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The Indo-Pacific king mackerel, scientifically known as Scomberomorus guttatus, is a valued marine species that holds significant commercial importance in the Indo-Pacific region. However, the lack of genomic resources has hindered a comprehensive understanding of this species. In this study, we constructed a genome of Indo-Pacific king mackerel at the chromosome level using a combination of PacBio HiFi reads and a chromosome contact map (Hi-C). The resulting genome had high contig and scaffold N50 values of 8.84 Mb and 32.9 Mb, respectively. In the genome assembly, which is 797.66 Mb in size and consists of 24 chromosomes, we also identified 35.89% repetitive elements and predicted 25,886 protein-coding genes. Our study not only benefits to reveal the possible mechanism of adaptive evolution in this fish, but also offers insight for the future sustainable management of these valuable biological resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper pyrithione (CuPT) is an alternative to tributyltin that is widely used as an antifoulant and biocide in paint for ship hulls, fishing nets, and other marine environmental facilities. It gradually leaches from antifouling coatings into the aquatic environment, posing health risks to aquatic organisms. In recent years, there have been increasing concerns regarding the impacts of CuPT and its degradation products on organisms, as well as the associated health risks. Although the ecotoxicity of CuPT and its degradation products in various species has been studied, there are no comprehensive reviews in the literature that have collated and interpreted these data. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the ecotoxicological effects of CuPT and its degradation products on microorganisms, plants, invertebrates, fish, and mammals. CuPT and its degradation products can affect the light utilization of plants, thereby altering primary production in ecosystems. It can disrupt cell membranes, antioxidant capacity, and cellular pH gradients in animals, leading to developmental toxicity, deformities, morphological damages, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. Mitochondria are believed to be the primary target of CuPT-induced toxicity in aquatic animals; however, further investigations are warranted to reveal the long-term (e.g., multigenerational and transgenerational) impacts and associated molecular mechanisms of CuPT and its degradation products—particularly at environmentally realistic levels. This will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the health effects (both in terms of toxicity and hormesis) and environmental risks of CuPT and its degradation products, facilitating more effective regulation and mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeostasis of gut microbiota is critical for growth and health of animals. However, the impact of reproduction on penguin gut microbiota remains unclear, despite penguins being sentinel species of the marine environment. Through high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene, we examined changes in gut microbiota structure and function in captive female Gentoo penguins during the reproductive process, and also assessed the community stability and assembly mechanism. We found that gut microbiota alpha diversity decreased significantly in captive female Gentoo penguins after egg laying. Based on the comparison of gut microbiota compositions and their predicted functions, the Fusobacteria and pathogenicity increased after laying eggs, while Bacteroidetes and carbohydrate metabolism decreased. After laying eggs, the diversity of the gut microbiota decreased continuously until chicks left the nest. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the gut microbiota of captive female Gentoo penguins was less complex and more stable after egg laying. On the basis of the null model, deterministic processes drove the gut microbiota assembly in gravid Gentoo penguins, whereas reproductive processes elevated the contribution of stochastic processes. Our study provides insights into the reproductive physiology and gut microbiota assembly in penguins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As coenzymes, B vitamins have long been studied by marine researchers. Numerous studies have been conducted on the regulation of phytoplankton communities and algal–bacterial symbiosis. However, the key role of B vitamins in marine ecosystems has not received much attention. Through documents retrieval and genetic database analysis, we concluded the sources of vitamin B1, B2, B6, B7, and B12 in the ocean and proposed their roles in marine ecosystem. Our review analysis demonstrated that producers and consumers of B vitamins are widespread in the ocean, and phytoplankton biomass and community structure are highly responsive to B vitamins. Unfortunately, the B vitamins concentration in seawater is extremely low and has been measured in very few sea areas. We have also shown that marine fish suffer from a wide variety of B vitamin deficiency symptoms when lacking sufficient B vitamins, suggesting that vitamin B restrictions are important for marine fish. On the other hand, fish provides many micronutrients that affect human health, especially for people whose primary diet is fish. We believe that B vitamins in the ocean affect marine ecosystems and fishery resources and, in turn, human health through a bottom-up approach. There are too many unknowns about the role of B vitamins in marine ecosystems, so we recommend more research on the distribution, function, and transfer of B vitamins in the ocean, as well as their effect on fishery resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS), is characterized by white matter demyelination, axon destruction, and oligodendrocyte degeneration. Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antiviral properties. However, to date, there are no in-depth studies on the effect of ivermectin on the function effector of T cells in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. Here, we conducted in vitro experiments and found that ivermectin inhibited the proliferation of total T cells (CD3+) and their subsets (CD4+ and CD8+ T cells) as well as T cells secreting the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17A; ivermectin also increased IL-2 production and IL-2Rα (CD25) expression, which was accompanied by an increase in the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). Importantly, ivermectin administration reduced the clinical symptoms of EAE mice by preventing the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the CNS. Additional mechanisms showed that ivermectin promoted Treg cells while inhibiting pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 cells and their IFN-γ and IL-17 secretion; ivermectin also upregulated IL-2 production from MOG35–55-stimulated peripheral lymphocytes. Finally, ivermectin decreased IFN-γ and IL-17A production and increased IL-2 level, CD25 expression, and STAT5 phosphorylation in the CNS. These results reveal a previously unknown etiopathophysiological mechanism by which ivermectin attenuates the pathogenesis of EAE, indicating that it may be a promising option for T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases such as MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Situated in the hinterland of Eurasia, Central Asia is characterized by an arid climate and sparse rainfall. The uneven spatial distribution of water and land resources across the region has pressured economic and social development. An accurate understanding of Central Asia's water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) is vital for enhancing the sustainability of water resources utilization and guiding regional economic and social activities. This study aims to facilitate the sustainability of water resources utilization by evaluating the region's WRCC from the viewpoints of economic and technological conditions and social welfare. A concise yet effective model with relatively fewer parameters was established by adopting water resources data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and socioeconomic data from the World Bank. The results indicated that the WRCC of all five Central Asian countries showed an increasing trend with improved water use efficiency from 1995 to 2020. Kazakhstan's WRCC was significantly higher than the other four countries, reaching 54.03 million people in 2020. The water resources carrying index (WRCI) of the five Central Asian countries varied considerably, with the actual population sizes of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan highly overloaded. Although there has been a decrease in Central Asian countries' WRCI between 1995 and 2020, water resources utilization problems in the region remain prominent. Based on the water resources carrying capacity evaluation system, to increase available water resources and improve production water use efficiency are key to address these issues. In light of this, this study offers practical and feasible solutions at the policy level: (1) The implementation of signed multilateral agreements on transboundary water resources allocation must proceed through joint governmental efforts. (2) Investments in advancing science and technology need to be increased to improve water use efficiency in irrigation systems. (3) The output of water-intensive crops should be reduced. (4) The industrial structure could be further optimized so that non-agricultural uses are the primary drivers of gross domestic product (GDP) growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to elucidate the biological functions of the motility regulatory protein CheZ in the probiotic strain Escherichia coli Nissle 1917. A cheZ gene deletion strain Nissle 1917ΔcheZ was constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 two-plasmid system, and the corresponding complemented strain Nissle 1917ΔcheZ/pBR322-cheZ was established. Combined studies of growth kinetics testing, motility assays, swarming motility assays, and bacterial adherence assays were performed to study the motility regulatory protein CheZ-mediated functions in the prototype Nissle 1917 strain, its isogenic cheZ mutant, and the corresponding complemented strain. The growth rate of the cheZ mutant strain was lower than that of the wild-type strain in the exponential growth phase. The motility of the cheZ mutant strain was significantly lower than that of the wild-type strain. And the adhesion ability of ΔcheZ mutant to the Caco-2 cells was significantly lower than that of the wild-type strain and complemented strain. In conclusion, the results presented in our study suggested that the deletion of the cheZ gene in E. coli Nissle 1917 led to a significant reduction of its swimming ability and a subsequent marked decrease of adhesion to the Caco-2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft clay presents many problems in the construction of infrastructures, which can be well solved by using effective solidification materials and technologies. The carbonated reactive magnesia (CRM) comes to the fore for its superiority in energy-saving and high solidification efficiency. Nevertheless, research on the applicability of CRM in soft clay solidifying is limited. In the current study, two major factors, including initial moisture content (w0) and reactive MgO content (Cm), were examined by measuring the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), mass and volume variations, and moisture content variation of CRM-treated soft clay. The intrinsic mechanisms were discussed based on the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests. The findings reveal that carbonated specimens with low Cm (≤ 25%) or w0 (≤ 25%) suffer from severe volumetric expansion and cracks, which cause serious reductions in UCS, and the strength of these specimens can be even much lower than that of the uncarbonated ones. Specimens with high Cm and w0 acquire satisfactory strength by carbonation, and the highest UCS can exceed 4 MPa, indicating that the CRM is capable of solidifying soft clay. Water and MgO are both vital for the crystallization of hydrated magnesium carbonates (HMCs), and Cm is also beneficial for restricting volumetric expansion and reducing macropores; while proper w0 is required for the formation and evolution of HMCs, especially the nesquehonite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lysogenic phage vB_EcoP_DE5 (hereafter designated DE5) was isolated from donkey-derived Escherichia coli. The bacteriophage was examined by transmission electron microscopy, and the result showed that DE5 belonged to the genus Kuravirus. DE5 was sensitive to changes in temperature and pH, and it could maintain its activity at pH 7 and below 60 ℃. The whole genome sequencing revealed that DE5 had a double-stranded DNA genome of 77, 305 bp with 42.09% G+C content. A total of 126 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified, including functional genes related to phage integration, DNA replication and modification, transcriptional regulation, structural and packaging proteins, and host cell lysis. One phage integrase gene, one autotransporter adhesin gene, and one tRNA gene were predicted in the whole genome, and no genes associated with drug resistance were identified. The phage DE5 integrase contained 187 amino acids and belonged to the small serine recombinase family. BLASTn analysis revealed that phage DE5 had a high-sequence identity (96%) with E. coli phage SU10. Phylogenetic analysis showed that phage DE5 was a member of the genus Kuravirus. The whole genome sequencing of lysogenic phage DE5 enhanced our understanding of lysogenic phages and their therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mayenite (Ca12Al14O33) is one of the most important crystalline phases in CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 based system, which is the common system in natural geological and artificial materials. However, due to the unstable structure of the CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 based melt, Ca12Al14O33 crystal seems to be difficult to precipitate as the main crystalline phase in its melt. Therefore, the dissolution of Ca12Al14O33 crystal and the structural evolution of the CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 based melt were studied in this work. The amount of Ca12Al14O33 crystals in the CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 based melt significantly decreased with SiO2 additions. Structural analysis showed that with the addition of SiO2, the released Q0(Si) would link with the non-bridging oxygen of Al–O−(Ca2+) in the Q3(Al) to form Q1(Si) and Q4(Al). Then, the Q3(Al) and Q4(Al) were broken into Q2(Al) with the help of free oxygen in accordance with Al avoidance rule. Due to a lack of Q3(Al) and Q4(Al) units, the precipitation of Ca12Al14O33 crystals was completely suppressed. When SiO2 was added to 9 mass pct, the depolymerized Q2(Al) was repolymerized to the complex and stable aluminosilicate structure composed of Q4(Al), Q3(Al) and Q2(Si) and Q1(Si) units, which assisted in increasing the structural polymerization degree and stabilizing the aluminate structure, and thus weakened the crystallization tendency of CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 based melt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, anion (F, Cl, and S)-doped LiCoO2 cathode materials were systematically investigated by using first-principles calculations. The results show that F doping can improve the electronic conductivity and stability. Cl doping is beneficial to improve the diffusion of Li-ions and electronic conductivity, but it is detrimental to the stability. S doping can enhance the diffusion of Li-ions and electronic conductivity. However, the intercalation potential of the anion-doped cathode decreases, as the density of states shifts towards the Fermi level. These results provide a theoretical basis for the study of anion-doped LiCoO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of tranexamic acid (TXA) in hip fracture surgery remains inconclusive. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to assess the role of TXA use in hip fracture surgery, and attempt to disclose possible factors which might influence TXA efficacy and safety. Materials and methods: A systematic computerized literature search was conducted to retrieve all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies regarding TXA use in hip fracture surgery. Overall efficacy and safety were evaluated. Then, subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to disclose the influence of geographic area, fracture type, administration route, frequency and dosage of TXA, blood transfusion threshold, and follow-up duration on the overall effect. Results: Thirty-four RCTs and 11 cohort studies were included. Patients receiving TXA had a significant decrease in the need for blood transfusion, reduced total, intra-operative and post-operative blood loss, a decrease in pre- and postoperative hemoglobin difference, without increasing thromboembolic events risk. Subgroup analysis showed that topical TXA had a lower transfusion rate compared with controls, yet the result did not reach statistical significance. Also, TXA had similar efficacy and safety profiles in patients with different frequency and dosage of TXA. Conclusion: Current evidence indicated that intravenous administration of TXA could significantly reduce blood transfusion and blood loss without increasing risk of thromboembolic events. The frequency and dosage of TXA might not alter the beneficial effect. The application of topical TXA should be cautious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage, vB_PaeP_Lx18 (Lx18), was isolated from the sewage of a dairy farm. Biological characterization revealed that Lx18 was stable from 40 °C to 60 °C and over a wide range of pH values from 4 to 10. It was able to lyse 63.6% (21/33) of the P. aeruginosa strains tested and was able to reduce and disperse biofilms, with a biofilm reduction rate of 76.8%. Whole-genome sequencing showed that Lx18 is a dsDNA virus with a genome of 42,735 bp and G+C content of 62.16%. The genome contains 54 open reading frames (ORFs), 28 of which have known functions, including DNA replication and modification, transcriptional regulation, structural and packaging proteins, and host cell lysis. No virulence or tRNA genes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that phage Lx18 belongs to the genus Phikmvvirus. The lysozyme of Lx18, Lys18, was cloned and expressed. The combined action of Lys18 and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) had antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study of phage Lx18 and its lysozyme will provide basic information for further research on the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of a connection between living near major roadway and adverse health outcome has come to light. However, little is known about the effect of residential traffic exposure on aging-related physical disability and whether this effect can be modified. We used data derived from Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Surveys in 2018, with a total of 15,771 participants aged ≥ 65. Residential proximity to major roadway was used as a surrogate for traffic-related air pollution and physical function was measured using basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Logistic regression models were adopted for the analyses. Compared with those living > 300 m from major road, participants living within 200 m had higher risk of poorer physical functioning. The peak odds ratio was observed in severe disability caused by 101–200 m distance (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.66). And this association got stronger with longer duration of living close to major road. In dichotomized analyses using 200 m as a cutoff point, the effect associated with living close to major road was greater in male and current smoker. Specially, poor physical function appears earlier in female, but less severe than that in male. The result emphasizes the adverse effect of residential proximity to major roadways to aging-related declines in health—especially for basic living ability. This association was more pronounced in male and current smokers, which cannot be reversed by lowering the indoor air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delineating priority areas for highly mobile marine megafauna represents a major challenge for conservation biology. To manage such areas, one must understand both their spatial properties (i.e., location, number, extent), and the level of exposure to a number of given pressures. Here, we used a combination of ensemble distribution models, field-based validation methods and a cumulative effect assessment to illustrate key foraging sites and risk hotspots for adult loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, in the Mediterranean Sea. We found that foraging sites covered about 10% of the neritic zone of the Mediterranean basin. We identified sites which are well recognized by scientists, but also other areas for which our knowledge on the potential importance is limited. The patterns of the habitat use generated by field data validated the accuracy of the distribution model. About one fifth of the foraging areas hosted in the Mediterranean could be considered as hotspots of risk, characterized by high or very high exposure to cumulative pressures. Our results suggest that management and conservation efforts should continue to be held at key, well-known foraging grounds of adult sea turtles (e.g., Northern Adriatic Sea, Tunisian Plateau) but there are several more potential sites (e.g., parts of the Aegean Sea and the Western Mediterranean) which deserve our attention in order to ensure viable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determinations of active earth pressures are commonly performed two-dimensionally (2D) based on completely saturated and/or dry assumptions, though the soil in cases of geotechnical interest is mostly unsaturated and the earth pressures are usually of conspicuous three-dimensional (3D) features. In this paper, a novel finite prismoid element method (FPEM) for calculating the lateral earth pressures acting against the retaining wall is suggested. The main feature of the FPEM is that the whole backfill is discretized into numerous horizontally distributed prismoid elements that might characterized with different soil properties. For unsaturated backfills, the prismoid elements are characterized with various soil cohesions and unit soil weights. Upper bound solutions to active earth pressures under 2D and 3D conditions with and without suction are both calculated and compared with several other analytical ones, indicating the reliability and applicability of the proposed method. The responses of unsaturated backfills to surcharge loads on the crest are numerically studied and discussed. An illustrative example is reexamined to further demonstrate the practical use of the technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysiphonia hainanensis was previously described from Hainan, China, but DNA sequence had never been provided and its phylogenetic position in Polysiphonieae has not been clear so far. The classification of Polysiphonieae has changed recently based on the molecular analyses and detail morphological anatomy, consequently, the generic assignment of some species must be reassessed. In this study, we analyzed phylogenetic relationships of P. hainanensis and the related taxa in Polysiphonieae and Streblocladieae based on rbcL sequences, with specimens collected from the type locality and the area around. Two genetic types were detected, and formed a clade with Bryocladia thyrsigera with strong bootstrap support, in which the divergence was less than 0.81%. Furthermore, based on morphological analyses, we found characteristics of Chinese specimens, number of pericentral cells, percurrent axis, determinate branchlets, branching pattern, spermatangial axes development, and arrangement of tetrasporangia, etc., were consistent with those of Bryocladia. Combined with morphological and molecular analyses, P. hainanensis was taken a synonymous of B. thyrsigera, and gametophytes of this species were found from China for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) kinematic limit analysis of unsaturated hillslopes is presented in this paper. Different from the traditional two-dimensional (2D) mechanism based on the infinite slope model, the 3D failure mechanism is more rational for its advantage in taking the out-of-plane geometries and soil properties into consideration. The soils in engineering practice are mostly unsaturated in nature and are commonly characterized with an arbitrary distribution of the moisture content, i.e., the matric suction, and therefore the formation of the work balance equation becomes much more elaborated using traditional methods. To tackle the nonlinear features of matric suction, a semi-analytical method is presented and is validated through comparisons with the benchmark solutions. The hillslope stability under seismic and pore water pressure conditions are both numerically studied. The results are presented in forms of graphs for a practical range of parameters, indicating the significance in accounting for the influences of 3D constraints, seismic loads and pore water pressures in hillslope stability assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsaturated soils often show complex coupled hydro-mechanical behavior. We present a simple way to explore the 1D compression mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils under a constant degree of saturation by controlling the sample void ratio and suction. The experimental results presented here verify that the proposed method can control the degree of saturation during compression. The experimental data show that the hardening factor exhibits a linear relationship with the logarithmic degree of saturation. We apply a volume change equation using the hardening factor and effective stress as basic variables to simulate the hydro-mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils. We conducted numerical simulations to assess the model performance. Comparisons between the experimental data and simulations indicate that the model can well reproduce the mechanical and hydraulic response of unsaturated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage vB_PaeP_LP14 belonging to the family Podoviridae was isolated from infected mink. The microbiological characterization revealed that LP14 was stable at 40 to 50 °C and stable over a broad range of pH (5 to 12). The latent period was 5 min, and the burst size was 785 pfu/infected cell. The whole-genome sequencing showed that LP14 was a dsDNA virus and has a genome of 73,080 bp. The genome contained 93 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), 17 of which have known functions including DNA replication and modification, transcriptional regulation, structural and packaging proteins, and host cell lysis. No tRNA genes were identified. BLASTn analysis revealed that phage LP14 had a high-sequence identity (96%) with P. aeruginosa phage YH6. Both morphological characterization and genome annotation indicate that phage LP14 is a memberof the family Podoviridae genus Litunavirus. The study of phage LP14 will provide basic information for further research on treatment of P. aeruginosa infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the performance of Ni-doped spinel-type LiMn2O4 (doping concentration 6.25%) for Li-ion batteries is studied using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. It is found that Ni substituted for Mn3+ is the most favored in thermodynamics. After Ni-doping, the unit cell volume is reduced (about 0.6%), while the Mn3+ adjacent to the dopant Ni is oxidized to Mn4+, thus reducing the probability of Jahn–Teller distortion and disproportionation reactions. For Ni-doped spinel-type LiMn2O4 (Li8Mn15NiO32), Li ions in the Mn environment are easier to extract, while Mn3+ is the first to be oxidized; the first delithiation voltage increases by ∼ 12.6% to 4.457 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the connectivity of fish among different typical habitats is important for conducting ecosystem-based management, particularly when designing marine protected areas (MPA) or setting MPA networks. To clarify of connectivity among mangrove, seagrass beds, and coral reef habitats in Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, the fish community structure was studied in wet and dry seasons of 2018. Gill nets were placed across the three habitat types, and the number of species, individuals, and body size of individual fish were recorded. In total, 3 815 individuals belonging to 154 species of 57 families were collected. The highest number of individuals and species was documented in mangroves (117 species, 2 623 individuals), followed by coral reefs (61 species, 438 individuals) and seagrass beds (46 species, 754 individuals). The similarity tests revealed highly significant differences among the three habitats. Approximately 23.4% species used two habitats and 11.0% species used three habitats. A significant difference (p<0.05) in habitat use among eight species (Mugil cephalus, Gerres oblongus, Siganus fuscescens, Terapon jarbua, Sillago maculata, Upeneus tragula, Lutjanus russellii, and Monacanthus chinensis) was detected, with a clear ontogenetic shift in habitat use from mangrove or seagrass beds to coral reefs. The similarity indices suggested that fish assemblages can be divided into three large groups namely coral, seagrass, and mangrove habitat types. This study demonstrated that connectivity exists between mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum in Wenchang area; therefore, we recommend that fish connectivity should be considered when designing MPAs or MPA network where possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to give full play to the value of mental health education courses in colleges and universities and help students understand the relevant knowledge, thus helping to alleviate their own psychological problems, this paper uses the evaluation feedback of mental health courses in colleges and universities to conduct in-depth learning, and further optimize the mental health education courses in colleges and universities. College students, as a seemingly relaxed group, actually bear tremendous pressure. Many pressures, such as study, life, emotion, interpersonal communication, and graduate employment, have seriously affected the mental health of college students. Increasingly prominent mental health problems have attracted the attention of colleges and universities. Domestic colleges and universities have gradually opened mental health education courses, aiming at helping students find breakthroughs in the problem, thereby promoting students' physical and mental development and adapting to the current and developing social environment with the positive and normal psychological state. However, the existing mental health education curriculum in colleges and universities cannot play its role effectively. The general evaluation criteria make the teaching activities less effective, and the students fail to understand the content of the mental health education curriculum well. Therefore, this paper uses the evaluation feedback information of the mental health curriculum in colleges and universities to conduct an in-depth study, optimize the mental health curriculum, and improve the mental health of colleges and universities. The teaching mode of health course enables students to have a deeper understanding of the content of mental health education. It can really help students alleviate psychological pressure and solve psychological problems, which is conducive to the healthy development of universities and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lipase gene was cloned from Trichosporon fermentans Y3, subcloned into pPICZαA, and then expressed in Pichia pastoris X33. The lipase (lipRT), which was obtained using a 50-L bioreactor, had maximum activity of 6000 U/mL. It had an optimum pH 8.0 and remained stable between pH 3.0 and 11.0, while its optimum temperature was 45 °C, maintaining more than 55% of optimum activity between 20 and 35 °C. To evaluate the potential application of lipRT as an aquafeed additive for juvenile grouper (Epinephelus coioides), fish with initial weight 13.31 ± 0.26 g were randomly divided into 12 sea cages and fed five formulated diets (labeled diets 1 to 4). Diets 1–4 were formulated to include 8% crude lipid and serial levels of lipRT (0 U/kg, 50 U/kg, 500 U/kg, and 1000 U/kg). The results showed that WG, FE, and PER of fish as well as ACH50, LSZ, and O2− production ratio in serum of fish on diets 3 and 4 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those on diets 1 and 2. The present data suggests that lipRT could improve the utilization of lipid and some nonspecific immunological parameters, and therefore could potentially be used as an aquafeed additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal homeostasis of mammals is constrained by body-size scaling. Consequently, small mammals require considerable energy to maintain a high mass-specific metabolic rate (MSMR) and sustain target body temperature. In association with gut microbiota, mammalian hosts acquire absorbable molecules and fulfill their metabolic requirements. Our objective was to characterize gut microbes in wild mammals and relate those findings to host body-size scaling. Two large (Petaurista philippensis grandis and P. alborufus lena), one medium (Trogopterus xanthipes) and one small (Pteromys volans orii) species of flying squirrels (FS) were studied. Using 16S rRNA genes, 1,104 OTUs were detected from four FS, with 1.99% of OTUs shared among all FS. Although all FS gut microbiota were dominated by Firmicutes, they were constituted by different bacterial families. Moreover, Bacteroidetes accounted for up to 19% of gut microbiota in small FS, but was absent in large FS. Finally, based on metagenome predictions, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism genes were enriched in small body-size FS. In conclusion, gut microbiota compositions and predictive metabolic functions were characteristic of body-size in FS, consistent with their adaptations to folivorous dietary niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the sexual dimorphism in terms of gonadal development and gametogenesis of mud crab has been described, the internal regulating mechanism and sex differentiation process remain unclear. A comparative gonadal miRNA transcriptomic study was conducted to identify miRNAs that are differentially expressed between testes and ovaries, and potentially uncover miRNAs that might be involved in sex differentiation and gonadal maturation mechanisms of mud crabs (Scylla paramamosain). A total of 10 known miRNAs and 130 novel miRNAs were identified, among which 54 were differentially expressed. Target gene prediction revealed a significant enrichment in 30 KEGG pathways, including some reproduction-related pathways, e.g. phosphatidylinositol signalling system and inositol phosphate metabolism pathways. Further analysis on six differentially expressed known miRNAs, six differentially expressed novel miRNAs and their reproduction-related putative target genes shows that both miRNAs and putative target genes showed stage-specific expression during gonadal maturation, suggesting their potential regulatory roles in sex differentiation and reproductive development. This study reveals the sex-biased miRNA profile and establishes a solid foundation for understanding the sex differentiation and gonadal maturation mechanisms of S. paramamosain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient metal oxides-based gas sensing materials and photocatalytic materials require proper morphology, surface and interface structure designing. In this work, highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles with controllable sizes were decorated on different TiO2 (hierarchical TiO2 nanoflowers with {010} facets and TiO2 nanosheets with {001} facets). Their gas sensing and photocatalytic degradation performance were studied. It was demonstrated that both the acetone sensing and methyl orange photocatalytic degradation performance were significantly enhanced by decorating Pt nanoparticles on the hierarchical TiO2 nanoflowers with {010} facets, while Pt nanoparticles decorated on the TiO2 nanosheets with {001} facets had little contribution to the improved performance. The discrepancy in gas sensing and photocatalytic activity of Pt/TiO2 heterojunctions were related to the differential electronic interaction between Pt and different crystal facets, which was confirmed by the density functional theory calculations. Moreover, an interesting transformation from n- to p-type acetone sensing behavior with the increase in Pt content was found, which presented a promising way for gas discrimination. These findings not only shed light on the designing of efficient gas sensing and photocatalytic materials through the synergistic effect of crystal facets engineering, hierarchical structures modulation and facet-selective deposition of Pt nanoparticles, but also deepen the knowledge of noble metal/metal oxides interfacial interactions for high-activity gas sensing and photocatalytic reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) is a valuable marine fishery resource in Indo-West Pacific Ocean. So far, rare genetic resource of this species is available. In this report, the restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) approach was employed to mine the genomic information and identify molecular markers in P. pelagicus. A total of 0.82 Gbp clean data were generated from the genome of individual “X2A”. De novo assembly produced 85,796 contigs with an average length of 339 bp. A total of 45,464 putative SNPs and 17,983 microsatellite loci were identified from the genomes of ten individuals. Furthermore, 31 pairs of primers were successfully designed, with 16 of them exhibiting polymorphism in a wild population. For these polymorphic loci, the expected and observed alleles per locus ranged from 1.064 to 7.314 and from 2 to 11, respectively. The expected and observed heterozygosity per locus ranged from 0.0615 to 0.819 and from 0.0626 to 1.000, respectively. Nine loci showed high informative with polymorphism information content (PIC) > 0.5. Five loci significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the samples analyzed. No linkage disequilibrium was found among the 16 polymorphic microsatellite loci. This study provided massive genetic resource and polymorphic molecular markers that should be helpful for studies on conservation genetics, population dynamics and genetic diversity of P. pelagicus and related crab species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome acute physiological stress from frequent exposure to high irradiance levels and emersion stress, seaweeds colonizing intertidal zones generate valuable secondary metabolites. Their chemical composition is influenced by spatial changes in environmental parameters, and bioactivities closely linked to specific compounds change accordingly. We measured antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of 26 species in ten intertidal zones of eastern Guangdong, China, and examined the possible effects of abiotic factors. Most brown algae exhibited higher antioxidative activity and total phenol content than red algae and green algae, while most brown algae and green algae revealed more efficient antimicrobial activity than red algae. Their activities were also affected by the environment of their intertidal habitats. Similar antioxidative ability or total phenol content were found in seaweeds settled in high-, middle- and low-tide zones, while more positively antimicrobial ability was discovered in seaweeds colonizing the low-tide zone than in those in middle- and high-tide zones. These differences were mainly caused by the different stress levels of sun exposure, nutrition and desiccation, as well as temperature and salinity fluctuations in various tidal regions. Seaweeds colonizing coastal waters and experiencing stresses such as low salinity, limited dissolved oxygen (DO) or rich nutrition exhibited superior antioxidative ability and total phenol content. This result was further strengthened by the finding that the antioxidative ability and total phenol content of Ulva fasciata were positively affected by nutrition and negatively influenced by DO or salinity. The antioxidative activity and total phenol content of Sargassum vachellianum were also positively affected by ammonium-nitrogen. No similar trend was found in the antimicrobial activity of seaweeds. Our results suggested an effect of abiotic factors on the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of intertidal seaweeds in the wild, and may allow for selective gathering high-activity category in terms of algal species and local environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aseptic implant loosening is a devastating long-term complication of total joint arthroplasty. It is mainly initiated by the interaction of wear debris and macrophages. However, how does the chronic inflammation persist and how to stop it is poorly understood. Sphingosine kinases (SPHKs) are an essential feature of immunosuppressive M2 polarisation in macrophages and a promoter for chronic inflammation. In this study, RAW 264.7 macrophages were exposed to stimulation with titanium particles (0.1 mg/ml), and the subsequent expression of SPHKs and pro-inflammatory cytokines was evaluated. The effect of inhibitors of SPHKs (FTY720, PF543, and ABC294640) on titanium particle-challenged macrophages was analysed. As for results, the amount of sphingosine kinase (SPHK)-1 and SPHK-2 in RAW264.7 macrophages increased in the presence of titanium particles in a time-dependent manner. Two inhibitors of SPHKs (FTY720 and ABC294640) suppressed titanium particle-induced tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 production in RAW264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that persistent stimulation with titanium particles may lead to a consistent release of TNF-α and IL-6 via SPHK-2 activity, which may lead to aseptic implant loosening. Appropriate regulation of SPHK-2 may serve as a potential new strategy in the treatment of aseptic implant loosening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular mechanism underlying sex determination and gonadal differentiation of the mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) has received considerable attention, due to the remarkably biological and economic differences between sexes. However, sex-biased genes, especially non-coding genes, which account for these differences, remain elusive in this crustacean species. In this study, the first de novo gonad transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify both differentially expressed genes and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) between male and female S. paramamosain by using Illumina Hiseq2500. A total of 79,282,758 and 79,854,234 reads were generated from ovarian and testicular cDNA libraries, respectively. After filtrating and de novo assembly, 262,688 unigenes were produced from both libraries. Of these unigenes, 41,125 were annotated with known protein sequences in public databases. Homologous genes involved in sex determination and gonadal development pathways (Sxl-Tra/Tra-2-Dsx/Fru, Wnt4, thyroid hormone synthesis pathway, etc.) were identified. Three hundred and sixteen differentially expressed unigenes were further identified between both transcriptomes. Meanwhile, a total of 233,078 putative lncRNAs were predicted. Of these lncRNAs, 147 were differentially expressed between sexes. qRT-PCR results showed that nine lncRNAs negatively regulated the expression of eight genes, suggesting a potential role in sex differentiation. These findings will provide fundamental resources for further investigation on sex differentiation and regulatory mechanism in crustaceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the synthesis of monoclinic WO nanostructures with highly reactive (002) facets exposed through a facile hydrothermal method using boric acid as the guiding agent. The obtained WO plate films exhibit an excellent photocurrent density of 1.64 mA/cm at 1.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and an IPCE value of 66.7% at 355 nm at a bias of 0.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Furthermore, a maximum 2.8-time higher formic acid yields was obtained in a versatile photoanode-driven PEC CO reduction system. The pronounced enhancement in photoelectrocatalytic activity can be attributed to the reduced recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, longer electron lifetime, larger photogenerated carrier density, higher reactivity for water oxidation and more effective production of active oxygen species on exposed (002) facets, which were obtained through the capping effect of boric acid. This work provides a facile and promising approach to synthesize the specific facet-exposed photocatalysts with better photoelectrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of yolk-shell structured TiO mesoporous microspheres was demonstrated. Titanium sulfate was used as titanium source, urea and ammonium fluoride were used as morphology-controlling agents. The synthesis process was economical and environmental-friendly. Various characterization techniques were employed to clarify the micro-morphological features of the yolk-shell TiO microspheres. By controlling the reaction time, the microspheres with tunable interior structure from solid to yolk-shell structure was obtained. The possible formation mechanism of the yolk-shell TiO microspheres was discussed in detail according to a series of contrast experiments. Importantly, the yolk-shell TiO microspheres were successfully applied as gas sensing material for the first time. Thanks to the distinctive configuration (hollow interiors and porous shells), the yolk-shell TiO microspheres exhibited an obvious improvement in response to acetone compared with the solid TiO mesoporous microspheres and mono-morphological TiO nanoparticles. Moreover, the yolk-shell TiO microspheres also showed a potential application in the field of photocatalysis. This work not only provides a new approach for the synthesis of yolk-shell TiO with tunable interior structure, but also offers a new material platform for gas sensing application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report exploiting effective Sn incorporation to enhance the photoelectrochemical activity of WO plate films, applied as photoanodes for photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) CO reduction into formic acid (HCOOH). The in situ Sn-doped WO films were prepared on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates by a hydrothermal method with adding NaSnO as the Sn precursor. Sn dopants were confirmed with an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which enlarged the growth density and crystallinity of WO plate films. Comparing the PEC properties, Sn-doped WO anode exhibits a photocurrent density of 1.11 mA/cm at 1.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which is approximately 1.4 times higher than that of the undoped films. The highest IPCE value increased from 28.3% to 45.1% after Sn doping, which is approximately 1.6 times higher than that of the undoped ones. After 3 h for PEC reduction of CO, the maximum formic acid yield of Sn-doped WO film is 485 nmol/cm, while that of undoped WO film is 206 nmol/cm. Based on the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical analysis, the enhanced PEC performance in Sn-doped WO films owes to its improved carriers density, electrical conductivity, and electrons lifetime. This is the first report to investigate the effect of Sn doping on the photoelectrochemical properties of WO nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a modified slurry consolidation approach to reconstitute triaxial specimens was developed within an experimental program to study the influence of drying-wetting on the cyclic behaviors of unsaturated soils. The uniformity of the reconstituted specimens was assessed by measuring the dry density, water content, grain size distribution and the soil water characteristic curve throughout the specimens. Additionally, the static and cyclic triaxial tests were performed to further verify the ability of this new slurry consolidation method for preparing identical specimens. All the test results report very small differences between specimens. The slurry consolidation approach presented herein can produce specimens with a high initial degree of saturation of about 96%, expediting the subsequent saturation process. Finally, the cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on the unsaturated soils to investigate the influence of drying-wetting on the cyclic behaviors of unsaturated soils. Drying-wetting has an irreversible influence on the cyclic behaviors of unsaturated soils. The cyclic strength is increased after drying-wetting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Abstract, it is mistakenly mentioned as "177,305 bp" instead of "77,305 bp" and the correct sentence is as follows: The whole genome sequencing revealed that DE5 had a double-stranded DNA genome of 77,305 bp with 42.09% G+C content. B Correction to: Virus Genes b https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-022-01964-y The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error in "Abstract" section. Correction: Whole genome sequencing and annotation of a lysogenic phage vB EcoP DE5 isolated from donkey-derived Escherichia coli. [Extracted from the article]

AC was supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) under the "First Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Faculty members and Researchers and the procurement of high-cost research equipment grant" (Project Number: 2340). ADM acknowledges the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreements No 869300 (FutureMARES)." Correction to: Biodiversity and Conservation https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02326-0 In the original publication of the article, the last sentence of the funding statement was inadvertently missed to be included. [Extracted from the article]

To understand the genetic diversity and population changes in cyanophages in the coastal waters of Shantou, northeast South China Sea, we used the capsid assembly protein gene g20 as a marker of the abundance and phylogeny of natural cyanomyovirus communities. The abundance of total viruses, heterotrophic bacteria, and picophytoplankton in the coastal waters was monitored with flow cytometry. Hydrological parameters (NO, NO, NH, soluble reactive phosphorus, total dissolved nitrogen, total dissolved phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a concentration) and microbial abundance (total viruses, total bacteria, Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus, and eukaryotes) were measured in the upper and lower layers at four sampling sites in the research area. In the direct viral counts, cyanomyoviruses accounted for 1.92% to >10% of the total viral community. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the g20 sequences in the Shantou coastal waters were very diverse, distributed in eight distinct operational taxonomic units, including the newly formed Cluster W. The g20 gene copies inferred from real time PCR assay indicated that cyanomyoviruses were correlated significantly with the heterotrophic bacteria numbers and the nitrate and chlorophyll a concentrations. These results suggest that cyanomyoviruses are ubiquitous and are an abundant component of the virioplankton in Shantou coastal waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are essential in lots of important physiological processes, while, many marine species have no or limited ability of endogenous PUFA biosynthesis, normally due to the lack of key enzymes such as fatty acid desaturase (FAD). In this study, we isolated a scallop Chlamys nobilis cDNA with high homology to vertebrate FADs. Functional characterization in recombinant yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed that scallop FAD exhibited Δ5-desaturation activity towards both saturated and PUFA substrates. Thus, it efficiently desaturated exogenously added PUFA C20:4(n − 3) and C20:3(n − 6) to C20:5(n − 3) (EPA) and C20:4(n − 6) (ARA) respectively. It also converted the yeast's endogenous C18:0 into C18:1(n − 13), and participated in the biosynthesis of non-methylene-interrupted FA by introducing a double bond to C20:3(n − 3) and C20:2(n − 6) in the Δ5 carbon. Temporal transcript profile of scallop FAD was studied during early embryonic development. High level of mRNA was found at the beginning of embryogenesis (egg) and noticeable decreases of were observed during larvae development, suggesting maternal FAD mRNA transfer to the embryo. Further, FAD transcripts were detected in all tissues analyzed, with the gonad and hepatopancreas showing the highest expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the impacts of climate variability and human activities, there are statistically significant decreasing trends for streamflow in the Yellow River basin, China. Therefore, it is crucial to separate the impacts of climate variability and human activities on streamflow decrease for better water resources planning and management. In this study, the Qinhe River basin (QRB), a typical sub-basin in the middle reach of the Yellow River, was chosen as the study area to assess the impacts of climate variability and human activities on streamflow decrease. The trend and breakpoint of observed annual streamflow from 1956 to 2010 were identified by the nonparametric Mann-Kendall test. The results showed that the observed annual streamflow decreased significantly ( P < 0.05) and a breakpoint around 1973 was detected. Therefore, the time series was divided into two periods: 'natural period' (before the breakpoint) and 'impacted period' (after the breakpoint). The observed annual streamflow decreased by 68.1 mm from 102.3 to 34.2 mm in the two periods. The climate elasticity method and hydrological model were employed to separate the impacts of climate variability and human activities on streamflow decrease. The results indicated that climate variability was responsible for 54.1 % of the streamflow decrease estimated by the climate elasticity method and 59.3 % estimated by the hydrological modeling method. Therefore, the climate variability was the main driving factor for streamflow decrease in the QRB. Among these driving factors of natural and anthropogenic, decrease in precipitation and increase in water diversion were the two major contributions of streamflow reduction. The finding in this study can serve as a reference for regional water resources management and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homogenate and vacuum infiltration-centrifugation were adopted and compared in carrot antifreeze proteins (CaAFPs) extraction, and effects of CaAFPs on thermophysical properties, texture properties, cooking properties, and microstructure of frozen white salted noodles were studied. Results showed that the vacuum infiltration-centrifugation was more targeted than homogenate in CaAFPs extraction, while its protein extraction rate was much lower than homogenate. Differential scanning calorimeter measurement showed that CaAFPs could not only lower the initial point of freezing ( T) and the end point of freezing ( T′) of water but also decrease the freezable water content. It also confirmed that CaAFPs were enriched in apoplast extract. The addition of CaAFPs could lower the enthalpy of melting of frozen noodles. V-CaAFPs could lower T′ of frozen noodles but the T′ of H-noodles was slightly increased. Freezable water content of frozen noodles was decreased by the addition of CaAFPs and T″ of them was increased. Texture profile analysis showed that texture properties of white salted noodles were significantly influenced ( p < 0.05) by the addition of CaAFPs. Cooking properties of frozen white salted noodles were also significantly enhanced ( p < 0.05) by increasing cooking absorption and reducing dry material loss. NMR measurement showed that the addition of CaAFPs could shift water from mobile state to less mobile state. Microstructure of noodles suggested that the addition of CaAFPs could protect the gluten network from the damage caused by freezing and temperature fluctuation, which resulted in an integrated gluten network in white salted noodles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of simultaneous bilateral carotid artery stenting (BCAS) compared with staged BCAS in patients with bilateral atherosclerotic carotid stenosis (BCS). From January 2004 to March 2012, 68 patients who underwent BCAS were identified from the Nanjing Stroke Registry Program. Of these patients, 42 (61.8 %) underwent simultaneous BCAS (simultaneous group), and 26 (38.2 %) underwent staged BCAS (staged group). We compared demographic data, major vascular risk factors, procedural parameters, and 30 day outcomes between the simultaneous and staged groups. No significant differences were detected in baseline data between the groups. Patients in the simultaneous group had a lower post-operative systolic pressure compared with the staged group (119.1 ± 16.1 vs. 130.2 ± 17.5 mmHg, P = 0.009). Technical success was 100 % of patients in the simultaneous group and 98.1 % in the staged group. Hemodynamic depression was observed in 57.4 % of procedures, with no significant difference between groups in the rate of HD. Four (5.9 %) patients had neurological complications within 30 days, including two cases of hyperperfusion syndrome in the simultaneous group, and two ischemic events in the staged group. There was no significant difference in the 30 day complication rate between the simultaneous and staged groups (4.8 vs. 7.7 %, P = 0.633). Simultaneous BCAS may be safe and feasible for most patients with BCS, with a similar 30 day complication rate to staged BCAS. Multicenter randomized control studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to further explore the safety and efficacy of simultaneous BCAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria produce phosphatases in response to phosphorus deficiency as some other autotrophs. However, little has been documented on the effects of key climate change factors, such as temperature rise and solar UV radiation (280-400 nm), on cyanobacterial alkaline phosphatase activity. Here, we found that the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme showed higher activity of the enzyme with increasing temperature and pH levels, exhibiting maximal values at 45 °C and pH 11, respectively. However, when exposed to solar radiation in the presence of UV-A (320-400 nm) and UV-B (280-320 nm), significant reduction of the enzyme activity was observed at a photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) level of 300 W m (1,450 μmol photons m s), which is equivalent or lower than the noontime level of solar PAR at the organism's habitats. UV-A and UV-A + UV-B induced about 21 and 39 % inhibition of the enzyme activity in the 3-h exposures. The decrease in the activity of phosphatase can be attributed to the UV radiation-induced inactivation of the enzyme and indirectly to the UV radiation-induced production of reactive oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine edible fish samples were collected from two important nearshore fishing sites in the eastern Guangdong Province, China: Shantou Harbor and Haimen Bay. In the mixed edible muscle tissues of marine fish samples, the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), chlordanes, and hexachlorobenzene ranged from 1.12 to 53.87, ND (not detected) to 84.01, 0.22 to 7.09, ND to 4.74, and ND to 1.49 ng/g wet weight (ww) in Haimen Bay, respectively, and from ND to 70.35, ND to 164.83, ND to 8.68, ND to 25.61, and ND to 1.76 ng/g ww in Shantou Harbor, respectively. The concentrations of PCBs, DDTs, and HCHs in all samples did not exceed maximum residue limits (China and United States Food and Drug Administration). However, a few fish samples exceed the maximum levels established by the European Union. Daily fish consumption from this region can be of serious concern, and lifetime cancer risk remains a possibility in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central route of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project would divert water from the Danjiangkou Reservoir basin (DRB) to Beijing beginning in the year 2014. The current main surface water source for Beijing is the Miyun Reservoir basin (MRB). The observed streamflows into the DRB and the MRB decreased significantly due to climatic variation and human activities from 1960 to 2005. The climate elasticity method is widely used to quantitatively separate the impacts of climatic variation and human activities on streamflow. One of the uncertainties of the method is that the impacts of changes in precipitation and potential evapotranspiration on streamflow are separated with the assumption that they are independent. However, precipitation and potential evapotranspiration are not totally independent. Aridity index, as the ratio between potential evapotranspiration and precipitation, could be considered as the representative indicator of climatic variation. In this study, the sensitivity of streamflow to aridity index is evaluated to assess the impact of climatic variation on streamflow in the DRB and the MRB. The result shows that streamflow in the MRB is more sensitive to climatic variation than that in the DRB. However, the effective impact of aridity index on streamflow is the product of the sensitivity and the change rate of aridity index. The attribution results show that change in aridity index contributed 68.8 % of the decrease in streamflow in the DRB while it contributed 31.5 % of the decrease in streamflow in the MRB. This indicated that the impact of climatic variation was the main reason of decrease in streamflow in the DRB while human activities such as increasing water consumption and land use change were the main reasons of decreasing streamflow in the MRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the risk factors and complications of difficult retrieval (DR) of embolic protection devices (EPDs) in carotid artery stenting (CAS). Methods: A total of 195 consecutive patients who underwent CAS between December 2007 and March 2010 in a general hospital were enrolled and divided into two groups: with DR and without DR. The risk factors of DR were analyzed with univariate and multivariate analyses. The complications of DR were recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 30 (15.4%) patients with DR of EPDs were observed, of whom EPDs were successfully retrieved in 29, and in 1 was it taken out by surgical treatment. The retrieval time was significantly longer in patients with DR (490.5 ± 143.9 s) than in patients without DR (157.2 ± 15.7 s, p = 0.000). Vasospasm was observed more frequently in patients with DR than in patients without DR (55.2% vs. 14.5%, p = 0.000). Intracranial compilations were more frequent in patients with DR than in those without DR (17.2% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.000). Calcified plaques, degree of residual stenosis, types of the stents, and tortuosity index (TI > 80°) were all associated with DR. A logistic regression analysis indicated that calcified plaques (odds ratio (OR) = 6.5; p = 0.000) and TI > 80° (OR = 18.8; p = 0.000) were independent predictors of DR. Conclusions: Calcified plaques and TI > 80° may be related to DR in patients with CAS. DR may lengthen the retrieving time and increase the complications of the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomarkers associated with coronary artery lesions (CAL) secondary to Kawasaki disease (KD) in Chinese children were investigated by using Meta-analysis. We searched documents published from January 1997 to December 2009 from medical electronic databases. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, eligible full-text papers were identified. We conducted a comprehensive quantitative analysis by using Stata10.0 statistical software package to assess the heterogeneity among the documents, calculated the summary effect and analyze publication bias and sensitivity. A total of 92 documents and 16 biomarkers were identified. All documents were case-control studies, and included 2398 patients in CAL group and 5932 patients in non-CAL (NCAL) group. The Meta-analysis showed that the levels of platelet count, platelet hematocrit (PCT), neutrophils count, platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in CAL group were significantly higher than those in NCAL group, and serum albumin (Alb) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were significantly lower in CAL group (all P<0.05). White blood cell (WBC) count, serum sodium, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), total cholesterol (TC), hematocrit (HCT) and CD3+T lymphocytes percentage had no statistically significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion, our results indicated that the 10 biomarkers including platelet count, neutrophils count, PCT, PDW, MPV, ESR, cTnI, ET-1, Alb and Hb were associated with CAL, and may be involved in the pathogenesis of CAL. The biomarkers of WBC count, serum sodium, MMP-9, TC, HCT, and CD3+T lymphocytes percentage bore no relationship with the development of CAL among Chinese children with KD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]