Geographical Clustering Analysis of Birth Defects in Guangxi

Birth defects (BD) is a big public health issue in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. The overall prevalence of BD in Guangxi is about 1% and higher than most other provinces of China. However, the geographical clustering variations in BD of Guangxi has not been described. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore and detect the spatial clustering patterns of BD prevalence across a well-defined geographic space. The data were obtained from Guangxi birth defects monitoring network (GXBDMN) from 2016 to 2020, which collected socio-demographic and clinical information from perinatal infants between 28 weeks of gestation and 7 days postnatal. The spatial autocorrelation analysis and hot spot analysis will be used to explore the geographical clustering of BD prevalence in 70 counties and 41 districts of Guangxi in this study. A total of 44,418 perinatal infants were born with BD from 2016 to 2020. The overall prevalence of BD was 122.47/10,000 [95% confidence interval (CI): 121.34-123.60/10,000]. The local indicators of spatial association (LISA) statistic and Gi* statistic showed that the spatial clustering patterns of BD prevalence changed over time, and the largest High-High clustering area and hot spot area were both identified in the city of Nanning. Therefore, the spatial clustering patterns of BD prevalence in Guangxi is very significant. Spatial cluster analysis can provide reliable and accurate spatial distribution patterns in BD control and prevention.

Mobile Type VI secretion system loci of the gut Bacteroidales display extensive intra-ecosystem transfer, multi-species spread and geographical clustering

The human gut microbiota is a dense microbial ecosystem with extensive opportunities for bacterial contact-dependent processes such as conjugation and Type VI secretion system (T6SS)-dependent antagonism. In the gut Bacteroidales, two distinct genetic architectures of T6SS loci, GA1 and GA2, are contained on Integrative and Conjugative Elements (ICE). Despite intense interest in the T6SSs of the gut Bacteroidales, there is only a superficial understanding of their evolutionary patterns, and of their dissemination among Bacteroidales species in human gut communities. Here, we combine extensive genomic and metagenomic analyses to better understand their ecological and evolutionary dynamics. We identify new genetic subtypes, document extensive intrapersonal transfer of these ICE to Bacteroidales species within human gut microbiomes, and most importantly, reveal frequent population fixation of these newly armed strains in multiple species within a person. We further show the distribution of each of the distinct T6SSs in human populations and show there is geographical clustering. We reveal that the GA1 T6SS ICE integrates at a minimal recombination site leading to their integration throughout genomes and their frequent interruption of genes, whereas the GA2 T6SS ICE integrate at one of three different tRNA genes. The exclusion of concurrent GA1 and GA2 T6SSs in individual strains is associated with intact T6SS loci and with an ICE-encoded gene. By performing a comprehensive analysis of mobile genetic elements (MGE) in co-resident Bacteroidales species in numerous human gut communities, we identify 74 MGE that transferred to multiple Bacteroidales species within individual gut microbiomes. We further show that only three other MGE demonstrate multi-species spread in several human gut microbiomes to the degree demonstrated by the GA1 and GA2 ICE. These data underscore the ubiquity and dissemination of mobile T6SS loci within Bacteroidales communities and across human populations.

Mobile Type VI secretion system loci of the gut Bacteroidales display extensive intra-ecosystem transfer, multi-species sweeps and geographical clustering

The human gut microbiota is a dense microbial ecosystem with extensive opportunities for bacterial contact-dependent processes such as conjugation and type VI secretion system (T6SS)-dependent antagonism. In the gut Bacteroidales, two distinct genetic architectures of T6SS loci, GA1 and GA2, are contained on integrative and conjugative elements (ICE). Despite intense interest in the T6SSs of the gut Bacteroidales, there is only a superficial understanding of their evolutionary patterns, and of their dissemination among Bacteroidales species in human gut communities. Here, we combine extensive genomic and metagenomic analyses to better understand their ecological and evolutionary dynamics. We identify new genetic subtypes, document extensive intrapersonal transfer of these ICE to Bacteroidales species within human gut microbiomes, and most importantly, reveal frequent population sweeps of these newly armed strains in multiple species within a person. We further show the distribution of each of the distinct T6SSs in human populations and show there is geographical clustering. We reveal that the GA1 T6SS ICE integrates at a minimal recombination site leading to their integration throughout genomes and their frequent interruption of genes, whereas the GA2 T6SS ICE integrate at one of three different tRNA genes. The exclusion of concurrent GA1 and GA2 T6SSs in individual strains is associated with intact T6SS loci and with an ICE-encoded gene. By performing a comprehensive analysis of mobile genetic elements (MGE) in co-resident Bacteroidales species in numerous human gut communities, we identify 177 MGE that sweep through multiple Bacteroidales species within individual gut microbiomes. We further show that only eight MGE demonstrate multi-species population sweeps in as many human gut microbiomes as the GA1 and GA2 ICE. These data underscore the ubiquity and rapid dissemination of mobile T6SS loci within Bacteroidales communities and across human populations.

Measuring of China’s Provincial Carbon Abatement Cost and its Spatial Distribution Pattern

Based on the panel data in Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2017, this paper first uses the parameterized quadratic function of the directional distance function to estimate carbon abatement costs of 30 provinces in China, and further studies its long-term evolutionary characteristics. Second, this paper studies the spatial distribution pattern of carbon abatement cost. The results show that the carbon abatement cost has increased as a whole during the study period. Moreover, the spatial distribution of carbon abatement costs in China shows a geographical clustering feature, and the positive spatial agglomeration is significant after 2008.

The effectiveness of population-wide, rapid antigen test based screening in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence in Slovakia

Non-pharmaceutical interventions have been extensively used worldwide to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, but they also place an enormous social and economic burden on populations. We report the results of recent mass testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Slovakia where rapid antigen tests were used to screen the whole population and to isolate infectious cases together with their household members. Prevalence of detected infections decreased by 58% (95% CI: 57-58%) within one week in the 45 counties that were subject to two rounds of mass testing. Adjusting for geographical clustering and differences in attendance rates and the epidemiological situation at the time of the first round, this changed to 61% (95% CI: 50-70%). Adjusting for an estimated growth rate in infections of 4.4% (1.1-6.9%) per day in the week preceding the mass testing campaign and the corresponding expected growth in infection prevalence, the estimated decrease in prevalence compared to a scenario of unmitigated growth was 70% (67-73%). Using a microsimulation model we find that this decrease can not be explained solely by infection control measures that were introduced in the weeks preceding the intervention, but requires the additional impact of isolation as well as quarantine of household members of those testing positive during the mass testing campaign.

Spinoffs or startups? The effects of spatial agglomeration

Despite the fact that spinoffs and geographical clustering are highly intertwined phenomena, to date no study analyzes how spatial agglomerations forces might affect the emergence of spinoffs relative to other startups. Using a sample of 3456 Italian manufacturing new ventures founded in the period 2005–2007, we investigate the effects of different forms of agglomeration forces on the likelihood of a new venture emerging as a spinoff rather than a startup. Our results show that industry-specific localization economies (captured by industrial district dummy and the number of incumbents at local level) tend to increase the chances of a new venture to emerge as a spinoff. Moreover, local-related variety has a positive and significant effect on the likelihood of a new venture to emerge as a spinoff, especially for those spinoffs from successful parents.

Dilation of subglacial sediment governs incipient surge motion in glaciers with deformable beds

Glacier surges are quasi-periodic episodes of rapid ice flow that arise from increases in slip rate at the ice–bed interface. The mechanisms that trigger and sustain surges are not well understood. Here, we develop a new model of incipient surge motion for glaciers underlain by sediments to explore how surges may arise from slip instabilities within a thin layer of saturated, deforming subglacial till. Our model represents the evolution of internal friction, porosity and pore water pressure within the till as functions of the rate and history of shear deformation, and couples the till mechanics to a simple ice-flow model. Changes in pore water pressure govern incipient surge motion, with less permeable till facilitating surging because dilation-driven reductions in pore water pressure slow the rate at which till tends towards a new steady state, thereby allowing time for the glacier to thin dynamically. The reduction of overburden (and thus effective) pressure at the bed caused by dynamic thinning of the glacier sustains surge acceleration in our model. The need for changes in both the hydromechanical properties of the till and the thickness of the glacier creates restrictive conditions for surge motion that are consistent with the rarity of surge-type glaciers and their geographical clustering.