Search

Capacitive deionization is an energy-saving and environmentally friendly brackish water desalination technology. The performance of capacitive deionization is influenced by two significant factors: electrode materials and device configurations. Three types of commercially available supercapacitor carbons AC1, AC2, and AC3 were used to characterize and optimize them for electrode production. The results demonstrate that AC2 activated carbon exhibits the highest specific surface area (1 908.4 m2·g-1) and specific capacitance (67.8 F·g-1). And AC2's internal pore resistance is also the lowest. Therefore, AC2 was chosen as the electrode material to study the operation of plate and roll devices under different experimental conditions. The optimal working voltage of the two configurations was 1.6 V, the temperature was 25 ℃, the optimal flow rate of the plate device was 60 mL·min-1, and for the roll device it was 360 mL·min-1. Under the optimal working conditions, the desalination amount per unit area and current efficiency of the roll device are 1 569.7 mg·m-2 and 46.7% respectively, much bigger than 696.5 mg·m-2 and 11.3% of the plate device. These results indicate that the roll device outperforms the plate device in terms of desalination performance and charge efficiency.(电容去离子是一种节能环保的新兴盐水淡化技术，电极材料与装置是影响电容去离子性能的两大重要因素。分别对3种市售超级电容活性炭AC1、AC2、AC3进行表征并择优开展后续实验，结果表明，AC2活性炭的比表面积与比电容最大，分别为1 908.4 m2·g-1和67.8 F·g-1，内部孔隙电阻最小。因此，以AC2为电极材料研究板式与卷式电容去离子装置在不同实验条件下的运行情况，发现2种装置的最佳工作电压均为1.6 V、温度均为25 ℃，最佳流速，板式装置为60 mL·min-1，卷式装置为360 mL·min-1。在最佳工作条件下，卷式装置的单位面积脱盐量与电荷效率分别为1 569.7 mg·m-2和46.7%，远大于板式装置的696.5 mg·m-2和11.3%，卷式装置具有更强的脱盐性能与能量利用率。)

Location prediction based on social media information is highly valuable in human mobility research and has multiple real-life applications. However, existing research methods often ignore social influences, largely ignoring implicit information regarding interactions between users and geographical locations. Additionally, they generally employ single modeling structures, which restricts the effective integration of complex spatiotemporal characteristics and factors influencing user mobility. In this context, we propose a novel network with physical and social awareness that expresses both physical and social influences of user mobility from a global perspective based on a heterogeneous graph constructed using users and spatial locations as nodes and relationships between them as edges. This graph enables the model to leverage information from connected nodes and edges to infer missing or unobserved data. The model predicts future locations of users by effectively integrating the temporal and spatial features of user trajectory series. The proposed model is validated using three social media datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art baseline models. This indicates the importance of considering complex interactions between users and locations, as well as the various influences of physical and social spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: Is cost sharing associated with nondispensing of naloxone prescriptions (abandonment)? Findings: This cross-sectional analysis of 2020-2021 data from a national pharmacy transactions database used a regression discontinuity approach to evaluate the association between cost sharing and abandonment, exploiting the fact that deductibles typically reset at the beginning of the year in commercial insurance plans and in Medicare plans. The findings suggest a decision by commercial and Medicare plans to increase naloxone cost sharing by $10 would be associated with a 3.1- and 2.3-percentage-point increase in the probability of abandonment, respectively. Meaning: Cost sharing may be a barrier to dispensing of naloxone prescriptions in commercially insured and Medicare patients. Importance: Increasing access to naloxone (an opioid antagonist that can reverse overdose) could slow the US opioid epidemic. Prior studies suggest cost sharing may be a barrier to dispensing of naloxone prescriptions, but these studies were limited by their cross-sectional designs and use of databases that do not capture prescriptions that are not filled (abandoned). Objective: To evaluate the association between cost sharing and naloxone prescription abandonment (nondispensing of naloxone prescriptions). Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional, regression discontinuity analysis exploited the fact that deductibles typically reset at the beginning of the year in commercial and Medicare plans. The included data were derived from the 2020-2021 IQVIA Formulary Impact Analyzer (a pharmacy transactions database that represents 63% of prescriptions at US pharmacies). The analysis included claims for naloxone nasal spray among commercially insured patients and Medicare patients that occurred during the 60 days before January 1, 2021, through 59 days after January 1, 2021. Exposure: Cost sharing, which is defined as the amount patients would have to pay to fill prescriptions. Main Outcomes and Measures: Local linear regression models were used to assess for abrupt changes in cost sharing and the probability of prescription abandonment on January 1, 2021. To estimate the association between cost sharing and prescription abandonment, a fuzzy regression discontinuity analysis was conducted. Results: These analyses included naloxone claims for 71 306 commercially insured patients and 101 706 Medicare patients (40 019 [56.1%] and 61 410 [60.4%], respectively, were female). The commercially insured patients and Medicare patients accounted for 73 311 and 106 076 naloxone claims, respectively. On January 1, 2021, the mean cost sharing per claim increased by $15.0 (95% CI, $13.8-$16.2) for commercially insured patients and increased by $12.3 (95% CI, $10.9-$13.6) for Medicare patients and the probability of abandonment increased by 4.7 (95% CI, 3.2-6.2) percentage points and 2.8 (95% CI, 1.6-4.1) percentage points, respectively. The results from the fuzzy regression discontinuity analysis suggest a decision by commercial and Medicare plans to increase naloxone cost sharing by $10 would be associated with percentage-point increases of 3.1 (95% CI, 2.2-4.1) and 2.3 (95% CI, 1.4-3.2), respectively, in the probability of abandonment. Conclusions: The elimination of cost sharing might be associated with increased naloxone dispensing to commercially insured and Medicare patients. This study evaluates the association between cost sharing and naloxone prescription abandonment (nondispensing of naloxone prescriptions) in commercial insurance and Medicare plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical data are limited in patients with vitiligo with or without autoimmune thyroid disease. Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate the clinical features and basic data of patients with vitiligo, especially those with autoimmune thyroid disease. Methods: The study was a single‐center retrospective study. A total of 1305 patients with vitiligo from June 2018 to May 2023 were included, and the clinical characteristics and basic information of the patients were recorded in detail. Results: We identified an association between sex (odds ratio [OR]: 2.380; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.772–1.198), vitiligo duration (OR: 1.449; 95% CI: 1.076–1.952), skin involvement exceeding 5% of the body surface area (OR: 3.764; 95% CI: 2.134–6.640), negative emotions (OR: 3.076; 95% CI: 2.292–4.127), vitiligo type (OR: 1.974; 95% CI: 1.096–3.555), family history of AITD (OR: 4.979; 95% CI: 2.687–9.225), and family history of AD (OR: 2.418; 95% CI: 1.410–4.146) and patients with vitiligo. Conclusions: For patients with statistically significant associated risk factors, differential diagnosis and early intervention should be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulation in adipokine biosynthesis and function contributes to obesity- induced metabolic diseases. However, the identities and functions of many of the obesity-induced secretory molecules remain unknown. Here, we report the identification of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) as an obesity- associated adipokine that exacerbates high fat diet-induced hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance. Serum levels of LRG1 were markedly elevated in obese humans and mice compared with their respective controls. LRG1 deficiency in mice greatly alleviated diet-induced hepatosteatosis, obesity, and insulin resistance. Mechanistically, LRG1 bound with high selectivity to the liver and promoted hepatosteatosis by increasing de novo lipogenesis and suppressing fatty acid p-oxidation. LRG1 also inhibited hepatic insulin signaling by downregulating insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2. Our study identified LRG1 as a key molecule that mediates the crosstalk between adipocytes and hepatocytes in diet-induced hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance. Suppressing LRG1 expression and function may be a promising strategy for the treatment of obesity-related metabolic diseases., Introduction Adipose tissue dysfunction plays a critical role in the development of insulin resistance (IR), a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, fatty liver diseases, and cardiovascular complication (1, [...]

Partial leptin reduction can induce significant weight loss, while weight loss contributes to partial leptin reduction. The cause-and-effect relationship between leptin reduction and weight loss remains to be further elucidated. Here, we show that FGF21 and the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist liraglutide rapidly induced a reduction in leptin. This leptin reduction contributed to the beneficial effects of GLP-1R agonism in metabolic health, as transgenically maintaining leptin levels during treatment partially curtailed the beneficial effects seen with these agonists. Moreover, a higher degree of leptin reduction during treatment, induced by including a leptin neutralizing antibody with either FGF21 or liraglutide, synergistically induced greater weight loss and better glucose tolerance in diet-induced obese mice. Furthermore, upon cessation of either liraglutide or FGF21 treatment, the expected immediate weight regain was observed, associated with a rapid increase in circulating leptin levels. Prevention of this leptin surge with leptin neutralizing antibodies slowed down weight gain and preserved better glucose tolerance. Mechanistically, a significant reduction in leptin induced a higher degree of leptin sensitivity in hypothalamic neurons. Our observations support a model that postulates that a reduction of leptin levels is a necessary prerequisite for substantial weight loss, and partial leptin reduction is a viable strategy to treat obesity and its associated insulin resistance. Article Highlights: Weight loss agents in the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor and FGF21 group induced a rapid suppression of leptin immediately upon agonist exposure. This leptin suppression significantly contributed to the weight loss. Further leptin suppression with a leptin neutralizing antibody enhanced weight loss and further improved insulin sensitivity. Enhanced leptin reduction leads to further reduction in hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral supramolecular assemblies with helical structures (e. g. proteins with α‐helix, DNA with double helix, collagen with triple‐helix) as the central structure motifs in biological systems play a crucial role in various physiological activities of living organisms. Variations in chiral structure can cause many abnormal physiological activities. To gain insight into the construction, structural transition, and related physiological functions of these complex helix in natural systems, it is necessary to fabricate artificial supramolecular assemblies with controllable helix orientation as research platform. This review discusses recent advances in chiral supramolecular assembly, including the precise construction and regulation of assembled chiral nanostructures with tunable chirality. Chiral structure‐dependent biological activities, including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, antibacterial activity and tissue regeneration, are also discussed. This review not only contributes to further understanding of the importance of chirality in the physiological environment, but also plays an important role in the development of chiral biomedical materials for the treatment of diseases (e. g. tissue engineering regeneration, stem cell transplantation therapy). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic shielding (EMS) clothing is an important product to protect human body from electromagnetic damage, but the change law and influencing factors of its protective effect have not been clarified so far. In this paper, an important phenomenon is found that the shielding effectiveness (SE) value of the EMS clothing is abnormally reduced to 0 or even less than 0 under certain conditions, which is named failure phenomenon. A semi anechoic chamber is selected to build a testing system to carry out the experiments. The occurring rule and mechanism of the failure phenomenon is explored when the emission source parameters and the test positions are different. The projection method is proposed to obtain the equivalent hole and equivalent seam of the clothing. According to the electromagnetic theory, the estimation method of whether the failure phenomenon appears is established. The results show that the failure phenomenon of the EMS clothing is a serious hidden danger to human health, and the parameters of the emission source and test location have an important impact on the generation of the failure phenomenon. Its essence is determined by the distribution and characteristics of the leakage area and the normal area of the clothing area incident by electromagnetic wave. The estimation method of the failure phenomenon and the design principle of the clothing can prevent the occurrence of the failure phenomenon. This paper can provide reference for the design, production, test and evaluation of the EMS clothing and related scientific research, and has great significance for really protection of human health by the EMS clothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]