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Frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) is one of the commonly used assisted reproductive technology. Because FET has the advantages of high cumulative pregnancy rate and low incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, the number of offspring born through this technology is increasing year by year. Many studies have shown that the risks of preterm delivery, low birth weight and small for gestation age of FET offspring are lower than those of the offspring born in the fresh embryo transfer cycle. There is also evidence that the risks of macrosomia and large for gestational age of FET offspring are higher. At the same time, there are also reports on the long-term health status of FET offspring in childhood and adulthood. This paper reviews the short-term and long-term effects of FET on offspring and the causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As key regulatory genes in the signal pathway responsive to heat stress, plant heat shock transcription factors (Hsfs) can enhance plant thermotolerances by triggering hsp or other relative genes to express. Plant Hsfs belong to multi-genes family, the members are different among varieties. Based on the phylogenetic tree of Hsf proteins from wheat (Triticum aestivum), rice (Oryza sativa) and Arabidopsis, we isolated the TaHsfA2e (GenBank accession number MG700614) from wheat young leaves treated with 37°C for 1.5 h using homologous cloning methods. Sequence analysis showed that the coding sequence (CDS) of TaHsfA2e is 1026 bp in length and encodes 341 amino acid residues. The TaHsfA2e protein was predicted to contain a DNA-binding domain (DBD), a nuclear localization signal (NLS) of KRRRP peptide, a nuclear export signal (NES) of LENLAMNI peptide and an aromatic, large hydrophobic and acidic amino residues (AHA) of CCFWEELLSE peptide, and localized in the nuclei under normal growth conditions. TaHsfA2e shared 96%, 94%, and 94% identities with HsfA6f and HsfA2d from wheat and HsfA2d from Aegilops tauschii, respectively. TaHsfA2e was lowly expressed in majority of tissues and organs but highly expressed in mature seeds of wheat, and the gene expression in leaf was up-regulated by heat shock at 37°C, with the peak value at 60 min after treatment, but down-regulated by salicylic acid or H2O2. TaHsfA2e could be induced by Gal in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and yeast overexpressing pYES2-TaHsfA2e showed stronger growth potential than the controls expressing pYES2 after heat shock at 50 °C for 45 min, though all of the yeast growth potential were also decreased after treatment. Both of basal and acquired thermotolerances of transgenic Arabidopsis plants that overexpressed TaHsfA2e were improved, and the expressions of Hsp genes were up-regulated to different degrees. These results are essential for deep understanding biological functions and regulatory mechanism of subclass A2 Hsf members in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parallel efficient global optimization (EGO) algorithm is applied to the 2-D/3-D shock control bump optimizations. The EGO algorithm is a global optimization method based on the Kriging model, which is especially designed for expensive black box functions, such as high-fidelity aerodynamic shape optimizations. Three heuristic parallel strategies including "Kriging believer", "constant liar" and imputed point" strategies are investigated based on four benchmark optimization problems and two shock control bump optimization problems. In shock control bump optimization problems, the parallel EGO algorithm is nearly 16 times faster than the serial EGO algorithm. And our research also shows that Imputed point' strategy is the best strategy in these optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of the effects of biological soil crust (biocrust) in re-vegetated grasslands on soil physical and chemical properties, and by using EPIC estimation model in combining with simulated rainfall trials, this paper studied the effects of biocrust with different biomass and different soil texture on the soil erodibility (K value) in Hilly Loess Plateau Region of Northwest China in different seasons. The results showed biocrust could significantly decrease soil erodibility, with the K value of biocrust soil decreased by about 17%, compared with subsoil. The soil erodibility decreased with the increasing biomass of biocrust. The K value of moss crust soil decreased by 21%, compared with cyanobacteria crust soil. The erodibiliy of biocrust soil differed with different seasons, being significantly higher in rainy season than before or after the rainy season due to the differences in the biological activity of the biocrust organisms. The erodibilty of biocrust soil with different texture also varied significantly, with the K value in the order of sandy loam soil > silt soil > sandy soil. The measurement under simulated rainfall showed that the development of biocrust could decrease the erodibility of biocrust soil by about 90%, compared with that of the subsoil (5-10 cm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After decades of studies, the potentialities of traditional wing-body configuration are almost exhausted. So, it is difficult to improve the performance of the traditional aerodynamic shape of transonic civil aircraft by conventional design method. In this paper we develop ADJOINT method based on aerodynamics optimization software-ADJOPT, and the software is used to optimize the wing of a transonic civil aircraft with fuselage and nacelle, which is already optimized by traditional way. The optimization is multi-parameter, high precise and taking the influence of the fuselage and nacelle into account. The software performs well and gets obvious performance improvement. The research shows that multi-parameter optimization has the ability to exploit potentialities of a high-performance shape and increases the aerodynamic performance of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the rules of acupoint selection in the treatment of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) with acupuncture and moxibustion by using data mining technology., Methods: The clinical research literature on acupuncture treatment of MAFLD was collected from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Database and China Biology Medicine from their inception to November 20, 2022. According to our inclusion and exclusion criteria, the literature was independently screened and re-screened by two research members, and the screened results were checked, followed by establishing an acupoint prescription database using Excel 2019. Descriptive statistics of acupoints applied frequency, involved meridians, locations and specific acupoints were perpormed. Then, SPSS Modeler18.0 software was used to conduct analysis about association rules, and the SPSS Statistics 26.0 software was used to perform cluster analysis on high-frequency acupoints, exploring the characteristics and rules of acupoint selection and combination in the treatment of MAFLD., Results: Totally, 178 papers were collected, containing 130 acupoints, with a total application frequency of 1 305. The top five acupoints are Zusanli (ST36), Fenglong (ST40), Ganshu (BL18), Taichong (LR3) and Sanyinjiao (SP6). The commonly involved meridians are the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang, and Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin. The employed acupoints are mostly located in the lower limbs and abdomen, and the five Shu acupoints and crossing acupoints are in the majority. The association rule analysis of high frequency acupoints indicated that of the 16 qualified acupoint groups, the top 5 with close correlation degrees are ST36 and ST40, ST36 and LR3, ST36 and SP6, ST40 and LR3 and ST36, ST36 and SP6 and ST40. Further, 3 effective clusters were obtained by cluster analysis., Conclusions: Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of MAFLD follows the therapeutic principles of soothing the liver, invigorating the spleen, tonifying the kidney, and resolving phlegm and removing dampness. The core acupoint group is ST36, ST40 and LR3, and the combination of acupoints is based on syndrome differentiation. These results may provide a useful reference for clinical practice.

Objectives: During the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), vaccine is an important way to build and improve the immune barrier of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the population. The purpose of this study is to understand the current situation of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation among Chinese college students during the epidemic of COVID-19, and analyze the influencing factors., Methods: Using the convenient sampling method, we selected the college students from a comprehensive university in Hunan Province in May 2021 and designed KAP questionnaire about SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation for offline and online survey to analyze the current situation of college students' KAP of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation and the influenting factors., Results: The total score of KAP of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation of Chinese college students was 43.72±5.60. The total score of knowledge was 16.28 ±3.09, and the score of each item was 3.26±0.62. The correct rate of the 5 questions in knowledge was 80.34%, 93.18%, 94.64%, 99.60% and 39.18%, respectively. The total score of attitude was 13.56±2.39, and the score of each item was 3.39±0.60. The total score of behavior was 13.88±2.51, and the score of each item was 3.47±0.63. The total scores of better health status, girls, and medical majors were relatively higher; those of medical majors, older students, and girls had higher scores on vaccination knowledge; those with better health and younger age had higher scores on attitude; those of better health status and girls had higher behavior scores (all P <0.05)., Conclusions: College students' KAP about SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation is generally high, but the knowledge level is relatively low. We should strengthen the propaganda and education for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation related knowledge, and strengthen the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine inoculation attitude and behavior of college students. Special attention should be paid to the education of vaccination knowledge for non-medical majors, younger, and male students, the guidance of vaccination attitude for those with poor health and older age, and encouragement of vaccination behavior for those with poor health and boys.

Drinking water is an important cadmium (Cd) exposure pathway for residents in China. In order to quantitatively characterize the risk of cadmium exposure through drinking water, the Cd concentrations of three main drinking water types in China were collected via systematic literature review. The probability distribution of the exposure parameters was estimated using regression models. The non-carcinogenic risk of cadmium exposure to residents through drinking water was evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation. The results showed that significant differences were found among Cd contents in the three water types. The geometric mean of ρ (Cd) in tap water, untreated underground water, and surface water were (0.48±0.78), (1.07±1.82), and (1.04±1.38) μg·L -1 , respectively. The non-carcinogenic risk assessment showed that the median of hazard quotients in all age groups and in the three water types were found to be less than 1. Compared with the exposure dose threshold recommended by the US EPA, the probabilities exceeding the threshold of underground water, surface source water, and tap water were 2.4%, 1.3%, and 1.0%, respectively. Children aged 6-8 had the greatest daily average dose of Cd, and the least exposure dose was found in the 15-17 age group. The result of Monte Carlo simulation based on age-stratification weight showed that people 18-44 years old accounted for 50.8% of the total number of people who exceeded the exposure threshold. In summary, the probability of noncarcinogenic risk caused by Cd exposure through drinking water of Chinese residents was relatively low. However, people in some sub-groups still had a relatively high probability of exceeding the exposure dose threshold. It is necessary to further strengthen the control of cadmium pollution in drinking water in order to reduce the health risk caused by cadmium exposure and ensure drinking water safety.

We constructed standard tree-ring-width chronology of Picea likiangensis var. rubescens for the Larima sampling site in the Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, by the single-free detren-ding method. The results showed that there was significant and positive correlation between the tree-ring chronology and March-August 1-month scale standardized precipitation and evapotranspiration index (SPEI1) of Yajiang region. The variation of the March-August SPEI1 sequence for 1942-2008 was reconstructed based on the current and last year sequences of the tree-ring chronology, with an explained variation of 42.8%. The newly reconstructed series mainly represented the variation of SPEI1 in the low-frequency domain over the historical period. Three wet periods were found in 1442-1465, 1516-1601 and 1836-2008, while the two intervals were dry periods for the March-August SPEI1 reconstruction in the Yajiang region of West Sichuan Plateau. There was a significant drying trend in 1456-1762 for the reconstructed sequence, a significant wetting trend in 1455-1762, while the wetting trend was the most significant in 1959-2008. Mutation test showed that the sudden changes from dry to wet for the March-August SPEI1 reconstructions occurred in 1512, 1733, 1767, 1831, 1941, 1957 and 1975, while that in 1684 and 1961 was the opposite. The comparison with surrounding region showed a good coherence of variations in the low-frequency domain among the SPEI1 reconstruction for the Yajiang region, the annual precipitation reconstruction for the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, and the SPEI05 reconstruction for the northern slope of the eastern Qilian Mountains. The reconstructed sequence well represented the variation of the March-August SPEI1 in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and the southern Qinhai Province.

The total arsenic concentrations of the three main drinking water types in China were determined through a systematic literature review. The distribution models of drinking water exposure parameters for different age groups were obtained using the regression method. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of different population groups caused by arsenic exposure through different drinking water types were evaluated by a probabilistic risk assessment. The results showed that the geometric mean of total arsenic content in all the drinking water samples in China was (13.0±38.1) μg·L -1 . The highest arsenic content was found in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, followed by Guangxi and Shanxi. Based on the relevant standards for drinking water quality, the probability exceeding the threshold value of groundwater and source water is 23.2% and 18.4%, respectively. According to the results of non-carcinogenic risk assessment, the probability of the residents drinking well water and surface water from the water source area exceeding the daily average exposure dose threshold was 24.0% and 19.5%, respectively. According to the carcinogenic risk assessment, the median of carcinogenic risk caused by arsenic in drinking water in China was 3.22×10 -5 , which is acceptable. The population group of 18-45 years old had the highest risk, and the median LCR was 1.37×10 -5 . There was still a certain probability that the LCR of drinking well water and surface water would exceed the acceptable risk level recommended by the US EPA. In conclusion, the potential health risks caused by arsenic exposure through drinking water intake exist among Chinese residents. Further control of the arsenic concentration in drinking water is required to reduce the health risk and improve the safety of drinking water. Meanwhile, it is suggested to strengthen the research on risk threshold to provide a scientific basis for the residents' health protection.

Atmospheric particulate matter was collected during the heating period and the non-heating period of a typical steel industrial process in Northeast China to study the following:① the size-depended distribution and enrichment characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); ② the deposition concentrations of PAHs of different particle sizes in various organs of the human respiratory system; and 3 the risk from human respiratory exposure. The 14 priority PAHs in the samples were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and respiratory exposure assessment was conducted by combining the atmospheric particle size fractionation sampling technique with an internal deposition model. The results showed that the PAH concentrations during the heating periods (743.9 ng·m -3 ) were higher than those during the non-heating periods (169.0 ng·m -3 ). Most PAH contributions (86.3%-89.9%) were related to fine particles with a diameter ≤ 2.06 μm; medium and low molecular weight PAHs showed two concentration peaks in 1.07-2.06 μm and 7.04-9.99 μm range, respectively. In contrast, high molecular weight PAHs showed a unimodal peak in 1.07-2.06 μm range. Four-ring PAHs accounted for 40% of the total PAHs concentrations. With respect to human exposure, 53.3% and 55.3% of the granular PAHs were deposited in the lungs during the heating and non-heating periods, respectively. The incremental lifetime cancer risk ( R ) of particulate PAHs in the population was calculated using the concentration in the human respiratory system and the total concentration associated with the particulate matter. The R values for adults ranged between 1.3×10 -5 and 2.9×10 -5 during the heating period, and between 3.1×10 -6 and 6.0×10 -6 during the non-heating period. The R values for children during the heating period ranged between 1.0×10 -5 and 2.3×10 -5 , and between 2.4×10 -6 and 4.8×10 -6 during the non-heating period. The results indicated that particle size greatly affected the concentrations of particles deposited in the respiratory system and the level of carcinogenic risk. The combination of the grading sampling technique and the respiratory system settlement model can effectively avoid the over-evaluation of human respiratory exposure.

Based on the analysis of the effects of biological soil crust (biocrust) in re-vegetated grasslands on soil physical and chemical properties, and by using EPIC estimation model in combining with simulated rainfall trials, this paper studied the effects of biocrust with different biomass and different soil texture on the soil erodibility (K value) in Hilly Loess Plateau Region of Northwest China in different seasons. The results showed biocrust could significantly decrease soil erodibility, with the K value of biocrust soil decreased by about 17%, compared with subsoil. The soil erodibility decreased with the increasing biomass of biocrust. The K value of moss crust soil decreased by 21%, compared with cyanobacteria crust soil. The erodibiliy of biocrust soil differed with different seasons, being significantly higher in rainy season than before or after the rainy season due to the differences in the biological activity of the biocrust organisms. The erodibilty of biocrust soil with different texture also varied significantly, with the K value in the order of sandy loam soil > silt soil > sandy soil. The measurement under simulated rainfall showed that the development of biocrust could decrease the erodibility of biocrust soil by about 90%, compared with that of the subsoil (5-10 cm).

Based on the field investigation and by the method of simulated single-drop rain, this paper studied the responses of different types of biological soil crusts (biocrusts) in the wind-water erosion interleaving region of Loess Plateau to and their relief effect on the kinetic energy of raindrops. The responses of the biocrusts to raindrop kinetic energy had close relations with their biological composition. The cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts with a thickness of 1 cm and the moss-dominated biocrusts with the coverage of 80% could resist in 0.99 J and 75.56 J of cumulative rain drop kinetic energy, respectively, and the potential resistance of the biocrusts with the same biological compositions was relative to the biomass of the biological compositions, i.e., the larger the biomass, the higher the resistance. As the chlorophyll a content of cyanobacteria- dominated biocrusts (which characterizes the cyanobacterial biomass) increased from 3.32 to 3.73 microg x g(-1), the resistance of the biocrusts against the cumulative raindrop kinetic energy increased from 0.99 to 2.17 J; when the moss biomass in the moss- dominated biocrusts increased from 2.03 to 4.73 g x dm(-2), the resistance of the crusts increased from 6.08 to 75.56 J. During the succession of the biocrusts, their responses to the raindrop kinetic energy presented an "S" pattern. No significant differences in the resistance against raindrop cumulative kinetic energy were observed between the cyanobacteria-dominated biocrusts with variable biomass, but the resistance of moss-dominated biocrusts increased significantly as their biomass per unit area increased. The resistance of moss-dominated biocrusts increased linearly when their biomass increased from 2.03 g x dm(-2) to 4.73 g x dm(-2). The moss-dominated biocrusts could resist in 62.03 J of raindrop kinetic energy when their biomass was up to 3.70 g x dm(-2). Biocrusts had obvious effects in relieving raindrop kinetic energy, and the relief effect increased with their increasing biomass.

Objective: Though myasthenia gravis (MG) is a typical autoimmune disorder, there was some controversy on the treatment of the childhood-onset MG. By observing the efficacy of different therapies, the authors analyzed the affecting factors of prognosis in childhood-onset MG., Method: The retrospective data of 155 patients with childhood-onset MG (age of MG onset was less than 15 years) were collected from Department of Neurology, Beijing Tongren Hospital (January 2000 - February 2010). The patients were non-randomly divided according to their treatment into 3 groups (glucocorticoid, thymectomy and glucocorticoid combined with thymectomy groups). Postintervention status meeting the criteria of Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) "complete stable remission, CSR", "pharmacologic remission, PR", "minimal manifestations, MM", or "Improved, I" was regarded as desirable response, which was used as primary indicator of observation. The authors assessed the efficacy of three therapies and analyzed the influencing factors of prognosis by using Chi-square test and Logistic regression., Result: At 3 months of treatment, glucocorticoid group showed the highest effective rate. At the end of 1 year or 2 years of treatment, glucocorticoid combined with thymectomy group showed the highest effective rate respectively. The generalization rate of MG at 2 years, 10 years and 20 years in childhood-onset ocular MG patients were 4.3%, 10.7%, and 41.5%, respectively. Of patients with generalization of MG, 48.1% occurred within 2 years, 92.6% within 20 years. Univariate analysis showed that in childhood-onset ocular MG patients, variables such as age at onset (> 10 years), LG-MG and with chronic fatigue were significantly associated with general MG conversion. Whereas multivariate analysis showed that patients with age at onset (> 10 years) and chronic muscle fatigue were apt to convert to generalized MG., Conclusion: Glucocorticoid appeared to have an effect that leads to early remission of symptoms in childhood-onset MG patients and glucocorticoid combined with thymectomy appeared to have better long-term effect. For those childhood-onset ocular MG patients with longer course of disease, older age of onset, chronic fatigue, or LG-MG, physicians should try to prevent the generalization of MG by immunosuppressive therapies.

Objective: To study the rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion, HIV transmission and related risk factors among injecting drug users (IDUs) in an area of Sichuan province., Methods: In November 2002, a community-based baseline survey was conducted to recruit 333 HIV-seronegative IDUs for a prospective cohort study in Xichang county of Sichuan province, China. Follow-up visits were carried out every 6 months to study the situation of drug use, sexual behaviors of the IDUs and blood specimens were collected to test for antibodies against HIV and syphilis., Results: During a 24-month follow-up period, cohort retention rate and HIV incidence were 75.7% and 2.53 per 100 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-3.97)], respectively. Multivariate Poisson regression model showed that risk factors which were significantly associated with HIV seroconversion would include: ethnicity (RR = 12.42; 95% CI: 2.72-56.74, P = 0.0012) and needle or syringe sharing in the past 3 months (RR = 4.06; 95% CI: 1.29-12.81, P = 0.0168). Syphilis seroconversion in this cohort was 4.71 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 2.59-6.82). In multivariate Poisson regression being female (RR = 4.42; 95% CI: 1.78-10.99, P = 0.0014) appeared to be the only factor which was significantly associated with syphilis seroconversion., Conclusion: Our study results showed that there was a rapid transmission of HIV and syphilis among IDUs in Sichuan province, suggesting that effective intervention should be urgently taken.

Objective: To study the value of parotid sialography and intervention in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pyogenic parotitis., Methods: Undertake the technique of parotid sialography with 48% Lipiodol ultra-fluide (France) under X-ray upon 78 patients who were given systemic anti-infections and supporting treatments only with non-obvious-results, and classify all the cases into chronic obstructive (21 cases) and nonobstructive parotitis (57 cases) according to the results of sialography through microcatheter, then go on with bacterial culture and drug sensitivity test. Filling treatments were carried out on obstructive parotitis cases through the duct with mixed liquor consisting of 2% lidocanine, 1% methylviolet. In the same way, alpha-chymotrypsin, amikacin, lidocaine was used in nonobstructive cases., Results: The cure rate of chronic obstructive parotitis was 80.95%, the cure rate of chronic nonobstructive parotitis was 87.72%., Conclusion: The method of parotid sialography and intervention in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pyogenic parotitis is an effective way to treat chronic pyogenic parotitis.