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Abstract This study addresses the challenge of accurately diagnosing sepsis subtypes in elderly patients, particularly distinguishing between Escherichia coli (E. coli) and non-E. coli infections. Utilizing machine learning, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 119 elderly sepsis patients, employing a random forest model to evaluate clinical biomarkers and infection sites. The model demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, with an overall accuracy of 87.5%, and impressive precision and recall rates of 93.3% and 87.5%, respectively. It identified infection sites, platelet distribution width, reduced platelet count, and procalcitonin levels as key predictors. The model achieved an F1 Score of 90.3% and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 88.0%, effectively differentiating between sepsis subtypes. Similarly, logistic regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis underscored the significance of infectious sites. This methodology shows promise for enhancing elderly sepsis diagnosis and contributing to the advancement of precision medicine in the field of infectious diseases.

Understanding the spatial variability and driving mechanisms of humus horizon thickness (HHT) degradation is crucial for effective soil degradation prevention in black soil regions. The study compared ordinary kriging interpolation (OK), inverse distance weighted interpolation (IDW), and regression kriging interpolation (RK) using mean error (ME), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and relative RMSE to select the most accurate model. Environmental variables were then integrated to predict HHT characteristics. Results indicate that: (1) RK was superior to OK and IDW in characterizing HHT with the smallest ME (11.45), RMSE (14.98), MAE (11.45), and RRMSE (0.44). (2) The average annual temperature (0.29), precipitation (0.27), and digital elevation model (DEM) (0.21) were the primary factors influencing the spatial variability of HHT. (3) The HHT exhibited notable variability, with an increasing trend from the southeast towards the central and northern directions, being the thinnest in the southeast. It was thicker in the northeast and southwest regions, thicker but less dense along the southern Bohai coast, thicker yet sporadically distributed in the northwest (especially Chaoyang and Fuxin), and thick with aggregated distribution over a smaller area in the northeastern direction (e.g., Tieling). These findings provide a scientific basis for accurate soil management in Liaoning Province.

Iron in soil exists in various valence states and is prone to changes with alterations in soil environmental conditions. Its migration and transformation are crucial for soil formation and understanding soil evolution. This study focuses on Quaternary red soils found in woodland, sparse forest grassland, grassland, and cultivated land located in the semi-humid region of the middle temperate zone. For comparison, buried Quaternary red soil was also examined. A soil reconstruction model was used to quantitatively calculate the variation of different forms of iron in order to analyze various forms of iron composition, migration, and transformation within the soil profile, as well as the evolutionary traits of Quaternary red soils influenced by diverse land use activities. This study found that after exposure and use, iron from the topsoil of buried Quaternary red soil migrated to the subsoil, altering the iron distribution. Free iron and crystalline oxides decreased in the topsoil but increased in specific subsoil layers, with woodland and grassland showing the most significant changes. Silicate-bound iron pooled in the soil weathered to form free iron under different land uses, and poorly crystalline iron oxides transformed into crystalline oxides, with grassland exhibiting the highest transformation intensity. Conversion processes predominated over iron migration in the Quaternary red soils. The evolution of Quaternary red soils can be divided into three stages, marked by changes in iron composition and crystallization due to anthropogenic land use activities. Initially, during 140−94 ka BP, iron composition was stable. Then, between 94–24 ka BP, plant decomposition formed iron–metal complexes, releasing and crystallizing poorly crystalline iron oxides. Finally, from 24 ka BP to the present, anthropogenic activities intensified, increasing the formation and conversion rates of these oxides. This study quantifies iron migration and transformation in Quaternary red soils, providing insights for sustainable soil management, especially in regions where human activities have accelerated iron evolution. Based on these findings, the following policy recommendations are proposed: implement sustainable land use practices, encourage land management strategies that preserve natural vegetation, promote research on soil management techniques, develop and implement regulatory policies, and support educational programs to maintain the health and stability of Quaternary red soils, particularly in regions prone to accelerated iron evolution due to anthropogenic activities.

Climate change has a great impact on plant growth and agricultural production, especially on the growing season, growth rate, and growth distribution [...]

Iron isotope compositions, along with the partial extraction of iron in its various forms, can be utilized to investigate the complex interplay of iron migration and transformation with respect to iron isotope patterns. This study investigated the iron composition of a typical loess-paleosol sequence in Northeast China and aimed to understand the influence of iron migration and transformation of the typical loess-paleosol sequence on iron isotopes and environmental and climatic changes that occurred in the region over time by analyzing the distribution and characteristics of iron compositions in sedimentary layers. Samples were collected from Chaoyang in Northeast China, and the iron isotopic composition was analyzed using the multi-receiver inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). The findings revealed depth-dependent variations in the content of different iron forms, reflecting paleoclimatic shifts primarily through pedogenic transformation processes. Notably, iron migration within the section was observed to be limited. The variations in the reddening index and magnetic susceptibility of the loess-paleosol were primarily influenced by the presence of free iron (Fed), exhibiting a range of colors from yellow to red-yellow and red. The δ56Fe values for loess and paleosols ranged from 0.097 ± 0.035‰ to 0.167 ± 0.010‰, with an average of 0.133 ± 0.024‰ and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 15.66% at the stratum scale. These values indicated a systematic enrichment of heavy iron isotopes and a significant negative correlation with the slightly fluctuating total iron content. Specifically, our analysis highlighted distinct differences in δ56Fe values between paleosol (0.126 ± 0.024‰) and loess (0.146 ± 0.021‰). The δ56Fe in Fed was negative, averaging −0.101 ± 0.022‰, while the δ56Fe in silicate-bound iron was positive, averaging 0.156 ± 0.032‰. Intense pedogenesis, driven by warm and wet climates, facilitated iron transformations and migrations, resulting in the accumulation of light iron isotopes in the paleosols. These transformations and migrations were predominantly observed in microdomains characterized by iron depletions and concentrations, as reflected in the profile morphologies. However, the limited iron transformations and migrations did not result in significant Fe redistribution within the soil section, as evidenced by the limited variations in δ56Fe with soil depth at the stratum scale. Sampling from the stratum or pedogenic horizon could potentially create the illusion of the minimal fractionation of iron isotopes within the sequence. Therefore, a detailed examination of the iron isotope composition in the micro-domains of the loess-paleosol sequence is crucial to elucidate the fractionation processes and mechanisms of iron isotopes during the formation of these sequences.

Summary: Background: The disease burden of gastrointestinal disease (GD) in China is high, with significant variation across provinces. A comprehensive agreed set of indicators could guide rational resource allocation to support better GD outcomes. Methods: This study collected data from multiple sources, including national surveillance, surveys, registration systems, and scientific research. Literature reviews and Delphi methods were used to obtain monitoring indicators; the analytic hierarchy process was used to determine indicator weights. Findings: The China Gastrointestinal Health Index (GHI) system consisted of four dimensions and 46 indicators. The weight of the four dimensions from high to low included the prevalence of gastrointestinal non-neoplastic diseases and gastrointestinal neoplasms (GN) (0.3246), clinical treatment of GD (0.2884), prevention and control of risk factors (0.2606), and exposure to risk factors (0.1264). The highest indicator weight of GHI rank was the successful smoking cessation rate (0.1253), followed by the 5-year survival rate of GN (0.0905), and the examination rate of diagnostic oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (0.0661). The overall GHI for China in 2019 was 49.89, varying from 39.19 to 76.13 across all sub-regions. The top five sub-regions in the total GHI score were in the eastern region. Interpretation: GHI is the first system designed to monitor gastrointestinal health systematically. In the future, data from sub-regions of China should be used to test and improve the GHI system for its impact. Funding: This research was supported by the National Health Commission of China, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (2019YXK006), and the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (21Y31900100).

Previous research assumed deep buried loess as the initial composition of the overlying paleosol and failed to address the long-term continuous pedogenic weathering history in the deep loess-paleosol sequence, which was attributed to little understanding on the difference between loess and paleosol in the long-term deep loess-paleosol sequence. To distinguish between the loess and paleosol, in the long-term deep loess-paleosol sequence in northeast China, the morphology, dust deposition fluxes, geochemical characteristics, magnetic susceptibility, and grain size distributions were investigated. Results showed that the loess layers buried at depth could be differentiated from the paleosol by their poor pedogenic development. The presence of coarser grains in the loess as well as lesser amounts of clay and Fe–Mn coatings compared to paleosol indicated weaker weathering of the loess. Also, optical iron clay films deposited on the surface of the skeleton particles were less visible in the loesses than in the paleosols. From the loess evolution perspective, the pedogenic formation process of the newly formed loess soils should be considered as important as that of the reddish paleosol layer based on criteria of formation time, depth within profile, and morphological characteristics. The formation of the reddish or yellowish paleosol layer was constrained by pedogenic environments associated with climatic change and by the relative rates of deposition and pedogenesis. The terms “loessal paleosol” and “loessal paleosol sequence” are suggested to aid in systematically and consistently addressing the long-term pedogenic weathering evolution recorded in the complex formation of deep loess and paleosol sequences in pedology research. The long-term deep loessal sediments of Northeast China are loessal paleosols, which cannot be simply used as a reference for the overlying paleosol and be deducted from pedogenesis consideration.

ObjectiveTo analyze the quality of life (QoL) and its influencing factors among diabetes mellitus patients two years after undergoing a community-based diabetes self-management and to provide references for improving medical service to diabetes. MethodsFrom August to October of 2013, 1 653 diabetic patients were recruited in 84 communities in three cities (Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing) and three provinces (Jiangsu, Guangdong and Zhejiang) to carry out a 2-month diabetes self-management group intervention. A follow-up survey was conducted during September – December 2015 to analyze changes in QoL and its influencing factors before and after the self-management intervention. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used in QoL evaluation. ResultsAmong the 1 653 diabetic patients recruited in 2013, 1 603 (96.98%) completed a baseline survey, of which, 1 299 patients were followed up and 304 (18.96%) were lost to follow-up in 2015. Compared to those before the intervention, the patients′ median (quartile range, QR) of SF-36 physical health score increased significantly two years after the self-management intervention (76.50 [23.75] vs. 75.00 [25.00], Z = – 2.53; P = 0.011), but the patients′ median (QR) of SF-36 mental health score was not significantly different (78.44 [25.03] vs. 78.44 [23.31], P > 0.05). The results of unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that two years after receiving the diabetes self-management intervention, the patients suffering from diabetes 5 years or more and smoking were less likely to have an increased physical health score, while those with an improved self-efficacy were more likely to have an increased physical health score; the patients with following characteristics were less likely to have an increased mental health score: female, with medication reimbursement by medical insurance for urban workers, having complication of other chronic disease, smoking, and being capable of self-injection of insulin or not needing insulin injection. ConclusionThe quality of life was improved to a certain extent among a group of community diabetic patients in China two years after a self-management intervention and the improvement was influenced by the patients′ gender, major payer of the medication cost, disease course, comorbidity of other chronic diseases, self-efficacy, smoking, and self-injection of insulin.

It is estimated that 89% of mortalities could be attributed to chronic and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) currently in China and NCDs are the most serious diseases which cause the disease burden in Chinese population. Since 1980s, World Health Organization has been advocating the application of health promotion strategies to improve population health. Recapitulating the evolution of health promotion policies, we can find that comprehensive actions (such as developing healthy public policy, creating supportive environments for health, strengthening community action, building up personal skills, and reorienting health services) can effectively reduce the burden caused by NCDs. The implementation framework of health in all policies is in favor of the government commitments on maintaining population health, by which it can lead to a path for multi-sectoral cooperation to solve complex social determinants that affect health.

The Quaternary red soil widely distributed in China is an important arable land resource. A quantitative understanding of nutrient changes of Quaternary red soils under different land-use patterns is the necessary premise for effective regulation, management, and sustainable utilization. In this study, five typical Quaternary red soil profiles under different land-use patterns were taken as the research object in Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, China. The results showed that: (1) Buried Quaternary red soils were minimally affected by external disturbances. The contents of nitrogen (around 0.02%), phosphorus (ranging from 0.06% to 0.07%), and potassium (ranging from 3.12% to 3.50%) were at relatively low levels and homogeneously distributed with depth. (2) The total nitrogen content of red soils under each land-use pattern showed an increasing trend in the upper part of the profile (A and B horizons), and a sequence of woodland (CL-04) > grassland (CL-03) > arable land (CL-05) = sparse forest–grassland (CL-02). The nitrogen content in the lower part of different land-use patterns was about 0.02%. The phosphorus content of the topsoil layer remained unchanged (ranging from 0.05% to 0.06%), while the subsoil phosphorus decreased to varying extents. The potassium experienced leaching in both topsoil and subsoil layers, with the topsoil losses being lower than that in the subsoil. The range of total potassium content in the grassland (CL-03) ranged from 2.64% to 4.21%, from 3.91% to 4.44% for sparse forest–grassland (CL-02), from 2.41% to 2.63% for woodland (CL-04), and 2.85% to 2.92% for arable land (CL-05), respectively. The variation in nutrient content was related to the vegetation type, coverage rate, artificial fertilization method and species, etc. The accumulative mass change in the sparse forest–grassland increased by 384.16 g/100 cm2, and the other land-use patterns showed a decreasing trend of arable land (83.71 g/100 cm2) > woodland (83.71 g/100 cm2) > grassland (83.71 g/100 cm2), with the topsoil leaching losses being smaller than those in the subsoil layer. The characteristics of windbreak, sand fixation, and soil and water conservation of the sparse forest–grassland could well hold the nutrient-rich loess sediments, resulting in increased nutrients in the Quaternary red soil, which is a reasonable land-use pattern for the Chaoyang area.

Abstract Background Alisol A 24-acetate (AA-24-a), one of the main active triterpenes isolated from the well-known medicinal plant Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juz., exhibits multiple biological activities including hypolipidemic activity. However, its effect on lipid metabolism in adipocytes remains unclear. The present study aimed to clarify the effect of AA-24-a on adipocyte lipolysis and to determine its potential mechanism of action using 3 T3-L1 cells. Methods We assayed the release of glycerol into culture medium of 3 T3-L1 cells under treatment with AA-24-a. Protein and mRNA expression and phosphorylation levels of the main lipases and kinases involved in lipolysis regulation were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Specific inhibitors of protein kinase A (PKA; H89) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK; PD98059), which are key enzymes in relevant signaling pathways, were used to examine their roles in AA-24-a-stimulated lipolysis. Results AA-24-a significantly stimulated neutral lipolysis in fully differentiated adipocytes. To determine the underlying mechanism, we assessed the changes in mRNA and protein levels of key lipolysis-related genes in the presence or absence of H89 and PD98059. Both inhibitors reduced AA-24-a-induced lipolysis. Moreover, pretreatment with H89 attenuated AA-24-a-induced phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase at Ser660, while pretreatment with PD98059 attenuated AA-24-a-induced downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and perilipin A. Conclusions Our results indicate that AA-24-a promoted neutral lipolysis in 3 T3-L1 adipocytes by activating PKA-mediated phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase and ERK- mediated downregulation of expression of perilipin A.

Introduction The rapid rise in the prevalence of diabetes has a negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Diabetes self-management group education is cost-effective and efficient for patients to control blood glucose. However, there are no consistent standards for self-management group education, and its long-term effects (≥12 months) are unclear. Although a few systematic reviews evaluated the long-term effects, they did not make clear provisions on the content of self-management, and the number and sample size of included studies were small, which may lead to misclassification bias and reporting bias. Therefore, we plan to conduct this systematic review to evaluate the long-term effects of self-management group education and determine the effects of different self-management characteristics on glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c).Methods and analysis We will retrieve Chinese databases (Wanfang, Chinese Hospital Knowledge Warehouse) and English databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, EMBASE, Web of Science, Bailian Platform, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar) for randomly controlled trials and cluster randomly controlled trials of which participants are adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We will manually search citation lists and trial registries, and consult authors to obtain relevant articles. The retrieval time range will be from the establishment of the database to July 2020 to avoid omitting relevant studies. The primary outcome will be HbA1c. The secondary outcomes will be fasting plasma glucose, postprandial blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference and death event. Two reviewers will independently conduct article screening and assessment of risk of bias, with a third reviewer arbitrating if necessary. We will give priority to the use of meta-analysis to evaluate the pooled effects of all outcomes. For the outcomes of unrecognised sources of heterogeneity, missing data and less than three related studies, narrative synthesis approach will be used.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required for this systematic review. We plan to present the findings in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, relevant and responsible organisations, and training meetings.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020209011.

The Chaoyang profile represents a rare multi-period, continuous and complete sequence of aeolian paleo-deposits with a stable sedimentary origin and multi-stage paleoclimatic cycles. Benchmark profiles including soil types at different pedogenic stages can be used for the recognition and classification of paleosols and paleoclimate reconstruction. The loess–paleosol sequence benchmark profile (LBP) is also helpful in comparing the results of paleoenvironment reconstruction from different ecological regions. In this study, a loess–paleosol profile derived from thick loess in Chaoyang city of Liaoning province, Northeast China, was investigated as a well-preserved LBP that included various paleosol types. To determine the nature and origin of the Chaoyang profile, the geographic, stratigraphic and morphological characteristics were described in the field. Bulk samples from 42 horizons were collected for chemical and physical analysis, and sub-sampling of 946 samples at 2 cm intervals from the surface to the bottom were taken to measure grain size distributions and magnetic susceptibility. Results showed that the 19.85 m thick loess–paleosol profile had been continuously deposited since 423 ka BP. The upper part (0–195 cm), or UPP, was predominantly of aeolian loess deposition origin but was mixed with water-reworked materials from a nearby secondary loess source. The middle part (195–228 cm), or MIP, was also indirectly affected by the water-reworking process through the leaching of materials from the overlying UPP. The lower part (228–1985 cm), or LOP, was characterized by four reddish stratigraphic layers interbedded with five yellowish ones, indicating several types of paleosols developed under different ecological environments. The multi-stage paleoclimatic cycles as evidenced by morphological and physical characteristics as well as age dating and magnetic susceptibility correlated well with the Lingtai section and LR04 benthic δ18O. Because of these attributes, the Chaoyang profile can be deemed as a benchmark loess–paleosol profile for the recognition and classification of paleosols and paleoclimate reconstruction in Northeast China. The differences in morphological and physical properties between paleosols and loess suggest different soil fertility and agronomic properties and need further studies to assess their functionality with climate fluctuation.

AIM:To evaluate the percentage of cutting fluctuations of central corneal thickness(CCT)intraoperative used low concentration(0.02%)mitomycin C(MMC)after laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis(LASEK). METHODS: In this prospective study, low and medium myopia group(spherical equivalent≤6.0DS)has 138 patients(276 eyes). Low concentration MMC used topically in 69 patients(138 eyes)randomized after excimer laser ablation; the another traditional LASEK as control. High myopia group(6.0DSt test and their repeatability was assessed using the coefficient of variation(CV).RESULTS: At 3mo after operation, the difference of central corneal thickness and cutting value between different treatment groups was statistically significant(PPPPCONCLUSION: The study on percentage of cutting fluctuations of central corneal thickness, further confirmed low concentrations MMC in reducing postoperative corneal stromal proliferation reaction, inhibition of haze production.

Pennisetum sinese is a good forage grass with high biomass production and crude proteins. However, little is known about the endophytic fungi diversity of P. sinese, which might play an important role in the plant’s growth and biomass production. Here, we used high throughput sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences based on primers ITS5-1737 and ITS2-2043R to investigate the endophytic fungi diversity of P. sinese roots at the maturity stage, as collected from four provinces (Shaanxi province, SX; Fujian province, FJ; the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous prefecture, XJ and Inner Mongolia, including sand (NS) and saline-alkali land (NY), China). The ITS sequences were processed using QIIME and R software. A total of 374,875 effective tags were obtained, and 708 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were yielded with 97% identity in the five samples. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the two dominant phyla in the five samples, and the genera Khuskia and Heydenia were the most abundant in the FJ and XJ samples, respectively, while the most abundant tags in the other three samples could not be annotated at the genus level. In addition, our study revealed that the FJ sample possessed the highest OTU numbers (242) and the NS sample had the lowest (86). Moreover, only 22 OTUs were present in all samples simultaneously. The beta diversity analysis suggested a division of two endophytic fungi groups: the FJ sample from the south of China and the other four samples from north or northwest China. Correlation analysis between the environmental factors and endophytic fungi at the class level revealed that Sordariomycetes and Pucciniomycetes had extremely significant positive correlations with the total carbon, annual average precipitation, and annual average temperature, while Leotiomycetes showed an extremely significant negative correlation with quick acting potassium. The results revealed significant differences in the root endophytic fungi diversity of P. sinese in different provinces and might be useful for growth promotion and biomass production in the future.

The appearance of planetary oxygen likely transformed the chemical and biochemical makeup of life and probably triggered episodes of organismal diversification. Here we use chemoinformatic methods to explore the impact of the rise of oxygen on metabolic evolution. We undertake a comprehensive comparative analysis of structures, chemical properties and chemical reactions of anaerobic and aerobic metabolites. The results indicate that aerobic metabolism has expanded the structural and chemical space of metabolites considerably, including the appearance of 130 novel molecular scaffolds. The molecular functions of these metabolites are mainly associated with derived aspects of cellular life, such as signal transfer, defense against biotic factors, and protection of organisms from oxidation. Moreover, aerobic metabolites are more hydrophobic and rigid than anaerobic compounds, suggesting they are better fit to modulate membrane functions and to serve as transmembrane signaling factors. Since higher organisms depend largely on sophisticated membrane-enabled functions and intercellular signaling systems, the metabolic developments brought about by oxygen benefit the diversity of cellular makeup and the complexity of cellular organization as well. These findings enhance our understanding of the molecular link between oxygen and evolution. They also show the significance of chemoinformatics in addressing basic biological questions.

Although the metabolic networks of the three domains of life consist of different constituents and metabolic pathways, they exhibit the same scale-free organization. This phenomenon has been hypothetically explained by preferential attachment principle that the new-recruited metabolites attach preferentially to those that are already well connected. However, since metabolites are usually small molecules and metabolic processes are basically chemical reactions, we speculate that the metabolic network organization may have a chemical basis. In this paper, chemoinformatic analyses on metabolic networks of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were performed. It was found that there exist qualitative and quantitative correlations between network topology and chemical properties of metabolites. The metabolites with larger degrees of connectivity (hubs) are of relatively stronger polarity. This suggests that metabolic networks are chemically organized to a certain extent, which was further elucidated in terms of high concentrations required by metabolic hubs to drive a variety of reactions. This finding not only provides a chemical explanation to the preferential attachment principle for metabolic network expansion, but also has important implications for metabolic network design and metabolite concentration prediction.

BACKGROUND The benefits of healthy lifestyles are well recognized. However, the extent to which improving unhealthy lifestyles reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk needs to be discussed. We evaluated the impact of lifestyle improvement on CVD incidence using data from the China-PAR project (Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China). METHODS A total of 12,588 participants free of CVD were followed up for three visits after the baseline examination. Changes in four lifestyle factors (LFs) (smoking, diet, physical activity, and alcohol consumption) were assessed through questionnaires from the baseline to the first follow-up visit. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The risk advancement periods (RAPs: the age difference between exposed and unexposed participants reaching the same incident CVD risk) and population-attributable risk percentage (PAR%) were also calculated. RESULTS A total of 909 incident CVD cases occurred over a median follow-up of 11.14 years. Compared with maintaining 0-1 healthy LFs, maintaining 3–4 healthy LFs was associated with a 40% risk reduction of incident CVD (HR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.45–0.79) and delayed CVD risk by 6.31 years (RAP: −6.31 [−9.92, −2.70] years). The PAR% of maintaining 3–4 unhealthy LFs was 22.0% compared to maintaining 0-1 unhealthy LFs. Besides, compared with maintaining two healthy LFs, improving healthy LFs from 2 to 3–4 was associated with a 23% lower risk of CVD (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.60–0.98). CONCLUSIONS Long-term sustenance of healthy lifestyles or improving unhealthy lifestyles can reduce and delay CVD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) in 2- to 5-year-old preschool children in Weifang City, China, and to investigate the factors related to this condition.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 2829 children (2-5 years old, including 1601 boys and 1228 girls) in twenty kindergartens in Weifang City, China, in 2014. These children were selected via cluster sampling. First, the percentages of ECC and severe ECC (S-ECC) as well as the mean dmft were compared between different genders and ages, and the tooth distribution pattern of ECC was analysed. Meanwhile, the information regarding feeding and oral hygiene practices was collected by a questionnaire with 14 questions to evaluate their relationships with the percentages of ECC and S-ECC as well as the mean dmft. The chi-squared test, t-test and one-way ANOVA were conducted to evaluate the significant differences.Results: The ECC prevalence of the preschoolers was 53.3%, and the mean dmft was 2.12 ± 2.56. 71.4% of the 1509 children with ECC were identified as S-ECC. Not only the percentages of ECC and S-ECC but also the mean dmft differed statistically significantly according to gender and age (p < 0.05). Furthermore, caries was most common in primary maxillary central incisors. Feeding and oral hygiene practices were shown to be the significant determining factors for caries.Conclusions: The oral health status of children living in Weifang is very poor. Appropriate strategies must be implemented to promote oral health early on by improving feeding and oral hygiene practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The permeability and selectivity of S[O.sub.2] in supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) are analyzed. The results have shown that the SILMs have provided very good permeability of S[O.sub.2] along with ideal S[O.sub.2]/C[H.sub.4] and S[O.sub.2]/[N.sub.2] selectivities.

One specific behavior can be synergistically modulated by different neural pathways. Medial septal (MS) cholinergic system innervates widespread cortical and subcortical regions and participates in pain modulation, but the underlying neural pathways are not fully understood. This study examined the contribution of MS cholinergic neurons and 2 neural pathways: MS-rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and MS-ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1), in modulating perceptual and affective pain behaviors in a mouse model of chronic inflammatory pain. We found that chronic pain activated MS cholinergic neurons and pyramidal neurons in the rACC, but suppressed pyramidal neuronal activities in the vCA1, all of which contributed to the maintenance of pathological pain. Chemogenetic inhibition of MS cholinergic neurons or the MS-rACC pathway inhibited rACC pyramidal neuronal activities and attenuated perceptual and affective dimensions of chronic pain. By contrast, chemogenetic activation of MS cholinergic neurons also produced analgesia, but by rescuing hypofunctional pyramidal neurons in vCA1. These results clearly demonstrate that the MS cholinergic system differentially modulates chronic inflammatory pain through MS-rACC or MS-vCA1 pathways. More significantly, our research provides evidence for a novel paradigm of neural circuit modulation: MS cholinergic inhibition and activation induce similar analgesia but through distinct neural pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence for the effect of dietary sodium intake on the risk of cardiovascular disease has been controversial. One of the main explanations for the conflicting results lies in the great variability associated with measurement methods for sodium intake. Spot urine collection is a convenient method commonly used for sodium estimation, but its validity for predicting 24-h urinary sodium excretion at the individual level has not been well evaluated among the general population. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Kawasaki, the International Cooperative Study on Salt, Other Factors, and Blood Pressure (INTERSALT), and the Tanaka formulas in predicting 24-h urinary sodium excretion by using spot urine samples in Chinese adults. Design: We analyzed the relative and absolute differences and misclassification at the individual level from 3 commonly used methods for estimating sodium intake among 141 Chinese community residents. Results: The mean measured 24-h sodium excretion was 220.8 mmol/d. The median (95% CIs) differences between measured sodium and those estimated from the Kawasaki, INTERSALT, and Tanaka methods were 6.4 mmol/d (-17.5, 36.8 mmol/d), -67.3 mmol/d (-96.5, -46.9 mmol/d), and -42.9 mmol/d (-59.1, -24.8 mmol/d), respectively. The proportions of relative differences >40% with the Kawasaki, INTERSALT, and Tanaka methods were 31.2%, 41.1%, and 22.0%, respectively; and the absolute difference for the 3 methods was >51.3 mmol/d (3 g salt) in approximately half of the participants. The misclassification rate was 63.1% for the Kawasaki method, 78.7% for the INTERSALT method, and 66.0% for the Tanaka method at the individual level. Conclusion: The results from our study do not support the use of spot urine to estimate 24-h urinary sodium excretion at the individual level because of its poor performance with respect to misclassification. This trial was registered at www.chictr.org.cn as ChiCTR-IOR-16010278. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Self-rated health (SRH) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are two outcome measures used to assess health status. However, little is known about population-based SRH and HRQOL in China.Methods: Data from the 2010 China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance, a nationally representative sample of 98,658 adults (≥18-year-old) residing in China, were analyzed. SRH was assessed by asking "Would you say that, in general, your health is very good, good, general, poor, or very poor?" HRQOL was assessed by asking "For about how many days during the past 30 days was your health not good due to physical illnesses, injuries, or mental unhealthy?".Results: Overall, 6.3 % of participants rated their health as poor or very poor. The prevalence of poor/very poor health increased with advancing age ranging from 2.0 % in the 18-24 year-olds to 14.9 % in those ≥75 years-old, while it decreased with education levels from 13.0 % in illiterates/those with some primary school education to 2.2 % in college graduates or above. Additionally, women were more likely than men to rate their health as poor or very poor (7.2 % vs. 5.4 %). The reported rate of poor/very poor health was higher in western region residents compared to those in the east (7.4 % vs. 5.3 %). The mean numbers of self-reported physically unhealthy days, injury-caused unhealthy days, or mentally unhealthy days during the past 30 days were 1.48, 0.20, and 0.54, respectively. Older adults had more physically unhealthy days than the younger ones ranging from 2.92 days in those ≥ 75 year-old to 0.95 days in 18-24 year-olds. Women had more physically unhealthy days and mentally unhealthy days than men (1.72 vs. 1.23; 0.62 vs. 0.46, respectively). The highest mean number of physically unhealthy days (2.32) was reported by illiterates or those with some primary school education. The highest mean number of mentally unhealthy days (0.86) reported by college graduates or above.Conclusions: Substantial variations existed in SRH and HRQOL among age groups, gender groups, education groups, and across regions in China. Considering these disparities will be important when developing health policies and allocating resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After Japan's largest ever-recorded earthquake on March 11, 2011, a most devastating tsunami hit Japan. Almost 20,000 people died from the combined earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis. As of January 2013, almost 300,000 people made homeless by the disaster continue to live in emergency housing. In this paper, we report the results of a survey of 1,278 Japanese households and analyze insurance demand and loss control following the Great East Japan Earthquake. We find that several respondents newly purchased earthquake insurance and undertook a number of loss-control activities in light of the Great East Japan Earthquake. We also find that people consistently prefer loss-control activities to earthquake insurance as risk management tools. However, while the purchase of earthquake insurance and the engagement in some types of earthquake-related loss control, such as the seismic strengthening of houses, are associated with higher income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifteen novel amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) were prepared by the combination of several tetraalkylammonium cations with four amino acid anions ([Gly], [l-Ala], [β-Ala] and [Val]).The asymmetry of the tetraalkylammonium cations is shown to have a significant influence on the viscosity of the ionic liquids composed of amino acid anions, especially for the four triethylbutylammonium ([N2224])-based ionic liquids that have viscosities of lower than 60 mPa s, with the lowest being only 29 mPa s. The low viscosity tetraalkylammonium-based AAILs are further demonstrated to improve apparently the reaction and mass transfer rates of CO2in the ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of permeability of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in five imidazolium-based ionic liquids supported on the polyethersulfone microfiltration membranes at temperatures from 25 to 45 °C and atmospheric pressure indicate that under the same conditions, the SO2selectivity of separations using supported ionic liquid membranes are 9−19 times that of CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four of nine tetraalkylammonium-based amino-acid ionic liquids prepared in this work show lower viscosities than all amino acid-based ionic liquids found in the literature and their reversible CO2 absorption approaches 0.5 mol per mol ionic liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]