provide a valuable reference for assessing regional carbon sequestration capacity.

Study on Urbanization Sustainability of Xinjiang in China: Connotation, Indicators and Measurement

BACKGROUND

Current research about sustainability evaluations in urbanization pays limited attention to certain areas of the world, thus potentially leading to an incomplete portrayal of the rich connotation of sustainable development. In fact, the existing evaluation criteria used by researchers in this field may not be generalizable due to regional variations. This study evaluated urbanization sustainability in Xinjiang Province (China) taking into account different perspectives, such as security and stability, social integration, economic vitality, happiness and livability, and ecological health. The aim was to develop an urbanization sustainability evaluation system, resulting in a new Index customized to regional characteristics and local development needs.

METHODS

A spatial clustering analysis methodology was adopted to reveal the prominence of 15 issues in different areas of Xinjiang.

RESULTS

Overall, the results showed low urbanization sustainability in Xinjiang, with significant intra-regional variability. The dimensions of security and stability scored the lowest in the newly developed Index, indicating specific aspects of weakness in Xinjiang's urbanization sustainability. Social integration scored highly in the new index, implying that this aspect plays a supporting role in the urbanization sustainability of the region. Nevertheless, economic vitality scored low, representing a limitation for the region's urbanization sustainability, as well as the happiness and livability dimensions. On the contrary, the parameter of ecological health scored high, despite spatial variances. Urbanization sustainability within each prefecture was further categorized as high, balanced, or low, revealing the main challenges faced by each prefecture during urbanization.

CONCLUSIONS

The purpose of this study was to divert attention to the urbanization sustainability in different regions of the world, considering their particularity and diversity, thereby providing a research paradigm for scientific evaluation of urbanization sustainability.

Iodine Nutritional Status of Pregnant Women After 14 Years of Lipiodol Supplementation: a Cross-Sectional Study in Historically Iodine-Deficient Areas of China

Southern Xinjiang has a history of serious iodine deficiency. Since 2007, pregnant women in this area have taken iodized salt and oral lipiodol preparations to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. However, the current status of iodine nutrition and thyroid function in this population is unknown. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 555 pregnant women from 5 counties (cities) in southern Xinjiang and 429 pregnant women from 3 counties in northern Xinjiang. The participants were given a questionnaire and serum concentrations of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyrotropic stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin antibody (Tg-Ab), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab), and the urine iodine concentration (UIC) was measured. The median UIC and interquartile range [M (IQR)] of the 984 pregnant women in the study was 189.38 (143.15, 288.77) μg/L. Positive Tg-Ab and TPO-Ab titers were detected in 6.74% and 9.55%, 8.30% and 9.84%, and 7.39% and 10.55% in T1, T2, and T3, respectively. The incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism, clinical hypothyroidism, and isolated hypothyroxinemia in pregnant women in areas where lipiodol pills were taken was 4.32%, 0%, and 1.44%, respectively, which was significantly lower than those in areas where lipiodol pills were not taken. The median UIC (IQR) of pregnant women in the two regions was 213.80 (130.44, 331.77) μg/L and 168.30 (155.0, 254.8) μg/L, the UIC of pregnant women who took lipiodol pills was higher than in those who did not take lipiodol pills, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). According to WHO standards, all pregnant women in southern Xinjiang are in a state of adequate iodine nutrition. Taking lipiodol pills has improved the iodine nutrition level of pregnant women in this area. The results of this study did not find that oral lipiodol pills had adverse effects on pregnant women's thyroid function, but it is necessary to further study the effect of oral lipiodol pills on the offspring.

Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 in Three Types of Milk from Xinjiang, China, and the Risk of Exposure for Milk Consumers in Different Age-Sex Groups

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a group 1 carcinogen, is a risk factor to be monitored in milk. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of AFM1 in milk in Xinjiang, China, and to assess the risk of exposure for milk consumers in different age-sex groups. A total of 259 milk samples including pasteurized milk (93 samples), extended-shelf-life (ESL) milk (96), and raw donkey milk (70) were collected in Xinjiang from January to March in 2022. The AFM1 content of the milk samples was detected using a validated ELISA method. Of the 259 total samples analyzed for AFM1, 84 (32.4%) samples were contaminated at levels greater than the detection limit of 5 ng/L, with the maximum level of 16.5 ng/L. The positive rates of AFM1 in pasteurized milk and ESL milk were 43.0% (n = 40) and 45.8% (n = 44), respectively, and AFM1 was undetectable in donkey milk. The estimated daily intakes of AFM1 in each age group were lower than the hazard limits and were similar between male and female milk consumers. Therefore, the AFM1 contamination of milk in Xinjiang is low but still needs to be continuously monitored considering that children are susceptible to AFM1.

Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Bio-elements in the Human Hair of Uyghur Communities in an Oasis Area of Xinjiang, China

Located in central Asia, Xinjiang is characterized as a diverse environment in China, consisting of vast deserts, dotted oases, and high mountains. Due to the combined effect of climate conditions under such a diverse environment, there are large differences in human activities, living styles, and eating habits in farmland and grazing pastures between Xinjiang and other regions of China. This study aimed to investigate the variations and mechanisms of elemental distribution in the hair of Uyghur communities among different ages and genders and under different land use backgrounds in an oasis region in Xinjiang. Hair samples from 524 residents from four traditional farmland areas and two grazing pasture areas in Bai Cheng County in Xinjiang were collected, and the levels of thirteen elements were analyzed. The results indicated that the average levels of Cu, Mg, Mn, Zn, Ni, Co, Pb, Fe, Ca, Cd, Cr, As, and Se in the hair of Uyghur communities were within the background levels of Chinese and global residents' hair. Overall, the levels of elements in the hair of women residents were higher than those of men residents. The levels of elements in the human hair of the middle-aged group were higher than those of child and older-aged groups. Elements Cr and Se in the hair of grazing pastures were higher than those of farmland areas. The levels of Cd, Pb, As, and Zn in the hair of farmland areas were higher than those of grazing pasture areas. The levels of Ca, Mg, Cu, and Fe in the hair of Uyghur communities were higher than those of other ethnic groups, while the toxic elements in the hair of residents in Bai Cheng were lower than those in other regions of China. Middle-aged people were exposed to higher levels of toxic elements in their daily activities compared to elderly and child groups. Also, adult groups need much more nutrients for their growth and intellectual development compared to child and elderly groups. The change in land use from grazing pastures to farmland increased the toxic trace element concentration levels in human hair. The significant differences in the overall concentration levels of elements in human hair among the different ethnic groups and regions can be attributed to the differences in lifestyles, cultural customs, dietary habits, and internal and external exposure routes.

Development and application of an indirect ELISA for detecting equine IgG antibodies against Getah virus with recombinant E2 domain protein

Getah virus (GETV) disease is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that causes fever, aseptic meningitis, and abortion in a variety of animals. Currently, the epidemic trend of GETV disease increases seriously worldwide, especially in China, posing a potential threat to animal safety and public health. However, there are few reports about the epidemiological investigation of GETV disease in China as well as a lack of commercial diagnostic kit for GETV antibody. Therefore, the establishment of a rapid, sensitive and suitable GETV antibody detection method for large-scale samples is an urgent request to fully understand the prevalence of GETV disease. Here, a recombinant plasmid pET22b-GETV-E2d that contained the domain of GETV-E2 (E2d) fused to His-tag was constructed to express recombinant protein E2d (rE2d) in Escherichia coli. The rE2d was mainly expressed in inclusion bodies. And it was purified successfully by nickel affinity column so that it could be used to develop an indirect ELISA (rE2d-ELISA). After optimizing reaction conditions of rE2d-ELISA, the cut-off value was determined as 0.396 with 100 equine sera tested by virus neutralization test (VNT). Furthermore, rE2d-ELISA method showed the positive rate of IgG antibodies against GETV was 54.3% based on testing 646 clinical serum samples obtained in Xinjiang whereas the overall coincidence rate between rE2d-ELISA and VNT was 94.0%, with 98.2% sensitivity and 92.6% specificity. The findings suggest that the developed IgG ELISA employing recombinant E2d promises was an efficient and low-cost type of antibody detection method for horse, which will benefit for prevention of GETV outbreaks in horses.

Genetic Polymorphism of 16 X-STR Loci in Xinjiang Uygur Population

OBJECTIVES

To study the genetic polymorphism and population genetic parameters of 16 X-STR loci in Xinjiang Uygur population.

METHODS

The Goldeneye^® DNA identification system 17X was used to amplify 16 X-STR loci in 502 unrelated individuals (251 females and 251 males). The amplified products were detected by 3130xl genetic analyzer. Allele frequencies and population genetic parameters were analyzed statistically. The genetic distances between Uygur and other 8 populations were calculated. Multidimensional scaling and phylogenetic tree were constructed based on genetic distance.

RESULTS

In the 16 X-STR loci, a total of 67 alleles were detected in 502 Xinjiang Uygur unrelated individuals. The allele frequencies ranged from 0.001 3 to 0.572 4. PIC ranged from 0.568 8 to 0.855 3. The cumulative discrimination power in females and males were 0.999 999 999 999 999 and 0.999 999 999 743 071, respectively. The cumulative mean paternity exclusion chance in trios and in duos were 0.999 999 997 791 859 and 0.999 998 989 000 730, respectively. The genetic distance between Uygur population and Kazakh population was closer, and the genetic distance between Uygur and Han population was farther.

CONCLUSIONS

The 16 X-STR loci are highly polymorphic and suitable for identification in Uygur population, which can provide a powerful supplement for the study of individual identification, paternity identification and population genetics.

Malformations in Late Devonian brachiopods from the western Junggar, NW China and their potential causes

Although malformations are found in both extant organisms and the fossil record, they are more rarely reported in the fossil record than in living organisms, and the environmental factors causing the malformations are much more difficult to identify for the fossil record. Two athyrid brachiopod taxa from the Upper Devonian Hongguleleng Formation in western Junggar (Xinjiang, NW China) show distinctive shell malformation. Of 198 Cleiothyridina and 405 Crinisarina specimens, 18 and 39 individuals were malformed, respectively; an abnormality ratio of nearly 10%. Considering the preservation status and buried environment of the abnormal specimens, and analysis of trace elements and rare earth elements from whole-rock and brachiopod shells, we conclude that the appearance of malformed athyrids is likely related to epi/endoparasites, or less likely the slightly higher content of heavy metal in the sea.

Machine learning driven by environmental covariates to estimate high-resolution PM2.5 in data-poor regions

PM_2.5, which refers to fine particles with an equivalent aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 µm, can not only affect air quality but also endanger public health. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of PM_2.5 is not well understood in data-poor regions where monitoring stations are scarce. Therefore, we constructed a random forest (RF) model and a bagging algorithm model based on ground-monitored PM_2.5 data, aerosol optical depth (AOD) and meteorological data, and auxiliary geographical variables to accurately estimate the spatial distribution of PM_2.5 concentrations in Xinjiang during 2015-2020 at a resolution of 1 km. Through 10-fold cross-validation (CV), the RF model and bagging algorithm model were verified and compared. The results showed the following: (1) The RF model achieved better model performance and thus can be used to estimate the PM_2.5 concentration at a relatively high resolution. (2) The PM_2.5 concentrations were high in southern Xinjiang and low in northern Xinjiang. The high values were concentrated mainly in the Tarim Basin, while most areas of northern Xinjiang maintained low PM_2.5 levels year-round. (3) The PM_2.5 values in Xinjiang showed significant seasonality, with the seasonally averaged concentrations decreasing as follows: winter (71.95 µg m^-3) > spring (64.76 µg m^-3) > autumn (46.01 µg m^-3) > summer (43.40 µg m^-3). Our model provides a way to monitor air quality in data-scarce places, thereby advancing efforts to achieve sustainable development in the future.

and Giardia duodenalis in pet dogs in Xinjiang, China

Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis are opportunistic zoonotic protozoa transmitted through several routes. In this study, a total of 604 fecal samples were collected from pet dogs in Xinjiang, China to detect the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis by PCR amplification of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. The incidence rate of Cryptosporidium spp. or G. duodenalis was 5.3% (32/604). Among the collection sites, a higher number of Cryptosporidium spp. or G. duodenalis positive dogs were detected in Hotan (9.9%, 21/213) and Shihezi (9.8%, 4/41) were higher than those in Aksu (4.5%, 1/22), Urumqi (2.1%, 4/191), and Korla (1.5%, 2/137). Among the sources, dogs in pet shops (7.4%, 19/256) showed a significantly higher incidence rate than those in pet hospitals (3.0%, 4/134) and pet kennels (2.3%, 5/214). When the data were examined by age, dogs < 1 year of age (6.1%, 28/459) were more likely to be infected by Cryptosporidium spp. or G. duodenalis than older (≥ 1 year) dogs (2.8%, 4/145). No significant differences were observed when animals were grouped by sex (5.0%, 14/278 for males; 5.5%, 18/326 for females). Sequence analysis revealed that the Cryptosporidium spp. (n = 10) in dogs were identified as C. canis. The G. duodenalis detected belonged to assemblages A (n = 1), C (n = 14), and D (n = 7). Among the identified 22 G. duodenalis isolates, eight samples were subtyped according to β-giardin (bg) and the results were consistent with the identified assemblages. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis infections in domesticated canines in Xinjiang, China. The C. canis and G. duodenalis assemblage A identified in pet dogs in the present study were previously associated with infections in humans, indicating the potential for zoonotic transmission.

Future Responses to Managing Muslim Ethnic Minorities in China: Lessons Learned from Global Approaches to Improving Inter-Ethnic Relations

Current policies to manage ethnic minority unrest in Xinjiang are not working, and do not address the core root causes behind ethnic tensions. Drawing upon lessons learned from global approaches to improving inter-ethnic relations, and factoring in China's institutional behaviour and norms, this essay looks at policy responses that could be entertained by the state to improve the conditions of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. It suggests that in the short-term (under a year) the state could be more responsible in using the big data it collects for targeted surveillance, in tandem with a community engagement approach. In the medium-term (one to three years), the state could employ practices to reduce ethnic prejudice by encouraging increased meaningful intergroup contact, and promoting a positive media portrayal of ethnic minorities. In the long-term (three years plus), improving the relative socioeconomic ethnic inequalities is paramount.

Source analysis and health risk assessment of groundwater pollution based on multivariate statistical techniques in Kashgar Delta Area, Xinjiang, China

In this study, 63 groundwater samples were collected in the Kashgar Delta Area in Xinjiang in 2016, and then, the samples were tested and the test results were analyzed. Multivariate statistical techniques were used to determine the sources of pollution, and the USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) model was used to assess the long-term health risk of groundwater to adults and children in the study area. The concentrations of groundwater chemical Na⁺, Cl^-, SO₄^2-, NH₄⁺-N, TDS, F^-, I^-, As, Fe, Mn, Pb, Hg, pH, TH, and COD_Mn, which exceed the permissible level in the study based on groundwater quality index and possibly pose a potential threat to the health of the residents in the area, which are mainly influenced by geological conditions. The source of the pollutants is the dissolution of minerals in the aquifer medium, which is greatly affected by the high-salinity groundwater environment, pH conditions, redox conditions, and evaporation and concentration effect. The values of the noncarcinogenic health risk index HQ_n follow the descending order of Cl^- > F^- > As > Fe > Mn > Pb > Hg > NH₄⁺-N; There are eight nonarcinogens and one carcinogen in groundwater of which Cl^- is the dominant noncarcinogenic factor, while As is the main carcinogenic pollutant in the study area. The health risk ratio results show that Cl^- and As are the main pollutants that pose the greatest threat to both adults' and children's health, and they should be considered as the primary indicators for health risk management and control.

Integrating ecosystem services modeling into effectiveness assessment of national protected areas in a typical arid region in China

Protected areas (PAs) are essential for biodiversity conservation and for the delivery of ecosystem services (ESs). However, little is known about their effectiveness in providing ESs and contribution to species richness, especially in arid regions. Effectiveness evaluation is fundamental to understanding the extent of management enhancement required to fulfill conservation targets. In this study, we analyzed the supply of six ESs (water yield, nutrient retention, soil retention, sand fixation, carbon storage, and biodiversity richness) by landscapes in China's arid region of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (hereafter Xinjiang). The aim was to identify distribution of ESs hotspots and the extent of hotspots located within or outside national PAs. The results showed significant spatial heterogeneity and coverage differences in six types of ESs hotspots. Hotspots coverage of six ESs on average accounted for 10.45 % of the total area, distributed mainly in mountains and oases covered by vegetation and wetlands. Among these ESs hotspots, over 50 % fell within PAs. This suggested that although PAs delivered moderately well outcomes in preserving ESs and biodiversity in Xinjiang, conservation gaps needed to be addressed. Our study also revealed substantial differences in ESs supplied by different PAs, and serious deficiency existed in some PAs in protecting either biodiversity or key ESs outlined in their conservation objectives. Our study illustrated the priority areas for future conservation expansion and stressed the urgent shift toward broadening the goals of PAs from a dominant focus to ones that encompass multiple ESs for human well-being.

Dynamic characteristics and driving factors of vegetation greenness under changing environments in Xinjiang, China

Global environment changes rapidly alter regional hydrothermal conditions, which undoubtedly affects the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. However, identifying and quantifying the dynamic evolution and driving factors of vegetation greenness under the changing environment are still a challenge. In this study, gradual trend analysis was applied to calculate the overall spatiotemporal trend of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series of Xinjiang province in China, the abrupt change analysis was used to detect the timing of breakpoint and trend shift, and two machine learning methods (boosted regression tree and random forest) were used to quantify the key factors of vegetation change and their relative contribution rate. The results have shown that vegetation has experienced overall recovery over the past 20 years in Xinjiang, and greenness increased at a rate of 17.83 10^-4 year^-1. Cropland, grassland, and sparse vegetation were the main biome types where vegetation restoration is happening. Nearly 10% of the pixels (about 166000 km²) were detected to have breakpoints from 2004 to 2016 of the monthly NDVI, and most of the breakpoints were concentrated in the ecotone of various biomes. CO₂ concentration was the most prevalent environmental factor to increase vegetation greenness, because continuous emission of CO₂ greatly enhanced the fertilization effect, further promoted vegetation growth. Besides, cropland expansion and desertification control were the vital anthropogenic factors to vegetation turning "green" in Xinjiang, and most areas under anthropogenic were mainly in oasis areas. These findings provide new insights and measures for the regional response strategies and terrestrial ecosystem protection.

Geographic and Age Variations in Low Body Mass Index Among Community-Dwelling Older People in Xinjiang: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Studies have shown an association between undernutrition and increased adverse outcome, as well as substantial geographic and age variations in undernutrition. Body mass index (BMI), a core indicator of undernutrition, is easy to measure and reflects the nutritional and health status of the human body. It is a simple and suitable tool for epidemiological investigations in large sample populations. Herein, we provide the first description of geographic and age variations in the prevalence of low BMI among community-dwelling older people in Xinjiang.

Methods: From January 2019 to December 2019, using a multi-stage random sampling method, we conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological survey of the community-dwelling older people in Xinjiang at different latitudes. Of the 87,000 participants, the statistical analyses included 86,514 participants with complete data.

Results: In Xinjiang, the prevalence of low BMI was 7.7% in the community-dwelling older people. The BMI gradually decreased with increasing age and gradually increased with latitude. The prevalence of low BMI in northern Xinjiang was 5.3%, which was significantly lower than that in eastern (7.7%) and southern (9.3%) Xinjiang. In the 60–69-, 70–79-, 80–89-, and ≥90-year age groups, the prevalence rates of low BMI were 5.8, 7.9, 10.0, and 13.9%, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors (sex, ethnic group, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipemia, smoking, and drinking), multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratios (95% CI) for low BMI in eastern and southern Xinjiang were 1.165 (1.056–1.285) and 1.400 (1.274–1.538), respectively, compared to northern Xinjiang. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for low BMI in the 70–79-, 80–89-, and ≥90-year age groups were 1.511 (1.39–1.635), 2.233 (2.030–2.456), and 3.003 (2.439–3.696), respectively, compared to the 60–69-year age group.

Conclusion: The results of this study revealed geographic and age variations in the prevalence of low BMI in the community-dwelling older people in Xinjiang. The prevalence of low BMI gradually increased as the latitude decreased and as age increased.

Molecular Evidence of Bartonella melophagi in Ticks in Border Areas of Xinjiang, China

Bartonella are gram-negative intracellular bacteria; certain species of Bartonella can cause diseases in mammals and humans. Ticks play a major role in the transmission of Bartonella. Xinjiang is the largest province in China according to land area and has one-third of the tick species in China; the infection rate of Bartonella in ticks in the Xinjiang border areas has not been studied in detail. Therefore, this study investigated tick infections by Bartonella in Xinjiang border areas, and the purpose of the study was to fill in gaps in information regarding the genetic diversity of tick infections by Bartonella in Xinjiang. We tested 1,549 tick samples from domestic animals (sheep and cattle) for Bartonella using ribC-PCR. Positive samples from the ribC-PCR assay for Bartonella spp. were further subjected to PCR assays targeting the ITS, rpoB and gltA genes followed by phylogenetic analyses. Bartonella DNA was detected in 2.19% (34/1,549) of tick samples, and the ITS, rpoB and gltA genes of ribC gene-positive samples were amplified to identify nine samples of Bartonella melophagi. In this study, molecular analysis was used to assess the presence and genetic diversity of B. melophagi in ticks collected from sheep and cattle from Xinjiang, China. This study provides new information on the presence and identity of B. melophagi in ticks from sheep and cattle.

A new pterosaur tracksite from the Lower Cretaceous of Wuerho, Junggar Basin, China: inferring the first putative pterosaur trackmaker

We report the discovery of 114 small pterosaur footprints preserved in a greyish-green fine sandstone slab comprising 57 manus imprints and 57 pes imprints. Due to the chaotic distribution of footprints, the trackways are difficult to recognize. The pes imprints are sub-triangular and enlongate, the metatarsal part is roughly subequal to the digital part. The manus imprints are asymmetrical, longer than wide, and the lengths of digits I–III gradually increase. According to the diagnostic features of the Wuerho small pterosaur tracks, the present set was classified as Pteraichnus and is different from the nine reported valid ichnospecies of Pteraichnus. We therefore propose a new ichnospecies, Pteraichnus wuerhoensis isp. nov. The description is based on the anatomical characteristics (lengths of digits I–IV, length of digital part, length of metatarsal part) extracted from the pes imprints and comparisons with the pes bone fossils of Noripterus complicidens. We infer that the footprints were probably left by N. complicidens and the total width of the wings was presumably 2–2.3 m. In addition, the high density (365 per square meter) and varied sizes of the Wuerho small pterosaur tracks suggest that many pterosaurs of different ages lived in Huangyangquan Reservoir tracksite 1 area. Thus the trackmakers may have had gregarious behavior.

An illustrated key to the species of Gasteruption Latreille (Hymenoptera, Gasteruptiidae) from Palaearctic China, with description of four new species

Four new species of the genus Gasteruption Latreille, 1797 (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Gasteruptiidae: Gasteruptiinae) are described from China. Three are from Shaanxi (NW China; G. granulatum Tan & van Achterberg, sp. nov., G. pedion Tan & van Achterberg, sp. nov., and G. reductum Tan & van Achterberg, sp. nov.) and one from S China and Ningxia (G. kexinae Tan & van Achterberg, sp. nov.). Eleven species are newly recorded for Shaanxi (G. abeillei Kieffer, 1912, G. amoyense Pasteels, 1958, G. bimaculatum Pasteels, 1958, G. corniculigerum Enderlein, 1913, G. latitibia Zhao, van Achterberg & Xu, 2012, G. minutum (Tournier, 1877), G. nigritarse (Thomson, 1883), G. parvicollarium Enderlein, 1913, G. sinarum Kieffer, 1911, G. subtile (Thomson, 1883) and G. brevicuspis Kieffer, 1911). The newly-recorded species and the new species are keyed and illustrated. Two new synonyms are proposed: G. rufescenticorne Enderlein, 1913, with G. japonicum Cameron, 1888, syn. nov. and G. oriplanum Kieffer, 1911, with G. minutum (Tournier, 1877), syn. nov.

Response of net primary productivity to grassland phenological changes in Xinjiang, China

Determining the relationship between net primary productivity (NPP) and grassland phenology is important for an in-depth understanding of the impact of climate change on ecosystems. In this study, the NPP of grassland in Xinjiang, China, was simulated using the Carnegie-Ames-Stanford approach (CASA) model with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) grassland phenological (MCD12Q2) data to study trends in phenological metrics, grassland NPP, and the relations between these factors from 2001-2014. The results revealed advancement of the start of the growing season (SOS) for grassland in most regions (55.2%) in Xinjiang. The percentage of grassland area in which the end of the growing season (EOS) was delayed (50.9%) was generally the same as that in which the EOS was advanced (49.1%). The percentage of grassland area with an increase in the length of the growing season (LOS) for the grassland area (54.6%) was greater than that with a decrease in the LOS (45.4%). The percentage of grassland area with an increase in NPP (61.6%) was greater than that with a decrease in NPP (38.4%). Warmer regions featured an earlier SOS and a later EOS and thus a longer LOS. Regions with higher precipitation exhibited a later SOS and an earlier EOS and thus a shorter LOS. In most regions, the SOS was earlier, and spring NPP was higher. A linear statistical analysis showed that at various humidity (K) levels, grassland NPP in all regions initially increased but then decreased with increasing LOS. At higher levels of K, when NPP gradually increased, the LOS gradually decreased.

Records of three mammal tick species parasitizing an atypical host, the multi-ocellated racerunner lizard, in arid regions of Xinjiang, China

Background

Ticks are ectoparasites that feed on blood of a broad taxonomical range of terrestrial and flying vertebrates and are distributed across a wide range of environmental settings. To date, the species identity, diversity, and relationships among the ticks on lizards in China have been poorly understood.

Methods

In this study, 30 ticks, collected from the multi-ocellated racerunner (Eremias multiocellata) lizard in the Tarim Basin and adjacent Yanqi Basin of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China, were identified by morphological observation and confirmed by DNA-based techniques. The mitochondrially encoded 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and COI gene fragments of ticks were amplified and sequenced. To understand the genetic polymorphisms, 47 ticks collected from hedgehogs and 1 from brushwood in the Tarim Basin were also included. Species identification was based on both morphological and molecular characters. The median-joining network approach was used to evaluate the intraspecific genealogies of the ticks and their relatedness with the geographical origin or hosts.

Results

The sequence similarity analysis confirmed that the 30 ticks belong to three genera and three species including 11 individuals of Hyalomma asiaticum, 3 of Rhipicephalus turanicus, and 16 of Haemaphysalis sulcata. A network approach revealed paraphyletic populations of R. turanicus and Hy. asiaticum at the intraspecies level regarding geographical origin and low host specificity. For R. turanicus and Hy. asiaticum, common ancestry was observed between COI sequences from lizards and other sequence types from different hosts and countries.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, our study is the first to conduct a molecular survey of ticks from lizards in the arid regions of Xinjiang, China. Eremias multiocellata is an atypical host of the three tick species. Notably, two species of ticks, Hy. asiaticum and R. turanicus, have been collected and identified from lizards in China for the first time. Star-like networks suggest both of them might have experienced recent population expansion. The discoveries are closely related to the geographical environments in Xinjiang and will provide information for the control of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Northwest China.

Changes in precipitation amounts and extremes across Xinjiang (northwest China) and their connection to climate indices

Xinjiang is a major part of China’s arid region and its water resource is extremely scarcity. The change in precipitation amounts and extremes is of significant importance for the reliable management of regional water resources in this region. Thus, this study explored the spatiotemporal changes in extreme precipitation using the Mann–Kendall (M–K) trend analysis, mutation test, and probability distribution functions, based on the observed daily precipitation data from 89 weather stations in Xinjiang, China during 1961–2018. We also examined the correlations between extreme precipitation and climate indices using the cross-wavelet analysis. The results indicated that the climate in Xinjiang is becoming wetter and the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation has begun to strengthen, with these trends being more obvious after the 1990s. Extreme precipitation trends displayed spatial heterogeneity in Xinjiang. Extreme precipitation was mainly concentrated in mountainous areas, northern Xinjiang, and western Xinjiang. The significant increasing trend of extreme precipitation was also concentrated in the Tianshan Mountains and in northern Xinjiang. In addition, the climate indices, North Atlantic Oscillation, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, Multivariate ENSO Index and Indian Ocean Dipole Index had obvious relationships with extreme precipitation in Xinjiang. The relationships between the extreme precipitation and climate indices were not clearly positive or negative, with many correlations advanced or delayed in phase. At the same time, extreme precipitation displayed periodic changes, with a frequency of approximately 1–3 or 4–7 years. These periodic changes were more obvious after the 1990s; however, the exact mechanisms involved in this require further study.

Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Animals, Meats, and Market Environments in Xinjiang, China

Staphylococcus aureus has been recognized as an important foodborne pathogen. However, knowledge about the epidemiology and genetic characteristics of S. aureus in the meat production chain from farm to market is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic characteristics of S. aureus in animal samples isolated from Xinjiang province farms and farmer' markets, by determining staphylococcal protein A (spa) repeat region and virulence factor typing, and by assessment of antimicrobial resistance. Out of 1324 samples, 128 (9.7%) were positive for S. aureus, 26 (2.0%) of them were identified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 88 (6.6%) of them were identified as vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). Antimicrobial resistance was determined using the disk diffusion method. S. aureus isolates showed resistance to penicillin G (98.4%), clarithromycin (69.5%), erythromycin (69.5%), vancomycin (68.8%), and tetracycline (67.2%). A total of 80.4% of isolates showed resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes. PCR was used to detect ten virulence genes such as the enterotoxin (sea, seb, and sec), hemolysin (hla and hlb), clumping factor (clfA), and fibronectin-binding proteins A and B (fnbA and fnbB). Our study showed that isolates harbored two or seven virulence genes. All strains encode hla and clfA, and half of them encode hlb and enterotoxin genes. The spa typing results showed that the 128 isolates were grouped into 32 spa types. The main spa types were t127 (22.7%), t2592 (12.5%), t437 (10.9%), and t2616 (10.9%). Notably, isolates of t437 type accounted for 46.2% of the MRSA. Our data indicate that meats in the slaughterhouse and farmers' markets were contaminated with S. aureus. S. aureus virulence genes and spa types were diverse, and its antibiotic resistance was serious. The presence of MRSA and VRSA represents potential public health risks and warrants further investigation regarding the driving factors of such resistance and their transmission to humans.

Two new species of Dzhanokmenia (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China, with first report on a host association for the genus

Two new species of Dzhanokmenia Kostjukov (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae), D.stefaniolae Li, Wang & Hu, sp. nov. and D.yuxuannis Li, Wang & Hu, sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. D.stefaniolae was reared from stem-galls made by Stefaniola sp. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on black saxaul, Haloxylonammodendron (Chenopodiaceae); D.yuxuannis was collected by sweeping from both black saxaul and white saxaul, H.persicum, in Beishawo Desert near Fukang. A key to females of all known species of Dzhanokmenia is provided.

Spatio-temporal characteristics of air pollutants over Xinjiang, northwestern China

To understand the characteristics of particulate matter (PM) and other air pollutants in Xinjiang, a region with one of the largest sand-shifting deserts in the world and significant natural dust emissions, the concentrations of six air pollutants monitored in 16 cities were analyzed for the period January 2013-June 2019. The annual mean PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, CO, and O₃ concentrations ranged from 51.44 to 59.54 μg m^-3, 128.43-155.28 μg m^-3, 10.99-17.99 μg m^-3, 26.27-31.71 μg m^-3, 1.04-1.32 mg m^-3, and 55.27-65.26 μg m^-3, respectively. The highest PM concentrations were recorded in cities surrounding the Taklimakan Desert during the spring season and caused by higher amounts of wind-blown dust from the desert. Coarse PM (PM_10-2.5) was predominant, particularly during the spring and summer seasons. The highest PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratio was recorded in most cities during the winter months, indicating the influence of anthropogenic emissions in winters. The annual mean PM_2.5 (PM₁₀) concentrations in the study area exceeded the annual mean guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) by a factor of ca. ∼5-6 (∼7-8). Very high ambient PM concentrations were recorded during March 19-22, 2019, that gradually influenced the air quality across four different cities, with daily mean PM_2.5 (PM₁₀) concentrations ∼8-54 (∼26-115) times higher than the WHO guidelines for daily mean concentrations, and the daily mean coarse PM concentration reaching 4.4 mg m^-3. Such high PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations pose a significant risk to public health. These findings call for the formulation of various policies and action plans, including controlling the land degradation and desertification and reducing the concentrations of PM and other air pollutants in the region.

Obesity and Heath-Carter Somatotyping of 3438 Adults in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China by Multivariate Analysis

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate the somatotype and obesity of adults in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and to explore multivariate path analysis for the feasibility and scientificity of using somatotypes to evaluate obesity.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

According to anthropometric methods, a cross-sectional study was performed on 10 indexes of 3438 adults (1690 men and 1748 women, aged > 20 years) living in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China (including Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Xibe, Uzbek, Tatar and Tajik). The Heath-Carter anthropometric method and body mass index (BMI) were used to evaluate somatotype and obesity, respectively. The feasibility and scientificity of using somatotypes to evaluate obesity were analysed by correspondence analysis.

RESULTS

Among the six populations, the somatotypes were mainly distributed as endomorphic mesomorph, mesomorph-endomorph and mesomorphic endomorph populations, accounting for 66.5% of males and 78.8% of females. The obesity rate (27.4% in males, 27.8% in females) of the six populations in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China was much higher than the average Chinese adult obesity rate (12.1%) and the global adult obesity rate (male: 11%, female: 15%). The distribution of BMI was significantly different (male: P=0.000, female: P=0.033) in different populations, and the incidence of overweight and obesity in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China increased gradually. This study found that there were significant differences in somatotype distribution among different obesity groups in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China (P=0.000). There was a strong correlation between overweight or obesity and endomorph-mesomorph, endomorphic mesomorph and mesomorphic endomorph. Furthermore, this study indicated that using somatotypes to evaluate obesity was reliable and scientific.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that the somatotype of overweight or obese people was mainly related to endomorphic mesomorph, mesomorph-endomorph, and mesomorphic endomorph.

System Dynamics Model for Evaluating Socio-Economic Impacts of Different Water Diversion Quantity from Transboundary River Basins-A Case Study of Xinjiang

With the rapid development of social economy and global climate warming, scarce transboundary water resources, as one of the basic resources for socio-economic development, have increasingly become the focus of basin countries. To investigate the socio-economic impacts of different water diversion quantity from transboundary river basins, we used a system dynamics (SD) model to reflect interactions between population, water resources, and socio-economic development, and applied it to a case study in Xinjiang to simulate its change tendency from 2011 to 2030 from the temporal dimension. Then, four water diversion quantity of transboundary river basins and four alternative socio-economic development patterns were designed to comprehensively evaluate these impacts of water diversion quantity change on the socio-economy of the region along the river under different socio-economic development patterns. The results indicate that (1) there was a positive correlation between water diversion quantity and the economic output value of the region along transboundary river basins, and the marginal benefit of transboundary water resources would decrease gradually; (2) considering the difficulty of water diversion from transboundary river basins and the protection of downstream water use and ecological health of transboundary river basins, we believe that increasing the transboundary water resources by 20% was more conducive to the sustainable development of Xinjiang’s socio-economy; (3) through the comparison of dynamic evolutions of socio-economic development and water impacts under four socio-economic development patterns, it is best for Xinjiang to plan its future development in the coordinated development of economic-resource scenario. Following this scenario, not only would the total output value of the socio-economy be better than other scenarios, but this also helps to alleviate the contradiction between the water supply and demand, which expected there would be a water shortage of 1.04 billion m³ in 2029 under 20% increase in water diversion quantity. Therefore, appropriate water diversion quantity, reasonable adjustment of industrial production growth rate, reduction of water consumption quotas of different industries and domestic water quota, and improvement of collection and treatment rate for sewage should be given priority in water resources management decision-making in Xinjiang or other arid regions along transboundary river basins.

nov., isolated from cotton soil in Xinjiang, PR China

A novel actinobacterium, designated TRM 44567^T, was isolated from cotton soil in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest PR China. Growth occurred at 16-45 °C, pH 5.0-9.0, and 0-7 % (w/v) NaCl, with optimum growth at 37 °C, pH 7.0-8.0 and 1 % (w/v) NaCl, respectively. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain TRM 44567^T was phylogenetically most closely related to Streptomyces chromofuscus NBRC 12851^T (98.48 % sequence similarity); however, the average nucleotide identity between strain TRM 44567^T and S. chromofuscus NBRC 12851^T was only 83.77 %. Strain TRM 44567^T possessed ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H₁₀), MK-9(H₆) and MK-9(H₄). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The major fatty acids were iso-C_16 : 0, C_16 : 0, anteiso-C_15 : 0, anteiso-C_17 : 0, iso-C_14 : 0 and iso-C_15 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 70.8 mol%. Strain TRM 44567^T represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces gossypiisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 44567^T (=KCTC 39957 ^T=CCTCC AA 2017011^T).

The sex-based disparity in BMI-for-age z-score trends among Xinjiang children and adolescents using four rounds of cross-sectional surveys from 1985 to 2014

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate trends in body mass index (BMI)-for-age z-scores among children and adolescents in Xinjiang.

METHODS

Data were obtained for children and adolescents aged 7-18 years in Xinjiang from the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health (CNSSCH) in 1985 (n = 14 683), 1995 (n = 7198), 2005 (n = 10 253) and 2014 (n = 18 521).

RESULTS

The BMI-for-age z-score distribution of children and adolescents in Xinjiang showed an increased mean BMI-for-age z-score, dispersion and right-skewed of BMI-values, with a rapid increase in BMI with increasing BMI percentiles. The sex-based disparity in BMI-for-age z-scores became wider in the past 30 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Sex-based targeted public health measures and policies are urgently needed in Xinjiang. The rapid increases in the upper percentiles also implicated further efforts to prevent weight gain in those living already with overweight or obesity.

Early evidence for mounted horseback riding in northwest China

Horseback riding was a transformative force in the ancient world, prompting radical shifts in human mobility, warfare, trade, and interaction. In China, domestic horses laid the foundation for trade, communication, and state infrastructure along the ancient Silk Road, while also stimulating key military, social, and political changes in Chinese society. Nonetheless, the emergence and adoption of mounted horseback riding in China is still poorly understood, particularly due to a lack of direct archaeological data. Here we present a detailed osteological study of eight horse skeletons dated to ca. 350 BCE from the sites of Shirenzigou and Xigou in Xinjiang, northwest China, prior to the formalization of Silk Road trade across this key region. Our analyses reveal characteristic osteological changes associated with equestrian practices on all specimens. Alongside other relevant archaeological evidence, these data provide direct evidence for mounted horseback riding, horse equipment, and mounted archery in northwest China by the late first millennium BCE. Most importantly, our results suggest that this region may have played a crucial role in the spread of equestrian technologies from the Eurasian interior to the settled civilizations of early China, where horses facilitated the rise of the first united Chinese empires and the emergence of transcontinental trade networks.

LDL-C/HDL-C is associated with ischaemic stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

This study explored the relationships between the low-/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (LDL-C/HDL-C) and other clinical indicators and ischaemic stroke (IS) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in Xinjiang. The findings could provide a theoretical and therapeutic basis for NVAF patients.

METHODS

NVAF patients who were admitted to 10 medical centres across Xinjiang were divided into stroke (798 patients) and control (2671 patients) groups according to the occurrence of first acute IS. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to examine the independent risk factors for IS in NVAF patients. Factor analysis and principal component regression analysis were used to analyse the main factors influencing IS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the discriminatory ability of LDL-C/HDL-C for predicting the occurrence of IS.

RESULTS

The stroke group had an average age of 71.64 ± 9.96 years and included 305 females (38.22%). The control group had a mean age of 67.30 ± 12.01 years and included 825 females (30.89%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the risk of IS in the highest LDL-C/HDL-C quartile (≥2.73) was 16.23-fold that of the lowest quartile (< 1.22); IS risk was 2.27-fold higher in obese patients than in normal-weight subjects; IS risk was 3.15-fold higher in smoking patients than in non-smoking patients. The area under the ROC curve of LDL-C/HDL-C was 0.76, the optimal critical value was 2.33, the sensitivity was 63.53%, and the specificity was 76.34%. Principal component regression analysis showed that LDL-C/HDL-C, age, smoking, drinking, LDL-C and hypertension were risk factors for IS in NVAF patients.

CONCLUSIONS

LDL-C/HDL-C > 1.22, smoking, BMI ≥24 kg/m² and CHA₂DS₂-VASc score were independent risk factors for IS in NVAF patients; LDL-C/HDL-C was the main risk factor.

in 1-10-week-old dairy calves on a farm in Xinjiang, China

Cryptosporidiosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the cattle industry and leads to severe economic losses. Fecal samples were collected from 25 dairy calves once a week for 10 weeks for continuous longitudinal detection of Cryptosporidium spp. Cryptosporidium spp. were detected via nested PCR amplification of the ribosomal small subunit RNA gene, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with enzymes SspI and MboII to identify the species. PCR results indicated that all calves were infected with Cryptosporidium spp. at least once, with an average overall prevalence rate of 52.0% (130/250). One-week-old calves had the highest occurrences of Cryptosporidium infection (96.0%), 2-week-old calves (80.0%) had the second highest, and calves with watery diarrhea also had a higher occurrence of infection (92.3%). Four Cryptosporidium species, C. parvum, C. bovis, C. ryanae, and C. andersoni, were identified, with C. parvum being the most common. Forty-eight C. parvum isolates were further subtyped via nested PCR amplification of the 60-kDa glycoprotein gene, and all were identified as subtype IIdA15G1. The results demonstrated that C. parvum mainly infects dairy calves which are younger than 3 weeks old.