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• Martial arts group showed higher d2 attention level than the other two groups. • Martial arts group showed higher working memory level than the other two groups. • The r-OFC and r-BA regions were activated by martial arts during 1-back tasks. • Martial arts decreased activation in l-FPA region under 2-back tasks. • Martial arts is more conducive to cognitive improvement with cognitive engagement. Interventions can improve working memory and attention in school-aged children, but little is known about how regional changes in brain activity promoted by exercise mediate this cognitive improvement. This study focused on the improved neurocognitive functions and intrinsic regional variation within the brain by comparing school-aged children in a martial arts group with those in free-play and rest groups. With a pretest–posttest design, the d2 attention test and N -back tasks were carried out. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was performed during the pre- and post-intervention N -back tasks and rest. Following the intervention, the d2 attention in all groups remarkably increased, and the attention level of the martial arts group was substantially higher than those of the other two groups. Free-play and martial arts shortened the 1- and 2-back task reaction time and increased the 2-back accuracy rate (AR), and the martial arts group exhibited a significantly higher AR than the other two groups. In addition, the martial arts group showed higher activations in the right orbitofrontal cortex and right Broca's area (r-BA) regions post-intervention 1-back tasks, whereas a strong correlation was observed between 1-back performance and the related brain region. However, under the 2-back task, although the cognitive control was improved, the martial arts group decreased activation in the left frontopolar area and free play decreased the activation in the r-BA and right somatosensory cortex. Together, our findings showed that martial arts could be more conducive to cognitive improvement than physical exercise that requires no cognitive skills and that performing interventions in the earlier stages of childhood may improve the regulation of neural networks involved in cognitive control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation caused by dam operations can cause fish gas bubble disease (GBD) and even fish kill. Few studies have examined the effects on pelagic species. Here, we examined the tolerance and avoidance characteristics of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), a pelagic fish widely distributed in the Yangtze River basin in China, under stress caused by TDG supersaturation. Silver carp had an average mortality rate of 7.5% ± 1.8%, 92.5% ± 1.8%, and 97.5% ± 1.8% under 130%, 140% and 150% TDG supersaturation for 72 h of exposure, respectively. The average median lethal time (LT 50) of silver carp was 18.1 h and 8.0 h under 140% and 150% TDG supersaturation, respectively. Bubbles and congestion appeared in the fins, gills and skin of silver carp. Silver carp can detect and avoid high TDG supersaturation. Significant avoidance behaviors were displayed by silver carp and the final avoidance rate was over 80% under 130% or above TDG conditions. The results of this study indicate that 130% TDG supersaturation triggered silver carp avoidance behaviors, and can be considered as the tolerance threshold. • Silver carp in TDG supersaturated water appeared obvious signs of GBD. • Silver carp died when TDG supersaturation was over 130%. • 130% TDG supersaturation triggered silver carp avoidance behaviors. • 130% TDG supersaturation can be considered as the tolerance threshold for silver carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ski-jump spillways are frequently used as discharge structures for high dams during floods with high energy heads. The selection of bucket types at the end of spillways has a pronounced effect on the hydraulics of jet characteristics, such as trajectories and entrained air features. However, there is no literature reporting how changes in the bucket types influence TDG generation. This study compares the hydraulic characteristics and TDG mass transfer properties of a hydraulic project under construction using both the traditional fully-flip bucket and the partial-flip bucket configurations. The results indicate that, the use of the partial-flip bucket at the end of the spillway significantly disperses the water flow and yields better energy dissipation effects. At low flow rates (lower than 400 m3/s for the dam in this study), there is little difference in the downstream TDG saturation between the traditional fully-flip bucket and the partial-flip bucket, the average difference is 1.6 % in three cases with a low flow rate. However, at high flow rates (higher than 400 m3/s), the partial-flip bucket generates more TDG compared to the traditional fully-flip bucket, reaching up to 6.2 % at the maximum flow rate. This phenomenon stems from significant changes in the hydrodynamics of the stilling basin at high flow rates due to variations in the flip bucket type. When strict control of TDG generation is necessary downstream of dams, the use of the partial-flip bucket should be carefully considered. This is because, at high flow rates, the partial-flip bucket might result in higher TDG saturation than the fully-flip bucket. • The TDG generation ability was compared between a fully-flip bucket and a partial-flip bucket. • The parameters influencing TDG mass transfer in the stilling basin were discussed. • The hydrodynamic characteristics downstream of a fully or partial-flip bucket were compared by the numerical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of fish passage facilities can mitigate the negative effects of dams and other water engineering construction on river connectivity and have a significant positive effect on the conservation of local fish diversity. To attract target fishes into fish passage facilities effectively, the optimal flow velocity range to attract fish must be determined. Three local endemic species of the Mishi Reservoir were considered as the protection targets. However, their swimming abilities remain unclear. Therefore, the induced swimming speed (U ind), critical swimming speed (U crit) and burst swimming speed (U burst) of three fish species were tested. Based on these results, we identified the optimal flow velocity to attract fish, which falls within the range of 0.15–0.51 m/s. A validated three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was used to simulate different schemes. By comparing the flow field simulation results of different schemes, we obtained the optimal measure to restore the flow field, namely, a multiple engineering measure combining increased the fish attraction flow in the fish collection pond and the construction of a spur dike. This study offers a solution for the specific case and enhances the database of swimming characteristics of endemic fish in the upstream reaches of the Yangtze River. It also provides a valuable reference for designing fish-attracting flows and potential measures for restoring flow fields in similar future projects. • The database of the swimming characteristics of endemic fish in the upstream reaches of the Yangtze River was enriched. • Restoration of the flow field by constructing a spur dike was proposed for the first time. • Multiple measures were used to achieve the optimal effect of flow field restoration. • The concept of "connectedness" was proposed to quantitatively compare each scheme. • A reference for the optimal range of fish attraction flow in the upstream reaches of the Yangtze River was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), bisphenols, triclosan, and parabens have been widely used in various products, and their potential risks to human health have raised concerns. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations and health risks of bisphenols, triclosan, and parabens in bottled water for infants. These analytes were detected using solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The sample recoveries ranged from 81.8% to 96.1%, with intra-day and inter-day precisions < 8.1% and 15.6%, respectively. The limit of detection was 0.2 ng L–1. The amounts of these analytes released from bottled water showed a positive correlation with storage duration and temperature. Especially, after 8 weeks of storage, propylparaben release increased from 13.1 ng L–1 to 41.4 ng L–1 at 25 ℃, the releases for ethylparaben from 27.0 ng L–1 to 87.5 ng L–1 at 40 ℃. The maximum estimated daily intake of the target analyte in the samples was 11.3 ng/kg-bw/day, which was several orders lower than the tolerable daily intake. [Display omitted] • The determination method for endocrine-disrupting chemicals in bottled water was established. • The release levels showed a positive correlation with storage time and temperature. • The levels of these analytes may pose no adverse health risks to infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncontrolled cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction (MI) is a critical pathological change leading to heart failure. Current pharmacotherapies are limited by unsatisfactory efficacy and undesired systemic side effects. Astaxanthin (ASX) is a natural carotenoid with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The effects of ASX on MI-induced cardiac fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, after the establishment of MI model, mice were administrated with ASX (200 mg/kg⋅d) for 4 weeks. We found that ASX treatment attenuated cardiac fibrosis and improved heart function following MI, as evidenced by reduced collagen I/III ratio, hydroxyproline content and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Lipidomic analysis revealed the overaccumulation of myocardial ceramides in mice with cardiac fibrosis, which was normalized by ASX treatment. Molecular docking analysis showed that ASX produced a tight fit in the pocket of sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1), a key enzyme in the production of ceramides. Western blot analysis confirmed the significant inhibition of SMPD1 expression by ASX. Furthermore, MI-induced overexpression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and phosphorylated SMAD2/3 were attenuated by ASX administration. SMPD1 knockout (KO) abrogated the beneficial effect of ASX. Taken together, our results suggest that the cardioprotective effects of ASX are mediated by SMPD1 through the indirection inhibition of TGF- β1/SMAD signaling cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia is characterized by the disorder of “social brain”. However, the alternation of connectivity density in brain areas of schizophrenia patients remains largely unknown. In this study, we successfully created a rat model of schizophrenia by the transfection of EGR3 gene into rat brain. We then investigated the connectivity density of schizophrenia susceptible regions in rat brain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in combination with multivariate Granger causality (GC) model. We found that the average signal strength in prefrontal lobe and hippocampus of schizophrenia model group was significantly higher than the control group. Bidirectional Granger causality connection was observed between hippocampus and thalamic in schizophrenia model group. Both connectivity density and Granger causality connection were changed in prefrontal lobe, hippocampus and thalamus after risperidone treatment. Our results indicated that fMRI in combination with GC connection analysis may be used as an important method in diagnosis of schizophrenia and evaluation the effect of antipsychotic treatment. These findings support the connectivity disorder hypothesis of schizophrenia and increase our understanding of the neural mechanisms of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]