The Three-Rivers Headwaters Region (TRHR) is crucial to the sustainable development of China and Southeast Asian countries. For various reasons, the sustainability of grassland ecosystems in the region has been seriously challenged. This paper reviews remote sensing-based monitoring and simulation of TRHR grassland ecosystems; quantitative assessment of grassland degradation and its ecological effects; driving factors and mechanisms of grassland degradation; grassland conservation policies and restoration for degraded grassland. The review shows that although TRHR alpine grassland coverage and above-ground biomass of alpine grassland (AG-AGB) have generally increased over the past 30 years, the degradation has not been fundamentally curbed. Grassland degradation significantly reduced the surface soil nutrients and affected their distribution, and also aggravated soil erosion and deteriorated soil moisture conditions. Grassland degradation leads to loss of productivity and species diversity. Its adverse impact on production will reduce the well-being of pastoralists. The “warm and wet” trend of the TRHR climate promotes the restoration of alpine grasslands, but the widespread overgrazing is considered to be the main reason for grassland degradation. However, the two have very complex impacts on grassland, and further research is needed. Since 2000, the TRHR grassland restoration policy has achieved great results, but the formulation of the policy still needs to effectively integrate the market logic and strengthen the understanding of the relationship between ecological protection and cultural protection. In addition, appropriate human intervention mechanisms are urgently needed for the uncertainty of future climate change. It is recommended to implement technologies such as rodent control, light grazing, enclosure, weeding, and fertilization to restore slightly and moderately degraded grasslands. However, for the severely degraded “black soil beach”, it needs to be restored by artificial seeding, and the stability of the plant-soil system needs to be emphasized to establish a relatively stable community to prevent secondary degradation.

Sometimes when there are some restrictions on the random variables of insurance risk model, it is impossible to calculate the exact value of ruin probabilities. For these cases, even finding a suitable approximation, is very important from a practical point of view. In the present paper, we consider the classical insurance surplus model with light tailed claim amount distributions and try to find some inequalities and optimal estimation on the infinite time ruin probability depending on the amount of initial reserve when the assumption of net profit does not hold but there exist some other restrictions on the mathematical functions of random variables of model. The obtained assertions depend on the amount of initial reserve, distribution of nonnegative claim amounts and claim inter-arrival times. Finally, to show the application and effectiveness of results some examples are presented.

Blue-green spaces composed of water and green spaces have certain ecological, economic, and social benefits for urban development. Many evaluation index systems have been developed to evaluate the health status of urban ecosystems. However, in these evaluation index systems, blue and green spaces are separately evaluated without considering the synergistic effect between water and green spaces in the ecosystem, thus affecting the unified planning and construction of cities. Therefore, based on existing studies, the development process of the blue-green space evaluation index system is divided into three stages: supply service evaluation stage, adjustment service evaluation stage, and cultural service evaluation stage in order to deeply discuss the development path of the blue-green space evaluation index system. The single blue and green evaluation index systems are compared from the perspectives of index selection and evaluation content. Moreover, the characteristics of conventional evaluation methods are discussed in order to propose an applicable evaluation index system and evaluation method of blue-green spaces for evaluating the degree of blue-green integration of cities. The review provides the basis for urban planning and ecological restoration.

Introduction: Recently, a novel non-thermal ablation modality, Pulse Field Ablation (PFA), has been introduced in clinical practice. Case report: Because there were multiple recurrences of ischemic stroke despite adequate anticoagulant therapy , a 64-year-old male was admitted to AF PFA and concomitant left atrial appendage (LAA) closure. An intense smoke effect was detected in the LAA and a cerebral protection device (CPD) was positioned. Catheter AF PFA and LAA closure were performed. One little thrombus had been collected into the CPD at the end of procedure. Conclusion: Combined procedure seems to be safe and feasible.

Background: As transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures become more widely available, there is a growing need to monitor and evaluate postoperative outcomes accurately. The energy loss index (ELI) of the ascending aorta has been commonly used to examine the agreement between the echocardiographic and Gorlin measurement of the aortic valve area. Objectives: This project aims to demonstrate a link between ELI values and mortality following implanted TAVR valves and determine an ELI cutoff value associated with post-TAVR events. Method: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing TAVR from 2012 – 2017. We calculated ELI values for patients immediately postoperative after a TAVR procedure. Using Receiver-Operator Characteristic and Cox Regression analyses, we identified a cutoff value to distinguish between high and low-risk patients. Results: This study showed ELI ≤ 1.34 (hazard ratio, 1.783; 95% confidence interval 1.231-2.583, p=0.002) as representative of patients with a high risk of mortality post-TAVR. Additionally, post-TAVR, ejection fraction increased by 3.5 percent (p<0.001), and the aortic valve effective orifice area increased by 1.25 cm squared (p<0.001) while the mean transvalvular gradient decreased by 33.6 mmHg (p<0.001) and the peak transvalvular gradient decreased by 49.7 mmHg (p<0.001). Conclusion: ELI is an additional prognostic factor that should be considered during risk assessment before TAVR. This study shows that patients with ELI ≤ 1.34 had decreased cumulative survival post-TAVR. These patients had a fivefold increased risk of death following TAVR.

Pediatric thyroid cancer is rare in children, however incidence is increasing. Papillary thyroid cancer and follicular thyroid cancer are the most common subtypes, comprising about 90% and 10% of cases respectively. This manuscript provides consensus imaging recommendations for evaluation of pediatric patients with thyroid cancer at diagnosis and during follow-up.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is an uncommon subtype of Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) in children with less than 20 cases reported in the literature. In this paper, we present a case of AITL in a three years old male with Ataxia-Telangiectasia which regressed spontaneously without any therapy. A comprehensive review of the literature regarding treatment and outcome of pediatric patients with AITL has been also discussed in this article.

A document by Yalda Abrishami, written on Authorea.

Dams alter many aspects of riverine environments and can have broad effects on aquatic organisms and habitats both upstream and downstream. While dams and the associated reservoirs can provide many services to people (hydropower, recreation, flood control, navigation, etc.), they can negatively affect riverine ecosystems. In particular, hydropeaking dams affect downstream fish habitats by increasing variability in discharge and temperature. To assess the effects of Harris Dam on the Tallapoosa River, AL, operating under an adaptive management plan implemented in 2005, we sampled fish for community and diet analyses from four sites on the river: three in the regulated region downstream of the dam, and one unregulated site upstream. Fish were collected every other month using boat/barge electrofishing. We used Shannon’s H, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), a multiresponse permutation procedure (MRPP), and indicator species analysis to quantify patterns in fish assemblage structure and determine how assemblages varied among sites. NMDS and MRPP indicated significant fish assemblage differences among sites with the tailrace fish assemblage being distinct from the other downstream sites, and sites becoming more similar to the upstream, unregulated site (relative to fish assemblages) with distance downstream of the tailrace. The tailrace fish assemblage included higher proportions of rheophilic species that may be better suited for variable and/or high flows. Altered fish assemblages demonstrated continued effects of Harris Dam on the downstream aquatic systems, particularly close to the dam. These effects may indicate further mitigation should be considered depending on conservation and management goals.

Purpose: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a dissection involving the ascending aorta within 14 days of symptom onset. Acute myocardial ischemia is associated with short-term mortality in patients with ATAAD. However, its relevance to ATAAD’s surgical timing and prognostic implications is unknown. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 277 patients at our tertiary center between March 1997 and January 2019 and investigated their admission electrocardiograms. Twenty-one patients with left ventricular hypertrophy or left bundle branch block were excluded, and the records of 256 patients eventually underwent data collection, review, and multivariate analysis. Results: In patients with acute myocardial ischemia, the incidence of aortic root involvement, acute coronary involvement, and preoperative stroke was significantly higher. Acute myocardial ischemia was unassociated with 30-day or in-hospital mortality in patients who underwent surgery within 7 h of symptom onset. However, it was independently associated with the 30-day mortality and postoperative stroke when the 7-hour window had elapsed. Conclusions: As a time-dependent surgical prognosticator in ATAAD, acute myocardial ischemia was unassociated with short-term mortality in patients surgically operated within 7 h of symptom onset. Conversely, it was an independent factor for the 30-day mortality and postoperative stroke when the 7-hour window had elapsed.

Objective Functional tricuspid regurgitation(FTR) levels can vary over time and its longitudinal changing patterns may predict right ventricular dysfunction(RVD) risk. We aim to identify different trajectories of FTR in those who received mitral valve replacement(MVR) and investigate the association between longitudinal trajectory groups and RVD risk in a cohort study. Methods and results A prospective cohort study, reported usual FTR levels at baseline in 2005–2015 and the participants of MVR have been followed up for 5~6 years, approximately every one years, and so far, the data have been collected across five subsequent phases. Five-year longitudinal trajectories of FTR were identified using group-based trajectory modelling(GBTM). We identified 3 distinct trajectories using a GBTM, labeled by initial value and changing pattern: stable group(258/378, 68.2%), increasing-slow group(67/378, 17.6%) and increasing-fast group(53/378, 14.2%). Treating the stable group as the reference, the age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio(OR) was 25.84 (95% confidence interval, 11.78-56.65) for the increasing-slow group and 139.94(95% confidence interval, 45.47-430.68) for the increasing-fast group by logistic regression model. After adjustment for every potential confounding factors, the OR is 14.21(95% confidence interval, 4.36-46.33)、49.34(95% confidence interval, 8.88-273.87) respectively. Conclusions The longitudinal trajectories of worsening FTR were mostly associated with increased risk of RVD outcomes, which is independent of other factors including FTR levels. These findings have implications for intervention and prevention of RVD among individuals who received MVR.

Our study shows a possible link between OCD and catatonia. Studies are needed in order to determine the pathophysiology of catatonia and the mechanism of ECT so that more beneficial therapeutics can be developed. A combination of ECT and antidepressants with ERP therapy for recurrent catatonia with OCD has efficacy

Lignocellulose is the most abundant natural biopolymer on earth and a potential raw material for the production of fuels and chemicals. However, only some organisms such as bacteria and fungi produce the necessary enzymes to metabolize it. In this work we detected the presence of extracellular cellulases in the genome of five species of Scenedesmus. These microalgae grow in both, freshwater and saltwater regions as well as in soils, displaying highly flexible metabolic properties. The comparison of sequences of the different cellulases with hydrolytic enzymes from other organisms by means of multi-sequence alignments and phylogenetic trees showed that these enzymes belong to the families of glycosyl hydrolases 1, 5, 9 and 10. In addition, most of these presented a greater similarity of sequence with enzymes from invertebrates, fungi, bacteria and other microalgae than with cellulases from plants; and the 3D modeling data obtained showed that both the main structures of the modeled proteins and the main amino acid residues implicated in catalysis and substrate binding are well conserved in Scenedesmus enzymes. We propose that these cellulase-producing phototrophic microorganisms could act as catalysts for the hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass fueled by sunlight.

The present paper is dedicated to the mechanical and fracture characterisation of a specific earthen material, that is, the shot-earth 772. Although such a material has been recently characterised from a microstructural, chemical and physical point of view, the knowledge of its mechanical and fracture properties (essential for extending its use in construction industry) is still lacking. Such characterisations are here performed both experimentally, through laboratory tests, and numerically, through a FE model. The experimental tests (i.e. flexural, compression and fracture tests) are carried out on shot-earth specimens according to Recommendations available for concrete and a method proposed by some of the present authors, named Modified Two-Parameter Model. The numerical analyses are performed by employing a micromechanical model (implemented in a non-linear 2D FE homemade code), which allows to simulate both flexural and fracture behaviour of the shot-earth examined. Finally, the obtained numerical results are compared with the experimental ones.

In this study, mulberry branch from 12 planting areas in China were collected, and the contents of 12 compositions in these mulberry branch and their differences in bioactivities were compared. The effects of climate characteristics (environmental factors) in the planting areas on the compositions and the bioactivities of mulberry branch were analyzed by partial least square regression and multiple factor analysis. We found that the precipitation and temperature difference in the planting areas were important influencing factors, which could change the content and ratio of key compositions in mulberry branch, which in turn lead to differences in bioactivities. Planting environments with smaller temperature difference will make the anti-apoptotic effect of mulberry branch more prominent, and adequate irrigation will promote anti-oxidative effect of mulberry branch. These research results provide evidence for improving mulberry planting conditions and rational use of resources from the perspective of mathematical analysis.

A document by Xinxiang Xu, written on Authorea.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) is recognized as a life-threatening community-acquired infection associated with pyogenic liver abscess. However, rhabdomyolysis secondary to hvKP infection is rare. We report the first case of rhabdomyolysis due to hvKP infection in a patient who survived. rhabdomyolysis and pyogenic liver abscess becoming septic shoc

Increasing the yield of rice has always been one of the primary purposes of rice breeding. However, panicle degeneration, a complex characteristic regulated by many genes and commonly encountered in rice production, seriously reduces yield. In this study, we obtained a new apical panicle degeneration mutant named ym48, which induces a marked degeneration rate and reduces grain yield in rice. Cellular and physiological analyses revealed that the apical panicle in ym48 undergoes programmed cell death, accompanied by the accumulation of higher levels of peroxide. Next, the OsCAX1a gene, which is responsible for Ca 2+ transportation, was identified, and a highly conserved A to G substitution was noted at the 190 th nucleotide in ym48, which seriously damaged Ca 2+ transport. Through hydroponics assays and Ca 2+ quantification, we found that Ca 2+ transportation and distribution from the underground part to apical tissues was blocked and overaccumulated in mutant stems. In general, this Ca 2+ deficiency mediated by OsCAX1a induced peroxide accumulation and resulted in programmed cell death in the apical panicle of the ym48 mutant. Our results demonstrate the essential role of OsCAX1a in Ca 2+ transportation and distribution, laying a foundation to further explore the genetic and molecular mechanisms of panicle development and differentiation in rice.

Ovine papillomavirus (OaPV) comprises four genotypes; OaPV1, OaPV2, and OaPV4 are fibropapillomaviruses within the genus Delta-papillomavirus ( Delta-PV ), whereas OaPV3 is an epitheliotropic virus that belongs to the genus Dyokappa-papillomavirus ( Dyokappa-PV ). To date, all of them have been known to infect sheep only. OaPV1, OaPV2, and OaPV4 have been associated with ovine cutaneous and mucosal fibropapillomas, while OaPV3 is a key factor in the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) pathway of the sheep skin. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples obtained from 128 cattle at public slaughterhouses were investigated using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). ddPCR is a new-generation PCR technique that enables accurate and absolute quantification of target molecules with high sensitivity and specificity. All OaPVs were detected by identification and quantification of nucleic acids using specific fluorescent probes. Of 128 PBMC samples, 100 (~78%) showed OaPV infections. Further, 42, 35, and 23 PBMC samples showed single, double, and triple OaPV infections, respectively. OaPV1 was responsible for 22 single infections, OaPV2 caused 16 single infections, and OaPV3 and OaPV4 caused two single infections each. OaPV1 and OaPV2 were the most frequent ovine viruses in dual and triple infections. In many PBMC samples, both ovine Delta-PV and Dyokappa-PV were found to be transcriptionally active, as shown by the detection and quantification of E5 oncogene transcripts for OaPV1, L1 transcripts for OaPV2, E6 and E7 transcripts for OaPV3, and E6 for OaPV4. OaPVs were found in the blood samples from cattle that shared grasslands rich in bracken ferns known to contain immunosuppressant substances. Furthermore, OaPVs were also found in cattle from intensive livestock farming without any contact with sheep. Because OaPV DNA was detected in both grass hay and corn silage, it is conceivable that these feed may be the viral sources.

Changes in species interactions due to species loss are threatening ecological networks. To explore the responses of arthropod networks to global changes, we conducted a multifactorial field experiment in temperate grassland, in which nitrogen (N) deposition, drought and snowmelt timing were manipulated. We constructed modular networks for arthropod functional groups and assessed their complexity by connectance, interaction diversity and interaction strength. Specifically, the pattern of reduction of network complexity was different in N and drought conditions: (a) increased foliar N strengthened single pathway and weakened the net effect of other pathways in N treatment; (b) filtered plant species and changed micro-habitats in drought conditions. Whereas delayed snowmelt increased arthropod abundance only in early spring, but its interaction with N treatment or drought showed various impacts on functional groups. Therefore, it is suggested that the co-effect of multiple global change factors, occurring in different seasons, should be considered as a panorama.

How first-time animal migrants find specific destinations remains an intriguing ecological question. Migratory marine species use geomagnetic map cues acquired as juveniles to aide long-distance migration, but less is known for long-distance migrants in other taxa. We test the hypothesis that naïve Eastern North American fall migratory monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), a species that possesses a magnetic sense, locate their overwintering sites in Central Mexico using inherited geomagnetic map cues. We examined whether overwintering locations and the abundance of monarchs changed with the natural shift of Earth’s magnetic field from 2004 to 2018. We found that migratory monarchs continued to overwinter at established sites in similar abundance despite significant shifts in the geomagnetic field, which is inconsistent with monarchs using fine scale geomagnetic map cues to find overwintering sites. It is more likely that monarchs use geomagnetic cues to assess migratory direction rather than location and use other cues to locate overwintering sites.

Determining what factors influence the distribution and abundance of wildlife populations is crucial for implementing effective conservation and management actions. Yet, for species with dynamic seasonal, sex-, and age-specific spatial ecology, like the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin; DBT), doing so can be challenging. Moreover, environmental factors that influence the distribution and abundance of DBT in their northernmost range have not been quantitatively characterized. We investigated proximity to nesting habitat as one potential driver of spatiotemporal variation in abundance in a three-step analytical approach. First, we used a scale selection Resource Selection Function (RSF) approach based on NLCD landcover data to identify the scale at which DBT are selecting for (or avoiding) landcover types to nest. Next, we used RSF to predict areas of suitable nesting habitat and created an index of nest suitability (NSI). Finally, analyzing visual count data using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), we investigate spatiotemporal drivers of relative abundance, with a specific focus on whether similar factors affect offshore abundance and onshore nest site selection. We found the scale of selection for developed and saltmarsh land use classes to be 500 m and 525 m and coniferous, beach and open water land use classes to be 100 m. Selection was positive for nesting areas proximal to saltmarsh and beach habitat and negative for developed, coniferous and open water. Expected relative abundance was best explained by the interaction between NSI and day of season, where expected relative abundance was greater within high NSI areas during the nesting season (2.30 individuals, CI: 1.29 – 4.10) compared to areas of low NSI (1.99 individuals, CI: 1.27 – 3.13). Our results provide evidence that inferred spatial patterns of suitable nesting habitat explain spatiotemporal patterns of terrapin movement and abundance.

1. Omnivores utilise dietary sources which differ in nutrients, hence dietary restrictions due to environmental change or habitat alteration should cause nutrient limitations; and thus, deterioration of body condition if omnivory is obligate. 2. We investigated how the body condition of the Village weaver Ploceus cucullatus (weavers), which forages predominantly on grains, responds to insects and fruits deprivation. 3. Forty wild-caught weavers held in aviaries were fed a combination of grains and fruits, or grains and insects ad libitum for eight weeks. We confirmed diet preference by recording the number of foragers on each diet option per minute for one hour and the amount of food left-over after 3 hours of foraging. Fortnightly, we assessed indices of body condition including body mass, pectoral muscle, and fat scores, Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Haemoglobin Concentration (HBC). We modelled the number of foragers, food left-over and body condition as functions of diet, while accounting for time (weeks) and sex effects. 4. We confirmed grains as the preferred diet and found that males ate more fruits and insects than females. Weavers fed on grains and fruits lost body and pectoral muscle mass and accumulated less fat than those fed on grains and insects. This effect was sex-dependent: females deprived of insects lost more pectoral muscle mass than males of the same group and males but not females, deprived of fruits accumulated more fat reserve than those deprived of insects. PCV and HBC did not differ between diets but increased over the eight weeks. 5. Weavers are likely obligate rather than facultative omnivores, with insects as being a more nutritive supplement than fruits. We conclude that nutrient limitation arising from environmental change or habitat alteration can impair body condition and affect physiological response to environmental seasonality in other obligate omnivores like the weavers.

Abstract: This study was conducted in Gerba Dima Forest, South Western Ethiopia to formulate allometric equations for Pouteria adolfi-friederici. Prior to collecting data for tree allometry, the study forest was stratified into 3 forest strata based on altitudinal variation. By employing semi-destructive technique, 30 individuals were systematically selected and sampled for measuring biomass along the three forest strata. Based on the data collected, several equations were developed. Before establishing the allometric equation, scatter plots were used to see whether the relationship between independent and dependent variables was linear. Furthermore, several allometric relationships between independent and dependent variables were tested. The best-fit model developed was validated by testing the regression assumptions. AGB was regressed against the various forms of predictors (i.e., DBH, H and WD) and three allometric models showed significant performance (p < 0.05) on their F-test. Among the three allometric equations which showed significant performance, the selection of the best-fit model was conducted based on their P-value, adjusted r2, AIC, RMSE. The two models are nested to the third model and hence the complete model, lnAGB=1.806+1.419×lnDBH+0.628×lnWD, is selected as the best-fit model against the other two nested models since the p-values of coefficients of the complete model are significant (p < 0.05).