Microplastics in Chinese coastal waters: A mini-review of occurrence characteristics, sources and driving mechanisms.

The oceans are facing global and irreversible pollution from microplastics, and China is not immune. In this mini-review, information on microplastics in four coastal waters of China and the natural and social environment of key basins were compiled. The results showed that microplastics were ubiquitous in the coastal waters, and the abundance and spatial distribution of microplastics varied significantly under different sampling methods.

Video Playback as an Educational Tool for Improving Resident Laparoscopic Performance: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Study Objective: In this single-masked randomized controlled study, we evaluate whether watching video recordings of oneself performing Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Skills (FLS) exercises results in an improvement on the 30-point Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (GOALS) assessment among Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) residents.

Design: Twenty-three Ob/Gyn residents in the 2020-2021 academic year completed the FLS exercises while being timed, video recorded, and receiving real-time feedback from an Ob/Gyn faculty member. Baseline GOALS assessment was completed by participants and faculty.

Does Value Vary by Center Surgical Volume for Neonates With Truncus Arteriosus? A Multicenter Study.

Background: Truncus arteriosus is a congenital heart defect with high resource use, cost, and mortality. Value assessment (outcome relative to cost) can improve quality of care and decrease cost. This study hypothesized that truncus arteriosus repair at a high-volume center would result in better outcomes at lower cost (higher value) compared with a low-volume center.

3-Nitropropionic acid induces ovarian oxidative stress and impairs follicle in mouse.

Oxidative stress induces many serious reproductive diseases in female mammals and thus poses a serious threat to reproductive health. However, the relationship between reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress and follicular development, oocyte and embryo quality is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ovarian oxidative stress on the health of follicle and oocyte development.

A comparative study of the characteristics of cross-linked, oxidized and dual-modified rice starches.

Rice starch was cross-linked with epichlorohydrin (0.3%, w/w, on a dry starch basis) and oxidized with sodium hypochlorite (2.5% w/w), respectively.