Wild Nutrition’s Food-Grown® Magnesium Supplementation Increases Sleep Quality and Sleep Duration and Reduces Stress in a Healthy Adult Population: A Double-Blind, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled Study

Background: Magnesium, an essential mineral crucial for various bodily functions, has been shown to positively influence sleep patterns. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Food-Grown® magnesium in enhancing sleep quality and duration, as well as overall well-being. Methods: Eighty participants were randomly assigned to receive either 80 mg of Food-Grown® magnesium or a placebo (microcrystalline cellulose) daily for 8 weeks. Participants completed questionnaires assessing sleep quality, daytime drowsiness, quality of life, anxiety, and stress levels. Additionally, participants maintained daily sleep diaries and wore wrist-worn actigraphy devices. The primary outcome measured was the change in sleep quality and duration. Results: Seventy-one participants fulfilled all study requirements (35 in the active group and 36 in the placebo group). Magnesium supplementation significantly improved reported sleep quality, with the active group showing a 32% increase compared to 16% in the placebo group (p = 0.034). Moreover, magnesium supplementation led to a decrease in reported stress scores at week 8 compared to the placebo group (3.7 ± 2.6 vs. 5.5 ± 3.1, respectively). Both the magnesium and placebo groups exhibited significant increases in reported sleep duration and reductions in time to fall asleep, sleep disturbance, sleep latency, sleep medication usage, and total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score at week 8 compared to baseline. Conclusion: Magnesium supplementation notably enhanced sleep quality and reduced stress levels compared to the placebo group. These findings highlight the potential of magnesium as a beneficial supplement for improving sleep quality and overall well-being.

Spatiotemporal changes in sunshine duration and its influential factors in Chongqing,China from 1961 to 2020

The surface solar radiation in most parts of the world has undergone a phenomenon known as global dimming and brightening,characterized by an initial decrease followed by an increase.As a result,the sunshine duration(SD)has decreased in the past 60 years.Against the backdrop of global dimming and brightening,SD has decreased to varying degrees in many regions of China.Using the observed data of SD,cloud amount(total cloud amount and low cloud amount,abbreviated as TCA and LCA),precipitation,and relative humidity(RH)from 34 meteorological stations in Chongqing during the period of 1961-2020,along with a digital elevation model(DEM)with a resolution of 90 m,this study analyzed the spatiotemporal variations and influencing factors of SD.The analysis employed methods such as linear regression,Mann-Kendall test,wavelet transformation,and DEM-based possible SD distributed model.The results showed that the annual SD in Chongqing has significantly decreased over the last 60 years,with a decreasing interannual trend rate(ITR)of 40.4 h/10a.Except for no obvious trend in spring,SD decreased significantly in summer,autumn and winter at the ITR of 21.1 h/10a,8.5 h/10a and 7.5 h/10a,respectively.An abrupt decrease in the annual SD was found in 1979.The difference before and after the abrupt decrease was 177.7 h.The difference before and after the abrupt decrease was 177.7 h.The annual SD possessed the oscillation period of 11a.The spatial heterogeneity of the mean annual SD during the last 60 years was obvious.The distribution of SD in Chongqing is high in the northeast and low in the southeast.In addition,about 73%of the total area in Chongqing showed a significant and very significant decreasing trend.The regions with significant changes are mainly concentrated in the regions with altitudes of 200~1000 m.The increasing LCA was the main cause of the decrease of the annual SD in the regions with 200-400 m altitude decreased the most and changed the most.Increasing LCA is the primary cause of the reduction in annual SD,showing a strong negative correlation coefficient of-0.7292.In Chongqing,PM2.5 concentration showed a significant decrease trend in annual,spring,autumn and winter during 2000-2020,but the significant correlation between PM2.5 concentration and SD was only in autumn and reached an extremely significant level.

Association of accelerometer-measured sleep duration and different intensities of physical activity with incident type 2 diabetes in a population-based cohort study

Purpose:The aim of the current study was to investigate the association of accelerometer-measured sleep duration and different intensities of physical activity(PA)with the risk of incident type 2 diabetes in a population-based prospective cohort study.Methods:Altogether,88,000 participants(mean age=62.2±7.9 years,mean±SD)were included from the UK Biobank.Sleep duration(short:<6 h/day;normal:6-8 h/day;long:>8 h/day)and PA of different intensities were measured using a wrist-won accelerometer over a 7-day period between 2013 and 2015.PA was classified according to the median or World Health Organization-recommendation:total volume of PA(high,low),moderate-to-vigorous PA(MVPA)(recommended,not recommended),and light-intensity PA(high,low).Incidence of type 2diabetes was ascertained using hospital records or death registries.Results:During a median follow-up of 7.0 years,1615 incident type 2 diabetes cases were documented.Compared with normal sleep duration,short(hazard ratio(HR)=1.21,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.03-1.41)but not long sleep duration(HR=1.01,95%CI:0.89-1.15)was associated with excessive type 2 diabetes risk.This increased risk among short sleepers seems to be protected against by PA.Compared with normal sleepers with high or recommended PA,short sleepers with low volume of PA(HR=1.81,95%CI:1.46-2.25),not recommended(below the World Health Organization-recommended level of)MVPA(HR=1.92,95%CI:1.55-2.36),or low light-intensity PA(HR=1.49,95%CI:1.13-1.90)had a higher risk of type 2 diabetes,while short sleepers with a high volume of PA(HR=1.14,95%CI:0.88-1.49),recommended MVPA(HR=1.02,95%CI:0.71-1.48),or high light-intensity PA(HR=1.14,95%CI:0.92-1.41)did not.Conclusion:Accelerometer-measured short but not long sleep duration was associated with a higher risk of incident type 2 diabetes.A higher level of PA,regardless of intensity,potentially ameliorates this excessive risk.

Contributors to tidal duration asymmetry with varied coastline configurations on western shelf of Yellow Sea

Coastal management in China is confronted with an urgent choice between natural restoration and maintenance of existing seawalls and reclaimed land for economic development.A key criterion for making this decision is the resilience to coastal flooding,which depends on the ability to predict tidal level.Tidal duration asymmetry(TDA)is a key parameter in determination of the arrival and duration of flood tides.This study selected the western inner shelf of the Yellow Sea(WYS)as the study area and investigated the responses of TDA to different shoreline configurations and relative sea level rise.The responses of TDA to shoreline reconstruction yielded spatial variability locally and remotely.In the nearshore area,the responses of TDA to the complex ocean environment mainly originated from the combined functions of reflection,bottom friction,and advection,which controlled the energy transfer from M2 or S2 constituents to their overtides or compound tides.The sensitivity of TDA to coastline typologies was not limited to coastal waters but could stretch over the entire inner shelf.The vulnerability of tidal responses was due to the displacement of the M2 amphidrome of the Kelvin wave on the WYS,which in turn changed tidal energy fluxes over the regime.The relative sea level rise could intensify the feedback of TDA to seawalls and land reclamation.

Vitamin D and selenium for type 2 diabetes mellitus with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis:Dosage and duration insights

This letter discusses the publication by Feng et al.Iodine,selenium,and vitamin D are closely associated with thyroid hormone production in humans;however,the efficacy of selenium and vitamin D supplementation for type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis(HT)remains controversial.In the retrospective study we discuss herein,the authors highlighted significant improvements in thyroid function,thyroid antibodies,blood glucose,and blood lipid in T2DM patients with HT following addition of vitamin D and selenium to their antidiabetic regimens,underscoring the value of these supplements.Our team is currently engaged in research exploring the relationship between micronutrients and HT,and we have obtained invaluable insights from the aforementioned study.Based on this research and current literature,we recommend a regimen of 4000 IU/day of vitamin D and 100-200μg/day of selenium for over three months to six months for patients with HT,particularly for those with concurrent T2DM.

Effects of different moxibustion durations on lumbar disk herniation:a clinical study

Objective:To explore the best duration of moxibustion on lumbar disk herniation(LDH).Methods:A total of 88 patients were randomly divided into control group and 15-min,30-min,and 45-min moxibustion groups.The control group was treated with conventional therapy,while the other 3 groups were intervened with different moxibustion durations.Low back pain,dysfunction,lumbar function,and effective rates were evaluated before,in the first week and second week of intervention.Results:In low back pain,compared with the control group,the score of the 15-min group had no significant difference,but it was significantly lower in the 30-min and 45-min groups.In dysfunction and lumbar function,compared with the control group,the scores of the 15-min,30-min,and 45-min groups were significantly higher,and the scores of the 30-min and 45-min groups were significantly higher,but there was no significant difference between the 30-min and 45-min group.In effective rates,there was no significant difference between the control group and 15-min group;the effective rates of the 30-min and 45-min groups were significantly higher than those of the control group.Conclusions:Moxibustion has good therapeutic effect on LDH with specific moxibustion time.

Effect of ground motion duration on inelastic displacement ratio of SDOF systems

In this paper,the influence of ground motion duration on the inelastic displacement ratio,C_(1),of highly damped SDOF systems is studied.For this purpose,two sets of spectrally equivalent long and short duration ground motion records were used in an analysis to isolate the effects of ground motion duration on.The effect of duration was evaluated for observed values of C_(1) by considering six ductility levels,and different damping and post-yield stiffness ratios.A new predictive equation of C_(1) also was developed for long and short duration records.Results of non-linear regression analysis of the current study provide an expression with which to quantify the duration effect.Based on the average values of estimated C_(1) ratios for long duration records divided by C_(1) for a short duration set,it is concluded that the maximum difference between long and short duration records occurs when the damping ratio is 0.3 and the post-yield stiffness ratio is equal to zero.

Association of Breastfeeding Duration with Body Composition in Children Aged 3–5 Years

Objective This study aimed to assess the relationship between the body composition of children aged 3–5 years and breastfeeding status and duration.Methods The study was conducted using data from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for children 0–17 years of age in China(CNHSC),a nationwide cross-sectional study.Breastfeeding information and potential confounders were collected using standardized questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews.The body composition of preschool children was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.A multivariate linear regression model was used to assess the relationship between breastfeeding duration and body composition after adjusting for potential confounders.Results In total,2,008 participants were included in the study.Of these,89.2%were ever breastfed and the median duration of breastfeeding was 12 months(IQR 7–15 months).Among children aged 3 years,the height-for-age Z-score(HAZ)for the ever breastfed group was lower than that for never breastfed group(0.12 vs.0.42,P=0.043).In addition,the weight-for-age Z-score(WAZ)of the ever breastfed group was lower than that of the never breastfed group(0.31 vs.0.65,P=0.026),and the WAZ was lower in children aged 4 years who breastfed between 12 and 23 months than in those who never breastfed.Compared to the formula-fed children,the fat-free mass of breastfed infants was higher for children aged 3 years(12.84 kg vs.12.52 kg,P=0.015)and lower for those aged 4 years(14.31 kg vs.14.64 kg,P=0.048),but no difference was detected for children aged 5 years(16.40 kg vs.16.42 kg,P=0.910)after adjusting for potential confounders.No significant difference was detected in the weight-for-height Z-score(WHZ),body mass index(BMI)-for-age Z-score(BAZ),fat-free mass index,and body fat indicators in the ever breastfed and never breastfed groups and among various breastfeeding duration groups for children aged 3–5 years.Conclusion No obvious associations were detected between breastfeeding duration,BMI,and fat mass indicators.Future prospective studies should explore the relationship between breastfeeding status and fat-free mass.

Increasing grain weight and yield stability by increasing pre-heading non-structural carbohydrate reserves per spikelet in short-growth duration rice

Rice yield stability is a breeding goal,particularly for short-growth duration rice,but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.In an attempt to identify the relationship between yield stability and source–sink characteristics in short-growth duration rice,a field experiment was conducted at three sites(Yueyang,Liuyang,and Hengyang)in 2021 and 2022.This study compared yield,yield components,source–sink characteristics,and their stability between two stable-yielding short-growth duration rice cultivars,Zhongzao 39(Z-39)and Lingliangyou 268(L-268),and two unstable-yielding short-growth duration rice cultivars,Zhongjiazao 17(Z-17)and Zhuliangyou 819(Z-819).The stability of agronomic parameters was represented by the coefficient of variation(CV).The respective CVs of yield in Z-17,Z-819,Z-39,and L-268 were 10.2%,10.1%,4.5%,and 5.7%in 2021 and 19.7%,15.0%,5.4%,and 6.5%in 2022.The respective CVs of grain weight were 6.3%,5.7%,3.4%,and 4.5%in Z-17,Z-819,Z-39,and L-268 in 2021,and 8.1%,6.3%,1.5%,and 0.8%in 2022.The mean source capacity per spikelet and pre-heading non-structural carbohydrate reserves per spikelet(NSC_(pre))were 7%–43%and7%–72%lower in Z-819 and Z-17than in L-268 and Z-39 in 2021 and 2022.The mean quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry of leaf,leaf area index,and specific leaf weight of L-268 and Z-39 were higher than those of Z-819 and Z-17 at the heading stage.This study suggests that high NSC_(pre),caused by great leaf traits before heading,increases source capacity per spikelet and its stability,thereby increasing the stability of grain weight and yield.Increasing NSC_(pre)is critical for achieving grain weight and yield stability in short-growth duration rice.

Experimental studies on liquefaction and reliquefaction potential of saturated ground subjected to repeated incremental acceleration loading with varying shaking duration

Past research has focused on the factors that influence liquefaction under normal shaking conditions.However,studies on parameters that influence the reliquefaction potential of saturated deposits during repeated shaking events are limited.In this study,an attempt has been made to examine the influence of acceleration amplitude and shaking duration on liquefaction and reliquefaction potential under repeated shaking conditions is conducted.1-g uni-axial shaking table experiments were performed on saturated ground prepared with 40%and 60%relative density.The prepared ground was subjected to alternate longer and shorter shaking durations(40 and 20 s)of repeated incremental 0.1 g,0.2 g,0.3 g and 0.4 g acceleration loading,respectively.The variation in density,excess pore water pressure(EPWP),cyclic resistance ratio(CRR)and surface settlement were estimated.The results showed that due to repeated incremental shaking events,reliquefaction was observed on the prepared ground.During longer shaking duration,the post-liquefied soil showed density improvement with improved soil resistance.However,the application of shorter duration loading followed by longer shaking reduced the beneficial effect of density improvement by disturbing the densified ground.Due to this,the ground was found to be more susceptible to reliquefaction in the subsequent incremental longer shaking event.

A comparison of the effect of Vitamin D and Vitamin E supplementations,alone,and in combination,on reducing the intensity and duration of dysmenorrhea in women:A randomized controlled trial

Objective:The aim of this study is to compare the effect of Vitamin D and Vitamin E supplementations,alone,and in combination,on reducing the intensity and duration of dysmenorrhea in women who were referred to the Kowsar gynecological clinics of Shahid Motahari Hospital of Urmia University of Medical Sciences.Materials and Methods:A double-blinded clinical trial was conducted on 112 women with dysmenorrhea who were randomly allocated into the four study groups.Finally,100 women complete the study and received capsules containing a placebo(n=25),1000 IU of Vitamin D(n=25),400 mg of Vitamin E(n=25),and 1000 IU of Vitamin D+400 mg of Vitamin E(n=25)every 24 h for 2 consecutive months at the beginning of the menstrual period.The pain intensity and duration among groups were compared before and after the intervention.Results:The mean menstrual pain duration in all three experimental groups(Vitamin E,Vitamin D,and the combination of them)was lower than the placebo group(all P<0.05),and the mean pain intensity scores in all three experimental groups were significantly lower than the placebo group(all P<0.05).The results(means)for all of the drugs administered at the end of the 2nd month were better than the 1st month(all P<0.01).Conclusions:Vitamin E and Vitamin D,as well as their combination,are recommended as an effective and safe treatment for the management of the complications of dysmenorrhea.

Comparison of the treatment duration and nursing requirements of the EarWell infant ear correction system for different types of auricle deformities

Objective:To observe whether the Ear Well infant ear correction system makes any difference in terms of the treatment effect,duration,complication rate,and nursing care requirements in different types of infant auricle deformities.Methods:A total of 93 infant patients with auricular deformity(age:<3 months of age)who were diagnosed and treated in Guangzhou Children and Women’s Medical Center from April 2018 to September 2020 were selected and treated with the Ear Well infant ear correction system.We observed and recorded the effects of the Ear Well infant ear correction system,the treatment duration,the number of rebound cases,and complications that are likely to occur during treatment,and noted the related factors causing complications and the relative requirements for nursing care.Results:The Earwell infant ear correction system could effectively correct infant auricle deformities.Among the 93 cases,90 cases had positive therapeutical outcome and the effective rate was 96.77%.The treatment duration for lop ear and protruding ear was longer than for other auricle deformities;the deformity recoil and the treatment compilation rates were much higher for these 2 deformity types,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusions:The treatment suggestion for the wearing duration of the Ear Well infant ear correction system for lop ear and protruding ear is a prolonged duration compared with that for other infant auricle deformities.Fur ther,the requirements for nursing care intensity and infant patient’s guardian’s nursing knowledge and skill are obviously increased for these 2 types of auricle deformities.

Effect of Resistance Training,Aerobic Exercise Before Doula-Assisted Delivery on the Psychological Well-Being and Labor Duration of Parturients

Objective:To investigate the impact of resistance training and aerobic exercise before doula-assisted delivery on the psychological well-being and labor duration of parturients.Methods:105 cases of parturients who gave birth in our hospital from February 2021 to April 2023 were included in this study.The patients were divided into a control group of 52 cases and an observation group of 53 cases.The patients in the control group received no particular intervention before delivery and only received doula assistance.The patients in the observation group received resistance training,aerobic exercise,and doula assistance prior to giving birth.After delivery,the mothers were observed for 2 hours in the delivery room and then returned to the maternal and infant ward.The observation indicators of the two groups were compared.Results:In comparison to the control group,the observation group exhibited shorter durations in the first,second,and third stages of labor,as well as the total delivery time.Additionally,the amount of postpartum blood loss at 2 hours was smaller in the observation group.The rate of cesarean section was lower,and the rate of vaginal natural delivery was higher in the observation group.Following the intervention,both groups of postpartum women showed decreased SAS and SDS scores compared to before the intervention.Moreover,the observation group had lower scores than the control group.These differences were all statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Resistance training and aerobic exercise before doula-assisted delivery can effectively improve the psychological state of parturients,shorten labor duration,increase the rate of natural vaginal delivery,and reduce pain and postpartum hemorrhage.

Modeling Rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) and Establishing Climate Change Existence in Uyo-Nigeria Using Non-Stationary Approach

This study aims at establishing if climate change exists in the Niger Delta environment using non-stationary rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) modelling incorporating time-variant parameters. To compute the intensity levels, the open-access R-studio software was used based on the General Extreme Value (GEV) distribution function. Among the four linear parameter models adopted for integrating time as a covariate, the fourth linear model incorporating scale and location with the shape function constant produced the least corrected Akaike Information Criteria (AICc), varying between 306.191 to 101.497 for 15 and 1440 minutes, respectively, selected for calibration of the GEV distribution equation. The non-stationary intensities yielded higher values above those of stationary models, proving that the assumption of stationary IDF models underestimated extreme events. The difference of 13.71 mm/hr (22.71%) to 14.26 mm/hr (17.0%) intensities implies an underestimation of the peak flood from a stationary IDF curve. The statistical difference at a 95% confidence level between stationary and non-stationary models was significant, confirming evidence of climatic change influenced by time-variant parameters. Consequently, emphasis should be on applying shorter-duration storms for design purposes occurring with higher intensities to help reduce the flood risk and resultant infrastructural failures.

Report on Childhood Obesity in China (10): Association of Sleep Duration with Obesity

Objectives To explore the association of sleep duration with obesity among children in urban areas of China.Methods A total of 6 576 children（3 293 boys and 3 283 girls） aged 7-11 years were randomly selected from 36 primary schools in 6 metropolitan cities in China.A 7-day Physical Activity Recall was used to assess the sleep duration and physical activity level.The height,weight,waist circumference（WC） and percentage of body fat（%BF,as determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis technique） were measured by following the standardized operation procedures.The information on demography,lifestyle and eating habits was collected with a self-administered questionnaire from participants and their parents.Results The average sleep duration per night in the children was 9.7 h with the decreasing trends along with the increase of age（P0.05）.The sleep duration was negatively associated with body mass index（BMI） and WC in both boys and girls after adjustment for confounders（β value-0.23 and-0.82 for boys,-0.24 and-0.91 for girls,respectively,P0.01）.However,no significant association of sleep duration with %BF was found.Children who slept less than 9.0 h per night had a higher risk for overweight and obesity（OR=1.29,95% CI：1.01,1.64） and abdominal obesity（OR=1.38,95% CI：1.04,1.83） as compared with those who slept for 10.0-10.9 h.Conclusions Short sleep duration is associated with obesity.It is important to ensure adequate sleep duration of children and foster their healthy lifestyle at an early stage of life.

Therapeutic effects of different durations of acupuncture on rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion

Acupuncture is regarded as an effective therapy for cerebral ischemia. Different acupuncture ma- nipulations and durations may result in different therapeutic effects. In the present study, the Neig uan （PC6） acupoint of rats with occluded middle cerebral arteries was needled at a fixed frequency （3 Hz） with different durations, i.e., 5, 60 and 180 seconds under a twisting-rotating acupuncture method. Results showed that different durations of acupuncture had different therapeutic effects, with 60 seconds yielding a better therapeutic effect than the other two groups. This duration of treatment demonstrated rapid cerebral blood flow, encouraging recovery of neurological function, and small cerebral infarct volume. Experimental findings indicated that under 3 Hz frequency, the treatment of needling Neiguan for 60 seconds is effective for ischemic stroke.

Advanced Backcross QTL Analysis for the Whole Plant Growth Duration Salt Tolerance in Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Salinity is a major factor limiting rice yield in coastal areas of Asia. To facilitate breeding salt tolerant rice varieties, the wholeplant growth duration salt tolerance（ST） was genetically dissected by phenotyping two sets of BC2F5 introgression lines（ILs） for four yield traits under severe natural salt stress and non-stress filed conditions using SSR markers and the methods of advanced backcross QTL（AB-QTL） analysis and selective introgression. Many QTLs affecting four yield traits under salt stress and nonstress conditions were identified, most（〉90%） of which were clustered in 13 genomic regions of the rice genome and involved in complex epistasis. Most QTLs affecting yield traits were differentially expressed under salt stress and non-stress conditions. Our results suggested that genetics complementarily provides an adequate explanation for the hidden genetic diversity for ST observed in both IL populations. Some promising Huanghuazhan（HHZ） ILs with favorable donor alleles at multiple QTLs and significantly improved yield traits under salt stress and non-stress conditions were identified, providing excellent materials and relevant genetic information for improving rice ST by marker-assisted selection（MAS） or genome selection.

Factors affecting breastfeeding duration in Greece:What is important?

AIM:To investigate factors associated with breastfeeding duration(BD) in a sample of mothers living in Greece.METHODS:Four hundred and twenty-eight mothers(438 infants) were initially recruited in a tertiary University Hospital.Monthly telephone interviews(1665in total) using a structured questionnaire(one for each infant) were conducted until the sixth postpartum month.Cox regression analysis was used to assess factors influencing any BD.RESULTS:Any breastfeeding rates in the first,third,and sixth month of the infant's life reached 87.5%,57.0%and 38.75%,respectively.In the multivariate analysis,maternal smoking in the lactation period[hazard-ratio(HR) = 4.20]and psychological status(HR = 1.72),and the introduction of a pacifier(HR =2.08),were inversely associated,while higher maternal education(HR_(university/college vs primary/high school) = 0.53,HR_(master's vs primary/high school) = 0.20),and being an immigrant(HR = 0.35) were positively associated with BD.CONCLUSION:Public health interventions should focus on campaigns against smoking during lactation,target women of lower educational status,and endorse the delayed introduction of pacifiers.

Spring migration duration exceeds that of autumn migration in Far East Asian Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons)

Background:Migration theory suggests,and some empirical studies show, that in order to compete for the best breeding sites and increase reproductive success,long-distance avian migrants tend to adopt a time minimization strategy during spring migration, resulting in shorter duration spring migration compared to that in autumn.Methods:Using GPS/GSM transmitters,we tracked the full migrations of 11 Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) between southeast China and the Russian Arctic,to reveal the migration timing and routes of the East Asian population, and compare the difference in duration between spring and autumn migration of this population.Results:We found that migration in spring (79 ± 12 days) took more than twice as long to cover the same distance as in autumn (35 ±7 days).This difference in migration duration was mainly determined by significantly more time spent in spring (59±16 days) than in autumn (23± 6days) at significantly more stopover sites. Conclusions:We suggest that these geese, thought to be partial capital breeders, spent almost three quarters of total migration time at spring stopover sites to acquire energy stores for ultimate investment in reproduction, although we cannot reject the hypothesis that timing of the spring thaw also contributed to stopover duration.In autumn,they acquired necessary energy stores on the breeding grounds sufficient to reach Northeast China staging areas almost without stop, which reduced stopover times in autumn and resulted in the faster autumn migration than spring.

gastrointestinal symptom prevalence depends on disease duration and gastrointestinal region in type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIM To unravel relationships between gastrointestinal(GI)symptoms impairing quality of life(QOL)and clinical profiles of diabetes mellitus(DM)patients. METHODS We enrolled 134 outpatients with type 2 DM.Mean age was 64.7 years,mean body mass index was 24.7 RESULTS Lower abdominal symptoms were found to be more frequent than those affecting the upper abdomen.Diabetic duration and medications showed associations with GI symptoms.We identified differences in peak prevalences of the five symptoms.Gastralgia(P=0.02vs 10-14 years)and total GI symptoms(P=0.01 and P=0.02 vs 5-9 years and 10-14 years,respectively)peaked at a diabetes duration of 15-19 years.Heartburn(P=0.004)and postprandial fullness(P=0.03)tended to increase with disease duration.Constipation and diarrhea showed bimodal peaks,with the first early and the second late(e.g.,P=0.03 at 15-19 years vs 10-14years for diarrhea)in the disease course.Finally,GI symptoms showed clustering that reflected the region of the GI tract affected,i.e.,constipation and diarrhea had similar frequencies(P<0.0001). CONCLUSION Our study highlights the importance of questioning patients about QOL impairment due to abdominal symptoms,especially in the early and the late periods of diabetes.