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The purpose of this study was to investigate the duration of breastfeeding among preterm infants within the first 12 months after birth and analyzed factors influencing the duration of exclusive breastfeeding. In this retrospective study, premature infants who were hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) premature delivery area of a third-class maternal and child health hospital in Changsha City, Hunan Province, China from October 2020 to January 2021 were selected as the participants for this study. Relevant data of these infants during their hospitalization was obtained from the hospital information system, while the rate of exclusive breastfeeding among preterm infants at a corrected age of 12 months was tracked through telephone follow-up. Univariate analysis of the effects of breastfeeding duration in preterm infants was conducted based on Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test. Multiple linear regression was then applied to determine the factors influencing the duration of exclusive breastfeeding in preterm infants. The median and interquartile range of breastfeeding duration for preterm infants in this study was 4.00 (1.00, 6.00) months. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the duration of exclusive breastfeeding was affected by several factors including how much other family members support breastfeeding, whether the mother returns to work after maternal leave, and whether the infant is a twin (P < 0.05). The duration of exclusive breastfeeding among preterm infants needs to be improved by strengthening health education regarding the benefits of breastfeeding for preterm infants. Medical staff should provide guidance, encourage continuous nursing after discharge, and work with the community to implement targeted intervention measures with the goal of increasing the duration of exclusive breastfeeding among premature infants. Because breastfeeding is vitally important for premature infants, we should encourage longer breastfeeding duration for premature infants by increasing family support, removing barriers to workplace breastfeeding, enhancing people's confidence in breastfeeding and providing support to mothers with twins. Hopefully, these measure can promote breastfeeding for premature infants. • The median and interquartile range of breastfeeding duration for preterm infants in this study was 4.00 (1.00, 6.00) months. • The duration of exclusive breastfeeding is influenced by the support of family members, maternal employment, and whether the baby is a twin. • Medical staff should provide guidance, strengthen continuity of care, and increasing the duration of exclusive breastfeeding among premature infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the optimal technological parameters for rebonding zirconia brackets treated using an erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser. Er:YAG lasers with varying energies were compared with the flaming and sandblasting treatment methods. Detached zirconia brackets were treated and evaluated for shear rebond strength, bracket bottom-plate morphology, position, and depth of microleakage. They were then treated for rebonding using flaming, sandblasting, or an Er:YAG laser set at 250-mJ, 300-mJ, 350-mJ energy. Their shear rebond strength were measured using microforce tester. The topography of the treated bottom plates were observed using scanning electron microscopy. A confocal laser scanning microscope was used to measure the depth of the joint and gingival-side microleakage at the bracket-adhesive (B-A) and enamel-adhesive interfaces. With 300 mJ Er:YAG laser treatment, the detached zirconia brackets can obtain good rebonding strength and minimize the shape change of bracket bottom plates; the adhesion of the B-A interface is better than other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the ubiquitous and critical role of mobile apps in people's lives as well as the sheer size of the market, developing effective mobile app recommendation methods that can help users locate the apps they desire is critical for both users and platforms. Premised in involvement theory, we propose a novel mobile app recommendation method that integrates both users' download and browsing behaviors for mobile app recommendations, in contrast to existing methods that rely on download behaviors but neglect browsing behaviors. Specifically, we introduce a novel model that appropriately combines download and browsing behaviors to learn users' overall interests in and involvement with apps, develop a new algorithm to infer the model's parameters, and propose an innovative mobile app recommendation strategy that combines users' overall interests and their current interests to recommend apps. Finally, using data collected from one of the largest mobile app platforms in China, we demonstrate and analyze the superior performance of our method over several state-of-the-art mobile app recommendation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Dry seeding is a resource-saving rice establishment method. With an equivalent yield, dry seeded flooded rice (DSR) has been considered as a replacement for traditional transplanted flooded rice (TFR). However, the differences in leaf and root senescence during grain filling between DSR and TFR were seldom identified. In this study, the root length, root tip number and leaf senescence of rice varieties Huanghuazhan and Yangliangyou 6 during ripening were compared between DSR and TFR. Results showed that top three leaves in DSR had the characteristics of relatively lower SPAD value, lower N content and premature leaf senescence. In addition, both the total root length and total root tip number of DSR were significantly lower than those of TFR. In conclusion, premature and quick leaf senescence was related with inadequate root length and root tip number during ripening, which might result from the deficiency of nitrogen supply in DSR. Techniques on improving leaf nitrogen status and delaying the leaf senescence during grain-filling in DSR should be developed in future researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the viability of a series of nano-fluoridated hydroxyapatite (nano-FHA) formulations of varying fluoride content for the occlusion of exposed dentin tubules, in comparison to nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HA). Methods: Nano-FHA powders with varying levels of fluoride ion were synthesized to substitute hydroxyl ions (-OH) present in hydroxyapatite (HA). Nano-FHA were defined as 2nFHA, 4nFHA, 6nFHA, 8nFHA and lOnFHA, with the molar ratio of F- to Ca2+ of 0.002,0.004,0.006,0.008 and 0.01, respectively. The powders were synthesized using a wet chemistry route, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to assess cell viability toward nano-FHA. According to the content of F-, the nano-nFHA and nano-HA powders were divided into six groups, with the artificial saliva as control. They were spread over the dentin surface for 1 minute and repeated three times per day for 7 consecutive days. After washing and brushing with distilled water tor an additional 7 days, scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the in vitro plugging rate of the tubules and penetrating depth. Results: The 2nFHA, 4nFHA, 6nFHA, 8nFHA and lOnFHA powders were prepared and characterized. The 8nFHA had less crystallinity compared to 2nFHA, 4nFHA, and 6nFHA.The MTT assay (from 12 to 120 hours) showed that the cell viability of the L-929 fibroblasts in the 2nFHA, 4nFHA, 6nFHA, 8nFHA, lOnFHA, and nano-FlA groups ranged from 80.54 ± 3.35% to 112.9 ± 4.8%. Most of the nano-FHA powders successfully occluded dentin tubules. The plugging rate of 8nFHA was significantly higher than that of the 2nFHA, 4nFHA, 6nFFLA and nano-HA groups. The penetrating depth of the 8nFHA group into the tubules was also significantly higher than that of the other nano-FHA and nano-HA group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharyngolaryngeal cancer is one of the most common head and neck cancer worldwide, and the early diagnosis and prognosis prediction are still difficult because of lacking in reliable cell markers. Although the expression of CD44 has been reported to correlate with poor prognosis of pharyngolaryngeal cancer in most literatures, some controversies still exist. Since the limited patient numbers within independent studies, here we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the correlations between CD44 expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis in pharyngolaryngeal cancer. A search of PubMed, ISI Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases (up to June 2013) was performed. Nineteen studies with 1,405 patients met the inclusion criteria. The expression of pan-CD44, including all variant isoforms, was detected in 58.0% (14.1-79.2%) specimens, while CD44-v6 (variant isoform 6 of CD44) was expressed in 54.8% (12-79.2%). In pooled analysis, CD44 expression was significantly associated with larger tumor size (T category, RR (relative risk) = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.01-1.46), lymph nodes metastasis (N category, RR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.38-2.73) and poor prognosis [3-year overall survival (OS): RR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.53-0.91; 5-year OS: RR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.66-0.94]. In the stratified analysis of CD44 isoforms, high expression of CD44-v6 was related with a poor 5-year OS rate (RR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37-077). We propose that CD44 expression is associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis in pharyngolaryngeal cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semi-arid forest-steppe ecotone in China is characterized by a patchy pattern of forest and steppe, with forest patches restricted to shady slopes. To address the effect of topography on forest distribution through regulation of available water, we calculated evaporation as a function of slope aspect and inclination. Field vegetation records from randomly selected sites with minimum slope inclination were used to test the simulated forest distribution. Seasonal and diurnal changes of surface soil temperature and moisture of shady and sunny slopes were recorded. Soil water content was measured during two growing seasons on both sunny and shady slopes with the same forest type at three sites located along the mean annual precipitation (MAP) gradient. Evaporation decreases with slope inclination on shady slopes, but increases with inclination on sunny slopes. The shady slope received 35% of the annual direct solar radiation received by the sunny slope when the slope inclination was 25°, and the contrast in annual direct solar radiation between the shady and sunny slopes further widens as slope inclination increases. Steeper shady slopes can support forests in dryer climates, with log-linear regression revealing a minimum slope inclination for forest distribution along the MAP gradient. The simulated minimum slope inclination for forest growth was larger than the observed minimum inclination, and the difference was greater in wetter conditions. A larger forest area fraclion was considered to lead to a reduction in soil temperature and evaporation, as verified by soij temperature and moisture records and soil water content measurements. The slope-specific forest distribution in the semi-arid region of China can be explained by a topography-controlled soil water supply. Lower evaporation, resulting from lower direct solar radiation on shady slopes, allows shady slopes to retain a water supply sufficient for sustaining forests, and the existence of forests on shady slopes further reduces evaporation. Different tree species coexist at the xeric timberline due to regulation by slope inclination and aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor silicon plays a significant role in microelectronic industries. In this paper, the effects of H2O2 concentration on electrochemical characteristics of silicon wafers during chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) as well as under static conditions were investigated by dc polarization and ac impedance techniques. The results revealed that H2O2 concentration had a strong influence on the electrochemical behaviors of silicon wafers. The passivation strengthened with increasing H2O2 concentration under the static condition. The addition of H2O2 into the slurry increased the potential drop between static and polishing conditions, and the maximal potential drop was observed in the slurry with 1 vol % H2O2. There existed an optimal H2O2 concentration to obtain the maximum corrosion current density and polishing rate. A low surface roughness could be obtained after CMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor silicon plays a significant role in the microelectronics industry. In this paper, the effects of polishing pressure on electrochemical characteristics of silicon wafers during chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) were investigated by dc polarization and ac impedance techniques. The results revealed that polishing pressure had a strong influence on the electrochemical behavior of silicon wafers. Mechanical abrasion improved the removal of the passivating layer and enhanced the wafer oxidation rate. The corrosion current density and the polishing rate increased sublinearly with applied pressure. Also, the CMP process of silicon wafers can be considered a sequential formation causing film removal, which was confirmed by testing the change with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(S, La2O3)-codoped rutile TiO2 was synthesized by in situ hydrothermal method. The (S, La2O3)-codoped rutile TiO2 treated at 200 °C exhibited the highest photocatalytic activities for degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The synergistic effects of S and a small quantity of La2O3 made the degradation rate of MB as high as 98.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Zuogui Pills for Myelinolysis in a Rat Model of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis," by Yongping Fan and colleagues is presented.