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This study explores how life-role transitions influence tourists' intention to visit paradox destinations characterized by contradictory features. The findings from four studies indicate that major life events, such as completing education or entering matrimony, strongly intensify the desire to visit specific destinations, more so for individuals who are less seasoned in travel. This trend can be explained by an enhanced ability to engage in dialectical thinking and a greater sense of fit with the destination's paradoxical traits. This study integrates the “life-role transition” concept into the realm of tourism promotion. The study offers new insights into tourist behavior and destination appeal that enrich our understanding of destination marketing. It also provides practical implications for attracting tourists to paradox destinations.

Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) exist in dietary foods and are produced by the fermentation of gut microbiota, and are considered an important element for regulating host health. Through blood circulation, SCFA produced in the gut and obtained from foods have an impact on the intestinal health as well as vital organs of the host. It has been recognized that the gut is the “vital organ” in the host. As the gut microbial metabolites, SCFA could create an “axis” connecting the gut to other organs. Therefore, the “gut-organ axes” have become a focus of research in recent years to analyze organism health. In this review, we summarized the sources, absorption properties, and the function of SCFA in both gut and other peripheral tissues (brain, kidney, liver, lung, bone and cardiovascular) in the way of “gut-organ axes”. Short chain fatty acids exert both beneficial and pathological role in gut and other organs in various ways, in which the beneficial effects are more pronounced. In addition, the beneficial effects are reflected in both preventive and therapeutic effects. More importantly, the mechanisms behinds the gut and other tissues provided insight into the function of SCFA, assisting in the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies for maintaining the host health.

Due to the spatiotemporal focusing property of the time reversal (TR) technique, the TR operator (TRO)-based imaging method offers favorable positioning accuracy and fine distinguishability. However, the conventional singular value decomposition (SVD) for the full TRO involves significant computational complexity in large-scale arrays. To reduce the large computational complexity, this article proposes a truncated TRO (TTRO)-based imaging method that eliminates the need for SVD. In the approach, the TTRO is constructed by a block matrix from the TRO to reduce dimensionality, which reduces the complexity of decomposing the full TRO. Then, the quadrature rectangle decomposition (QRD) is employed to decompose the TTRO instead of the full TRO to acquire the signal subspace and noise subspace. Based on different subspaces, the TTRO-based imaging method can be classified into the decomposition of the TTRO (DORTT) using the signal subspace and the TTRO-multiple signal classification (TTRO-MUSIC) using the noise subspace. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed TTRO-based method significantly decreases computational complexity and saves approximately 95% of the runtime consumption compared to the conventional TRO-based imaging method. Moreover, compared to the derived propagator method-multiple signal classification (PM-MUSIC) with the estimated noise subspace, TTRO-MUSIC also provides lower computational complexity and achieves better positioning accuracy.

The accurate location of radiated passive intermodulation (R-PIM) source activated by antennas has become a tough problem in modern multicarrier wireless communication systems. In order to precisely locate multiple harmful R-PIM sources, we develop a novel imaging method called the cascaded time-reversal multiple signals classification (CTR-MUSIC). This method multiplies a group of time-reversal multiple signals classification (TR-MUSIC) pseudo-spectra together to form the new pseudo-spectrum. The cascaded multiplication highly brightens the pseudo-spectrum peaks to easily identify the positions of the R-PIM sources and suppresses the remained pseudo-spectrum approximately to 0. By combining the multiple-static data matrices (MDMs) optimized by the weak-correlation filter (WCF), the proposed method exhibits a good ability in removing the redundant frequency information. The imaging computational complexity, positioning error, and positioning resolution of CTR-MUSIC are analyzed by numerical simulations. Compared with the existing ultra-wideband TR-MUSIC (UWB-TR-MUSIC), the results show that the proposed method improves the positioning accuracy, reduces computation consumption several times, and decreases the number of detecting antennas required for the same positioning accuracy. Experimentally, the R-PIM source is located with the positioning error of 0.04 wavelength at the signal central frequency of 1.7 GHz that proves the feasibility of positioning R-PIM source using the proposed method.

The elongation of photosynthesis, or functional staygreen, represents a feasible strategy to propel metabolite flux towards cereal kernels. However, achieving this goal remains a challenge in food crops. Here we report the cloning of wheat CO2assimilation and kernel enhanced 2(cake2), the mechanism underlying the photosynthesis advantages and natural alleles amenable to breeding elite varieties. A premature stop mutation in the A-genome copy of the ASPARTIC PROTEASE 1(APP-A1) gene increased the photosynthesis rate and yield. APP1 bound and degraded PsbO, the protective extrinsic member of photosystem II critical for increasing photosynthesis and yield. Furthermore, a natural polymorphism of the APP-A1gene in common wheat reduced APP-A1’s activity and promoted photosynthesis and grain size and weight. This work demonstrates that the modification of APP1increases photosynthesis, grain size and yield potentials. The genetic resources could propel photosynthesis and high-yield potentials in elite varieties of tetraploid and hexaploid wheat.

Desert carbon sequestration plays an active role in promoting carbon neutralization. However, the current understanding of the effect of hydrothermal interactions and soil properties on desert carbon sequestration after precipitation remains unclear. Based on the experiment in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert, we found that the heavy precipitation will accelerate the weakening of abiotic carbon sequestration in deserts under the background of global warming and intensified water cycle. The high soil moisture can significantly stimulate sand to release CO2at an incredible speed by rapidly increasing microbial activity and organic matter diffusion. At this time, the CO2flux in the shifting sand was synergistically affected by soil temperature and soil moisture. As far as soil properties are concerned, with less organic carbon substrate and stronger soil alkalinity, the carbon sequestration of shifting sand is gradually highlighted and strengthened at low temperature. On the contrary, the carbon sequestration of shifting sand is gradually weakened. Our study provides a new way to assess the contribution of desert to the global carbon cycle and improve the accuracy and scope of application.

Tccis a very near-threshold state (below the D⁎+D0threshold about 273 keV). Its long-distance structure is of the significance. In the molecular scheme, we relate the coupling constants of Tccwith D⁎+D0and D⁎0D+to its binding energy and mixing angle of two components with a coupled-channel effective field theory without cutoff-dependence and prior isospin assignment. We investigate the kinetically allowed strong decays Tcc→D0D0π+, Tcc→D+D0π0and radiative decays Tcc→D+D0γand show that the decay width of Tcc→D0D0π+is the largest one, which is just the experimental observation channel. Our results show that the decay width obtained in the first analysis from LHCb collaboration in Breit-Wigner distribution is over-estimated. Our results were supported by the following experimental analysis from LHCb within unitarized Breit-Wigner formalism.

We studied the DD¯⁎/D¯D⁎, D⁎D¯⁎, D¯sD⁎/D¯s⁎D, BB¯⁎/B¯B⁎and B⁎B¯⁎di-hadron interactions in chiral effective field theory (χEFT) up to the next-to-leading (NLO) order. The above-threshold tetraquark states Zc(3900), Zc(4020), Zcs(3985), Zb(10610), Zb(10650)can be explained as the corresponding di-hadron resonances, respectively. We also studied the Σc(⁎)D¯(⁎)interactions to investigate the three hidden-charm pentaquarks Pc(4312), Pc(4440)and Pc(4457). We further used the parameters fixed from the Pcstates to predict the possible molecular states in ΞcD¯(⁎), Ξc′D¯(⁎)and Ξc⁎D¯(⁎)systems. Our predictions of the ΞcD¯(⁎)bound states are very consistent with two new near-threshold structures recently observed by the LHCb Collaboration.

Objectives: In summer 2021, the number of COVID-19–associated hospitalizations in the United States increased with the surge of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. We assessed how COVID-19 vaccine initiation and dose completion changed during the Delta variant surge, based on jurisdictional vaccination coverage before the surge.Methods: We analyzed COVID-19 vaccination data reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We classified jurisdictions (50 states and the District of Columbia) into quartiles ranging from high to low first-dose vaccination coverage among people aged ≥12 years as of June 30, 2021. We calculated first-dose vaccination coverage as of June 30 and October 31, 2021, and stratified coverage by quartile, age (12-17, 18-64, ≥65 years), and sex. We assessed dose completion among those who initiated a 2-dose vaccine series.Results: Of 51 jurisdictions, 15 reached at least 70% vaccination coverage before the Delta variant surge (ie, as of June 30, 2021), while 35 reached that goal as of October 31, 2021. Jurisdictions in the lowest quartile of vaccination coverage (44.9%-54.9%) had the greatest absolute (9.7%-17.9%) and relative (18.1%-39.8%) percentage increase in vaccination coverage during July 1–October 31, 2021. Of those who received the first dose during this period across all jurisdictions, nearly 1 in 5 missed the second dose.Conclusions: Although COVID-19 vaccination initiation increased during July 1–October 31, 2021, in jurisdictions in the lowest quartile of vaccination coverage, coverage remained below that of jurisdictions in the highest quartile of vaccination coverage before the Delta variant surge. Efforts are needed to improve access to and increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines, especially in low-coverage areas.

In this work, we focus on the great breakthroughs in BESIII and LHCb collaborations, the strange hidden charm tetraquarks Zcs(3985) and Zcs(4000). We aim to clarify the first and foremost question, whether they are the same state. The calculation is performed with a solvable nonrelativistic effective field theory which incorporates heavy quark spin symmetry, SU(3)Fsymmetry and possible violations comprehensively. Two experimentally accessible consequences with Zcs(3985) and Zcs(4000) as different states are presented, the existence of a tensor D¯s⁎D⁎resonance and suppression of decay Zcs(3985) → J/ψK. The two predictions can be used to distinguish the two-state scheme from the one-state interpretation.

To improve the heat transfer efficiency of the coolant in lead-based fast reactors, this study optimized the configuration and rotational direction of the spacer wires in fuel assemblies to design a new-pattern fuel assembly. This study conducted detailed comparisons between traditional and new pattern fuel assembly rod bundles utilizing the open-source computational fluid dynamics platform, OpenFOAM. The results indicated that the new design may significantly reduce the pressure drop along the rod bundle, which is beneficial for lowering the pressure drop. Furthermore, this new design improved coolant mixing in the subchannels, which facilitated a more uniform temperature distribution and lower thermal gradients at the assembly outlet. These factors collectively reduced the thermal fatigue and creep in nearby internal components. Overall, the new-pattern fuel assembly proposed in this study may have better heat transfer performance, thereby enhancing the Integrated Thermal-Hydraulic Factor by 48.2% compared to the traditional pattern.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Early maturity, complete defoliation and boll opening are essential for the efficient machine harvesting of cotton. Chemical topping, involving one extra application of mepiquat chloride (MC) in addition to its traditional multiple-application strategy, may be able to replace manual topping. However, it is not known whether this chemical topping technique will influence maturity or cotton responses to harvest aids. In this 2-yr field study, we determined the effects of the timing of chemical topping using various rates of MC on boll opening percentage (BOP) before application of harvest aids (50% thidiazuron·ethephon suspension concentrate, referred to as TE), and the defoliation percentage (DP) and BOP 14 days after TE application. The results indicated that late chemical topping (near the physiological cutout, when the nodes above white flower is equal to 5.0) significantly decreased BOP before TE by 5.9–11.2% compared with early (at peak bloom) or middle (seven days after peak bloom) treatments in 2019, which was a relatively normal year based on crop condition. Also, a high MC rate (270 g ha−1) showed a significantly lower (22.0%) BOP before TE than low (90 g ha−1) or medium (180 g ha−1) rates. In 2020, which was characterized by stronger vegetative growth in the late season, the late chemical topping reduced the number of leaves before TE application relative to early or middle treatments, but had lower DP (23.2–27.2%) 14 days after TE application. The high MC rate showed a leaf count before TE application that was similar to the low and medium rates, but it showed the most leaves after TE and much lower (15.0–21.7%) DP in 2020. These results suggest that late timing of chemical topping and a high MC rate decreased the sensitivity of leaves to harvest aids. Further analysis indicated that the late chemical topping mainly affected the leaf drop from the mainstem and fruiting branches where the late regrowth occurred, and the high MC rate reduced leaf shedding from these parts and also from the vegetative branches. In conclusion, chemical topping with MC during the bloom period affected cotton maturity and responses to harvest aids in different ways according to the crop condition. To avoid the risks of delayed maturity and poor defoliation after the application of harvest aids, chemical topping should not be performed too late (i.e., near the physiological cutout) by using MC at more than 180 g ha−1. The optimum timing of chemical topping probably varies from peak bloom to around seven days later, and the safest MC rates for chemical topping should be less than 180 g ha−1.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) colorimetric assays based on distance-dependent optical characteristics have been widely employed for bioanalysis. However, this assay is not effective for visually detecting low-concentration targets due to the faint color change. Here, we developed a handheld nano-centrifugal device which could separate the crosslinked and non-crosslinked AuNPs. Results showed that the handheld nano-centrifugal device could easily reach more than 6000 r/min within 10 s simply by stretching and tightening the coiled rope in an appropriate rhythm. Further, combined with the CRISPR/Cas12a nucleic acids recognition system, a field-deployable colorimetric platform termed handheld nano-centrifugal device assisted CRISPR/Cas12a (Hand-CRISPR) has been validated. Moreover, clinical diagnostics applications for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection with high sensitivity and accuracy (100% consistency with reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) test results) have been demonstrated. Overall, the Hand-CRISPR platform showed great promise in point-of-care-test (POCT) application, expected to become a powerful supplement to the standard nucleic acid testing method in remote or poverty-stricken areas.

Concentration detection sensor owing ability of ion detection is very important in health monitoring. The traditional sweat sensors often possess a complex structure, fabrication process with chemical reactions dependent performance. In this work, we present an electrical double layer (EDL)-based iontronic sensor using a simple planar double electrodes structure without employing chemical reaction for electrolytes concentration detection. When the two working electrodes are connected via an electrolyte solution, the EDL-based capacitance changes with the concentration of the electrolyte and can be used in the detection of both inorganic and organic electrolytes. The electrical measurements show that the capacitance has a good linear relationship with the concentration of NaCl solution with a range of 0.05–10 mM, with the R-square value of 99.9%. The sensor shows a high concentration resolution of 0.01 mM and possesses both concentration detection and molecular size identification upon combining a microporous membrane. The capacitive iontronic sensor shows great potential for applications in the detection of the salinity of seawater, biological ionic liquid, and assistance for disabled people who lose their sense of taste.

Defoliation is an indispensable step in cotton production with mechanical harvesting, especially in the North China Plain (NCP) where mechanical harvesting is limited by a large proportion of green leaves and unopened bolls at harvest time due to insufficient thermal resources. It is essential to quantify the optimal use of defoliation products while minimizing yield and quality loss in China. The objective of this study was to test the effect of a new defoliant Xinsaili (XSL, a compound of 10% thidiazuron and 40% ethephon) on the spatial distribution of cotton leaves and bolls, yield and quality in the NCP. There were four treatments: XSL 1800 mL ha–1, XSL 2700 mL ha–1, XSL splitted into two equal applications (1350 mL ha–1for each), and XSL-free (water) control. Field experiments were conducted in Hebei, China in 2016–2017. All the defoliant treatments did not significantly affect cotton yield and fiber quality compared with the water control. At harvest time, the rate of open bolls under XSL 2700 mL ha–1was 13.5% higher than that under XSL-free control, while the other two treatments showed no significant difference, across the two years. Defoliation percentage of the three XSL treatments showed no difference, but they were on average 42.2% higher than that of XSL-free control. The year-round effect of the defoliant XSL was significant, indicating that climate factors would affect its application. It was concluded that the optimal dose of XSL in the NCP was 2700 mL ha–1, and it was unnecessary to split it into two applications. These results would promote cotton mechanical harvesting and reduce the labor cost of cotton production in China.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

ABSTRACTSenile osteoporosis (OP) is often concomitant with decreased autophagic activity. OPTN (optineurin), a macroautophagy/autophagy (hereinafter referred to as autophagy) receptor, is found to play a pivotal role in selective autophagy, coupling autophagy with bone metabolism. However, its role in osteogenesis is still mysterious. Herein, we identified Optnas a critical molecule of cell fate decision for bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), whose expression decreased in aged mice. Aged mice revealed osteoporotic bone loss, elevated senescence of MSCs, decreased osteogenesis, and enhanced adipogenesis, as well as optn–/ –mice. Importantly, restoring Optnby transplanting wild-type MSCs to optn–/ –mice or infecting optn–/ –mice with Optn-containing lentivirus rescued bone loss. The introduction of a loss-of-function mutant of OptnK193Rfailed to reestablish a bone-fat balance. We further identified FABP3 (fatty acid binding protein 3, muscle and heart) as a novel selective autophagy substrate of OPTN. FABP3 promoted adipogenesis and inhibited osteogenesis of MSCs. Knockdown of FABP3 alleviated bone loss in optn–/ –mice and aged mice. Our study revealed that reduced OPTN expression during aging might lead to OP due to a lack of FABP3 degradation via selective autophagy. FABP3 accumulation impaired osteogenesis of MSCs, leading to the occurrence of OP. Thus, reactivating OPTN or inhibiting FABP3 would open a new avenue to treat senile OP.Abbreviations:ADIPOQ: adiponectin, C1Q and collagen domain containing; ALPL: alkaline phosphatase, liver/bone/kidney; BGLAP/OC/osteocalcin: bone gamma carboxyglutamate protein; BFR/BS: bone formation rate/bone surface; CALCOCO2/NDP52: calcium binding and coiled-coil domain 2; CDKN1A/p21: cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A; CDKN2A/p16: cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A; CDKN2B/p15: cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2B; CEBPA: CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP), alpha; COL1A1: collagen, type I, alpha 1; Ct. BV/TV: cortical bone volume fraction; Ct. Th: cortical thickness; Es. Pm: endocortical perimeter; FABP4/Ap2: fatty acid binding protein 4, adipocyte; H2AX: H2A.X variant histone; HE: hematoxylin and eosin; MAP1LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MAR: mineral apposition rate; MSCs: bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells; NBR1: NBR1, autophagy cargo receptor; OP: osteoporosis; OPTN: optineurin; PDB: Paget disease of bone; PPARG: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma; Ps. Pm: periosteal perimeter; qRT-PCR: quantitative real-time PCR; γH2AX: Phosphorylation of the Serine residue of H2AX; ROS: reactive oxygen species; RUNX2: runt related transcription factor 2; SA-GLB1: senescence-associated (SA)-GLB1 (galactosidase, beta 1); SP7/Osx/Osterix: Sp7 transcription factor 7; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TAX1BP1: Tax1 (human T cell leukemia virus type I) binding protein 1; Tb. BV/TV: trabecular bone volume fraction; Tb. N: trabecular number; Tb. Sp: trabecular separation; Tb. Th: trabecular thickness; μCT: micro computed tomography.

IMPORTANCE: Multiple inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) occurs in association with the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics and geographic and temporal distribution of the largest cohort of patients with MIS-C in the United States to date. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analysis was conducted on clinical and laboratory data collected from patients with MIS-C. The analysis included patients with illness onset from March 2020 to January 2021 and met MIS-C case definition. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Geographic and temporal distribution of MIS-C was compared with that of COVID-19 nationally, by region, and level of urbanicity by county. Clinical and laboratory findings and changes over time were described by age group and by presence or absence of preceding COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 1733 patients with MIS-C were identified; 994 (57.6%) were male and 1117 (71.3%) were Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black. Gastrointestinal symptoms, rash, and conjunctival hyperemia were reported by 53% (n = 931) to 67% (n = 1153) of patients. A total of 937 patients (54%) had hypotension or shock, and 1009 (58.2%) were admitted for intensive care. Cardiac dysfunction was reported in 484 patients (31.0%), pericardial effusion in 365 (23.4%), myocarditis in 300 (17.3%), and coronary artery dilatation or aneurysms in 258 (16.5%). Patients aged 0 to 4 years had the lowest proportion of severe manifestations, although 171 patients (38.4%) had hypotension or shock and 197 (44.3%) were admitted for intensive care. Patients aged 18 to 20 years had the highest proportions with myocarditis (17 [30.9%]), pneumonia (20 [36.4%]), acute respiratory distress syndrome (10 [18.2%]), and polymerase chain reaction positivity (39 [70.9%]). These older adolescents also had the highest proportion reporting preceding COVID-19–like illness (63%). Nationally, the first 2 MIS-C peaks followed the COVID-19 peaks by 2 to 5 weeks. The cumulative MIS-C incidence per 100 000 persons younger than 21 years was 2.1 and varied from 0.2 to 6.3 by state. Twenty-four patients (1.4%) died. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional study of a large cohort of patients with MIS-C, 2 peaks that followed COVID-19 peaks by 2 to 5 weeks were identified. The geographic and temporal association of MIS-C with the COVID-19 pandemic suggested that MIS-C resulted from delayed immunologic responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The clinical manifestations varied by age and by presence or absence of preceding COVID-19.

By integrating topology optimization and lattice-based optimization, a novel multi-scale design method is proposed to create solid-lattice hybrid structures and thus to improve the mechanical performance as well as reduce the structural weight. To achieve this purpose, a two-step procedure is developed to design and optimize the innovative structures. Initially, the classical topology optimization is utilized to find the optimal material layout and primary load carrying paths. Afterwards, the solid-lattice hybrid structures are reconstructed using the finite element mesh based modeling method. And lattice-based optimization is performed to obtain the optimal cross-section area of the lattice structures. Finally, two typical aerospace structures are optimized to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed optimization framework. The numerical results are quite encouraging since the solid-lattice hybrid structures obtained by the presented approach show remarkably improved performance when compared with traditional designs.

The healing process of diabetic wounds is typically disordered and prolonged and requires both angiogenesis and epithelialization. Disruptions of the endogenous electric fields (EFs) may lead to disordered cell migration. Electrical stimulation (ES) that mimics endogenous EFs is a promising method in treating diabetic wounds; however, a microenvironment that facilitates cell migration and a convenient means that can be used to apply ES are also required. Chitosan-Vaseline® gauze (CVG) has been identified to facilitate wound healing; it also promotes moisture retention and immune regulation and has antibacterial activity. For this study, we created a wound dressing using CVG together with a flexible ES device and further evaluated its potential as a treatment for diabetic wounds. We found that high voltage monophasic pulsed current (HVMPC) promoted healing of diabetic wounds in vivo. In studies carried out in vitro, we found that HVMPC promoted the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by activating PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling. Overall, we determined that the flexible ES-chitosan dressing may promoted healing of diabetic wounds by accelerating angiogenesis, enhancing epithelialization, and inhibiting scar formation. These findings provide support for the ongoing development of this multidisciplinary product for the care and treatment of diabetic wounds.

ABSTRACTExercise (Ex) has long been recognized to produce beneficial effects on hypertension (HTN). This coupled with evidence of gut dysbiosis and an impaired gut-brain axis led us to hypothesize that reshaping of gut microbiota and improvement in impaired gut-brain axis would, in part, be associated with beneficial influence of exercise. Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were randomized into sedentary, trained, and detrained groups. Trained rats underwent moderate-intensity exercise for 12 weeks, whereas, detrained groups underwent 8 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise followed by 4 weeks of detraining. Fecal microbiota, gut pathology, intestinal inflammation, and permeability, brain microglia and neuroinflammation were analyzed. We observed that exercise training resulted in a persistent decrease in systolic blood pressure in the SHR. This was associated with increase in microbial α diversity, altered β diversity, and enrichment of beneficial bacterial genera. Furthermore, decrease in the number of activated microglia, neuroinflammation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, improved gut pathology, inflammation, and permeability were also observed in the SHR following exercise. Interestingly, short-term detraining did not abolish these exercise-mediated improvements. Finally, fecal microbiota transplantation from exercised SHR into sedentary SHR resulted in attenuated SBP and an improved gut-brain axis. These observations support our concept that an impaired gut-brain axis is linked to HTN and exercise ameliorates this impairment to induce antihypertensive effects.

The chloroplast is a type of subcellular organelle of green plants and eukaryotic algae, which plays an important role in the photosynthesis process. Since the function of a protein correlates with its location, knowing its subchloroplast localization is helpful for elucidating its functions. However, due to a large number of chloroplast proteins, it is costly and time-consuming to design biological experiments to recognize subchloroplast localizations of these proteins. To address this problem, during the past ten years, twelve computational prediction methods have been developed to predict protein subchloroplast localization. This review summarizes the research progress in this area. We hope the review could provide important guide for further computational study on protein subchloroplast localization.

AbstractMobile payment generally refers to transactions made through the applications of a portable electronic gadget without the transfer of cash. As one of the most disruptive technologies for finance, mobile payment has been rapidly transforming the traditional financial industry. While it brings important benefits, there are also various risks, in terms of liquidity, security, and data privacy, that call for adequate regulatory responses. As a global financial centre, Hong Kong has gradually established a regulatory framework for mobile payment, addressing the relevant risks with rules on payment and privacy. However, there is still room for further improvement, in terms of measures to deal with cybersecurity issues and strengthen the protection of personal data. The Hong Kong experiences suggest that, to regulate a new and fast-growing industry such as mobile payment, the regulatory regime needs to be improved continuously to alleviate the risk concerns, so as to enhance the protection of financial consumers and society at large.

•We did a meta-analysis to assess the accuracy and applicability of MHT, Carba NP, mCIM, and MALDI-TOF MS for CPE detection.•Carba NP, mCIM and MALDI-TOF MS all demonstrated high accuracies in CPE detection, while MHT was not recommended.•We recommended the selection of carbapenemase detection tests in the order of mCIM, Carba NP and MALDI-TOF MS.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture-moxibustion at different intervals on persistent allergic rhinitis.

Small modular thorium-based graphite-moderated molten salt reactors (smTMSRs), which combine the advantages of small modular reactors and molten salt reactors, are regarded as a wise development path to speed deployment time. In a smTMSR, low enriched uranium and thorium fuels are used in once-through mode, which makes a marked difference in their neutronic properties compared with the case when a conventional molten salt breeder reactor is used. This study investigated the temperature reactivity coefficient (TRC) in a smTMSR, which is mainly affected by the molten salt volume fraction (VF) and the heavy nuclei concentration in the fuel salt (HN). The four-factor formula method and the reaction rate method were used to indicate the reasons for the TRC change, including the fuel density effect, the fuel Doppler effect, and the graphite thermal scattering effect. The results indicate that only the fuel density has a positive effect on the TRC in the undermoderated region. Thermal scattering from both salt and graphite has a significant negative influence on the TRC in the overmoderated region. The maximal effective multiplication factor, which shows the highest fuel utilization, is located at 10% VF and 12 mol% HN and is still located in the negative TRC region. In addition, on increasing the heavy nuclei amount from 2 mol% HN to 12 mol% HN (VF = 10%), the total TRC undergoes an obvious change from − 11 to − 3 pcm/K, which implies that the change in the HN caused by the fuel feed online should be small to avoid potential trouble in the reactivity control scheme.

Therapeutic goals for metastatic breast cancer, including shrinkage of established metastasis and suppression of movement of tumor cells, are often hard to achieve and remain the main obstacles restricting the antimetastatic efficacy of targeted drug delivery systems (TDDSs). Herein, we proposed an E-selectin-targeting nanoplatform for the systemic treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Versatile functions, including killing the circulating tumor cells, shrinking the established lesions, as well as inhibiting the movement of tumor cells, were integrated into doxorubicin-loaded sialic acid-dextran-octadecanoic acid (SDO) micelles (SDD). The prepared SDD micelles could not only inhibit lung and liver metastasis in the orthotopic 4T1 tumors model, but also decrease the metastatic lesions in the metastatic 4T1 cell model, resulting in 27.33% reduced number of metastatic nodules when compared to those without sialic acid modification. It was found that the good antimetastatic effect of SDD was only partially attributed to its ability on removing metastatic cells and metastases. Most importantly, the blank SDO micelles left in the lesion could further inhibit the cell migration and cell–cell binding. These results suggest that SA-driven TDDS has the potential for specific targeting and effective treatment of cancer metastasis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the frequently-encountered disease and commonly seen in clinic. Acupuncture-moxibustion therapy brings the significant therapeutic effects on it. In order to achieve the significant effects on AR, the relevant key factors should be determined definitely in treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion therapy. In the combination of the theoretic study with clinical practice, the authors expounded the key factors in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for AR, including the identification of disease and syndrome of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the differentiation of meridians, acupoint selection, manipulation key factors and timing. Moreover, the authors proposed a new pointcut for the future clinical research, aiming to further optimize the therapeutic regimen of acupuncture and moxibusiton for AR.

Objective A high number of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis who have not had surgery often have a negative outlook. Radiotherapy remains a most common and effective method. Nomograms were developed to forecast the cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC individuals with nonoperative brain metastases who underwent radiotherapy.Methods Information was gathered from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database about patients diagnosed with NSCLC who had brain metastases not suitable for surgery. Nomograms were created and tested using multivariate Cox regression models to forecast CSS and OS at intervals of 1, 2, and 3 years.Results The research involved 3413 individuals diagnosed with NSCLC brain metastases who had undergone radiotherapy but had not experienced surgery. These participants were randomly divided into two categories. The analysis revealed that gender, age, ethnicity, marital status, tumor location, tumor laterality, tumor grade, histology, T stage, N stage, chemotherapy, tumor size, lung metastasis, bone metastasis, and liver metastasis were significant independent predictors for OS and CSS. The C-index for the training set for predicting OS was .709 (95% CI, .697-.721), and for the validation set, it was .705 (95% CI, .686-.723), respectively. The C-index for predicting CSS was .710 (95% CI, .697-.722) in the training set and .703 (95% CI, .684-.722) in the validation set, respectively. The nomograms model, as suggested by the impressive C-index, exhibits outstanding differentiation ability. Moreover, the ROC and calibration curves reveal its commendable precision and distinguishing potential.Conclusions For the first time, highly accurate and reliable nomograms were developed to predict OS and CSS in NSCLC patients with non-surgical brain metastases, who have undergone radiotherapy treatment. The nomograms may assist in tailoring counseling strategies and choosing the most effective treatment method.

Fatty acids (FAs) in human milk (HM) are essential for infant growth and development, particularly during the first six months of life. In infant formula (IF), FAs mainly originate from bovine milk (BM). However, comparative data on FA patterns and structures across HM, BM, and IF are limited. This review, analyzing 37 studies from 2018 to 2023, provides a comprehensive FA characteristic, highlighting their differences in macroscopic patterns and key structures. For detectable FAs, HM, and BM exhibit more diverse FAs species compared to IF. HM is richer in monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA), while BM contains higher levels of saturated FAs (SFA), placing IF between the two. The content of MUFA (except for C18:1 c9, c20:1 c9) and PUFA (C18:2 n6, c18:2 c9 t11, c18:2 t10.c12, and c18:3 n3) in IF should be increased and the content of SFA (C6:0, C8:0, C11:0, C12:0, C17:0) should be reduced in order to more closely simulate HM. The differences between HM and IF may be attributed to the use of BM as a base ingredient, mainly reflected in profile, structure, stability, and bioavailability. Despite the latest advancements such as the addition of structural lipid 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol and milk fat globule membranes, fully replicating the complexity and functionality of HM FAs in IF remains challenging. Further investigation into these aspects could reveal new insights into how HM supports optimal infant health and development, providing the foundation for even more advanced IF formulations.

Background: The average worker gains 2–3 lb (0.9–1.4 kg) a year, about half of which is gained during the fall holiday season (Halloween through New Year’s).Aim: The aim of the study was to conduct a pilot test of a weight gain prevention program that was implemented in a workplace setting during the fall holiday season.Methods: 239 state government employees participated in a weight gain prevention program offered during the fall holiday season. The program was a 10-week, team-based program that consisted of self-monitoring, regular weigh-ins, a team challenge, and organizational support. Weight was measured at baseline, every two weeks during the program, and post-program.Results: Participants lost a significant amount of weight (from 196.7 lb/89.2 kg to 192.3 lb/87.2 kg) during the program. Positive changes were observed in physical activity and eating behaviors.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a weight gain prevention program during a high risk period (fall holiday season) can be effective.

ABSTRACTRadiation resistance results in the recurrence and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after radiotherapy. A major cause of radiation resistance is subversion of immune surveillance and clearance. Although our previous research has demonstrated that programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is responsible for radiation resistance in NSCLC, PD-L1 alone was not a reliable predictor of radiotherapy efficacy. For further exploration of the predictors of radiotherapy efficacy, which could add accuracy to the single biomarker – PD-L1, immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry assay was performed to identify proteins that interact with PD-L1, and flotillin-1 (FLOT1) was detected as a candidate. However, the role of FLOT1 in radiation resistance in NSCLC is largely unknown. Here, we defined FLOT1 as a positive regulator of PD-L1 at the cell level, and the expression of PD-L1 was reduced following FLOT1 depletion. Furthermore, we found that the knockdown of FLOT1 impeded radiation-mediated cell migration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition process. Moreover, FLOT1 depletion enhanced radiation-induced DNA damage, thereby increasing the radiation lethality for NSCLC cells and promoting radiation-mediated tumor regression in animal models and patients with NSCLC. Furthermore, FLOT1 depletion-boosted DNA damage activated STING signaling pathway and promoted the production of CCL5 and CXCL10 that can drive CD8+ T lymphocytes chemotaxis, thereby reprogramming tumor immune microenvironment and triggering the antitumor immune response. Indeed, FLOT1 expression correlated with infiltration of immune cells in NSCLC tumor tissue samples. Taken together, our findings reported an unexplored role of FLOT1 in radiotherapy and also provided an evidence base for FLOT1 as a promising biomarker to predict the response to radiotherapy and a potential therapeutic target for enhancing radiotherapy effects.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of vonoprazan–amoxicillin (VA) dual therapy for radically eradicating Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori). Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge  Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases were searched up to July 7, 2022, to identify clinical trials comparing the efficacy of VA dual therapy and triple therapy for H. pylorieradication. After evaluating the quality of the included studies, random effects models were conducted, and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the efficacy and safety of each approach. Results: Six publications (including four randomized controlled trials) involving 2019 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the eradication rate for VA dual therapy was 89.9%, while it was 85.2% for triple therapy based on other acid inhibitors. The eradication rate of H. pyloriin the VA dual regimen group was higher than that in the PPI-based (omeprazole or lansoprazole) triple therapy group (RR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.07–1.23, p < 0.0001). However, the efficacy of VA dual therapy was comparable with VA–Clarithromycin (VAC) triple therapy (RR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.93–1.02). Besides, the incidence of adverse reactions in VA dual therapy was also lower than that in triple therapy (RR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.70–0.91, p = 0.0009). Conclusion: Compared with PPI-based triple therapy, VA dual therapy showed a better therapeutic effect, safety and patient compliance rate for eradicating H. pylori, which should be used as a novel curative strategy in the future.

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) represents the most prevalent form of hair loss, mainly driven by the overactivation of androgen receptors in the hair follicle by dihydrotestosterone. While it does not compromise the physical health of individuals, AGA can substantially influence their psychological well-being and quality of life. Early diagnosis and intervention could considerably decelerate hair loss progression and improve patients' quality of life. Exosomes, or extracellular vehicles (EVs), are nanoscale vesicles secreted by various cell types. They harbor a wide variety of therapeutically active substances and exhibit potential in treating dermatological conditions such as hair regeneration, wound healing, and oxidative stress. In recent years, stem cell-derived exosomes, which exhibit functionalities akin to stem cells themselves, have demonstrated efficacious therapeutic roles in diverse pathological models, holding particular advantages over cell therapy in repairing damaged hair follicles and promoting follicular regrowth. Therefore, this article reviews the therapeutic effects and regeneration mechanisms of various exosomes on AGA, in order to shed light on the potential clinical management of hair loss-related conditions.

An ointment containing retinoic acid deformable liposomes (TRA DLs) and epidermal growth factor cationic deformable liposomes (EGF CDLs) was prepared for the treatment of deep partial-thickness burns. The characterization tests confirmed both liposomes featured small particle sizes, high drug entrapment efficiencies and sustained drug release behavior. Compared with the free drug, TRA DLs and EGF CDLs exhibited superior skin permeation and remarkably increased drug deposition by 2.9 and 18.8 folds, respectively. Results on HaCaT cells indicated the combined application of two liposomes exerted a synergistic effect and prominently promoted cell proliferation and migration. Application of the dual liposomal ointment on a deep partial-thickness burn model stimulated wound closure (p< 0.001), promoted skin appendage formation and increased collagen production, thus improving healing quality. Finally, it was demonstrated that TRA significantly up-regulated the expression of EGFR and HB-EGF to enhance the therapeutic effect of EGF. Therefore, the dual liposomal ointment is a promising topical therapeutic for burn treatment.

Lodging is the most important constraint for soybean growth at seedling stage in maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system. In the field experiments, three soybean cultivars Nandou 032-4 (shade susceptible cultivar; B1), Jiuyuehuang (moderately shade tolerant cultivar; B2), and Nandou 12 (shade tolerant cultivar; B3) were used to evaluate the relationship between stem stress and lignin metabolism in the stem of soybean. Results showed that the intercropped soybean was in variable light condition throughout the day time and co-growth stage with maize. The xylem area and cross section ratio played a main role to form the stem stress. The B3 both in intercropping and monocropping expressed a high stem stress with higher xylem area, lignin content, and activity of enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), and peroxidase (POD)) than those of B1 and B2. Among the soybean cultivars and planting pattern, lignin content was positively correlated with stem stress. However, a negative correlation was found between lignin content and actual rate of lodging. In conclusion, the shade tolerant soybean cultivar had larger xylem area, higher lignin content and activities of CAD, 4CL, PAL, and POD than other soybean cultivars in intercropping. The lodging in maize-soybean intercropping can be minimized by planting shade tolerant and lodging resistant cultivar of soybean. The lignin content in stem could be a useful indicator for the evaluation of lodging resistance of soybean in intercropping and activities of enzymes were the key factors that influence the lignin biosynthesis.

Porous nanostructures with high specific surface area and small-sized nanoparticles always exhibit an extraordinary electrochemical catalysis. In this study, we report an efficient method to obtain size-controllable Co9S8derived from metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as a bi-functional catalyst. The particle size of Co9S8could be finely controlled by tuning the Zn/Co molar ratios in the precursors. The obtained material exhibited optimal performance towards oxygen reactions and zinc–air batteries. The prominent electrochemical properties are mainly ascribed to the synergistic effect of small-sized Co9S8and the heteroatom-doped carbon matrix.

A novel silica-supported tert-butyl 2-picolyamino-N-acetate chelating resin (Si-AMPY-1) was successfully synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, SEM and 13C CP/MAS NMR. The adsorption behaviors of the Si-AMPY-1 resin for Cu(II) and Ni(II) were studied with batch and column methods. The batch experiments indicated that the Si-AMPY-1 resin adsorbed Ni(II) mainly via physisorption, while adsorbed Cu(II) via chemisorption. The column dynamic breakthrough curves revealed that the Si-AMPY-1 resin can efficiently separate Cu(II) from the simulated nickel electrolyte before the breakthrough point. Moreover, the concentration of Cu(II) in the column effluent was decreased to be less than 3 mg/L within the first 43 BV (bed volumes), and the mass ratio of Cu/Ni was 21:1 in the saturated resin, which completely satisfied the industrial requirements of the nickel electrorefining process. Therefore, it was concluded that the Si-AMPY-1 resin can be a promising candidate for the deep removal of Cu(II) from the nickel electrolyte.

Both targeted and stimuli-sensitive drug-delivery systems (DDSs) have been developed to augment antitumor effects. However, lack of knowledge regarding tumor tissue targeting and different effects of the stimuli-sensitive DDSs in orthotropic and ectopic tumors have impeded further advances in their clinical applications. Herein, we first reported a pH-triggered micelle with sialic acid (SA)-driven targeting ability (SA–poly(ethylene glycol)–hydrazone linker-doxorubicin (DOX), SPD). The SPD micelles encapsulated with DOX (SPDD) showed sustained drug release over 48 h in response to the pH gradient in vivo, slow under physical conditions and accelerated in the acid tumor microenvironment. In addition, the SPD micelles showed 2.3-fold higher accumulation in tumors after 48 h compared to the micelles lacking the SA moiety. The overexpression of E-selectin on the inflammatory vascular endothelial cells surrounding the tumors increased the accumulation of SPD micelles in tumor tissues, whereas that on the tumor cells increased the internalization of micelles. Consequently, SPDD micelles exerted remarkable antitumor effects in both orthotopic and ectopic models. Application of SPDD micelles in the in situ model reduced the tumor volume (77.57 mm3vs 62.13 mm3) and metastasis after treatment for 25 days. These results suggest that SA-driven targeted DDS with a pH-responsive switch has the potential to treat hepatocarcinoma effectively both ectopically and orthotopically.

Targeted drug delivery systems (TDDS) have attracted wide attention for their reduced drug side effects and improved antitumor efficacy in comparison with traditional preparations. While targeting moieties in existing TDDS have principally focused on recognition of receptors on the surface of tumor cells, accumulation into tumor tissue only could be performed by enhanced permeability and retention effects and active transportation into tumor cells. Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded sialic acid–dextran (Dex)–octadecanoic acid (OA) micelles (SA–Dex–OA/DOX) were designed for targeting hepatocellular carcinoma effectively. The synthesized conjugates could self-aggregate to form micelles with a critical micelle concentration of 27.6 μg·mL–1and diameter of 54.53 ± 3.23 nm. SA–Dex–OA micelles incorporated with 4.36% DOX-loading content could prolong in vitro drug release to 96 h with 80% of final release. Cellular transportation studies revealed that SA–Dex–OA micelles mediated more efficient DOX delivery into Bel-7402 cells than those without SA modification. In vivo biodistribution testing demonstrated that SA–Dex–OA/ICG micelles showed 3.05-fold higher accumulation into Bel-7402 tumors. The recognition of overexpressed E-selectin in inflammatory tumor vascular endothelial cells led to a large accumulation of SA–Dex–OA/ICG micelles into tumor tissue, and the E-selectin upregulated on the surface of tumor cells contributed to active cellular transportation into tumor cells. Accordingly, SA–Dex–OA/DOX exhibited prior suppression of Bel-7402 tumor growth greater than that of Dex–OA/DOX micelles and free DOX (the tumor inhibition: 79.2% vs 61.0 and 51.3%). These results suggest that SA-functionalized micelles with dual targeting properties have high potential for liver cancer therapy.

To clarify how shade stress affects lignin biosynthesis in soybean stem, two varieties, Nandou 12 (shade tolerant) and Nan 032-4 (shade susceptible) grew under normal light and shade conditions (the photosynthetically active radiation and the ratio of red:far-red were lower than normal light condition). Lignin accumulation, transcripts of genes involved in lignin biosynthesis, and intermediates content of lignin biosynthesis were analyzed. Both soybean varieties suffered shade stress had increased plant heights and internode lengths, and reduced stem diameters and lignin accumulation in stems. The expression levels of lignin-related genes were significantly influenced by shade stress, with interactions between the light environment and variety. The gene of 3-hydroxylase (C3H), cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR),caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT), and peroxidase (POD)attributed to lignin biosynthesis under shade stress, and the down-regulation of these genes resulted in lower caffeic, sinapic, and ferulic acid levels, which caused a further decrease in lignin biosynthesis. Under shade stress, the shade tolerant soybean variety (Nandou 12) showed stiffer stems, higher lignin content, and greater gene expression level and higher metabolite contents than shade susceptible one. So these characteristics could be used for screening the shade-tolerant soybean for intercropping.

Vertebrate glycoproteins and glycolipids are synthesized in complex biosynthetic pathways localized predominantly within membrane compartments of the secretory pathway. The enzymes that catalyze these reactions are exquisitely specific, yet few have been extensively characterized because of challenges associated with their recombinant expression as functional products. We used a modular approach to create an expression vector library encoding all known human glycosyltransferases, glycoside hydrolases, and sulfotransferases, as well as other glycan-modifying enzymes. We then expressed the enzymes as secreted catalytic domain fusion proteins in mammalian and insect cell hosts, purified and characterized a subset of the enzymes, and determined the structure of one enzyme, the sialyltransferase ST6GalNAcII. Many enzymes were produced at high yields and at similar levels in both hosts, but individual protein expression levels varied widely. This expression vector library will be a transformative resource for recombinant enzyme production, broadly enabling structure–function studies and expanding applications of these enzymes in glycochemistry and glycobiology.

Steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) accident is an important scenario needed to be considered in the safety analysis of lead-based fast reactors. When the steam generator tube breaks close to the main pump, water vapor will enter the reactor core, resulting in a two-phase flow of heavy liquid metal and water vapor in fuel assemblies. The thermal-hydraulic problems caused by the SGTR accident may seriously threaten reactor core’s safety performance. In this paper, the open-source CFD calculation software OpenFOAM was used to encapsulate the improved Euler method into the self-developed solver LBEsteamEulerFoam. By changing different heating boundary conditions and inlet coolant types, the two-phase flow in the fuel assembly with different inlet gas content was simulated under various accident conditions. The calculation results show that the water vapor may accumulate in edge and corner channels. With the increase in inlet water vapor content, outlet coolant velocity increases gradually. When the inlet water vapor content is more than 15%, the outlet coolant temperature rises sharply with strong temperature fluctuation. When the inlet water vapor content is in the range of 5–20%, the upper part of the fuel assembly will gradually accumulate to form large bubbles. Compared with the VOF method, Euler method has higher computational efficiency. However, Euler method may cause an underestimation of the void fraction, so it still needs to be calibrated with future experimental data of the two-phase flow in fuel assembly.

Reducing losses caused by pathogens is an effective strategy for stabilizing crop yields. Daunting challenges remain in cloning and characterizing genes that inhibit stripe rust, a devastating disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) caused by Puccinia striiformisf. sp. tritici(Pst). We found that suppression of wheat zeaxanthin epoxidase 1 (ZEP1) increased wheat defense against Pst. We isolated the yellow rust slower 1(yrs1) mutant of tetraploid wheat in which a premature stop mutation in ZEP1-Bunderpins the phenotype. Genetic analyses revealed increased H2O2accumulation in zep1mutants and demonstrated a correlation between ZEP1dysfunction and slower Pstgrowth in wheat. Moreover, wheat kinase START 1.1 (WKS1.1, Yr36) bound, phosphorylated, and suppressed the biochemical activity of ZEP1. A rare natural allele in the hexaploid wheat ZEP1-Bpromoter reduced its transcription and Pstgrowth. Our study thus identified a novel suppressor of Pst, characterized its mechanism of action, and revealed beneficial variants for wheat disease control. This work opens the door to stacking wheat ZEP1variants with other known Pstresistance genes in future breeding programs to enhance wheat tolerance to pathogens.

Chronic disease rates have become more prevalent in the modern American workforce, which has negative implications for workplace productivity and healthcare costs. Offering workplace health interventions is recognized as an effective strategy to reduce chronic disease progression, absenteeism, and healthcare costs as well as improve population health. This review documents intervention and evaluation strategies used for health promotion programs delivered in workplaces. Using predetermined search terms in five online databases, we identified 1,131 published items from 1995 to 2014. Of these items, 27 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria; reporting data from completed United States-based workplace interventions that recruited at-risk employees based on their disease or disease-related risk factors. A content rubric was developed and used to catalogue these 27 published field studies. Selected workplace interventions targeted obesity (n=13), cardiovascular diseases (n=8), and diabetes (n=6). Intervention strategies included instructional education/counseling (n=20), workplace environmental change (n=6), physical activity (n=10), use of technology (n=10), and incentives (n=13). Self-reported data (n=21), anthropometric measurements (n=17), and laboratory tests (n=14) were used most often in studies with outcome evaluation. This is the first literature review to focus on interventions for employees with elevated risk for chronic diseases. The review has the potential to inform future workplace health interventions by presenting strategies related to implementation and evaluation strategies in workplace settings. These strategies can help determine optimal worksite health programs based on the unique characteristics of work settings and the health risk factors of their employee populations.

Coalbed methane (CBM) has made significant contributions to global energy supply and carbon neutrality. The stress sensitivity effect (SSE) is an important factor that influences CBM production, and it indicates that reservoir properties change with stress. Although there is abundant research on the SSE in CBM, most studies are based on theoretical analyses or laboratory physical simulations. Only few studies focused on the SSE of CBM during field production. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the SSE through a field experiment. To this end, a field well from the Mabidong CBM block in the southern Qinshui Basin is selected. Then, the corresponding experimental installations are set up. A parametric inversion method based on the Newman product method and type curve matching is established to interpret the experimental data. The entire experimental process includes six stages of pressure build tests, lasting for 290 days. The field experiment data are inverted using the parametric inversion method. The SSE in the CBM during production is revealed by analyzing the variations in the formation parameters of each stage. The results indicate that both the permeability and fracture half-length are related to the average pressure. The average pressure declines as the production proceeds, and this leads to an increase in the effective stress and a decrease in the permeability and fracture half-length. Relationships between permeability, fracture half-length, and average pressure are derived, and they can be used to better interpret the dynamic production data of CBM wells in the Mabidong Block. Moreover, these results indicate that decreasing the flow rate can mitigate the SSE, especially when the gas desorbs. Thus, during CBM production, the flow rate needs to be strictly controlled for maintaining a stable pressure drop and reducing reservoir damage caused by the SSE.