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BackgroundWell-designed mobile health (mHealth) interventions support a positive user experience; however, a high rate of disengagement has been reported as a common concern regarding mHealth interventions. To address this issue, it is necessary to summarize the design features that improve user engagement based on research over the past 10 years, during which time the popularity of mHealth interventions has rapidly increased due to the use of smartphones. ObjectiveThe aim of this review was to answer the question “Which design features improve user engagement with mHealth interventions?” by summarizing published literature with the purpose of guiding the design of future mHealth interventions. MethodsThis review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) checklist. Databases, namely, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Ovid EMBASE, and Ovid PsycINFO, were searched for English and Chinese language papers published from January 2009 to June 2019. Thematic analysis was undertaken to assess the design features in eligible studies. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess study quality. ResultsA total of 35 articles were included. The investigated mHealth interventions were mainly used in unhealthy lifestyle (n=17) and chronic disease (n=10) prevention programs. Mobile phone apps (n=24) were the most common delivery method. Qualitative (n=22) and mixed methods (n=9) designs were widely represented. We identified the following 7 themes that influenced user engagement: personalization (n=29), reinforcement (n=23), communication (n=20), navigation (n=17), credibility (n=16), message presentation (n=16), and interface aesthetics (n=7). A checklist was developed that contained these 7 design features and 29 corresponding specific implementations derived from the studies. ConclusionsThis systematic review and thematic synthesis identified useful design features that make an mHealth intervention more user friendly. We generated a checklist with evidence-based items to enable developers to use our findings easily. Future evaluations should use more robust quantitative approaches to elucidate the relationships between design features and user engagement.

Abstract Background The interplay between atrial fibrillation (AF) and obesity on mortality in critically ill patients warrants detailed exploration, given their individual impacts on patient prognosis. This study aimed to assess the associations between AF, obesity, and 1-year mortality in a critically ill population. Methods Utilizing data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database, we conducted a retrospective analysis of adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit. The primary endpoint was 1-year mortality, analyzed through Cox regression with hazard ratio (HR) and Kaplan-Meier survival methods. Results The study included 25,654 patients (median age 67.0 years, 40.6% female), with 39.0% having AF and 36.1% being obese. Multivariate COX regression analysis revealed that AF was associated with a 14.7% increase in the risk of 1-year mortality (p

Abstract GeTe is a promising p-type material with increasingly enhanced thermoelectric properties reported in recent years, demonstrating its superiority for mid-temperature applications. In this work, the thermoelectric performance of GeTe is improved by a facile composite approach. We find that incorporating a small amount of boron particles into the Bi-doped GeTe leads to significant enhancement in power factor and simultaneous reduction in thermal conductivity, through which the synergistic modulation of electrical and thermal transport properties is realized. The thermal mismatch between the boron particles and the matrix induces high-density dislocations that effectively scatter the mid-frequency phonons, accounting for a minimum lattice thermal conductivity of 0.43 Wm−1K−1 at 613 K. Furthermore, the presence of boron/GeTe interfaces modifies the interfacial potential barriers, resulting in increased Seebeck coefficient and hence enhanced power factor (25.4 μWcm−1K−2 at 300 K). Consequently, we obtain a maximum figure of merit Z max of 4.0 × 10−3 K−1 at 613 K in the GeTe-based composites, which is the record-high value in GeTe-based thermoelectric materials and also superior to most of thermoelectric systems for mid-temperature applications. This work provides an effective way to further enhance the performance of GeTe-based thermoelectrics.

BackgroundCoronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide, yet implementation of evidence-based strategies for secondary prevention remains suboptimal. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, specifically the usability and acceptability, and estimate the preliminary effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention targeting both physicians and patients to improve adherence to evidence-based medications and lifestyle modifications. MethodsWe conducted a 12-week pre-post interventional pilot study at two sites in Shanghai and Hainan, China. Physicians used the app designed in this study to prescribe evidence-based medicines and record patient information. Eligible and consenting patients received automatic text messages or voice calls 4 to 5 times per week for 12 weeks on medication adherence and healthy behaviors. Interviews were conducted among 10 physicians and 24 patients at the two sites for their thoughts on medication adherence and feedback on the usability and acceptability. Questions on usability and acceptability were also asked in a patient follow-up survey. With regard to estimating effectiveness, the primary outcome was medication adherence (as estimated by the Morisky Green Levine Scale) at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included physical activity, smoking status, fruits and vegetables consumption, and facility visit frequency. ResultsInterview findings and patient survey showed the good usability and acceptability of the intervention. Among 190 patients who completed the intervention, there was a significant increase in medication adherence (odds ratio [OR] 1.80, 95% CI 1.14-2.85). The study also showed decrease of smokers’ percentage (−5%, P=.05), increase of daily vegetables consumption frequency (+0.3/day, P=.01), and community health care center visit frequency (+3 in 3 months, P=.04). The following site-specific differences were noted: medication adherence appeared to increase in Hainan (OR 14.68, 95% CI 5.20-41.45) but not in Shanghai (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.33-1.12). ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that the intervention was feasible in both a tertiary care center and an urban community health center in China. Preliminary results from pre-post comparison suggest the possibility that provider and patient-linked mHealth interventions may improve medication adherence and lifestyle modifications among CHD patients, especially in resource-scarce settings. Randomized controlled trials are needed to verify the findings.

Abstract Background Verticillium wilt, caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae, is a soil-borne vascular fungal disease, which has caused great losses to cotton yield and quality worldwide. The strain KRS010 was isolated from the seed of Verticillium wilt-resistant Gossypium hirsutum cultivar “Zhongzhimian No. 2.” Results The strain KRS010 has a broad-spectrum antifungal activity to various pathogenic fungi as Verticillium dahliae, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum spp., and Magnaporthe oryzae, of which the inhibition rate of V. dahliae mycelial growth was 73.97% and 84.39% respectively through confrontation test and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) treatments. The strain was identified as Bacillus altitudinis by phylogenetic analysis based on complete genome sequences, and the strain physio-biochemical characteristics were detected, including growth-promoting ability and active enzymes. Moreover, the control efficiency of KRS010 against Verticillium wilt of cotton was 93.59%. After treatment with KRS010 culture, the biomass of V. dahliae was reduced. The biomass of V. dahliae in the control group (Vd991 alone) was 30.76-folds higher than that in the treatment group (KRS010+Vd991). From a molecular biological aspect, KRS010 could trigger plant immunity by inducing systemic resistance (ISR) activated by salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways. Its extracellular metabolites and VOCs inhibited the melanin biosynthesis of V. dahliae. In addition, KRS010 had been characterized as the ability to promote plant growth. Conclusions This study indicated that B. altitudinis KRS010 is a beneficial microbe with a potential for controlling Verticillium wilt of cotton, as well as promoting plant growth.

Abstract Background Disorders of the gut microbiome could be responsible for the progression of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. In this study, we examined the effect of esmolol on the gut microbiome in a rat model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Methods The animals (n = 32) were randomly divided into 3 groups: Sham group (sham operation + normal saline treatment, n = 8), CLP group (cecal ligation and puncture + normal saline treatment, n = 12), and CLP + ESM group (cecal ligation and puncture + esmolol treatment, n = 12). After 24 h, feces in the colon were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and nitric oxide analysis. In addition, colon was removed for immunohistochemical staining of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Results Four rats in the CLP group and two rats in the CLP + ESM group died. The abundance of Lactobacillus in the CLP + ESM group was higher than CLP group (P = 0.048). In the linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis, Norank f Muribaculaceae, Escherichia–Shigella and Lactobacillus were the predominant bacteria in the Sham group, CLP group and CLP + ESM group, respectively. The iNOS expression in colonocytes stained by brown in the CLP group were much more than Sham group (P = 0.001). Compared to CLP group, the iNOS expression in colonocytes reduced after esmolol treatment (P = 0.013). The concentration of nitric oxide in colon feces was different in Sham group, CLP group and CLP + ESM group (1.31 ± 0.15μmmol/l vs. 1.98 ± 0.27μmmol/l vs. 1.51 ± 0.14μmmol/l, P = 0.001). In addition, the concentration of nitric oxide in CLP group was higher than Sham group (P = 0.001) or CLP + ESM group (P = 0.001). Conclusions Esmolol increased the fecal abundance of Lactobacillus in a rat model of sepsis. Moreover, esmolol reduced the iNOS expression of colonocytes and the nitric oxide concentration of colon feces.

ObjectiveTo explore the biological role of lncRNA-C920021L13Rik (L13Rik for short) in regulating high glucose (HG)-induced injury of glomerular mesangial cell (MC).MethodsThe expressions of L13Rik and miR-2861 in HG-induced glomerular MC were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). And the function of L13Rik on regulating HG-induced MC injury and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation was examined by flow cytometry, [35S]-methionine labeling protein synthesis assay and Western blot. A targeted conjugation of miR-2861 with L13Rik was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). ResultsL13Rik level spiked markedly while miR-2861 level dropped in HG-treated MCs (P

Abstract This study aimed to examine the role played by the physical literacy and mindfulness in the health-related quality of life (QoL) of college students. In early 2022, 24,236 college students from three universities in southern China were recruited in the study. R software and the lavvan package was utilized to build the structural equation model. The measurement model was composed of three latent factors (physical literacy, mindfulness, and quality of life) and 16 observed variables in total. The results of the measurement model indicated goodness fit with p > .05 in Chi-square result, and GFI = .92. In addition, the comparative fit index (.92), Tucker–Lewis index (.91), root-mean-square error of approximation (.07), and root of mean square residual (.11) were in accord with the cutoff model-fit criteria. The results confirm that physical literacy and mindfulness can play a significant and positive role in the structural equation model of quality of life. In addition, this study provides initial evidence that mindfulness and physical literacy could potentially buffer declines in student QoL during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, this study is the first to develop a structural equation model of QoL with multiple indicators, making it a strong addition to existing research on QoL during a pandemic.

Thermoelectrics has played a fascinating role in the developments of direct energy conversion technologies. Over the past decade, sulfur-based thermoelectric materials have been significantly advanced in optimizing electrical and thermal transport due to their similarities in chemical and structural properties with tellurides and selenides. This review provides research progress on metal sulfides, particularly focuses on materials exhibiting high thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT > 1.0). It highlights the potential compounds, e.g. CuS, SnS, PbS based, and polysulfides. Great strategies of superionic conducting, band configuration tuning, high-entropy alloying, and anomalous harmonic scattering are try to demonstrate the performance-improved mechanisms for thermoelectric sulfides. In addition, some common synthesis recipes are briefly introduced, and thereby making potential candidates as excellent alternatives for producing thermoelectric power generators in the mid temperature. Key outcomes along with how to further improve the thermoelectric performance and promote its scale-up applications are also outlined at the end.

The distinguishing feature of dynamic assessment (DA) is the dialectical integration of assessment and instruction. However, how to design the targeted instruction or mediation has been relatively underexplored. To address this gap, this study proposes the attribute-based mediation model (AMM), an English-as-a-foreign-language listening mediation model based on item attributes (constructs) derived from cognitive diagnostic assessment (CDA). CDA provides theoretical and methodological support for the accurate correspondence of items and attributes via Q-matrix development and validation. The CDA-identified attributes can inform the construction of targeted mediation models in DA, within which the mediation will serve as the subsequent remedial instruction. In this way, diagnosis and instruction were bridged through the integration of CDA and DA. The results of three one-on-one DA sessions showed that the AMM has the potential to diagnose learners' listening ability at the attribute level and to stimulate microgenetic development. This study is significant in linking the psychometric-based validity of a test and the DA-based validity of development. It also provides insights into future mediation design and a possible way of merging DA and diagnostic language assessment.

[Objective] This study aimed to explore the potential damage of non-grain conversion of cultivated land on soil health, and provide a scientific basis for evaluating the impact of non-grain conversion on land productivity and ecological functions. [Methods] 80 surface soil samples were randomly collected from six types of non-grain conversion land, including facility vegetable field, orchard, poplar forest, grassland, highway landscape forest, and fallow land, and the control farmland in the rural-urban fringe area of Xuzhou City through field survey, sampling analysis, model evaluation, and statistical analysis. A total of 23 indicators of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, as well as heavy metal pollution were measured to construct the cultivated land health assessment model, to explore the impact of non-grain conversion on land productivity and soil health. [Results] The results show that: (1) Non-grain conversion significantly changed soil physio-chemical and biological characteristics. The activities of cellulose disaccharide hydrolase, alkaline phosphatase, and bacterial diversity index in non-grain conversion soil were significantly lower than those in the soil of the control site (P < 0.05). The soil organic matter content (27.92-36.33 g·kg-1), total phosphorus (0.89-1.54 g·kg-1), available phosphorus (186.82-307.01 mg·kg-1), available potassium (199.09-305.03 mg·kg-1), and total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen content in facility vegetable plots were the highest, and there were significant differences (P < 0.05) compared to the other five non-grain conversion land use types; (2) Compared to the farmland control site, the six types of non-grain conversion land use have led to some imbalance of different soil functions including productivity, water retention and purification, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity, even resulting in a suboptimal health state; (3) The structural equation model fitting result shows that soil nutrients, enzyme activity, biodiversity, and heavy metal pollution index dominated the soil health differentiation of non-grain conversion sites. [Conclusion] Non-grain conversion had an impact on cultivated land health, while there were considerable differences in health damage among different land uses. The results provide some reference for targeted management of non-grain conversion of farmland and safeguarding food security.