Search

The Yangtze River is the mother river of China. To promote the aquatic ecosystem protection of the great river, the Project of Yangtze Fisheries Resources and Environment Investigation (2017–2021) supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P. R. China carried out by 24 institutes and universities that located in the Yangtze River basin surveys the status of (1) fish species composition and spatial distribution, (2) current fish abundance, (3) endangered fishes, (4) Yangtze finless porpoise, (5) aquatic eco-environments, (6) water-level fluctuation areas, (7) capture fisheries and recreational fisheries of the Yangtze River mainstream and 10 of its main tributaries, including Yalong River, Heng River, Min River (including Dadu River), Chishui River, Tuo River, Jialing River, Wu River, Han River, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake. The results showed that there were 443 fish species (belonging to 163 genus, 37 families, and 18 orders) before 2017, but only 323 fish species (including 15 new recorded exotic species) were recorded in the project of 2017–2021. Among them, Cyprinus carpio, Carassius auratus, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Coilia brachygnathus, Silurus asotus, Saurogobio dabryi, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Pelteobagrus nitidus, Hemiculter leucisculus, Siniperca chuatsi, Coreius heterodon, Culter alburnus, Parabramis pekinensis, and Aristichthys nobilis were the dominant species across the whole Yangtze River system. It is estimated that there were 886 million individuals weighing 124.8 million kg, merely equivalent to 27.3% of the resources in 1950s, 30.9% of the resources in 1960s, or 58.7% of the resources in 1980s. In the new list of protected fishes that recorded in the Yangtze River system, only 15 of 29 were collected in this project of 2017–2021. Psephurus gladius has been affirmed to be Extinct by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The wild individuals of Tenualosa reevesii and Luciobrama macrocephalus have disappeared for many years and maybe have been extinct already. Acipenser dabryanus has been affirmed to be Extinct in the Wild by IUCN. The natural propagations of A. sinensis, Myxocyprinus asiaticus and Trachidermus fasciatus have been interrupted for many years. The populations of Yangtze finless porpoise in the Yangtze River mainstream, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake have steadily rising sizes and expanding distributions in 2017–2021. Parts of them migrate from one region to another with the seasons, which would result in the fluctuation of Yangtze finless porpoise population within some regions. The conventional indicators of water quality in the Yangtze River system were good and conformed to the water quality criteria of fishery in 2017–2021. In the last 40 years, the maximum surface water area in the Yangtze River basin extended to approximately 63,360 km2, the minimum surface water area covered approximately 26,396 km2, and the seasonal water-level fluctuation areas occupied approximately 36,964 km2. Compared with 1984–2000 period, the 2001–2020 period witnessed an overall decreasing trend in the frequency of surface water occurrence within about 25,869 km2 of aquatic areas. From 1984 to 2000 period to 2001–2020 period, permanent surface water has decreased by nearly 8,750 km2. In 2017, the fishermen were mainly 40–60 years old and their educational levels were mainly lower than junior high school. In 2017, most anglers were older than 40 and used hand rod and/or sea rod. Their average catch of each time was mainly less than 1 kg. Results suggested that the fishing ban in key waters of the Yangtze River basin is not only an ecological project of aquatic ecosystem conservation, but also a livelihood project for the fisherman to embrace industrial transformation and improve their living conditions. After the implementation of the fishing ban, the fisheries resources would gradually recover, and the Yangtze finless porpoise population size would also see a steady increase. However, the endangered species would remain threatened for a long time. The degraded waterbodies and water-level fluctuation areas would be the key restrictive factors for future aquatic ecosystem recovery in the Yangtze River basin. Since this survey was carried out before the fishing ban, the current results could provide a baseline for future evaluation of the effect of the Yangtze River fishing ban.

Abstract Background The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), which are calculated using different parameters, are widely used as markers of insulin resistance and are associated with cardiovascular diseases and prognosis. However, whether they have an additive effect on the risk of mortality remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether the combined assessment of the TyG index and eGDR improved the prediction of long-term mortality in individuals with and without diabetes. Methods In this cross-sectional and cohort study, data were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2018, and death record information was obtained from the National Death Index. The associations of the TyG index and eGDR with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were determined by multivariate Cox regression analysis and restricted cubic splines. Results Among the 17,787 individuals included in the analysis, there were 1946 (10.9%) all-cause deaths and 649 (3.6%) cardiovascular deaths during a median follow-up of 8.92 years. In individuals with diabetes, the restricted cubic spline curves for the associations of the TyG index and eGDR with mortality followed a J-shape and an L-shape, respectively. The risk of mortality significantly increased after the TyG index was > 9.04 (all-cause mortality) or > 9.30 (cardiovascular mortality), and after eGDR was 9.04 and eGDR

Abstract Background Hereditary spherocytosis (HS, MIM#612641) is one of the most common hereditary hemolytic disorders. This study aimed to confirm a novel variant’s pathogenicity and reveal a patient’s genetic etiology. Methods The clinical data of a patient with HS who underwent genetic sequencing at the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were reviewed retrospectively. In silico prediction and in vitro minigene splicing reporter system were then conducted on the detected variant to analyze its intramolecular impact. A summary of the literature related to HS due to SPTB gene variants was also presented. Results A novel variant (c.301–2 A > G) in the SPTB gene (NM_001024858.4) was identified in the proband. Using Sanger sequencing, we conclusively confirmed that the inheritance of the variant could not be traced to the biological parents. The in vitro minigene assay revealed three different transcripts derived from the c.301–2 A > G variant: r.301_474del, r.301_306delCCAAAG, and r.301-1_301-57ins. Through a literature review, patients with HS who had been genotypically validated were summarized and the SPTB gene variant profile was mapped. Conclusion We identified a splicing variant of the SPTB gene, thus confirming its aberrant translation. The novel variant was the probable genetic etiology of the proband with HS. Our findings expanded the variant spectrum of the SPTB gene, thus improving the understanding of the associated hereditary hemolytic disorders from a clinical and molecular perspective and contributing to the foundation of genetic counseling and diagnosis.

Abstract The female reproductive system comprises the internal and external genitalia, which communicate through intricate endocrine pathways. Besides secreting hormones that maintain the female secondary sexual characteristics, it also produces follicles and offspring. However, the in vitro systems have been very limited in recapitulating the specific anatomy and pathophysiology of women. Organ-on-a-chip technology, based on microfluidics, can better simulate the cellular microenvironment in vivo, opening a new field for the basic and clinical research of female reproductive system diseases. This technology can not only reconstruct the organ structure but also emulate the organ function as much as possible. The precisely controlled fluidic microenvironment provided by microfluidics vividly mimics the complex endocrine hormone crosstalk among various organs of the female reproductive system, making it a powerful preclinical tool and the future of pathophysiological models of the female reproductive system. Here, we review the research on the application of organ-on-a-chip platforms in the female reproductive systems, focusing on the latest progress in developing models that reproduce the physiological functions or disease features of female reproductive organs and tissues, and highlighting the challenges and future directions in this field.

Abstract Background The excessive application of chemical fertilizers in the cultivation of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge results in a reduction in the quality of the medicinal plant and compromises the sustainable productivity of the soil. PGPB inoculant is a hot topic in ecological agriculture research. In the cultivation of Astragalus mongholicus, the screened nitrogen-fixing bacteria can promote plant growth, however, whether it can promote the accumulation of main bioactive components remains unknown. In this study, mixed inoculants containing 5 strains of growth promoting bacteria (Rhizobium T16 , Sinorhizobium T21 , Bacillus J1 , Bacillus G4 and Arthrobacter J2) were used in the field experiment. The metabolic substances in the root tissues of Astragalus mongholicus were identified during the harvest period by non-targeted metabolomics method, and the differential metabolites between groups were identified by statistical analysis. Meanwhile, high-throughput sequencing was performed to analyze the changes of rhizosphere soil and endophytic microbial community structure after mixed microbial treatment. Results The results of non-targeted metabolism indicated a significant increase in the levels of 26 metabolites after treatment including 13 flavonoids, 3 saponins and 10 other components. The contents of three plant hormones (abscisic acid, salicylic acid and spermidine) also increased after treatment, which presumed to play an important role in regulating plant growth and metabolism. Studies on endosphere and rhizosphere bacterial communities showed that Rhzobiaceae, Micromonosporaceae, and Hypomicrobiaceae in endophytic, and Oxalobactereae in rhizosphere were significantly increased after treatment. These findings suggest their potential importance in plant growth promotion and secondary metabolism regulation. Conclusions This finding provides a basis for developing nitrogen-fixing bacteria fertilizer and improving the ecological planting efficiency of Astragalus mongholicus.

Objective The large section tunnel, due to flat shape and large span, usually adopts multiple steps and staged excavation. In the process of construction, the surrounding rock and the temporary support are repeatedly disturbed, affecting the stability of surrounding rock and supporting structure. Therefore, the deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock should be studied and the construction scheme should be optimized. Method Taking the mined tunnel of Qingdao Metro Line 4 in turn-back section as the example, based on the on-site monitoring data and using finite element simulation, the deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock in the excavation process of the large-section metro tunnel with three-step and nine-stage method are analyzed, and then compared with the optimized three-step and five-stage method. Result & Conclusion The simulation results show that the ground settlement is relatively large caused by the current construction scheme within the horizontal distance of 26m from the tunnel center line, accounting for 89.77% of the total settlement. The arch and the spandrel deform are large after excavation, and the maximum settlement reaches 102 mm. The stress of the surrounding rock of the arch increases rapidly with excavation. As the excavation advances, the local principal stress concentration appears in the upper part of the haunch and the corner. The optimized three-step and five-stage excavation method can realize rapid excavation and support, and simplify the construction process by 40%, while reducing disturbance to the surrounding rock and controlling its deformation within a reasonable range of 10 mm. Thus, the stress redistribution of the arch and the stress concentration in the corner are improved.

Abstract Background Understanding the tooth anatomy is crucial for ensuring effective endodontic treatment. This study investigated the root canal morphology of the second mesiobuccal (MB2) canal in maxillary first molars (MFMs) in a Chinese population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods This study evaluated 486 MFMs with MB2 canals from 285 participants undergoing CBCT examination and determined the Vertucci’s classification and position of the MB2 canal orifice. The prevalence of the MB2 canal was correlated with the sex, age, and tooth side. The correlations between the prevalence of the MB2 canal and sex and tooth side were assessed using the Fisher's exact test. The chi-square test was used for evaluating the correlation between the prevalence of the MB2 canal and age. Results The number of type II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and other root canals in the MFMs was 30.9%, 0.6%, 65.0%, 1.2%, 1.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%, respectively. Among the 201 cases with bilateral inclusion, 87.6% showed consistent canal configuration. Results of the first clear apparent position (FCAP) of the MB2 canals showed that 434, 44, and 3 teeth had FCAP at the upper, middle, and bottom one-third of the root, respectively. The FCAPs of the MB2 canal in the MFMs with types II, IV, and VI, as well as types III and V canals showed significant differences (p

Background: Previous observational studies have investigated the correlation between calcium homeostasis modulator levels and endometriosis risk. Yet, the genetic association between body calcium homeostasis and endometriosis risk remains to be elucidated. Methods: Four tiers of Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis were conducted, as follows: (1) single univariate MR and (2) multivariate MR to evaluate the correlation between calcium homeostasis regulators and endometriosis; (3) inverse MR to probe the influence of endometriosis on body calcium homeostasis; (4) two-sample MR to scrutinize the connection between calcium levels and endometriosis categories. Results: The two-sample MR analysis unveiled a robust positive correlation between genetically inferred calcium levels and endometriosis risk (IVW: OR = 1.15, 95 % CI: 1.02–1.29, p = 0.018). The MVMR analysis corroborated that the positive correlation of calcium levels with endometriosis persisted after adjusting for 25(OH)D and PTH. The inverse MR analysis disclosed a significant association between endometriosis and 25(OH)D (β = 0.01, 95 % CI: 0.00–0.02, p = 0.007) and calcium (β = 0.02, 95 % CI: 0.00–0.04, p = 0.035). The two-sample MR analysis further demonstrated that calcium levels were positively linked solely to endometriosis of uterus (i.e. adenomyosis, IVW: OR = 1.23, 95 % CI: 1.01–1.49, p = 0.038), with no evidence of a influence on other endometriosis categories. Conclusions: This study, employing various types of MR, offers some genetic evidence for the relationship between calcium homeostasis and endometriosis, augmenting the current comprehension of the complex association between the two and suggesting that calcium levels are a risk factor for endometriosis. These findings provide a unique genetic perspective that may spur further investigation and may inform future strategies for managing patients with endometriosis.

In order to investigate the quality of whole wheat bread flour in Chinese market, the physicochemical quality, rheological properties, processing quality and baking quality of 10 representative whole-wheat bread flour(WWBF) were analyzed. The results showed that the moisture content of WWBF ranged from 8.30 g/100 g to 13.39 g/100 g. The ash content of WWBF ranged from 0.6 g/100 to 2.5 g/100 g, with an average of 1.5 g/100 g. The protein contents of WWBF were between 13.92 g/100 g and 15.86 g/100 g. The content of wet gluten ranged from 30.20% to 47.10%. The average dietary fiber was 10.25 g/100 g, and the dietary fiber of 9 samples were between 8.65 g/100 g and 14.31 g/100 g. The content of alkylresorcinol of WWBF in 9 samples ranged from 234.72 μg/g to 508.48 μg/g. There were 7 samples with stabilization time longer than 7 min and 9 samples with stabilization time longer than 5 min. The maximum fermentation height Hm of dough were between 23.8 mm and 42.9 mm. The whole wheat bread with 60% WWBF had a good appearance, bread structure, soft taste and rich flavor. The sensory scores of whole-wheat bread ranged from 77.8 to 102.0. Whole wheat breads were all qualified. In short, WWBF products in China were relatively lack. The dietary fiber content and alkyl resorcinol content of WWBF were higher, and the processing quality and baking quality were good.

Abstract Background Regional block, such as thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA), thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB), or serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) has been recommended to reduce postoperative opioid use in recent guidelines, but the optimal options for intraoperative opioid minimization remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intraoperative opioids-sparing effects of three regional blocks (TEA, TPVB, and SAPB) in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATs). Methods This was a retrospective study of the adults undergoing VATs at a tertiary medical center between January 2020 and February 2022. According to the type of regional block used, patients were classified into 4 groups: GA group (general anesthesia without any regional block), TEA group (general anesthesia combined with TEA), TPVB group (general anesthesia combined with TPVB), and SAPB group (general anesthesia combined with SAPB). Cases were matched with a 1:1:1:1 ratio for analysis by age, sex, ASA physical status, and operation duration. The primary outcome was the total intraoperative opioid consumption standardized to Oral Morphine Equivalents (OME). Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate the association of the three regional blocks with the OME. Results A total of 2159 cases met the eligibility criteria. After matching, 168 cases (42 in each group) were included in analysis. Compared with GA without any reginal block, the use of TEA, TPVB, and SAPB reduced the median of intraoperative OME by 78.45 mg (95% confidence interval [CI], -141.34 to -15.56; P = 0.014), 94.92 mg (95% CI, -154.48 to -35.36; P = 0.020), and 11.47 mg (95% CI, -72.07 to 49.14; P = 0.711), respectively. Conclusions The use of TEA or TPVB was associated with an intraoperative opioid-sparing effect in adults undergoing VATs, whereas the intraoperative opioid-sparing effect of SAPB was not yet clear.

Abstract Pyroptosis plays a crucial role in sepsis, and the abnormal handling of myocyte calcium (Ca2+) has been associated with cardiomyocyte pyroptosis. Specifically, the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 (IP3R2) is a Ca2+ release channel in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, the specific role of IP3R2 in sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) has not yet been determined. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism by which IP3R2 channel-mediated Ca2+ signaling contributes to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)—induced cardiac pyroptosis. The SIC model was established in rats by intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg). Cardiac dysfunction was assessed using echocardiography, and the protein expression of relevant signaling pathways was analyzed using ELISA, RT-qPCR, and western blot. Small interfering RNAs (siRNA) and an inhibitor were used to explore the role of IP3R2 in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) stimulated by LPS in vitro. LPS-induced NLRP3 overexpression and GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in the rats’ heart. Treatment with the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 alleviated LPS-induced cardiomyocyte pyroptosis. Furthermore, LPS increased ATP-induced intracellular Ca2+ release and IP3R2 expression in NRCMs. Inhibiting IP3R activity with xestospongin C (XeC) or knocking down IP3R2 reversed LPS-induced intracellular Ca2+ release. Additionally, inhibiting IP3R2 reversed LPS-induced pyroptosis by suppressing the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway. We also found that ER stress and IP3R2-mediated Ca2+ release mutually regulated each other, contributing to cardiomyocyte pyroptosis. IP3R2 promotes NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis by regulating ER Ca2+ release, and the mutual regulation of IP3R2 and ER stress further promotes LPS-induced pyroptosis in cardiomyocytes.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed unprecedented stress and challenges upon medical staff, potentially resulting in posttraumatic growth (PTG). This scoping review aims to synthesize the existing knowledge on PTG among medical staff during the pandemic by identifying its current status and potential influencing factors. The findings may provide a foundation for future research and interventions to enhance the medical staff’s psychological resilience and well-being. Methods Literature was systematically searched on PTG among medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic from 01 January 2020 to 31 December 2022. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed), and Wanfang Data. Eligibility criteria included: (1) medical staff as research subjects; (2) a focus on “posttraumatic growth” or “alternative posttraumatic growth” related to the COVID-19 outbreak and pandemic; (3) discussion of the situation and influencing factors of PTG; and (4) study types, such as qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Two researchers independently selected and extracted study characteristics (study design, study population, region, measurement instruments, and primary outcomes) from the included literature. The data were synthesized qualitatively and descriptively. Results Thirty-six papers from 12 countries met the inclusion criteria. Moderate PTG levels were observed among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, with emphasis on “interpersonal relationships,” “changes in life philosophy,” and “growth in personal competence.” Influencing factors included trauma exposure, sociodemographics, psychological characteristics (resilience and positive qualities), coping, and social support. Conclusions This review discovered moderate PTG levels among medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, with critical areas in interpersonal relationships, life philosophy, and personal competence. The identified influencing factors can inform future research and interventions to enhance healthcare workers’ psychological resilience and well-being.

AIM: To investigate the frequency and associated factors of accommodation and non-strabismic binocular vision dysfunction among medical university students. METHODS: Totally 158 student volunteers underwent routine vision examination in the optometry clinic of Guangxi Medical University. Their data were used to identify the different types of accommodation and non-strabismic binocular vision dysfunction and to determine their frequency. Correlation analysis and logistic regression were used to examine the factors associated with these abnormalities. RESULTS: The results showed that 36.71% of the subjects had accommodation and non-strabismic binocular vision issues, with 8.86% being attributed to accommodation dysfunction and 27.85% to binocular abnormalities. Convergence insufficiency (CI) was the most common abnormality, accounting for 13.29%. Those with these abnormalities experienced higher levels of eyestrain (χ2=69.518, P

A novel technique was proposed for processing silkworm pupae by combining plasma- activated water (PAW) with ultrasound (US). The microbial diversity and quality characteristics of the silkworm pupae were also evaluated. The results of the microbial diversity analysis indicated that PAW combined with US treatment significantly reduced the relative abundance of Streptococcaceae, Leuconostocaceae, and Acetobacteraceae from 32%, 18% and 16% to 27%, 11% and 11%, respectively. Microstructural analysis demonstrated that the collapse of the internal structure of chitin in silkworm pupae facilitated the release of nutrients and flavour compounds including fatty acids, water-soluble proteins (WSP), amino acids, phenolics, and volatile compounds. Furthermore, the increase in antioxidant capacity and the decrease in catalase activity and malondialdehyde content confirmed the mechanism of quality change. These findings provide new insights into the possible mechanism of PAW combined with US to improve the quality of edible insects.

Active machine learning is an established and increasingly popular experimental design technique where the machine learning model can request additional data to improve the model's predictive performance. It is generally assumed that this data is optimal for the machine learning model since it relies on the model's predictions or model architecture and therefore cannot be transferred to other models. Inspired by research in pedagogy, we here introduce the concept of yoked machine learning where a second machine learning model learns from the data selected by another model. We found that in 48% of the benchmarked combinations, yoked learning performed similar or better than active learning. We analyze distinct cases in which yoked learning can improve active learning performance. In particular, we prototype yoked deep learning (YoDeL) where a classic machine learning model provides data to a deep neural network, thereby mitigating challenges of active deep learning such as slow refitting time per learning iteration and poor performance on small datasets. In summary, we expect the new concept of yoked (deep) learning to provide a competitive option to boost the performance of active learning and benefit from distinct capabilities of multiple machine learning models during data acquisition, training, and deployment.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) mutations are the third most prevalent mutation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), following the 19del and L858R mutations. The unique nature of the EGFR ex20ins mutation poses challenges for the effectiveness of first- and second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). As a result, chemotherapy remains the primary and more effective treatment approach. However, with advancements in time and technology, numerous experimental studies have revealed the potential of novel drugs and therapies to have stronger inhibitory effects on EGFR ex20ins mutations. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of the current treatment landscape, recent advancements, and the prospects for patients with advanced NSCLC characterized by EGFR ex20ins mutations.

Frozen dough is a good carrier for whole wheat food, which simplifies production operations, reduces processing difficulties, and steps up the industrial production of whole wheat food. This paper reviewed the effects of dietary fiber on the quality of dough and frozen dough, the changes of fermentation characteristics and Rheology characteristics of whole wheat frozen dough in the process of freezing and cold storage, and the research on the quality improvement of whole wheat frozen dough by food improvers. By analyzing the deterioration reasons of gluten protein, starch, fermentation properties, Rheology properties, etc. in the whole wheat frozen dough during freezing and cold storage, the theoretical basis and practical reference for improving the quality of whole wheat frozen dough were provided.

High-value resources beyond oil extraction for the olive industry need to be developed due to increased olive production. Soluble dietary fibers (SDFs) and olive proteins (OPIs) are important components of olives. However, the commercial production process partially damages OPIs’ emulsifying and foaming properties. Thus, the preparation of SDF-OPI complexes would help protect and even improve the emulsifying and foaming properties. The effects of pH and thermal–ultrasonic treatment on the complexation were explored, which showed that the SDF-OPI complexes prepared at pH 5 exhibited superior solubility (p < 0.05). SDF addition noticeably improved OPI thermal stability, emulsifying properties, and foaming properties. Moreover, the complexes prepared by thermal–ultrasonic treatment exhibited higher emulsion stability and lower emulsification activity than those prepared without thermal–ultrasonic treatment. In the acidic system, the electrostatic interaction was considered the main driving factor, assisted by the hydrophobic interaction. Additionally, after thermal–ultrasonic treatment, the covalent binding was observed by infrared spectroscopy. These results revealed the interaction mechanism between SDF and OPI, and the complexes significantly enhanced the functional properties of OPI. This study provides a reference for the high-value utilization of olives, thus broadening their potential uses in the food sector and beyond.