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The interactions between electrons and antiferromagnetic magnons (AFMMs) are important for a large class of correlated materials. For example, they are the most plausible pairing glues in high-temperature superconductors, such as cuprates and iron-based superconductors. However, unlike electron-phonon interactions (EPIs), clear-cut observations regarding how electron-AFMM interactions (EAIs) affect the band structure are still lacking. Consequently, critical information on the EAIs, such as its strength and doping dependence, remains elusive. Here we directly observe that EAIs induce a kink structure in the band dispersion of Ba1-xKxMn2As2, and subsequently unveil several key characteristics of EAIs. We found that the coupling constant of EAIs can be as large as 5.4, and it shows strong doping dependence and temperature dependence, all in stark contrast to the behaviors of EPIs. The colossal renormalization of electron bands by EAIs enhances the density of states at Fermi energy, which is likely driving the emergent ferromagnetic state in Ba1-xKxMn2As2 through a Stoner-like mechanism with mixed itinerant-local character. Our results expand the current knowledge of EAIs, which may facilitate the further understanding of many correlated materials where EAIs play a critical role.

As smart materials, electrorheological elastomers (EREs) formed by pre-treating active electrorheological particles are attracting more and more attention. In this work, four Mg-doped strontium titanate (Mg-STO) particles with spherical, dendritic, flake-like, and pinecone-like morphologies were obtained via hydrothermal and low-temperature co-precipitation. XRD, SEM, Raman, and FT-IR were used to characterize these products. The results showed that Mg-STOs are about 1.5-2.0 μm in size, and their phase structures are dominated by cubic crystals. These Mg-STOs were dispersed in a hydrogel composite elastic medium. Then, Mg-STO/glycerol/gelatin electrorheological composite hydrophilic elastomers were obtained with or without an electric field. The electric field response properties of Mg-doped strontium titanate composite elastomers were investigated. We concluded that dendritic Mg-STO composite elastomers are high-performance EREs, and the maximum value of their energy storage was 8.70 MPa. The significant electrorheological performance of these products is helpful for their applications in vibration control, force transducers, smart structures, dampers, and other fields.

D-Allulose 3-epimerase (DAE) is a vital biocatalyst for the industrial synthesis of D-allulose, an ultra-low calorie rare sugar. However, limited thermostability of DAEs hinders their use at high-temperature production. In this research, hyperthermophilic TI-DAE (Tm = 98.4 ± 0.7 ℃) from Thermotoga sp. was identified via in silico screening. A comparative study of the structure and function of site-directed saturation mutagenesis mutants pinpointed the residue I100 as pivotal in maintaining the high-temperature activity and thermostability of TI-DAE. Employing TI-DAE as a biocatalyst, D-allulose was produced from D-fructose with a conversion rate of 32.5%. Moreover, TI-DAE demonstrated excellent catalytic synergy with glucose isomerase CAGI, enabling the one-step conversion of D-glucose to D-allulose with a conversion rate of 21.6%. This study offers a promising resource for the enzyme engineering of DAEs and a high-performance biocatalyst for industrial D-allulose production., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Deep Ocean Water (DOW) is rich in minerals and serves as a natural source of nutrients. However, due to the inorganic nature of these minerals, cultivating yeast in DOW could aid in the fermentation process, and simultaneously, the yeast can assimilate the minerals from DOW, resulting in a mineral-enriched yeast biomass. Focusing on three DOW sources off the eastern coast of Taiwan (TT-1, HL-1, HL-2), we fermented various yeast strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Therefore, this study investigates the effects of DOW on yeast growth, alcohol dehydrogenase activity, and the biological absorption of mineral ions by the yeast. Additionally, this research employs two-dimensional electrophoresis techniques to examine how the absorbed minerals influence the regulation of yeast proteins, thereby affecting biomass and metabolism. In the result, S. cerevisiae BCRC 21689 demonstrated a remarkable ability to bio-absorb minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, and zinc from DOW, enhancing its growth and fermentation performance. Proteomic analysis revealed significant shifts in the expression of 21 proteins related to glycolytic and energy metabolism, alcohol metabolism, and growth regulation, all influenced by DOW's mineral-rich environment. This indicates that DOW's mineral content is a key factor in upregulating essential enzymes in glycolytic metabolism and alcohol dehydrogenase. An increase in proteins involved in synthesis and folding processes was also observed, leading to a substantial increase in yeast biomass. This study underscores the potential of DOW as a natural enhancer in yeast fermentation processes, enriching the yeast with diverse minerals and modulating proteomic expression to optimize yeast growth and fermentation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest in this paper., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Pneumoconiosis is an important occupational disease; the association between pneumoconiosis and depression was largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pneumoconiosis and the risk of subsequent depression., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Taiwan's National Health Insurance database. The study included 16,795 patients diagnosed with pneumoconiosis between 2008 and 2018 and a comparison cohort of 67,180 individuals without pneumoconiosis, propensity score matched in a 1:4 ratio based on age, sex, monthly income, residential urbanization level, and date of pneumoconiosis diagnosis. The development of depression was monitored until the end of 2019., Results: The incidence of depression was 1.68 times higher in the pneumoconiosis cohort than that in the comparison cohort, with an incidence rate of 10.07 versus 5.99 per 1000 person-years (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.84, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.70-1.99). The risk of depression increased with an increased mean annual number of emergency department visits for pneumoconiosis, with aHRs of 1.34 (95 % CI = 1.13-1.59) and 2.31 (95 % CI = 1.94-2.76) for 1 ≤ n < 2, and n ≥ 2 compared to n < 1, respectively., Limitation: The database lacked detailed socioeconomic history, family history, and clinical variables., Conclusion: This study found that patients with pneumoconiosis have a significantly higher risk of depression than those without pneumoconiosis. Furthermore, the risk of depression increases with the frequency of emergency department visits for pneumoconiosis. Healthcare professionals should pay close attention to the mental health of patients with pneumoconiosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This study was supported in part by the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare Clinical Trial Center, Taipei, Taiwan (MOHW112-TDU-B-212-124004) and China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (DMR-111-105). YTS has received consulting fees from the funders. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. No additional external funding received for this study. All other authors have no relevant disclosures., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an increasing population that is experiencing a wide range of long-lasting symptoms after recovery from the acute infection. Long COVID refers to this specific condition and is associated with diverse symptoms, such as fatigue, myalgias, dyspnea, headache, cognitive impairment, neurodegenerative symptoms, anxiety, depression, and a sense of despair. The potential of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to improve chronic fatigue, cognitive impairments, and neurological disorders has been established; therefore, the use of HBOT to treat long COVID has also been studied. We conducted a literature search between 1 January 2019 and 30 October 2023, focusing on the clinical efficacy and utility of HBOT for treating long COVID and found ten clinical studies that fit the review topic, including one case report, five one-group pretest-posttest design studies, one safety report from a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and three complete reports of RCTs. Most studies found that HBOT can improve quality of life, fatigue, cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and cardiopulmonary function. Although HBOT has shown some benefits for long COVID symptoms, further rigorous large-scale RCTs are required to establish precise indications, protocols, and post-treatment evaluations.

Background: Few dosimetric comparisons have been published between linear accelerator (LA)-based systems and CyberKnife (CK)-based robotic radiosurgery systems for cardiac radio-ablation in ventricular tachycardia. This study aimed to compare the dosimetry of noninvasive cardiac radio-ablation deliverable on LA with that on CK., Methods: Thirteen patients who underwent noninvasive cardiac radio-ablation by LA were included. The prescribed dose was 25 Gy in 1 fraction, and the average planning target volume was 49.8 ± 31.0 cm 3 (range, 14.4-93.7 cm 3 ). CK plans were generated for comparison., Results: Both the CK and LA plans accomplished appropriate dose coverage and normal tissue sparing. Compared with the LA plans, the CK plans achieved significantly lower gradient indices (3.12 ± 0.71 vs. 3.48 ± 0.55, p = 0.031) and gradient measures (1.00 ± 0.29 cm vs. 1.17 ± 0.29 cm, p < 0.001). They had similar equivalent conformity indices (CK vs. LA: 0.84 ± 0.08 vs. 0.87 ± 0.07, p = 0.093) and maximum doses 2 cm from the planning target volume (PTV) in any direction (CK vs. LA: 50.8 ± 9.9% vs. 53.1 ± 5.3%, p = 0.423). The dosimetric advantages of CK were more prominent in patients with a PTV of ≤ 50 cm 3 or a spherical PTV. In patients with a PTV of > 50 cm 3 or a non-spherical PTV, the LA and CK plans were similar regarding dosimetric parameters. CK plans involved more beams (232.2 ± 110.8 beams vs. 10.0 ± 1.7 arcs) and longer treatment times (119.2 ± 43.3 min vs. 22.4 ± 1.6 min, p = 0.007)., Conclusions: Both CK and LA are ideal modalities for noninvasive cardiac radio-ablation. Upfront treatment should be considered based on clinical intent., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Cordyceps cicadae , a medicinal fungus that is abundant in bioactive compounds such as N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA) and polysaccharides, possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and nerve damage recovery properties. Deep ocean water (DOW) contains minerals that can be absorbed and transformed into organic forms by fungi fermentation. Recent studies have shown that culturing C. cicadae in DOW can enhance its therapeutic benefits by increasing the levels of bioactive compounds and minerals' bioavailibility. In this study, we investigated the effects of DOW-cultured C. cicadae (DCC) on brain damage and memory impairment induced by D-galactose in rats. Our results indicate that DCC and its metabolite HEA can improve memory ability and exhibit potent antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging in D-galactose-induced aging rats ( p < 0.05). Additionally, DCC can mitigate the expression of inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), thereby preventing brain aging. Furthermore, DCC showed a significant decrease in the expression of the aging-related proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and presenilin 1 (PS1). By reducing brain oxidation and aging-related factors, DOW-cultured C. cicadae demonstrate enhanced anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, making it a promising therapeutic agent for preventing and treating age-related brain damage and cognitive impairment.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is known to alter the biventricular shape and temporal phases of the cardiac cycle. The presence of interventricular septal (IVS) displacement has been associated with the severity of PH. There has been limited cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) data regarding the temporal parameters of the cardiac cycle in PH. This study aimed to quantify the temporal changes in the cardiac cycle derived from CMR in PH patients with and without IVS displacement and sought to understand the mechanism of cardiac dysfunction in the cardiac cycle. Methods: Patients with PH who had CMR and right heart catheterization (RHC) examinations were included retrospectively. Patients were divided into an IVS non-displacement (IVSND) group and an IVS displacement (IVSD) group according to IVS morphology, as observed on short-axis cine CMR images. Additionally, age-matched healthy volunteers were included as the health control (HC). Temporal parameters, IVS displacement, ventricular volume and functional parameters were obtained by CMR, and pulmonary hemodynamics were obtained by RHC. The risk stratification of the PH patients was also graded according to the guidelines. Results: A total of 70 subjects were included, consisting of 33 IVSD patients, 15 IVSND patients, and 22 HC patients. In the IVSND group, only the right ventricle ejection fraction (RVEF) was decreased in the ventricular function, and no temporal change in the cardiac cycle was found. A prolonged isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) and shortened filling time (FT) in both ventricles, along with biventricular dysfunction, were detected in the IVSD group (p < 0.001). The IRT of the right ventricle (IRTRV) and FT of the right ventricle (FTRV) in the PH patients were associated with pulmonary vascular resistance, right cardiac index, and IVS curvature, and the IRTRV was also associated with the RVEF in a multivariate regression analysis. A total of 90% of the PH patients in the IVSD group were stratified into intermediate- and high-risk categories, and they showed a prolonged IRTRV and a shortened FTRV. The IRTRV was also the predictor of the major cardiovascular events. Conclusions: The temporal changes in the cardiac cycle were related to IVS displacement and mainly impacted the diastolic period of the two ventricles in the PH patients. The IRT and FT changes may provide useful pathophysiological information on the progression of PH.

During the last century, Grotta Romanelli (Southern Italy) has been a reference site for the European Late Pleistocene stratigraphy, due to its geomorphological setting and archaeological and palaeontological content. The beginning of the sedimentation inside the cave was attributed to the Last Interglacial (MISs 5e) and the oldest unearthed evidence of human occupation, including remains of hearths, was therefore referred to the Middle Palaeolithic. Recent surveys and excavations produced new U/Th dates, palaeoenvironmental interpretation and a litho-, morpho- and chrono-stratigraphical reassessment, placing the oldest human frequentation of the cave between MIS 9 and MIS 7, therefore embracing Glacial and Interglacial cycles. These new data provide evidence that the sea reached the cave during the Middle Pleistocene and human occupation occurred long before MISs 5e and persisted beyond the Pleistocene- Holocene boundary., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: Pain assessment based on facial expressions is an essential issue in critically ill patients, but an automated assessment tool is still lacking. We conducted this prospective study to establish the deep learning-based pain classifier based on facial expressions., Methods: We enrolled critically ill patients during 2020-2021 at a tertiary hospital in central Taiwan and recorded video clips with labeled pain scores based on facial expressions, such as relaxed (0), tense (1), and grimacing (2). We established both image- and video-based pain classifiers through using convolutional neural network (CNN) models, such as Resnet34, VGG16, and InceptionV1 and bidirectional long short-term memory networks (BiLSTM). The performance of classifiers in the test dataset was determined by accuracy, sensitivity, and F1-score., Results: A total of 63 participants with 746 video clips were eligible for analysis. The accuracy of using Resnet34 in the polychromous image-based classifier for pain scores 0, 1, 2 was merely 0.5589, and the accuracy of dichotomous pain classifiers between 0 vs. 1/2 and 0 vs. 2 were 0.7668 and 0.8593, respectively. Similar accuracy of image-based pain classifier was found using VGG16 and InceptionV1. The accuracy of the video-based pain classifier to classify 0 vs. 1/2 and 0 vs. 2 was approximately 0.81 and 0.88, respectively. We further tested the performance of established classifiers without reference, mimicking clinical scenarios with a new patient, and found the performance remained high., Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the practical application of deep learning-based automated pain assessment in critically ill patients, and more studies are warranted to validate our findings., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wu, Liu, Yu, Shih, Chang, Yang Mao, Li, Chen, Chen and Chao.)

Objective: This study aimed to compare the cardiac function among different sub-types of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and to explore the independent predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)., Methods: Eighty-seven PH patients diagnosed by right heart catheterization (RHC) were recruited. Patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and RHC examination within 2 weeks. The CMR images were analyzed to calculate the cardiac functional parameters including right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), end-systolic volume index (ESVI), stroke volume index (SVI), ejection fraction (EF), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and myocardial mass (MM). The median follow-up time was 46.5 months (interquartile range: 26-65.5 months), and the endpoints were the occurrence of MACE., Results: RVEDVI, LVEDVI, and LVESVI were higher in congenital heart disease-related PH (CHD-PH) than in other sub-types (p < 0.05). RVMM, RVSVI, and RVCI were highest in CHD-PH. There was no significant difference in the prognosis among different sub-types (p > 0.05). Comparing with the non-MACE group, RVEF, TAPSE, and LVSVI significantly decreased in the MACE group, while the RVESVI significantly increased (p < 0.05). TAPSE ≤ 15.65 mm and LVSVI ≤ 30.27 mL/m 2 were significant independent predictors of prognosis in PH patients., Conclusion: CHD-PH had a higher RV function reserve but lowest LVEF comparing to other subgroups. TAPSE and LVSVI could contribute to the prediction of MACE in PH patients., Key Points: • CMR imaging is a noninvasive and accurate tool to assess ventricular function. • CHD-PH had higher RV function reserve but lowest LVEF. • TAPSE and LVSVI could contribute to the prediction of MACE in PH patients., (© 2021. European Society of Radiology.)

Objective: To explore the correlations between the habit of betel quid and areca nut (BQ-AN) chewing and the prognosis of oral cancer (OC)., Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify this issue. Data searches were performed using PubMed, Web of Science, Epistemonikos, and Embase databases through November 2019. The primary outcome was the difference in the prognosis of OC between BQ-AN chewers and non-chewers, measured in terms of 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) log (HR) reported in articles. The pooled HR with 95% CI of 5-year OS and 5-year DSS was calculated using a fixed-effects model., Results: Ten articles with eleven OS or DSS survival studies (one of the articles contained two studies), which were published between 2003 and 2017, were eligible for inclusion in the present study. All the 11 studies were observational studies, among which 10 were retrospective and 1 was prospective. One study measured both OS and DSS. Eight studies, with a total of 2,761 patients, used 5-year OS as the primary endpoint and four studies, with a total of 2,551 patients, used 5-year DSS. Overall, the pooled HR evaluating BQ-AN chewers was 1.26 (95% CI: 1.09-1.46) for 5-year OS and 1.40 (95% CI: 1.15-1.70) for 5-year DSS, compared with non-chewers. There was a significant association between BQ-AN chewing and OC survival., Conclusions: Betel quid and areca nut chewing is significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with OC., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Uranium (U) geochemistry and its isotopic compositions of reservoir sediments in U mine area were poorly understood. Herein, U and Th isotopic compositions were employed to investigate source apportionment and geochemical behavior of U in 41 reservoir sediments from a U mining area, Guangdong, China. The remarkably high contents of both total U (207.3-1117.7 mg/kg) and acid-leachable U (90.3-638.5 mg/kg) in the sediments exhibit a severe U contamination and mobilization-release risk. The U/Th activity ratios (ARs) indicate that all sediments have been contaminated apparently by U as a result of discharge of U containing wastewater, especially uranium mill tailings (UMT) leachate, while the variations of U/Th ARs are dominated by U geochemical behaviors (mainly redox process and adsorption). The U isotopic compositions (δ 238 U) showed a large variance through the sediment profile, varying from - 0.62 to - 0.04‰. The relation between δ 238 U and acid-leachable U fraction demonstrates that the U isotopic fractionation in sediments can be controlled by bedrock weathering (natural activity), UMT leachate (anthropogenic activity) and subsequent biogeochemical processes. The findings suggest that U-Th isotopes are a powerful tool to better understand U geochemical processes and enrichment mechanism in sediments that were affected by combined sources and driving forces., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new analytical method has been developed to determine atomic 236 U/ 238 U ratios in samples with only femtograms of 236 U using a secondary electron multiplier (SEM) on a multicollector high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). The abundance sensitivity of the 238 U tail at 236 atomic mass unit is reduced from 10 -6 to 10 -10 with the deployment of a retarding potential quadrupole lens. This method features the reduction of polyatomic interferences from hydride, nitride, lead, and plutonium and the evaluation of nonlinear SEM behavior. The instrument sensitivity is 1-2%, and the estimated methodological detection limit of the 236 U/ 238 U atomic ratio is as low as 2 × 10 -10 . Measurements on reference materials with 236 U/ 238 U ratios of 10 -7 -10 -9 , including the IRMM-075 series and the ETH Zurich in-house standard ZUTRI, demonstrate the accuracy of our MC-ICPMS technique. The analytical precisions (2σ) are ±4% for 5 fg of 236 U at a 236 U/ 238 U of 1 × 10 -8 and ±8% for 2 fg of 236 U at a 236 U/ 238 U of 4 × 10 -9 level. Compared to state-of-the-art accelerator mass spectrometry techniques and triple quadrupole-based ICPMS, our detection limit is not as low, but the required sample size is 3-40 times lower, and the throughput is as high as 3-4 samples per hour. The new MC-ICPMS-SEM technique is sensitive enough for determining 236 U/ 238 U in various small natural samples, such as marine carbonates and seawater.

CeOs&#95;{4}Sb&#95;{12} (COS) and PrOs&#95;{4}Sb&#95;{12} (POS) are two representative compounds that provide the ideal vantage point to systematically study the physics of multi-f-electron systems. COS with Ce 4f^{1}, and POS with Pr 4f^{2} configurations show distinct properties of Kondo insulating and heavy fermion superconductivity, respectively. We unveiled the underlying microscopic origin by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy studies. Their eV-scale band structure matches well, representing the common characters of conduction electrons in ROs&#95;{4}Sb&#95;{12} systems (R=rare earth). However, f electrons interact differently with conduction electrons in COS and POS. Strong hybridization between conduction electrons and f electrons is observed in COS with band dependent hybridization gaps, and the development of a Kondo insulating state is directly revealed. Although the ground state of POS is a singlet, finite but incoherent hybridization exists, which can be explained by the Kondo scattering with the thermally excited triplet crystalline electric field state. Our results help us to understand the intriguing properties in COS and POS, and provide a clean demonstration of the microscopic differences in heavy fermion systems with 4f^{1} and 4f^{2} configurations.

Life history theory predicts that animals often produce fewer offspring of larger size and indicate a stronger trade-off between the number and size of offspring to cope with increasing environmental stress. In order to evaluate this prediction, we tested the life history characteristics of Bufo minshanicus at eight different altitudes on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, China. Our results revealed a positive correlation between female SVL and clutch size or egg size, revealing that larger females produce more and larger eggs. However, high-altitude toads seem to favor more offspring and smaller egg sizes when removing the effect of female SVL, which is counter to theoretical predictions. In addition, there was an overall significantly negative relationship between egg size and clutch size, indicative of a trade-off between egg size and fecundity. Therefore, we suggest that higher fecundity, rather than larger egg size, is a more effective reproductive strategy for this species of anuran living at high-altitude environments.

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) affects climate and rainfall across the world, and most severely in nations surrounding the Indian Ocean 1-4 . The frequency and intensity of positive IOD events increased during the twentieth century 5 and may continue to intensify in a warming world 6 . However, confidence in predictions of future IOD change is limited by known biases in IOD models 7 and the lack of information on natural IOD variability before anthropogenic climate change. Here we use precisely dated and highly resolved coral records from the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean, where the signature of IOD variability is strong and unambiguous, to produce a semi-continuous reconstruction of IOD variability that covers five centuries of the last millennium. Our reconstruction demonstrates that extreme positive IOD events were rare before 1960. However, the most extreme event on record (1997) is not unprecedented, because at least one event that was approximately 27 to 42 per cent larger occurred naturally during the seventeenth century. We further show that a persistent, tight coupling existed between the variability of the IOD and the El Niño/Southern Oscillation during the last millennium. Indo-Pacific coupling was characterized by weak interannual variability before approximately 1590, which probably altered teleconnection patterns, and by anomalously strong variability during the seventeenth century, which was associated with societal upheaval in tropical Asia. A tendency towards clustering of positive IOD events is evident in our reconstruction, which-together with the identification of extreme IOD variability and persistent tropical Indo-Pacific climate coupling-may have implications for improving seasonal and decadal predictions and managing the climate risks of future IOD variability.

Objective: To develop the environment scale of unintentional injury in the home for children aged 0-6 years living in urban area of China, and test its validity and reliability. Methods: The content of the environment scale was established through the literature review, expert consultation and pilot study. A total of 1 104 children aged 0-6 years in urban area of Changsha were enrolled in this study by using a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method. The questionnaire was used to collect the basic information of children, the incidence of unintentional injury and the status of home environment. The reliability of the scale was tested by using Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability coefficient. The content validity and construct validity were tested by using Pearson correlation analysis and factor analysis. All children were divided into two groups according to the incidence of unintentional injury in the home and the discrimination validity of the scale was tested by using t -test. Results: The scale had 54 items in 6 dimensions. The number of eligible questionnaires was 1 074, including 554 (51.6%) from boys and 519 (48.3%) from children under 3 years old. The incidence rate of unintentional injury and in-home injury was 18.34% (197 children) and 10.71% (115 children). The internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α) coefficient for the scale was 0.87 and the split-efficacy reliability coefficient was 0.82, both meeting the standard of reliability above 0.70. The Pearson correlation coefficient between each dimension and the whole scale ranged from 0.53 to 0.84 (all P values <0.001). The common factor cumulative variance contribution rate of the scale was 58.34%. There were 54 items with factor loadings greater than 0.30. The root mean square error of approximation, comparative fit index and goodness-of-fit index were 0.07, 0.61 and 0.71, respectively. The score of scale in children with injury was significantly higher than that in children without injury ( P= 0.022). Conclusion: The validity and reliability of the environment scale for unintentional injury in the home for children aged 0-6 years old in the urban area of China are good.

Qualitative and quantitative assessments of fluid cycling are essential to address the role and transport of deeply sourced fluids in subduction systems. In this study, sediment cores distributed across a submarine mud volcano (SMV) offshore southwestern Taiwan were investigated to determine the characteristics of fluids generated through the convergence between the Eurasian and Phillippine Sea Plates. The low dissolved chloride concentration combined with the enrichment of 18 O, and depletion of 2 H of pore fluids suggest the discharge of deep freshwater formed by smectite dehydration at an equilibrium temperature of 100 to 150 °C. The upward fluid velocities, decreasing from 2.0 to 5.0 cm yr -1 at the center to a negligible value at margin sites, varied with the rate and efficiency of anaerobic methanotrophy, demonstrating the impact of fluid migration on biogeochemical processes and carbon cycling. By extrapolating the velocity pattern, the flux of fluids exported from 13 SMVs into seawater amounted up to 1.3-2.5 × 10 7  kg yr -1 , a quantity accounting for 1.1-28.6% of the smectite-bound water originally stored in the incoming sediments. Our results imply that SMVs could act as a conduit to channel the fluids produced from great depth/temperature into seafloor environments in a subduction system of the western Pacific Ocean.

Childhood maltreatment is associated with risky sexual behaviors (RSBs). Previous systematic reviews and meta-analysis focused only on the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and RSBs, thus the association between childhood maltreatment and RSBs has yet to be systematically and quantitatively reviewed. We aimed to provide a systematic meta-analysis exploring the effect of childhood maltreatment and its subtypes on subsequent RSBs in adolescence and adulthood. PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Medline were searched for qualified articles up to April 2019. We calculated the pooled risk estimates using either the random-effect model or fixed-effect model. The potential heterogeneity moderators were identified by subgroup and sensitivity analysis. Overall, childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with an early sexual debut (odds ratio (OR) = 2.22; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.64-3.00), multiple sexual partners (OR = 2.22; 95% CI: 1.78-2.76), transactional sex (OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.92-4.86) and unprotected sex (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.22-2.09). Additionally, different types of childhood maltreatment were also significantly associated with higher risk of RSBs. Relevant heterogeneity moderators have been identified by subgroup analysis. Sensitivity analysis yielded consistent results. Childhood maltreatment is significantly associated with risky sexual behaviors. The current meta-analysis indicates it is vital to protect children from any types of maltreatment and provide health education and support for maltreated individuals.

Hepatic myelopathy is a complication seen in patients with chronic liver failure with physiologic or iatrogenic portosystemic shunting. The main symptom is progressive lower limb dyskinesia. The role of the brain motor control center in hepatic myelopathy is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the gray matter changes in patients with hepatic myelopathy secondary to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and to examine their clinical relevance. This was a cross-sectional study. Twenty-three liver failure patients with hepatic myelopathy (hepatic myelopathy group), 23 liver failure patients without hepatic myelopathy (non-hepatic myelopathy group) after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, and 23 demographically matched healthy volunteers were enrolled from March 2014 to November 2016 at Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), China. High-resolution magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo brain imaging was acquired. Group differences in regional gray matter were assessed using voxel-based morphometry analysis. The relationship between aberrant gray matter and motor characteristics was investigated. Results demonstrated that compared with the non-hepatic myelopathy group, gray matter volume abnormalities were asymmetric, with decreased volume in the left insula (P = 0.003), left thalamus (P = 0.029), left superior frontal gyrus (P = 0.006), and right middle cingulate cortex (P = 0.021), and increased volume in the right caudate nucleus (P = 0.017), corrected with open-source software. The volume of the right caudate nucleus in the hepatic myelopathy group negatively correlated with the lower limb clinical rating of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (r = -0.53, P = 0.01). Compared with healthy controls, patients with and without hepatic myelopathy exhibited overall increased gray matter volume in both thalami, and decreased gray matter volume in both putamen, as well as in the globus pallidus, cerebellum, and vermis. The gray matter abnormalities we found predominantly involved motor-related regions, and may be associated with motor dysfunction. An enlarged right caudate nucleus might help to predict weak lower limb motor performance in patients with preclinical hepatic myelopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), China (approval No. 20140227-6) on February 27, 2014., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the article content was composed in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Denisovans are members of a hominin group who are currently only known directly from fragmentary fossils, the genomes of which have been studied from a single site, Denisova Cave 1-3 in Siberia. They are also known indirectly from their genetic legacy through gene flow into several low-altitude East Asian populations 4,5 and high-altitude modern Tibetans 6 . The lack of morphologically informative Denisovan fossils hinders our ability to connect geographically and temporally dispersed fossil hominins from Asia and to understand in a coherent manner their relation to recent Asian populations. This includes understanding the genetic adaptation of humans to the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau 7,8 , which was inherited from the Denisovans. Here we report a Denisovan mandible, identified by ancient protein analysis 9,10 , found on the Tibetan Plateau in Baishiya Karst Cave, Xiahe, Gansu, China. We determine the mandible to be at least 160 thousand years old through U-series dating of an adhering carbonate matrix. The Xiahe specimen provides direct evidence of the Denisovans outside the Altai Mountains and its analysis unique insights into Denisovan mandibular and dental morphology. Our results indicate that archaic hominins occupied the Tibetan Plateau in the Middle Pleistocene epoch and successfully adapted to high-altitude hypoxic environments long before the regional arrival of modern Homo sapiens.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors endangering women. It has been found that the subunits of the COP9 complex are closely related to the occurrence and development of malignant tumors, and the CSN4 subunit plays an important role in regulating the whole complex. In the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, we successfully established a lentivirus-mediated CSN4-knockdown cell line. CCK8 cell proliferation assays and colony formation experiments confirmed that CSN4 knockdown significantly decreased the cellular proliferation rate. Cell cycle analysis showed that CSN4 knockdown increased sub-G1 population and induced apoptosis. In addition, Western blotting assays confirmed that CSN4 regulates the expression of CDK6 and Caspase3, suggesting that CSN4 modulates the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells by regulating the expression of CDK6 and Caspase3 genes and thereby tumorigenesis. This study has deepened our understanding of the molecular mechanism of apoptosis and cell growth in breast cancers, and further revealed the role and mechanism of CSN4 in cancer biology.

The breeding biology of the little egret ( Egretta garzetta ) was studied in 20 nests within the mixed-species breeding colonies at Nanchong, Sichuan, Southwest China, in 2006. By measuring a set of physical characteristics of vegetation at the nests and at a set of 20 randomly chosen sites we showed that birds preferentially used taller trees in areas with fewer shrubs of higher species diversity. Nests at lower locations in trees had marginally lower hatching success due to their destruction by humans; this destruction contributed marginally significantly to lowering of the total nesting success in all studied nests. Although gale winds also had a negative effect on breeding success, the anthropogenic influences were a greater factor in reproductive failure. We found similar effects in our review of literature on breeding success of the little egret from various geographical areas. Our results may be of use by conservation organizations in their actions to protect colonies of the little egret.

At the interface between monolayer FeSe films and SrTiO 3 substrates the superconducting transition temperature (T c ) is unexpectedly high, triggering a surge of excitement. The mechanism for the T c enhancement has been the central question, as it may present a new strategy for seeking out higher T c materials. To reveal this enigmatic mechanism, by combining advances in high quality interface growth, 16 O [Formula: see text] 18 O isotope substitution, and extensive data from angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we provide striking evidence that the high T c in FeSe/SrTiO 3 is the cooperative effect of the intrinsic pairing mechanism in the FeSe and interactions between the FeSe electrons and SrTiO 3 phonons. Furthermore, our results point to the promising prospect that similar cooperation between different Cooper pairing channels may be a general framework to understand and design high-temperature superconductors.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the thymuses of non-thymomatous myasthenia gravis (MG) patients by computed tomography (CT) for differentiating lymphoid follicular hyperplasia (LFH) thymus from normal/involuted thymus in order to assist surgeons in determining whether a non-thymomatous MG patient requires an operation. In the present retrospective review over 10 years, 80 patients who received CT scan and thymectomy at the Affiliated General Hospital of Tianjin Medial University (Tianjin, China) were included. According to the pathological records, 54 of the cases initially detected on CT were confirmed as LFH thymus. Thymic measurements, including anteroposterior and transverse dimensions, width (the longest axis of the lobe on a transverse scan) and thickness (the largest dimension perpendicular to the long axis of the lobe) and CT attenuation of the thymus region, adipose tissue and chest wall musculature in each CT slice were included to assess differences between the LFH group and the normal/involuted thymus group. Although a negative association between patient age and the CT attenuation of the thymus region was identified (r=-0.779, P<0.05, Pearson's correlation test), the LFH thymus group featured nodular changes on CT, while no such changes were observed in the normal/involuted thymus group. The mean age of disease onset in the LFH thymus group was significantly lower than that in the normal thymus group (40.2±17.3 vs. 59.2±9.3 years). Furthermore, significant differences in CT attenuation were identified between the LFH group and the normal/involuted thymus group [-41.21±54.42 vs. -108.23±8.72 Hounsfield units (HU) on unenhanced CT; -25.57±58.65 vs.-117.40±6.22 HU on contrast-enhanced CT]. In the LFH group, the difference in mean CT attenuation between the thymus region and adipose tissue was significant, while no significant difference was observed in the normal/involuted thymus group. In conclusion, CT may be used to distinguish LFH thymus from normal/involuted thymus in MG patients.

The rational choice of an electron acceptor was proved to be an effective strategy for the development of novel electron transfer (ET) photochromic iodides, but the types and amounts of reported electron acceptors are relatively limited so far, especially for monocyclic aromatic molecules. Herein, using monocyclic pyridinium derivatives (N-protonation-4-carboxypyridinium/N-protonation-4-carbamoylpyridinium/1-methyl-4-(carbomethoxy)pyridinium) as structural directing agents and electron acceptors, five new electron donor-acceptor-based halo-argentate/cuprate hybrids or iodide salts have been synthesized, including [HINA][Ag4I5] (1), [HINAM]I (2), [HINAM]I·0.5(I2) (3), [MCMP][Ag2Br3] (4) and [MCMP][Cu2I3] (5). Noteworthily, compounds 1-3 exhibit interesting photochromic behaviours, while compounds 4 and 5 are non-photochromic. Finally, the possible chromic mechanisms and influencing factors for the title compounds were also discussed.

Alternative end-joining (alt-EJ) repair of DNA double-strand breaks is associated with deletions, chromosome translocations, and genome instability. Alt-EJ frequently uses annealing of microhomologous sequences to tether broken ends. When accessible pre-existing microhomologies do not exist, we have postulated that new microhomologies can be created via limited DNA synthesis at secondary-structure forming sequences. This model, called synthesis-dependent microhomology-mediated end joining (SD-MMEJ), predicts that differences between DNA sequences near double-strand breaks should alter repair outcomes in predictable ways. To test this hypothesis, we injected plasmids with sequence variations flanking an I-SceI endonuclease recognition site into I-SceI expressing Drosophila embryos and used Illumina amplicon sequencing to compare repair junctions. As predicted by the model, we found that small changes in sequences near the I-SceI site had major impacts on the spectrum of repair junctions. Bioinformatic analyses suggest that these repair differences arise from transiently forming loops and hairpins within 30 nucleotides of the break. We also obtained evidence for 'trans SD-MMEJ,' involving at least two consecutive rounds of microhomology annealing and synthesis across the break site. These results highlight the importance of sequence context for alt-EJ repair and have important implications for genome editing and genome evolution., (© The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

We aimed to detect alterations in diffusion characteristics of brain white matter in hepatic myelopathy (HM) patients. Liver cirrhosis patients with (n=25) and without (n=18) HM after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and 26 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All participants were scanned with diffusion tensor imaging on a 3T Siemens scanner. Tract-based spatial statistics analysis was used to detect abnormalities of intracranial white matter tracts. Correlations between clinical characteristics and diffusion metrics were also calculated. HM patients showed widespread decreased fractional anisotropy values in association fibers, callosal fibers, thalamic fibers, and limbic system fibers (P<0.01, family-wise error-corrected) compared with healthy controls. In addition, HM patients showed lower fractional anisotropy values in the corpus callosum, corona radiata, external capsule, and superior longitudinal fasciculus compared with cirrhosis patients without myelopathy (P<0.01, family-wise error-corrected). Furthermore, limb muscle strength grading was correlated with the diffusion characteristics of the corpus callosum and superior longitudinal fasciculus in HM patients (P<0.05). HM patients suffer from more distinct changes of white matter fiber tracts than cirrhosis patients without myelopathy. In addition, alterations of the corpus callosum and superior longitudinal fasciculus may be associated with the major motor disturbance in HM. Our finding may shed light on the underlying neuropathological mechanism of HM.

We propose an improved method for precise sulfur isotopic measurements by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) in conjunction with a membrane desolvation nebulization system. The problems of sulfur loss through the membrane desolvation apparatus are carefully quantified and resolved. The method overcomes low intrinsic sulfur transmission through the instrument, which was initially 1% when operating at a desolvation temperature of 160 °C. Sulfur loss through the membrane desolvation apparatus was resolved by doping with sodium. A Na/S ratio of 2 mol mol -1 produced sulfur transmissions with 98% recovery. Samples of 3 nmol (100 ng) sulfur achieved an external precision of ±0.18‰ (2 SD) for δ 34 S and ±0.10‰ (2 SD) for Δ 33 S (uppercase delta expresses the extent of mass-independent isotopic fractionation). Measurements made on certified reference materials and in-house standards demonstrate analytical accuracy and reproducibility. We applied the method to examine microbial-induced sulfur transformation in marine sediment pore waters from the sulfate-methane transition zone. The technique is quite versatile, and can be applied to a range of materials, including natural waters and minerals., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Three isostructural halozincates, [HNH][ZnX 4 ]·H 2 O (HNH 2+ = protonated nicotinohydrazide, X = I (1), Br (2), Cl (3)), have been synthesized and exhibit halogen-dependent photoinduced electron transfer and chromic properties. Due to the different electron-donating nature of halogen atoms, only iodozincate hybrid 1 can easily undergo photoinduced electron transfer and eye-detectable photochromic behavior, revealing a unique matching rule between a moderate electron acceptor and halozincates.

By using 1-methyl-4-(carbomethoxy)pyridinium (MCMP + ) as counterions, two iodoargentate hybrids, 1D [MCMP][AgI 2 ] (1) and 3D [MCMP][Ag 3 I 4 ] (2) have been synthesized and they exhibit rare electron transfer photochromism with a fast response rate, a wide response range and a long-lived charge-separated state in iodometallate systems. Noteworthily, the marked differences in the structure and photochromic performance of 1 and 2 are largely ascribed to the different aggregating behavior of electron-deficient MCMP + counterions (C-HO hydrogen bonded trimer in 1 and π-π/C-Hπ chain in 2).

By employing in situ methylnicotinohydrazide dication (MNH(2+)) as an electron acceptor, we have constructed an iodocuprate(I) hybrid {[MNH][Cu2I3]2}n (1), which exhibits charge transfer (CT) thermochromism due to the intense absorption of CT and electron transfer (ET) photochromism with high photocoloration contrast and fast response to UV irradiation due to the synergetic effect of valence change of copper ions.

Aim: To comprehend the phylogeographic patterns of genetic variation in anurans at Taiwan Island, this study attempted to examine (1) the existence of various geological barriers (Central Mountain Ranges, CMRs); and (2) the genetic variation of Bufo bankorensis using mtDNA sequences among populations located in different regions of Taiwan, characterized by different climates and existing under extreme conditions when compared available sequences of related species B. gargarizans of mainland China., Methodology/principal Findings: Phylogenetic analyses of the dataset with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop gene (348 bp) recovered a close relationship between B. bankorensis and B. gargarizans, identified three distinct lineages. Furthermore, the network of mtDNA D-loop gene (564 bp) amplified (279 individuals, 27 localities) from Taiwan Island indicated three divergent clades within B. bankorensis (Clade W, E and S), corresponding to the geography, thereby verifying the importance of the CMRs and Kaoping River drainage as major biogeographic barriers. Mismatch distribution analysis, neutrality tests and Bayesian skyline plots revealed that a significant population expansion occurred for the total population and Clade W, with horizons dated to approximately 0.08 and 0.07 Mya, respectively. These results suggest that the population expansion of Taiwan Island species B. bankorensis might have resulted from the release of available habitat in post-glacial periods, the genetic variation on mtDNA showing habitat selection, subsequent population dispersal, and co-distribution among clades., Conclusions: The multiple origins (different clades) of B. bankorensis mtDNA sequences were first evident in this study. The divergent genetic clades found within B. bankorensis could be independent colonization by previously diverged lineages; inferring B. bankorensis originated from B. gargarizans of mainland China, then dispersal followed by isolation within Taiwan Island. Highly divergent clades between W and E of B. bankorensis, implies that the CMRs serve as a genetic barrier and separated the whole island into the western and eastern phylogroups.

During the breeding season, dynamic changes in body coloration are regularly observed in the male brown tree frog Buergeria robusta. This study investigated the hypothesis that this sexual dichromatism in male B. robusta is mediated through hormonal regulation. Frogs were exogenously injected with testosterone (T) or estradiol (E2). This manipulation revealed that the body coloration (hue, brightness, and saturation) of the male frog increased significantly (i.e., the brilliant yellow color developed) in response to T but not in response to E2. Concurrently, the levels of expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the pituitary gland were reduced in frogs whose coloration was pale brown on a yellow background. In particular, the weakest expressions of BDNF, PACAP, and PACAP type II receptors (VPAC-1R) were found in male frogs with a brilliant yellow body color during the breeding season regardless of background color. These changes may decrease α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone production associated with the PACAP receptors (VPAC-1R), resulting in the aggregation of black pigment in melanophores and the production of a brilliant yellow body color. The effects of hormones on skin coloration were further examined in isolated skin in vitro. The results of this investigation showed that the dispersion of xanthophores was stimulated by T or prolactin (PRL) and that the melanophores were aggregated by melatonin (MEL) but not by E2. Furthermore, yellow pigments in the xanthophores were significantly dispersed following the PRL+T treatment. In the T+MEL, PRL+MEL, and T+PRL+MEL treatments, xanthophores were dispersed, and melanophores were aggregated and subsequently moved to the low spongiosum layer of the dorsal skin, causing the increase in yellow coloration. These results reveal that multiple hormones play major roles in the regulation of the brilliant yellow coloration of male B. robusta by high plasma T during the breeding season.

Background: The most frequently used opioid in cancer pain management is morphine which remains a cornerstone for the management of cancer pain, due to the largest experience existing among physicians and widely availability in a variety of formulation. Considering that analgesics on cancer pain is often under the condition of chemotherapy and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is widely used today as a potent drug for the treatment of advanced cancers, whether analgesics such as morphine, interferes the chemotherapy such as 5-FU, arose as a considerable problem., Methods: In this study, the MCF-7 breast cancer cells were used to determine the antitumor effects of the 5-FU in combination with morphine. The cell proliferation was determined by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the apoptosis was determined by the Annexin V/PI staining and flow cytometry. The immunocytochemistry and western blot was used to determine the Bcl-2 and Bax expression., Results: It was shown that in MCF-7 cells, the proliferation was inhibited, the apoptosis was promoted, the Bcl-2 expression was suppressed and the Bax expression was promoted by both 5-FU alone and morphine alone, while the superior effects were achieved in combination with the two drugs., Conclusion: These results suggest that the morphine may have the beneficial effects on the antitumor chemotherapy with 5-FU, in stead of interferential effects., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Background and Aims: Liraglutide treatment can improve glycemic control with a concomitant weight loss, but the underlying mechanism on weight loss is not completely understood. Cardiac natriuretic peptides (NPs) can resist body fat accumulation through increasing adipocytes lypolysis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that liraglutide-induced weight loss was associated with increased plasma NPs concentrations., Methods: Thirty-one outpatients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with metformin and other oral antidiabetic drugs except for thiazolidinediones (TZDs) were subcutaneously administered with liraglutide for 12 weeks. Body composition, abdominal visceral adipose tissue areas (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue areas (SAT) were assessed at pre- and post-treatment by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning and abdominal computerized tomography (CT). Plasma atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) and B-type ventricular natriuretic peptides (BNP) concentrations were tested by commercial ELISA Kit quantitatively., Results: Following 12-week liraglutide treatment, body weight, waist circumference, total fat and lean mass, fat percentage, SAT and VAT areas were significantly reduced from baseline. Concurrently, plasma ANP and BNP levels were significantly increased following 12-week liraglutide treatment. There were significant correlations between the reductions in body compositions and the increases in both plasma ANP and BNP levels., Conclusions: There were significant correlations between increases in both plasma ANP and BNP levels and changes in liraglutide-induced body composition. Our data implied that increases in plasma NPs may add a novel dimension to explain how liraglutide induces weight loss.

Plans are being made to construct Dalian Offshore Airport in Jinzhou Bay with a reclamation area of 21 km(2). The large-scale reclamation can be expected to have negative effects on the marine environment, and these effects vary depending on the reclamation techniques used. Water quality mathematical models were developed and biology resource investigations were conducted to compare effects of an underwater explosion sediment removal and rock dumping technique and a silt dredging and rock dumping technique on water pollution and fishery loss. The findings show that creation of the artificial island with the underwater explosion sediment removal technique would greatly impact the marine environment. However, the impact for the silt dredging technique would be less. The conclusions from this study provide an important foundation for the planning of Dalian Offshore Airport and can be used as a reference for similar coastal reclamation and marine environment protection., (Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to discuss the energy budget of Elliot's pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti in different seasons, with life and health, good growth and normal digestion of Elliot's pheasant as the tested objects, The energy budget of Elliot's pheasant was measured by daily collection of the trial pheasants' excrement in the biological garden of Guangxi Normal University from March 2011 to February 2012. The results showed that the gross energy consumption, metabolic energy and excrement energy varied by season, increasing as temperature decreased. There was significant difference in gross energy consumption, metabolic energy, excrement energy between adults and nonages. There was also a trend that food digestibility of pheasants increases as temperature increases. In the same season, the food digestibility of adults was better than that of nonages. Throughout spring, summer, autumn and winter, the metabolic energy of 4-year adults were 305.77±13.40 kJ/d, 263.67±11.89 kJ/d, 357.23±25.49 kJ/d and 403.12±24.91 kJ/d, respectively, and the nonages were 284.86±17.22 kJ/d, 284. 66±15.16 kJ/d, 402. 26±31.46 kJ/d and 420. 30±31.98 kJ/d, respectively. The minimum metabolic energies were 247.65±21.81 g, 265.86±26.53 g, respectively for each group, detected between 4-year adults and 1-year nonages. Further study is needed to determine whether 29.6 C is the optimal temperature for the Elliot's pheasant.

Mate choice is important for successful reproduction, and consequently species have evolved various ways to choose potential high-quality mates. Anuran mate choice and underlying processes have been the subject of several recent investigations, however we are far from a complete understanding of mate choice in this system. In the present study, when given a simultaneous choice between a male and a female of identical size, males did not discriminate between the sexes, and attempted to clasp a male or a female with equal frequency. Test males only released the stimulus toad when a release call was emitted by the stimulus male. When two males with distinct size differences were provided with a male, the male chose the larger one. Moreover, males discriminated between gravid females that differed in body size, choosing larger gravid females over smaller ones. These results suggest that male Bufo gargarizans can discriminate between the sexes, probably based on male release calls, and prefer to mate with larger individual using visual cues.

To understand metabolic adaptations, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of Mrs Hume's Pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae) and Elliot's Pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti) were investigated. Metabolic rate (MR), body temperature (T(b) ) and thermal conductance (C) were determined in both species at a temperatrue range of 5-35 Degrees Celsius, respectively. Oxygen consumption was measured with a closed circuit respirometer. The thermal neutral zones (TNZ) were 24.5-31.6 Degrees Celsius, and 23.0-29.2 Degrees Celsius, respectively. With a temperature range of 5-35 Degrees Celsius, Mrs Hume's Pheasant and Elliot's Pheasant could maintained stable T(b) at a mean of (40.47 ± 0.64) and (40.36 ± 0.10) Degrees Celsius, respectively. Mean BMRs within TNZs were (1.36 ± 0.84) mLO₂/(g.h) for Mrs Hume's Pheasant and (2.03 ± 0.12) mLO₂/(g.h) for Elliot's Pheasant, which were 77% and 86% of the expected value based on their body mass, respectively. Thermal conductance of Mrs Hume's Pheasant and Elliot's Pheasant were (0.12 ± 0.01) and (0.17 ± 0.01) mLO₂/(g.h.Degrees Celsius), below the lower critical temperature, respectively, which were 119% and 124% of the expected value based on their body mass, respectively. The ecophysiological characteristics of these species were low metabolic rate, high body temperature, and high thermal conductance, which allow both species to better adapt to the warmer climate environment in south China.

The large-male mating advantage and size-assortative mating are two different size-based patterns, which deviate from random mating in toads. These two pairing patterns may arise due to female choice, male-male competition, male choice, or a combination of these. This study investigated the mating system of Minshan's toad (Bufo minshanicus) from three populations along an altitudinal gradient during two breeding reasons in the northeastern Tibetan plateau. Our study shows that males found in amplexus with females were larger on average than non-amplectant males in two sites with higher operational sex ratios. Similarly, in those sites, males and females found in amplexus maintained an optimal size ratio. These data suggest that male-male competition leads to size-assortative mating in the lack of mate choice (female and male mate choice) by Minshan's toad, as larger males performed higher frequencies for taking-over other low quality ones with amplectant females.

Abstract In many different fields, researchers are often confronted by problems arising from complex systems. Simple heuristics or even enumeration works quite well on small and easy problems; however, to efficiently solve large and difficult problems, proper decomposition is the key. In this paper, investigating and analyzing interactions between components of complex systems shed some light on problem decomposition. By recognizing three bare-bones interactions-modularity, hierarchy, and overlap, facet-wise models are developed to dissect and inspect problem decomposition in the context of genetic algorithms. The proposed genetic algorithm design utilizes a matrix representation of an interaction graph to analyze and explicitly decompose the problem. The results from this paper should benefit research both technically and scientifically. Technically, this paper develops an automated dependency structure matrix clustering technique and utilizes it to design a model-building genetic algorithm that learns and delivers the problem structure. Scientifically, the explicit interaction model describes the problem structure very well and helps researchers gain important insights through the explicitness of the procedure.

Extensive use of pharmaceuticals and growth hormone in farm animal and live stocks has resulted in their frequent detection in soils, groundwater, and wastewater. The fate and transport of these compounds are strongly affected by their sorptive behavior to the soil minerals and humic materials. In this research, we conducted the sorption of tetracycline (TC), a common antibiotic, on palygorskite (PFL-1), a fibrous clay mineral of high surface area and high sorptivity towards organic compounds. The results showed that the sorption capacity of TC on PFL-1 was as high as 210 mmol/kg at pH 8.7. The sorption was relatively fast and reached equilibrium in 2h. Solution pH and ionic strength had significant effects on TC sorption. The sorption of TC by palygorskite is endothermic and the free energy of sorption is in the range of -10 to -30 kJ/mol, suggesting a strong physical sorption. The X-ray diffraction patterns before and after TC sorption revealed no changes in d-spacing and intensity under different pH and initial TC concentrations, indicating that the sorbed TC molecules are on the external surface of the mineral in contrast to intercalation of TC into swelling clays, such as montmorillonite. The small positive value of entropy change suggested that TC molecules are in disordered arrangement on palygorskite surfaces. Surface sorption of TC on PFL-1 is further supported by the derivative of gravimetric analysis and by the calculation of the amount of TC sorption normalized to the surface area. The results suggest that palygorskite could be a good candidate to remove TC from wastewater containing higher amounts of TC.