An improved method of local coloring in vertical-slot fishways to enhance the fish migration effect of grass carp.

Vertical-slot fishway (VSF) has been used in many water conservancy projects to restore the river connectivity. A high-quality fishway project should facilitate fish to discovering the exit and passing through, avoiding to long stay in the fishway and delay the migration. Current research on fishway engineering has not yielded an expected passing ratio of fish migration, and it is therefore of great significance to further study the assisting effect of VSF in fish migration. To begin with, we preliminarily determined the attractive and repelling colors of grass carps based on their swimming behavior in a static water pool configured with local colors. Combined with the migration route of the grass carp in a VSF pool without local coloring, four local coloring cases were designed. Based on the camera results of the four experimental local coloring cases, a comparative analysis was conducted with the blank control group frame by frame. This was followed by the statistics of the number of successfully migrated grass carps and their total completion time. On that basis, the assisting effect of VSF in fish migration under the four cases was evaluated in terms of the reduction rate of migration route length, the reduction rate of completion time, and the improvement rate of passing ratio. The research outcomes indicated that green and blue act as attractive colors while yellow and red serve as repelling colors for grass carp. Adding colors to the training wall and dividing wall in the VSF pool, the migration route of grass carp was appropriately adjusted, alongside a shortened completion time and an improved passing ratio. Of the four local coloring cases, the recommended case showed a significant effect on migration route, with more concentrated moving trajectories and shortened route length. Typically, the migration route length decreased by 26%, and the frequency of fish long staying at the junction between the training wall and dividing wall was markedly reduced, as well as the frequency of fish swimming along the water flow from upstream to downstream. The completion time was shortened by 26%, and the passing ratio was enhanced by 44%. The approach of combining local coloring with fish behavior and fishway hydraulics in the pool surpassed the method that optimizes the fishway design only from the fishway hydraulics. The improved method greatly shortened the migration route length, reduced the completion time, and significantly improved the passing ratio of fish passage objects in the VSF. The present research mainly focuses on using model experiments to evaluate the local coloring cases. In the future studies, we will configure local colors to the sidewalls of on-site fishways using environmentally friendly paint or colored organic glass panels. With the monitoring results of the completion time and passing ratio of fish passage objects, the recommended case can be further verified and optimized, thereby providing a more reasonable and feasible local coloring case for assisting fish migration in the VSF project.

Schizothorax prenanti swimming behavior in response to different flow patterns in vertical slot fishways with different slot positions.

Fish swimming behavior is a critical parameter for the design of vertical slot fishways. Although Schizothorax prenanti is a significant reproductive potamodromous migratory fish species in the upper reaches of the rivers in Southwest China, its swimming behavior has not been extensively researched. Therefore, in this study, a comparative experiment was conducted in vertical slot fishways to analyze the behavior of Schizothorax prenanti in response to different flow patterns, with respect to different slot positions. The experimental model was designed with a length scale of 1:4, and a method for selecting the appropriate fish size in the scaled physical model was proposed. Based on these experiments, it was found that the typical upstream trajectories of Schizothorax prenanti are traceable to the sidewall of the pool, which are characterized by low velocity and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE). The hydraulic variables exhibited an asymmetric distribution within the vertical slot, and the fish were found to pass through the area with the lowest velocity and TKE. A flow pattern with a guide wall length-to-pool width ratio of P/B = 0.25, in which Schizothorax prenanti can immediately find the sidewall, is suitable for fish migration. Therefore, this is the recommended value for the construction of effective vertical-slot fishway structures.

Onychogryphosis in tuberous sclerosis complex: an unusual feature

Abstract Onychogryphosis is an acquired nail plate change. It often affects the toenail and is characterized by an opaque, yellow-brownish nail plate that is distorted, grossly thickened, elongated, and partly curved resembling a ram's horn. Tuberous sclerosis complex is a multisystem disorder associated with high rates of mental retardation, autism, cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, or seizures. Nail disease can also be associated, which is a concern to patients due to pain and nail distortion. We reported a typical tuberous sclerosis complex patient with distinctive clinical features of a ram's horn nails, which presented a great challenge to surgical treatment and nail restoration.

Onychogryphosis in tuberous sclerosis complex: an unusual feature.

Onychogryphosis is an acquired nail plate change. It often affects the toenail and is characterized by an opaque, yellow-brownish nail plate that is distorted, grossly thickened, elongated, and partly curved resembling a ram's horn. Tuberous sclerosis complex is a multisystem disorder associated with high rates of mental retardation, autism, cognitive impairment, behavioral problems, or seizures. Nail disease can also be associated, which is a concern to patients due to pain and nail distortion. We reported a typical tuberous sclerosis complex patient with distinctive clinical features of a ram's horn nails, which presented a great challenge to surgical treatment and nail restoration.

[Clinical application and personal X-ray film and CT design of screw-plate system by pedicle of atlanto-axis manipulatively].

OBJECTIVE: To study project of simplicity and utility for screw-plate system by pedicle of atlanto-axis manipulatively hand by X-ray film and CT to prove the one success rate of putting screws. METHODS: Formulate personal program was used in operation by image save transmission of X-ray film and CT during January 2002 and September 2006 in 31 patients. There were 18 males and 13 femals, aged from 23 to 61 years old withan average age of 43.5 years. Putting screw points by pedicle of atlas were measured: left (19.93 +/- 1.32) mm, right (19.16 +/- 1.30) mm; putting screw obliquity angle to inside by pedicle of atlas: left (23.72 +/- 2.09) degrees, right (23.35 +/- 1.91) degrees; putting screw obliquity angle to side of head by pedicle of atlas: (9.00 +/- 1.20) degrees. Screw points by pedicle of axis: left (13.14 +/- 0.82) mm right (13.85 +/- 0.79) mm; putting screw obliquity angle to inside by pedicle of axis: left (24.52 +/- 1.26) degrees, right (20.42 +/- 1.42) degrees; putting screw obliquity angle to side of head by pedicle of axis: (25.00 +/- 3.00) degrees. The domestic location toward speculum was employed in operation and putting screw points and angles were formulated by X-CT program. The pedicle screws of suitable diameter and length were of exception and screws into pedicle of atlanto-axis were put by hand. RESULTS: Pain of the greater occipital nerve occurred in 2 patients after operation and was fully recovered by treatment 1 month after operation. The lateral cortical bone of pedicle was cut by 2 screws, but the spinal cord and vertebral artery were fine. The atlas and the fracture of odontoid process of axis were completely replaced in X-ray films of all patients 1 day after operation. The position relation of lag screw and vertebral artery or spinal cord was very good in CT sheets. All cases were followed up with an average of 10.5 months during 9 months to 5 years and 4 months,and obtained atlantoaxial arthrodesis. The breakage of screw and plate was not found in all cases. According to JOA score standard, 16 cases were excellent, 12 were good, 2 were fair, 1 was poor, and the excellent and good rate was 90.32%. CONCLUSION: The personal design and clinical application of X-ray films and CT sheets are of great significance to screw-plate system by pedicle of atlanto-axis because of simplification of designs and methods and better personality.