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Colour vision deficiencies (CVDs) indicate potential genetic variations and can be important biomarkers of acquired impairment in many neuro-ophthalmic diseases. However, CVDs are typically measured with tests which possess high sensitivity for detecting the presence of a CVD but do not quantify its type or severity. In this study, we introduce Foraging Interactive D-prime (FInD), a novel computer-based, generalisable, rapid, self-administered vision assessment tool and apply it to colour vision testing. This signal detection theory-based adaptive paradigm computed test stimulus intensity from d-prime analysis. Stimuli were chromatic Gaussian blobs in dynamic luminance noise, and participants clicked on cells that contained chromatic blobs (detection) or blob pairs of differing colours (discrimination). Sensitivity and repeatability of FInD colour tasks were compared against the Hardy-Rand-Rittler and the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 hue tests in 19 colour-normal and 18 inherited colour-atypical, age-matched observers. Rayleigh colour match was also completed. Detection and discrimination thresholds were higher for atypical than for typical observers, with selective threshold elevations corresponding to unique CVD types. Classifications of CVD type and severity via unsupervised machine learning confirmed functional subtypes. FInD tasks reliably detect inherited CVDs, and may serve as valuable tools in basic and clinical colour vision science.

[Objective] Due to the limited development of spatialization technology for socioeconomic data, previous research on the factors that affect urban shrinkage at the physical area scale of cities has mostly remained at the stage of qualitative analysis or quantitative analysis using administrative area data instead of physical area data. Breaking through the limit of spatialization of socioeconomic data within physical urban areas is the primary prerequisite for achieving quantitative analysis of influencing factors at the physical area scale. [Methods] By constructing the VANUI index and setting a comprehensive threshold, the scope of physical urban areas in Central and Southern Liaoning was determined. Based on the superposition of the slopes of univariate linear regression between the DN values of nighttime light and LandScan population grid data in the periods of 2013-2017 and 2018-2022, the physical urban areas were divided into four types: absolute growth type, negative growth type, smart shrinkage type, and absolute shrinkage type, and a spatiotemporal evolution analysis was conducted, based on the historical background of the “New Northeast Phenomenon”. By combining CRITIC and entropy weight method for equal weighting, the spatialization of data on influencing factors such as economic development level, medical service level, educational resource abundance, cultural facility density, livability of the environment, and external transportation convenience was achieved using nighttime light data and point of interest (POI) data. Finally, the GTWR model was used to quantitatively analyze the influencing factors of urban population growth and shrinkage during the two periods of the region. [Results] (1) The shrinking areas within cities from 2013 to 2017 in Central and Southern Liaoning were all transformed into growing areas from 2018 to 2022. (2) From 2018 to 2022, the proportion of negative growing areas within cities reached 55.80%. (3) The level of medical services, abundance of educational resources, density of cultural facilities, and livability of the environment all had a positive effect on the overall population growth in each city, but the positive effect was generally weakened in the second period. The overall negative effects of external transportation convenience and economic development level were observed during the two periods. [Conclusions] (1) The urban population shrinkage of Central and Southern Liaoning has achieved a growing transformation, and at present, all cities are more characterized by the mismatch of population, social, and economic development. (2) The multidimensional shrinkage of population, society, and economy within all cities is not common. There is a possibility of achieving growing transformation in the short term, and there are significant differences by urban hierarchy. (3) The social and economic development pains accompanied by resource depletion and industrial transformation have weakened the positive attraction of medical, educational, and cultural facility provisions and improvement of the living environment, which are highly tied to economic development, on population. (4) The development of the external transportation system currently has played a role in promoting population loss in cities.

The study investigated the semi-hibernation and critical temperature of grass carp based on gradient cooling, and explore the effects of temperature (12–24 ℃) on the survival of grass carp and the concentration of ammonia nitrogen in the water. The temperature was reduced from room temperature (23–25 ℃) to the semi-dormant temperature (16 ℃) at cooling rate of 1, 3, or 5 ℃/h. The control group was reared at room temperature, and sampling was conducted after 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. Serum biochemical and antioxidant parameters were measured to obtain the maximum cooling rate for grass crap. The results showed that the semi-dormant temperature of grass carp was 16 ℃, the critical temperature was 6–8 ℃, and the optimal cooling rate was 3 ℃/h. At 16 ℃, grass carp exhibited delayed stress response and decreased metabolism, and lower concentrations of ammonia nitrogen in the water. Except for aspartate aminotransferase level, the maximum values of other serum biochemical indexes at the cooling rate of 3 ℃/h, were significantly lower than those at 1 and 5 ℃/h (P < 0.05). The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) exhibited a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing with survival time, whereas the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) showed an opposite trend, reaching a minimum value of 5.27 mmol/mg after 36 h. Compared to the control group, the contents of all biochemical and antioxidant indexes in the three cooling groups showed significant changes with survival time. Therefore, cooling grass carp at a rate of 3 ℃/h could reduce the stress response and allowed it to enter a semi-hibernation state at a more suitable time. The results from this study provide key parameters for the temporary cultivation and transport of grass carp, as well as useful guidelines for reducing the transport mortality.

Background The presence of insomnia symptoms reduces the quality of life of perimenopausal women and increases their risk of developing other diseases. Currently, there are numerous non-pharmacological interventions available to improve perimenopausal insomnia symptoms, with disagreement as to which intervention is most effective. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in improving perimenopausal insomnia symptoms using a network meta-analysis. Methods In March 2022, Cochrane Library, PubMed, EmBase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, VIP and CBM were searched for the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the improvement of perimenopausal insomnia symptoms by non-pharmacological interventions from inception to March 2022. Two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included literature using the RCT bias risk assessment tool recommended by the Cochrane Manual of Systematic Review 5.1.0. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed on the overall response rate to the improvement of perimenopausal insomnia symptoms, as well as improvement in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI) score, Kupperman score and estradiol (E2) level under different non-pharmacological interventions by using R 4.1.3 software and the GeMTC package. Results A total of 44 RCTs including 3 354 patients were selected, involving 12 non-pharmacological interventions (moxibustion, electroacupuncture, acupoint pressing with beans, scraping, fire dragon pot, thumbtack needle, massage, warm acupuncture, bee acupuncture, acupoint embedding, music therapy, acupuncture). The results of meta-analysis showed that moxibustion, electroacupuncture, and acupuncture were superior to sedative-hypnotic western drugs in overall response rate to the improvement of perimenopausal insomnia symptoms (P0.05), with scraping emerging and acupuncture as the most probable superior intervention, respectively. Conclusion Current evidence demonstrates that moxibustion is superior in overall response rate to the improvement of perimenopausal insomnia symptoms and PSQI score in perimenopausal women, while scraping is superior in improving Kupperman score and acupuncture has advantages in improving E2 level, however, further validation of this conclusion is needed by conducting more high-quality studies.

This study aimed to examine the relationships among job resources, psychological capital, work engagement and perceived marketability. A sample of 577 subjects participated in the study. We used structural equation modelling to test a multiple mediation model. The results indicated that job resources were positively related to perceived marketability and that both psychological capital and work engagement mediated this relationship; specifically, job resources influenced participants' perceived marketability through a multiple mediation effect by enhancing psychological capital and work engagement. This study developed an integrated model of the effect of job resources on employees' perceived marketability in the Chinese context. It offered robust evidence for this effect by demonstrating the multiple sequential mediating roles of psychological capital and work engagement. This evidence contributes to the understanding of how and why job resource endowments influence employees' perceived marketability., Author(s): Qishan Chen [sup.1] [sup.2] , Chutong Liu [sup.1] [sup.2] , Liuying Lu [sup.1] [sup.2] , Miaosi Li [sup.1] [sup.2] , Yating Chen [sup.1] [sup.2] , Jingyi He [sup.1] [sup.2] [...]

Recently, we reported measurements of heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP) in 22 young observers, with stimuli that (nominally) modulated only L- and M-cones and were kept at (approximately) a constant multiple of detection threshold. These equiluminance settings were represented as the angle in the (L, M) cone contrast plane, with the greenish peak of the flicker in quadrant II and the reddish peak in quadrant IV; equiluminance settings were reported as the greenish angle. The mean equiluminance angle was 116.3° (an M:L cone contrast ratio of -2 at equiluminance), but individual differences in the settings were substantial, with the variation across individuals almost five times larger than the within-subject precision in the settings. In the present study we sought to determine the degree to which we could account for our observers HFP settings by plausible variations in the macular pigment optical density (MPOD), the lens pigment optical density (LPOD), the cone photopigment optical densities (PPOD), and serine/alanine polymorphism in L-cone opsin (λmax shift). Most of the range of our measured equiluminance angles could be accounted for by these factors, although the largest two angles (smallest |ΔM/M: ΔL/L| ratio at equiluminance) could not. Individual differences in HFP have sometimes been taken to indicate variations in the ratio of L:M cone number; our results suggest that most of the individual differences in HFP might be equally well ascribed to physiological factors other than cone number. Simple linear models allow predictions of equiluminance angle, cone adapting level, and artifactual S-cone contrast from the values of the four factors considered here.

Heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP), minimum motion (MM), and minimally distinct border (MDB) settings have often been used to determine equiluminance, a relative intensity setting for two chromaticities that, in theory, eliminates the responses of a luminance or achromatic psychophysical mechanism. These settings have been taken to reflect the relative contribution of the long (L) and medium (M) wavelength cones to luminance, which varies widely across individuals. The present study compares HFP, MM, and MDB using stimuli that do not modulate the short (S) wavelength cones, in both practiced and naïve observers. MDB was performed with both flashed and steadily viewed stimuli. Results are represented in the (∆L/L, ∆M/M) plane of cone contrast space. Considering both practiced and naïve observers, both MM and HFP had excellent within-subject precision and high test-retest reliability, whereas HFP also had low between-subject variability. The MDB tasks were less reliable and less precise. The mean L:M contrast ratios at equiluminance were lower for the two temporal tasks (HFP and MM) compared to the spatial tasks (MDB), perhaps consistent with the existence of multiple luminance mechanisms. Overall, the results suggest that the best method for determining equiluminance is HFP, with MM being a close second.

The article presents the results related to theoretical modelling of the phenomenon “artistic and project-based experience” of future teachers of Musical Arts and the criteria for its evaluation. The formation of this type of experience on the basis of piano training aimed at future teachers of Musical Arts is actualized by the fact that projects become the most attractive innovative organisational form of teaching arts. Researchers explore various phenomena related to project-making (competence, skills, technology, activities, culture, etc.). However, artistic and project-based experience in the context of professional training aimed at future teachers of Musical Arts still needs theoretical understanding. The article clarifies the essence of this type of experience; the corresponding concept is interpreted as an integrated professional quality of future Musical Arts teachers; it is a process and a result of accumulation and memorisation of knowledge and practical skills enabling the embodiment of artistic and essence-related ideas into an organisational form perceived as an event where all participants are involved into independent preparing and performing of distributed creative tasks according to a certain scenario, focusing on achieving a common pedagogical goal. The structure of artistic and project-based experience is presented; it consists of four components: methodologically motivated component (aspiration to acquire methodical competence in piano performance; an interested attitude to mastering piano performance as a pedagogical resource of professional training); artistic and mental (the presence of the memory fund of artistic and project-related events and their reflection (artistic and project-based thinking)); activity-based and communicative (the presence of experience of artistic and communicative actions; activity in mastering the artistic and communicative resource of piano training); creative and self-organisational (experience of self-organisation in pedagogical project-making related to piano training; integrative and praxeological resources of the experience when dealing with artistic and figurative project-making and script-planning of events). The assessment criteria and indicators of the developed components are presented: motivational and intentional; information-based and operational; technological and innovative; productive and creative.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of diabetes mellitus among community population in Songjiang District of Shanghai， and to provide scientific basis for prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus.MethodsBased on the baseline data of the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort （2016‒2017） and local medication database， the prevalence of diabetes in the cohort was described， and the influencing factors for the prevalence of diabetes in different genders were analyzed.ResultsAmong 35 928 participants， males accounted for 40.57%， and the median age was 58 years old. There were 5 342 diabetic patients with a crude prevalence rate of 14.87% and the standardized prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus was 7.57%. The prevalence rate of diabetes in males （15.81%） was significantly higher than that in females （14.23%， P

Continual climate change strongly influences temperature conditions worldwide, making ectothermic animals as suitable species for studying the potential impact of climate change on global biodiversity. However, the study of how lizards distributed at different latitudes respond to climate change at the transcriptome level is still insufficient. According to the Climatic Variability Hypothesis (CVH), the range of climate fluctuations experienced by terrestrial animals throughout the year increases with latitude, so individuals at higher latitudes should exhibit greater thermal plasticity to cope with fluctuating environments. Mitochondria, as the energy center of vertebrate cells, may indicate species' plasticity through the sensitivity of gene expression. In this study, we focused on the changes in transcript levels of liver mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs) in skinks from the genus Plestiodon (P. capito and P. elegans) and the genus Scincella (S. modesta and S. reevesii) under low-temperature conditions of 8 °C, compared to the control group at 25 °C. Species within the same genus of skinks exhibit different latitudinal distribution patterns. We found that the two Plestiodon species, P. elegans and P. capito, employ a metabolic depression strategy (decreased transcript levels) to cope with low temperatures. In contrast, the two Scincella species show markedly different patterns: S. modesta exhibits significant increases in the transcript levels of six genes (metabolic compensation), while in S. reevesii, only two mitochondrial genes are downregulated (metabolic depression) compared to the control group. We also found that P. capito and S. modesta, which live at mid-to-high latitudes, exhibit stronger adaptive responses and plasticity at the mitochondrial gene level compared to P. elegans and S. reevesii, which live at lower latitudes. We suggest that this enhanced adaptability corresponds to more significant changes in a greater number of genes (plasticity genes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive consumption of fossil fuels has led to the serious accumulation of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere and global warming. Bioconversion technologies that utilize biomass resources to produce chemical products are becoming widely accepted and highly recognized. The world is heavily dependent on petroleum-based products, which may raise serious concerns about future environmental security. Most commercially available epoxy resins (EPs) are synthesized by the condensation of bisphenol A (BPA), which not only affects the human endocrine system and metabolism, but is also costly to produce and environmentally polluting. In some cases, straw tar-based epoxy resins have been recognized as potential alternatives to bisphenol A-based epoxy resins, and are receiving increasing attention due to their important role in overcoming the above problems. Using straw tar and lignin as the main raw materials, phenol derivatives were extracted from the middle tar instead of bisphenol A. Bio-based epoxy resins were prepared by replacing epichlorohydrin with epoxylated lignin to press carbon fiber sheets, which is a kind of bio-based fine chemical product. This paper reviews the research progress of bio-based materials such as lignin modification, straw pyrolysis, lignin epoxidation, phenol derivative extraction, and synthesis of epoxy resin. It improves the performance of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) while taking into account the ecological and environmental protection, so that the epoxy resin is developed in the direction of non-toxic, harmless and high-performance characteristics, and it also provides a new idea for the development of bio-based carbon fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]