Dynamic Variation of Land-use Types of the Constructed Wetland before and after Oil-field Water Irrigation Based on 3S Technology

[Objective] The study aimed at analyzing the dynamic variation of land-use types of the constructed wetland before and after oil-field water irrigation based on 3S technology. [Method] At semi-arid and arid areas in the west of Jilin Province, water resource balance between the amount of oil-field water supply and ecological water requirement in the constructed wetland irrigated by oil-field water during 2001-2010 was investigated firstly. Afterwards, based on 3S technology, the partition and dynamic variation of land-use types of the constructed wetland before and after oil-field water irrigation in 2001, 2006, 2008 and 2010 were analyzed. [Result] The annual ecological water requirement of the constructed wetland from 2003 to 2010 varied from 1.62×106 to 2.24×106 m3, and the annual amount of oil-field water supply in the region changed from 2.12×106 to 2.84×106 m3, which showed that the supply amount of oil-field water could meet the basic ecological water requirement of the constructed wetland. Meanwhile, compared with 2001, the areas of water region and paddy field in 2010 increased by 2.3 and 10.0 times, and the areas of forest and marsh rose by 40.15% and 29.5.0% respectively. [Conclusion] Water shortage and ecological environment problem of arid and semi-arid areas had been improved by oil-field water irrigation.

Role of variation coefficient of stone density in determining success of shock wave lithotripsy in urinary calculi

BACKGROUND Various stone factors can affect the net results of shock wave lithotripsy(SWL).Recently a new factor called variation coefficient of stone density(VCSD)is being considered to have an impact on stone free rates.AIM To assess the role of VCSD in determining success of SWL in urinary calculi.METHODS Charts review was utilized for collection of data variables.The patients were subjected to SWL,using an electromagnetic lithotripter.Mean stone density(MSD),stone heterogeneity index(SHI),and VCSD were calculated by generating regions of interest on computed tomography(CT)images.Role of these factors were determined by applying the relevant statistical tests for continuous and categorical variables and a P value of<0.05 was gauged to be statistically significant.RESULTS There were a total of 407 patients included in the analysis.The mean age of the subjects in this study was 38.89±14.61 years.In total,165 out of the 407 patients could not achieve stone free status.The successful group had a significantly lower stone volume as compared to the unsuccessful group(P<0.0001).Skin to stone distance was not dissimilar among the two groups(P=0.47).MSD was significantly lower in the successful group(P<0.0001).SHI and VCSD were both significantly higher in the successful group(P<0.0001).CONCLUSION VCSD,a useful CT based parameter,can be utilized to gauge stone fragility and hence the prediction of SWL outcomes.

Variation of Zn content in soils under different land-use types in the Hetao oasis,Inner Mongolia of China

Understanding the status and distribution of the micronutrient Zn in soils is important for managing plant growth and preventing soil pollution for agricultural irrigation systems in arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, a total of 195 soil samples from five soil layers （0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80 and 80-100 cm） in the three land-use types （wasteland, forestland and cropland） after long-term agricultural fertilization and irrigation with Yellow River water were collected in the middle of the Hetao oasis, i.e. the Yongji irrigation sub-oasis. We analyzed the vertical and spatial distributions of Zn content and its relationship with soil properties to determine whether differences of Zn content existed in the soil profiles. The results revealed that the mean content of Zn was 107 mg/kg, 1.9 times higher than the background value （55.7 mg/kg） of the Hetao oasis and much lower than the secondary standard value （300 mg/kg） of the Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for Soils when pH〉7.5. Soil Zn contents were not significantly different and the coefficients of variation of Zn contents were less than 50% in the five soil layers. Soil Zn content was similar from southern to northern parts but increased from western to eastern parts in the sub-oasis. Soil Zn contents did not differ significantly among the three land-use types, but soil total nitrogen （TN） contents were significantly higher in the agriculturally managed forestland and cropland than in the wasteland （P〈0.05）. Zn was significantly and positively correlated with TN （F=36.6, P〈0.001）. The use of fertilizers may increase the content of Zn in soils, but flooding irrigation may minimize the differences in the spatial distribution of soil Zn content in the whole sub-oasis. This research is of important value for soil pollution control and sustainable land use management in arid and semi-arid regions.

Associations of genome-wide structural variations with phenotypic differences in cross-bred Eurasian pigs

Background During approximately 10,000 years of domestication and selection,a large number of structural variations(SVs)have emerged in the genome of pig breeds,profoundly influencing their phenotypes and the ability to adapt to the local environment.SVs(≥50 bp)are widely distributed in the genome,mainly in the form of insertion(INS),mobile element insertion(MEI),deletion(DEL),duplication(DUP),inversion(INV),and translocation(TRA).While studies have investigated the SVs in pig genomes,genome-wide association studies(GWAS)-based on SVs have been rarely conducted.Results Here,we obtained a high-quality SV map containing 123,151 SVs from 15 Large White and 15 Min pigs through integrating the power of several SV tools,with 53.95%of the SVs being reported for the first time.These high-quality SVs were used to recover the population genetic structure,confirming the accuracy of genotyping.Potential functional SV loci were then identified based on positional effects and breed stratification.Finally,GWAS were performed for 36 traits by genotyping the screened potential causal loci in the F2 population according to their corresponding genomic positions.We identified a large number of loci involved in 8 carcass traits and 6 skeletal traits on chromosome 7,with FKBP5 containing the most significant SV locus for almost all traits.In addition,we found several significant loci in intramuscular fat,abdominal circumference,heart weight,and liver weight,etc.Conclusions We constructed a high-quality SV map using high-coverage sequencing data and then analyzed them by performing GWAS for 25 carcass traits,7 skeletal traits,and 4 meat quality traits to determine that SVs may affect body size between European and Chinese pig breeds.

Insights into genetic diversity and phenotypic variations in domestic geese through comprehensive population and pan-genome analysis

Background Domestic goose breeds are descended from either the Swan goose(Anser cygnoides)or the Greylag goose(Anser anser),exhibiting variations in body size,reproductive performance,egg production,feather color,and other phenotypic traits.Constructing a pan-genome facilitates a thorough identification of genetic variations,thereby deepening our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying genetic diversity and phenotypic variability.Results To comprehensively facilitate population genomic and pan-genomic analyses in geese,we embarked on the task of 659 geese whole genome resequencing data and compiling a database of 155 RNA-seq samples.By constructing the pan-genome for geese,we generated non-reference contigs totaling 612 Mb,unveiling a collection of 2,813 novel genes and pinpointing 15,567 core genes,1,324 softcore genes,2,734 shell genes,and 878 cloud genes in goose genomes.Furthermore,we detected an 81.97 Mb genomic region showing signs of genome selection,encompassing the TGFBR2 gene correlated with variations in body weight among geese.Genome-wide association studies utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)and presence-absence variation revealed significant genomic associations with various goose meat quality,reproductive,and body composition traits.For instance,a gene encoding the SVEP1 protein was linked to carcass oblique length,and a distinct gene-CDS haplotype of the SVEP1 gene exhibited an association with carcass oblique length.Notably,the pan-genome analysis revealed enrichment of variable genes in the“hair follicle maturation”Gene Ontology term,potentially linked to the selection of feather-related traits in geese.A gene presence-absence variation analysis suggested a reduced frequency of genes associated with“regulation of heart contraction”in domesticated geese compared to their wild counterparts.Our study provided novel insights into gene expression features and functions by integrating gene expression patterns across multiple organs and tissues in geese and analyzing population variation.Conclusion This accomplishment originates from the discernment of a multitude of selection signals and candidate genes associated with a wide array of traits,thereby markedly enhancing our understanding of the processes underlying domestication and breeding in geese.Moreover,assembling the pan-genome for geese has yielded a comprehensive apprehension of the goose genome,establishing it as an indispensable asset poised to offer innovative viewpoints and make substantial contributions to future geese breeding initiatives.

Origin of the presence/absence variation of the LTIA1/LTIA2 mini-ribonucleaseⅢgenes required for low-temperature growth in rice

A rice low temperature-induced albino variant was determined by the recessive ltia1 and ltia2 genes.LTIA1 and LTIA2 encode highly conserved mini-ribonucleasesⅢlocated in chloroplasts and expressed in aerial parts of the plant.At low temperature,LTIA1 and LTIA2 redundantly affect chlorophyll levels,non-photochemical quenching,photosynthetic quantum yield of PSⅡand seedling growth.LTIA1 and LTIA2 proteins are involved in splicing of atp F and the biogenesis of 16S and 23S rRNA in chloroplasts.Presence/absence variation of LTIA1,the ancestral copy,was found only in japonica but that of LTIA2 in all rice subgroups.Accessions with LTIA2 presence tended to be distributed more remote from the equator compared to those with LTIA2 absence.LTIA2 duplicated from LTIA1 at the early stage of divergence of the AA genome Oryza species but deleted againin O.nivara.In cultivated rice,absence of LTIA2 is derived from O.nivara.LTIA1 absence occurred more recently in japonica.

Spatial Variation in CO_(2) Concentration Improves the Simulated Surface Air Temperature Increase in the Northern Hemisphere

The increasing concentration of atmospheric CO_(2) since the Industrial Revolution has affected surface air temperature.However,the impact of the spatial distribution of atmospheric CO_(2) concentration on surface air temperature biases remains highly unclear.By incorporating the spatial distribution of satellite-derived atmospheric CO_(2) concentration in the Beijing Normal University Earth System Model,this study investigated the increase in surface air temperature since the Industrial Revolution in the Northern Hemisphere(NH) under historical conditions from 1976-2005.In comparison with the increase in surface temperature simulated using a uniform distribution of CO_(2),simulation with a nonuniform distribution of CO_(2)produced better agreement with the Climatic Research Unit(CRU) data in the NH under the historical condition relative to the baseline over the period 1901-30.Hemispheric June-July-August(JJA) surface air temperature increased by 1.28℃ ±0.29℃ in simulations with a uniform distribution of CO_(2),by 1.00℃±0.24℃ in simulations with a non-uniform distribution of CO_(2),and by 0.24℃ in the CRU data.The decrease in downward shortwave radiation in the non-uniform CO_(2) simulation was primarily attributable to reduced warming in Eurasia,combined with feedbacks resulting from increased leaf area index(LAI) and latent heat fluxes.These effects were more pronounced in the non-uniform CO_(2)simulation compared to the uniform CO_(2) simulation.Results indicate that consideration of the spatial distribution of CO_(2)concentration can reduce the overestimated increase in surface air temperature simulated by Earth system models.

Variations in evaporation from water surfaces along the margins of the Badain Jaran Desert over nearly 60 years and influencing factors

Based on meteorological data collected over nearly 60 years(1960-2017)from four national meteorological stations along the margins of the Badain Jaran Desert,this study analyzed the spatiotemporal variations in evaporation from water surfaces and identified the dominant controlling factors.Methods used included linear trend analysis,linear tendency estimation,the departure method,the rank correlation coefficient-based method,and Multiple Linear Regression(MLR).Results indicate notable spatiotemporal differences in evaporation distribution and evolution.Spatially,average annual evaporation exhibited a pronounced altitude effect,decreasing at a rate of about 8.23 mm/m from east to west with increasing altitude.Temporally,annual evaporation showed significant upward trends after 1996 at the northeastern(Guaizi Lake)and western(Dingxin)margins,with rates of 132 mm/10a and 105 mm/10a,respectively.Conversely,along the northwestern(Ejina Banner)and southern(Alxa Right Banner)margins of the desert,an evaporation paradox was observed,with annual evaporation trending downward at rates of 162 mm/10a and 187 mm/10a,respectively,especially after 1987.The dominant factors controlling evaporation varied spatially:Average annual temperature and relative humidity influended the western margin(Dingxin),average annual temperature was the key factor for the northeastern margin(Guaizi Lake),and average wind speed was crucial for the northern(Ejina Banner)and southern(Alxa Right Banner)margins.

Response of vegetation variation to climate change and human activities in the Shiyang River Basin of China during 2001-2022

Understanding the response of vegetation variation to climate change and human activities is critical for addressing future conflicts between humans and the environment,and maintaining ecosystem stability.Here,we aimed to identify the determining factors of vegetation variation and explore the sensitivity of vegetation to temperature(SVT)and the sensitivity of vegetation to precipitation(SVP)in the Shiyang River Basin(SYRB)of China during 2001-2022.The climate data from climatic research unit(CRU),vegetation index data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS),and land use data from Landsat images were used to analyze the spatial-temporal changes in vegetation indices,climate,and land use in the SYRB and its sub-basins(i.e.,upstream,midstream,and downstream basins)during 2001-2022.Linear regression analysis and correlation analysis were used to explore the SVT and SVP,revealing the driving factors of vegetation variation.Significant increasing trends(P<0.05)were detected for the enhanced vegetation index(EVI)and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)in the SYRB during 2001-2022,with most regions(84%)experiencing significant variation in vegetation,and land use change was determined as the dominant factor of vegetation variation.Non-significant decreasing trends were detected in the SVT and SVP of the SYRB during 2001-2022.There were spatial differences in vegetation variation,SVT,and SVP.Although NDVI and EVI exhibited increasing trends in the upstream,midstream,and downstream basins,the change slope in the downstream basin was lower than those in the upstream and midstream basins,the SVT in the upstream basin was higher than those in the midstream and downstream basins,and the SVP in the downstream basin was lower than those in the upstream and midstream basins.Temperature and precipitation changes controlled vegetation variation in the upstream and midstream basins while human activities(land use change)dominated vegetation variation in the downstream basin.We concluded that there is a spatial heterogeneity in the response of vegetation variation to climate change and human activities across different sub-basins of the SYRB.These findings can enhance our understanding of the relationship among vegetation variation,climate change,and human activities,and provide a reference for addressing future conflicts between humans and the environment in the arid inland river basins.

Structural variations in oil crops:Types,and roles on domestication and breeding

Structural variations(SVs),a newly discovered genetic variation,have gained increasing recognition for their importance,yet much about them remains unknown.With the completion of whole-genome sequencing projects in oil crops,more SVs have been identified,revealing their types,genomic distribution,and characteristics.These findings have demonstrated the crucial roles of SVs in regulating gene expression,driving trait innovation,facilitating domestication,making this an opportune time for a systematic review.We summarized the progress of SV-related studies in oil crops,focusing on the types of SVs and their mechanisms of occurrence,the strategies and methods for SV detection,and the SVs identified in oil crops such as rapeseed,soybean,peanut,and sesame.The various types of SVs,such as presence-absence variations(PAVs),copy number variations(CNVs),and homeologous exchanges(HEs),have been shown.Along with their genomic characterization,their roles in crop domestication and breeding,and regulatory impact on gene expression and agronomic traits have also been demonstrated.This review will provide an overview of the SV research process in oil crops,enabling researchers to quickly understand key information and apply this knowledge in future studies and crop breeding.

A new two-step variational model for multiplicative noise removal with applications to texture images

Multiplicative noise removal problems have attracted much attention in recent years.Unlike additive noise,multiplicative noise destroys almost all information of the original image,especially for texture images.Motivated by the TV-Stokes model,we propose a new two-step variational model to denoise the texture images corrupted by multiplicative noise with a good geometry explanation in this paper.In the first step,we convert the multiplicative denoising problem into an additive one by the logarithm transform and propagate the isophote directions in the tangential field smoothing.Once the isophote directions are constructed,an image is restored to fit the constructed directions in the second step.The existence and uniqueness of the solution to the variational problems are proved.In these two steps,we use the gradient descent method and construct finite difference schemes to solve the problems.Especially,the augmented Lagrangian method and the fast Fourier transform are adopted to accelerate the calculation.Experimental results show that the proposed model can remove the multiplicative noise efficiently and protect the texture well.

Temporal and spatial variation and prediction of water yield and water conservation in the Bosten Lake Basin based on the PLUS-InVEST model

To comprehensively evaluate the alterations in water ecosystem service functions within arid watersheds,this study focused on the Bosten Lake Basin,which is situated in the arid region of Northwest China.The research was based on land use/land cover(LULC),natural,socioeconomic,and accessibility data,utilizing the Patch-level Land Use Simulation(PLUS)and Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs(InVEST)models to dynamically assess LULC change and associated variations in water yield and water conservation.The analyses included the evaluation of contribution indices of various land use types and the investigation of driving factors that influence water yield and water conservation.The results showed that the change of LULC in the Bosten Lake Basin from 2000 to 2020 showed a trend of increasing in cultivated land and construction land,and decreasing in grassland,forest,and unused land.The unused land of all the three predicted scenarios of 2030(S1,a natural development scenario;S2,an ecological protection scenario;and S3,a cultivated land protection scenario)showed a decreasing trend.The scenarios S1 and S3 showed a trend of decreasing in grassland and increasing in cultivated land;while the scenario S2 showed a trend of decreasing in cultivated land and increasing in grassland.The water yield of the Bosten Lake Basin exhibited an initial decline followed by a slight increase from 2000 to 2020.The areas with higher water yield values were primarily located in the northern section of the basin,which is characterized by higher altitude.Water conservation demonstrated a pattern of initial decrease followed by stabilization,with the northeastern region demonstrating higher water conservation values.In the projected LULC scenarios of 2030,the estimated water yield under scenarios S1 and S3 was marginally greater than that under scenario S2;while the level of water conservation across all three scenarios remained rather consistent.The results showed that Hejing County is an important water conservation function zone,and the eastern part of the Xiaoyouledusi Basin is particularly important and should be protected.The findings of this study offer a scientific foundation for advancing sustainable development in arid watersheds and facilitating efficient water resource management.

Effects of land-use patterns on soil microbial diversity and composition in the Loess Plateau,China

In the Loess Plateau of China,land-use pattern is a major factor in controlling underlying biological processes.Additionally,the process of land-use pattern was accompanied by abandoned lands,potentially impacting soil microbe.However,limited researches were conducted to study the impacts of land-use patterns on the diversity and community of soil microorganisms in this area.The study aimed to investigate soil microbial community diversity and composition using high-throughput deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)sequencing under different land-use patterns(apricot tree land,apple tree land,peach tree land,corn land,and abandoned land).The results showed a substantial difference(P<0.050)in bacterial alpha-diversity and beta-diversity between abandoned land and other land-use patterns,with the exception of Shannon index.While fungal beta-diversity was not considerably impacted by land-use patterns,fungal alpha-diversity indices varied significantly.The relative abundance of Actinobacteriota(34.90%),Proteobacteria(20.65%),and Ascomycota(77.42%)varied in soils with different land-use patterns.Soil pH exerted a dominant impact on the soil bacterial communities'composition,whereas soil available phosphorus was the main factor shaping the soil fungal communities'composition.These findings suggest that variations in land-use pattern had resulted in changes to soil properties,subsequently impacting diversity and structure of microbial community in the Loess Plateau.Given the strong interdependence between soil and its microbiota,it is imperative to reclaim abandoned lands to maintain soil fertility and sustain its function,which will have significant ecological service implications,particularly with regards to soil conservation in ecologically vulnerable areas.

Development of the A&GBE base editor for efficiently generating abundant genetic variation in rice

We have developed a dual base editor,rA&GBE,by fusing adenine and glycosylase base editors.It can induce up to eight types of mutations in T0-generation rice,including single-base conversion,simultaneous multiple-base conversions,and InDels,using a single guide RNA.A-to-G and C-to-G/T conversions occur simultaneously on the same DNA strand.The rA&GBE system may prove useful for crop improvement and in planta direct evolution.

A Study to Observe Pulse Pressure Variation after Induction with Propofol for General Anesthesia

Background and Aims: Pulse pressure variation (PPV) is a reliable and predictive dynamic parameter presently being utilized for fluid responsiveness. In the operating room, fluid administration based on PPV monitoring helps the physician in deciding whether to volume resuscitate or use interventions in patients undergoing surgery. Propofol is an intravenous induction agent which lowers blood pressure. There are multiple causes such as depression in cardiac output, and peripheral vasodilatation for hypotension. We undertook this study to observe the utility of PPV as a guide to fluid therapy after propofol induction. Primary outcome of our study was to monitor PPV as a marker of fluid responsiveness for the hypotension caused by propofol induction. Secondary outcome included the correlation of PPV with other hemodynamic parameters like heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP);after induction with propofol at regular interval of time. Methods: A total number of 90 patients were recruited. Either of the radial artery was then cannulated under local anaesthesia with 20G VygonLeadercath arterial cannula and invasive monitoring transduced. A baseline recording of heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and PPV was then recorded. Patients were then induced with predetermined doses of propofol (2 mg/kg) and recordings of HR, SBP, DBP, and PPV were taken at 5, 10 and 15 minutes. Results: Intraoperatively, PPV was significantly higher at 5 minutes and significantly lower at 15 minutes after induction. It was observed that there were no statistically significant correlations between PPV and SBP or DBP. PPV was strongly and directly associated with HR. Conclusion: We were able to establish that PPV predicts fluid responsiveness in hypotension caused by propofol induction;and can be used to administer fluid therapy in managing such hypotension. However, PPV was not directly correlated with hypotension subsequent to propofol administration.

Small temporal variation in abundance of virioplankton compared to bacterioplankton and phytoplankton in two bays in the northern South China Sea

Variations of picoplankton groups were investigated over a one-month period in Daya Bay and Sanya Bay,in the northern South China Sea.The two coastal regions exhibited different variation patterns in physicochemical parameters.Moreover,the diel variations of picoplankton groups were different between the two bays.The abundance of the picoplankton in Sanya Bay displayed a pronounced diel variation,while it was not significant in Daya Bay.In addition,some similar patterns of picoplankton abundance were discovered.In the two bays,virioplankton exhibited the smallest fluctuation range,whereas picocyanobacteria fluctuated most markedly.The fluctuation range of picoplankton groups was larger in spring tide than in neap tide,especially in Sanya Bay.Random forest model analysis demonstrated that the variation of picoplankton groups was attributed to physical and chemical factors in Sanya Bay and Daya Bay,respectively.Therefore,our findings suggest that virioplankton abundance can persist more stably in response to changing environmental conditions compared to bacterioplankton and picophytoplankton.

Temperature is a cryptic factor shaping the geographical pattern of genetic variation in Ceratophyllum demersum across a subtropical freshwater lake

Macrophyte habitats exhibit remarkable heterogeneity,encompassing the spatial variation of abiotic and biotic components such as changes in water conditions and weather as well as anthropogenic stressors.Environmental factors are thought to be important drivers shaping the genetic and epigenetic variation of aquatic plants.However,the links among genetic diversity,epigenetic variation,and environmental variables remain largely unclear,especially for clonal aquatic plants.Here,we performed population genetic and epigenetic analyses in conjunction with habitat discrimination to elucidate the environmental factors driving intraspecies genetic and epigenetic variation in hornwort(Ceratophyllum demersum)in a subtropical lake.Environmental factors were highly correlated with the genetic and epigenetic variation of C.demersum,with temperature being a key driver of the genetic variation.Lower temperature was detected to be correlated with greater genetic and epigenetic variation.Genetic and epigenetic variation were positively driven by water temperature,but were negatively affected by ambient air temperature.These findings indicate that the genetic and epigenetic variation of this clonal aquatic herb is not related to the geographic feature but is instead driven by environmental conditions,and demonstrate the effects of temperature on local genetic and epigenetic variation in aquatic systems.

The Variation of Plankton Community Structure in Artificial Reef Area and Adjacent Waters in Haizhou Bay

Plankton are an important component of marine protected areas(MPAs),and its communities would require much smaller interpatch distances to ensure connection among MPAs.According to the survey from MPAs dominated by artificial reefs and adjacent waters(estuary area(EA),aquaculture area(AA),artificial reef area(ARA),natural area(NA)and comprehensive effect area(CEA))in Haizhou Bay in spring and autumn,we analyzed phyto-zooplankton composition,abundance and biomass,and correlation with hydrologic variables to gain information about the forces that structure the plankton.The results showed that the dominant zooplankton were copepods(spring,98.9%;autumn,94.2%),while the phytoplankton were mainly composed of Bacillariophyta(spring,61.8%;autumn,95.6%).The RDA results showed that temperature,salinity and depth highly associated with the distribution and composition of plankton species among the habitats than other factors in spring;temperature,Chla and DO had the strongest influence in autumn.The zooplankton in the ARA and AA ecosystems basically contained the same species as those in other habitats,and each habitat also exhibited a relatively unique combination of plankton species.The structures of the EA zooplankton in spring and the EA phytoplankton in both seasons were much different than other habitats,which may have been caused by factors such as currents and tides.We concluded that there exists similarity of the plankton community between artificial reef area and adjacent waters,whereas the EAs may be relatively independent systems.Therefore,these interaction between plankton community should be considered when designing MPA networks,and ocean circulations should be considered more than the environmental factors.

Seasonal Variation of Hearing Sensitivity in the Red-eared Slider(Trachemys scripta elegans)

Seasonal variation of hearing sensitivity has been observed in many vertebrate groups with obvious vocal behaviors.Circulating hormones,conspecific calling signals,and temperature are potential factors that drive these plasticity patterns.Turtles have a hearing range that appears to be limited to under 1.5 kHz and are often thought to be non-vocal;thus,they are commonly neglected in vocal communication research.In this study,we aimed to determine whether the auditory phenotype exhibits seasonal variation in sensitivity and to analyze the potential factors driving such variation patterns in turtles.We measured hearing sensitivity and sex hormone levels in female(estradiol)and male(testosterone and dihydrotestosterone)Red-eared sliders(Trachemys scripta elegans)during spring and winter.The results showed that auditory brainstem response(ABR)thresholds were significantly lower in spring than in winter at a frequency range of 0.5-0.9 kHz.The hearing-sensitivity bandwidth was wider,and the ABR latency was significantly shorter in spring than in winter.No significant differences were found in estradiol,testosterone,and dihydrotestosterone levels in T.scripta elegans between spring and winter.This study is the first to reveal the seasonal variation of peripheral hearing sensitivity in turtles,a special animal group with limited hearing range and less vocalization.Temperature variations may be used to explain these seasonal effects,but further research is required to confirm our findings.

Radio-Anatomical Variations of Both Origin and Foraminal Entrance of Vertebral Arteries in Black African Human: Experience from Côte d’Ivoire

The vertebral arteries (VAs) are a system of two blood vessels through which blood is transported to the posterior cerebral fossa. VAs may emerge at different sides from the aortic ostium. The aim of our study was to establish a reference of radio-anatomical variations of the VAs in black African human from Côte d’Ivoire experience. Materials and Methods: Forty patients underwent Computed Angio-Tomography (CAT) of the supra-aortic vessels (SAoVs). Included in our study were patients who underwent CAT of the SAoV from January 2019 to December 2021, those excluded in our study as Caucasians and other leucoderma humans. This exclusion allowed for highlighting only black humans VAs variations. The variations of both origins and foraminal entrance of VA were assessed. We carried out a model of univariate regression for assessing the occurrence of VA variations related to demographic included mainly age, gender and clinical features. Results: The average age was 48 ± 12 years with 0.66 of sex ratio. The most frequent indication for carrying out CAT was brain ischemic stroke assessment (25%). The atypical origin of the VAs out of subclavian arteries (SCA) was 25%. Origin from the aortic arch (AoA) was 17.5%. Six (15%) were unilateral while one (2.5%) was bilateral variation from a common trunk as pattern. Bilateral sixth cervical foramina inlet was 85%. Female sex and ischemic stroke assessment had a statistically significant correlation. Conclusion: VAs variations studies in black African human are lacking in the literature. Our findings depicted a considerable amount of VAs variations opening the field for further observational studies in black African human.