Detection of hyper-conserved regions in hepatitis B virus X gene potentially useful for gene therapy

AIM To detect hyper-conserved regions in the hepatitis B virus(HBV) X gene(HBX) 5' region that could be candidates for gene therapy.METHODS The study included 27 chronic hepatitis B treatmentnaive patients in various clinical stages(from chronic infection to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, both HBeA g-negative and HBeA g-positive), and infected with HBV genotypes A-F and H. In a serum sample from each patient with viremia > 3.5 log IU/m L, the HBX 5' end region [nucleotide(nt) 1255-1611] was PCRamplified and submitted to next-generation sequencing(NGS). We assessed genotype variants by phylogenetic analysis, and evaluated conservation of this region by calculating the information content of each nucleotide position in a multiple alignment of all unique sequences(haplotypes) obtained by NGS. Conservation at the HBx protein amino acid(aa) level was also analyzed.RESULTS NGS yielded 1333069 sequences from the 27 samples, with a median of 4578 sequences/sample(2487-9279, IQR 2817). In 14/27 patients(51.8%), phylogenetic analysis of viral nucleotide haplotypes showed a complex mixture of genotypic variants. Analysis of the information content in the haplotype multiple alignments detected 2 hyper-conserved nucleotide regions, one in the HBX upstream non-coding region(nt 1255-1286) and the other in the 5' end coding region(nt 1519-1603). This last region coded for a conserved amino acid region(aa 63-76) that partially overlaps a Kunitz-like domain.CONCLUSION Two hyper-conserved regions detected in the HBX 5' end may be of value for targeted gene therapy, regardless of the patients' clinical stage or HBV genotype.

Driving forces and their interactions of soil erosion in soil and water conservation regionalization at the county scale with a high cultivation rate

Soil erosion control based on county scale Soil and Water Conservation Regionalization(SWCR)is an essential component of China's ecological civilization construction.In SWCR,the quantitative analysis of the spatial heterogeneity and driving factors of soil erosion among different regions is still lacking.It is of great significance for soil erosion control to deeply examine the factors contributing to soil erosion(natural,land use,and socioeconomic factors)and their interaction at the county and regional levels.This study focused on a highly cultivated area,Hechuan District of Chongqing in the Sichuan Basin.The district(with 30 townships)was divided into four soil and water conservation regions(Ⅰ-Ⅳ)using principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis.The driving factors of soil erosion were identified using the geographical detector model.The results showed thatⅰ)the high cultivation rate was a prominent factor of soil erosion,and the sloping farmland accounted for 78.4%of the soil erosion in the study area;ⅱ)land use factors demonstrated the highest explanatory power in soil erosion,and the average interaction of land use factors explained 60.1%of soil erosion in the study area;ⅲ)the interaction between natural factors,socioeconomic factors,and land use factors greatly contributes to regional soil erosion through nonlinear-enhancement of double-factor enhancement.This study highlights the importance of giving special attention to the effects of land use factors on soil erosion at the county scale,particularly in mountainous and hilly areas with extensive sloping farmland and a high cultivation rate.

Conserved regions of Plasmodium vivax potential vaccine candidate antigens in Sri Lanka:Conscious in silico analysis of prospective conformational epitope regions

Objective:To do mapping and modeling of conformational B cell epitope regions of highly conserved and protective regions of three merozoitecandidate vaccine proteins of Plasmodium vivax(P.vivax),ie.merozoite purface protein-1(PvMSP-1),apical membrane antigen-1 domainⅡ(PvAMA1-DⅡ)and regionⅡof the Duffy binding protein(PvDBPⅡ).and to analyze the immunogenie properties of these predicted epitopes.Methods:3-D structures of amino acid haplotypes from Sri Lanka(available in GeneBank)of PvMSP-1_(19)(n=27),PvAMA1-DⅡ(n=21)and PvDBPⅡ(n=33)were modeled.SEPPA,selected as the best online server was used for conformational epitope predictions,while prediction and moodeling of protein structuve and properties related to immunogenicity was carried out with Geno3D server.SCRATCH Protein Server,NetSurfP Server and standaloneroftware,Genious 5.4.4.Results:SEPPA revealed that regions of predicted conformational epitopes formed 4 clusters in PvMSP-I_(19),and 3 clusters each in PvAMA1-DⅡand PvDBPⅡ,all of which displayed a high degree of hydrophilicity,contained solveut exposed residues,displayed high probability of antigenicity and showed positive antigenic propensity values,that indicated high degree of immunogenicity.Conclusions:Findings of this study revealed and confirmed that different parts of the sequences of each of the conserved regions of the three selected potential vaccine candidate antigens of P.vivax are important with regard to conformational epitope prediction that warrants further laboratory experimental invertigations in in vivo animal models.

Regional differences of water conservation in Beijing’s forest ecosystem

The water conservation capacities of main forests in Beijing,China were estimated through the quantitative analysis.Various methods developed in published papers on forest hydrology were employed.The forests in Huairou,Yanqing,Miyun,Mentougou and Fangshan districts are the main contributors to water conservation（the cumulative ratio reaches 65%）,and the forests in Tongzhou,Chaoyang,Shunyi and Daxing districts have the highest water conservation capacity（3000 m3/ha）.Altitude and slope are the key factors to affect the water conservation capacity.The forests located in Plain Area,Hilly Area,Low Mountain,and Middle Mountain contributes 27%,28%,24% and 21% of the conserved water,respectively.The water conservation capacity of forests in Plain Area（2 948 m3/ha）,is superior to the forests in other regions.And the forests situated on Flat Slope,Moderate Slope and Gentle Slope constitute the largest proportion（nearly 93%） of water conservation,while the forests on Flat Slope has the highest water conservation capacity（2 797 m3/ha）,and the forest on Steep slope has the lowest water conservation capacity（948 m3/ha）.

Regions and Their Typical Paradigms for Soil and Water Conservation in China

China is experiencing conflicts between its large population and scarce arable land,and between a demand for high productivity and the severe soil erosion of arable land.Since 1949,China has committed to soil and water conservation(SWC),for which eight regions and 41 subregions have been developed to improve the environment and increase land productivity.To obtain information from the regional planning and strategies for SWC and to explore whether SWC practices simultaneously contribute to soil conservation,ecosystem functioning,and the livelihoods of local farmers,and to summarize the successful experiences of various SWC paradigms with distinct characteristics and mechanisms of soil erosion,this paper systematically presents seven SWC regions(excluding the Tibetan Plateau region)and 14 typical SWC paradigms,focusing on erosion mechanisms and the key challenges or issues in the seven regions as well as on the core problems,main objectives,key technologies,and the performance of the 14 typical paradigms.In summary,the 14 typical SWC paradigms successfully prevent and control local soil erosion,and have largely enhanced,or at least do not harm,the livelihoods of local farmers.However,there remain many challenges and issues on SWC and socioeconomic development that need to be addressed in the seven SWC regions.China,thus,still has a long way to go in successfully gaining the win-win objective of SWC and human aspects of development.

Spatial Correlation and Ecological Characteristics Analysis of Man-agement Area for Biodiversity Conservation and Relevant Regionalization

Formulation of different ecological zone plans according to the corresponding protection targets and the necessity of proper conservation policy is one of the measures to achieve the goal of ecological conservation in China.In order to clarify the interrelation among key ecological zone plans,this paper carried out the research on spatial relation of priority areas of biodiversity conservation and three key ecological areas(key ecological function areas,key regions of ecological service function,national nature reserves)and the research on ecological conditions,based on multi-scale ecological spatial theme information,which incorporates elements like ecological quality and type,and by the aid of spatial information analysis and GIS modeling.The results showed a contrastively fine spatial consistency with 68.8%of priority areas of biodiversity conservation overlapping with three key ecological areas.Although the environment in priority areas of biodiversity conservation were in good conditions,protection pressure is also increasing,powerful supervision and protection should not be ignored.The environmental conditions in the overlapping areas,as a whole,were superior to those in the non-overlapping areas.Since two areas have different characteristics,targeted protection measures should be formulated based on this difference,which will be very important for biodiversity conservation in priority areas of biodiversity conservation.

Research on Water Resources Conservation of Mountain River Based on the Concept of Region Partition

Presently concepts and methods related to water resources conservation of mountain rivers are seriously insufficient,and its level is far from being adaptable to the development of a harmonious society.As mountain ecosystems play a key role in water resources conservation of mountain rivers,and the characteristics of mountain ecosystems and hydrologic features of mountain river follow strong temporal and spatial distribution,partition theory can be applied to the water resources conservation of mountain river.This theory observes the following partition principles:regional relativity,spatial continuity,integralcounty,meeting management needs,hierarchical principle,and comparability principle.And it lays equal emphasis on both water resources conservation and environmental protection,on both water quality conservation and water quantity protection,on the combination of water features,water cycle and water pollution.In the partition methods,index method and map superposition method will be applied in region partition.The example of region partition of water resources conservation in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River shows that the partition theory is practicable in water resources conservation of mountain rivers,and it provides a platform for future study in water resources conservation.

Relationship Between Soil and Water Conservation Practices and Soil Conditions in Low Mountain and Hilly Region of Northeast China

The soil and water conservation practices of ecological restoration(ER),fish scale pit(FP),furrow and ridge tillage across the slope(FR),shrub strips(SS),and vegetation-covered ridge(VR)are characteristic of the Jixing small watershed of the low mountain and hilly region of Jilin Province,Northeast China.This study aims to elucidate the effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil conditions after the short-term implementation of practices.Soil samples were collected from five soil and water conservation sites(ER,FP,FR,SS,and VR)and two controls(BL and CT)to investigate their properties.To evaluate the influence of soil and water conservation practices on soil quality,an integrated quantitative index,soil quality index(QI),was developed to compare the soil quality under the different soil and water conservation practices.The results show that not all soil and water conservation practices can improve the soil conditions and not all soil properties,especially soil organic carbon(SOC),can be recovered under soil and water conservation practice in short-term.Moreover,the QI in the five soil and water conservation practices and two controls was in the following order:ER>VR>BL>FR>CT>SS>FP.ER exhibited a higher soil quality value on a slope scale.In the low mountain and hilly region of Northeast China,ER is a better choice than the conversion of farmlands to planted grasslands and woodlands early in the soil and water conservation program.

Farmer's Adaptive Strategies on Land Competition between Societal Outcomes and Agroecosystem Conservation in the Purple-soiled Hilly Region,Southwestern China

The worldwide extension and intensification of farming during the last century has led to ecosystem degradation and caused a series of environmental problems.Conservation of ecosystem services in agricultural regions has been implemented by top-down government actions or initiated by resilience scientists in the developed countries,but little attention was paid in the developing countries,especially in some remote mountainous regions.The present paper presents a case study showing how local farmers obtained both maximal societal outcomes and agroecosystem conservation interests in the absence of distinct boundaries between agricultural and protected ecological areas in the densely populated purple-soiled hilly region of southwestern China.The local community(Yanting County) has developed a mosaic agricultural-forestry-fishery-stock breeding system with spatially targeted land uses,diverse agricultural productions and multiple ecological partnerships.It indicates that the local farmers have hereditarily perceived sound strategies on maximizing sustainable societal outcomes and optimizing tradeoffs among macro-market,state policy,new technological facility and ecological reinforcement.

Impact of regional human capital and urban sprawl on forest——based on a forest conservation model

Metropolitan cities in China have become a major economic hubs with an unprecedented increase of land use and decline of environmental resources. Based on a simple and abstract forest conservation model, this paper attempts to explain changes of forest resources caused by urban sprawl. Through the research, it is found that high level of regional human capital is beneficial to curb urban sprawl. In this vein the model presents the urban forest conservation cost strategy at the Nash equilibrium of varied discount factor and parameter control.

典型黑土区不同保护性耕作方式对玉米生长发育及产量形成的影响

实施保护性耕作对保护东北黑土和保障国家粮食安全具有重要意义。为明确东北典型黑土区保护性耕作对玉米产量的影响及其关键因素,开展了连续3年大田定位试验,设常规垄作秸秆不还田(CK)、免耕秸秆全量粉碎覆盖(T1)、免耕留高茬全量秸秆覆盖(T2)、少耕秸秆全量条带覆盖(T3)共4个处理,分析了不同处理对土壤理化特性及玉米生长发育、产量及其构成因素的影响。结果表明,与CK相比,保护性耕作处理(T1、T2和T3)0~20 cm耕层土壤有机质含量呈增加趋势;保护性耕作显著提高了播种至出苗期耕层土壤含水量,T1、T2和T3处理分别提高7.8%~30.4%、9.0%~18.7%和17.3%~20.0%,但显著降低土壤温度,分别降低2.56~3.11℃、2.02~2.27℃、0.94~1.93℃;分别延迟玉米出苗时间5~7 d、4~6 d和2 d;T3处理3年平均出苗率较CK增加3.2%,T1和T2处理出苗率分别降低4.3%和4.7%;T1、T2和T3处理均降低了苗期株高整齐度和植株干物质积累,但T3处理降低幅度明显小于T1和T2处理,6叶期之后干物质积累降低幅度逐渐减小;T1和T2处理显著降低玉米产量,降幅分别为7.5%~15.6%和5.5%~12.9%,T3处理产量与CK差异不显著。结构方程模型(SEM)揭示,保护性耕作通过调节土壤含水量和温度,间接影响玉米出苗时间、出苗率、穗数和百粒重,进而影响产量,也可通过直接影响出苗质量和产量构成因素进而影响产量。在东北典型黑土区,少耕秸秆全量条带覆盖(T3)不仅有利于提高土壤有机质含量,而且还有利于平衡土壤水分和温度矛盾,缩短出苗时间、提高出苗质量、高产稳产,是该区域适宜的保护性耕作方式。

玉米秸秆堆腐还田对黑土区土壤性状的影响

本研究针对东北地区秋冬季节气候寒冷特点和秸秆堆腐还田的实际操作需求,开展秸秆堆腐还田试验。在秋季玉米收获之后进行田间堆腐试验,期间连续监测环境温度、降水、秸秆堆温度、秸秆失重率等指标。离田玉米秸秆经过腐熟后作为肥料还田,连续施用3年,检测土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、土壤孔隙度、土壤容重等指标。在基本农田和棚室保护地进行为期2年的应用试验。结果表明:120 d秸秆失重率达到31.53%。施用腐熟秸秆3年,土壤有机质提高了4.06~6.31 g/kg、土壤中碱解氮提高了15.08~27.35 mg/kg、速效磷提高了18.11~21.95 mg/kg、速效钾提高63.97~89.93 mg/kg;土壤容重降低了0.10~0.14 g/cm^(3)、土壤田间持水量提高了7.51%~9.24%(V/V)、土壤孔隙度提高了3.69%~5.27%(V/V),且差异显著(P≤0.05)。基本农田和棚室保护地应用试验中,速效养分与有机质有所增长,土壤容重与田间持水量变化显著。逐年施用腐熟秸秆对于提高土壤有机质含量、速效养分具有显著作用。同时,施用腐熟秸秆能够降低土壤容重,提高土壤孔隙度与田间持水量,改善土壤板结问题。腐熟秸秆在改良与保育黑土性质方面具有良好的作用。

南方崩岗调查内容与方法探讨

崩岗是我国南方水土流失的一种特殊类型,广泛分布于南方红壤区,是该区域严重的生态问题之一。第一次崩岗调查距今已近20年,相关情况已发生巨大变化。崩岗现状不清直接影响了行政管理部门对崩岗防治相关工作的规划和决策,因此急需开展新一轮崩岗调查。新时代水土保持高质量发展为崩岗调查提供了机遇,差别化分类防治和分步实施对崩岗调查提出了更高要求,现代信息技术为崩岗调查提供了新方法,以服务崩岗风险评估和防治规划为导向,在充分利用第一次崩岗调查成果基础上,补充崩岗发育的小山体调查,将典型调查改为全面普查,系统探讨崩岗调查对象与范围、调查内容、调查程序与方法,以期为行政管理部门和技术单位启动新一轮崩岗调查工作提供参考。

基于GPR探测的长江源地区冰川与冻土厚度研究

长江源地区的冰川变化揭示了青藏高原气候变化趋势。冰下地形探测作为冰川发育和运动过程研究的基础,对长江地区水土保持和淡水资源储量研究具有指导意义。长江科学院在长达10 a的江源科考基础上,分别于2022年、2023年采用探地雷达(GPR)技术对长江正源沱沱河发源地格拉丹东主峰的冰川厚度进行精准探测,并对查旦湿地冻土厚度上限进行了探测研究。结合多种冰川和冻土地质模型的GPR波场模拟结果,提高了GPR技术在长江源地区冰川和冻土探测的有效性和精准度。探测结果表明,格拉丹东主峰冰川厚度和查旦湿地冻土厚度上限均有不同程度降低,冰川厚度和冻土厚度上限观测是一个常年积累的结果,后续仍需持续进行观测,积累更多数据,分析变化趋势,以估算探测区域内冰储量,研究气候变化对冰川的影响效果。

河洛地区水利碑刻与水灾应对研究

河洛地区自古以来水灾频发,水灾状况及其社会应对措施不仅见载于正史、方志等史料,也散存于该地区的水利碑刻。河洛地区水利碑刻有纪事碑、诉讼碑、水规碑、信仰碑等类型,碑刻上多见对当地水灾情况的描述,其应对措施有修堤防洪、开渠引流、赈济灾民等。面对河洛地区的水灾,民间修建庙宇,祭拜龙王、大禹、黄大王等水神。水利碑刻作为地方文化景观,不仅真实记录了当地水利事件,也蕴含对当时历史的认识评价与集体记忆。

岷江干旱河谷土石混合边坡不同种植处理下乡土植被的生态效益

岷江干旱河谷生态环境脆弱,植被恢复困难,大规模的公路建设极易对当地生态环境造成破坏。筛选适宜的植被恢复措施对干旱地区道路边坡的乡土植被恢复重建和生态功能提升尤为重要。以岷江干旱河谷极端退化的土石混合的道路边坡为案例,选取乡土灌木和草本植物构建植物群落,进行裸地播种、播种后覆盖纤维毯和添加腐殖土后播种并地表覆盖纤维毯3种不同的种植处理,揭示了不同处理下群落结构、土壤改良以及水土保持效益的差异。发现,乡土灌草群落是干旱河谷适宜的道路边坡植被恢复模式,种植后第3年群落特征趋近于岷江干旱河谷区自然生态系统的多年生灌草植被。纤维毯覆盖+覆土处理在促进植物生长和群落构建,水土流失防治上效果最好,群落总盖度为74%,群落总生物量为506.35 g/m^(2);生长季内,与自然恢复相比小区径流量减少了87.8%,泥沙流失量降低了92.1%。土壤改良效应在3种处理之间差异不明显,但是与自然恢复样地相比,各处理均提升了边坡0-20 cm土层土壤养分。不同种植处理下植物群落结构差异是影响干旱河谷土石混合的道路边坡水土流失的关键因子。

供水工程影响下中国北方地区耕地后备资源开发潜力

灌溉水源是北方地区耕地后备资源能否有效开发的关键。当前,中国正在推动国家水网工程规划建设,为北方地区耕地后备资源开发提供了新的机遇。在以往研究基础上,该研究考虑北方地区已建、在建及规划的供水工程,基于自然适宜、利用高效、发展稳定三方面评价准则,结合三维魔方空间分类方法,开展了雨养情景和供水灌溉情景下耕地后备资源开发潜力分析。结果表明:雨养农业情景下,北方地区勉强适宜(Ⅱ级)、中度(Ⅲ级)和高度(Ⅳ级)适宜的耕地后备资源面积分别为2.9万、1.0万和0.6万km^(2)。灌溉农业情景下,耕地后备资源面积明显增加,勉强适宜(Ⅱ级)、中度(Ⅲ级)和高度(Ⅳ级)适宜的耕地后备资源面积将分别达到5.4万、7.6万和6.5万km^(2),主要集中于新疆、内蒙古和甘肃3省(自治区)。该研究结果可为中国耕地后备资源开发利用及国家水网工程效益发挥提供参考。