Roylu3534

Characterizing the thermal preference of fish is important in conservation, environmental and evolutionary physiology and can be determined using a shuttle box system. Initial tank acclimation and trial lengths are important considerations in experimental design, yet systematic studies of these factors are missing. Three different behavioral assay experimental designs were tested to determine the effect of tank acclimation and trial length (hours of tank acclimationbehavioral trial 1212, 012, 22) on the temperature preference of juvenile lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), using a shuttle box. Average temperature preferences for the 12 h12 h, 0 h12 h, 2 h2 h experimental designs were 16.10±1.07°C, 16.02±1.56°C and 16.12±1.59°C respectively, with no significant differences between experimental designs (P=0.9337). Ultimately, length of acclimation time and trial length had no significant effect on thermal preference.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability and there is a need to identify modifiable risk factors.

Determine the relationship between thyroid hormone treatment intensity and incidence of atrial fibrillation and stroke.

Retrospective cohort study using data from the Veterans Health Administration between 2004 and 2017, with a median follow-up of 59 months.

Population-based.

733,208 thyroid hormone users aged ≥18 years with at least two thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) measurements between thyroid hormone initiation and incident event or study conclusion (406,030 thyroid hormone users with at least two free T4 measurements).

Incident atrial fibrillation and stroke.

Overall, 71,333/643,687 (11.08%) participants developed incident atrial fibrillation and 41,931/663,809 (6.32%) stroke. In multivariable analyses controlling for pertinent factors such as age, sex and prior history of atrial fibrillation, low TSH or high free T4 levels (i.e., exogenous hyperthyroidism; e.g., TSH<0.1 mIU/L, OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.24-1.43) and high TSH or low free T4 levels (i.e., exogenous hypothyroidism; e.g., TSH>5.5 mIU/L, OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.26-1.33; free T4<0.7ng/dL, OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.22-1.35) were associated with higher incidence of stroke compared to euthyroidism (TSH >0.5-5.5 mIU/L and free T4 0.7-1.9ng/dL). Risk of developing atrial fibrillation and stroke was cumulative over time for both patients with exogenous hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Both exogenous hyper- and hypothyroidism were associated with increased risk of stroke, highlighting the importance of patient medication safety.

Both exogenous hyper- and hypothyroidism were associated with increased risk of stroke, highlighting the importance of patient medication safety.Male and female willow plants show spatial segregation of genders along the environmental gradients. see more Skewed gender ratio of willows is not only related to altitude, but also to nutrient status and sexual competition, which can affect their growth and defense by altering secondary metabolite production. The relationship between metabolites and nutrients in the two genders of Salix rehderiana was explored in the Gongga Mountain. We found gender ratio was altered with a change in soil nitrogen (N) status; in the high N habitats, secondary metabolites accumulated in males. Furthermore, pot experiment was conducted to test the effect of nitrogen supply on gender competition in S. rehderiana. Sufficient N supply stimulated females to produce amino acids and carbon-containing secondary metabolites for maintaining their carbon-nitrogen balance, but extra nitrogen for males was used for growth to occupy more space. N supply induced foliar nutrient imbalances and growth of opportunistic species, allowing them to outcompete neighbors. Better carbon allocation and storage in male than female willows would benefit intersexual competitiveness of males if environment N increases. Competition between the genders has a significant correlation with skewed gender ratio, spatial separation and resource utilization. Female willows would suffer fiercer competition for space by males with the increased soil N, which would result in the gender ratio alteration. Therefore, gender ratio of willows is likely to convert to gender balance from female-biased with long-term N deposition in the future.

The psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) is a widely used objective method to measure sustained attention, but the standard 10-min version is often impractical in operational settings. We investigated the reliability and validity of a 3-min PVT administered on a portable handheld device assessing sensitivity to sleep loss and alcohol in relation to a 10-min PVT and to applied tasks.

Forty-seven healthy volunteers underwent a 12 consecutive days sleep lab protocol. A cross-over design was adopted including total sleep deprivation (TSD, 38 hours awake), sleep restriction (SR, 4h sleep opportunity), acute alcohol consumption, and SR after alcohol intake (SR/Alc 4h sleep opportunity). Participants performed a 10-min and 3-min PVT and operationally-relevant tasks related to demands in aviation and transportation.

Sleep loss resulted in significant performance impairments compared to baseline measurements detected by both PVT versions - particularly for mean speed (both p < .001) - and the operationally-relevant tasks. Similar effects were observed due to alcohol intake (speed both p < .001). The 3-min and 10-min PVT results were highly correlated (speed between r = .72 and r = .89). Three of four aviation related tasks showed robust correlations with the 3-min PVT. Correlations with the parameters of the task related to transportation were lower, but mainly significant.

The 3-min PVT showed a high reliability and validity in assessing sleep loss and alcohol induced impairments in cognitive performance. Thus, our results underline its usefulness as potential fitness for duty self-monitoring tool in applied settings.

The 3-min PVT showed a high reliability and validity in assessing sleep loss and alcohol induced impairments in cognitive performance. Thus, our results underline its usefulness as potential fitness for duty self-monitoring tool in applied settings.