Study on heat exchange of groundwater under complex geological conditions in karst area of south China

This paper takes a groundwater source heat pump in the region as the research object and based on field research, experimental tests combined with comparative analysis, the data on its operation is monitored and analyzed in terms of operation, energy saving, and environment. The results show that the cooling temperatures of the test rooms were all below 26°C, the average coefficient of performance of the units was 4.61–4.93 and the average coefficient of performance of the system was 3.08–3.27. In addition, compared to conventional water-cooled chillers, 466 tons of standard coal could be saved in one cooling season, resulting in a reduction of 1,150.8 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, 9.3 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions and 4.7 tons of dust emissions The savings in operating costs are 793,000 RMB. This shows that the groundwater source heat pump has good energy efficiency and economy. The research results obtained in this paper provide a reference for improving energy efficiency and optimizing the operation of the groundwater source heat pump system. It is of great significance to the application of groundwater source heat pump systems in areas with complex geological environments

Characterization of a multidrug-resistant porcine Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type 11 strain coharboring blaKPC-2 and fosA3 on two novel hybrid plasmids

The occurrence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) poses a considerable risk for public health. The gene for Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-2 (KPC-2) has been reported in many countries worldwide, and KPC-2-producing strains are mainly of human origin. In this study, we identified two novel hybrid plasmids that carry either blaKPC-2 or the fosfomycin resistance gene fosA3 in the multiresistant K. pneumoniae isolate K15 of swine origin in China. The blaKPC-2-bearing plasmid pK15-KPC was a fusion derivative of an IncF33:A−:B− incompatibility group (Inc) plasmid and chromosomal sequences of K. pneumoniae (CSKP). A 5-bp direct target sequence duplication (GACTA) was identified at the boundaries of the CSKP, suggesting that the integration might have been due to a transposition event. The blaKPC-2 gene on pK15-KPC was in a derivative of ΔTn6296-1. The multireplicon fosA3-carrying IncN-IncR plasmid pK15-FOS also showed a mosaic structure, possibly originating from a recombination between an epidemic fosA3-carrying pHN7A8-like plasmid and a pKPC-LK30-like IncR plasmid. Stability tests demonstrated that both novel hybrid plasmids were stably maintained in the original host without antibiotic selection but were lost from the transformants after approximately 200 generations. This is apparently the first description of a porcine sequence type 11 (ST11) K. pneumoniae isolate coproducing KPC-2 and FosA3 via pK15-KPC and pK15-FOS, respectively. The multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype of this high-risk K. pneumoniae isolate may contribute to its spread and its persistence

Distribution of the Multidrug Resistance Gene cfr in Staphylococcus Species Isolates from Swine Farms in China

A total of 149 porcine Staphylococcus isolates with florfenicol MICs of ≥16 μg/ml were screened for the presence of the multiresistance gene cfr, its location on plasmids, and its genetic environment. In total, 125 isolates carried either cfr (16 isolates), fexA (92 isolates), or both genes (17 isolates). The 33 cfr-carrying staphylococci, which included isolates of the species Staphylococcus cohnii, S. arlettae, and S. saprophyticus in which the cfr gene has not been described before, exhibited a wide variety of SmaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. In 18 cases, the cfr gene was located on plasmids. Four different types of cfr-carrying plasmids—pSS-01 (n = 2; 40 kb), pSS-02 (n = 3; 35.4 kb), pSS-03 (n = 10; 7.1 kb), and pBS-01 (n = 3; 16.4 kb)—were differentiated on the basis of their sizes, restriction patterns, and additional resistance genes. Sequence analysis revealed that in plasmid pSS-01, the cfr gene was flanked in the upstream part by a complete aacA-aphD-carrying Tn4001-like transposon and in the downstream part by a complete fexA-carrying transposon Tn558. In plasmid pSS-02, an insertion sequence IS21-558 and the cfr gene were integrated into transposon Tn558 and thereby truncated the tnpA and tnpB genes. The smallest cfr-carrying plasmid pSS-03 carried the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance gene erm(C). Plasmid pBS-01, previously described in Bacillus spp., harbored a Tn917-like transposon, including the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance gene erm(B) in the cfr downstream region. Plasmids, which in part carry additional resistance genes, seem to play an important role in the dissemination of the gene cfr among porcine staphylococci

A CRISPR/Cas12a-assisted rapid detection platform by biosensing the apxIVA of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is an important respiratory pig pathogen that causes substantial losses in the worldwide swine industry. Chronic or subclinical infection with no apparent clinical symptoms poses a challenge for preventing transmission between herds. Rapid diagnostics is important for the control of epidemic diseases. In this study, we formulated an A. pleuropneumoniae species-specific apxIVA-based CRISPR/Cas12a-assisted rapid detection platform (Card) that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) of target DNA and subsequent Cas12a ssDNase activation. Card has a detection limit of 10 CFUs of A. pleuropneumoniae, and there is no cross-reactivity with other common swine pathogens. The detection process can be completed in 1 h, and there was 100% agreement between the conventional apxIVA-based PCR and Card in detecting A. pleuropneumoniae in lung samples. Microplate fluorescence readout enables high-throughput use in diagnostic laboratories, and naked eye and lateral flow test readouts enable use at the point of care. We conclude that Card is a versatile, rapid, accurate molecular diagnostic platform suitable for use in both laboratory and low-resource settings

Bactericidal synergism between phage endolysin Ply2660 and cathelicidin LL-37 against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis biofilms

Antibiotic resistance and the ability to form biofilms of Enterococcus faecalis have compromised the choice of therapeutic options, which triggered the search for new therapeutic strategies, such as the use of phage endolysins and antimicrobial peptides. However, few studies have addressed the synergistic relationship between these two promising options. Here, we investigated the combination of the phage endolysin Ply2660 and the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 to target drug-resistant biofilm-producing E. faecalis. In vitro bactericidal assays were used to demonstrate the efficacy of the Ply2660–LL-37 combination against E. faecalis. Larger reductions in viable cell counts were observed when Ply2660 and LL-37 were applied together than after individual treatment with either substance. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the Ply2660–LL-37 combination could lead to severe cell lysis of E. faecalis. The mode of action of the Ply2660–LL-37 combination against E. faecalis was that Ply2660 degrades cell wall peptidoglycan, and subsequently, LL-37 destroys the cytoplasmic membrane. Furthermore, Ply2660 and LL-37 act synergistically to inhibit the biofilm formation of E. faecalis. The Ply2660–LL-37 combination also showed a synergistic effect for the treatment of established biofilm, as biofilm killing with this combination was superior to each substance alone. In a murine peritoneal septicemia model, the Ply2660–LL-37 combination distinctly suppressed the dissemination of E. faecalis isolates and attenuated organ injury, being more effective than each treatment alone. Altogether, our findings indicate that the combination of a phage endolysin and an antimicrobial peptide may be a potential antimicrobial strategy for combating E. faecalis

First Report of the Multidrug Resistance Gene cfr in Enterococcus faecalis of Animal Origin

The multiresistance gene cfr was identified for the first time in an Enterococcus faecalis isolate of animal origin. The 32,388-bp plasmid pEF-01, which carried the cfr gene, was sequenced completely. Three copies of the insertion sequence IS1216 were identified in pEF-01, and the detection of a cfr- and IS1216-containing amplicon by inverse PCR suggests that IS1216 may play a role in the dissemination of cfr by a recombination process

NRAMP1, VDR, HLA-DRB1, and HLA-DQB1 Gene Polymorphisms in Susceptibility to Tuberculosis among the Chinese Kazakh Population: A Case-Control Study

Background. To explore the potential role of natural-resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) gene, vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene, (human leukocyte antigen, (HLA-DRB1) HLA) -DRB1 gene, and HLA-DQB1 gene polymorphisms in susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) in the Chinese Kazakh population. Methods. A case-control study was performed on the Chinese Kazak population. Genetic polymorphisms of NRAMP1 gene (3 UTR) and VDR gene (TaqI and FokI) were analysed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing analysis in TB patients and healthy controls. Genetic polymorphisms of HLA-DRB1 gene and HLA-DQB1 gene in the two groups were detected with polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSPs) technique and sequencing analysis. Results. There was statistically significant difference in the 3 UTR polymorphism between the TB patients and healthy controls in the Chinese Kazak population ( = 0.002; OR = 1.859; 95% CI = 1.182-2.926). Significant difference was observed in the FokI polymorphism between the TB patients and healthy controls ( = 0.001; OR = 1.530; 95% CI = 1.007-2.325). It does not disclose any significant association between the disease and TaqI ( > 0.05). Alleles HLA-DRB1 * 04 and HLA-DQB1 * 0201 occurred more frequently in patients than in controls ( = 0.011 and 0.002; OR = 1.889 and 1.802; 95% CI = 1.153-3.095 and 1.230-2.639, resp.). Conclusions. Polymorphisms in the NRAMP1 gene, VDR gene, HLA-DRB1 gene, and HLA-DQB1 gene are statistically associated with susceptibility to TB in the Chinese Kazakh population

An Outlook on Agricultural Modernization Path with Chinese Characteristics from Scale Agricultural Operation

First of all, this paper discusses the scale agricultural operation of China from the aspects of practical exploration and rational thinking. Later, it puts forward the concept of further promoting scale agricultural operation according to the present conditions of China, which includes encouraging large household pattern and scale breeding, developing various forms of socialized agricultural services, promoting agriculture industrialization, accelerating regional distribution of advantageous agricultural products and promoting the progress in agricultural science and technology comprehensively

The Recommendations for the Development of China's LCA Based on the International Successful Experience

Although agriculture is a source of greenhouse gas emissions, it also has carbon sequestration function. In the context of global warming and depletion of energy resources, the Western developed countries have explored the development model of low-carbon agriculture from many aspects such as developing strategies, promoting carbon trading and innovating upon production techniques. Based on the successful international experience, this paper analyzes the actual situation of China's agricultural carbon emissions, and sets forth the recommendations for the development of China's low-carbon agriculture

On Construction of Supply Chain System for China’s Modern Agricultural Products

In view of drawbacks in supply chain of China’s traditional agricultural products, this paper proposed building supply chain system for modern agricultural products: taking informationization as basis, channel system as core, organization system as support, and service system and safety system as guarantee, to promote high efficient operation of the supply chain system. The channel system stresses alliance and integration of channel system, informationization of channel management, and terminalization of channel operation; the organization system stresses organization, large scale, group, and brand of participant entities; service system stresses construction of service means, service platform, and operation mechanism; safety system stresses building quality safety based agricultural product supply chain management mode. In order to ensure high efficient operation of supply chain for modern agricultural products, it is required to straighten out supply chain management system, actively cultivate core enterprises of supply chain, strengthen information construction of supply chain, select suitable supply chain mode, and improve benefit allocation mechanism