New formula for predicting standard liver volume in Chinese adults

AIM To obtain a reference range of morphological indices and establish a formula to accurately predict standard liver volume(SLV) in Chinese adults.METHODS Computed tomography(CT)-estimated total liver volume(CTLV) was determined in 369 Chinese adults. Age,sex,body weight,body height,body mass index,and body surface area(BSA) were recorded using CT. Total splenic volume,portal venous diameter(PVD),splenic venous diameter(SVD),and portal venous cross-sectional area(PVCSA) were also measured by CT. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of each parameter on CTLV and to develop a new SLV formula. The accuracy of the new formula was compared with the existing formulas in a validation group.RESULTS The average CTLV was 1205.41 ± 257.53 cm3(range,593.80-2250.10 cm3). The average of PVD,SVD and PVCSA was 9.34 ± 1.51 mm,7.40 ± 1.31 mm and 173.22 ± 48.11 mm2,respectively. The CT-estimated splenic volume of healthy adults varied markedly(range,46.60-2892.30 cm3). Sex,age,body height,body weight,body mass index,and BSA were significantly correlated with CTLV. BSA showed the strongest correlation(r = 0.546,P < 0.001),and was used to establish a new model for calculating SLV: SLV(cm3) = 758.259 × BSA(m2)-124.272(R2 = 0.299,P < 0.001). This formula also predicted CTLV more accurately than the existing formulas,but overestimated CTLV in elderly subjects > 70 years of age,and underestimated liver volume when CTLV was > 1800 cm3.CONCLUSION Our new BSA-based formula is more accurate than other formulas in estimating SLV in Chinese adults.

Transcriptomic Analysis of the Tolerance Response to Dehydration and Rehydration in Wheat Seedlings

Drought is the main abiotic stress that restricts wheat production.The rapid development of sequencing technology and its widespread application to various fields have revealed the structural characteristics and regulation of related genes through gene expression analysis.Here,we studied responses of wheat plants under drought and rewatering conditions,using morphological and physiological indicators.Moreover,a transcriptome analysis was conducted on Jingmai 12,a drought-resistant wheat strain,to explore the mechanism underlying the response of drought-resistant wheat seedlings to drought stress at the transcriptome level.Drought stress caused morphological and physiological changes in both drought-resistant and-sensitive varieties,but to a greater extent in the drought-sensitive specimen.After re-watering,the drought-resistant wheat showed greater ability to recover than the drought-sensitive wheat.Transcriptome sequencing of Jingmai 12 revealed 97,422 genes,including 80,373 known genes and 17,049 newly predicted genes.The observed upregulation of genes was mostly involved in hormone and signal transduction,carbon metabolism,amino acid synthesis,small molecule production,transmembrane transport,ROS detoxification and defense,drought response protein,and protective enzyme activity.Downregulated genes were mostly involved in photosynthesis,lipid metabolism,signaling,and auxin response.Upon rehydration,these genes and metabolic pathways returned to normal.Our results suggest that all these changes are adaptations to drought stress.Through morphological adaptation,physiological regulation,and the expression of drought-induced genes,normal growth of drought-resistant varieties under drought stress can be promoted.These results increase our understanding of the transcriptomic changes taking place in drought-resistant wheat seedlings under drought stress,and provide a direction for future investigations.

Quaternary tectonic control on channel morphology over sedimentary low land:A case study in the Ajay-Damodar interfluve of Eastern India

The style of active tectonic on the deformation and characterization of fluvial landscape has been investigated on three typical skrike-slip fault zones of the Ajay-Damodar Interfluve（ADI） in Eastern India through field mapping,structural analysis and examination of digital topography（ASTER-30 m）,multispectral imageries,and Google Earth images,Channel morphology in Quaternary sediment is more deformed than Cenozoic lateritic tract and igneous rock system by the neotectonic activities,The structural and lithological controls on the river system in ADI region are reflected by distinct drainage patterns,abrupt change in flow direction,offset river channels,straight river lines,ponded river channel,marshy lands,sag ponds,palaeo-channels,alluvial fans,meander cutoffs,multi-terrace river valley,incised compressed meander,convexity of channel bed slope and knick points in longitudinal profile,Seven morphotectonic indices have been used to infer the role of neotectonic on the modification of channel morphology,A tectonic index map for the ADI region has been prepared by the integration of used morphotectonic indices,which is also calibrated by Bouguer gravity anomaly data and field investigation.

Multi-objective method of selecting performance-based local climatic zones using binomial logistic regression in warm and humid climate

Urban agglomeration is a serious concern due to its high energy usage and impact on the local climate.Developing countries strive to determine the development path to optimize energy usage.The present study aims to examine the local climatic zones(LCZs)performance in warm and humid climate through a multi-objective approach for the residential sector.The performance is assessed by evaluating the urban microclimate and cooling load consumption for both summer and winter months using binomial logistic regression.The study concludes that LCZ 2_(3)(compact mid-rise with open low-rise)and LCZ 6_(B)(open low-rise with scattered trees)perform better for 80%and 50%of total hours in warm and humid climate.It also proves the presence of significant performance differences between mid-rise and low-rise zones.The intra-zonal differences between the climatic variables are higher than the inter-zonal differences due to the impact of land surface temperature(LST).The high aspect ratio and low sky view factor of LCZ 2_(3) help the residents in that morphology in enhancing better thermal comfort and reducing cooling load consumption.The present study contributes to building regulation policymakers by providing information on the suitable morphology for warm and humid climate.

Investigation of typical residential block typologies and their impact on pedestrianlevel microclimate in summers in Nanjing, China

The morphology of urban residential blocks in China,which is strictly affected by regulations,can potentially improve or deteriorate microclimates.This paper first proposes a framework for identifying typical residential block typologies using Nanjing as an example.A thorough investigation,consisting of 114 samples,was conducted,and 18 typical residential block typologies were summarized.Second,3D non-isothermal numerical simulations were performed on the hottest days of summer using the ENVI-met.The effect of morphological indices on the microclimate at the pedestrian level was explored using statistical methods and a novel graphic method named m-SpaceMate.The results revealed a strong correlation between the urban heat island intensity(UHII),mean radiation temperature,and universal thermal climate index(UTCI)and floor area ratio(FAR),as well as between wind velocity(U)and building coverage ratio(BCR).A significant increase in FAR(by approximately 1.0)can result in a low UTCI that was driven by MRT and shading conditions.Six-floor blocks,with FAR between 1.8 and 2.1,had a better overall thermal environment(except for lower U)than that of 11-floor blocks.When considering a similar BCR,blocks with slab-type buildings tended to have a U that was higher by approximately 30%.

Gonadal development and silvering of the Japanese Eel(Anguilla japonica)in the Yangtze River during downstream migration

The Yangtze River and its branches are important habitats for the Japanese Eel(Anguilla japonica),however,there are few data on gonadal development and silvering indices of eels during the downstream spawning migration.This study investigates gonadal development in 121 Japanese eels caught downstream from the Jingjiang Reach of the Yangtze River in October 2012.We found that in females the ovaries of most of the out-migrating population developed earlier than the testes in males,that is,the ovaries reached stage 3(F3)or early stage 4(eF4),while the testes were at stage 2(M2)or stage 3(M3).Gonadal development in eels collected in 2012 was earlier than that of samples caught from the same region in 2007e2008 and from the Pearl River Estuary in 1972e1973.The average age,body size and gonadal-somatic index of females were significantly greater than those in males.For both females and males,there were no significant differences between the two stages of gonadal development in any of the morphological indices,which indicates that gonadal development of the Japanese Eel is independent of body size.These results help us to understand the spawning population of Japanese Eels in the Yangtze River.

Physiological effects of paraquat in juvenile African catfish Clarias gariepinus(Burchel 1822)

Objective:To investigate the physiological effects of paraquat in African freshwater catfish Clarias gariepinus.Methods:Two sublethal test concentrations of paraquat(1.37 and 2.75 mg/L)were chosen based on the 96 h LC_(50)value(27.46 mg/L).Some experimental fish were exposed to these concentrations and control group for 15 d.Peripheral blood samplings were taken at intervals for assessment of haematological and biochemical parameters.Results:Exposure to paraquat affected behaviour and morphology of Clarias gariepinus.There were significant decreases(P<0.05)in the mean values of hemoglobin,red blood cells,packed cell volume,cellular hemoglobin,and cellular hemoglobin concentration.The levels of white blood cells,glucose,aspartate aminotransferase,and alanine aminotransferase significantly increased(P<0.05)while protein levels declined.However,no definite pattern of changes was observed in the number and type of leucocytes.Conclusions:The results of the present study indicate that paraquat is toxic and has the potential to impair on the physiological activities in African catfish Clarias gariepinus.The use of paraquat should be strongly controlled and carefully monitored to avoid the possible damage done to the environment.