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Penaeus vannamei, a high yield economical shrimp, is confronting germplasm degradation in the brine culture environments found in China. Genetic improvement by hybridization is an effective way to solve this problem. In this study, EB and CE hybrid was obtained from Guam wild B, C and E families from Shanghai Ocean University. EB and CE were used as parents to obtain genetic hybrids suitable for freshwater culture. The control group was shrimp imported from the Hainan Lutai Company. The two groups of shrimp were cultured for 3 months under salinities of 1‰, 5‰, and 15‰. Growth performance-related indicators, biochemical composition, and growth-related gene expression were examined. The results showed that at salinities of 1‰ and 5‰, the survival rate and growth performance of the low salt breeding group were better than those of the imported population. The digestive enzyme activity in the low salt breeding group was higher, which was consistent with its better growth performance, and was also associated with higher triglyceride, total cholesterol, and glycogen content. Lower levels of lactic acid indicated less anaerobic metabolism and better adaptability to the environment. The amino acid analysis of fatty acids showed that levels of essential amino acids and high unsaturated fatty acids were both higher in the low-salt breeding group than in the imported shrimp cultured in low salinity. The expression levels of genes associated with growth and hair removal were also higher in the low salt breeding group than in the imported shrimp group. The results indicated that the hybrid shrimp showed better growth performance and nutritional advantages compared with the imported shrimp under salinities of 1‰ and 5‰. This research provided a valuable reference for subsequent genetic breeding and shrimp culture.

Pan Fu, Bihong Zhu, Yangping Huang On behalf of Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging InitiativeDepartment of Neurology, Taizhou First People’s Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yangping HuangDepartment of Neurology, Taizhou First People’s Hospital, 218 Hengjie Road, Huangyan District, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail hypnihao@163.comPurpose: Emerging studies have suggested that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and that cerebral glucose hypometabolism is a key feature of AD. However, the association of CSF TNF-α levels with changes in cerebral glucose metabolism has not been studied among non-demented older people.Patients and Methods: At baseline, there were a total of 214 non-demented older people from Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) study. We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of CSF TNF-α with global cognition (as assessed by mini-mental state examination), verbal memory (as assessed by Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test-total learning score), and cerebral glucose metabolism (as measured by FDF-PET). Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the longitudinal association of CSF TNF- α with change in each outcome over time with adjustment of age, educational level, gender, and APOE4 status.Results: In the cross-sectional study, CSF TNF-α was negatively associated with MMSE scores, but not verbal memory or FDG-PET. In the longitudinal study, higher CSF TNF- α at baseline was associated with a faster decline in cerebral glucose metabolism, but not MMSE scores or RAVLT total learning scores.Conclusion: Higher CSF TNF-α levels were associated with a steeper decline in cerebral glucose metabolism among non-demented older people.Keywords: mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, TNF-α, cerebral glucose metabolism, FDG-PET

Purpose Increasing evidence suggests that both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and synaptic failure have been involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is not clear whether CSF VEGF levels are associated with synaptic function in living human. Patients and Methods In the present study, we included a total of 291 older individuals, including 83 individuals with normal cognition (NC), 143 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 65 patients with AD. Several linear regression models were conducted to examine the associations of CSF VEGF with CSF neurogranin levels (NG, reflecting synaptic degeneration) when controlling for other potential confounding factors, including age, gender, years of education, clinical diagnosis, APOE4 genotype and CSF β-amyloid 42 (Aβ 42) levels. Results There was no significant difference in VEGF levels between the three diagnostic groups. In the pooled sample, females had significantly lower levels of VEGF than males. Aβ-positive (CSF Aβ 42 < 192 pg/mL) individuals had lower levels of VEGF than Aβ-negative individuals. However, the relationships between VEGF and NG levels were not modified by disease stage. Finally, we found that CSF VEGF levels were associated with NG levels with adjustment of age, gender, years of education, clinical diagnosis, APOE4 genotype and CSF Aβ 42 levels. Conclusion CSF VEGF levels were associated with NG independent of AD pathology and disease stage.

Purpose Although emerging evidence has suggested that clusterin is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the association of clusterin with synaptic degeneration in living human is unclear. In the present study, we aimed to examine the association of CSF clusterin levels with synaptic degeneration in individuals with different severities of cognitive impairment. Patients and methods In the present study, we compared levels of clusterin in CSF among individuals with normal cognition (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD. Further, linear regression models were performed to examine the association of CSF clusterin with neurogranin (NG, reflecting synaptic degeneration) with adjustment of several potential confounders. Results We found that CSF clusterin levels were positively correlated with NG in the NC and MCI groups, but not the AD group. In all subjects, linear regression models suggested that clusterin levels were positively associated with NG levels independent of age, gender, apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype, clinical diagnosis, and CSF Aβ42 levels. Conclusion Our data indicated that clusterin was associated with CSF NG levels among older individuals with different severities of cognitive impairment.

The wind environment around tall buildings in a central business district (CBD) was numerically investigated. The district covers an area of ~4.0 km2 and features a high density of tall buildings. In this study, only buildings taller than 20 m were considered, resulting in 173 tall buildings in the analysis. The numerical investigation was realized using the commercial computational fluid dynamics code FLUENT with the realizable k - e turbulence model. Special efforts were made to maintain inflow boundary conditions throughout the computational domain. The reliability of the numerical method was validated using results from an experimental investigation conducted in the core area of the CBD (~1.5 km2). Experimental and numerical investigations of wind speed ratios at the center of the three tallest buildings in the CBD agree within an uncertainty factor of 2.0. Both the experimental and numerical results show that wind speed ratios in the wind field with exposure category D are higher than those from the wind field with exposure category B. Based on the above validation work, the wind environment around tall buildings in the whole CBD was then investigated by numerical simulation. Common flow phenomena and patterns, such as stagnation points, shielding effects, separation flow, and channeling flow, were identified around the tall buildings. The pedestrian-level wind environment around tall buildings in the CBD was further evaluated using nearby meteorological wind data. The evaluation results show that some pedestrian activities, such as sitting at the center of the three tallest buildings, are unadvisable when the wind blows from the south-east.

Background and Purpose— The association of neutrophil and intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS) with the prognosis of stroke is uncertain. This study evaluated the relationship between neutrophil levels with and without ICAS and the prognosis of patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack. Methods— Data from the CHANCE trial (Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients With Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events) was reviewed. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the dichotomy of neutrophil counts and status of ICAS. The primary outcome was a new stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), and secondary outcomes included a new composite vascular event (stroke, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular death) and ischemic stroke. Safety outcome was any hemorrhage at 90 days. The association between neutrophil counts with and without ICAS and risk of any outcome was analyzed by Cox regression models. Results— Of 1034 patients included in this subgroup analysis, 91 had recurrent strokes. Compared with the lower neutrophil levels without ICAS, higher neutrophil levels with ICAS significantly increased the risk of stroke recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.19–4.31; P =0.01) and composite outcome (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.06–3.67; P =0.03). However, there was no safety issue. Conclusions— Concomitant presence of higher neutrophil levels and ICAS was associated with the increased risk of stroke recurrence, and combined adverse outcome events in patients already had minor ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT00979589.

ObjectiveEvidence about whether neutrophil counts or neutrophil ratio is associated with new stroke is scant. The aim of this study is to assess the association of neutrophil counts or neutrophil ratio with a new stroke in patients with minor stroke or TIA.MethodsWe derived data from the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients With Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events trial. Patients with a minor stroke or TIA were categorized into 4 groups according to the quartile of neutrophil counts or neutrophil ratio. The primary outcome was a new stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), and secondary outcomes included a new composite vascular event (stroke, myocardial infarction, or death resulting from cardiovascular causes) and ischemic stroke during the 90-day follow-up. We assessed the association between neutrophil counts, neutrophil ratio, and risk of new stroke.ResultsA total of 4,854 participants were enrolled, among whom 495 had new strokes at 90 days. Compared with the first quartile, the second, third, and fourth quartiles of neutrophil counts were associated with increased risk of new stroke (adjusted hazard ratio 1.40 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–1.87], 1.55 [95% CI 1.17–2.05], and 1.69 [95% CI 1.28–2.23], respectively, p for trend ConclusionHigh levels of both neutrophil counts and neutrophil ratio were associated with an increased risk of new stroke, composite events, and ischemic stroke in patients with a minor ischemic stroke or TIA.

Purpose Although emerging evidence has suggested that clusterin is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the association of clusterin with synaptic degeneration in living human is unclear. In the present study, we aimed to examine the association of CSF clusterin levels with synaptic degeneration in individuals with different severities of cognitive impairment. Patients and Methods In the present study, we compared levels of clusterin in CSF among individuals with normal cognition (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD. Further, linear regression models were performed to examine the association of CSF clusterin with neurogranin (NG, reflecting synaptic degeneration) with adjustment of several potential confounders. Results We found that CSF clusterin levels were positively correlated with NG in the NC and MCI groups, but not the AD group. In all subjects, linear regression models suggested that clusterin levels were positively associated with NG levels independent of age, gender, apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype, clinical diagnosis, and CSF Aβ42 levels. Conclusion Our data indicated that clusterin was associated with CSF NG levels among older individuals with different severities of cognitive impairment.