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Environmental bisphenol F (BPF) has a cyclic endocrine disruption effect, seriously threatening animal and human health. It is frequently detected in environmental samples worldwide. For BPF remediation, biological methods are more environmentally friendly than physicochemical methods. White-rot fungi have been increasingly studied due to their potential capability to degrade environmental pollutants. Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 has been shown to degrade BPF by ligninolytic enzymes under ligninolytic conditions. In the present study, degradation of BPF under non-ligninolytic conditions (no production of ligninolytic enzymes) was investigated. Our results showed that BPF could be completely removed after 7-d incubation. A metabolite of BPF, 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHBP) was identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, and DHBP was further degraded by this fungus to form 4-hydroxyphenyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (HPHB). DHBP and HPHB were the intermediate metabolites of BPF and would be further degraded by P. sordida YK-624. We also found that cytochrome P450s played an important role in BPF degradation. Additionally, transcriptomic analysis further supported the involvement of these enzymes in the action of BPF degradation. Therefore, BPF is transformed to DHBP and then to HPHB likely oxidized by cytochrome P450s in P. sordida YK-624. Furthermore, the toxicological studies demonstrated that the order of endocrine-disrupting activity for BPF and its metabolites was HPHB BPF DHBP. KEY POINTS: • White-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 could degrade BPF. • Cytochrome P450s were involved in the BPF degradation. • The order of endocrine disrupting activity was: HPHB BPF DHBP.

Enteromorpha prolifera polysaccharide–zinc (EP–Zn), a kind of polysaccharide–zinc complex, has been shown to improve the immune response and reduce the inflammatory factors in weaned piglets. Yet, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate the immunomodulating activity and anti-inflammatory mechanism of EP–Zn in mice. Different doses (350 mg kg−1, 700 mg kg−1, 1050 mg kg−1 and 1400 mg kg−1) of EP–Zn were administered to C57BL/6J mice for 28 days. The results showed that under physiological conditions, 350 mg kg−1 EP–Zn stimulated cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10) secrection, regulated the intestinal microbiota, and reduced the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (acetic acid and propionic acid). In addition, in the LPS-induced inflammation model, EP–Zn pretreatment effectively alleviated LPS-induced shortening of colonic length and increased MPO and DAO contents, improved intestinal physical barrier function by modulating mucosal structure, and attenuated intestinal inflammation via inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggested that EP–Zn exerted immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities under physiological and inflammatory conditions, respectively.

Chunyan Xie,1,2,* Li Li,2,3,* Yamin Li1 1Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410011, People’s Republic of China; 2Xiangya Nursing School of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, 410013, People’s Republic of China; 3The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, 830011, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yamin Li, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China, Email aminny@csu.edu.cnBackground: Learned helplessness (LH) is a common psychological phenomenon among chronic disease patients. However, LH remains underrecognized in the context of maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients. This qualitative study is the first study of this topic to be conducted in a Chinese cultural context, and its purpose is to explore the LH experiences of MHD patients and to highlight their interpretations of LH.Methods: We employed a qualitative research design. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants. The sample size was determined by data saturation. Data were obtained from MHD patients in a blood purification centre located in Hunan Province, China. Data were collected from June to September 2022. The researchers conducted in-depth, semistructured interviews with participants after obtaining informed consent. Texts were transcribed verbatim from the audio recordings of these interviews. Data processing and analysis were based on Giorgi’s phenomenological approach.Results: Twenty-two respondents completed the interviews (aged 29– 75 years, including ten females and twelve males). Four themes emerged from the interviews: (1) triggers of helplessness (hope is gone; witnessing renal friends’ helplessness; out of control; nothing works); (2) being tied down (limitation; perceived loss; social isolation; giving in); (3) I am just a loser (self-image disorder; low self-concept; negative attitudes; guilt; abandonment); (4) alive day is the day (fatalism; my duty; downwards comparison).Conclusion: The study reveals that multiple stressors drive MHD patients’ LH. These salient phenomena demonstrate the importance of recognizing MHD patients’ LH. We suggest that support services should be developed alongside a framework that addresses MHD patients’ LH from the beginning of treatment.Keywords: maintenance haemodialysis, learned helplessness, qualitative study, phenomenology, patient experiences

Chunyan Xie,1,2 Li Li,2,3 Yamin Li1 1Clinical Nursing Teaching and Research Section, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 2XiangYa Nursing School, Central South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China; 3The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yamin Li, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China, Email aminny@csu.edu.cnBackground: Learned helplessness (LH) is an essential psychological factor influencing maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients’ health behaviour and is closely related to prognosis of the disease. This study aimed to identify potential trajectories of LH in MHD patients and assess their predictive role in self-management.Methods: This study was conducted in strict compliance with national laws, the Declaration of Istanbul, and the Declaration of Helsinki. A total of 347 MHD patients at a blood purification centre in Hunan Province, China, were selected as the study population. Four longitudinal surveys (baseline and second/fourth/sixth month after baseline) were conducted using the General Information Questionnaire for MHD patients, the Chinese version of the Learned Helplessness Scale for MHD patients, and the Self-Management Scale for Haemodialysis. Latent growth mixture model (LGMM) analysis was used to identify LH trajectories, and their predictors were analysed using multinomial logistic regression. The predictive role of LH trajectory on self-management was analysed using linear regression.Results: This study identified three LH trajectories in MHD patients, named the “high-decreasing group” (57.9%), “low-increasing group” (21.3%), and “low-stability group” (20.7%). The results of the univariate analysis showed that sex (χ2=33.777, P < 0.001), age (χ2=10.605, P< 0.05), and subjective social status (SSS) (χ2=12.43, P< 0.01) were associated with LH trajectory classes. Multinomial logistic regression further demonstrated that gender, age, and SSS were predictors of different LH trajectories. The intercept and slope of the overall LH trajectory were negatively correlated with self-management (β=− 0.273, P< 0.001; β=− 0.234, P< 0.01).Conclusion: MHD patients show three different LH trajectories. The initial level and developmental rate of LH can negatively predict future self-management. It is necessary to screen MHD patients’ LH and develop targeted interventions for them with different LH trajectories at specific stages.Keywords: learned helplessness, maintenance haemodialysis, self-management, trajectories, longitudinal research

The theraphosid spider genus Chilobrachys Karsch, 1892 contains 30 species, almost entirely limited to Indochina, India, Sri Lanka and China. Six species of Chilobrachys are currently known from China: C. dominus Lin & Li, 2022 (Yunnan), C. guangxiensis (Yin & Tan, 2000) (Guangxi, Hainan), C. hubei Song & Zhao, 1988 (Hubei, Chongqing), C. jinchengi Lin & Li, 2022 (Tibet), C. liboensis Zhu & Zhang, 2008 (Guizhou, Guangxi) and C. lubricus Yu et al., 2021 (Yunnan). A new species, Chilobrachys qishuoi Lin & Li, sp. n., is described from Guangdong, China, on the basis of both sexes. This is the easternmost Chilobrachys species known. Photos and a morphological description of the new species are provided. Type materials are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) in Beijing, China.

The intestinal microbiome is responsible for the fermentation of complex carbohydrates and orchestrates the immune system through gut microbiota-derived metabolites. In our previous study, we reported that supplementation of Enteromorpha polysaccharide (EP) and yeast glycoprotein (YG) in combination synergistically improved antioxidant activities, serum lipid profile, and fatty acid metabolism in chicken. However, the mechanism of action of these polysaccharides remains elusive. The present study used an integrated 16S-rRNA sequencing technology and untargeted metabolomics technique to reveal the mechanism of action of EP+YG supplementation in broiler chickens fed basal diet or diets supplemented with EP+YG (200mg/kg EP + 200mg/kg YG). The results showed that EP+YG supplementation altered the overall structure of caecal microbiota as evidenced by β diversities analysis. Besides, EP+YG supplementation changed the microbiota composition by altering the community profile at the phylum and genus levels. Furthermore, Spearman correlation analysis indicated a significant correlation between altered microbiota genera vs serum cytokine levels and microbiota genera vs volatile fatty acids production. Predicted functional analysis showed that EP+YG supplementation significantly enriched amino acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, energy metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. Metabolomics analysis confirmed that EP+YG supplementation modulates a myriad of caecal metabolites by increasing some metabolites, including pyruvic acid, pyridoxine, spermidine, spermine, and dopamine, and decreasing metabolites related to lipid metabolisms such as malonic acid, oleic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. The quantitative enrichment analysis results further showed that glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, citric acid cycle, tyrosine metabolism, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism were the most important enriched pathways identified with enrichment ratio >11, whereas, fatty acid biosynthesis and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids pathways were suppressed. Together, the 16S-rRNA and untargeted metabolomics results uncovered that EP+YG supplementation modulates intestinal microbiota and their metabolites, thereby influencing the important metabolism pathways, suggesting a potential feed additive.

This research aimed to study whether Enteromorpha polysaccharide-zinc (EP-Zn) can act as an alternative to antibiotics in weaned piglet feeds. Two hundred and twenty-four weaned piglets from 14 pens were randomly assigned into 1 of 2 groups according to their body weight and litter size (7 pens/group). The piglets in the antibiotics group were fed with olaquindox at 400 mg/kg and enduracidin at 800 mg/kg basal diet, and piglets in the EP-Zn group were fed with EP-Zn at 800 mg/kg basal diet. One piglet per pen was selected to collect samples after 14 d of feeding. Results showed that EP-Zn supplementation significantly increased the plasma anti-oxidants level compared with the antibiotics group. However, a nonsignificant difference was observed in growth performance between treatment groups. Additionally, the intestinal tight junction (TJ) protein expression and the histopathologic evaluation data showed that EP-Zn contributed to improving intestinal development. Further, piglets in the EP-Zn group had a lower level of intestinal inflammation-related cytokines including IL-6 (P

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of manganese methionine hydroxyl analog chelated (Mn-MHAC) as a manganese (Mn) source on growth performance and trace element deposition in broilers. A total of 432 Arbor Acres commercial female broilers were fed a basal corn-soybean diet containing Mn at 25.64 mg/kg diet for 10 d. They were then randomly assigned to 6 groups, including a control group (the basal diet), a Mn sulfate group (the basal diet supplemented with Mn at 100 mg/kg diet), and 4 Mn-MHAC groups (the basal diet supplemented with Mn-MHAC at 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg Mn/kg diet, respectively). The results showed that compared with the control group, groups supplemented with Mn-MHAC had a positive effect on BW (quadratic, P = 0.017) and ADG (quadratic, P = 0.017). Moreover, the Mn-MHAC (50 mg Mn/kg diet) group had significantly greater BW and ADG (P < 0.05) compared with the other Mn-MHAC groups. Trace element deposition results also showed that tibial Mn increased (linear or quadratic, P = 0.002 and 0.009, respectively) in groups fed diets with increased levels of Mn-MHAC. In contrast, Fe deposition decreased both in the heart (linear, P = 0.020) and tibia (P < 0.05). In addition, the Mn-MHAC supplement noticeably lowered serum Mn-SOD activity (linear or quadratic, P = 0.048 and 0.019, respectively). The relative mRNA levels of divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) (P = 0.024), ferroportin 1 (FPN1) (P = 0.049), and Cu transporter-1(CTR1) (P

Products and services empowered by artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming widespread in today’s marketplace. However, consumers have mixed feelings about AI technologies due to the numerous ethical challenges associated the development and deployment of AI. Drawing upon prior research on the moral significance of technology and the emerging literature on AI, we delineate three key dimensions of AI-enabled products (i.e., multi-functionality, interactivity, and AI intelligence stage) that have relevance for ethical implications and adopt a socio-technical approach to provide a multi-layered ethical analysis of AI products at the product-, consumer-, and society-levels. Some key ethical issues identified in the paper include AI biases, ethical design, consumer privacy, cybersecurity, individual autonomy and wellbeing, and unemployment. Companies need to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) to shape the future of ethical AI; drawing upon stakeholder theory and institutional theory, we develop a conceptual framework on AI-related CSR, highlighting the product-, company-, and institutional environment-specific factors that influence firms’ socially responsible actions in the domain of AI and discussing the subsequent outcomes for firm, consumers, and the society. We include a section on future research agenda for AI ethics and firm CSR in this important domain.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal yeast-based nucleotide (YN) supplementation on the intestinal immune response and barrier function in neonatal pigs, as well as the diarrhoea rate and growth performance in suckling piglets. Sixty-four late-gestation sows were assigned to the following groups: the CON (fed a basal diet) and YN groups (fed a basal diet with 4 g YN/kg diet). The experiment started on d 85 of gestation and ended on d 20 of lactation. Diarrhoea rate and average daily gain of the piglets were recorded, and samples of blood and intestines from neonatal piglets were collected before they consumed colostrum during farrowing. Compared with the CON group, maternal YN supplementation increased the weaning weight of litter and decreased the diarrhoea rate (P

Learned helplessness is an early psychological concept, but in the field of nursing, the concept of learned helplessness in renal dialysis patients and its unique challenges are not well understood.This article provides a conceptual analysis of learned helplessness in renal dialysis patients to increase knowledge of this psychological phenomenon in the setting of renal nursing.Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis.The literature published in five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, CNKI) was searched using specific terms. In the first stage, search terms and strategies were used to narrow the relevant articles. In the second stage, the data were extracted from the included articles. In the third stage, the data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and the results were presented in the form of attributes, antecedents, consequences, surrogate terms, and related terms. We found additional instruments and interventions and presented a model case to emphasize the practicality of the concept. In the fourth phase, experts contributed to the discussion and interpretation of the findings.A total of 22 articles were included. Four attributes of learned helplessness in renal dialysis patients were identified: low self-concept, perceived loss, negative cognitive set, and abandonment of action. The antecedents were sociodemographic characteristics, disease and treatment, and psychological factors. Consequences were separated into four themes: psychological problems, physiological problems, quality of life, and health-related behavior. Surrogate terms are hopelessness and powerlessness, and the related term is depression.The process of conceptual analysis in this study provides a means of identifying awareness gaps and practice challenges of learned helplessness in renal dialysis patients and other concepts. The findings can be used to guide the design of tools and interventions to expand the use of learned helplessness theory in nursing.

We develop a conceptualization of the material self based on the self-identity and derive a four dimensional scale with 16-items to measure it. In Study 1, the concept of the material self and the new scale are compared and contrasted with existing measures where tests of reliability, construct validity, concurrent validity, and generalizability are examined on 1750 respondents from 5 countries (USA, Canada, China, Ghana, and Israel). The four dimensions of the material self consist of material self-projection, materialistic evaluation of others, emotional self-assurance, and self-deservingness. Study 2 uses a multitrait, multimethod matrix design to investigate convergent and discriminant validity on a new sample of 301 adult consumers in the US. Finally in Study 3 we establish validity for two samples in England (n = 202), where nomological validity and managerial implications are tested.

Objective Based on the technical acceptance model, expectation confirmation model, and perceived risk theory, this study aims to analyze the factors and their effects on shared nurse users' continuance intention in the process of e-health consumption. Methods This research established a measurement tool that fits the topic of this study and a model of shared nurse continuance. From January to May 2020, 373 valid samples from elderly individuals living in urban areas of Jiangxi Province, China, were collected by convenience sampling in order to analyze through empirical research their continuance intentions of selecting shared nurses. The theoretical models and research hypotheses were verified by structural equation modeling with AMOS 25 software. Results The measurement model indicated that the theoretical constructs have adequate reliability and validity, while the structured equation model is illustrated as having a high model fit for empirical data. The hypothesis test results showed that expectation confirmation positively affects perceived ease of use; both of them have positive effects on perceived usefulness and satisfaction. Perceived usefulness and satisfaction play an intermediary role in expectation confirmation and continuance intention. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness positively affect continuance intention. Perceived risk negatively affects perceived usefulness and continuance intention. Conclusion This study expanded the application of the technology acceptance model, expectation confirmation model, and perceived risk model in e-health by investigating the factors that influence elderly users' continued intention to use shared nurses. Based on these empirical findings, we derived implications for the design and operation of the shared nurse platform, and suggestions on relevant management departments and incentive structures for using e-health. The results of this study provide important implications for further research and practice of mobile health care.

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of nanoselenium (NS) and selenium yeast (SY) on the performance, egg selenium (Se) concentration, and anti-oxidative capacity of hens. A total of 216 Brown Hy-line hens (29-week old) were randomly allocated into three treatments (6 replicate/treatment, 12 hens/replicate). The pre-trial period lasted 7 days, and the experimental period lasted 35 days. Dietary treatments included corn-soybean meal basal diet (containing 0.16 μg Se/g, as control group), and basal diet supplemented with 0.3 mg Se/kg diet (Se was from NS or SY), called as SY group or NS group, respectively. At the end of the experiment, one hen per replicate from each treatment was slaughtered. Liver, spleen, and kidney tissues were sampled for the determination of Se concentrations. The results showed that NS or SY supplement significantly improved feed conversion ratio (P 0.05). Taken together, dietary supplemented with SY or NS improved the Se deposition in eggs, liver and kidney of laying hens, increased antioxidant activity, and NS supplement had greater Se deposition in the kidney tissue than SY supplement. SY or NS supplement could be considered to be applied for Se-enriched egg production.

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the functions of the circular RNA circMYLK (hsa_circ_0002768) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to identify the underlying mechanisms of the circMYLK/miR29a/KMT5C axis. Materials and methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to explore the expressions of circMYLK, miR-29a and KMT5C in HCC tissues and cells. A potential miRNA (miR-29a) regulated by circMYLK was also explored, and the target relationship between miR-29a and KMT5C was confirmed. FISH, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to examine the circMYLK/miR29a/KMT5C signaling pathways involved in HCC development. Additionally, HCC cells were implanted into nude mice subcutaneously to test the role of circMYLK in tumor growth. Results circMYLK was determined to be significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Suppression of circMYLK repressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while increasing apoptosis. In addition, FISH, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting, as well as dual-luciferase reporter assays, revealed that circMYLK could bind to miR-29a. In rescue experiments, miR-29a had the potential to eliminate the inhibitory effect of circMYLK knockdown in HCC. Moreover, miR-29a was found to target the KMT5C gene, which was positively regulated by circMYLK. Finally, a nude mouse tumorigenicity assay showed that injection of circMYLK siRNA into nude mice drastically suppressed xenograft tumor formation in vivo. Conclusion Our current study demonstrated that circMYLK promotes HCC progression by acting as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-29a, which regulates the downstream oncogene KMT5C.

Background Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an important method to improve the prognosis of patients with prehospital cardiac arrest (CA). Basic life support (BLS) is the first step in CPR and is usually performed by the first witness. However, the general population has poor BLS skills due to the lack of efficient and practical training strategy. Several training initiatives could be used to improve this situation, and the challenge is to find the most efficient one in detail according to the actual setting. Repeated and effective BLS training increase bystander's confidence and willingness to perform BLS. Evidence-based instructional design is essential to improve the training of lay providers and ultimately improve resuscitation performance and patient outcomes. Objective 1) To develop an evidence-based BLS training protocol for lay undergraduates; 2) to implement the protocol and 3) to evaluate the process of implementation. Methods Nine databases were searched to synthesize the best evidence. A protocol was formed by ranking evidence and considering university setting and students' preferences. We implemented this training protocol and evaluated its effects. Results We achieved the three aims above. A total of 120 lay undergraduates received BLS training and retraining within 3 months. The students and teaching staff were satisfied with the training protocol and effect. The BLS training process was more clearly defined. The role of teaching assistants and the strategies to sustain training quality was proven to be crucial to the project's success. Conclusion The development and implementation of an evidence-based protocol could elevate undergraduates' BLS skill and confidence.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of 3 meals administered daily with varying dietary crude protein (CP) contents on hepatic lipid metabolism with a pig model. Pigs were divided into 3 groups according to the following feeding patterns: feeding a basal CP diet 3 times daily (3C); feeding a high CP diet for breakfast, the basal CP diet for lunch, and a low CP diet for dinner (HCL); and feeding the low CP diet for breakfast, the basal CP diet for lunch, and the high protein diet for dinner (LCH). Three groups took equivalent diet per meal ensuring that every pig was fed with similar dietary formulae daily. Results showed that HCL feeding pattern reduced the relative kidney weight (P

The activity of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) is foremost in maintaining homeostasis and repair of intestines. As a pivotal substrate of RNA and DNA biosynthesis, uridine plays essential roles in nutritional and disease monitoring. Whether uridine influences ISC activity remains undefined. To answer this question, 3-dimensional (3D) mouse intestinal organoids and living mice were used as a model. It was found that uridine causes a significant decrease in the number of crypts per intestinal organoid. Uridine also significantly decreases mRNA expression and protein levels with markers of ISCs in intestinal organoids in a dose-dependent manner, which was instructed via mTOR. In parallel, uridine decreases the expression of marker of ISCs in mouse intestine in vivo. Our findings are the first to demonstrate that uridine is able to govern the functions of ISCs in intestinal organoid and mouse models. Thus, this study may provide a useful reference for developing novel functional food bioactives that maintain intestinal homeostasis.

Background Enteromorpha prolifera (E. prolifera) polysaccharide has become a promising feed additive with a variety of physiological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic, and cation chelating ability. However, whether Enteromorpha polysaccharide-trace element complex supplementation regulates amino acid and fatty acid metabolism in chicken is largely unknown. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of E. prolifera polysaccharide (EP)-Zn supplementation on growth performance, amino acid, and fatty acid metabolism in chicken. Methods A total of 184 one-day-old Ross-308 broiler chickens were randomly divided into two treatment groups with 8 replicates, 12 chickens per replicate, and fed either the basal diet (control group) or basal diet plus E. prolifera polysaccharide-Zinc (400 mg EP-Zn/kg diet). Results Dietary EP-Zn supplementation significantly increased (P P P P P P Conclusions It is concluded that EP-Zn complex supplementation regulates apparent ileal amino acid digestibility, enhances amino acid metabolism, and decreases oxidative stress-associated protein breakdown, thereby improving the growth performance. Furthermore, it promotes fatty acid oxidation and restrains fat synthesis through modulating lipid metabolism-related gene expression. Graphical abstract

Among the many methods to prepare superhydrophobic coatings, the liquid spraying method has the advantages of simple operation, low equipment and substrate requirements, and a low cost to achieve large-scale industrialization. However, superhydrophobic coatings prepared using the existing one-step and two-step spraying methods are not wear resistant, and the failure mechanism is also not clear. After preparing coatings using existing methods and conducting wear tests, we show that the reason for their lack of wear resistance is the excessive bonding caused by the nanoparticles embedded in the continuous-phase adhesive, or the low bonding caused by adhesion to the adhesive surface. Based on the above conclusion, we propose a method to transform a continuous-phase adhesive into a discrete-phase adhesive via phase separation, after which it is mixed with nanoparticles for spraying. This new method allows the nanoparticles to bond to the adhesive while avoiding embedding, which avoids the shortcomings of existing methods. Consequently, coatings fabricated using the new method have better wear resistance properties and important significance for practical applications.

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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the most easily available health indicative markers for cardiovascular diseases, and it has become a major public health problem worldwide due to increasing urbanization and aging populations. The prevalence of MetS increased dramatically in China, however, there are no records of MetS defined by the 2017 Chinese Diabetes Society for Beijing by far.In this study, the data of 24,412 participants aged 18-74 years from a large population-based study in Beijing was collected. The overall prevalence of MetS among Beijing residents was 24.5%. The prevalence was 35.2% in males and 15.4% in females.Effective public health strategies should target males, people with older age, lower education, higher body mass index, smokers, those who drink alcohol, those who are unemployed or retired, and those who live in rural areas on MetS prevention and control.

In this study, a high monacolin K yield was achieved through solid-state fermentation of Ginkgo biloba seeds. Monascus purpureus suspension made from red yeast rice was used as spore inoculum. Fermentation conditions in solid-state fermentation were optimized using response surface methodology, and the optimal conditions for the maximum monacolin K yield (17.71 ± 1.57 mg/g) were 0.22% ammonium sulfate, 0.34% ammonium chloride, 0.05% magnesium sulfate, fermentation time of 12 days, inoculation volume of 11%, and temperature of 27 °C. The total phenolic content of Monascus-fermented ginkgo seeds attained 9.67 mg GAE/g, 4.88-fold higher than that of unfermented ginkgo seeds. The scavenging abilities of DPPH and ABTS free radicals increased to 9.79 mg TE/g and 13.92 mg TE/g, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of investigating the optimal fermentation conditions for maximum monacolin K yield and the utilization value of ginkgo seed as fermentation substrate for higher bioactivities. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01078-z.

There is increasing interest in the use of marine algae as functional food additives for improving human health. Enteromorpha (Ulva) prolifera (E. prolifera) is a seaweed green alga (Chlorophyta) that contains many bioactive compounds, of which polysaccharide is the main component. With the advancement of technology in the methods of extraction and analysis, recent studies in in vitro and animals model showed that polysaccharides derived from E. prolifera exert various biological activities, such as gut microbiota modulation, immunomodulation, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and hypolipidemic. Research evidence has shown that methods of extraction and molecular modification, such as degradation, carboxymethylation, and sulfonation could alter the biological activities of polysaccharides. Therefore, in this review, we discussed the different extraction techniques, structural-activity relationship, and health benefits of sulfated polysaccharides derived from E. prolifera, and suggested future research avenues. This review helps to advance the extraction techniques and promote the application of marine algae polysaccharides as functional food and therapeutic agent.

There is increasing interest in the use of marine algae as functional food additives for improving human health. Enteromorpha (Ulva) prolifera (E. prolifera) is a seaweed green alga (Chlorophyta) that contains many bioactive compounds, of which polysaccharide is the main component. With the advancement of technology in the methods of extraction and analysis, recent studies in in vitro and animals model showed that polysaccharides derived from E. prolifera exert various biological activities, such as gut microbiota modulation, immunomodulation, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and hypolipidemic. Research evidence has shown that methods of extraction and molecular modification, such as degradation, carboxymethylation, and sulfonation could alter the biological activities of polysaccharides. Therefore, in this review, we discussed the different extraction techniques, structural-activity relationship, and health benefits of sulfated polysaccharides derived from E. prolifera, and suggested future research avenues. This review helps to advance the extraction techniques and promote the application of marine algae polysaccharides as functional food and therapeutic agent.

Context: Insomnia is prevalent among elderly individuals and has become a public health problem receiving increasing concern. Low sleep quality is related to a number of negative health outcomes. Objective: This research aims to investigate the sleep status of community-dwelling elderly individuals (aged 60 years or older) in Shanghai, China, to explore the impact factors affecting sleep quality. Methods: One street in Shanghai city was randomly selected, and 50% of the elderly residents were randomly selected as participants for a total number of 9,616 people. Investigations were conducted by indoor surveys through home doctors and paper questionnaires. For statistical analysis, univariate and multivariate regression analysis and the Spearman correlation model were performed using SAS 9.4 to analyze the effects of the impact factors on the sleep quality of elderly individuals. Results: Sleep quality is greatly affected by physical pain in both the elderly individual and the individual’s spouse. Healthy elderly people tend to have better sleep quality, and the more chronic diseases an elderly individual suffers, the worse their sleep quality is. In addition, the physical pain of a cohabiting spouse is one of the most significant impact factors influencing sleep quality. Conclusion: We suggest that community-dwelling elderly people maintain moderate outdoor activities and a healthy mental state, which will improve their sleep quality.

This study aimed to evaluate the variation of milk mineral and chemical components in colostrum and milk corresponding to milking time and lactation day. Samples were collected at 1, 7, 14 and 21 d...

We investigate the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on consumer advocacy behaviors toward corporate brands. We focus on the mediating roles of positive moral emotions (awe, gratitude, and elevation) and attitudes. The moderating effects of social justice values and empathy on such mediation processes are further explored. A between-subjects field experiment is used to test our hypotheses on a sample of adult consumers. The results show that both positive moral emotions and attitudes mediate the effect of perceived CSR actions on brand advocacy behaviors; however, social justice values and empathy play a different role in regulating the elicitation of moral emotions and attitudes, depending on the type of CSR actions. We add to extant research on CSR and consumer-brand relationships by showing that CSR actions influence brand advocacy of corporate brands and further providing an integrated theoretical framework to explain psychological mechanisms underlying such an effect.

Recently, much attention has been paid to Mn4+-doped phosphors due to their strong deep-red emissions which are in demand in white light-emitting diodes. However, a key challenge for the commercialization of Mn4+-doped phosphors is their low thermal stability caused by the thermal quenching of Mn4+ luminescence. Herein, a strategy of optical temperature sensing has been developed by specifically utilizing thermal quenching to explore the potential applications of Mn4+-doped phosphors in optical temperature sensing. In this work, we report two kinds of double perovskite type phosphors, Ba2LaNbO6 (BLN) and Ca2LaNbO6 (CLN), co-doped with Mn4+ and Eu3+. Through the study of temperature-dependent spectra in a large temperature range of 298–498 K, Mn4+ and Eu3+ yield different trends where the fluorescence intensity of Mn4+ ions decreases much more rapidly compared to that of Eu3+ ions as the temperature increases. Accordingly, based on the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) of the luminescence of Mn4+ and Eu3+, the optimal relative sensitivity of temperature sensing in the BLN and CLN matrices could reach 2.08% K−1 and 1.51% K−1, respectively. Finally, the application potential of Mn4+-doped phosphors in temperature sensing is confirmed by analyzing different temperature sensing results in the two matrices.

Objectives Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are at high risk of medical device related pressure injury (MDRPI). This study aims to ascertain the MDRPI prevalence in ICU patients and analyse the risk factors of MDRPI. Background The occurrence of MDRPI not only increases hospitalisation time with pain and economic burden, but also causes medical disputes. A better understanding of this condition will increase knowledge and facilitate the ability to recognise and prevent MDRPI for clinical nursing staff. However, there are few multicentre studies of MDRPI prevalence in ICU patients in China. Design A cross-sectional study design was employed. Methods Data from 694 patients in 66 adult ICU at 30 hospitals in China were included between October 2018 and March 2019. The stage of each MDRPI was determined according to the definitions of National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. The study methods were followed by the STORBE guidelines. Results The overall prevalence rate of MDRPI was 13.1% (91/694), with 98 anatomic locations in total. The most common stages of MDRPI were stage 1 (54.1%, 53/98), stage 2 (15.3%, 15/98) and mucosal membrane pressure injury (15.3%, 15/98). MDRPI mainly occurred in the finger (32.7%, 32/98), followed by nose (18.4%, 18/98). The prevalence rate of MDRPI caused by CPAP or BiPAP masks (25%) was highest. Lower Braden scores and having skin oedema were risk factors for MDRPI in adult ICU patients. Conclusion The prevalence of MDRPI in this study was still high. Nurses should take these related factors into consideration when taking care of ICU patients, and appropriate prevention measures should be adopted to decrease the prevalence of MDRPI. Relevance to clinical practice The study can help to improve the PI prevention efforts in ICU patients specific to medical device related PI.

Uridine (UR) is a pyrimidine nucleoside that plays an important role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of UR on obesity, fat accumulation in liver, and gut microbiota composition in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. ICR mice were, respectively, divided into 3 groups for 8 weeks, that is, control (CON, n = 12), high fat diet (HFD, n = 16), and HFD + UR groups (0.4 mg mL-1 in drinking water, n = 16). UR supplementation significantly reduced the body weight and suppressed the accumulation of subcutaneous, epididymal, and mesenteric WAT in HFD-fed mice (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, UR also decreased the lipid droplet accumulation in the liver and liver organoids (P < 0.05). In addition, UR supplementation increased bacterial diversity and Bacteroidetes abundance, and decreased the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio in HFD-fed mice significantly (P < 0.05). UR promoted the growth of butyrate-producing bacteria of Odoribacter, unidentified-Ruminococcaceae, Intestinimonas, Ruminiclostridium, and unidentified-Lachnospiraceae. A close correlation between several specific bacterial phyla or genera and the levels of WAT weight, hepatic TC, or hepatic TG genera was revealed through Spearman's correlation analysis. These results demonstrated that UR supplementation could be beneficial by attenuating HFD-induced obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is overreactive and produces excess amounts of thyroid hormone. Tripterygium glycosides, traditional Chinese medicine has been widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, nephrotic syndrome, hyperthyroidism and other diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. Evidence-based research is becoming popular especially with the application of Chinese traditional medicine. This paper systematically reviews and evaluates existing clinical data on the efficacy and safety of Tripterygium glycosides in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Materials and methods: PubMed, Cochrane library and EMBase, Chinese biomedical literature database (CBM), Chinese journal full-text database (CNKI), Wan fang digital periodical full-text database and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) were searched based on the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction, research quality assessment and meta-analysis were conducted with RevMan5.3 software. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to evaluate information size and treatment benefits. Results: Seventeen randomized controlled clinical trials with 1536 participants were included in the systematic review. In the meta-analysis, there were two subgroups: Tripterygium glycosides combined with thiamazole and prednisone group; Tripterygium glycosides combined with thiamazole group. The study results revealed that the degree of exophthalmos, FT3, FT4, BGP, and AKP decreased while TSH, SOD, GSH-PX increased after the addition of Tripterygium glycosides. This study results suggested that Tripterygium glycosides combined with western medicine are an effective therapy for hyperthyroidism. Conclusion: This study indicates that Tripterygium glycosides enhances the effect of thiamazole and prednisone in the treatment of hyperthyroidism and without increasing the risk of adverse events.

Objective Based on the technical acceptance model, expectation confirmation model, and perceived risk theory, this study aims to analyze the factors and their effects on shared nurse users’ continuance intention in the process of e-health consumption. Methods This research established a measurement tool that fits the topic of this study and a model of shared nurse continuance. From January to May 2020, 373 valid samples from elderly individuals living in urban areas of Jiangxi Province, China, were collected by convenience sampling in order to analyze through empirical research their continuance intentions of selecting shared nurses. The theoretical models and research hypotheses were verified by structural equation modeling with AMOS 25 software. Results The measurement model indicated that the theoretical constructs have adequate reliability and validity, while the structured equation model is illustrated as having a high model fit for empirical data. The hypothesis test results showed that expectation confirmation positively affects perceived ease of use; both of them have positive effects on perceived usefulness and satisfaction. Perceived usefulness and satisfaction play an intermediary role in expectation confirmation and continuance intention. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness positively affect continuance intention. Perceived risk negatively affects perceived usefulness and continuance intention. Conclusion This study expanded the application of the technology acceptance model, expectation confirmation model, and perceived risk model in e-health by investigating the factors that influence elderly users’ continued intention to use shared nurses. Based on these empirical findings, we derived implications for the design and operation of the shared nurse platform, and suggestions on relevant management departments and incentive structures for using e-health. The results of this study provide important implications for further research and practice of mobile health care.

Although symmetry, averageness, and sexual dimorphism are usually considered important to facial attractiveness, there are mixed findings regarding whether and how symmetry influences facial attractiveness. The present study introduced “facial normality” to explain the inconsistency of previous research. We hypothesized that symmetry only increased facial attractiveness when it improved facial normality. We manipulated symmetry and normality simultaneously on sixteen Chinese male faces and asked participants to rate the perceived symmetry, perceived normality, and facial attractiveness. The results demonstrated an interactive effect of symmetry and normality on facial attractiveness. The structural equation model results showed two paths from symmetry to facial attractiveness: (1) Symmetry reduced facial attractiveness by decreasing perceived normality; (2) Symmetry increased facial attractiveness by increasing the perceived symmetry and then improving perceived normality. In other words, perceived normality acted as a mediator between symmetry and facial attractiveness. The present study provides a solution to the different effects of symmetry on facial attractiveness in previous studies and suggests that future studies on symmetry and facial attractiveness should consider the mediating role of normality.

When properly processed, rice husk ash (RHA) comprises a large amount of SiO2, which exhibits a high pozzolanic activity and acts as a good building filler. In this paper, the effects of rice husk ash content, acid pretreatment, and production regions on the compressive and flexural properties and water absorption of a cement paste were studied. The experimental results showed that the compressive strength of the rice husk ash was the highest with a 10% content level, which was about 16.22% higher than that of the control sample. The rice husk after acid pretreatment displayed a higher strength than that of the sample without the acid treatment, and the rice husk from the Inner Mongolia region indicated a higher strength than that from the Guangdong province. However, the flexural strength of each group was not significantly different from that of the blank control group. The trend observed for the water absorption was similar to that of the compressive strength. The variation in the RHA proportions had the greatest influence on the properties of the paste specimens, followed by the acid pretreatments of the rice husks. The production regions of the rice husks indicated the least influence.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of digestive cancers, is a common complication of chronic liver disease (CLD). Currently, HCC is often diagnosed by radiological examination. 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in a vital mammalian DNA epigenetic modification that is found in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and carries tumor-specific epigenetic information. It may also serve as a potential cancer biomarker for HCC diagnosis. Our study aimed to establish a statistical diagnostic model for diagnosing the risk of HCC in individual patients with CLD according objective tests, especially serological tumor markers. Methods:Based on the 5hmC-seal technique, the genome-wide-5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and gene body 5hmC content in cfDNA samples from 96 patients were analyzed. Patients were recruited from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University; 64 patients had HCC and 32 patients had CLD. Peripheral blood samples were prospectively collected, followed by blood preparation and cfDNA extraction. Independent risk factors associated with HCC were identified by logistic regression, and a diagnostic model was developed and evaluated based on sensitivity, specificity, and correct diagnostic results. Results:The final model revealed sex, age, 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), and afetoprotein (AFP) as diagnostic indicators in a “discovery” data set. A novel statistical model was formed using the formula: Z = -18.160 + 0.081*age + 1.867*sex + 1.066*(logAFP) + 1.964*(log5hmC), which had an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.973. With 0.7636 as the cutoff point, the model had an estimated sensitivity of 0.891 and a specificity of 0.969. The novel model provides a reliable and stable capacity to predict HCC in patients with CLD. Conclusions: The study findings provide an objective blood serum marker-based model that could enhance the diagnostic efficiency of HCC and form a basis for the early detection of surgically resectable liver cancers in high-risk individuals.

The application of nano-materials to modify construction materials has become a research hotspot in recent years, but often different scholars use different research methods and reach different conclusions about the same material, which is not conducive to the performance comparison between different materials. In this paper, nano-SiO2, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) were used as raw materials to prepare cement-based composites to compare the effects of the three nanomaterials on the mechanical and water absorption properties under the same experimental conditions, and their principles were investigated via The scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and other microscopic analysis testing methods. At the same time, strength benefit indexes are introduced to comprehensively evaluate the economics of the strength improvement provided by the three kinds of nanomaterial. The results show that doping with nano-SiO2, CNTs and NCC can promote the hydration process of cement effectively. The composite material exhibits excellent mechanical properties at the macro level because of the nucleation and filling effect of nano-SiO2, and the bridging and strengthening effects of CNTs and NCC. The compressive strength increased by 45.13%, 28.31% and 44.19% at 7d, and 23.09%, 18.40% and 23.40% at 28d. The flexural strength of 7d increased by 31.00%, 36.22 and 54.81%, and 14.91%, 22.23% and 30.46% at 28d. The water absorption is SiO2 &lt, NCC &lt, CNTs, and the nano-SiO2 is lower than the other two materials at least 15.54%. CNTs group has the lowest compressive strength benefit, which is 16.91 yuan/m3, and the lowest flexural strength benefit is NCC, which is 3.59 yuan/m3.