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A compilation of new advances made in the research field of laboratory reaction kinetics in China's Key Development Project for Air Pollution Formation Mechanism and Control Technologies was presented. These advances are grouped into six broad, interrelated categories, including volatile organic compound (VOC) oxidation, secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, new particle formation (NPF) and gas-particle partitioning, ozone chemistry, model parameters, and secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) formation, highlighting the laboratory work done by Chinese researchers. For smog chamber applications, the current knowledge gained from laboratory studies is reviewed, with emphasis on summarizing the oxidation mechanisms of long-chain alkanes, aromatics, alkenes, aldehydes/ketones in the atmosphere, SOA formation from anthropogenic emission sources, and oxidation of aromatics, isoprene, and limonene, as well as SIA formation. For flow tube applications, atmospheric oxidation mechanisms of toluene and methacrolein, SOA formation from limonene oxidation by ozone, gas-particle partitioning of peroxides, and sulfuric acid-water (H 2 SO 4 -H 2 O) binary nucleation, methanesulfonic acid-water (MSA-H 2 O) binary nucleation, and sulfuric acid-ammonia-water (H 2 SO 4 -NH 3 -H 2 O) ternary nucleation are discussed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel application mode of CSP with HEHP technology is proposed. • The flexible operation benefits of CSP with HEHP technology in the IES are analysed and quantified. • The carbon emission trajectory of the IES containing CSP with an HEHP device is depicted. • CSP with HEHP technology increases the utilization of solar energy. • A rational combination of the hydrogen and thermal energy storage capacities are necessary. The efficient integration of renewable energy with hydrogen storage is an important means for China to achieve carbon neutrality. Concentrated solar power (CSP) is an emerging technology for solar energy utilization that combines the advantages of power generation and energy storage. However, CSP has not been fully exploited because of the high generation cost and an incomplete market mechanism in China. The heat collected by CSP can be utilized for high-temperature electrolytic hydrogen production (HEHP), which is an efficient technology for hydrogen production and storage, and reducing carbon emission. Thus, a low-carbon operating mode for an integrated energy system (IES) consisting of wind, solar and hydrogen energy is proposed in this paper. First, an optimal operation model of electricity-heat-hydrogen coupling for an IES containing CSP and HEHP is established. Second, the effect of CSP with HEHP on the total operation performance of the system is evaluated from the aspects of the system economy, renewable energy utilization, and carbon emission. Finally, the model is validated by a case study of an island IES, and an optimal sizing for hydrogen energy storage and thermal energy storage of CSP is determined. The results show that CSP with HEHP can effectively improve the utilization rate of solar energy and reduce the carbon emissions of the system, offering an approach for carbon reduction planning and the operation of CSP in electric-hydrogen energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blame-avoidance behavior in the context of different goal-setting and accountability pressures has become a hot topic in academia. We employed the theory of planned behavior to explore how goal reasonableness affects blame-avoidance behavior in a sample of 394 grassroots civil servants in China. We found a negative relationship between goal reasonableness and grassroots civil servants' blame-avoidance behavior, with felt accountability acting as a mediator. Further, power–responsibility matching moderated the relationship between goal reasonableness and felt accountability. This study will help to improve the incentive assessment mechanism for grassroots civil servants and motivate them to maintain accountability for their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and coastal saline soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for analysis of the function of coastal wetlands in soil carbon sequestration. In a field experiment, the temporal and spatial dynamics of AM fungi, glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) – which is described as a N-linked glycoprotein and the putative gene product of AM fungi, SOC, and soil aggregates were investigated in halophyte Kosteletzkya virginica rhizosphere soil of coastal saline areas of North Jiangsu, China. Soil samples were collected from a depth of up to 30 cm in two plantation regions from August 2012 to May 2013. Results showed K. virginica formed a strong symbiotic relationship to AM fungi. AM colonization and spore density were the highest in the 10–20 cm soil layer of Jinhai farm in August 2012, because of the presence of numerous fibrous roots in this soil layer. The total GRSP and SOC were the highest in the 0–10 cm soil layer in May 2013 and November 2012, respectively. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that AM colonization and spore density were positively correlated with total GRSP. Meanwhile, total GRSP was significantly positively correlated with large macroaggregates (>3 mm), SOC, total P, Olsen P, and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), but negatively correlated with microaggregates (<0.25 mm), soil EC, total N, and pH. SOC was positively correlated with spore density, large macroaggregates, small macroaggregates (2–0.25 mm), alkaline N, and SMBC and negatively correlated with microaggregates, EC, pH, and total K. Although it may be a statistical artifact, we found an interesting phenomenon that there was no significant correlation between soil aggregates and AM colonization or spore density. Hence, total GRSP is a vital source of saline soil C pool and an important biological indicator for evaluating coastal saline SOC pool and soil fertility, while AM colonization or spore density may not be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rising share of variable renewable energy, balancing market integration (BMI) has been advocated as a promising solution to achieve flexible resource sharing among different regions and enhance the flexibility of the overall power system. However, BMI can result in welfare transfers among regions, which may correspondingly give rise to resistance to integration. Therefore, an incentive mechanism to facilitate flexible resource sharing under BMI is designed in this paper. We first analyse the sources of the benefits of BMI and compare the influence of different market regulation approaches on the welfare transfer effect via a graphical method. Then, based on the Coase theorem, we design an incentive profit-sharing mechanism that is able to optimize the allocation of flexible resources and eliminate welfare transfers among regions to some extent to reduce possible resistance to integration. Case studies based on the three-region system and a realistic northwest power grid in China show that the balancing cost of multi-region systems can be respectively reduced up to 31% and 25%, and the utilization of flexible units can be increased by over 30% by BMI. Finally, corresponding policy implications for BMI are put forward; the proposed mechanism also provides a useful reference and insight for dealing with welfare transfers in interregional trading. • Balancing market integration results in welfare transfers among regions. • An incentive profit-sharing mechanism based on the Coase theorem is designed. • Balancing market integration benefits from imbalance netting and resource sharing. • Inappropriate market adjustment approaches may lead to efficiency loss. • The contribution rates of each region and transmission lines are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate university students' knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) regarding vitamin D.Design: The students were requested to answer a questionnaire related to vitamin D and sun exposure. The consumption frequency of foods rich in vitamin D was assessed. Additionally, the intake of vitamin D-containing supplements was recorded.Setting: A medical university in Nanjing, China.Subjects: Five hundred and fifteen medical students were included.Results: The highest rate of correct responses for the quiz was 68·0 %, while the lowest was 9·6 %. Most students lacked sun exposure because they did not want to get tanned; 82·7 % of students used some sun protection and sunscreen use was more popular in the female group. The consumption frequency of foods rich in vitamin D was low and 5·6 % of the students used vitamin D supplements. The students' knowledge on vitamin D was derived mainly from the media and health professionals. Most of the students were interested to know more about vitamin D.Conclusions: The present study suggested that medical students had little knowledge and unfavourable behaviours. They should get more health education through the media and health professionals. It is advisable to increase their consumption of foods rich in vitamin D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synthesis of novel switchable surfactants using carbon dioxide as a "switch". • CO 2 /N 2 switchable Gemini surfactants had excellent reversibility and reproducibility. • Tertiary amine structure compounds are easy to recover from water. • Understanding the "on-off" process of synthetic surfactants through DPD simulations. Conventional surfactants have excellent performance but not easily recycled and sustainable. The CO 2 /N 2 switchable Gemini surfactants can be reused while maintaining performance and can also effectively utilize greenhouse gas CO 2 , thereby reducing carbon emissions. In our work, three tertiary amines N, N'-dimethyl N, N'-dialkyl ethylenediamine with different hydrophobic chain lengths (C n DEs, n = 12, 14, and 16) were fabricated by a two-step process using alkyl bromide, ethylenediamine, formic acid, and formaldehyde as raw materials. Structures of intermediates and end products were characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR. The Gemini surfactants such as N,N′-dimethyl N,N′-bis (dodecane, tetradecane, and hexadecane) alkylethylenediamine bicarbonates (C n DBs, n = 12, 14, and 16) were generated by the synthetic corresponding tertiary amines after bubbling CO 2. After bubbling N 2 , the bicarbonate surfactants were converted into tertiary amine non-surfactants again. The reversibility of the switching of three surfactants was verified by measuring the changes in surface tension, zeta potential, particle size distribution, and foaming volume before and after CO 2 /N 2 bubbled into the tertiary amine solutions. The physicochemical properties of C n DBs were studied by thermogravimetric analysis, surface tension measurement, cation content measurement, and dissipative particle dynamics (DPD). The results demonstrated that the synthesized CO 2 /N 2 switchable Gemini surfactants had excellent reversibility and reproducibility. The application properties indicated that the Gemini surfactants could reduce interfacial tension of oil/water to ultra-low value; possessed good cation conversion rate and decent foaming properties. Furthermore, the surfactant performances were verified through DPD simulation experiments. With the industrialization of synthetic technology, the costs of CO 2 /N 2 switchable Gemini surfactants will effectively decrease. Storage and utilization of considerable quantities carbon dioxide promote our green low-carbon life, which are conducive to the achievement of the national strategic goal of China's carbon peak in 2035 and carbon neutralization in 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuum foam drying (VFD) has been shown to improve the thermostability and long-term shelf life of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). This study optimized the VFD process to improve the shelf life of NDV at laboratory-scale and then tested the optimized conditions at pilot-scale. The optimal NDV to T5 formulation ratio was determined to be 1:1 or 3:2. Using the 1:1 virus to formulation ratio, the optimal filling volumes were determined to be 13–17% of the vial capacity. The optimized VFD process conditions were determined to be at a shelf temperature of 25℃ with a minimum overall drying time of 44 h. The vaccine samples prepared using these optimized conditions at laboratory-scale exhibited virus titer losses of ≤ 1.0 log10 with residual moisture content (RMC) below 3%. Furthermore, these samples were transported for 97 days around China at ambient temperature without significant titer loss, thus demonstrating the thermostability of the NDV-VFD vaccine. Pilot-scale testing of the NDV-VFD vaccine at optimized conditions showed promising results for up-scaling the process as the RMC was below 3%. However, the virus titer loss was slightly above 1.0 log10 (approximately 1.1 log10). Therefore, the NDV-VFD process requires further optimization at pilot scale to obtain a titer loss of ≤ 1.0 log10. Results from this study provide important guidance for possible industrialization of NDV-VFD vaccine in the future. Key points: • The process optimization and scale-up test of thermostable NDV vaccine prepared through VFD is reported for the first time in this study. • The live attenuated NDV-VFD vaccine maintained thermostability for 97 days during long distance transportation in summer without cold chain conditions. • The optimized NDV-VFD vaccine preparations evaluated at pilot-scale maintained acceptable levels of infectivity after preservation at 37℃ for 90 days, which demonstrated the feasibility of the vaccine for industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the issue of what factors contribute to which dimensions of consumers' initial trust in online vendors in a relatively low-trust environment such as the People's Republic of China. The article has adopted the trust model proposed by McKnight and Chervany (2002) and explored the determinant factors of online shopping initial trust through building an integrated model. In our model, a multidimensional approach has been applied. Through hierarchical regression analysis, we find that distinct discrepancies do exist between influential antecedents of consumer initial trust in online vendors in a low-trust environment like China and those in a high-trust environment. Specifically, perceived corporate image, perceived security, and perceived reference power are influential antecedents of all three dimensions of trusting beliefs (except the effect of perceived security on ability and the effect of perceived reference power on benevolence), but perceived Web site quality is found to exert no significant influence on trusting beliefs, and it can moderate trusting intentions. Moreover, in contrast to prior studies conducted in high-trust environments, our research finds that trusting intentions are significantly influenced by consumers' trust in the firm's integrity rather than their trust in its ability or benevolence. Additionally, we find little support for the hypothesis that a consumer's disposition to trust has a direct or a moderating effect on initial trust in an online vendor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nutrient input from the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) has been increasing dramatically since the 1960s. At the mouth of the Changjiang River, the nitrate concentration has increased about three-fold in 40 years, from 20.5μmol/L in the 1960s to 59.1μmol/L in the 1980s and to 80.6μmol/L in 1990–2004. Phosphate concentration increased by a factor of 30%, from 0.59μmol/L in the 1980s to 0.77μmol/L in 1990–2004. The increasing nitrate input has arisen mostly from the mid and lower reaches of the Changjiang River, where the river meets one of the most strongly developed agriculture areas in China. Responses of the coastal phytoplankton community to the increasing nutrient inputs are also seen in the available monitoring data. First, a trend of increasing phytoplankton standing stock from 1984 to 2002 appeared in the Changjiang River estuary and adjacent coastal waters, especially in late spring. Secondly, the proportion of diatoms in the whole phytoplankton community showed a decreasing trend from about 85% in 1984 to about 60% in 2000. Finally, red tides/harmful algal blooms increased dramatically in this area in terms of both number and scale. About 30–80 red tide events were recorded each year from 2000 to 2005 in the East China Sea. The scale of some blooms has been in excess of 10,000km2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The Bletilla genus of Orchidaceae includes plants with great economic value, among which B. striata is the main traditional medicinal plant, and its pseudobulb, known as BaiJi, was first recorded in Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica. However, there has been little systemic evaluation of the germplasm quality of Bletilla plants in China. In order to comprehensive evaluate the Bletilla resources in China and screen out the candidate phenotypic traits determining yield and/or quality of Bletilla, the variation of phenotypic indicators (pseudobulb, leaf, stem, inflorescence, flower) and active ingredients contents (polysaccharide, total phenolics and militarine) in different populations of B. striata and B. ochracea were investigated through 4 years' common-garden experiment. Results: There were abundant phenotypic variations and significant differences among different populations in the morphological phenotypes, pseudobulb weight and main active ingredient contents. AHBZ, HBLT and HBSN populations showed good prospects for industrial development, presenting higher quality in terms of yield and main active ingredient content. Pseudobulb yield, polysaccharide and total phenol content are positively correlated with phenotypic traits. Militarine content is negatively correlated with almost all indexes. Plant height, leaf width and stem diameter may be important indicators of potential excellent germplasms. Conclusions: Bletilla is not strictly geoauthentic medicinal plants. B. ochracea could be accepted as an alternative resource to B. striata. The best harvest period of Bletilla is the third year after cultivation. Plant height, leaf width and stem diameter may be important indicators of potential excellent germplasms. These results provide important information required for the efficient screening and utilization of Bletilla germplasm resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To fulfil a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy accommodation is a major goal in establishing a spot market in light of China's 2015 electricity market reform. Eight representative provinces with different power supply structures and generation portfolios carry out simulated operations as initial pilot spot markets. The balancing market, a significant section of the spot market that addresses fair transaction settlements to eliminate system imbalance in real time, is diverse among these pilot spot markets. Therefore, effective methodological support is needed to analyse the interaction between balancing market design and participant behaviour considering the market environment in China. Based on the incentive compatibility of the market design with the actual situation in China, this paper assigns wind power producers as market participants, since wind power integration aggravates real-time imbalances due to its natural uncertainty and fluctuation. This study first summarizes the key elements of balancing market design in China that exert great influence on wind power producers; then, an offering strategy model of wind power producers is proposed embedding into the balancing market clearing model to reveal the interactive effect between balancing market design and the behavioural decisions of market participants and to investigate the adequacy of the entire market. Using an example, the effects of key factors on market adequacy and wind power revenue are discussed, including the tolerance margin, programme time unit (PTU) duration, and imbalance pricing mechanism. Finally, corresponding recommendations for balancing market design in China are put forward. • A balancing market design evaluation model referring the reform in China is proposed. • Interaction between balancing market design and behaviour of BRPs is analysed. • A tolerance margin can lead to strategic offering of BRPs. • The penalty factor is recommended to be higher on negative imbalances. • The Programme Time Unit should be gradually shortened from 30 min to 5 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) is one of the most dominant species in shrimp farming in China, which is a rich source of protein and contributes to a significant impact on the quality of human life. Thus, more complete and accurate annotation of gene models are important for the breeding research of oriental river prawn. Results: A full-length transcriptome of oriental river prawn muscle was obtained using the PacBio Sequel platform. Then, 37.99 Gb of subreads were sequenced, including 584,498 circular consensus sequences, among which 512,216 were full length non-chimeric sequences. After Illumina-based correction of long PacBio reads, 6,599 error-corrected isoforms were identified. Transcriptome structural analysis revealed 2,263 and 2,555 alternative splicing (AS) events and alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites, respectively. In total, 620 novel genes (NGs), 197 putative transcription factors (TFs), and 291 novel long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified. Conclusions: In summary, this study offers novel insights into the transcriptome complexity and diversity of this prawn species, and provides valuable information for understanding the genomic structure and improving the draft genome annotation of oriental river prawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several previous studies have shown that dietary patterns are associated with the incidence of depressive symptoms. However, the results have been inconsistent. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the association between dietary patterns and the risk of depressive symptoms in two large cohort studies. Methods: The Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) cohort study included a total of 7,094 participants living in Tianjin, China from 2013 to 2019, and the UK Biobank cohort study includes 96,810 participants who were recruited from 22 assessment centers across the UK taken between 2006 and 2010. All participants were free of a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and depressive symptoms at baseline. Dietary patterns at baseline were identified with factor analysis based on responses to a validated food frequency questionnaire in TCLSIH or Oxford WebQ in UK Biobank. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) in TCLSIH or hospital inpatient records in UK Biobank. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms. Results: A total of 989, and 1,303 participants developed depressive symptoms during 17,410 and 709,931 person-years of follow-up. After adjusting for several potential confounders, the multivariable HRs (95% CIs) of the depressive symptoms were 0.71 (0.57, 0.88) for traditional Chinese dietary pattern, 1.29 (1.07, 1.55) for processed animal offal included animal food dietary pattern, and 1.22 (1.02, 1.46) for sugar rich dietary pattern in TCLSIH (all Q4 vs Q1). In the UK Biobank, the HRs (95% CIs) of depressive symptoms were 1.39 (1.16, 1.68) for processed food dietary pattern (Q4 vs Q1), 0.90 (0.77, 1.00) for healthy dietary pattern (Q3 vs Q1), and 0.89 (0.75, 1.05) for meat dietary pattern (Q4 vs Q1) in the final adjusted model. Conclusion: Dietary patterns rich in processed foods were associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms, and following a traditional Chinese dietary pattern or healthy dietary pattern was associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms, whereas meat dietary pattern was not associated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retirement age postponement policy will not only increase pension income but also reduce pension payments, which will cause an accumulation effect on the size of the pension fund and relieve the intensifying pressure on pension payments. Based on the analysis of historical data in order to predict the population and pension scale in China, this research shows that the working-age population will gradually decrease, the supply of labor will decrease, and the demographic dividend will gradually disappear between 2018 and 2055 if the current retirement policy remains unrevised. According to three different retirement age postponement policy options, we establish that there are significant accumulation effects that can alleviate the pressure on pension funds. Among these policies, the postpone retirement policy option, which is based on the working period, is more conducive to a smoother policy implementation effect in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: DC-CIK therapy included DC-CIK cells and Ag-DC-CIK cells. To further confirm whether DC-CIK reconstructs the antitumor immunity and improves the tumor responses and reveals its optimal usage and combination with chemotherapy, we systematically reevaluated all the related studies.Materials and Methods: All studies about DC-CIK plus chemotherapy for NSCLC were collected from the published and ongoing database as CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, ISI, Embase, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, WHO-ICTRP, Chi-CTR, and US clinical trials (established on June 2017). We evaluated their methodological bias risk according to the Cochrane evaluation handbook of RCTs (5.1.0), extracted data following the predesigned data extraction form, and synthesized the data using meta-analysis.Results: We included 28 RCTs (phase IV) with 2242 patients, but most trials had unclear bias risk. The SMD and 95% CI of meta-analysis for CD3+ T cells, CD3+ CD4+ T cells, CD3+ CD8+ T cells, CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio, CIK cells, NK cells, and Treg cells were as follows: 1.85 (1.39 to 2.31), 0.87 (0.65 to 1.10), 1.04 (0.58 to 1.50), 0.75 (0.27 to 1.22), 3.87 (2.48 to 5.25), 1.51 (0.99 to 2.03), and -2.31(-3.84 to -0.79). The RR and 95% CI of meta-analysis for ORR and DCR were as follows: 1.38 (1.24 to 1.54) and 1.27 (1.20 to 1.34). All differences were statistically significant between DC-CIK plus chemotherapy and chemotherapy alone. Subgroup analysis showed that only DC-CIK cells could increase the CD3+T cells, CD3+ CD4+T cells, CD3+ CD8+T cells, and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio. In treatment with one cycle or two cycles and combination with NP or GP, DC-CIK could increase the CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio. All results had good stability.Conclusions: DC-CIK therapy can simultaneously improve the antitumor immunity and tumor responses. DC-CIK therapy, especially DC-CIK cells, can improve antitumor immunity through increasing the T lymphocyte subsets, CIK cell, and NK cells in peripheral blood. The one cycle to two cycles may be optimal cycle, and the NP or GP may be optimal combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that animal protein foods may increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We therefore examined the NAFLD risk reduction related to substituting plant protein foods for animal protein foods. Methods: The cohort in North China included 14,541 participants from the Tianjin Chronic Low‐Grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) study, and the cohort in South China included 1297 participants from the Guangzhou Nutrition and Health Study (GNHS). Dietary intake was assessed using validated food frequency questionnaires. NAFLD was ascertained by abdominal ultrasound. The Cox model was used to fit the substitution analysis. Results: In the TCLSIH cohort, when replacing one type of animal protein food (eggs, processed meat, unprocessed red meat, poultry, and fish) with an equivalent serving of plant protein foods (nuts, legumes, and whole grains), the replacement of animal protein foods with whole grains showed the strongest benefit; substituting one serving per day of whole grains for an equal amount of eggs (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79, 1.00), processed meat (HR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.91), unprocessed red meat (HR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.00), poultry (HR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.92), or fish (HR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.97) was associated with a lower risk of NAFLD. In both the TCLSIH and GNHS cohorts, replacing poultry with fish, nuts, legumes, or whole grains was associated with a lower risk of NAFLD. When different numbers of protein foods were simultaneously replaced, the risk reduction of NAFLD was stronger. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that replacing animal protein foods with plant protein foods is related to a significant reduction in NAFLD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ultra-processed foods make up more than 50% of daily energy consumed in Western countries and are rapidly increasing in China. However, little is known about the association between ultra-processed food intake and muscle strength, a predictor for physical disability in senior years. We aimed to investigate the association of ultra-processed food intake with longitudinal changes in grip strength among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Methods: This prospective cohort study included a total of 5409 adults aged 40 years and over (61.3% men). Ultra-processed food intake was obtained by means of a validated food frequency questionnaire and classified according to the NOVA classification system. Grip strength was measured annually using a handheld digital dynamometer. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association between ultra-processed food intake and annualized change in grip strength and weight-adjusted grip strength. Results: In the fully adjusted models, annualized changes in grip strength and weight-adjusted grip strength per 10% increment in the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the diet were − 0.3708 kg (95% confidence interval − 0.5687, − 0.1730; P < 0.001) and − 0.0057 kg/kg (95% confidence interval − 0.0086, − 0.0029; P < 0.0001), respectively. In analyses stratified by age, sex, body mass index, physical activity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and healthy diet score, such associations were largely consistent in most subgroups (all P for interaction > 0.05). Conclusions: Our data indicate that higher ultra-processed food intake was associated with faster grip strength decline in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes. However, no study has investigated whether dietary intake can modify this effect. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of dietary pattern modification on the association between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes. Methods: A large prospective cohort study (n = 24,602) was conducted in China. NAFLD was diagnosed using liver ultrasonography considering alcohol consumption. Dietary data were assessed using a validated self‐administered food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Following a 93,873 person‐year follow‐up, 787 (3.20%) participants developed type 2 diabetes. In a multivariable adjusted model, compared with participants without NAFLD, the HR (95% CI) of incident type 2 diabetes for NAFLD patients was 3.04 (2.51, 3.68). On subgroup analyses, the adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of incident type 2 diabetes for NAFLD patients with low (≤median score) and high (>median score) vegetable pattern intakes were 4.08 (3.05, 5.46) and 2.38 (1.85, 3.07) (p for interaction <0.01), respectively. Higher vegetable intake was also found to attenuate the risk effect of phenotype groups of NAFLD on incident type 2 diabetes, especially in the lean NAFLD group. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that NAFLD is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes in the Chinese population. Notably, adherence to a dietary pattern rich in vegetables can attenuate this risk, especially in lean NAFLD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Because inadequate expression of human milk (EBM) in mothers of hospitalized infants were noticed in a neonatal center of our hospital, family education program was carried out to increase the EBM. Methods: A breast milk pumping diary was introduced to the mothers with preterm infant(s) admitted in the NICU. The ratios of EBM (days of EBM to NICU/hospitalized days), breast milk feeding (BMF) (days of infants fed with exclusive human milk/hospitalized days), mixed feeding (MF) (days of infants fed with partial breast milk and partial formula/hospitalized days), and formula feeding (FF) (days of infants fed with preterm formula/hospitalized days) were evaluated. Results: During January to April, 2014, the ratios of EBM to the NICU, BMF, MF and FF were 28.11%, 6.6%, 32.8% and 60.6%, respectively. After the introduction of breast milk pumping diary to the mothers from May 2014, the ratio of EBM to the NICU increased significantly to 53.3% (p<0.01) within the following eight months. Both the ratios of BMF and MF also rose to 23.8% and MF 55.3%, respectively. Consequently, the ratio of FF was reduced to 20.9%. Exclusive breast milk feeding also significantly reduce the duration of nil per oral (NPO) of the very low birth weight infants during hospital stay as compared to those fed with mixed feeding and formula feeding. Conclusion: The introduction of a breast milk pumping diary was associated with a significant increase in the intake of EBM of the hospitalized preterm newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate and understand the determinants of decisions not to attempt resuscitation following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, to contribute to establishing rules that are appropriate to China.Methods: We recruited participants through directors of emergency medical services across China. A 28-question web survey was available between February 5 and March 6, 2021 that targeted demographic information and views on emergency work and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Each question was assigned a value between 1 and 7 based on the level of importance from low to high. T-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and Kruskal-Wallis H-tests were used to compare continuous variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing when people considered it suitable to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation.Results: The study involved 4289 participants from 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in mainland China, of whom 52.8% were male. The top three reasons for not attempting cardiopulmonary resuscitation were decomposition/hypostasis/rigor mortis (6.39 ± 1.44 points), massive injury (4.57 ± 2.08 points) and family members' preference (4.35 ± 1.98 points). In total, 2761 (64.4%) thought emergency services should not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation when cardiac arrest had happened more than 30 min before, and there had been no bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Gender (OR 1.233, p = 0.002), religion (OR 1.147, p = 0.046), level (OR 0.903, p = 0.028) or classification of city (OR 0.920, p = 0.049), years of work experience (OR 0.884, p = 0.004), and major (OR 1.032, p = 0.044) all influenced how long after cardiac arrest was considered suitable for initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation.Conclusions: Chinese emergency physicians have different perceptions of when not to attempt resuscitation to those practicing elsewhere. The existing guidelines for resuscitation are not suitable for China, and China-specific guidelines need to be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation on the 80% EtOH extract of the whole plants of Zephyranthes grandiflora afforded three new 4a-epi-plicamine-type alkaloids, zephyranthines A-C (1-3). Structural elucidation of all the compounds were performed by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. All the alkaloids were in vitro evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against six glioma cell lines (CHG-5, SH-SY5Y, SHG-44, U251, U343, and GL15). Alkaloids 2 and 3 exhibited significant cytotoxic activities against all tested cell lines with IC50 values of less than 20 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various lifestyle factors including smoking, alcohol, physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet quality, sleep behavior, and overweight have been related to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD); however, their joint impact on risk of MASLD is not well known. We prospectively investigated the association between a combination of lifestyle factors and risk of MASLD. This prospective cohort study included 13,303 participants (mean age: 39.1 ± 11.3 years, female: 60.1%) in China. A novel healthy lifestyle score was created combining seven healthy factors: not smoking, no alcohol intake, regular physical activity, short sedentary time, healthy diet, healthy sleep, and healthy weight. Incident MASLD cases were ascertained annually by liver ultrasound and cardiometabolic risk factors. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of healthy lifestyle score with risk of MASLD. Within 48,036 person-years of follow-up, 2823 participants developed MASLD. After adjusting for age, sex, education, occupation, household income, personal and family history of disease, and total energy intake, compared with participants with 0–2 healthy lifestyle factors, the multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of MASLD were 0.81 (0.73, 0.89), 0.67 (0.61, 0.75), and 0.55 (0.49, 0.62) for healthy lifestyle score of 3, 4, and 5–7, respectively (P for trend <0.0001). Such associations were consistent across subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Our results indicate that a higher healthy lifestyle score is associated with a lower risk of MASLD. • A higher healthy lifestyle score is associated with a lower risk of MASLD. • No single behavior determines MASLD risk. • Multiple lifestyle factors have a collective impact on the risk of MASLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 20 years since its introduction, Kosteletzkya virginica has proved to be one of the optimal halophytes for saline land restoration in China. In six seashore mallow plantations, its well-developed perennial root system promoted the growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus in the rhizosphere, where the fungus’s activity produced total glomalin (TG, ranging from 0.85 to 2.43 mg g −1 soil), with a high ratio of TG/SOC (soil organic carbon) up to 53.29% in six-year-old seashore mallow plantation. K. virginica ameliorated the condition of saline soils, promoted native species growth, and increased plant diversity in the plantation sites. Seashore mallow contains many bioactive compounds, e.g., polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, etc. which have high bioactivity, and could be used as a fodder additive or for the development of health foods. The leaf, flower, stem and root of K. virginica , serve as raw materials for hierachical development of useful products according to their different properties. This study reviews and summarizes research on K. virginica in China during the past 20 years since its introduction from the USA. Also, we present guidelines for the planting and use of seashore mallow in China, in terms of an ecological engineering roadmap, which illustrates the process and strategy for the restoration of saline soils and designs for biomass industries based on its production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract:SYP-7017, a broad-spectrum fungicide, belongs to the chemical group of strobilurins. Baseline sensitivity ofSclerotinia sclerotiorum(Lib) de Bary to SYP-7017 was determined using 120 strains collected during 2010 and 2011 from rapeseed fields without a previous history of strobilurin usage in Jiangsu Province, China. The median effective concentration (EC50) values for SYP-7017 that inhibited mycelial growth ranged from 0.006 to 0.047 µg mL−1(mean of 0.016 µg mL−1). No cross-resistance between SYP-7017 and carbendazim or iprodione was detected. On detached rapeseed leaves, SYP-7017 at 100 µg mL−1provided over 90% control efficacy. Moreover, SYP-7017 exhibited good characteristics of absorption and translocation, and also exhibited excellent protective activity in pot experiments. In field trials, control efficacies of SYP-7017 at 75 g a.i. ha−1and 187.5 g a.i. ha−1were 80.2% and 91.58%, respectively, higher than other traditional fungicides. These results suggest that SYP-7017 has strong antifungal activity and a potential application in controllingS. sclerotiorum. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To study the bacteria and fungi causing vulvovaginitis in prepubertal girls. Swabs from vaginal introitus were collected from patients with vulvovaginitis in 2018, and cultured for the identification of microorganisms with standard microbiological techniques. A children's hospital in Hangzhou, East China. A total of 1235 Chinese prepubertal girls diagnosed with vulvovaginitis. Bacteria or fungi in pure cultures or as the predominant organism were defined as pathogens. A total of 1235 cases were diagnosed as vulvovaginitis, and 515 isolates were identified from 494 patients (40%, 494/1235). The most common pathogen was Streptococcus pyogenes (27.6%,142/515), followed by Haemophilus influenzae (27.2%,140/515), Candida albicans (22.3%,115/515), Staphylococcus aureus (5.8%, 30/515) and Escherichia coli (4.7%,24/515). All S pyogenes isolates were sensitive to penicillin, whereas 53.7% (73/136) of H influenzae isolates were sensitive to ampicillin, and 70.4% (19/27) of S aureus isolates were sensitive to oxacillin. S pyogenes and H influenzae were the 2 most commonly identified pathogenic bacteria found in prepubertal girls with vulvovaginitis. Vulvovaginitis in prepubertal girls caused by C albicans may be more common in older children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although preserved egg is a traditional Chinese delicacy widely consumed in China and Southeast Asian countries, whether habitual preserved egg consumption is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unknown.Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between preserved egg consumption and risk of NAFLD in a cohort of Chinese adults.Methods: This prospective cohort study included 15,883 participants aged 19-88 y (58% women) from the TCLSIH (Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health) cohort study who were free of liver diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular disease at baseline. Preserved egg consumption was assessed using an FFQ at baseline. NAFLD was diagnosed by transabdominal sonography during an annual health examination. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate HRs and 95% CIs across categories of preserved egg consumption.Results: During 56,002 person-years of follow-up, 3683 first incident cases of NAFLD were recorded. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle risk factors, total energy intake, egg intake, and eating patterns, the multivariable HRs (95% CIs) of incident NAFLD according to categories of preserved egg consumption were 1.00 (reference) for never, 1.05 (0.98, 1.14) for <1 time/wk, 1.09 (0.96, 1.24) for 1 time/wk, and 1.26 (1.09, 1.46) for ≥2 times/wk (P-trend < 0.01). The results were robust to a series of sensitivity analyses.Conclusions: Habitual preserved egg consumption is associated with a modestly higher risk of NAFLD among the Chinese adult population. The mechanism underlying this association warrants further research.This trial was registered at www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/ as UMIN000027174. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that many nutrients play an essential role in maintaining skeletal muscle strength. Hand grip strength (HGS) is frequently used as an objective and reliable method to evaluate overall body muscle strength and physical function. Some studies have demonstrated that some specific single nutrients such as PUFA, fiber, vitamin C, fruits and vegetables are associated with muscle strength. However, few studies have explored the relationship between dietary patterns and HGS in the adult population. The aim of this study was to investigate how dietary patterns are related to HGS in a large-scale Chinese population. Methods: A cross-sectional study (n = 35,175) was performed in Tianjin, China. Adherence to dietary patterns was measured by a valid self-administered food frequency questionnaire with 81 food items. Principal-components analysis was used to derive three major dietary patterns: "sweet", "healthy" and "animal food". HGS was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. Analysis of covariance and multiple logistic regression were employed to explore the relationship between dietary patterns and HGS. Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, the means (95% confidence interval) of HGS for increasing quartile of dietary patterns were as follows: "sweet", 0.50 (0.49–0.51), 0.50 (0.49–0.51), 0.50 (0.49–0.51), 0.50 (0.48–0.51) (P value = 0.07); "healthy" 0.50 (0.49–0.51), 0.50 (0.49–0.51), 0.50 (0.49–0.51), 0.50 (0.49–0.51) (P value < 0.0001); "animal food" 0.51(0.50–0.52), 0.50 (0.49–0.51), 0.50 (0.49–0.51), 0.49 (0.48–0.51) (P value < 0.0001), respectively. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated a slight improvement between healthy dietary pattern and HGS across the quartiles. On the contrary, this study also showed higher adherence to the animal food dietary pattern (i.e., higher quartile) had lower grip strength. A long-term prospective study or randomized trials are required to clarify this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eliminating rabies is challenging in many developing countries, especially in rural areas. In contrast to the annual decline of human cases in China in last decade, the incidence of rabies in livestock has been increasingly reported. This paper reports the rabies outbreaks in beef cattle (Angus) in Shaanxi Province, China, which caused 31 and 5 deaths at an attack rate of 19.4% (95% CI: 13.6%‐26.4%) and 0.25% (95% CI: 0.1%‐0.6%) in a satellite cow farm (farm A) and a core intensive farm (farm B), respectively. The rabies infection was confirmed by several laboratory tests, and rabies virus (RABV) strains SXBJ15 and SXYL15 were isolated and characterized from farm A and B, respectively. The two strains were found to have a high genomic sequence similarity to the dog‐associated China clade I strains previously identified in the neighbouring area. SXBJ15 was shown to have a higher mouse pathogenicity (1.07) than SXYL15 (0.45). RABV was also detected in the saliva and salivary glands from the affected cattle. The potential causes were investigated on the farm, and the biosecurity scores were 20 and 64 (a full score of 82) for farms A and B, respectively. The rabies infection is likely to result from rabid free‐roaming dogs (FRDs). On farm A with more cow deaths, the rabies transmission between animals can be attributed to the improper disposal of aborted foetuses and placental materials as a food source for rabid FRDs, high stocking density and drinking water sharing. Additionally, vaccinating cattle with a canine vaccine was shown to help stop the spread of rabies in herds. These results indicate that the occurrence of RABV on cattle farms can be prevented by improving biosecurity measures to control the entry of rural FRDs on the farm and immunizing farm cattle against rabies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas explosion has always been an important factor restricting coal mine production safety. The application of machine learning techniques in coal mine gas concentration prediction and early warning can effectively prevent gas explosion accidents. Nearly all traditional prediction models use a regression technique to predict gas concentration. Considering there exist very few instances of high gas concentration, the instance distribution of gas concentration would be extremely imbalanced. Therefore, such regression models generally perform poorly in predicting high gas concentration instances. In this study, we consider early warning of gas concentration as a binary-class problem, and divide gas concentration data into warning class and non-warning class according to the concentration threshold. We proposed the probability density machine (PDM) algorithm with excellent adaptability to imbalanced data distribution. In this study, we use the original gas concentration data collected from several monitoring points in a coal mine in Datong city, Shanxi Province, China, to train the PDM model and to compare the model with several class imbalance learning algorithms. The results show that the PDM algorithm is superior to the traditional and state-of-the-art class imbalance learning algorithms, and can produce more accurate early warning results for gas explosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To accelerate the low-carbon transition in the energy sector, China is gradually promoting the construction of the national electricity market and carbon market. Carbon emission trading (CET) and tradable green certificates (TGCs) are advocated as promising tools to control carbon emissions. However, the efficacy of these concurrent low carbon regulations remains an open question, especially considering that their implementation schemes are quite different. Therefore, herein, the coupling effect of carbon emission trading and tradable green certificates is examined under electricity marketization in China. An interactive system dynamics (SD) model is established to capture the internal linkages among CET, TGCs and electricity market. Different markets are connected through the investment behaviour of market participants and the price formation mechanism, and the dynamic equilibrium process of multiple markets is analysed based on the current electricity marketization in China. The simulation results based on real-world data in China show that the coordination of TGCs and CET alleviates the pressure of the fiscal deficit of renewable energy and promotes the low-carbon transition in the energy sector, and relevant policy recommendations are put forward. Hopefully, our work can provide a useful reference and insight for low-carbon policy design and energy market construction. • An interactive SD model is established to capture the internal linkages among different markets • The dynamic equilibrium process of TGCs, CET and the electricity market is analysed • The electricity marketization as well as the carbon market construction in China are considered • The impact of TGC and CET on the electricity markets are quantified. • The price linkage and carbon emission cost transfer mechanism in multi-markets are revealed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Animal studies have shown that soy protein and isoflavones can increase antioxidant capacity and improve insulin resistance, and thus ameliorate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, only limited epidemiological studies have examined the association of soy food intake with NAFLD.Objectives: We investigated the association between soy food intake and NAFLD in a Chinese cohort.Methods: A total of 24,622 participants aged 20-90 y were included in the study. Diet information was collected using a validated 100-item FFQ. NAFLD was defined as having fatty liver diagnosed by ultrasonography and excluding men and women who consumed >210 g alcohol/wk and >140 g/wk, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of soy food intake with NAFLD.Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, and taking those with <1 time/wk soy food intake as the reference group, the ORs for NAFLD across soy food intake frequency were 0.94 (95% CI: 0.83, 1.07) for 1 time/wk, 0.88 (95% CI: 0.78, 0.99) for 2-3 times/wk, and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.87) for ≥4 times/wk (P-trend <0.0001). The results were similar when participants were categorized by the energy-adjusted soy food intake (grams per 1000 kilocalories) quartiles (OR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.71, 0.91; comparing extreme quartiles).Conclusions: Higher soy food intake was associated with a lower prevalence of NAFLD in Chinese adults. Further prospective studies and randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm if soy food intake is inversely related to the risk of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Propose a calculation model on the PED of the ITCA. • A flexibility calculation method for ITCAs is built. • A unit scheduling model considering the flexibility of ITCAs is established. • The proposed model is verified in the IEEE-RTS79 and a practical case in China. With the continuous increase in the proportion of electricity used by commercial and residential customers and the popularity of intelligent appliances, demand response has become an important resource in improving the flexibility of the power system operation. This study focuses on exploiting the demand-side flexibility resources in unit scheduling. First, an energy management model (EMM) is established for intelligent temperature control appliances (ITCAs) of commercial and residential customers which can optimize its electricity consumption according to power prices under the smart grid, and the calculation model on the price elasticity of demand (PED) of the ITCA is built on the EMM through the mathematical derivation, by which the calculation method of ITCAs' flexibility is proposed, namely, the PED of the ITCA is obtain with the consideration of appliance operation characteristics and customer's electricity consumption behaviors. Subsequently, taking the time-of-use (TOU) power price into account, a flexibility calculation method for ITCAs is proposed. Then, a unit scheduling model considering the flexibility of ITCAs is established in order to explore the influence of TOU power price on the power system operation. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method and model is verified in the IEEE-RTS79 system and a practical case in Zhangjiakou, China, respectively. The simulation results show that the proposed model can quantify the flexibility of ITCAs driven by electricity price signals and analyze the impact of the flexible response of ITCAs induced by TOU power price on the operation of the power system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tooth loss is a prevailing condition in China due to the high prevalence of oral diseases. Since previous studies explored the association between tooth loss and handgrip strength showed incongruous results, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between tooth loss and handgrip strength in Tianjin, China. Cross-sectional data in the present study used baseline data of Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) Cohort Study during 2013–2016. Eligible adults (n = 26275) were classified into four groups depending on the number of missing teeth (excluding third molars): 0, 1–2, 3–5 and ≥6. Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld type dynamometer. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the relationships between tooth loss and handgrip strength and handgrip strength per body weight according to gender. After adjustment for potential confounders, the relationships existed between increasing categories of tooth loss and handgrip strength, as well as handgrip strength per weight. The data of stratified analysis showed that there was a trending association between decreased handgrip strength and fewer retained teeth both in males and females less than 60 years of age (P for trend <0.01); whereas no significant association 60 years of age or older. Moreover, loss of more than 3 teeth was significantly associated with reduced muscle strength (P <0.01). Tooth loss is independently associated with handgrip strength in Chinese adults less than 60 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most malignant tumors in Southern China and southeast Asia, which is characterized by a dense lymphocyte infiltration and a poor prognosis. The emergence of single-cell sequencing represents a powerful tool to resolve tumor heterogeneity and delineate the complex communication among the tumor cells with neighboring stromal and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we performed single cell RNA-seq and analyzed tumor cells together with the infiltrating immune cells from three NPC tumor tissues. In our study, the malignant cells display the intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity among the individual patients. Analysis of the immune cells reveal the heterogeneous composition of the distinct immune cells and the various functional states of T cells in NPC tumors. Additionally, coupled with the reconstruct of the T cell receptor (TCR) sequences from immune cells full-length single-cell sequence data, we identify the diverse T cell clonotypes and expansion distribution in individual tumors. Overall, we firstly reveal the landscape of tumor and infiltrating immune cells in nasopharyngeal cancer. These results provide deeper insights on the mechanisms of tumor clearance by immune cells in the surrounding microenvironment, which will be helpful in improving the targeted and immune therapies for NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background although handgrip strength (HGS) is considered an excellent predictor of morbidity and mortality, there are few reference data available, especially across life from young to old populations. Objective to investigate the reference values and determinants for HGS in a large Chinese adult population. Design this cross-sectional study used data from the Tianjin Chronic Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study ranging from 2013 to 2017. Setting and subjects in total, 37,707 Chinese adults aged 18–93 years with measures of HGS were included. Methods HGS was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. The percentile distribution of HGS, as well as mean (standard deviation) values of HGS, was calculated according to sex and age categories. The Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression were also used. Results the peak mean value of HGS was 45.2 ± 6.88 kg in men and 26.8 ± 4.65 kg in women. Different reference values for each sex and age category are present. The prevalence of low HGS was 7.69% in men and 6.46% in women. Multiple regression analysis showed that almost 72.5% of HGS variability can be explained by sex, age, height and weight. Conclusions the HGS reached peak at 40 years old, maintained or slightly lowered between ages 40 and50 and then start an accelerated decline after 50 years old. Reference values of HGS should be stratified by sex and age group. HGS variability can be largely explained by sex, age, height and weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Banana contains many kinds of substances that are beneficial to depressive symptoms. However, there are no epidemiological researches directly to explore the association between banana consumption and depressive symptoms. This study aimed to investigate whether the banana consumption is related to depressive symptoms in a general adult population.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 24,673 adults in Tianjin. Banana consumption was evaluated via a validated food frequency questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). The association between banana consumption and depressive symptoms was analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis.Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 16.1% in males and 18.4% in females (SDS ≥ 45), respectively. In males, comparing to the reference group (almost never), the multivariable adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals) of depressive symptoms across banana consumption were 0.86 (0.74, 0.99) for <1 time/week, 0.76 (0.66, 0.88) for 1-3 times/week and 0.97 (0.82, 1.16) for ≥4 times/week. By contrast, the multivariable adjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) were 1.11 (0.94, 1.32) for <1 time/week, 0.99 (0.85, 1.16) for 1-3 times/week and 1.22 (1.02, 1.46) for ≥4 times/week in females. Similar association was observed when other cut-offs (SDS ≥ 48 and 50) were used to define depressive symptoms.Limitation: This is a cross-sectional study, causality remains unknown.Conclusion: Findings from this study suggested a negative association between moderate banana consumption and depressive symptoms in males. In females, high banana consumption is positively related to depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The torsional effect of the tracks on curved segment intensifies the ambient vibration response induced by Metro operation. This paper studies the ambient vibration responses induced by the operation of the Metro train on curved rail segments. By taking the curved segment of Hangzhou Metro Line 1 of China as an example, the wheel-rail model employing the multibody dynamics is demonstrated; the dynamic wheel-rail force of a B-type vehicle passing through a 350 m radius curved segment is also calculated. A finite element method model of the track-tunnel-soil-building is developed and verified by comparing the measured results with the simulated ones. Then, we analyzed the ambient vibration responses induced by the Metro operation. The results show that the horizontal vibration induced by the Metro train, on curved segments, cannot be ignored. When propagating on the ground, the variation trend of the horizontal vibration acceleration is greater than that of the vertical vibration. The horizontal vibration attenuates faster than the vertical vibration. The secondary vibration along the horizontal direction yields a significant amplifying effect upon the building. The vibration level increases with the height of the building, along the horizontal direction, but the vertical vibration level changes negligibly. The insight exhibits the influence level of the horizontal action of the Metro train wheels to the tracks, which can be referred by the practitioners for the planning and operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The health benefits of dietary fibre (DF) intake on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are controversial. Thus, this large cross-sectional study aimed to determine the associations between DF intake and the prevalence of newly-diagnosed NAFLD in a large general population. Methods: A total of 23,529 participants were enrolled in the analyses. Newly-diagnosed NAFLD was diagnosed according to liver ultrasonography and history of alcohol intake. DF intake was assessed using a validated self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the associations between DF intake and NAFLD. Results: In total, 18.81% (n = 4426) of the participants were newly diagnosed with NAFLD. Compared with the participants in the lowest quartile of DF intake, the ORs (95% CI) for the participants in the highest quartile were 0.81 (0.67, 0.97), 0.78 (0.62, 0.99), and 0.85 (0.62, 1.17) for all participants, men, and women, respectively. Compared with the participants in the lowest quartile of insoluble DF intake, the ORs (95% CI) for the participants in the highest quartile were 0.70 (0.58, 0.85), 0.60 (0.47, 0.76), and 0.95 (0.68, 1.32) in all participants, men, and women, respectively. No association was observed between soluble DF intake and NAFLD. DF from whole grain, soy foods, vegetables, and nuts but not fruits were negatively associated with NAFLD. Conclusions: A higher intake of insoluble DF is associated with lower prevalence of newly-diagnosed NAFLD in men. Moreover, intake DF from whole grain, soy foods, vegetables, and nuts, but not fruits have favorable effect on the prevalence of newly diagnosed NAFLD. Further cohort studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to validate this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to measure the body composition, dietary patterns and its associated factors in medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 695 students studying at Nanjing medical university, China. Data regarding dietary intake factors was collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Principle component analysis and multivariate linear regressions were used. Body composition including BMI and visceral fats index of the males were significantly higher (P <.05) than females. While body fats percentage and fats mass index/free fat mass index (FMI/FFMI) ratio of females was significantly higher (P <.05) than males. Three dietary patterns were identified: western dietary pattern, meat pattern, and vegetables and fruits pattern. The western pattern was having an independent negative association (P <.05) with age and financial status, while positive association (P <.05) with sleeping duration and FMI/FFMI ratio. Vegetables and fruits patterns was having positive association with physical exercise and while negative association with FMI/FFMI ratio. Meat pattern was having positive association with educational levels and sleeping duration, while negative association with physical exercise and FMI/FFMI ratio. In conclusion, medical students adopted less healthy dietary patterns as compared to healthy dietary patterns, which were found to be more associated with some adverse dietary and lifestyle behavior outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid hormones (THs) play a critical role in skeletal muscle function, such as protein synthesis and energy metabolism, suggesting that thyroid function may be involved in the decline of muscle strength. Studies regarding the long-term effects of THs on muscle strength are limited. Therefore, this large-scale longitudinal study aimed to explore how TH levels were associated with handgrip strength (HGS) among middle-aged and older euthyroid adults. Longitudinal population-based cohort study (approximately 4-year follow-up period, median: 3.0 years). The Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study, Tianjin, China. A total of 2152 participants were enrolled, and annual measures were conducted in this longitudinal study. Chemiluminescence immunoassay was used to measure free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). HGS was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between THs, FT3/FT4 ratio, TSH levels, and annual change in HGS and weight-adjusted HGS. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, significant associations between FT3 levels, FT3/FT4 ratio, and annual change in HGS [standard regression coefficient (SRC) = 0.073, P <.01, and and SRC = 0.059, P =.01, respectively] were observed. However, no significant difference was observed between FT4, TSH, and annual change in HGS (SRC = 0.021, P =.34; and SRC = −0.017, P =.44, respectively). Similar associations between FT3, FT4, FT3/FT4 ratio, TSH, and weight-adjusted HGS were observed. This longitudinal study is the first to demonstrate that high-normal FT3 levels and higher FT3/FT4 ratios significantly predict annual change in HGS and weight-adjusted HGS and that FT4 and TSH levels are not associated with HGS among middle-aged and older euthyroid subjects. The findings suggest that new therapeutic approaches aimed at FT3 levels and FT3/FT4 ratios may be proposed to maintain muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) was related with increased risk of mortality and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, it is uncertain whether RDW is related to the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in Asian population. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between RDW and AF in a large Chinese population. Methods: We performed a cross‐sectional study to examine the relationship between RDW and AF among 106 998 subjects who were from the Tianjin Chronic Low‐grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study. AF was diagnosed using electrocardiography, and RDW was measured using an automated hematology analyzer. Multiple logistic regression models were conducted to examine the relation between tertiles of RDW and AF. Results: The overall prevalence of AF was 0.1% (129/106 998). After adjustments for potential confounding factors, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of AF across increasing tertiles of RDW were 1.00 (reference), 1.08 (0.69, 1.67), and 2.65 (1.75, 4.07) (P for trend < .0001), respectively. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that elevated RDW is significantly related to higher prevalence of AF in a general Chinese population. Large prospective studies are needed to confirm this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent evidence shows that screen time may be an important risk factor for mental health. The aim of this study was to examine the association of computer/mobile devices (CMD) use and TV watching separately with depressive symptoms in a large representative sample of Chinese adults.Methods: A sample of 18,994 adults in Tianjin, China was studied in a cross-sectional analysis. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). CMD use and TV watching time were self-reported and divided into five categories. The associations were estimated by odds ratios (ORs) using logistic regression models adjusted for multiple confounders.Results: The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms was 16.3% (SDS ≥ 45). For CMD use, the ORs of the depressive symptoms decreased across time levels. Compared with the least use time (<1 hr/day), multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% confidence interval [CI]) of other time categories for elevated depressive symptoms were 0.78 (0.66, 0.91), 0.67 (0.57, 0.80), 0.65 (0.54, 0.77), and 0.77 (0.62, 0.96) respectively. For TV watching, the ORs of the depressive symptoms increased across time levels. Compared with the least watching time (<1 hr/day), multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CI) for elevated depressive symptoms across the time categories were 1.00 (0.89, 1.12), 1.28 (1.11, 1.48), 1.26 (0.98, 1.60), and 1.95 (1.10, 3.35), respectively.Conclusions: These findings suggested that different types of screen time may play different roles in the mental health of general adults. Further studies are needed to clarify the reasons for these distinct associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myricetin is a natural plant-derived inhibitor for α-glucosidase and α-amylase and possesses strong antioxidant activity. Myricetin is reported to be effective in treating many symptoms that are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), therefore, we hypothesized that myricetin plays a preventive role in the development of T2DM. To test this hypothesis, we designed a cross-sectional population study, which included 24 138 subjects, with 1357 of them diagnosed with T2DM. A validated 100-item food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary information. Daily intakes of myricetin and nutrients were calculated, based on the Chinese food composition tables. Multiple logistic regression analysis models were used to analyze the relationship between the quartiles of myricetin intake and the prevalence of T2DM. We found that, in this Chinese population, the daily intake of myricetin was 120.5 ± 95.7 mg, with apple, peach, orange, pineapple, and sweet potato being the main food sources. Significant inverse trends were observed between intakes of myricetin and prevalence of T2DM in multivariable models (all p -trend <0.0001). The odds ratios (95% CI) for T2DM across the ascending quartiles of myricetin intake were: 1.00 (reference), 0.73 (0.61, 0.87), 0.61 (0.50, 0.75), and 0.51 (0.40, 0.64). This study showed that myricetin intake was inversely related to the prevalence of T2DM in this Chinese population, suggesting a protective effect of myricetin in the development of T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a complex disease, which may involve multiple tumor susceptibility genes that mediate the occurrence and development of tumor molecular events. This study aimed to identify new genetic loci using genome-wide linkage analysis and whole-exome sequencing in a rare, large multi-cancer pedigree recently found in China. We performed high-throughput single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and linkage analyses of 24 core members of this pedigree and found that the disease susceptibility locus in the multi-cancer pedigree was mapped to chromosome 3q24-26. We also used microsatellites to further validate the results of the SNP locus linkage analysis. Furthermore, we sequenced the whole exome of three members in this pedigree and identified a novel mutant of transforming growth factor β stimulated clone 22 domain family, member 2 (TSC22D2 , c.-91T-C) cosegregated with the cancer phenotype. This change was at a highly conserved position, and the exome results were validated using linkage analysis. Moreover, we found the histone H4 transcription factor (HINFP) binds to the promoter region of TSC22D2 and may regulate its transcription. In conclusion, our findings are of great significance to the early pathogenesis of tumors and contribute to the search for molecular targets for the early prevention and treatment of tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prediabetes has been a growing health problem in China, and it is a high-risk state for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In previous studies, low grip strength has been associated with diabetes. However, few population-based studies have examined the relationship between grip strength and prediabetes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether grip strength is related to prediabetes in a large-scale adult population.Methods: A total of 27,295 participants aged 20 to 90 years were included from the 2013-2016 Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study. Grip strength was assessed using an electronic hand-grip dynamometer and the greatest force was normalized to body weight. Prediabetes was diagnosed based on the American Diabetes Association criteria. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted in 2018 to assess the relationship of grip strength to the prevalence of prediabetes, while controlling for age, BMI, smoking, drinking, physical activities, dietary patterns, and other confounders.Results: Of the 27,295 participants, 28.5% (7,783) had prediabetes. After adjusting for potential confounders, a one unit increase in grip strength per body weight was associated with 52% lower odds of having prediabetes for men (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.30, 0.74, p<0.01) and 62% lower odds of having prediabetes for women (OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.20, 0.70, p<0.01).Conclusions: Increased grip strength is independently associated with lower prevalence of prediabetes in Chinese adults, suggesting that grip strength may be a useful marker for screening individuals at risk of prediabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • NLR is positively related to depressive symptoms in women, but not in men. • This is a general population study on the association of NLR and depressive symptoms. • Our results indicate a sex-specific association between inflammation and depression. Abstract Background The prevalence of depression in the general population has risen sharply over the past few decades and has become a major health problem throughout the world. Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of depression. To better understand the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of depression we can use the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) because it is a simple and effective marker of inflammation and immunity. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among adults from the healthy general population in Tianjin, China. NLR was measured according to the complete blood count. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and a cutoff score of 45 was used to indicate the presence of depressive symptoms in the study participants. The relationship between NLR and the prevalence of depressive symptoms was evaluated separately for men and women using the multiple logistic regression analysis. Results In the present study, the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 17.0% among all participants. In women, the multivariable-adjusted OR of having depressive symptoms was 1.28 (95% CI 1.10, 1.49; p for trend <0.01) for the fifth compared with the first quintile of NLR, and was 1.22 (95% CI 1.07,1.39; p < 0.01) per unit increase of NLR. However, no significant association was found between NLR and depressive symptoms in men. Conclusion This study suggests that increased NLR levels are independently related to depressive symptoms in women, but not in men. Further research is required to investigate this relationship with longitudinal data to establish the temporal ordering between these variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phytoplankton diversity was resolved by high-throughput sequencing in Bohai Sea (BS). • Phytoplankton communities during brown tides in 2013 and 2014 were compared. • Pelagophyte Aureococcus anophagefferens was confirmed as major bloom-forming species. • Strong inter-annual variations implied increasing dominance of dinoflagellates in BS. Large-scale blooms formed by pico-sized phytoplankton, which strongly inhibited feeding activity and growth of cultured scallops, have been recorded along the coast of Qinhuangdao in the Bohai Sea since 2009. Based on pigment profiles and clone library analysis of phytoplankton samples during the blooms, the major bloom-forming species was primarily identified as pelagophyte Aureococcus anophagefferens Hargraves et Sieburth, the causative species of intensive brown tides in the United States and South Africa. Due to the indistinct morphological features of the bloom-forming microalgae and limited knowledge on the composition of phytoplankton communities, there were still disputes concerning the causative species of the blooms. In this study, the method of high-throughput sequencing targeted 18S rDNA V4 region was used to study the composition of pico- and nano-sized phytoplankton communities in 2013 and 2014. A total of 18 groups of eukaryotic microalgae at the class level and more than 2000 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified in phytoplankton samples collected from the brown-tide zone in the Qinhuangdao coastal waters. For both years, A. anophagefferens was the most dominant species during the bloom period and its maximum relative abundance exceeded 60 percent. Along with other evidence, the results further confirm that A. anophagefferens is the major causative species of the pico-sized phytoplankton blooms in the Bohai Sea. The outbreak of brown tide exhibited a strong inter-annual variation between 2013 and 2014, and an increasing dominance of dinoflagellates could be observed in the Qinhuangdao coastal waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]