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PurposePlantar soft tissue properties affect foot biomechanics during movement. This study aims to explore the relationship between plantar pressure features and soft tissue stiffness through interpretable neural network model. The findings could inform orthotic insole design.MethodsA sample of 30 healthy young male subjects with normal feet were recruited (age 23.56 ± 3.28 years, height 1.76 ± 0.04 m, weight 72.21 ± 5.69 kg). Plantar pressure data were collected during 5 trials at the subjects’ preferred walking speed (1.15 ± 0.04 m/s). Foot soft tissue stiffness was recorded using a MyotonPRO biological soft tissue stiffness meter before each walking trial. A backpropagation neural network, optimized by integrating particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithm, was constructed to predict foot soft tissue stiffness using plantar pressure data collected during walking. Mean impact value analysis was conducted in parallel to investigate the relative importance of different plantar pressure features.ResultsThe predicted values for the training set are slightly higher than the actual values (MBE = 0.77N/m, RMSE = 11.89 N/m), with a maximum relative error of 7.82% and an average relative error of 1.98%, and the predicted values for the test set are slightly lower than the actual values (MBE = −4.43N/m, RMSE = 14.73 N/m), with a maximum relative error of 7.35% and an average relative error of 2.55%. Regions with highest contribution rates to foot soft tissue stiffness prediction were the third metatarsal (13.58%), fourth metatarsal (14.71%), midfoot (12.43%) and medial heel (12.58%) regions, which accounted for 53.3% of total contribution.ConclusionThe pressure features in the medial heel, midfoot area, and lateral mid-metatarsal regions during walking can better reflect plantar soft tissue stiffness. Future studies should ensure measurement stability of this region and refine insole designs to mitigate plantar soft tissue fatigue in the specified areas.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is currently the most common psychiatric disorder in the world. It characterized by a high incidence of disease with the symptoms like depressed mood, slowed thinking, and reduced cognitive function. Without timely intervention, there is a 20–30% risk of conversion to treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and a high burden for the patient, family and society. Numerous studies have shown that physical activity (PA) is a non-pharmacological treatment that can significantly improve the mental status of patients with MDD and has positive effects on cognitive function, sleep status, and brain plasticity. However, the physiological and psychological effects of different types of PA on individuals vary, and the dosage profile of PA in improving symptoms in patients with MDD has not been elucidated. In most current studies of MDD, PA can be categorized as continuous endurance training (ECT), explosive interval training (EIT), resistance strength training (RST), and mind–body training (MBT), and the effects on patients’ depressive symptoms, cognitive function, and sleep varied. Therefore, the present study was based on a narrative review and included a large number of existing studies to investigate the characteristics and differences in the effects of different PA interventions on MDD. The study also investigated the characteristics and differences of different PA interventions in MDD, and explained the neural mechanisms through the results of multimodal brain function monitoring, including the intracranial environment and brain structure. It aims to provide exercise prescription and theoretical reference for future research in neuroscience and clinical intervention in MDD.

Prefabricated staircases are crucial components in modern architectural structures, but traditional concrete staircases are too heavy for efficient prefabrication, transportation, and construction. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel lightweight hollow slab prefabricated staircase (referred to as the KXB staircase). The staircase achieves hollow designs for steps and the baseplate by incorporating hollow tubes in the steps and adding polyethylene foam boards in the baseplate. Additionally, a standard prefabricated slab staircase (referred to as the CG staircase) was subjected to static loading tests to analyze failure characteristics, load-deflection curves, and strain distribution. A finite element model was created using ABAQUS (2020) and validated for accuracy through a comparison with experimental results. The results indicate that the novel lightweight hollow-slab prefabricated staircase surpasses conventional slab staircases in load capacity, deflection, and crack control. Furthermore, it achieves a 16% reduction in weight, a 28.6% improvement in load capacity, and a maximum error of 9.9% between the model and experimental results. The novel lightweight prefabricated staircase satisfies engineering requirements, minimizes transportation and hoisting costs, and demonstrates strong application potential.

D-Psicose, as a low-calorie rare sugar, has attracted a lot of attention in recent years for alternating to sucrose. The anti-obesity effect of D-psicose has been extensively confirmed in previous studies, however, the impact of D-psicose on colitis remains vague. Here, we firstly evaluated the effect of the D-psicose prophylactic intervention on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice. The pathological symptoms, inflammatory cytokines levels, gut microbiota composition, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production and colonic barrier integrity were comprehensively evaluated. The results confirmed that D-psicose intervention aggravated colitis, characterized by the exacerbation of colon shortening, increase of colonic inflammatory infiltration, and marked exaltation of disease activity indices and IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α levels. Further, the dysfunction of gut microbiota was identified in the psicose group. The abundance of pro-inflammatory bacteria Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group was significantly up-regulated while the abundance of probiotics Akkermansia and Lactobacillus were significantly down-regulated in the psicose group compared to the model group. Moreover, the production of SCFAs was suppressed in the psicose group, accompanied by a decrease in the level of mucin 2 (Muc-2). Collectively, the underlying mechanism of the exacerbation of colitis by D-psicose intervention might be attributed to microbiota dysfunction accompanied by the reduction of SCFAs, which leads to the damage of the mucosal barrier and the intensification of inflammatory invasion.

Abstract Background and aims This study investigated the natural history of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in rural Chinese. We sought to help provide more data to support ESCC screenings. Methods This study was based on an existing Screening Program in Feicheng, China. Esophageal precancerous lesions were identified in 1753 cases, diagnosed from esophageal cancer screenings from 2006 to 2016. We followed up with them through endoscopic screening until October 1, 2017. Pathology results from various grades of precancerous lesions were recorded and the annual transition probabilities and incidence density of ESCC were calculated. Results As of October 1, 2017, a total of 4055.8 person‐years has been observed. The ESCC incidence density of mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia (SD) was 0.17, 0.79, and 1.77 per 100 person‐years, respectively. The median follow‐up time of mild, moderate, and SD was 3.5, 2.3, and 2.2 years, respectively. The annual transition probability of mild, moderate, and SD to the next pathological level was 0.025, 0.038, and 0.016, respectively. The ESCC incidence density of males was 2.6 times higher than females (0.58 vs. 0.22), and the older age group (56–69 age group) had a ESCC incidence density 1.2 times higher than the younger group (40–55 age group) (0.45 vs. 0.39). Conclusions The higher the grade of precancerous lesions, the higher the incidence density of ESCC. Screening of esophageal cancer in males and the elderly should be strengthened. It is recommended to reinforce follow‐up management for untreated patients with SD/carcinoma in situ. For patients with mild and moderate dysplasia in high‐risk rural Chinese populations, endoscopic follow‐up intervals can be appropriately adjusted to once every 2 years.

[INLINE:1] Dendrites play irreplaceable roles in the nerve conduction pathway and are vulnerable to various insults. Peripheral axotomy of motor neurons results in the retraction of dendritic arbors, and the dendritic arbor can be re-expanded when reinnervation is allowed. RhoA is a target that regulates the cytoskeleton and promotes neuronal survival and axon regeneration. However, the role of RhoA in dendrite degeneration and regeneration is unknown. In this study, we explored the potential role of RhoA in dendrites. A line of motor neuronal RhoA conditional knockout mice was developed by crossbreeding HB9Cre+ mice with RhoAflox/flox mice. We established two models for assaying dendrite degeneration and regeneration, in which the brachial plexus was transection or crush injured, respectively. We found that at 28 days after brachial plexus transection, the density, complexity, and structural integrity of dendrites in the ventral horn of the spinal cord of RhoA conditional knockout mice were slightly decreased compared with that in Cre mice. Dendrites underwent degeneration at 7 and 14 days after brachial plexus transection and recovered at 28–56 days. The density, complexity, and structural integrity of dendrites in the ventral horn of the spinal cord of RhoA conditional knockout mice recovered compared with results in Cre mice. These findings suggest that RhoA knockout in motor neurons attenuates dendrite degeneration and promotes dendrite regeneration after peripheral nerve injury.

Objective To summarize the characteristics of patients with congenital solitary kidney(CSK). Methods Medical data and post-operative follow up results of patients that was diagnosed with congenital solitary kidney in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2012 to 2020 were collected. Results A total of 233 patients with congenital solitary kidney (58 males and 175 females) were included in this study.The most common deformity was genital tract deformity followed by congenital scoliosis.15% of CSK patients had other renal disease.Urological surgery was performed in 5 patients,and no postoperative complications occurred during follow-up. Only 1 patient presented recurrence and metastasis 1 year after partial nephrectomy and underwent secondary surgery. Conclusions When congenital solitary renal malformation is screened out, it is necessary to carry out systemic evaluation.As for surgical treatment,it should be carefully executed,and long-term follow-up should be conducted to monitor renal function.

Objective: To explore the characteristics of Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NNMF) in analyzing the mechanical characteristics of foot functional units during walking and running.Methods: Eighteen subjects (9 males and 9 females) were recruited, and the ground reaction force curves of each foot region during walking and running were collected using a plantar pressure measurement system. NNMF was used to extract the mechanical features of different foot regions and to determine the number of foot functional units. The differences between the base matrices of walking and running were compared by traditional t-tests, and the differences in coefficient matrices were compared by one-dimensional statistical parameter mapping.Results: 1) When the number of foot functional units for walking and running were both 2, the Variability Accounted For (VAF) by the matrix exceeded 0.90 (VAF walk = 0.96 ± 0.02, VAF run = 0.95 ± 0.04); 2) In foot functional unit 1, both walking and running exhibited buffering function, with the heel region being the main force-bearing area and the forefoot also participating in partial buffering; 3) In foot functional unit 2, both walking and running exhibited push-off function, with the middle part of the forefoot having a higher contribution weight; 4) In foot functional unit 1, compared to walking, the overall force characteristics of the running foot were greater during the support phase of the 0%–20% stage, with the third and fourth metatarsal areas having higher contribution weights and the lateral heel area having lower weights; 5) In foot functional unit 2, compared to walking, the overall force was higher during the beginning and 11%–69% stages of running, and lower during the 4%–5% and 73%–92% stages. During running, the thumb area, the first metatarsal area and the midfoot area had higher contribution weights than during walking; in the third and fourth metatarsal areas, the contribution weights were lower during running than during walking.Conclusion: Based on the mechanical characteristics of the foot, walking and running can both be decomposed into two foot functional units: buffering and push-off. The forefoot occupies a certain weight in both buffering and push-off functions, indicating that there may be a complex foot function transformation mechanism in the transverse arch of foot. Compared to walking, running completes push-off earlier, and the force region is more inclined towards the inner side of the foot, with the hallux area having a greater weight during push-off. This study suggests that NNMF is feasible for analyzing foot mechanical characteristics.

Wallerian degeneration, the progressive disintegration of distal axons and myelin that occurs after peripheral nerve injury, is essential for creating a permissive microenvironment for nerve regeneration, and involves cytoskeletal reconstruction. However, it is unclear whether microtubule dynamics play a role in this process. To address this, we treated cultured sciatic nerve explants, an in vitro model of Wallerian degeneration, with the microtubule-targeting agents paclitaxel and nocodazole. We found that paclitaxel-induced microtubule stabilization promoted axon and myelin degeneration and Schwann cell dedifferentiation, whereas nocodazole-induced microtubule destabilization inhibited these processes. Evaluation of an in vivo model of peripheral nerve injury showed that treatment with paclitaxel or nocodazole accelerated or attenuated axonal regeneration, as well as functional recovery of nerve conduction and target muscle and motor behavior, respectively. These results suggest that microtubule dynamics participate in peripheral nerve regeneration after injury by affecting Wallerian degeneration. This study was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Southern Medical University, China (approval No. SMU-L2015081) on October 15, 2015.

Cronobacter sakazakii, an emerging opportunistic pathogen, is implicated in severe foodborne outbreak infections in premature and full-term infants. Generally, acid tolerance is vital for the pathogenesis of foodborne pathogens; however, its role in C. sakazakii virulence remains largely unknown. To screen out acid-tolerance determinants from transposon mutants, anovel counterselection method using gentamicin and acid was developed. Using the counterselection method and growth assay, we screened several acid-sensitive mutants and found that nlpD encodes an acid-resistance factor in C. sakazakii. Compared to the wild-type strain, the nlpD mutant exhibited attenuated virulence in a rat model. Using macrophage THP-1 cells and a pH probe, we verified that nlpD enables bacteria to resist macrophages by resisting acidification. Finally, we confirmed that nlpD maintains C. sakazakii membrane integrity in acid using propidium iodide permeabilization assays via flow cytometry. Our results confirm that nlpD is a novel virulence factor that permits C. sakazakii to survive under acid stress conditions. Considering that NlpD is a conserved lipoprotein located in the bacterial outer membrane, NlpD could be used as a target for drug development.

Stress has become a universal biological phenomenon in the body, which leads to pathophysiological changes. However, the molecular network interactions between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and ferroptosis under stressful conditions are not clear. For this purpose, we screened the gene expression profile of GSE173795 for intersection with ferroptosis genes and screened 68 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (63 up-regulated, 5 down-regulated), mainly related to lipid and atherosclerosis, autophagy—animal, mitophagy—animal, focal adhesion, DNA replication, proteasome, oocyte meiosis, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, cell cycle, etc. Immune infiltration analysis revealed that stress resulted in decreased B cells memory, T cells CD8 and T cells CD4 memory resting, monocytes, macrophages M2, and increased B cells naive, T cells follicular helper, and macrophages M1. 19 core-DEGs (ASNS, TRIB3, ATF4, EIF2S1, CEBPG, RELA, HSPA5, DDIT3, STAT3, MAP3K5, HIF1A, HNF4A, MAPK14, HMOX1, CDKN1A, KRAS, SP1, SIRT1, EGFR) were screened, all of which were up-regulated DEGs. These biological processes and pathways were mainly involved in responding to ER stress, lipid and atherosclerosis, cellular response to stress, cellular response to chemical stress, and regulation of DNA-templated transcription in response to stress, etc. Spearman analysis did not find MAPK14 to be significantly associated with immune cells. Other core-DEGs were associated with immune cells, including B cells naive, T cells follicular helper, and monocytes. Based on core-DEGs, 283 miRNAs were predicted. Among the 22 miRNAs with highly cross-linked DEGs, 11 had upstream lncRNA, mainly targeting STAT3, SP1, CDKN1A, and SIRT1, and a total of 39 lncRNA were obtained. 85 potential drugs targeting 11 core-DEGs were identified and were expected to be potential immunotherapeutic agents for stress injury. Our experiments also confirmed that Liproxstatin-1 alleviates common cross-linked proteins between ER stress and ferroptosis. In conclusion, our study explored the molecular mechanisms and network interactions among stress—ER stress—ferroptosis from a novel perspective, which provides new research ideas for studying stressful injury.

With the increasing penetration of distributed generation (DG) in the distribution network, the original network structure of the distribution network has been changed. In addition, the randomness and intermittency of renewable power generation will also have an impact on the voltage and power flow of the distribution network. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a reactive power optimization control method for distribution network with DGs based on second-order oscillating particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm with a constriction factor. Considering the economic operation of the distribution network, the proposed control method realizes the coordinated operation of the DGs and battery group with the conventional static reactive power compensation device, so as to improve the voltage quality of the distribution network and reduce the system network loss. At the same time, an improved second-order oscillating PSO algorithm is proposed to improve the speed and convergence of the multiobjective algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control method is verified by using MATLAB/Simulink on IEEE 33 bus distribution network with DGs in both static and dynamic situations.

Flatfoot is a common foot deformity, and the collapse of the arch structure affects the foot cushioning during walking. A growing number of scholars have found that the analysis of the impact force should be combined with both the magnitude and the frequency of the impact force. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the plantar impact characteristics of flatfoot patients and normal foot people at different load-bearing buffer stage from the time and frequency domains. Sixteen males with flatfoot and sixteen males with normal foot were recruited to walk on the plantar pressure test system at the same step speed, and the vertical ground reaction force data were collected from the heel contact stage and the arch support stage. The differences in the frequency domain of the ground reaction force between the flatfoot and the normal foot in the two stages were analyzed according to the basic mechanical characteristics and the continuous wavelet transform. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the baseline data of subjects, and the differences in foot impact force characteristics at different stages of foot type and weight-bearing cushion phase were compared by two-factor repeated measures Analysis of Variance. 1) In terms of basic mechanical characteristics, In both groups for flatfoot patients and normal foot people, the peak ground reaction force was higher in the arch support stage compared to the heel contact stage (Pflatfoot 0.05), in the arch support stage, the force change load rate of patients with flatfoot was lower than that of normal foot people (p = 0.021). 2) The results of time and frequency domain characteristics showed that during the heel contact and the arch support stage, no significant differences in the maximum signal power as well as the corresponding time and the frequency of the main impact force between the normal foot and the flatfoot were found. In both flatfoot and normal foot types, compared with the foot heel contact stage, the maximum signal power in the arch support stage was higher (Pflatfoot < 0.001, Pnormal foot

BackgroundThere is evidence that the after-school period plays an essential role in accumulating sedentary behavior (SB) among children and adolescents, as well as implementing potential interventions. However, relatively little is known regarding SB status of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) during the after-school period. The purpose of this study was to investigate the total level and specific pattern of the after-school SB among children and adolescents with ID.MethodsThe after-school SB status among 325 children and adolescents with ID was evaluated by the parent-reported Children’s Leisure Activities Study Survey-Chinese edition questionnaire.ResultsParents of children and adolescents with ID reported approximately 204 min/day of after-school SB. Specifically, the longest time of the after-school period was spent performing the screen-based SB (84 mins/d). This was followed by recreational SB and educational SB (50 and 30 mins/d, respectively). The children aged 6–12 years old engaged more time in recreational SB than adolescents aged 16–18 years old (p < 0.05) during the after-school period. Further, the data indicated that 37.5% of children and adolescents with ID achieved the guideline limitation of 2-h-maximum screen-based SB during the after-school hour.ConclusionChildren and adolescents with ID spent a large portion of the after-school period in SB, particularly engaged in more time on after-school screen-based SB. Future efforts should focus on developing and implementing period-specific interventions designed to reduce after-school SB in the segment of this population.

IntroductionAging is not only reflected in the degeneration of physiological functions but is also embodied in the decline of psychological and cognitive functions. The decline of cognitive function can reduce the quality of life in older adults, and even potentially cause Alzheimer's disease, which may lead to a heavy burden on patients, families, and society. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical activity (PA) on cognitive reaction time in older adults.MethodsA cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. A total of 839 elderly subjects were recruited from Beijing and Shanghai. In total, 792 subjects met the inclusion criteria (age > 60 years, without disability, speech, and hearing impairment), including 384 men (age:67.7 ± 5.7 years) and 408 women (age: 68.2 ± 5.8 years). The PA was assessed by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). All kinds of PA were divided into three levels: “Low” (< 50% average score), “Moderate” (50–150% average score), and “High” (>150% average score). The reaction time of subjects was measured by the selective reaction tester (Model: CSTF-XF, TFHT, Beijing, China).ResultsFor leisure-time PA, the results showed that the cognitive reaction time of older adults in the “Low” group (1.11 ± 0.32 s) was significantly longer than that in the “Moderate” group (1.05 ± 0.30 s, p < 0.01) and the “High” group (0.99 ± 0.28 s, p < 0.01). For housework PA, there was no significant difference in the cognitive reaction time among the three groups (“Low”: 1.09 ± 0.31 s; “Moderate”: 1.07 ± 0.31 s; “High”: 1.05 ± 0.28 s, p > 0.05). For work-related PA, the results showed that the cognitive reaction time of older adults in the “Low” group (1.09 ± 0.30 s) was significantly longer than that in the “High” group (0.99 ± 0.28 s) and the “Moderate” group (1.03 ± 0.32 s, p < 0.01).ConclusionThe PA has a positive effect on reducing cognitive reaction time in older adults. It is recommended that older adults maintain a moderate level of leisure PA and work-related PA to delay the decline in cognitive reaction time.

ObjectiveExercise has beneficial effects on mood and anxiety symptoms. However, the impact of aquatic exercise on mood and anxiety symptoms has not been clearly confirmed. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize and systematically analyze evidence available on boosting mental health through aquatic exercise.MethodA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted under the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. PubMed, BIOSIS Previews, PsycINFO, Medline, SPORTDiscus, Education Source, and Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) were searched in May 2022. The research included the influence of aquatic exercises on mood and anxiety symptoms. After assessing trial quality and completing data extraction, a meta-analysis was carried out through R software. The results were presented as a standardized mean difference (SMD) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval.ResultsA total of 18 original trials were included. People who received aquatic exercise intervention had a statistically significant reduction in mental disorder symptoms compared with before. The results were aquatic exercise [SMD = −0.77, 95% CI (−1.08, −0.47), I2 = 77%, P < 0.01], swimming [SMD = −0.51, 95% CI (−1.14, 0.12), I2 = 78%, P < 0.01], aquatic aerobics [SMD = −0.92, 95% CI (−1.32, −0.53), I2 = 78%, P < 0.01], moderate intensity [SMD = −0.75, 95% CI (−1.07, −0.43), I2 = 67%, P < 0.01], and low intensity [SMD = −1.07, 95% CI (−1.08, −0.47), I2 = 85%, P < 0.01].ConclusionAquatic exercise could statistically significantly improve mental health. Light aquatic aerobics probably has a better effect on mood and anxiety symptoms. However, given the number and quality of included research, verifying the aforementioned conclusions requires a larger sample of high-quality studies.

Abstract Background Plenty of macrophages are recruited to the injured nerve to play key roles in the immunoreaction and engulf the debris of degenerated axons and myelin during Wallerian degeneration, thus creating a conducive microenvironment for nerve regeneration. Recently, drugs targeting the RhoA pathway have been widely used to promote peripheral axonal regeneration. However, the role of RhoA in macrophage during Wallerian degeneration and nerve regeneration after peripheral nerve injury is still unknown. Herein, we come up with the hypothesis that RhoA might influence Wallerian degeneration and nerve regeneration by affecting the migration and phagocytosis of macrophages after peripheral nerve injury. Methods Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, H&E staining, and electrophysiology were performed to access the Wallerian degeneration and axonal regeneration after sciatic nerve transection and crush injury in the Lyz Cre+/− ; RhoA flox/flox (cKO) mice or Lyz2 Cre+/− (Cre) mice, regardless of sex. Macrophages’ migration and phagocytosis were detected in the injured nerves and the cultured macrophages. Moreover, the expression and potential roles of ROCK and MLCK were also evaluated in the cultured macrophages. Results 1. RhoA was specifically knocked out in macrophages of the cKO mice; 2. The segmentation of axons and myelin, the axonal regeneration, and nerve conduction in the injured nerve were significantly impeded while the myoatrophy was more severe in the cKO mice compared with those in Cre mice; 3. RhoA knockout attenuated the migration and phagocytosis of macrophages in vivo and in vitro; 4. ROCK and MLCK were downregulated in the cKO macrophages while inhibition of ROCK and MLCK could weaken the migration and phagocytosis of macrophages. Conclusions Our findings suggest that RhoA depletion in macrophages exerts a detrimental effect on Wallerian degeneration and nerve regeneration, which is most likely due to the impaired migration and phagocytosis of macrophages resulted from disrupted RhoA/ROCK/MLCK pathway. Since previous research has proved RhoA inhibition in neurons was favoring for axonal regeneration, the present study reminds us of that the cellular specificity of RhoA-targeted drugs is needed to be considered in the future application for treating peripheral nerve injury.

The built environment can influence physical activity behavior. Walk Score is a widely used measure of the neighborhood built environment to support walking. However, studies of the association between Walk Score and accelerometer-measured physical activity are equivocal and no studies have examined this relationship among older adults. We analyzed data from a large, diverse sample of women (n = 5650) with a mean age of 79.5 (SD = 6.7) at time of accelerometry wear in the Women’s Health Initiative Objective Physical Activity Cardiovascular Health Study in the United States to examine associations between neighborhood Street Smart Walk Score (SSWS) and accelerometer-measured physical activity. Participants wore triaxial accelerometers for seven days and SSWS was determined from home addresses. 67 % of the sample lived in “car-dependent” locations (SSWS 0–49 out of 100); only 3 % lived in “walker’s paradise” locations (SSWS 90–100). The multivariable model indicated an association between SSWS and accelerometer-measured physical activity (steps/day) in the total sample. The association varied by neighborhood socioeconomic status; in high socioeconomic status neighborhoods, higher SWSS was associated with greater steps per day, while no significant association between SWSS and physical activity was observed in low socioeconomic neighborhoods. This study should catalyze furtherresearch regarding the utility of SSWS in determining neighborhood walkability for older women across different neighborhood settings and suggests other built environment factors must be considered when determining walkability. Future studies should examine what factors influence walkability and develop age-relevant methods to assess and characterize neighborhood walkability.

In this study, a novel protein designated MC-2 was isolated from Momordica charantia L., and the positively regulates lipid metabolism activity was detected by the bile acid binding activity test. Then, the amino acid composition of MC-2 was analyzed, and the total content of Asp, Glu, and Lys is up to 38.96 g/100 g in MC-2. Furtherly, its lipid metabolism activity were explored. In vitro, MC-2 ameliorated FFA-induced HepG2 steatosis phenotypes and intracellular triglycerides level with the promotion of bile acids secretion. In vivo, MC-2 was able to protect rats against NAFLD-induced in response to a high-fat diet through a manner associated with the regulation of inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress-related factors. The hepatoprotective activity of MC-2 was closely tied to improvements CPT1A, FATP2, ACSL1, and PPAR-α expressions. Together, these data highlight the promise of MC-2 (rich in Asp, Glu, and Lys) as a candidate functional food ingredient.

In this study, the structure, composition, cytotoxicity, and in vitro hypoglycemic activity of a polysaccharide isolated from Spirulina platensis (PSP1) and its degradation fragments (PSP2, PSP3) were assessed. Structurally, PSP was identified as a sulfated α-pyranose. All three tested polysaccharides were found to inhibit α-glucosidase, with the small-molecule polysaccharide PSP3 exhibiting the best efficacy in this context. MTT assays indicated that none of the tested polysaccharides exhibited cytotoxic activity when used to treat 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, whereas all three were able to enhance the glucose uptake capacity of these cells in a model of insulin resistance and PSP3 exhibited the best in vitro hypoglycemic activity. In vivo hypoglycemic activity of PSP3 indicated that its oral administration alleviated glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in STZ-induced diabetic mice, PSP3 alleviating insulin resistance in diabetic mice while also improving liver function parameters and antioxidant system activity.

The soil behind a wall is in a stress state with self-weight stress and horizontal stress as the main stress for the Rankine retaining wall with horizontal fill. However, there is a certain wall-soil friction and bonding force in practice. The friction and bonding force may cause the principal stress deflection in the fill near the retaining wall, and the classical Rankine earth pressure theory is not applicable for this case. In the current study, the principal stress deflection of the fill near the retaining wall is processed both by the rotation and by the analysis of the stress from the Mohr circle in the fill behind the wall. The active and passive earth pressures of the retaining wall filled with the cohesive soil is derived, considering the wall-soil friction and bonding force. The influences of the fill friction angle and the wall-soil friction angle on the earth pressures are analyzed. The examples are further used to compare the results from this study with those with the improved Coulomb method. The results show that the Rankine earth pressure is a special case of the formula presented in this study. With the increase of the wall-soil friction angle and internal friction angle, the passive earth pressures gradually increase. The active earth pressures decrease with the increase of the internal friction angle, and the decreasing rate gradually decreases. When the internal friction angle is small, the active earth pressures decrease continuously with the increase of the wall-soil friction angle, and the decreasing speed gradually decreases. When the internal friction angle is large, the active earth pressures first decrease and then increase with the increase of the wall-soil friction angle. The effect of the fill friction angle is more obvious than that of the wall-soil friction angle. Compared with the results from other methods, the active earth pressures obtained with this method are larger, but the passive earth pressure is smaller, and their differences increase with the increase in the wall-soil friction, especially when the cohesion is considered. Because the deflection of the principal stress in the soil on the back of the wall is more consistent with the actual situations, the results from this study will be more suitable to compute the earth pressure in practice.

Obesity is a major public health issue worldwide. Oolong tea (OT), which is partially fermented from Camellia sinensis leaves, has proven health benefits and potential preventive applications in multiple studies. However, research on the role of OT in obesity prevention and potential mechanisms is still limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the modulatory effects of OT intervention on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and gut microbiota dysbiosis using an obese mouse model. Our results showed that 8-week OT supplementation with 93.94% polyphenols significantly decreased body weight gain, adipose tissue mass, and serum levels of triglyceride (2.60 mmol/L), cholesterol (5.49 mmol/L), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.61 mmol/L) in HFD-fed mice. Meanwhile, OT intervention was observed to improve fat accumulation, hepatic damage, glucose intolerance, and endotoxemia and alleviate inflammation by decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory factors. OT also upregulated the expression of genes including Srebf1, Ppara, Lxra, Pgc1a, and Hsl and downregulated the expression of genes including Leptin, Il-6, and Il-1b. In addition, the gut dysbiosis characterized by decreased flora diversity and increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in obese mice was recovered by OT intervention. Certain differentially abundant microbes caused by HFD feeding, including Enterococcus, Intestinimonas, Blautia, and Bilophila, were also improved by OT treatment. This study demonstrated that OT, as a novel resource of dietary polyphenols, exhibited a protective effect on HFD-induced obesity and gut microbiota disorder.

Wallerian degeneration occurs after peripheral nerve injury and provides a beneficial microenvironment for nerve regeneration. Our previous study demonstrated that ascorbic acid promotes peripheral nerve regeneration, possibly through promoting Schwann cell proliferation and phagocytosis and enhancing macrophage proliferation, migration, and phagocytosis. Because Schwann cells and macrophages are the main cells involved in Wallerian degeneration, we speculated that ascorbic acid may accelerate this degenerative process. To test this hypothesis, 400 mg/kg ascorbic acid was administered intragastrically immediately after sciatic nerve transection, and 200 mg/kg ascorbic acid was then administered intragastrically every day. In addition, rat sciatic nerve explants were treated with 200 μM ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid significantly accelerated the degradation of myelin basic protein-positive myelin and neurofilament 200-positive axons in both the transected nerves and nerve explants. Furthermore, ascorbic acid inhibited myelin-associated glycoprotein expression, increased c-Jun expression in Schwann cells, and increased both the number of macrophages and the amount of myelin fragments in the macrophages. These findings suggest that ascorbic acid accelerates Wallerian degeneration by accelerating the degeneration of axons and myelin in the injured nerve, promoting the dedifferentiation of Schwann cells, and enhancing macrophage recruitment and phagocytosis. The study was approved by the Southern Medical University Animal Care and Use Committee (approval No. SMU-L2015081) on October 15, 2015.

The effects of frying process on the nutritional property, physicochemical quality, and in vitro digestibility of instant noodle products are investigated in this study. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) were also used to explore the changes in the microstructure and protein transformation. Noodles, after the frying process, showed a lower proportion of carbohydrate, protein, fiber, and also total starch and digestible starch, but higher content of fat and resistant starch in the proximate analysis. The frying process was also considered to improve the texture, surface color, and sensory properties of instant noodle products, accompanied by better cooking quality, including shorter cooking time and lower cooking loss during the rehydration. The honeycomb-like, porous, and less uniformed structure, and also the higher levels of β-sheets and β-turns, and the lower proportion of α-helixes of protein structure from fried instant noodle was also observed. The in vitro digestibility of starch and protein were downregulated in the fried group (81.96% and 81.31, respectively, on average) compared with the non-fried group (97.58% and 88.78, respectively, on average). Thus, the frying process lowered the glycemic index and regulated protein secondary structure by inhibiting continuous digesting enzyme activity, generating starch-lipid complexes, and changing the levels of protein transformation. In conclusion, our findings will provide an innovative evaluation of the frying process on instant noodles and even other various starch-based prepared food products.

(1) Background: the miR-301a is well known involving the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. However, the role of miR-301a in the migration and phagocytosis of macrophages is still unclear. (2) Methods: sciatic nerve injury, liver injury models, as well as primary macrophage cultures were prepared from the miR-301a knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice to assess the macrophage’s migration and phagocytosis capabilities. Targetscan database analysis, Western blotting, siRNA transfection, and CXCR4 inhibition or activation were performed to reveal miR301a’s potential mechanism. (3) Results: the macrophage’s migration and phagocytosis were significantly attenuated by the miR-301a KO both in vivo and in vitro. MiR-301a can target Yin-Yang 1 (YY1), and miR-301a KO resulted in YY1 up-regulation and CXCR4 (YY1′s down-stream molecule) down-regulation. siYY1 increased the expression of CXCR4 and enhanced migration and phagocytosis in KO macrophages. Meanwhile, a CXCR4 inhibitor or agonist could attenuate or accelerate, respectively, the macrophage migration and phagocytosis. (4) Conclusions: current findings indicated that miR-301a plays important roles in a macrophage’s capabilities of migration and phagocytosis through the YY1/CXCR4 pathway. Hence, miR-301a might be a promising therapeutic candidate for inflammatory diseases by adjusting macrophage bio-functions.

Introduction: Various interventions have been applied to improve recovery from muscle fatigue based on evidence from subjective outcomes, such as perceived fatigue and soreness, which may partly contribute to conflicting results of reducing muscle fatigue. There is a need to assess the effectiveness of various intervention on reducing neuromuscular fatigue assessed by a quantitative outcome, such as electromyography (EMG). The objective of this review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions and intervention timing for reducing fatigue rates during exercise.Methods: The literature was searched from the earliest record to March 2021. Eighteen studies with a total of 87 data points involving 281 participants and seven types of interventions [i.e., active recovery (AR), compression, cooling, electrical stimulation (ES), light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT), massage, and stretching] were included in this meta-analysis.Results: The results showed that compression (SMD = 0.28; 95% CI = −0.00 to 0.56; p = 0.05; I2 = 58%) and LEDT (SMD = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.11 to 0.88; p = 0.01; I2 = 52%) have a significant recovery effect on reducing muscle fatigue. Additionally, compression, AR, and cooling have a significant effect on reducing muscle fatigue when conducted during exercise, whereas a non-effective trend when applied after exercise.Discussion: This meta-analysis suggests that compression and LEDT have a significant effect on reducing muscle fatigue. The results also suggest that there is a significant effect or an effective trend on reducing muscle fatigue when compression, AR, cooling, and ES are applied during exercise, but not after exercise.

We have experimentally demonstrated tunable multi-wavelength bright-dark and dark-bright pulse pairs in an all normal dispersion Yb-doped fiber laser (YDFL) with a long cavity configuration. By carefully adjusting the pump power and the polarization state, bright-dark pulse pairs could be converted into dark-bright pulse pairs at the same wavelength. The comb filter provided by the tapered fiber facilitated the formation of the multi-wavelength pulses. And the wavelength-tunable for both bright-dark pulse pairs and dark-bright pulse pairs could be achieved by using a tapered fiber and rotatable polarization controller in the cavity to control the cavity losses. The tunable ranges were 14 nm and 4 nm with wavelength spacings of ~3.5 nm and ~3.7 nm for dual-wavelength pulse pairs and triple-wavelength pulse pairs, respectively.

Alcoholic liver damage is caused by long-term or heavy drinking, and it may further progress into alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). Probiotic supplements have been suggested for the prevention or improvement of liver damage. This study was designed to consider the ameliorative effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 isolated from infant feces against alcoholic liver damage. The mice were gavaged with a 50% ethanol solution and treated with 109 CFU of L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 suspension. The factors for liver function, oxidative stress, inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and intestinal barrier integrity were measured. The results showed that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could decrease the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to 61% and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to 50% compared with ethanol given by gavage. It could inhibit the expression level of malondialdehyde (MDA), increase superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) to relieve oxidative stress, and down-regulate the cytokines to decrease hepatic inflammation. After treatment, the level of triglycerides was reduced, and the expression levels of adenosine 5′ -monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) pathway were up-regulated. Additionally, the 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae, etc. At the same time, L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could significantly reduce lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and enhance intestinal tight junction proteins. These results demonstrated that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could reduce the level of oxidative stress, fat accumulation, and liver inflammation caused by alcohol in the host. The underlying mechanism could be that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 inhibits LPS by regulating the gut microbiota and repairing the intestinal barrier. Thereby, these findings support L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 as a potential functional food for the relief of ALD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep duration is associated with an adverse lipid profile. Here, the authors perform genome-wide gene-by-sleep interaction analysis and find 49 previously unreported lipid loci when considering short or long total sleep time.

Background Presence of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is associated with a higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality. The relationship between a healthy lifestyle and CHIP is unknown. Methods and Results This analysis included 8709 postmenopausal women (mean age, 66.5 years) enrolled in the WHI (Women's Health Initiative), free of cancer or cardiovascular disease, with deep‐coverage whole genome sequencing data available. Information on lifestyle factors (body mass index, smoking, physical activity, and diet quality) was obtained, and a healthy lifestyle score was created on the basis of healthy criteria met (0 point [least healthy] to 4 points [most healthy]). CHIP was derived on the basis of a prespecified list of leukemogenic driver mutations. The prevalence of CHIP was 8.6%. A higher healthy lifestyle score was not associated with CHIP (multivariable‐adjusted odds ratio [OR] [95% CI], 0.99 [0.80–1.23] and 1.13 [0.93–1.37]) for the upper (3 or 4 points) and middle category (2 points), respectively, versus referent (0 or 1 point). Across score components, a normal and overweight body mass index compared with obese was significantly associated with a lower odds for CHIP (OR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.57–0.88] and 0.83 [95% CI, 0.68–1.01], respectively; P‐trend 0.0015). Having never smoked compared with being a current smoker tended to be associated with lower odds for CHIP. Conclusions A healthy lifestyle, based on a composite score, was not related to CHIP among postmenopausal women. However, across individual lifestyle factors, having a normal body mass index was strongly associated with a lower prevalence of CHIP. These findings support the idea that certain healthy lifestyle factors are associated with a lower frequency of CHIP.

Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia in the disabled elderly in communities in Shanghai, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018. Five hundred and seventy two participants (≥60 years) were recruited through cluster sampling from Putuo District of Shanghai. Sarcopenia was defined according to the updated consensus of the European Sarcoma Working Group in 2019. The sarcopenia, depression, and nutrition status were assessed by using SARC-F, the Short Version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10), and the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short form (MNA-SF), respectively Physical activity was also assessed. Our results showed the prevalence of sarcopenia was 0.5%, but the prevalence of low handgrip strength was 37.2% (male, 5.5%; female, 39.1%). The modified Poisson regression model was used to evaluate the relationship among related variables and low handgrip strength. The risk for low handgrip strength was higher in the physically disabled subjects than in the visually disabled ones (aPR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.88-2.42). Depressive symptoms (aPR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.04-1.62) and PASE score (aPR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.99-1.00) were independently associated with low handgrip strength. In summary, the prevalence of EWGSOP2-defined sarcopenia is low and the prevalence of declined muscle strength is high in the disabled elderly. The elderly participants with a physical disability had a higher prevalence of low hand handgrip strength than those with a visual disability. More studies with a larger sample size and longitudinal follow-up are needed to confirm our findings.

This paper presents an investigation of the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) effects on the stability of a quadrotor attached to a flexible hose conveying and ejecting pressurised fluid from an onboard nozzle. In this study, an analytical solution is derived to obtain the time and spatial responses of the free end, which could affect the quadrotor’s stability. First, the flow-induced force model was simulated at the hose plane to find out the contributing disturbances prior to the physical connection with the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Thereafter, the flow-induced forces were introduced to the UAV dynamics model as disturbances to study the FSI response during flight. Physical experiments were conducted to compare the analytical responses of the UAV prior to and during ejection. The presented findings of the perturbations due to the FSI effect from the pressurised fluid flowing through the flexible hose to the free end and the jet reaction at the UAV nozzle will be used for the employment of a combined feedforward-feedback (FF-FB) quadrotor control strategy for a stable ejection phase. The proposed strategy shows an average improvement of 61.14% (x-axis) and 22.46% (z-axis) in terms of active position compensation during ejection as compared to a standard feedback (FB) control loop only.

Smoking is a potentially causal behavioral risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D), but not all smokers develop T2D. It is unknown whether genetic factors partially explain this variation. We performed genome-environment-wide interaction studies to identify loci exhibiting potential interaction with baseline smoking status (ever vs. never) on incident T2D and fasting glucose (FG). Analyses were performed in participants of European (EA) and African ancestry (AA) separately. Discovery analyses were conducted using genotype data from the 50,000-single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ITMAT-Broad-CARe (IBC) array in 5 cohorts from from the Candidate Gene Association Resource Consortium (n = 23,189). Replication was performed in up to 16 studies from the Cohorts for Heart Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Consortium (n = 74,584). In meta-analysis of discovery and replication estimates, 5 SNPs met at least one criterion for potential interaction with smoking on incident T2D at p

Galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) has been added to infant formula as prebiotics and can bring many benefits to human health. This study proved the effect of GOS in prevention and alleviation against E. coli O157 invasion and colonization and the mechanism behind this was explored in a mice model. The results showed that the expression of Muc2 and Occlaudin were both significantly down-regulated (p < 0.05) by E. coli O157 infection, while GOS alleviated this phenomenon, which means that GOS can reduce the colonization of E. coli O157 by enhancing the gut barrier function. Through the determination of inflammatory cytokines, we found that GOS can relieve inflammation caused by pathogens. At the same time, GOS can promote the growth of probiotics such as Akkermansia, Ruminococcaceae and Bacteroides, thus modulating microorganism environments and improving short chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels in the intestine. This study provides an explanation for the mechanism behind the protection of GOS against pathogen infection.

Heavy alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for hypertension; the mechanism by which alcohol consumption impact blood pressure (BP) regulation remains unknown. We hypothesized that a genome-wide association study accounting for gene-alcohol consumption interaction for BP might identify additional BP loci and contribute to the understanding of alcohol-related BP regulation. We conducted a large two-stage investigation incorporating joint testing of main genetic effects and single nucleotide variant (SNV)-alcohol consumption interactions. In Stage 1, genome-wide discovery meta-analyses in ≈131K individuals across several ancestry groups yielded 3,514 SNVs (245 loci) with suggestive evidence of association (P < 1.0 x 10-5). In Stage 2, these SNVs were tested for independent external replication in ≈440K individuals across multiple ancestries. We identified and replicated (at Bonferroni correction threshold) five novel BP loci (380 SNVs in 21 genes) and 49 previously reported BP loci (2,159 SNVs in 109 genes) in European ancestry, and in multi-ancestry meta-analyses (P < 5.0 x 10-8). For African ancestry samples, we detected 18 potentially novel BP loci (P < 5.0 x 10-8) in Stage 1 that warrant further replication. Additionally, correlated meta-analysis identified eight novel BP loci (11 genes). Several genes in these loci (e.g., PINX1, GATA4, BLK, FTO and GABBR2) have been previously reported to be associated with alcohol consumption. These findings provide insights into the role of alcohol consumption in the genetic architecture of hypertension.

RhoA-GTPase (RhoA) is widely regarded as a key molecular switch to inhibit neurite outgrowth by rigidifying the actin cytoskeleton. However, during neurite outgrowth, whether and how microtubule dynamics are regulated by RhoA remains to be elucidated. Herein, CT04 and Y27632 were used to inactivate RhoA and its downstream effector Rho-associated coiled coil-forming kinase (ROCK), while the RhoAQ63L lentiviral vector was utilized to overexpress the constitutively activated RhoA in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons or neuronal differentiated PC12 cells. The current data illustrate that the RhoA signaling pathway negatively modulates neurite outgrowth and elevates the expression of Glu-tubulin (a marker for a stabilized microtubule). Meanwhile, the microtubule-severing proteins spastin and p60-katanin were downregulated by the RhoA signaling pathway. When spastin and p60-katanin were knocked down, the effects of RhoA inhibition on neurite outgrowth were significantly reversed. Taken together, this study demonstrates that the RhoA pathway-mediated inhibition of neurite outgrowth is not only related to the modulation of microfilament dynamics but is also attributable to the regulation of the expression of spastin and p60-katanin and thus influences microtubule dynamics.

The inhibitory effects of baijiu vinasse extract and its phenolic acid compounds on the Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) formation from dairy food were investigated. The inhibitory effect of the baijiu vinasse extract against CML formation was 43.2% in the casein and D-glucose model, which used 6 mL of the 70% acetone extract at 60 °C for 40 min. The HPLC-MS/MS profiles of the vinasse extract indicated that vanillic, chlorogenic, p-coumaric, sinapic, caffeic, ferulic, and syringic acids were seven major phenolic acid compounds. Furthermore, the inhibitory mechanism of the phenolic acid compounds in the model of dairy food was discussed by the trapping and scavenging of glyoxal. The results of this study exhibit that seven major antioxidant phenolic acid compounds may play important roles in the antioxidant activity and CML inhibition of the vinasse extract in a model of dairy foods.

A colorimetric probe for determination of As(III) ions in aqueous solutions on basis of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) was synthesized. The dithiothreitol molecules with two end thiols covalently combined with Au Nanorods (AuNRs) with an aspect ratio of 2.9 by Au-S bond to form dithiothreitol coated Au Nanorods (DTT-AuNRs), acting as colorimetric probe for the determination of As(III) ions. With the adding of As(III) ions, the AuNRs will be aggregated and leading the longitudinal SPR absorption band of DTT-AuNRs decrease due to the As(III) ions can bind with three DTT molecules through an As-S linkage. The potential factors affect the response of DTT-AuNRs to As(III) ions including the concentration of DTT, pH values of DTT-AuNRs, reaction time and NaCl concentration were optimized. Under optimum assay conditions, the DTT-AuNRs colorimetric probe has high sensitivity towards As(III) ions with low detection limit of 38 nM by rules of 3σ/k and excellent linear range of 0.13–10.01 μM. The developed colorimetric probe shows high selectivity for As(III) ions sensing and has applied to determine of As(III) in environmental water samples with quantitative spike-recoveries range from 95.2% to 100.4% with low relative standard deviation of less than 4.4% (n = 3).