Factors influencing the sediment delivery ratio of the Three Gorges Reservoir

In recent years, the sediment delivery ratio (SDR) of the Three Gorges reservoir (TGR) has noticeably decreased as a result of the increase in water levels at the dam site and the decrease in inflow of fine particles, thereby resulting in increased reservoir siltation. Therefore, it is vital to research the factors that influence the SDR of the TGR. Factors that could have impact on the SDR were studied using TGR monitoring data. The study indicated that the water level at the dam site and inflow and outflow rates could have contributed to the change in the SDR. A sensitivity analysis of the influencing factors was then carried out using a mathematical model to simulate numerous sediment movement scenarios in the TGR. By changing the input conditions of the model, sufficient results were obtained to enable a sensitivity analysis of each factor. The results showed the flood retention time (FRT)—the ratio of reservoir capacity to average outflow discharge—was the principal factor influencing the SDR. The other factors (inflow sediment concentration, inflow sediment coefficient, inflow sediment gradations, and the shape coefficient of the inflow flood shape coefficient), also had an influence on the SDR. However, under different levels of FRT, their degrees of influence on the SDR were not the same.

Factors influencing the sediment delivery ratio of the Three Gorges Reservoir

In recent years, the sediment delivery ratio (SDR) of the Three Gorges reservoir (TGR) has noticeably decreased as a result of the increase in water levels at the dam site and the decrease in inflow of fine particles, thereby resulting in increased reservoir siltation. Therefore, it is vital to research the factors that influence the SDR of the TGR. Factors that could have impact on the SDR were studied using TGR monitoring data. The study indicated that the water level at the dam site and inflow and outflow rates could have contributed to the change in the SDR. A sensitivity analysis of the influencing factors was then carried out using a mathematical model to simulate numerous sediment movement scenarios in the TGR. By changing the input conditions of the model, sufficient results were obtained to enable a sensitivity analysis of each factor. The results showed the flood retention time (FRT)—the ratio of reservoir capacity to average outflow discharge—was the principal factor influencing the SDR. The other factors (inflow sediment concentration, inflow sediment coefficient, inflow sediment gradations, and the shape coefficient of the inflow flood shape coefficient), also had an influence on the SDR. However, under different levels of FRT, their degrees of influence on the SDR were not the same.

Characterizing the properties of daily precipitation concentration in Amur River Basin of northeast China

The Amur River Basin is one of the most sensitive areas to the effects of climate change. In this study, spatial and temporal analysis of concentration index over the Amur River Basin in northeast China was presented. Precipitation data from 71 meteorological stations for the time series 1980-2018 on daily scale was employed in the study. The results indicated that precipitation events of low-intensity accounted for 28.59 % of rainy days, however, the proportion of rain amount was 1.33 %. On the contrary, high-and very high-intensity events accounted for 40.34 % of rainy days and as high as 90.53 % of annual precipitation amount. Precipitation concentration explain the cause of why some regions are prone to be influenced by high intensity precipitation events, spatial distribution of different intensities can be partly interpreted by daily rainfall heterogeneity and regional geomorphology. Furthermore, a significant change toward a stronger precipitation concentration was demonstrated over some regions, and this need concern from the administration

Evaluation of High Efficiency and Low Fish Meal Diets for Golden Pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) in Deep-Sea Cage Culture

Trachinotus ovatus, commonly known as golden pompano, is a euryhaline warm water carnivorous fish. It has the characteristics of fast growth, simple feeding, delicious meat, strong stress resistance, and high survival rate. It can accept compound feed throughout its growth. It is popular among fish breeders and consumers because of its moderate specifications and affordable price. With an annual output of 240 000 tons, it has become one of the most important marine fish breeding species in the southern coastal areas of China. As a marine carnivorous fish, it has specific requirements relating to the levels and sources of dietary protein and fat, and a strong dependence on fish meal and fish oil, which are limited resources with high prices, which also determines its high feed cost. However, compared with other rare sea fish, its price is low and the profit margin of breeding is low (2–4 CNY/kg), thus, easily leading to the loss of breeding enterprises and individual businesses. Therefore, it is necessary to develop efficient and low-cost compound diets and reduce the supplemental level of fish meal oil in diets to solve the bottleneck problem of golden pompano fish breeding. Previous studies have shown that T. ovatus subjected to a high efficiency and low fish meal diet exhibited excellent growth and health in pond cage culture. To further evaluate the application effect of this feed in deep-sea cage culture, an experimental feed (crude protein 47.66%, crude fat 7.98%) based on the formula feed of a low fish meal diet was produced by a feed company with a large-scale production process (feed production using large machinery and mass production in a feed mill with an hourly output that can reach more than 10 t using equipment such as oil sprayer machines, where the fat source is added by spraying). A commercial feed from a well-known brand was used as the control diet (crude protein 47.75%, crude fat 9.63%). Large-sized golden pompano (mean body weight ~262 g) were provided by Yangjiang Haina Fisheries Limited and kept for 2 weeks at the deep-sea cage breeding base in Dasuo Island, Yangjiang (12–20 m depth, about 15 km offshore) to adapt to the test environment. During the temporary feeding period, a well-known commodity was used for feed. Overall, 150 000 healthy large-sized golden pompano with neat specifications (initial body weight ~260 g) were selected and randomly assigned to six deep-sea cages (HDPE C60 floating cages, circumference 60 m, 25 000 fish per cage). Each feed was provided in three parallel cages for 33 days (April 29 to May 31, 2021). During breeding, full food was provided twice a day (07:00 and 17:00). During the experiment, the seawater temperature was 20.00~29.00 ℃. Dissolved oxygen was 6.30~7.80 mg/L. The results showed that the growth performance of fish was not statistically different between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, compared with the control group, the weight gain rate and specific growth rate of fish-fed experimental diets increased by 14.43 % and 8.19 %, respectively, and the average daily weight gain increased by 0.68 g. In terms of muscle nutrition and texture characteristics, the muscle lipid contents of the fish-fed experimental diets were significantly higher than those of fish-fed control diets (P 0.05). Compared with the control group, the serum protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein contents, as well as the activity of aspartate aminotransferase, of fish fed the experimental diet were significantly decreased (P 0.05). In addition, the feed cost per 1 kg of fish receiving the experimental diet was 18.80% lower than that of fish receiving the control diets, and its culture benefit was increased by 62.12%. The results showed that the experimental diet (high efficiency and low fish meal diet) not only promoted growth, but also improved the muscle fat level and serum lipid metabolism of the fish. These results indicate that the high efficiency and low fish meal diet can be applied in the culture of golden pompano within deep-sea cages. In this study, a high efficiency and low fish meal diet for T. ovatus was developed by using amino acid balance technology and fatty acid precision nutrition technology in deep-sea cage large-scale culture. Through the analysis of growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, liver lipid metabolism, and antioxidant properties, it was found that the growth promoting effect of test material was comparable to that of commercial material, and could improve the muscle quality and liver health of golden pompano. Use of the experimental diet could also reduce the cost of breeding, improve the economic benefits, and result in high economic value. The results indicate that the experimental high efficiency and low fish meal diet for T. ovatus has a good application effect and excellent market development prospects, and also has important practical guiding significance for the large-scale production and application of high efficiency low fish meal compound feed, solving the problem of aquaculture bottleneck and facilitating deep-sea golden pompano culture

An Exome-wide Association Study for Type 2 Diabetes–Attributed End-Stage Kidney Disease in African Americans

Introduction: Compared with European Americans, African Americans (AAs) are at higher risk for developing end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >70 genetic variants associated with kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with and without diabetes. However, these variants explain a small proportion of disease liability. This study examined the contribution of coding genetic variants for risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D)-attributed ESKD and advanced CKD in AAs. Methods: Exome sequencing was performed in 456 AA T2D-ESKD cases, and 936 AA nondiabetic, non-nephropathy control individuals at the discovery stage. A mixed logistic regression model was used for association analysis. Nominal associations (P < 0.05) were replicated in an additional 2020 T2D-ESKD cases and 1121 nondiabetic, non-nephropathy control individuals. A meta-analysis combining 4533 discovery and replication samples was performed. Putative T2D-ESKD associations were tested in additional 1910 nondiabetic ESKD and 219 T2D-ESKD cases, as well as 912 AA nondiabetic non-nephropathy control individuals. Results: A total of 11 suggestive T2D-ESKD associations (P < 1 x 10−4) from 8 loci (PLEKHN1, NADK, RAD51AP2, RREB1, PEX6, GRM8, PRX, APOL1) were apparent in the meta-analysis. Exclusion of APOL1 renal-risk genotype carriers identified 3 additional suggestive loci (OTUD7B, IFITM3, DLGAP5). Rs41302867 in RREB1 displayed consistent association with T2D-ESKD and nondiabetic ESKD (odds ratio: 0.47; P = 1.2 x 10−6 in 4605 all-cause ESKD and 2969 nondiabetic non-nephropathy control individuals). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that coding genetic variants are implicated in predisposition to T2D-ESKD in AAs. Keywords: African Americans, chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, exome sequencing, genetics, type 2 diabete

Genome-wide association study of vitamin D concentrations and bone mineral density in the African American-Diabetes Heart Study.

Relative to European Americans, African Americans have lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) concentrations, higher 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) concentrations and bone mineral density (BMD), and paradoxically reduced burdens of calcified atherosclerotic plaque (subclinical atherosclerosis). To identify genetic factors contributing to vitamin D and BMD measures, association analysis of >14M variants was conducted in a maximum of 697 African American-Diabetes Heart Study participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The most significant association signals were detected for VDBP on chromosome 4; variants rs7041 (β = 0.44, SE = 0.019, P = 9.4x10-86) and rs4588 (β = 0.17, SE = 0.021, P = 3.5x10-08) in the group-specific component (vitamin D binding protein) gene (GC). These variants were found to be independently associated. In addition, rs7041 was also associated with bioavailable vitamin D (BAVD; β = 0.16, SE = 0.02, P = 3.3x10-19). Six rare variants were significantly associated with 25OHD, including a non-synonymous variant in HSPG2 (rs116788687; β = -1.07, SE = 0.17, P = 2.2x10-10) and an intronic variant in TNIK (rs143555701; β = -1.01, SE = 0.18, P = 9.0x10-10), both biologically related to bone development. Variants associated with 25OHD failed to replicate in African Americans from the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Family Study (IRASFS). Evaluation of vitamin D metabolism and bone mineral density phenotypes in an African American population enriched for T2D could provide insight into ethnic specific differences in vitamin D metabolism and bone mineral density

Genome-wide association study identifies novel loci for type 2 diabetes-attributed end-stage kidney disease in African Americans.

BackgroundEnd-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is a significant public health concern disproportionately affecting African Americans (AAs). Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the leading cause of ESKD in the USA, and efforts to uncover genetic susceptibility to diabetic kidney disease (DKD) have had limited success. A prior genome-wide association study (GWAS) in AAs with T2D-ESKD was expanded with additional AA cases and controls and genotypes imputed to the higher density 1000 Genomes reference panel. The discovery analysis included 3432 T2D-ESKD cases and 6977 non-diabetic non-nephropathy controls (N = 10,409), followed by a discrimination analysis in 2756 T2D non-nephropathy controls to exclude T2D-associated variants.ResultsSix independent variants located in or near RND3/RBM43, SLITRK3, ENPP7, GNG7, and APOL1 achieved genome-wide significant association (P &lt; 5 × 10-8) with T2D-ESKD. Following extension analyses in 1910 non-diabetic ESKD cases and 908 non-diabetic non-nephropathy controls, a meta-analysis of 5342 AA all-cause ESKD cases and 6977 AA non-diabetic non-nephropathy controls revealed an additional novel all-cause ESKD locus at EFNB2 (rs77113398; P = 9.84 × 10-9; OR = 1.94). Exclusion of APOL1 renal-risk genotype carriers identified two additional genome-wide significant T2D-ESKD-associated loci at GRAMD3 and MGAT4C. A second variant at GNG7 (rs373971520; P = 2.17 × 10-8, OR = 1.46) remained associated with all-cause ESKD in the APOL1-negative analysis.ConclusionsFindings provide further evidence for genetic factors associated with advanced kidney disease in AAs with T2D