Image rectangling network based on reparameterized transformer and assisted learning.

Stitched images can offer a broader field of view, but their boundaries can be irregular and unpleasant. To address this issue, current methods for rectangling images start by distorting local grids multiple times to obtain rectangular images with regular boundaries. However, these methods can result in content distortion and missing boundary information. We have developed an image rectangling solution using the reparameterized transformer structure, focusing on single distortion. Additionally, we have designed an assisted learning network to aid in the process of the image rectangling network. To improve the network's parallel efficiency, we have introduced a local thin-plate spline Transform strategy to achieve efficient local deformation. Ultimately, the proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance in stitched image rectangling with a low number of parameters while maintaining high content fidelity. The code is available at https://github.com/MelodYanglc/TransRectangling .

The Multifaceted Effects of Short-Term Acute Hypoxia Stress: Insights into the Tolerance Mechanism of Propsilocerus akamusi (Diptera: Chironomidae).

Plenty of freshwater species, especially macroinvertebrates that are essential to the provision of numerous ecosystem functions, encounter higher mortality due to acute hypoxia. However, within the family Chironomidae, a wide range of tolerance to hypoxia/anoxia is displayed. Propsilocerus akamusi depends on this great tolerance to become a dominant species in eutrophic lakes. To further understand how P. akamusi responds to acute hypoxic stress, we used multi-omics analysis in combination with histomorphological characteristics and physiological indicators. Thus, we set up two groups-a control group (DO 8.4 mg/L) and a hypoxic group (DO 0.39 mg/L)-to evaluate enzyme activity and the transcriptome, metabolome, and histomorphological characteristics. With blue-black chromatin, cell tightness, cell membrane invagination, and the production of apoptotic vesicles, tissue cells displayed typical apoptotic features in the hypoxic group. Although lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), catalase (CAT), and Na+/K+ -ATPase (NKA) activities were dramatically enhanced under hypoxic stress, glycogen content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were significantly reduced compared to the control group. The combined analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome, which further demonstrated, in addition to carbohydrates, including glycogen, the involvement of energy metabolism pathways, including fatty acid, protein, trehalose, and glyoxylate cycles, provided additional support for the aforementioned findings. Lactate is the end product of glycogen degradation, and HIF-1 plays an important role in promoting glycogenolysis in acute hypoxic conditions. However, we discovered that the ethanol tested under hypoxic stress likely originates from the symbiodinium of P. akamusi. These results imply that some parameters related to energy metabolism, antioxidant enzyme activities, and histomorphological features may be used as biomarkers of eutrophic lakes in Chironomus riparius larvae. The study also provides a scientific reference for assessing toxicity and favoring policies to reduce their impact on the environment.

Preparation, characterization, identification, and antioxidant properties of fermented acaí (Euterpe oleracea).

Fermentation technology was used to prepare the acaí (Euterpe oleracea) fermentation liquid. The optimal fermentation parameters included a strain ratio of Lactobacillus paracasei: Leuconostoc mesenteroides: Lactobacillus plantarum = 0.5:1:1.5, a fermentation time of 6 days, and a nitrogen source supplemental level of 2.5%. In optimal conditions, the ORAC value of the fermentation liquid reached the highest value of 273.28 ± 6.55 µmol/L Trolox, which was 55.85% higher than the raw liquid. In addition, the FRAP value of the acaí, as well as its scavenging ability of DPPH, hydroxyl, and ABTS free radicals, increased after fermentation. Furthermore, after fermentation treatment, the microstructure, basic physicochemical composition, amino acid composition, γ-aminobutyric acid, a variety of volatile components, and so on have changed. Therefore, fermentation treatment can significantly improve the nutritional value and flavor of the acaí. This provides a theoretical basis for the comprehensive utilization of acaí.

[Long-term Succession Patterns and Driving Factors of Water Quality in a Flood-pulse System Lake: A Case Study of Lake Luoma, Jiangsu Province].

Lake Luoma is an important storage lake for the Eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (NSBD), which has many functions including flood control and irrigation, drinking water supply, and ecological maintenance. In order to understand the succession patterns and driving factors of water quality in Lake Luoma, we used monthly monitoring data from 2009 to 2020 in combination with historical data from 1996 to 2008. The long-term succession patterns, seasonal dynamics, and spatial patterns of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), permanganate index, and ammonia nitrogen (NH+4-N) were examined, and the influence of meteorological and hydrological factors on water quality was explored through correlation analyses and generalized additive models. The results showed that it remained in the status of grade Ⅳ-inferior Ⅴ over the past 25 years. The concentration of TN, which was the main pollutant, changed significantly (1.06-3.49 mg·L-1), experiencing three stages of gradual decline (1996-2002), significant interannual fluctuation (2002-2015), and significant increase (2015-2020). Permanganate index decreased significantly (2.97-6.38 mg·L-1), whereas TP and NH+4-N concentration fluctuated slightly, ranging from 0.024-0.076 mg·L-1 and 0.11-0.69 mg·L-1, respectively. The concentration of TN and TP increased abnormally in the summer of 2017-2020, reaching 3.30 mg·L-1 and 0.14 mg·L-1 in August, respectively, which was approximately 1.5 and 2.4 times the annual average. In terms of seasonal dynamics, the seasonal variation in water quality between summer/autumn and winter/spring reversed after 2015, with water quality in summer/autumn being worse than that in winter and spring, indicating the exacerbation of eutrophication. The water quality in the southern area was obviously better than that in the northern area. The input of pollutants from the Yihe River and Middle Canal increased with water quantity since 2015, which drove the water quality deterioration through nutrients. Our results suggested that the water quality of Lake Luoma should be improved by strengthening exogenous pollution reduction, endogenous control, polder dismantling, and ecological restoration.

Single-cell profiling reveals differences between human classical adenocarcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma.

Colorectal cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease. Most colorectal cancers are classical adenocarcinoma, and mucinous adenocarcinoma is a unique histological subtype that is known to respond poorly to chemoradiotherapy. The difference in prognosis between mucinous adenocarcinoma and classical adenocarcinoma is controversial. Here, to gain insight into the differences between classical adenocarcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma, we analyse 7 surgical tumour samples from 4 classical adenocarcinoma and 3 mucinous adenocarcinoma patients by single-cell RNA sequencing. Our results indicate that mucinous adenocarcinoma cancer cells have goblet cell-like properties, and express high levels of goblet cell markers (REG4, SPINK4, FCGBP and MUC2) compared to classical adenocarcinoma cancer cells. TFF3 is essential for the transcriptional regulation of these molecules, and may cooperate with RPS4X to eventually lead to the mucinous adenocarcinoma mucus phenotype. The observed molecular characteristics may be critical in the specific biological behavior of mucinous adenocarcinoma.

[Community Structure of Phytoplankton and Environmental Impact Factors in Lake Hongze from 2015 to 2020].

Lake Hongze is an essential storage lake for the "Eastern Route of the South-North Water Diversion Project" and plays an important role in climate adjustment and flood prevention and control. To study the structural evolution of phytoplankton communities in Lake Hongze and their relationship with environmental factors and to understand the status of the ecosystem of Lake Hongze before the "ten-year fishing ban," monthly monitoring was carried out from 2015 to 2020. During the study period, total nitrogen showed a significant downward trend starting in 2017, the total phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand declined slightly, the water temperature had no obvious change trend, and the water depth and transparency increased from 2015 to 2018 and then declined significantly. A total of 102 genera of phytoplankton in eight phyla were identified, with a total of 310 species. The dominant phytoplankton phyla mainly included Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta, followed by Cyanophyta and Pyrrophyta. The dominant genera were Scenedesmus, Aulacoseira, Cryptomonas, Cyclotella, Tetraedron, Microcystis, and Dolichospermum. The results of non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) showed that the structural composition of the phytoplankton community differed significantly among years, seasons, and sampling areas, mainly due to the redistribution among dominant genera. NMDS analysis also indicated that variation in the phytoplankton community in Lake Hongze was mainly related to water temperature, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, water depth, and transparency. Total nitrogen, water depth, and phytoplankton community structure were significantly correlated with interannual succession, whereas water temperature, total nitrogen, and phytoplankton seasonal succession were also significantly correlated. Combined with the measures taken by the management department in recent years, the changes in the structure of the phytoplankton community may be related to the removal of the fence and other management and restoration measures in Lake Hongze.

Worldwide review with meta-analysis of women's awareness about breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the awareness levels of breast cancer (BC) worldwide and investigate factors associated with BC awareness to determine differences in awareness between China and other countries. METHODS: This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines and included 92 articles up to July, 2021. We calculated percentages for BC awareness levels and conducted subgroup analysis and cumulative meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total 84% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 78-90%) of women knew about BC; however, only 51% (95%CI: 37-66%) and 40% (95%CI: 24-56%) of women were aware of BC symptoms and BC risk factors, respectively. The most commonly known BC symptom was breast lump (71%, 95%CI: 62-80%), and BC family history was the most well-known BC risk factor (61%, 95%CI: 54-69%). Subgroup analysis showed lower awareness levels among Chinese and Asian women than women from other countries. Cumulative meta-analysis showed no obvious progress in BC awareness levels over time. We investigated 15 awareness-related factors, the most frequent of which were education level (61.8%), occupation (29.4%), and age (26.5%). CONCLUSION: BC awareness levels remain low. Improving BC awareness is critical, especially in developing countries. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Effective education programs are urgently needed to improve women's BC awareness.

[Spatio-temporal Distribution Characteristics and Driving Factors of Zooplankton in Hongze Lake].

Hongze Lake is the fourth largest freshwater lake in China and is an important source of water for surrounding industrial and agricultural processes and fishery resources. Analyzing the changes in the zooplankton community structure in Hongze Lake can provide scientific support for the scientific management of its ecology and environment. A one-year monthly monitoring study was conducted from March 2017 to February 2018 to analyze the temporal and spatial changes in species composition, density, and biomass of zooplankton in Hongze Lake, as well as the seasonal changes in community diversity and dominant species. Canonical correspondence analysis was employed to explore the relationships between the temporal and spatial changes in zooplankton and the environmental factors of Hongze Lake. The results showed that the average annual density of zooplankton in Hongze Lake was 383.87 ind ·L-1, and the average annual biomass was 1.36 mg ·L-1. The community structure of zooplankton in Hongze Lake varied greatly across time and space. Community structure varied greatly in summer, and zooplankton density and biomass reached a maximum in autumn. The community structure of the zooplankton was the simplest in winter. Chengzi Bay and Lihewa Bay exhibited an abundance of many different zooplankton species with limited spatial differentiation, whereas the zooplankton in the overflow area comprised fewer species but exhibited greater spatial variation. In summer, water level and temperature are the dominant factors, whereas in autumn and winter, the dominant factors are water temperature, nutrients, and chlorophyll. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the temporal and spatial changes in zooplankton community structure in Hongze Lake were mainly determined by water level, total phosphorus, water temperature, and total nitrogen content. Water level fluctuation has the greatest direct impact on zooplankton community structure, and water quality regulation has indirect impact.

[Feeding ecology of Engraulis japonicus based on stomach contents and stable isotope]. / åŸºäºŽèƒƒå«ç‰©åˆ†æžå’Œç¨³å®šåŒä½ç´ æŠ€æœ¯ç ”ç©¶é³€çš„æ‘„é£Ÿç”Ÿæ€.

Engraulis japonicus, an important fishery resource, is a key species in ecosystem trophodynamics studies. In this study, we examined stomach content of E. japonicusby stable isotope analyses, with samples collected from the East China Sea in 2008-2009 and 2020. The aim of this study was to demonstrate their diet composition, diel and ontogenetic changes in feeding habits and trophic level. Results of the stomach content analysis showed that E. japonicus mainly fed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish. The main prey species were Euphausia pacifica [index of relative importance (IRI)=87.6%; frequency(F)=57.6%], Paracalanus parvus (IRI=3.2%, F=15.3%), and Themisto gracilipes (IRI=2.1%, F=13.1%). Results of the stable isotope analysis showed that Copepoda were the main food source of E. japonicus, followed by Euphausiacea, and the contribution rate of Amphipoda was the least, which was less than 1%. There was significant diel change in diet composition. Feeding intensity was higher in the daytime than at night, with the highest in the dusk and the lowest at midnight. Ontogenetic change in feeding habit occurred when fork length reached 90 mm, over which the fish fed both zooplankton and small fishes. The δ13C of E. japonicus was between -21.66‰ and -18.14‰, with an average of (-19.92±0.86)‰. The δ15N of E. japonicus ranged from 4.07‰ to 10.78‰, with an average of (8.14±2.48)‰. Both δ13C and δ15N values were positively correlated with fork length. Trophic level of the fish was 3.4 with stomach content analysis and 2.7 with stable isotope analysis. The results would provide important reference for understanding nutritional status of pelagic small fish, and offer some basic data to establish ecopath model.

[Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Phosphorus Fractions and Release Risk in Sediments of Honghu International Importance Wetland].

According to a spatial distribution analysis of phosphorus in sediments from Honghu Wetland, it was found that TP content in sediments at the mouth of Honghu Lake was 781.31-1955.84 mg·kg-1 and the average value was(1287.21±437.28)mg·kg-1. TP content in sediments in the open water area was 438.33-1554.04 mg·kg-1, with an average value of(718.10±238.15)mg·kg-1. The TP content of sediments in lake inlet was significantly higher than that of sediments in the open water area(P<0.05), and that in the enclosed aquaculture was higher than in the open water area, although no significant difference was observed (P>0.05). The TP content of sediments to the northwest and northeast of Honghu Lake was higher than that to the southwest of Honghu Lake, and the TP content of sediments in The Four-lake main canal was significantly higher than that of Luoshan main canal(P<0.05). The phosphorus input in the Four-lake main canal may be the main source of phosphorus in Honghu Lake sediments. The phosphorus fraction composition in sediments from different sampling sites were significantly different. Fe/Al-P and Ca-P were the main forms of phosphorus in sediments from the lake inlet, while OP and Ca-P were the main forms of phosphorus in sediments from the open water area. The variation in spatial phosphorus form composition was related to the influence of human activity and the distribution of aquatic plants. Fe/Al-P and OP contents were used to estimate the content of biological available phosphorus (BAP) in evaluated sediments, and the proportion of BAP in TP was used to estimate the risk of phosphorus release in Honghu sediments. BAP/TP was 39.8%-69%, with an average of(56.5±7.23)%, indicating a high risk of phosphorus release. OP and BAP were significantly correlated with TP in overlying water(P<0.01), and the correlation between BAP and phosphate in the overlying water was the highest. The results showed that phosphorus concentration in the overlying water may be related to the release of Fe/Al-P and OP into water bodies.

Niches and interspecific association of major shrimp and crab species in Pishan waters of Zhejiang Province, China.

Based on the fishery resource investigation data in Pishan waters of Zhejiang coastal area in November of 2015 (autumn), February (winter), May (spring) and August (summer) of 2016, we analyzed the spatio-temporal niche characteristics and interspecific association of the domi-nant shrimp and crab species using the methods of niche test, variance ratio, chi-square test, Spearman test and redundancy analysis. A total of 34 shrimp and crab species belonging to 14 families and 20 genera were identified. Among them, 10 species were collected in all the four seasons. Dominant species were Parapenaeopsis hardwickii, Exopalaemon carinicauda and Portunus trituberculatus. The temporal, spatial and spatio-temporal niche breadths of the major shrimp and crab species ranged from 0.03-1.34, 2.07-3.63 and 0.08-4.64, respectively. The cluster analysis of niche breadths suggested that all the species could be divided into narrow, medium and wide niche breadth groups under the 90% similarity level. In addition, the spatio-temporal niche overlap values of the major species in Pishan Sea were mainly at low level (68.9% of the species's Qik<0.3), implying little interspecific competition for resource utilization. The analysis of variance ratio showed that the major shrimp and crab species were mainly positively correlated, with 11.1% of the species showing significantly positive association. The JI index, OI index and Spearman test all showed the relationship between major shrimp and crab species tended to be positive correlation as a whole. Redundancy analysis showed that surface temperature, bottom temperature, and surface salinity were the main environmental factors affecting the distribution of shrimp and crab species in Pishan waters.

Spatio-temporal niche of major fish species in Pishan waters off Zhejiang Province, China.

Based on seasonal bottom trawl surveys in November 2015 (autumn), February (winter), May (spring) and August (summer) in 2016, the index of relative importance (IRI), Shannon index and Pianka index were used to analyze the breadth and overlap of spatio-temporal niche of major fish species in the Pishan waters off Zhejiang Province. Redundancy analysis and interspecific competition coefficient were used to examine the competition relationship and niche differentiation of those major fish species. The results showed that a total of 61 fish species were recorded throughout the year, which belonged to 13 orders, 29 families and 48 genera. A total of 19 species with IRI>100 were identified as major fish species. The temporal niche overlap value between Chelidonichthys kumu and Atule kalla was largest, indicating high temporal synchronization. Both the spatial niche overlap value and the spatio-temporal niche overlap value between Trpauchen vagina and Cynoglossus interruptus were largest, indicating that their spatial homology was high and that the use of spatial and temporal two-dimensional resource of both species were consistent. The percentage of species pairs with spatio-temporal niche overlap at the significant level (Qik>0.6) was only 5.8% in Pishan waters, indicating that the spatial and temporal distribution of those species were quite different. The overlap of spatio-temporal niche significantly varied across different seasons. The results of the interspecific competition coefficient were basically consistent with the niche overlap. Results of the redundancy analysis revealed the relationships between major fish species and environmental factors (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen), and further explained the niche diffe-rentiation among species.

Effects of vasoactive drugs on hepatic and intestinal circulation and intestinal barrier in patients with septic shock.

In this study, 60 patients with septic shock were selected over the course of 1 year, and the effects of dopamine and norepinephrine combined with dobutamine on hepatic and intestinal circulation and intestinal barrier in patients with septic shock were studied by comparison between the control group and the experimental group. All patients received mechanical ventilation to maintain breathing at 14 to 20 times/min. The experimental group was treated with vascular active drugs after adequate rehydration, and the control group only received adequate rehydration. There were extremely significant differences (p<0.01) in the total effective rate of each group. There were significant differences in the hemodynamic indexes in each group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in total 24-hour bile output (p<0.01). There were significant differences in liver function and blood lipid values in patients (p<0.01). There were significant differences in the repair of epithelial injury at 0 hour, 48 hours and 96 hours (p<0.01). There were significant differences in the transmembrane resistance of monolayer cells (p<0.01). The expression differences of three proteins ZO-1, occludin and ß-actin were also significant, among which the three proteins in the control group were weak, while those in groups A and B were strong. The expression of tight junction protein in monolayer cells was weakly positive in expression and strong in other proteins. In conclusion, vasoactive drugs had significant effects on hepatic and intestinal circulation and intestinal barrier in patients with septic shock.

Viral Metagenomics Analysis of Rodents From Two Border Provinces Located in Northeast and Southwest China.

Objective: Wild animal pathogen surveillance will help to understand the next possible pandemic in advance. Rodents, which have close contact with humans, are generally regarded as a key factor for zoonotic disease control. Given the variation in rodent virus composition in diverse ecologies, we conducted a study on the viral infection of rodents of diverse species in different typical environments of Heilongjiang and Yunnan Provinces, located in northeastern and southwestern China, respectively. Methods: Viral metagenomics sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were performed to determine the different distributions of rodent-borne viruses in typical environments of Heilongjiang and Yunnan Provinces, China. After viral culture and PCR confirmation, genomic and phylogenetic quantitative analysis was performed on the detected hantaviruses (HVs) and Beilong viruses (BeiVs). Results: Nineteen rodents from three species and 35 rodents from five species of rodents were collected from Heilongjiang and Yunnan Provinces, respectively. Although the number and number of species of rodents trapped in the northeast were fewer than those in the southwest, viruses annotated from rodents in Heilongjiang were more diverse than those in Yunnan. Rodents carried 22 virus families in Heilongjiang and 13 families in Yunnan. Sequences assembled from Rattus norvegicus were annotated to the M, L, and S segments of HV, and all were clustered within the Seoul-type hantavirus (SEOV). There were 2 (R81Q, S698T) and 4 (K153R, M168I, I279S, and R1790K) amino acid site substitutions in M and L compared with the versions in the most homologous strains. Two BeiV isolates from Rattus norvegicus were closely related to BeiV from brown rats in Hong Kong, with high bootstrap values of >90% in the N segment and > 95% in the L segment. They were further clustered with Tailam virus, forming a distinct group in Paramyxoviridae. Conclusion: The rodents from Heilongjiang and Yunnan located in northeast and southwest China, respectively, had different viral spectra, and only one-third (10/32) of virus families were detected in both areas. The predominant viruses were HV and BeiV in the Hantaviridae and Paramyxoviridae families, respectively. Rodent-borne viruses in the same species were similar in different geographic disparate areas owing to their similar close contact with human habitats and human activities. Additional attention should be given to the monitoring of neglected rodent-borne viruses, especially opportunistic viruses with currently low loads.

Relationship Between Lifestyle Habits and Health-Related Quality of Life of Recently Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients: A Comparison Between Younger and Older Women in China.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between lifestyle habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among different ages who were initially diagnosed with breast cancer (within the first 2 weeks) and to determine the contribution of lifestyle habits factors on HRQoL. Methods: Patients with breast cancer were recruited from 22 hospitals in 11 provinces or municipalities in northern and eastern China. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (FACT-B) was used to measure HRQoL. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and multivariable generalized linear models were conducted to identify the differences in HRQoL between two age groups (age <50 years and ≥50 years) and to evaluate the contribution of lifestyle habits factors on HRQoL of patients with breast cancer. Results: About 1,199 eligible patients with breast cancer were used for analysis. Younger women (aged <50 years) appeared to show lower scores than older women (aged ≥50 years) in HRQoL subscales, including emotional well-being (p = 0.003), functional well-being (p = 0.006), breast cancer subscale (p = 0.038), and FACT-B Total scores (p = 0.028). Tea and alcohol consumption and being very satisfied with sleep and current life were the strongest predictors of higher HRQoL in younger group. Meanwhile, no coffee consumption, frequent participation in physical activities, high sleep satisfaction, and current life satisfaction were the key predictors of higher HRQoL in older women with breast cancer. Conclusion: The relationship of the nine lifestyle habit items with HRQoL differed among younger and older women. The associated variable of low HRQoL can help clinicians take intervention early in order to improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.

[Variations of Stable Oxygen and Deuterium Isotopes in River and Lake Waters During Flooding Season Along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Regions].

Stable isotope tracers have been widely applied to water sources and evolution, transforming relations, and pollution sources of various water bodies. This study analyzed the spatial variations of δ2H and δ18O in river and lake waters during flooding season, and revealed the factors underlying their variations along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River based on a field sampling campaign in July 2018. Our results showed that δ2H and δ18O in the Yangtze River water were enriched from the Three Gorges reservoir region to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which was closely linked to isotopic variations in precipitation. There was no significant difference in δ2H and δ18O values in the mainstream river waters between the Three Gorges Reservoir Region and Yichang-Chenglingji. However, d-excess values in river water displayed a small variation range. In contrast, δ2H and δ18O values in the lake group from Dongting to Jianghan and Huayang to Poyang Lake were lower than in the lake group from Taihu to the Yangtze Delta. Negative d-excess values were observed in lake water from Taihu to the Yangtze Delta, suggesting the combined influence of enriched isotopic compositions in precipitation and strong evaporative enrichment. Of the lakes, the highest isotopic values were found in Dianshan Lake and Datong Lake, whereas the lowest isotopic values were recorded in Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake because of their direct connection with the Yangtze River. The water regimes of Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake were influenced by the Yangtze River, especially when a high water level of the Yangtze River occurred, and thus altered the isotopic compositions of Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake water. Hence, these findings will provide scientific data revealing the precipitation-river-lake interactions and investigating the rational utilization and management of water resources in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River regions.

[Succession Pattern of Phytoplankton and Its Drivers in Lake Luoma, Jiangsu Province].

As a water storage lake for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, it is crucial to examine changes in aquatic ecosystem structures in Lake Luoma, Jiangsu province. Field sampling was carried out in Lake Luoma monthly from 2014 to 2018 to study the relationship between the phytoplankton community structure and environmental factors. During the studied period, total nitrogen, permanganate index, and electrical conductivity in water column gradually increased, whereas fluoride content declined. The pattern of total phosphorus and dissolved oxygen was not distinct. A total of 71 genera of phytoplankton were identified from 2014 to 2018, and the average monthly biomass variation ranged from 0.16 to 5.51 mg·L-1. Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta were the dominant phyla in the four years, followed by Pyrrophyta and Cryptophyta. The dominant genera were Synedra sp., Chroomonas spp., Aulacoseira spp., Dinobryon sp., Scenedesmus spp. , Fragilaria spp., Mougeotia sp. , Ankistrodesmus sp. , and Euglena spp. The results showed that the phytoplankton community structure significantly changed in the four years, which was mainly ascribed to the redistribution of biomass. Specifically, in addition to the dominance of Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta, the dominance of Pyrrophyta and Cyanophyta increased during the last two years. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that variation of the phytoplankton community in Lake Luoma was mainly related to total nitrogen, fluoride, water temperature, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and permanganate index, among which the total nitrogen, water temperature, and fluoride concentration dominated the phytoplankton community change after the generalized additive model test. Water temperature is the driving factor affecting seasonal changes of the phytoplankton community. Total nitrogen and fluoride concentrations are the driving factors affecting the interannual variation in the phytoplankton community. Our study indicated that in recent years, the implementation of the ban on sand mining and demolition of the enclosed aquaculture in Lake Luoma has affected the water environment, resulting in a significant succession of the phytoplankton community.

Pregnancy outcomes of women with elevated second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the overall distribution of pregnancy outcomes in women with elevated second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MS-AFP), and to determine the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) by MS-AFP level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 429 women with elevated MS-AFP (≥2.5 multiple of the median (MOM)) and 1555 women with normal MS-AFP (0.5-2.49MOM) from a total of 46,741 prenatally screened singleton pregnant women. The overall distribution of APOs of the two groups, the risk of APOs by MS-AFP level, and the predictive value of elevated MS-AFP to APOs were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence rate of APOs in elevated MS-AFP group was significantly higher than that in normal MS-AFP group (42.89 vs. 8.23%). In elevated MS-AFP group, the top three APOs, in term of incidence rate, were structural fetal abnormalities (7.93%), spontaneous abortion (7.46%) and preterm birth (7.23%); regarding to the risk, the top three APOs were stillbirth, spontaneous abortion and early-onset preeclampsia (odds ratio 35.98, 20.81 and 8.58 respectively). For structural fetal abnormalities, MS-AFP had predictive values for fetal open neural tube defects (ONTDs), gastroschisis and multiple malformations. CONCLUSION: Elevated MS-AFP is associated with increased risks of APOs. ONTDs complicate merely a small proportion of pregnancies with elevated MS-AFP, and the rest of them have high risks of obstetric complications. MS-AFP can help to identify these women at high risk of APOs in earlier second-trimester.

HIF-1α rs11549465 C>T polymorphism contributes to increased cancer susceptibility: Evidence from 49 studies.

HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) is a transcriptional factor that participates in the regulation of oxygen homeostasis. Despites numbers of case-control studies working on this area, the actual relationship of HIF-1α gene generic variant rs11549465 C>T imposing on cancer susceptibility remains unveiled. To get a better understanding of such relationship, this meta-analysis was carried out by incorporating all eligible case-control studies. Qualified articles were acquired from PubMed, CNKI, EMBASE, PMC, and Wanfang database update to April 2019. Odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to estimate the relationship of interest. Heterogeneity tests, sensitivity analyses and publication bias assessments were also carried out to ensure the strength of our conclusion. A total of 46 articles with 49 studies including 12920 cases and 13363 controls were included. The results indicated that HIF-1α rs11549465 C>T was significantly related to the increased risk of overall cancer under four genetic models (TT vs. CC: OR=2.06, 95% CI=1.34-3.16; TT vs. CC/CT: OR=2.42, 95% CI=1.60-3.65; CT/TT vs. CC: OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.04-1.40; T vs. C: OR=1.29, 95% CI=1.12-1.48). Furthermore, enhanced cancer risk was detected after stratification by cancer type, ethnicity, the source of controls and HWE. These results suggest that HIF-1α rs11549465 C>T polymorphism may predispose to cancer susceptibility.