37 research outputs found

    The structuring role of artificial structure on fish assemblages in a dammed river of the Pearl River in China

    Get PDF
    To address the fish use patterns of artificial structures mimicking floating macrophytes deployed in a impounded tributary of the Pearl River, China, field experiments were performed from December 2014 to June 2016 using multi-mesh gillnet. The fish assemblages using artificial structures differ in terms of species richness, abundance, body size, diversity indices, and ecological traits from fish assemblages on natural barren habitats of this river. Overall, fish abundance, species richness, Shannon diversity index, and functional richness were higher at the artificial structures than at the control sites, while fish length and functional evenness was greater at the control sites in comparison to artificial structures. The introduction of artificial structures did not result in statistically significant effects on fish biomass as artificial structures attracted more individuals with smaller size. Seasonal changes of chlorophyll-a and transparency may affect the efficiency of artificial structure in harboring fishes. This study revealed that artificial structures, as synthesized habitats, are effective in acting as a “fish attractor” and an alternative tool to provide new habitats for smaller individuals in a dammed river like the Youjiang River which is a structure-less ecosystem

    Challenges and Coping Strategies Brought by Digital Media to the Development of B&B Industry under the Perspective of Field Theory

    No full text
    Based on Bourdieu's field theory, the article discusses the challenges and coping strategies of digital media in the development of the B&B industry. In the Internet field, the power struggle between B&B operators and consumers becomes the main focus. By utilizing the Internet platform, B&B operators compete to increase brand awareness and influence and attract consumers' attention. Meanwhile, consumers also influence B&B brands through the Internet field, forming a complex, competitive network. In the competition for symbolic capital, B&Bs gain social recognition through the Netflix effect and celebrity recommendations to further enhance their image and competitiveness, and through self-media accounts and matrix content marketing, B&B content is widely disseminated to enhance their exposure in the Internet arena. However, the B&B industry is also facing the problem of homogenization and needs to maintain its personalized characteristics in competition. Combining local characteristics and innovative models, B&B operators can achieve sustainable development and promote rural revitalization

    The Kinase STK3 Interacts with the Viral Structural Protein VP1 and Inhibits Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Replication

    No full text
    Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is the etiological agent of FMD, which affects domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals. The structural protein VP1 plays an important role in FMDV pathogenesis. However, the interacting partners of VP1 in host cells and the effects of these interactions in FMDV replication remain incompletely elucidated. Here, we identified a porcine cell protein, serine/threonine kinase 3 (STK3), which interacts with FMDV VP1 using the yeast two-hybrid system. The VP1-STK3 interaction was further confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation experiments in human embryonic kidney 293T and porcine kidney 15 (PK-15) cells. The carboxyl-terminal region (amino acids 180–214) of VP1 was essential for its interaction with STK3. The effects of overexpression and underexpressing of STK3 in PK-15 cells were assessed, and the results indicated that STK3 significantly inhibited FMDV replication. Our data expand the role of STK3 during viral infection, provide new information regarding the host cell kinases that are involved in viral replication, and identify potential targets for future antiviral strategies

    Nirvana: A Qualitative Study of Posttraumatic Growth in Adolescents and Young Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

    No full text
    (1) Background: Psychosomatic discomfort is prevalent among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Post-traumatic growth (PTG) has been a protective factor in earlier research. However, little is known regarding PTG among AYAs with IBD. This study investigates the generation of PTG in adolescents and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and finds positive coping skills employed in clinical nursing practice. (2) Methods: In 2021, 32 individuals were interviewed utilizing a semi-structured interview guide. This study used qualitative content analysis. (3) Results: The interviews revealed five themes: spiritual change, internalized supportiveness, cognitive re-shaping, externalized behaviors, and future-oriented thinking. (4) Conclusions: The research revealed the presence of PTG in AYAs with IBD. To give tailored care to patients, medical professionals must monitor the state of their PTG development in a planned and focused manner

    Gender Bias and the Lack of Equity in Pandemic Nursing in China: A Qualitative Study

    No full text
    There has long been a gender bias in medicine. This qualitative study aims to identify the experience of sexism among frontline female nurses and further explore their expectations and possible strategies to get rid of gender bias. This is a descriptive phenomenological study of 23 female nurses with 11 ± 3.98 years of experience who spent 36 ± 6.50 days at the frontline during the initial COVID-19 outbreak. We employed Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis method to understand the subjective experiences, revealing the following themes: (a) materialization of gender identity; (b) incoordinate relationships; (c) future voice of female nurses. The gender bias experienced by female frontline nurses further challenges their emotional identity and self-identity. Therefore, it is important to require extensive consciousness-raising and policy support to defend female nurses’ rights

    H1N1 Influenza A Virus Protein NS2 Inhibits Innate Immune Response by Targeting IRF7

    No full text
    Influenza A virus (IAV) is a globally distributed zoonotic pathogen and causes a highly infectious respiratory disease with high morbidity and mortality in humans and animals. IAV has evolved various strategies to counteract the innate immune response, using different viral proteins. However, the mechanisms are not fully elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated that the nonstructural protein 2 (NS2) of H1N1 IAV negatively regulate the induction of type-I interferon. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that NS2 specifically interacts with interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7). NS2 blocks the nuclear translocation of IRF7 by inhibiting the formation of IRF7 dimers, thereby prevents the activation of IRF7 and inhibits the production of interferon-beta. Taken together, these findings revealed a novel mechanism by which the NS2 of H1N1 IAV inhibits IRF7-mediated type-I interferon production

    Halogenated Organic Pollutant Residuals in Human Bared and Clothing-Covered Skin Areas: Source Differentiation and Comprehensive Health Risk Assessment

    No full text
    To comprehensively clarify human exposure to halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) through dermal uptake and hand-to-mouth intake, skin wipe samples from four typical skin locations from 30 volunteers were collected. The total concentration of the target chemicals (24 HFRs and 16 PCBs) ranged from 203 to 4470 ng/m(2). BDE-209 and DBDPE accounted for about 37 and 40% of Sigma(24)HFRs, respectively, and PCB-41 and PCB-110 were the dominant PCB congeners, with proportion of 24 and 10%, respectively. Although exhibiting relatively lower concentrations of contaminants than bared skin locations, clothing-covered skin areas were also detected with considerable levels of HFRs and PCBs, indicating clothing to be a potentially significant exposure source. Significant differences in HFR and PCB levels and profiles were also observed between males and females, with more lower-volatility chemicals in male-bared skin locations and more higher-volatility compounds in clothing-covered skin locations of female participants. The mean estimated whole-body dermal absorption doses of Sigma(8)HFRs and Sigma(16)PCBs (2.9 x 10(-4) and 6.7 x 10(-6) mg/kg.d) were 12 orders of magnitude higher than ingestion doses via hand-to-mouth contact (6.6 x 10(-7) and 3.1 x 10(-7) mg/kg.d). The total noncarcinogenic health risk resulted from whole-body dermal absorption and oral ingestion to Sigma(7)HFRs and Sigma(16)PCBs were 5.2 and 0.35, respectively

    Analysis of Nitrification Efficiency and Microbial Community in a Membrane Bioreactor Fed with Low COD/N-Ratio Wastewater

    No full text
    <div><p>In this study, an approach using influent COD/N ratio reduction was employed to improve process performance and nitrification efficiency in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). Besides sludge reduction, membrane fouling alleviation was observed during 330 d operation, which was attributed to the decreased production of soluble microbial products (SMP) and efficient carbon metabolism in the autotrophic nitrifying community. 454 high-throughput 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing revealed that the diversity of microbial sequences was mainly determined by the feed characteristics, and that microbes could derive energy by switching to a more autotrophic metabolism to resist the environmental stress. The enrichment of nitrifiers in an MBR with a low COD/N-ratio demonstrated that this condition stimulated nitrification, and that the community distribution of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) resulted in faster nitrite uptake rates. Further, ammonia oxidation was the rate-limiting step during the full nitrification.</p></div

    Supplemental Material - Prevalence, Associated Factors and Adverse Outcomes of Demoralization in Cancer Patients: A Decade of Systematic Review

    No full text
    Supplemental Material for Prevalence, Associated Factors and Adverse Outcomes of Demoralization in Cancer Patients: A Decade of Systematic Review by Yuejuan Wang, Haichao Sun, Qiaoying Ji, Qiwei Wu, Jinrong Wei, and Pingting Zhu in American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®</p
    corecore