Optical Lossy-mode-resonance Relative Humidity Sensor on a Fiber Tip

Real-time measurement of relative humidity (RH) is important to many physical, chemical, and biological processes. However, in processes that involve harsh conditions such as high temperatures, strong electromagnetic interferences, and complex spatial constraints, conventional electrical sensors often fall short due to their intrinsic limitations. Here, we developed an optical lossy-mode-resonance (LMR) RH sensor based on the SnO2 film coated D-shaped fiber tip. Thanks to the high-temperature endurance and electromagnetic interference immunity, the developed optical fiber-tip sensor is ideal for RH sensing in critical environments, such as in the microwave drying process. Furthermore, unlike other reported in-line LMR sensors, our sensor is located at the D-shaped fiber tip with a probe-like form factor, allowing it to be readily implemented in a spatially confined environment. We have developed a custom fabrication setup for the novel D-shaped LMR fiber-tip sensor. The LMR signal from the sensor was experimentally characterized. The lossy mode resonances are understood by the finite element analysis, the results of which agree well with the experimental measurements. The fiber-tip sensor had a linear RH response between 6.1% to 75.0% and a resolution better than 4.0% RH. The fiber-tip sensor demonstrated a response time and reversibility comparable to that of commercial electrical sensors. The novel D-shaped fiber-tip LMR RH sensor developed in this work will benefit many applications that require RH monitoring in a harsh environment. Furthermore, our innovative D-shaped fiber tip design can be readily applied to LMR-based fiber sensors in general. This will allow the design's advantages of small footprint and agile maneuverability to benefit a wide range of LMR fiber sensing applications beyond RH sensing.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Hybrid Speciation and Introgression Both Underlie the Genetic Structures and Evolutionary Relationships of Three Morphologically Distinct Species of Lilium (Liliaceae) Forming a Hybrid Zone Along an Elevational Gradient

We studied hybrid interactions of Lilium meleagrinum, Lilium gongshanense, and Lilium saluenense using an integrative approach combining population genetics, fieldwork, and phenological research. These three species occur along an elevational gradient, with L. meleagrinum occurring at lower elevations, L. saluenense at higher elevations, and L. gongshanense between them. The species show strong morphological differentiation despite there being no clear environmental barriers to gene flow among them. Lilium gongshanense is likely to have a hybrid origin based on our prior work, but its progenitors remain uncertain. We sought to determine whether gene flow occurs among these three parapatric species, and, if so, whether L. gongshanense is a hybrid of L. meleagrinum and/or L. saluenense. We analyzed data from multiple chloroplast genes and spacers, nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and 18 nuclear Expressed Sequence Tag-Simple Sequence Repeat (EST-SSR) microsatellites for accessions of the three species representing dense population-level sampling. We also inferred phenology by examining species in the field and using herbarium specimens. We found that there are only two types of chloroplast genomes shared among the three species and that L. gongshanense forms two distinct groups with closest links to other species of Lilium based on ITS. Taken together, L. gongshanense is unlikely to be a hybrid species resulting from a cross between L. meleagrinum and L. saluenense, but gene flow is occurring among the three species. The gene flow is likely to be rare according to evidence from all molecular datasets, and this is corroborated by detection of only one putative hybrid individual in the field and asynchronous phenology. We suspect that the rarity of hybridization events among the species facilitates their continued genetic separation

Length–weight relationship and condition factor of giant tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) from four breeding families

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.Background: Length–weight relationships and condition factors of giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon (Fabricius, 1798) from four breeding families (family S: South China seas family, family A: African family, family SA: ♂ South China seas family × ♀ Africa family, family AS: ♂ Africa family × ♀ South China seas family) were evaluated in this study. Findings and conclusion: Length–weight relationships can be expressed as W = 0.0239BL2.789 (R2 = 0.8977) in family S, W = 0.0206BL2.9107 (R2 = 0.9107) in family A, W = 0.0211BL2.831 (R2 = 0.8869) in family SA, and W = 0.0249BL2.781 (R2 = 0.9159) in family AS. The growth of P. monodon from four breeding families follows a negative allometric trend. Fulton’s body condition factor (K) was not significantly different in males, while in females, the highest K (3.07) was observed in family AS, and the lowest K was found in family A (1.88). Results from the present study indicate that the cross group family AS (♂ Africa family × ♀ South China seas family) has obvious heterosis in females. This may suggest that the direction of further breeding of P. monodon, should be conducted by using Africa family as male parent, and South China seas family as female parent. Results from the present study will provide valuable information on selective breeding in P. monodon. Methodology used in the present study can also be applied in other similar species

Association analysis of alpha-amylase (AMY) and cathepsin L (CTSL) SNPs with growth traits in giant tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

Alpha-amylase (AMY) and cathepsin-L (CTSL) were selected as candidate genes for SNP discovery for growth traits of P. monodon. Six SNPs were found in AMY and three in CTSL in P. monodon. Association analyses for the candidate SNPs with important economic traits were performed in populations. That allele A at CTLS-213 SNP, AA, and GA, tended to be associated with increased body weight. Shrimps with genotype GG had significantly smaller CL, CW, and CH values than those with GT and TT genotypes (P < 0.05). While CTLS-820 SNP was found to be significantly associated with CH and FSL (P <0.05). These SNPs will be valid for marker-assisted selection breeding programs in P. monodon

Can digital financial inclusion help reduce migrant workers’ overwork? Evidence from China

IntroductionMigrant workers in China are migrants from the rural to the urban areas who usually work in the cities and return to the countryside after a certain period. Due to China’s strict household registration system, they differ significantly from urban residents’ access to public services. However, at the same time, China’s workers are facing a severe phenomenon of overwork, and the group of migrant workers is even more hard-hit by overwork, which will cause various adverse effects on workers and society and should attract the attention of all sectors of society.MethodsThis paper focuses on the impact of digital financial inclusion on the overwork of migrant workers. This study considered cross-sectional data containing 98,047 samples based on the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey 2017 (CMDS) and China Municipal Statistical Yearbook after robustness tests and heterogeneity analysis using probit models.Results(1) digital financial inclusion can effectively alleviate overwork among migrant workers; (2) the impact of digital finance on overwork is more significant for the new generation, digitized industries, and self-employed migrant workers; it is also more significant for the South, East, and small and medium-sized cities than for the North, the Midwest, and large cities; (3) job quality and income are crucial factors in how digital financial inclusion affects overwork among migrant workers. Digital financial inclusion can improve the quality of employment for migrant workers and alleviate overwork. However, the income substitution effect partially reduces the inhibitory impact of digital financial inclusion on overwork.ConclusionContinuously promote the development of digital inclusive finance, improve laws and regulations, and protect the labor rights and interests of migrant workers. At the same time, vocational training and skills upgrading for rural migrant workers should be strengthened to improve the quality of their employment so that they can leave the secondary labor market and enter the primary labor market

Brain function abnormalities and neuroinflammation in people living with HIV-associated anxiety disorders

BackgroundPeople living with HIV (PLWH) exhibits an increased susceptibility to anxiety disorders, concomitant with heightened vulnerability to aberrant immune activation and inflammatory responses, and endocrine dysfunction. There exists a dearth of scholarly investigations pertaining to the neurological, immune, and endocrine dimensions of HIV-associated anxiety disorders.MethodThis study aimed to compare a group of 16 individuals diagnosed with HIV-associated anxiety disorders (HIV ANXs) according to the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.), with a HIV individual control group (HIV control) of 49 PLWH without mental disorders. Muti-modal magnetic resonance was employed to assess the brain function and structure of both groups. Seed-based functional connectivity (FC) was used to assess the regional intrinsic brain activity and the influence of regional disturbances on FC with other brain regions. Peripheral blood cytokines and chemokines concentrations were measured using liquid chip and ELISA.ResultsAmplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in the right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) was increased. There is a significant decreased regional homogeneity in HIV ANXs in the right superior occipital gyrus (SOG). The right ITG and the right SOG were separately set as the seed brain region of interest (ROI 1 and ROI 2) to be analyzed the FC. FC decreased in HIV ANXs between ROI1 and the right middle occipital gyrus, the right SOG, FC between ROI2 and left ITG increased in HIV ANXs. No significant structural difference was found between two groups. Pro-inflammatory chemokines showed higher levels in the HIV ANXs. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophic factors, and endocrine factors were significantly correlated with alterations in brain function.ConclusionThis study suggests that patients with HIV-associated anxiety disorders may exhibit abnormalities in neurologic, immune, and endocrine functioning. Consequently, it is imperative to implement additional screening and intervention measures for anxiety disorders among PLWH

Effects of replacing dietary fishmeal with zymolytic black soldier fly larvae on the growth performance of the mud crab (<em>scylla paramamosain</em>) larvae

Black soldier fly have been shown to be one of the optimal alternatives to fishmeal, but there are few reports on the effects of zymolytic black soldier fly larvae (ZBSFL) on the growth and digestion of crustaceans. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of different replacement levels of ZBFLS on growth performance, body composition, and digestive enzyme activity of the mud crab larvae. Four diets were formulated by replacing fishmeal with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% ZBSFL in the basal diet. Crab larvae were randomly divided into four groups of three replicates each and fed twice daily. The results showed that the SR of crab larvae was higher than that of the no-substitution group when the substitution rate reached 5% (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in SR when the substitution rate was further increased. Weight growth rate and Specific growth rate were similar, both highest at 10% substitution ratio. The crude protein content of whole crab larvae gradually increased as the proportion of FM substituted by ZBSFL increased. The lipid content of whole crab larvae in the 5% substitution ratio group was significantly higher than that in all other groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile. The activities of amylase, protease and lipase gradually increased. In this experiment, when the percentage of ZBSFL substitution for FM reached 10%, its growth performance was optimal, with higher SR, less negative effects and more balanced indicators in all aspects. When the substitution rate was further increased, it might increase the digestive burden of the crab and negatively affect its growth

Identification of microRNAs in black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) under acute low-salinity stress

Salinity is a common abiotic stress in the culture of penaeid shrimp. Through post-transcriptional regulation of gene transcripts, microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the adaptation to a stressful environment. However, the involvement of miRNAs in the salinity stress response of shrimp remains unclear. In the present study, the sequence and expression profile of miRNAs in the hepatopancreas of low-salinity-treated Penaeus monodon were obtained by the high-throughput sequencing technique. A total of 679 miRNAs were identified, including 167 miRNAs that were significantly differentially expressed after low-salinity exposure (p &lt; 0.05). Remarkably, most of these miRNAs were downregulated, suggesting that a series of genes were activated to participate in stress response. In addition, 43 miRNAs differentially expressed at all treatment were selected as putative key modulators. Enrichment analysis of genes targeted by these miRNAs indicated that a network that consists of the nervous system, the immune system, and the endocrine system played a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of P. monodon under low-salinity stress. These findings may help contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism that regulates salinity tolerance in shrimp and provide valuable genetic information for subsequent studies