Volatile Flavor Analysis in Yak Meat: Effects of Different Breeds, Feeding Methods, and Parts Using GC-IMS and Multivariate Analyses.

This study investigates the effects of breeds, feeding methods, and parts on the volatile flavor of yak meat. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and multivariate analysis were used to analyze the volatile organic components (VOCs) in yak meat from various sources. A total of 71 volatile compounds were identified, 53 of which were annotated based on the GC-IMS database. These include 20 alcohols, 16 ketones, 10 aldehydes, four alkenes, one ester, one acid, and one furan. Using VOC fingerprinting and multivariate analysis, yak meats from different sources were distinctly categorized. Breed had the most significant impact on yak meat VOCs, followed by feeding method and then part. Six volatiles with a variable importance in projection value greater than one were identified as potential markers for distinguishing yak meat. This study offers insights into the flavor profile of yak meat from different sources and demonstrates the efficacy of GC-IMS and multivariate analysis in characterizing and discriminating meats.

Synthesis of astigmatic non-uniformly correlated beams.

We present a general strategy for synthesizing astigmatic random structured light beams by jointly manipulating the astigmatic phase and optical coherence. With it, we facilitate the creation of a distinct category of beams termed astigmatic non-uniformly correlated (ANUC) beams. Our study emphasizes the significant influence of the astigmatic phase on the optical spatial coherence distribution, resulting in novel propagation features. Furthermore, we elucidate their underlying physical nature. Experimentally, we successfully generate such beams, validating theoretical projections. Our findings hold promise for diverse applications requiring adaptable spectral density control.

Chromium Affects Mitochondrial Function, Leading to Apoptosis and Autophagy in Turtle Primary Hepatocytes.

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), a pervasive industrial contaminant, is highly toxic to both humans and animals. However, its effects on turtles are largely unexplored. Our study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of Cr(VI) on the Reeves' turtles (Mauremys reevesii) primary hepatocytes. We exposed hepatocytes to two concentrations (25 µM and 50 µM) of Cr(VI) for 24 h. The results showed that compared to controls, Cr(VI)-treated cells showed elevated antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Adenosine triphosphatae (ATP) levels decreased, indicating mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, we found significant changes in mitochondrial dynamics related genes, with downregulation of mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) and silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and a decrease in sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) and tumor protein 53 (p53) mRNA levels. Annexin V-FITC fluorescence staining-positive cells increased with higher Cr(VI) concentrations, marked by elevated bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (Caspase3) mRNA levels and reduced B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2) expression. Autophagy-related genes were also affected, with increased microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3-I), microtubule-associated protein light chain 3II (LC3-II), unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1 (ULK1), and sequestosome 1 (p62/SQSTM1) mRNA levels and decreased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Beclin1 expression. Taken together, Cr(VI) promotes cell apoptosis and autophagy in turtle hepatocytes by inducing oxidative stress and disrupting mitochondrial function. These findings highlight the serious health risks posed by Cr(VI) pollution and emphasize the need for protecting wild turtle populations.

Clinical Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Acupuncture in the Treatment of Chronic Subjective Dizziness.

Objective: To investigate the clinical impact of ultrasound-guided acupuncture on persistent subjective vertigo as well as how it affects people's moods and life quality. Methods: The subjects of this study were 100 patients who were being treated at Li Huili Hospital from December, 2022 to December, 2023 for persistent subjective vertigo. With 50 instances in each category, individuals with chronic subjective dizziness were randomly assigned to the shallow acupuncture control category & the regular acupuncture category. Clinical effectiveness, Pittsburgh Sleep volume (PSQI), vestibular Disability Scale (DHI) score, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score & Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), changes were evaluated among the two categories before and following therapy. The frequency of negative side effects following acupuncture therapy was contrasted among the two categories. Results: Following treatment, the conventional acupuncture category's overall effectiveness rate was 94%, which was higher than that of the shallow acupuncture category (80%) and was highly significant (χ2=4.332, P < .05). Post-treatment DHI, HAMA, HAMD, FSS, and PSQI scale scores in both categories were lower than those before therapy. Individuals receiving regular acupuncture showed significantly lower scores on the DHI, HAMA, HAMD, FSS, and PSQI scales when compared to those receiving shallow acupuncture control. Following therapy, the prevalence of adverse reactions in the conventional acupuncture category was 24 (48.00%) as well as 34 (68.00%) in the shallow acupuncture control category. respectively. This difference in incidence was statistically significant (P < .05), with the conventional acupuncture category experiencing fewer adverse reactions than the shallow acupuncture control category. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided acupuncture is effective in the treatment of chronic subjective dizziness, helping to relieve dizziness symptoms, and actively improving patients' mood, sleep, and quality of life, it merits clinical advancement.

Impact of parity on pelvic floor morphology and function: A retrospective study.

To analyze the effect of parity on pelvic floor morphology and function during the postpartum period. A total of 971 participants, who attended the Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital (Fuzhou, China) between December 2019 and August 2021, were included. All participants were assessed using the modified Oxford scale (MOS), pelvic floor surface electromyography, and 3-dimensional pelvic floor ultrasound to assess pelvic floor morphology and function. Multivariate analysis revealed no differences among primipara, deuteripara, and tertipara in pre-baseline rest, phasic contraction, endurance contraction, post-baseline rest, and MOS, except for tonic contraction (P = .020), the amplitude of which was lower in primipara than in deuteripara in post hoc comparison (P = .008). Differences in bladder neck presentation and bladder neck descent were statistically significant in multivariate analysis (P = .002, P = .001, respectively), with the value of bladder neck presentation in primiparas being greater than that of deuteriparas and tertipara (P = .002, P = .008, respectively), and the value of bladder neck descent was lower than that of deuteripara and tertipara in further post hoc comparisons (P = .002, P = .003, respectively). Functional impairment was not statistically associated with parity according to the MOS score or surface electromyography. However, parity was significantly correlated with descent of the bladder neck, and most of the effects appeared to occur during the first delivery.

Enhancing fiber-coupling efficiency of beam-to-fiber links in turbulence by spatial non-uniform coherence engineering.

We present a general formula for the fiber-coupling efficiency of various types of non-uniformly correlated beams propagating in a turbulent atmosphere. With it, we calculate the fiber-coupling efficiency of a specific type of non-uniformly correlated beams, Laguerre non-uniformly correlated (LNUC) beams, to investigate how the non-uniform correlation structure plays a role in enhancing the fiber-coupling efficiency. Compared with conventional Gaussian Schell-model beams, the LNUC beams possess better coupling behavior, and the initial coherence length and beam order of such beams can be adjusted to further improve the fiber-coupling efficiency in turbulence. Our results demonstrate how non-uniformly correlated beams can be used for fiber-coupling applications, and demonstrate their intriguing potential for free-space optical communications.

Generating multi-focus beams with a spatial non-uniform coherence structure.

We introduce a class of structured light beams, named multi-focus beams, which exhibit self-focusing at multiple propagation distances. We show that the proposed beams not only have the ability to produce multiple longitudinal focal spots, but also that the number, intensity, and position of the foci can be controlled by adjusting the initial beam parameters. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these beams still exhibit self-focusing in the shadow of an obstacle. We have experimentally generated such beams and the results are consistent with the theoretical predictions. Our studies may find application where fine control of the longitudinal spectral density is needed, such as longitudinal optical trapping and manipulation of multiple particles, and transparent material cutting.

Analysis and experimental demonstration of propagation features of radially polarized specific non-uniformly correlated beams.

With the development of the unified theory of coherence and polarization, the novel physical properties generated by different correlation structures of vector partially coherent beams (PCBs) have attracted much attention. Recently, a new class of structured beams have been proposed [Opt. Lett.45, 3824 (2020)10.1364/OL.397316], called vector specific non-uniformly correlated beams. These beams combine non-uniform polarization and non-uniform correlation, and they exhibit propagation features not seen in conventional vector PCBs. In this Letter, we continue the analysis of the previous work, taking radially polarized Hermite non-uniformly correlated (RPHNUC) beams as an example, and focus on the physical interpretation of the peculiar propagation features of such beams. We verify the predicted behavior of RPHNUC beams through experiment.

Effects of dietary fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seed powder supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, small intestinal morphology, and carcass traits of broilers.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing demands in livestock and poultry breeding and the growing number of food-borne diseases, it is necessary to practice food safety and develop strategies to produce healthy livestock. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) has been used as an additive in poultry production by some researchers, but there are few studies on the systemic beneficial effects of dietary fennel seed powder supplementation on broilers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary fennel seed powder supplementation on feed intake, the apparent metabolic rate of nutrients, intestinal morphology, and carcass traits in Cobb broilers. METHODS: A single-factor experimental design was used. In total, 160 1-day-old Cobb broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments, with four replicates each (n = 10/replicate). Broilers in the control (CN) group were fed a basal diet without fennel seed powder, and broilers in the treatment groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.15% (LF), 0.30% (MF), or 0.45% (HF) fennel seed powder, respectively. Feeding trials lasted for 42 days under the conditions of ad libitum access to feed and water, and 24-h illumination. During the third and sixth weeks, digestive and metabolic assays were carried out. When the broilers were 42 days old, one chicken with a weight close to the average was selected from each repetition, euthanized by an intravenous injection of 5% sodium pentobarbital, and carcass traits were measured and intestinal samples were collected for morphological assessment. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in growth performance of broilers (P > 0.05). The breast muscle percentage, fat width and fat width index, breast muscle area, and breast muscle area index of broilers in the LF group were higher than those in other groups (P < 0.05). Jejunum weight and length were higher in MF than in CN and LF broilers (P < 0.05). Additionally, duodenal villi height, ileal villi height, and ileal wall thickness were higher in MF than in CN broilers (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in nutrient utilization among all groups (P > 0.05), except that the ash apparent metabolic rate in MF broilers at 21 days of age was higher than that in LF broilers (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with a moderate concentration of fennel affects carcass performance, and intestinal morphology, and promotes the growth and development of broilers.

Propagation of radially polarized Hermite non-uniformly correlated beams in a turbulent atmosphere.

We study the propagation properties of a recently introduced class of structured beams, radially polarized Hermite non-uniformly correlated (RPHNUC) beams, in a turbulent atmosphere using the extended Huygens-Fresnel integral and investigate how the mode order and coherence width play a role in resisting the degradation and depolarization effects of the turbulence. In contrast with conventional vector partially coherent beams (PCBs) with uniform (Schell-model) correlation structure, the interaction of the non-uniform correlation structure and non-uniform polarization gives these beams the ability to self-heal their intensity distribution and polarization over certain propagation ranges in turbulence. These properties suggest that RPHNUC beams may be useful in a number of applications, in particular optical trapping and free-space optical communications.

Vector partially coherent beams with prescribed non-uniform correlation structure.

We introduce a general strategy for the synthesis of vector partially coherent beams (PCBs) with a prescribed non-uniform correlation structure. With it, we characterize a specific family of such beams, termed radially polarized Hermite non-uniformly correlated (RPHNUC) beams. These beams possess unusual propagation properties compared to vector PCBs with uniform correlation structure; for example, they maintain their dark hollow core and evolve multi-ring structures. These beams may prove useful in free-space optical communications, optical trapping, and polarization-sensitive imaging.

Influence of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on spasticity, balance, and walking speed in stroke patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in patients with stroke through a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically. Randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation vs placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on stroke were included. Two investigators independently searched articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcome was modified Ashworth scale (MAS). Meta-analysis was performed using the random-effect model. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with placebo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation supplementation significantly reduced MAS (standard mean difference (SMD) = -0.71; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = -1.11 to -0.30; p = 0.0006), improved static balance with open eyes (SMD = -1.26; 95% CI = -1.83 to -0.69; p<0.0001) and closed eyes (SMD = -1.74; 95% CI = -2.36 to -1.12; p < 0.00001), and increased walking speed (SMD = 0.44; 95% CI = 0.05 to 0.84; p = 0.03), but did not improve results on the Timed Up and Go Test (SMD = -0.60; 95% CI=-1.22 to 0.03; p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is associated with significantly reduced spasticity, increased static balance and walking speed, but has no influence on dynamic balance.

[Clinical analysis of 192 pregnant women infected by syphilis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of pregnant women with syphilis, their pregnant outcomes, perinatal and neonatal prognosis and the incidence of congenital syphilis. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-two pregnant women with syphilis by serological assays were divided into two groups, group A (n = 93): treated with a full course anti-syphilis therapy and group B (n = 99): untreated group. Meanwhile, they were divided into groups C and D according to maternal serum rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test: RPR titer < or = 1:8 (group C) and RPR titer > or = 1:16 (group D). The pregnant outcomes and congenital syphilis were compared between two groups. RESULTS: (1) Perinatal outcomes: Term delivery reached 93.6% (87/93) in group A and only 28.3% (28/99) in group B; the rate of premature birth and fetal intrauterine death were 5.4% (5/93) and 1.1% (1/93) in group A, obviously lower than 28.3% (28/99) and 32.3% (32/99) in group B (P < 0.005). No fetal intrauterine death and abortion occurred in the group A. Prognosis of neonates: Normal neonates were 63.0% (58/92) in group A, and only 23.2% (13/56) in group B; the rates of asphyxia neonates, low birth weight, congenital syphilis and neonatal death in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (P < 0.01). (2) The comparison between groups C and D: Term delivery rate in group C (78.1%, 89/114) was higher than that in group D (36.1%, 26/72); the rates of premature birth, congenital syphilis, perinatal death and neonatal death in group C were lower than those in group D (P < 0.01). (3) Gestational week and drug treatment: The earlier the treatment started during pregnancy, the lower the rate of congenital syphilis was (P < 0.01). The incidences of congenital syphilis were similar between penicillin and dibenzyl penicillin groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Effective full-course anti-syphilis therapy is the key to improving the outcomes of pregnancy with syphilis, prognosis of neonates and reducing incidence of congenital syphilis. (2) Maternal serum RPR titer, the starting time of anti-syphilis treatment as well as the choice of therapeutical drugs are important influence factors on the outcomes of pregnancy with syphilis.