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The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) document suggests that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be divided into a less symptomatic group. Moreover, single-inhaled drugs are recommended as initial inhalation therapy for them. However, many less symptomatic patients are provided double or triple-inhaled drugs as initial therapy in the real world. This study aimed to describe the inhalation prescriptions and compare the effects of different inhalation therapies on less symptomatic COPD patients. This was an observational study. Stable COPD patients were recruited and divided into a less symptomatic group including Groups A and C based on the GOLD 2019 document. We collected the data of inhalation therapies prescriptions. Then, the patients were classified into long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) + inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), LABA + LAMA, and LABA + LAMA + ICS groups. All the patients were followed up for 1 year to collect exacerbation and mortality data. We found that only 45.4% of patients in Group A and 43.6% of patients in Group C received reasonable inhalation therapy in reference to the GOLD document. In addition, the LAMA group had a higher forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1%pred, FEV1/forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow compared with LABA + ICS, LABA + LAMA and LABA + LAMA + ICS groups. However, we did not find any significant differences of exacerbation, hospitalization and mortality during the follow-up among different inhalation therapies groups on less symptomatic COPD patients. Over half of the less symptomatic patients received inhalation therapy that were inconsistent with the GOLD document recommendations in a Chinese population in the real world. In fact, the single inhaled drug of LAMA should be recommended and pulmonary function is not a good indicator for the choice of initial inhalation therapy in less symptomatic COPD patients.KEY MESSAGESOver half of the less symptomatic COPD patients received inhalation therapy that were inconsistent with the GOLD document recommendations in a Chinese population in the real world.The clinicians should offer a single inhaled drug of LAMA to less symptomatic COPD patients and pulmonary function is not a good indicator for the choice of initial inhalation therapy. Over half of the less symptomatic COPD patients received inhalation therapy that were inconsistent with the GOLD document recommendations in a Chinese population in the real world. The clinicians should offer a single inhaled drug of LAMA to less symptomatic COPD patients and pulmonary function is not a good indicator for the choice of initial inhalation therapy.

This study aimed to assess the association between a vegetarian diet and sleep quality among Chinese healthy adults and explore potential contributing factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 280 vegetarians and 280 age- and sex-matched omnivores from Shanghai, China. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Central Depression Scale (CES-D) were used to assess sleep and depression condition, respectively. A validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (SQFFQ) was employed to assess dietary intakes, and body composition was measured with InBody720. Multi-linear regression and logistic regression analysis were performed for the data analysis. The sleep quality was significantly better in the vegetarians than in the omnivores (PSQI score: 2.80 ± 2.02 vs. 3.27 ± 1.90, p = 0.005). The proportion of vegetarians who reported self-satisfied sleep was also higher than that of the omnivores (84.6% vs. 76.1%, p = 0.011). However, after adjusted for the depression condition (CES-D scores), the difference in sleep quality between vegetarians and omnivores became insignificant (p = 0.053). Compared to omnivores, vegetarians had lower depression scores (CES-D: 9.37 ± 6.24 vs. 10.94 ± 7.00, p = 0.006). After controlling for confounding factors, there was positive association between depression condition and sleep quality (β = 0.106, 95%CI: 0.083 to 0.129, p p

Apoptosis is an outstanding determinant of glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) have been demonstrated to be associated with apoptosis in diseases models. However, the role of hUC-MSCs in GC-induced ONFH via regulating apoptosis still needs further study.In the present study, a GC-induced ONFH model was built in vivo through a consecutive injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and methylprednisolone. The necrosis and apoptosis of the femoral head was evaluated by histological and Terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl Transferase Mediated Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assay. The level of collagen and TRAP positive cells were determined by Masson and TRAP staining, respectively. M1 macrophage polarization was assessed using immunofluorescence assay. The level of proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 of femoral head was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The protein expression of AKT, mTOR, p-AKT and p-mTOR was detected using western blot assay. The results showed that hUC-MSCs treatment prominently promoted the GC-induced the decrease of the collagen level and the increase of TRAP positive cells. Besides, hUC-MSCs treatment decreased necrosis and apoptosis, macrophage polarization, the level of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, the protein expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR, and the radio of p-AKT to AKT and p-mTOR to mTOR of femoral head in vivo.Therefore, the present study revealed that hUC-MSCs improved the necrosis and osteocyte apoptosis in GC-induced ONFH model through reducing the macrophage polarization, which was associated with the inhibition of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Huan Liu,1,2,* Zhiping Yu,3,* Yueguang Liu,4 Mingzhen Li,1,2 Cheng Chen,1,2 Zhiyu Zhu,4 Fang Liu,4 Liming Tan2,3 1Department of Precision Medicine Center, The Second People’s Hospital of Huaihua, Huaihua, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Treatment of Huaihua, Huaihua, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Clinicopathology Center, The Second People’s Hospital of Huaihua, Huaihua, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Liming Tan, The Second People’s Hospital of Huaihua, Lulin Road, Huaihua, 418000, People’s Republic of China, Email tanliming1973@126.comPurpose: C-type lectin domain family 4 member M (CLEC4M) has been found to be involved in the occurrence and development of cancer, but its role in NSCLC remains to be fully explored. Our work aims to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of CLEC4M in NSCLC and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of CLEC4M in the immune microenvironment of NSCLC.Methods: Integrating publicly accessible data and clinical tissue samples to verify the expression of CLEC4M in NSCLC. The diagnostic value of CLEC4M was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, nomogram plot, univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were performed to evaluate the prognostic impact of CLEC4M on NSCLC patients. The correlation between CLEC4M and tumor immune infiltration was estimated using TIMER and UALCAN databases. Functional assessments including GO, KEGG pathway and GSEA analyses were implemented to illustrate the potential mechanisms of CLEC4M in NSCLC.Results: CLEC4M was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissue, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry of clinical tissues. The high AUC value of ROC curves demonstrated the diagnostic accuracy of CLEC4M in NSCLC. Additionally, low CLEC4M expression was associated with poor survival in NSCLC patients. Furthermore, CLEC4M was found to be significantly associated with tumor immune infiltration, and CLEC4M may be involved in immune activation and proliferation inhibition through the functional assessment, suggesting that CLEC4M may be a therapeutic target for NSCLC patients.Conclusion: Our findings reveal CLEC4M is significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues, and illustrate the diagnostic and prognostic value of CLEC4M in NSCLC, as well as its potential serve as an immune-related therapeutic target.Keywords: CLEC4M, non-small cell lung carcinoma, NSCLC, prognosis, diagnosis, tumor immune microenvironment

The conformational changes in switch domains significantly affect the activity of NRAS. Gaussian-accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) simulations of three separate replicas were performed to decipher the effects of G13D, Q16R, and C118S on the conformational transformation of the GDP-bound NRAS. The analyses of root-mean-square fluctuations and dynamics cross-correlation maps indicated that the structural flexibility and motion modes of the switch domains involved in the binding of NRAS to effectors are highly altered by the G13D, Q61R, and C118Smutations. The free energy landscapes (FELs) suggested that mutations induce more energetic states in NRAS than the GDP-bound WT NRAS and lead to high disorder in the switch domains. The FELs also indicated that the different numbers of sodium ions entering the GDP binding regions compensate for the changes in electrostatic environments caused by mutations, especially for G13D. The GDP–residue interactions revealed that the disorder in the switch domains was attributable to the unstable hydrogen bonds between GDP and two residues, V29 and D30. This work is expected to provide information on the energetic basis and dynamics of conformational changes in switch domains that can aid in deeply understanding the target roles of NRAS in anticancer treatment.

Weight-related status has been associated with the physical and psychological health of adolescents. This cross-sectional study evaluated three different kinds of weight-related statuses (Body Mass Index (BMI), weight self-perception and weight teasing from others) among Chinese adolescents and identified their associations with health risk behaviors (lack of healthy dietary behavior, unhealthy dietary behavior, binge eating behavior, lack of physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviors (SB) and sleep disturbance). A stratified random cluster sampling method was used to select 10,070 students aged 11–18 years old from schools in Shanghai. Self-reported questionnaires were collected, weight-related statuses were divided into three categories and six specific health risk behaviors were classified into two groups: positive or negative. Overall, 27.82% of the adolescents were classified as being overweight and obese (35.61% of boys and 18.21% of girls), 43.45% perceived themselves as too heavy and 30.46% experienced weight teasing in the past. Among overweight or obese participants, 50.55% have been teased about their weight, and 77.48% perceived themselves as too heavy. Weight perception and weight teasing were significantly associated with health risk behaviors rather than the actual body weight status based on BMI, especially regarding binge eating behavior (body weight status (BMI): p > 0.05, underweight perception: OR = 1.18, 95%CI 1.03–1.34; weight teasing for more than once a year: OR = 2.00, 95%CI 1.76–2.27). In addition, weight perception and weight teasing were significantly associated with health risk behaviors, mainly in normal and overweight/obese groups but not in underweight groups. Weight teasing and weight self-perception play an independent and stronger role than actual body weight in the health behaviors of adolescents. This calls for more attention and intervention to reduce peer bullying and stigmas on weight among adolescents.

Noise induced synaptopathy (NIS) has been researched extensively since a large amount of synaptic loss without permanent threshold shift (PTS) was found in CBA mice after a brief noise exposure. However, efforts to translate these results to humans have met with little success—and might not be possible since noise exposure used in laboratory animals is generally different from what is experienced by human subjects in real life. An additional problem is a lack of morphological data and reliable functional methods to quantify loss of afferent synapses in humans. Based on evidence for disproportionate synaptic loss for auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) with low spontaneous rates (LSR), coding-in-noise deficits (CIND) have been speculated to be the major difficulty associated with NIS without PTS. However, no robust evidence for this is available in humans or animals. This has led to a re-examination of the role of LSR ANFs in signal coding in high-level noise. The fluctuation profile model has been proposed to support a role for high-SR ANFs in the coding of high-level noise in combination with efferent control of cochlear gain. This study aimed to induce NIS by a low-level, intermittent noise exposure mimicking what is experienced in human life and examined the impact of the NIS on temporal processing under masking. It also evaluated the role of temporal fluctuation in evoking efferent feedback and the effects of NIS on this feedback.

Background: The lower leg joint is a pivot type talocrural or synovial joint situated at the crossroads of the tibia, fibula (leg bones), and bone (foot bone). When the lower appendage of a foot, suddenly, rolls or curves, a lower leg sprain occurs; which might even indicate lower leg joint fractures.Objective: To contemplate the therapeutic impacts of foundational, practical recovery combined with anticoagulant treatment in the post-operative time of lower leg fractures.Materials and Methods: A total of 231 patients with lower leg fractures who were previously treated in the clinic's muscular office from January 2017 to June 2019 were divided into the benchmark group and the exploratory gathering. The benchmark (control) group received regular restoration treatment, while the experimental group received foundational, practical recovery combined with anticoagulant medication.Results: Univariate investigation showed no significant difference for the clinical information like age and sex between the two groups (p> 0.05). The Wilcoxon rank whole test indicated that the trial group had a preferable treatment impact over the benchmark group (p

Eating disorders are complex diseases with multifactorial causes. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders text version (DSM-5-TR) and the WHO International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11), the major types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. The prevalence of eating disorders is alarmingly increasing globally. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to more development and worsening of eating disorders. Patients with eating disorders exhibit high rates of psychiatric comorbidities and medical comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. This paper aims to review and discuss the comorbidities of eating disorders with those metabolic diseases. Eating disorder treatment typically includes a combination of some or all approaches such as psychotherapy, nutrition education, and medications. Early detection and intervention are important for the treatment of eating disorders.

Poor nutrition or insufficient physical activity (PA) are risk factors for obesity and chronic diseases. This 2019 cross-sectional study from the school health survey examined the dietary and PA behaviors of Chinese adolescents. A total of 12,860 adolescents aged 11–18 participated through multistage and stratified cluster random sampling. A questionnaire collected data on weight, PA, sedentary lifestyle, and eating habits. Unhealthy behaviors were identified and summed up for each behavior. Participants were then classified into high and low amounts of risk behaviors. Weight status was defined using Body Mass Index (BMI) cutoff points for Chinese individuals aged 6–18. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess effects of lifestyle behaviors on weight status. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 22.3% among all participants (30.6% in boys, 13.2% in girls). Females engaged in more risk physical activities (4.12 vs. 3.80, p < 0.05), while males engaged in more risk dietary activities (2.20 vs. 2.02, p < 0.05). Higher number of risk dietary, PA, and sedentary behaviors were all significantly correlated with higher BMI (dietary: r = 0.064; PA: r = 0.099; sedentary: r = 0.161; p < 0.001 for all) and body weight (dietary: r = 0.124; PA: r = 0.128; sedentary: r = 0.222; p < 0.001 for all). Risk sedentary behaviors was a significant risk factor for overweight/obesity (Adjusted Odds Ratio AOR = 1.30, 95% Confidence Interval CI 1.11–1.52). Obesity and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors remain a concern among Chinese adolescents. These results provide an update on the factors contributing to overweight/obesity among adolescents and call for efforts to address obesity among adolescents.

BackgroundObesity has been reported to be an important contributing factor for precocious puberty, especially in girls. The effect of green tea polyphenols on weight reduction in adult population has been shown, but few related studies have been conducted in children. This study was performed to examine the effectiveness and safety of decaffeinated green tea polyphenols (DGTP) on ameliorating obesity and early sexual development in girls with obesity.DesignThis is a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Girls with obesity aged 6–10 years old were randomly assigned to receive 400 mg/day DGTP or isodose placebo orally for 12 weeks. During this period, all participants received the same instruction on diet and exercise from trained dietitians. Anthropometric measurements, secondary sexual characteristics, B-scan ultrasonography of uterus, ovaries and breast tissues, and related biochemical parameters were examined and assessed pre- and post-treatment.ResultsBetween August 2018 and January 2020, 62 girls with obesity (DGTP group n = 31, control group n = 31) completed the intervention and were included in analysis. After the intervention, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio significantly decreased in both groups, but the percentage of body fat (PBF), serum uric acid (UA), and the volumes of ovaries decreased significantly only within the DGTP group. After controlling confounders, DGTP showed a significantly decreased effect on the change of PBF (β = 2.932, 95% CI: 0.214 to 5.650), serum UA (β = 52.601, 95% CI: 2.520 to 102.681), and ovarian volumes (right: β = 1.881, 95% CI: 0.062 to 3.699, left: β = 0.971, 95% CI: 0.019 to 1.923) in girls with obesity. No side effect was reported in both groups during the whole period.ConclusionDGTP have shown beneficial effects of ameliorated obesity and postponed early sexual development in girls with obesity without any adverse effects. Clinical Trial Registration[https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03628937], identifier [NCT03628937].

This study aimed to explore the potential regulatory pathways of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in preventing obesity-related precocious puberty. A retrospective analysis on the impact of EGCG on puberty onset in obese girls was conducted on plasma samples collected from a human randomized controlled trial. In the trial, participants consumed EGCG capsules for 12 weeks. In the animal experiment, rats were divided into four groups: normal diet control (NC) group, high-fat diet (HFD) group, NC+EGCG group, and HFD+EGCG group. Blood samples were collected on postnatal days 27, 33, and 36 to detect sexual development indicators. The hypothalamic expressions of kisspeptin/Kiss1R and neurokinin B (NKB)/NK3R signaling were measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot assay. The ovary NKB protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemical assays. Serum NKB level in the EGCG group was lower than the placebo group by 0.599 ng/mL [β=-0.599, 95% CI: (-1.005, -0.193)], at the end of intervention and after adjusting for confounders (clinical study). In the animal experiment, EGCG intervention could significantly delay the vaginal opening (VO) time of rats fed with HFD. On day 33, EGCG intervention could significantly reduce serum NKB, luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, ovarian NKB protein expression, and endometrial thickness of HFD-fed rats, while EGCG intervention could remarkably increase mRNA and protein expression of NKB/NK3R. EGCG could prevent obesity-related precocious puberty through NKB/NK3R signaling pathway, which may provide a novel insight into the role of EGCG in preventing precocious puberty in obese girls.

Background & aims: The role of dietary intake on precocious puberty remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between the amount and frequency of dietary intake and the risk of precocious puberty in Chinese girls. Methods: In this case-control study, we enrolled 185 precocious puberty girls and 185 age-matched controls.Their dietary intake was assessed through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Their sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected. The associations between dietary intake and risk of precocious puberty were assessed by conditional logistic regression models. Results: Despite a higher weight and height of girls in the case group than in the control group, there was no statistical difference in BMI between the two groups (P=0.077). After multivariate adjustment, consuming higher amount of red meat was associated with higher precocious puberty risk [≥50g/day vs. P = 0.0121]. Compared with fruit intake frequency P for trend = 0.024]. Furthermore, compared with vegetables intake P for trend = 0.002]. Conclusion: Consuming more fruits and vegetables and less red meat could potentially reduce the risk of precocious puberty in Chinese girls.

Background Color groups of fruits and vegetables (FV) are part of a healthy diet, but evidence for an association with cardiometabolic outcomes is inconsistent. Objective To examine the association between intake of FV of different colors with incident diabetes and cardiometabolic risk biomarkers among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos. Subjects/methods We used data from 9206 adults ages 18–74 years who were free of diabetes at baseline (2008–2011) and had follow-up data at visit 2 (2014–2017) in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a multicenter, prospective cohort study of self-identified Hispanics/Latinos. Dietary intake was assessed using two 24 h recalls at baseline. FV were categorized into five color groups: green, white, yellow/orange, red/purple, and uncategorized. Diabetes was defined based on laboratory measures and self-reported antihyperglycemic medication. We used survey logistic regression models to evaluate the association between FV color groups and incident diabetes and survey linear regression models to evaluate the association of FV color groups with cardiometabolic risk biomarkers at visit 2. Results During ~6 years of follow-up, 970 incident cases of diabetes were documented. The red/purple FV color group was the least consumed (0.21 servings/day), whereas white FV were the most consumed (0.92 servings/day). For each serving of total FV intake, body mass index (BMI) was lower by 0.24% (p = 0.03) and insulin by 0.69% (p = 0.03). For each serving of red/purple FV intake, HDL was 1.59% higher (p = 0.04). For each serving of white FV intake (with potato), post-OGTT was 0.83% lower (p = 0.04) and triglycerides 1.43% lower (p = 0.04). There was no association between FV intake and incident diabetes. Conclusions Specific FV colors were associated with cardiometabolic benefits though the associations were of relatively small magnitudes. Dietary recommendations could consider varying colors of FV intake, especially white and red/purple color groups, for a healthy diet.

OBJECTIVES: Both mental health and eating disorders are increasing health concerns for college students. This study aimed to examine associative links between psychological distress, eating disorder risk, food addiction, and weight related concerns among first semester college students. METHODS: Freshman students 18 years or older in all majors in a southeastern university were invited to take an online survey. The measures included demographic characteristics, psychological behaviors and eating disorder risks. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to assess associations. RESULTS: Ninety-two students (79.3% female, 61.5% white) completed the survey. Psychological distress significantly correlated with higher eating disorder risk (stress r = 0.28, anxiety r = 0.28, depression r = 0.42; P's

To realize superior electrostatic control, a gate oxide bilayer for carbon nanotubes (CNT) is employed consisting of a 0.35 nm interfacial dielectric (k=7.8) and 2.5 nm high-k ALD dielectric (k=24). Using experimentally measured dielectric constants on sp2 carbon and minimum oxide thickness on CNT, a COX on CNT of 2.94×10-10 F/m is calculated for top-gate geometry. Gate leakage sub-1 pA/CNT is measured at 0.7V, better than the sub-5 nm node technology target. Top-gated carbon nanotube field effect transistors in this paper have 65 mV/dec subthreshold slope and DIBL as low as 20 mV/V at 15 nm gate length. Negligible hysteresis and no degradation in drive current from the top-gate process is observed. TCAD modeling predicts this approach will enable 68 mV/dec for top-gate CNFET with 10 nm L G , 1 nm CNT diameter and 250 CNT/μm, revealing a path to energy and performance gains from a CNT transistor technology.

The round window of the cochlea provides an ideal route for delivering medicines and gene therapy reagents that can cross the round window membrane (RWM) into the inner ear. Recombinant adeno‐associated viruses (rAAVs) have several advantages and are recommended as viral vectors for gene transfection. However, rAAVs cannot cross an intact RWM. Consequently, ultrasound‐mediated microbubble (USMB) cavitation is potentially useful, because it can sonoporate the cell membranes, and increase their permeability to large molecules. The use of USMB cavitation for drug delivery across the RWM has been tested in a few animal studies but has not been used in the context of AAV‐mediated gene transfection. The currently available large size of the ultrasound probe appears to be a limiting factor in the application of this method to the RWM. In this study, we used home‐made ultrasound probe with a decreased diameter to 1.5 mm, which enabled the easy positioning of the probe close to the RWM. In guinea pigs, we used this probe to determine that (1) USMB cavitation caused limited damage to the outer surface layer or the RWM, (2) an eGFP‐gene carrying rAAV could effectively pass the USMB‐treated RWM and reliably transfect cochlear cells, and (3) the hearing function of the cochlea remained unchanged. Our results suggest that USMB cavitation of the RWM is a good method for rAAV‐mediated cochlear gene transfection with clear potential for clinical translation. We additionally discuss several advantages of the small probe size., A small ultrasound probe was developed for the treatment of round window membrane (RWM) in combination with the use of microbubble. The treatment causes a controllable damage on RWM that allows adeno‐associated virus (AAV) carrying genes to pass. The focused damage on the RWM can heal automatically without cause hearing loss. The new probe makes it possible to put through human eardrum across a hole that can be healed. Therefore, this method can be translated into human trials.

Background: There has been increasing interest in using videoconferencing in health care, but limited research was conducted in Binge Eating Disorder (BED) patients. This 3-month pilot study aimed ...

OBJECTIVES: Orthorexia nervosa (ON), a term describing the obsession with healthy eating, has been coined since 1997 but no study has been reported in people following weight loss diets. This study aimed to assess the association between ON and weight loss diet in a university student population. METHODS: Students 18 years or older in all majors and at all education levels in a southeastern university were invited to take an online survey. Survey questions include Bratman Orthorexia Test (BOT), Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and participant characteristics. RESULTS: 411 students (ages 18–65, BMI 15.1–55.5, female 75.2%, white 75.6%, graduate students 16.1%) have completed the survey. Among them, 117 have followed weight loss diet(s) for more than 3 months. Comparing to non-diet followers, diet followers were older (26.2 vs. 23.9), had higher BMI (26.5 vs. 24.9), reported higher BOT scores (5.9 vs. 3.9) and had a higher percentage being a health fanatic or orthorexic (BOT > 5: 76.1% vs. 38.8%). Diet followers also reported higher EAT scores (16.9 vs. 9.0) and had a higher percentage of students at high eating disorder risk (EAT ≥ 20: 32.5% vs. 12.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Following weight loss diets is associated with high ON tendencies among university students. This association needs to be tested in other populations. Prevention and treatment strategies for ON and eating disorders should take following weight loss diets into consideration. FUNDING SOURCES: None.

Traditional imaging examinations have difficulty in identifying benign and malignant changes in renal masses. This difficulty may be solved by ultrasound molecular imaging based on targeted nanobubbles, which could specifically enhance the ultrasound imaging of renal cell carcinomas (RCC) so as to discriminate benign and malignant renal masses. In this study, we aimed to prepare anti-G250 nanobody-functionalized targeted nanobubbles (anti-G250 NTNs) by coupling anti-G250 nanobodies to lipid nanobubbles and to verify their target specificity and binding ability to RCC cells that express G250 antigen and their capacity to enhance ultrasound imaging of RCC xenografts. Anti-G250 nanobodies were coupled to the lipid nanobubbles using the biotin-streptavidin bridge method. The average particle diameter of the prepared anti-G250 NTNs was 446 nm. Immunofluorescence confirmed that anti-G250 nanobodies were uniformly distributed on the surfaces of nanobubbles. In vitro experiments showed that the anti-G250 NTNs specifically bound to G250-positive 786-O cells and HeLa cells with affinities of 88.13% ± 4.37% and 71.8% ± 5.7%, respectively, and that they did not bind to G250-negative ACHN cells. The anti-G250 NTNs could significantly enhance the ultrasound imaging of xenograft tumors arising from 786-O cells and HeLa cells compared with blank nanobubbles, while the enhancement was not significant for xenograft tumors arising from ACHN cells. Immunofluorescence of tumor tissue slices confirmed that the anti-G250 NTNs could enter the tissue space through tumor blood vessels and bind to tumor cells specifically. In conclusion, anti-G250 nanobody-functionalized targeted nanobubbles could specifically bind to G250-positive RCC cells and enhance the ultrasound imaging of G250-positive RCC xenografts. This study has high-potential clinical application value for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of renal tumors.

E-cigarettes are widely advertised, while the potential risks of e-cigarette use have been reported among adolescents. This study assessed online e-cigarette information exposure and its association with adolescents’ e-cigarette use in Shanghai, China. A total of 12,470 students aged 13–18 years participated. A questionnaire collected information on students’ sociodemographic factors, e-cigarette information exposure, cigarette use, e-cigarette use, and e-cigarette use intention. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess correlates of exposure to e-cigarette information and the association between e-cigarette information exposure and e-cigarette use. Overall, 73.9% of students knew about e-cigarettes and the primary sources of information were the internet (42.4%), movies/TV (36.4%), bulletin boards in retail stores or supermarkets (34.9%), advertising flyers (33.9%), and friends (13.8%). Students who had friends using e-cigarettes were curious about e-cigarettes and showed a greater monthly allowance; smokers and females were at a higher risk of social media and website exposure. Moreover, online information exposure (social media exposure, website exposure, and total internet exposure) was significantly associated with the intention to use e-cigarettes. The enforcement of regulations on online e-cigarette content should be implemented. Moreover, efforts to prevent young people from using e-cigarettes may benefit from targeting students at a higher risk of online e-cigarette information exposure.

In this paper, the long-term reliability of commercial 1.2-kV 4H-SiC mofset s under repetitive unclamped inductive switching stresses is evaluated experimentally. The degradation of device characteristics, including the threshold voltage $V_{{\rm{th}}}$ , drain leakage current $I_{{\rm{dss}}}$ , and on-state resistance $R_{{\rm{on}}}$ , is observed after 80k avalanche cycles. The regular charge pumping (CP) measurements reveal that the failure mechanism characterized by the hot holes injection and trapping into the gate oxide above the channel and JFET region may occur during the aging experiments, which is further ascertained by the succeeding electrothermal simulations and should be responsible for the degradation of $V_{{\rm{th}}}$ and $I_{{\rm{dss}}}$ . After decapping the failed devices, the bond wires lift off due to thermal fatigue is discovered and regarded as the main reason for the degradation of $R_{{\rm{on}}}$ . The poststress high-temperature treatment is also carried out as an approach to indirectly corroborate the aforementioned failure mechanisms. Moreover, the impact of different test conditions on the degradation rate of electrical characteristics is discussed to thereby find ways to relieve these degeneration phenomena.

Two inductorless low-power differential low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) are designed for multiband wireless communication applications. Both LNAs are based on the combination of common-gate (CG) and shunt feedback topologies. In the first LNA, the cross-coupled push-pull structure with separated bias for nMOS and pMOS CG transistors is utilized to realize $g_{m}$ enhancement, partial noise cancellation, and bandwidth extension. In the second LNA, cascode transistors are utilized on the basis of the first topology to alleviate the Miller effect and to construct current steering structures, so as to extend the bandwidth. For both LNAs, in-depth analysis is given, and methods for sizing and biasing optimization under power constraint are proposed to obtain good overall performance tradeoffs while maintaining low-power consumption. The prototypes are implemented in 65-nm low-power CMOS technology. The first LNA achieves a gain of 21.2 dB, a noise figure (NF) of 3–3.5 dB over the 3-dB bandwidth of 200 MHz to 2.7 GHz and an IIP3 of −2 dBm at 1.1 GHz. It consumes 0.96 mW from 1.2-V supply. The second LNA exhibits a gain of 21.2 dB, an NF of 2.8–4 dB over the 3-dB bandwidth of 100 MHz to 4.3 GHz. It consumes 2 mW from 1.2-V supply. Each LNA occupies an area of 0.05 mm2.

In this brief, a concise compensation technique to obtain constant insertion loss (IL) among different phase shifting states of an millimeter-wave switch-type phase shifter (PS) is developed. The main idea is to introduce switches into the PS to align ILs of all phase states to the maximum, which hardly introduces additional phase variation, degrades IL flatness, or deteriorates maximum IL. A 60-GHz 360° 5-bit switch-type PS is designed with the proposed technique in a 65-nm CMOS technology. Measured results show that the IL variation among all 32 phase shifting states is within ±0.8 dB over 57–66 GHz, with a maximum root-mean-square (rms) phase error of 8°, a gain tuning range of 8 dB and an input 1-dB power compression point (IP−1dB) of 13 dBm. The proposed PS followed by a 60-GHz normal amplifier with invariable gain is also designed and verified. A maximum gain of 4 dB is achieved with a gain variation within ±1 dB over a 9-GHz bandwidth, an output 1-dB power compression point (OP−1dB) of 0.6 dBm, a maximum rms phase error of 11.3°, and a dc power consumption of 30 mW.

In this brief, a dual AC boosting compensation (DACBC) scheme is presented for multistage amplifiers with low power and a large capacitive load. Dual AC boosting paths are introduced to move the zero from the right-half-plane to the left-half-plane as compared with conventional AC boosting compensation (ACBC) scheme, which helps to improve the phase margin and gain bandwidth (GBW) product of the amplifier. Two three-stage amplifiers with DACBC and ACBC, respectively, are both fabricated in 65-nm CMOS technology for comparison. The amplifier with proposed DACBC drives a 3200 pF||25 $\text{k}\boldsymbol {\Omega }$ load and achieves a GBW of 0.52 MHz with 58° phase margin, consuming only $60~\boldsymbol {\mu }\text{W}$ of power from a ±0.8 V supply, while ACBC achieves 0.26 MHz GBW with the same load, power consumption, and phase margin. These results imply a doubled figure of merit of DACBC versus its ACBC counterpart without an extra power penalty, while the core chip area of DACBC is reduced by a half of that of ACBC due to a smaller compensation capacitance.

A novel small-signal model for bulk FinFETs is presented. A parallel combination of resistance-inductance networks originated from the self-heating is obtained. A new transfer gain model is developed. An analytical method to extract the model parameters is proposed. The model is validated using silicon Multi-Fin MOSFET manufactured in SMICs 14 nm bulk FinFET technology. Excellent agreements are achieved between measured and model simulated Y-parameters in the range over 100 to 50.2 GHz.

As a specific inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, sivelestat sodium hydrate has primarily been used in the treatment of acute lung injury caused by various factors since its approval in 2002. Sivelestat sodium hydrate also improves post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA), although its underlying mechanisms of action have yet to be elucidated. The aim of the current study was to determine if sivelestat sodium hydrate improves post-traumatic KOA through nuclear factor (NF)-κB in a rat model. Treatment with sivelestat sodium hydrate significantly inhibited the induction of structural changes and significantly increased the vertical episode count and ipsilateral static weight bearing of the joint in KOA rats (all P

Hearing dysfunction has been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in humans, but there is little data on the auditory function of mouse models of AD. Furthermore, characterization of hearing ability in mouse models is needed to ensure that tests of cognition that use auditory stimuli are not confounded by hearing dysfunction. Therefore, we assessed acoustic startle response and pre-pulse inhibition in the double transgenic 5xFAD mouse model of AD from 3-4 to 16 months of age. The 5xFAD mice showed an age-related decline in acoustic startle as early as 3-4 months of age. We subsequently tested auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds at 4 and 13-14 months of age using tone bursts at frequencies of 2-32 kHz. The 5xFAD mice showed increased ABR thresholds for tone bursts between 8 and 32 kHz at 13-14 months of age. Finally, cochleae were extracted and basilar membranes were dissected to count hair cell loss across the cochlea. The 5xFAD mice showed significantly greater loss of both inner and outer hair cells at the apical and basal ends of the basilar membrane than wild-type mice at 15-16 months of age. These results indicate that the 5xFAD mouse model of AD shows age-related decreases in acoustic startle responses, which are at least partially due to age-related peripheral hearing loss. Therefore, we caution against the use of cognitive tests that rely on audition in 5xFAD mice over 3-4 months of age, without first confirming that performance is not confounded by hearing dysfunction.

Zhiping Yu,1 Yixuan Wang,2 Dan Xu,3 Lianhua Zhu,3 Ming Hu,1 Qiuli Liu,1 Weihua Lan,1 Jun Jiang,1 Luofu Wang1 1Department of Urology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 2The First Clinical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ultrasound, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Luofu WangDepartment of Urology, Daping Hospital, No. 10 Changjiangzhilu Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400042, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-13320350708Fax +86-23-68757947Email wangluofu@aliyun.comPurpose: We intended to design G250 antigen-targeting temsirolimus-loaded nanobubbles (G250-TNBs) based on the targeted drug delivery system and to combine G250-TNBs with ultrasound targeted nanobubble destruction (UTND) to achieve a synergistic treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).Methods: The filming-rehydration method was combined with mechanical shock and electrostatic interactions to prepare temsirolimus-loaded nanobubbles (TNBs). G250-TNBs were prepared by attaching anti-G250 nanobodies to the surface of TNBs using the biotin-streptavidin-bridge method. The ability of G250-TNBs to target the G250 antigen of RCC cells and the synergistic efficacy of G250-TNBs and UTND in the treatment of RCC were assessed.Results: The average diameter of the prepared G250-TNBs was 368.7 ± 43.4 nm, the encapsulation efficiency was 68.59% ± 5.43%, and the loading efficiency was 5.23% ± 0.91%. In vitro experiments showed that the affinity of G250-TNBs to the human RCC 786-O cells was significantly higher than that of TNBs (P

Background: Obesity has been reported to be an important contributing factor for precocious puberty in girls. Green tea polyphenols showed the effect on weight reduction in obese adults. This study was to examine the effectiveness and safety of decaffeinated green tea polyphenols (DGTP) on ameliorating obesity and early sexual development in obese girls. Methods: This is a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. Overweight or obese girls aged 6-10 years old were recruited and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 400mg/d DGTP or isodose placebo orally for 12 weeks. During this period, all participants received the same instruction on diet and exercise from trained dietitians. Anthropometric measurement, secondary sexual characteristics, B-scan ultrasonography of uterus, ovaries and breast tissues, and related biochemical parameters were examined and assessed at pre- and post-treatment. Findings: Between August 2018 to January 2020, 62 obese girls (DGTP group n=31, control group n=31) completed the intervention and were included in analysis. After the intervention, the fat mass, percentage of body fat (PBF), serum uric acid (UA), and the volumes of ovaries decreased significantly in the DGTP group, and no such differences were observed in the control group. The body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio significantly decreased within both groups, but no significant differences were found between groups. After controlling confounding factors, DGTP showed a significantly decreased effect on ΔPBF, ΔUA, and Δovarian volumes in obese girls. The levels of sex hormones increased in both groups but overall remained far from the standards of girls’ sexual development initiation. No significant changes were found in serum trace elements, hepatic and renal function, and complete blood count post treatment, and no side effect was reported during the whole period. Interpretation: Decaffeinated green tea polyphenols have beneficial effects on ameliorating obesity and postponing early sexual development in obese girls without any adverse effects. Trial Registration: This trial is registered with Clinical Trials.gov, NCT03628937. Funding Statement: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81773407). Declaration of Interests: We declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xinhua Hospital (Shanghai, China).

Yanli Peng,1,2,* Lianhua Zhu,1,* Luofu Wang,3 Yu Liu,1 Kejing Fang,1 Minmin Lan,1,2 Daijia Shen,1 Deng Liu,1 Zhiping Yu,3 Yanli Guo1 1Department of Ultrasound, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Urology, Army Featured Medicine Center, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yanli GuoDepartment of Ultrasound, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), No 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 236 876 5439Fax +86 236 876 5439Email guoyanli71@aliyun.comPurpose: To construct nanobubbles (PTX-AMD070 NBs) for targeted delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and AMD070, examine their performance in ultrasound molecular imaging of breast cancer and cervical cancer and their therapeutic effect combined with ultrasound targeted nanobubble destruction (UTND).Materials and methods: PTX-AMD070 NBs were prepared via an amide reaction, and the particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation rate and drug loading efficiency were examined. Laser confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to analyze the targeted binding ability of PTX-AMD070 NBs to CXCR4+ MCF-7 cells and C33a cells. The effect of PTX-AMD070 NBs combined with UTND on cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction was detected by CCK-8 assays and flow cytometry. The contrast-enhanced imaging features of PTX-AMD070 NBs and paclitaxel-loaded nanobubbles were compared in xenograft tumors. The penetration ability of PTX-AMD070 NBs in xenograft tissues was evaluated by immunofluorescence. The therapeutic effect of PTX-AMD070 NBs combined with UTND on xenograft tumors was assessed.Results: PTX-AMD070 NBs showed a particle size of 494.3±61.2 nm, a zeta potential of −22.4±1.75 mV, an encapsulation rate with PTX of 53.73±7.87%, and a drug loading efficiency with PTX of 4.48±0.66%. PTX-AMD070 NBs displayed significantly higher targeted binding to MCF-7 cells and C33a cells than that of PTX NBs (P

OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to compare incoming college freshman from 2019 to incoming college freshman from 2020. Due to the pandemic, it was expected that incoming college freshman in 2020, relative to those in 2019, would demonstrate poorer functioning in terms of psychological well-being, sleep quality, physical activity, and eating disorders. METHODS: Prior to starting college at a mid-sized university, incoming college freshman were invited to complete surveys related to health and well-being (2019 n = 32; 2020 n = 64). Participants completed the following measures: Beck Depression Inventory II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Exercise Dependence Scale, Modifiable Physical Activity Questionnaire, Yale Food Addiction Scale, and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. RESULTS: T-tests were used to compare mean differences between the cohorts. Cohen's d is reported as an index of effect size. The 2020 cohort reported greater depression (d = .44, P = .045), anxiety (d = .48, P = .036), and perceived stress (d = .44, P = .05), but did not differ on social support (P = .84). Although differences were in the expected direction, the cohorts did not significantly differ in sleep quality, moderate and vigorous physical activity per week, exercise dependence, eating disorders symptoms, or food addiction (p's > .20). CONCLUSIONS: Incoming college freshman in 2020, compared to their counterparts in 2019, reported worse psychological well-being in terms of perceived stress, depression, and anxiety. Observed differences did not extend to disturbances in sleep, physical activity, or eating. FUNDING SOURCES: Brooks College of Health, University of North Florida

Public health professionals have the opportunity to impact middle school students’ dietary behaviors to combat childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary behavior results from the YRBS taken by middle school students in Duval County in 2009, 2011 and 2013. A two-stage cluster design was used and the survey was completed by 6th through 8th grade students following parent notification. Compared to other health zones, Health Zone 1 had the lowest intake of fruits and vegetables in 2009 (2.66 ±1.65) and 2011 (2.77 ± 1.60) and the second lowest intake in 2013 (2.92 ± 1.70). In 2009, 2011 and 2013, Health Zone 1 students’ response for soda intake was consistently higher compared to other health zones (2.39 ±1.54; 2.40 ±1.47; 2.29 ± 1.54 respectively). Health Zone 1, the urban core of Jacksonville, consistently had the lowest intake of fruits and vegetables and the highest intake of soda. Public health strategies should focus on improving fruit and vegetable intake and reducing soda intake within the school environment particularly focusing on Health Zone 1.

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of fruit and vegetable intake data from the 2009, 2011, 2013 Duval County Youth Risk Surveys (YRBS) by health zone. The survey instrument (questionnaire) is administered using a cluster sample design in all ninth grade classes in public schools (except charter schools) every two (odd) years. The surveys are anonymous and there is parental notification. Oversampling is done to allow for sub-county analysis. There were no statistically significant differences across health zones for any of the fruit and vegetable consumption questions for year 2009 however all health zones were below the recommended level of fruit and vegetable intake. For years 2011 and 2013 despite significant statistical differences by health zone in the frequency of consumption for fruits and vegetables, all health zones had a low mean intake of fruits and vegetables for years 2009, 2011 and 2013. Most respondents indicated consuming fruits, green salad, potatoes (not fried), carrots and vegetables “1 to 3 times during the past 7 days.” Overall intake of fruits and vegetables, however, was low for all health zones.

An efficient method is proposed in this paper to mitigate computational burden in resistive random access memory (RRAM) array simulation. In the worst case scenario, a 4 Mb RRAM array with line resistance is greatly reduced using this method. For 1S1R-RRAM array structures, static and statistical parameters in both reading and writing processes are simulated. Error analysis is performed to prove the reliability of the algorithm when line resistance is extremely small compared with the junction resistance. Results show that high precision is maintained even if the size of RRAM array is reduced by one thousand times, which indicates significant improvements in both computational efficiency and memory requirements.

Objective Weight losses between a group of participants assigned to a weight loss program based in the community [i.e., specifically the methodology used by Weight Watchers (WW)] and a Nutrition Education (NE) control group were compared in this study. Methods In this 6-month trial, 300 participants with overweight or obesity were recruited from Beijing city, China, and randomly assigned to the WW or NE group. Weight, waist circumference, and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and 6 months. Results At 6 months, the majority of participants (79% for WW; 89% for NE) completed the study. WW participants lost significantly more weight than the NE group (−4.2 ± 5.6 kg vs. −0.6 ± 3.6 kg). More WW participants lost 5% or 10% of their starting weight [≥5%: 52.0% of WW participants vs. 11.3% of NE participants (odds ratio 8.15, 95% CI: 4.43–14.97)]; [≥10%: 26.0% of WW vs. 3.3% of NE participants (odds ratio 9.39, 95% CI: 3.55–24.83)]. In addition, WW participants reduced waist circumference by 3.9 ± 6.3 cm, while the NE group increased waist circumference by 0.6 ± 5.5 cm. Conclusions The WW program was associated with clinically significant weight loss, demonstrating its potential value as an intervention strategy, based in the community, for the treatment of obesity in China.

The quantum information as expressed by the spin-state of qubits in quantum computers needs to be transferred among qubits reliably with fidelity. This work examines the robustness of quantum state transfer (QST) via a one-dimensional spin-chain in the diamond formed by implanted nitrogen (N) atoms between qubits (or quantum registers) realized by N-V (nitrogen-vacancy) centers. The effect on QST fidelity of both uneven-ness in spin sites along the spin-chain and the lack of rotational symmetry of the chain is examined by numerical simulation.The theoretical approach for the analysis of spin chain is through the Jordan-Wignar transformation from the spin entities to fermions to simplify the mathematical complexity and to give a clear physical picture.The conclusions from this investigation are: 1) the QST via spin-chain is insensitive to the deviation of spin-location from their uniform spacing; 2) the broken rotational symmetry has big impact on the fidelity of QST.SWAP quantum gates for swapping bit information on two qubits linked by the spin-chain is used as an example for the analysis.The prospect and progress of using N-V centers in diamond for the realization of room-temperature quantum computers are finally reviewed in this talk.

The clinical therapeutic effect and safety of celecoxib in treating knee osteoarthritis were observed. 180 patients who have been confirmed with knee osteoarthritis in our hospital were selected as research objects. They were randomly divided into research group and control group, each containing 90 patients. The control group was given with diclofenac sodium therapy, while the research group was subjected to celecoxib therapy. The total therapeutic response rates between the two groups were observed and compared. The total therapeutic response rate of research groups was relatively higher, P0.05. There was no significant difference in pain score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), quality of life score (QLS) between two groups before treatment, P0.05. However, these indexes of research group were superior then the control group after treatment，P0.05. In addition, the rate of adverse reaction of research group was also lower than that of control group, P0.05. Using celecoxib to treat knee osteoarthritis can significantly improve the total therapeutic rate and reduce the rate of adverse effect.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has been demonstrated in many clinical reports as a risk factor that promotes the development of cognitive impairment. However, the underlying neurological mechanisms are not clear. Noise exposure is one of the most common causes of SNHL. Although noise exposure causes relatively less damage to general health as compared with other methods for creating hearing loss (such as ototoxicity), it does impair cognitive function. Many studies have shown that the noise-induced cognitive impairment occur via the oxidative stress induced by the noise. In those studies, the effects of the noise-induced hearing loss induced (NIHL) were not addressed. Previously, we have demonstrated in the CBA/CaJ mouse model that oxidative stress was transient after a brief noise exposure, but the NIHL was permanent. In addition, NIHL was followed by a declined cognitive function and decreased hippocampal neurogenesis that were developed long after the oxidative stress disappeared. Therefore, NIHL can cause cognitive impairment independent of its stress effect and can serve as a model to investigate the relationship between hearing loss and the development of cognitive impairment. In the present study, we further demonstrated that the oxidative stress produced by the brief noise exposure did not damage the stem cell bank of hippocampus that was evaluated shortly after the noise exposure. In addition to the reduction in the rate of cell proliferation in hippocampus that was found previously, we found that the noise induced hearing loss significantly reduced the promoting effect of learning activity on various stages of hippocampal neurogenesis, accompanied by the reduction in learning-induced expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) in hippocampus. Since the MWM-tested spatial function does not directly require auditory input, the results provide evidence for the maintenance role of auditory input on the cognitive function; the reduction of IEG expression that is required in memory-formation may be the initial step in blocking the effect of learning activity on neurogenesis in subjects with NIHL.

A 4-bits programmable metamaterial with metasurface, vanadium oxide (VO 2 ) medium, and metal substrate is designed, simulated, and analyzed in this paper. The encoding operation is executed by the thermally triggered insulator-metal phase transition (IMPT) of VO 2 , conductivity of which is changed as a function of temperature. The resonance is reconfigured and addressed by heating the coded resonator. The proposed meta material provides not only resonance tenability but also polarization insensitivity. The simulation results show that different codes generate different resonance. The tuning frequency range, and modulated absorptivity amplitude is 68.05 GHz, 73.94% respectively. The presented programmable metamaterial provides inspirations for the design of tunable and digital meta materials because of its flexible design, size adaptation, and high adjustment capacity.

This paper presents an accurate dB-linear programmable-gain amplifier with temperature-robust characteristic. A novel Gm-cell feedback topology is proposed to provide linear gain control as well as bandwidth extension without any extra power consumption. Moreover, a PTAT bias is employed to further promote the temperature robustness while AC coupling stages are embedded in the adjacent stages for DC-offset cancellation. Implemented in TSMC 65-nm CMOS technology, the proposed PGA exhibits a programmable gain range of 0 dB to 42 dB with 1 dB per step and 0.17 dB error. The gain variation across −40∼125 °C is lower than 0.3 dB at all gain settings. The core circuit consumes a DC power of 3.8mV from a 1.2 V supply and occupies a layout area of 0.048 mm2.

A dietitian has qualifications in nutrition and dietetics and applies the science of food and nutrition to improve the health of individuals, groups, and communities. The Registered Dietitian (RD) credential has gained recognition over the years for its expertise. The accreditation systems were developed and have been used to ensure quality of this profession. Accreditation systems set standards for academic and professional training in nutrition and dietetics and reflect current research-based information. The purpose of this paper is to review a few countries that have a RD accreditation system including China and several other countries, e.g. the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The aims are to introduce the newly established RD system in China and to compare the differences among the countries' systems.