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Background With the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles and the accelerated trend of population aging, the mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases remains high in China. A timely understanding of the current and future trends of cardiovascular disease mortality in China, as well as exploring potential influencing factors and solutions, can provide a reference for formulating cardiovascular disease prevention and control measures. Objective To analyze the trend of cardiovascular disease mortality in China from 2009 to 2021 and predict the future trends from 2022 to 2030. Methods Cardiovascular disease mortality data were selected and analyzed based on gender, urban-rural areas, regions, and age groups from the "China Death Surveillance Data Set (2009-2021) " published by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The Joinpoint regression model was used to calculate the annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) to analyze the changing trends. Additionally, a GM (1, 1) model was established using R (4.3.1) software to predict the crude mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases in China from 2022 to 2030. Results From 2009 to 2021, the crude mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases in China increased from 235.83/100 000 in 2009 to 353.31/100 000 in 2021, with the AAPC of 3.3% (95%CI=2.8% to 3.8%, P

This study examined characteristics of problem posing and its relationship with the teaching experience of elementary school mathematics teachers from ethnic minority areas in the Southwest of China. Eighty-one (N = 81) elementary school mathematics teachers responded to a task-based questionnaire and posed mathematical problems based on given problem situations. Characteristics of their mathematical problem posing were observed through the total numbers, appropriateness, difficultly, and flexibility levels of the problems posed by the teachers. Results show that elementary school mathematics teachers were capable of posing a considerable number of appropriate mathematical problems. Significant differences were found in the flexibility of the posed problems among the teachers with different years of teaching experience. This finding suggests that teachers' capability in mathematical problem posing may not necessarily grow along with teaching experience. Limitations of the study and implications in developing teachers' mathematical problem posing are discussed.

BACKGROUND: Polymeric microcapsules (MCs) have become an important issue and have attracted increasing attention because of their tunable physical and chemical properties. Diverse shell structures can confer multiple properties on MCs. RESULTS: Different polyols (1,4‐butanediol and glycerin) and polyamines (triethylenetetramine and isophorondiamine) were selected as crosslinkers to obtain emamectin benzoate (EB)‐loaded poly(urethane–urea) MCs (PU‐MCs) by interfacial polymerization. The four obtained PU‐MCs showed sphericity with different degrees of smoothness on their surfaces, and displayed a uniform size distribution ranging from 500 to 700 nm. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy showed that the shell thickness was roughly uniform, and was greatly influenced by the type and structure of the crosslinker. GI‐MCs, prepared using glycerin and isophorondiamine, had the largest shell thickness. GT‐MCs, obtained using glycerin and triethylenetetramine, had the highest encapsulation efficiency and drug‐loading content, and BT‐MCs, obtained using mixtures of 1,4‐butanediol and triethylenetetramine, had the fastest release behavior. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the greater the degree of shell crosslinking, the higher decomposition temperature and the greater the thermal stability. A BT‐MC suspension had the lowest viscosity and contact angle with the best wettability. Bioassay experiments showed that BT‐MCs exhibited good insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella larvae with a half‐maximal lethal concentration of 4.19 mg/L. Furthermore, a BT‐MC suspension showed good thermal and light stability, with potential applications in minimizing the toxicity of EB through sustained release. CONCLUSION: Various properties of EB‐loaded PU‐MCs were modulated through simple selection of different polyols and polyamines during fabrication, which might have an important role in constructing the pesticide delivery system and improving pesticide utilization. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the post-harvest quality of fresh lotus seed, MeJA (100 µmol/L) was used to soak the fresh lotus seed with water as the control. The changes in the color difference (L*, a*, b*), nutrient content (starch, soluble sugar), and other physiological and biochemical indexes (weight loss rate, total phenol content, malondialdehyde content, hydrogen peroxide content, polyphenol oxidase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity and peroxidase activity) were compared every 2 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the MeJA treatment effectively maintained the postharvest color of fresh lotus seed. After 8 days of storage, compared with the control group, the MeJA-treated group had a lower weight loss rate (decreased by 33.84%), and higher starch content (increased by 38.34 mg/g), higher soluble sugar content (increased by 70.58 mg/g), along with a reduced total phenol content, suppressed PPO activity, MDA content and H2O2 accumulation, and enhanced SOD, CAT and POD activities. The above results revealed that the MeJA treatment could delay the post-harvest quality decline of fresh lotus seed through reducing material consumption, maintaining starch and soluble sugar contents, reducing the oxidation of phenols, improving the activities of antioxidant enzymes, as well as maintaining the cell membrane integrity, thereby prolonging their shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a serious, destructive neurodevelopmental disorder. Antipsychotic medications are the primary therapy approach for this illness, but it's important to pay attention to the adverse effects as well. Clinical studies for SZ are currently in phase ΙΙΙ for SEP‐363856 (SEP‐856)‐a new antipsychotic that doesn't work on dopamine D2 receptors. However, the underlying action mechanism of SEP‐856 remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the impact and underlying mechanisms of SEP‐856 on SZ‐like behavior in a perinatal MK‐801 treatment combined with social isolation from the weaning to adulthood model (MK‐SI). First, we created an animal model that resembles SZ that combines the perinatal MK‐801 with social isolation from weaning to adulthood. Then, different classical behavioral tests were used to evaluate the antipsychotic properties of SEP‐856. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6, and interleukin‐1β), apoptosis‐related genes (Bax and Bcl‐2), and synaptic plasticity‐related genes (brain‐derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and PSD‐95) in the hippocampus were analyzed by quantitative real‐time PCR. Hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to observe the morphology of neurons in the hippocampal DG subregions. Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression levels of BDNF, PSD‐95, Bax, Bcl‐2, PI3K, p‐PI3K, AKT, p‐AKT, GSK‐3β, p‐GSK‐3β in the hippocampus. MK‐SI neurodevelopmental disease model studies have shown that compared with sham group, MK‐SI group exhibit higher levels of autonomic activity, stereotyped behaviors, withdrawal from social interactions, dysregulated sensorimotor gating, and impaired recognition and spatial memory. These findings imply that the MK‐SI model can mimic symptoms similar to those of SZ. Compared with the MK‐SI model, high doses of SEP‐856 all significantly reduced increased activity, improved social interaction, reduced stereotyping behavior, reversed sensorimotor gating dysregulation, and improved recognition memory and spatial memory impairment in MK‐SI mice. In addition, SEP‐856 can reduce the release of proinflammatory factors in the MK‐SI model, promote the expression of BDNF and PSD‐95 in the hippocampus, correct the Bax/Bcl‐2 imbalance, turn on the PI3K/AKT/GSK‐3β signaling pathway, and ultimately help the MK‐SI mice's behavioral abnormalities. SEP‐856 may play an antipsychotic role in MK‐SI "dual‐hit" model‐induced SZ‐like behavior mice by promoting synaptic plasticity recovery, decreasing death of hippocampal neurons, lowering the production of pro‐inflammatory substances in the hippocampal region, and subsequently initiating the PI3K/AKT/GSK‐3β signaling cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Photocatalytic CO2 reduction holds great promise to solve energy shortage and global warming. Nb2O5 has demonstrated superiority in CO2 activation and selectivity regulation, but suffers from poor light absorption ability and fast carrier recombination. To tackle these problems, we designed and synthesized ultrathin Nb2O5 nanosheets which were decorated with tiny NiP nanoparticles as cocatalyst. In this way, light absorption range broadened, carrier migration distance reduced, charge transfer resistance decreased, and surface reaction kinetics promoted. Consequently, the as‐prepared NiP/Nb2O5 showed notably enhanced activity (148.7 μmol ⋅ g−1) and selectivity (82.1 %) towards CO, as well as remarkable stability. This work paves the way for cheap and earth abundant alternatives as cocatalysts and deepens the understanding of their functions in CO2 photoreduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]