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Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is the primary treatment for Kawasaki disease (KD). However, 10–20% of KD patients show no response to IVIG treatment, making the early prediction of IVIG resistance a key focus of KD research. Our aim is to explore the application of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) for predicting IVIG resistance in children with KD through meta-analysis. Methods: Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMbase, CNKI, WanFang, the Chinese Biomedical Database, and CQVIP were searched up to November 2023 for cohort studies on predicting IVIG-resistant KD using the CAR. Articles were selected based on pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria after extracting literature data and assessing them using the QUADAS-2.0 tool for evaluating the accuracy of diagnostic tests. Stata 15.0 software was used for meta-analysis. Results: Four Chinese and English literature reports were included in this meta-analysis. The results revealed the presence of a threshold effect and high heterogeneity among the included studies. The combined sensitivity for CAR predicting IVIG-resistant KD was calculated as 0.65 (95% CI 0.58–0.72), specificity as 0.71 (95% CI 0.57–0.81), and the area under the curve (AUC) as 0.70 (95% CI 0.66–0.74) using the random-effects model. The combined positive likelihood ratio was 2.22 (95% CI 1.35–3.65), the combined negative likelihood ratio was 0.49 (95% CI 0.35–0.69), and the diagnostic odds ratio was 5 (95% CI 2–10). Conclusion: CAR is an auxiliary predictive indicator with moderate diagnostic value that provides guidance in the early treatment of the disease, demonstrating a certain predictive value that warrants further investigation. However, CAR cannot yet be considered as a definitive diagnostic or exclusionary marker for IVIG-resistant KD. Therefore, multi-center, large sample, and high-quality long-term follow-up trials are warranted to confirm the current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between Protein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9 inhibitor (PCSK9i) and psychiatric adverse events (AEs) remains unclear due to the limitations of clinical trials. In this study, PCSK9i‐related psychiatric AEs were realistically observed and systematically summarized in the real world by data mining the FDA AE Reporting System (FAERS). Method: Total AEs between the third quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2023 were obtained from FAERS. Psychiatric AEs were identified using disproportionality analysis and clinical prioritization of signals using a rating scale, followed by univariate logistic regression to explore factors influencing psychiatric AEs. Results: Psychiatric AEs accounted for 6.7% of the total number of PCSK9i reports. Eighteen psychiatric AEs were defined as PCSK9i‐related psychiatric adverse events (ppAEs) (lower 95% CI of both ROR >1 and IC025 > 0). The median age of ppAE reports was 68 years, and female patients accounted for 22.67% of reports, including 41.40% of reports with a serious outcome. Eleven (61.11%) and seven (38.89%) ppAEs were classified as weak and moderate clinical priority, respectively. The median time to onset of ppAEs was 149 and 196 days after treatment with evolocumab and alirocumab, respectively. Patients weighing ≥80 kg were 1.59 times more likely to experience ppAEs. Conclusion: The results of this study facilitate the prioritization of psychiatric AE signals by healthcare professionals with the goal of mitigating the risk of PCSK9i‐related psychiatric AEs. However, as an exploratory study, our findings need to be confirmed in large‐scale prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the associations between hepatitis B and C in women aged 15–49 years and neonatal preterm birth in high‐income countries (HICs). Methods: This ecological study collected hepatitis B and C prevalence data in women aged 15–49 years and age‐standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) of neonatal preterm birth in HICs in 1990–2019 from the Global Burden of Disease study. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) in hepatitis B and C prevalence and ASIRs of neonatal preterm birth were calculated to quantify their temporal trends. Pearson correlation tests and generalized additive mixed models were used to estimate the associations between hepatitis B and C prevalence and ASIR of neonatal preterm birth. Results: Among women aged 15–49 years in HICs, hepatitis B prevalence increased only in the Northern Mariana Islands (EAPC, 0.16 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.05–0.27]) and the United Kingdom (EAPC, 0.08 [95% CI, 0.04–0.12]) and hepatitis C prevalence increased in more than 20% of HICs in 1990–2019, with the largest increase in Belgium (EAPC, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.65–1.35]). Nearly 80% of HICs showed an increasing trend in ASIR of neonatal preterm birth in 1990–2019, with the largest increase in Greece (EAPC, 3.91 [95% CI, 3.65–4.18]). A positive association between hepatitis C prevalence in women aged 15–49 years and ASIR of neonatal preterm birth was observed in Pearson correlation tests and generalized additive mixed models (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: ASIR of neonatal preterm birth was associated with hepatitis C prevalence in women aged 15–49 years in HICs. Universal screening for hepatitis C virus is recommended at least once for women of reproductive age and during each pregnancy. Synopsis: Neonatal preterm birth is significantly associated with hepatitis C in women aged 15–49 years in 66 high‐income countries worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally. Cognitive dysfunction is a common complication of stroke, which seriously affects the patient's quality of life. Previous studies have shown that the expression of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation (HCN) channel is closely related to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and subsequent cognitive impairment. We also found that ZD7288, a specific inhibitor of the HCN channel, attenuated IR injury during short-term reperfusion. Since apoptosis can induce cell necrosis and aggravate cognitive impairment after IR, the purpose of this study is to define whether ZD7288 could improve cognitive impairment after prolonged cerebral reperfusion in rats by regulating apoptotic pathways. Our data indicated that ZD7288 can ameliorate spatial cognitive behavior and synaptic plasticity, protect the morphology of hippocampal neurons, and alleviate hippocampal apoptotic cells in IR rats. This effect may be related to down-regulating the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins such as AIF, p53, Bax, and Caspase-3, and increasing the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. Taken together, it suggested that inhibition of the HCN channel improves cognitive impairment after IR correlated with its regulation of apoptotic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migrants is a large population in China. To improve the health and wellbeing of migrants is a critical policy and social issue in China, and to enhance the utilization of primary health care by migrants is one of the most important approaches in promoting equity in health. However, there exists little research about the association between social integration and the utilization of primary health care. To address the research gap, this research aims at exploring the relation between social integration and the utilization of primary health care among migrants in China. Methods: Using the national data from China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS) in 2017, 169,989 migrants were included in this study. Social integration was measured by social communication, acculturation and self-identity, with 8 indicators. The utilization of primary health care was measured by the receiving of health education on infectious diseases (ID) and noncommunicable diseases (NCD) as well as the first visit institution when migrants were sick. After the descriptive statistical analysis, binary logistic regression was employed to evaluate the association between social integration and the utilization of primary health care. Results: 65.99% of the migrants received health education on infectious diseases (ID), 40.11% of the migrants received health education on noncommunicable diseases (NCD) and 8.48% of the migrants chose to go to Community Health Center (CHC) seeking for health services. There was a positive effect of social organization participation, the influence of hometown customs, differences of hygiene habits between migrants and local people, integration willingness and evaluation of identity on the receiving of health education on ID and NCD, as well as a positive effect of civil activities engagement and differences of hygiene habits between migrants and local people on the utilization of CHC after getting sick. Conclusions: Social integration was associated with the utilization of primary health care among migrants in China. Generally speaking, greater social integration was associated with higher possibility of receiving health education on ID and NCD. However, the effect of social integration on the utilization of CHC was more complex among different indicators. There should be more policy interventions to improve the social integration of migrant which help them to get familiar with the health resource available, as well as improve the capacity of CHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three fundamental origins of the Lorentz factor for neutron time‐of‐flight powder diffraction are revisited. A detailed derivation of the Lorentz factor is presented in the context of diffuse scattering modelling in reciprocal space when perfect periodicity is assumed, and the total scattering pattern is constructed in its discrete form – the factor in this case becomes 1/Q2 (or d2). Discussion is also presented with respect to practical data reduction where a vanadium measurement is usually taken as the normalization factor (to account for various factors such as detector efficiency), and it is shown that the existence of the Lorentz factor is independent of such a normalization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the electromagnetic pollution in harsh environments, it is vital to prepare multifunctional microwave absorbers to broaden their application fields. Herein, fire-resistant iron-based phosphates/phosphorus-doped carbon composites were annealed from phytic acid-treated metal organic frameworks. Through tailoring the dosage of phytic acid used in the preparation process, composites with diverse morphologies, crystal structures, electric and microwave absorption properties are obtained. When the dosage of phytic acid used reaches 4 mL, the obtained composite, Fe 2 P 4 O 12 /phosphorus-doped carbon, possesses the best microwave absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss of −67.6 dB (2.0 mm) and an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.76 GHz (2.1 mm, 12.24–18 GHz). The microwave attenuation could be mainly attributed to the high conductivity brought by phosphorus-doped carbon, and polarization relaxations triggered by dipoles, functional groups, and unbalanced charges at interfaces. Specifically, the charge density distribution, obtained with density functional theory (DFT), suggests the occurrence of intense charge transfer and formation of internal electric field at P-carbon, O-carbon, and iron-based phosphates/phosphorus-doped carbon interfaces. Meanwhile, the as-prepared iron-based phosphates/phosphorus-doped carbon composites possess good fire-resistant property. The work provides a novel idea to construct multifunctional materials with high-efficient microwave absorption to broaden their application fields. [Display omitted] • Facile synthesis of iron-based phosphates/phosphorus-doped carbon composites. • Compositions can be regulated by tailoring the dosage of phytic acid used to treat the precursor. • A minimum R L of −67.6 dB (2.0 mm) and an EAB of 5.76 GHz (2.1 mm, 12.24–18 GHz) is achieved. • High conductivity and strong polarization contribute to microwave absorption. • The composites demonstrate excellent fire-resistant property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the association between change in social participation and long‐term improved cognitive function among older adults. Data were obtained from 9648 participants aged ≥60 years in the 2011, 2014 and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, a national prospective cohort study. Cox regression models were used to calculate adjusted risk ratios (aRRs). Social participation was increased in 20.5% of the participants, decreased in 37.8% of the participants and stable in 41.7% of the participants from the 2011 wave to the 2014–2018 waves. The improved cognitive function rate was 17.9% at follow‐up. Compared to individuals with decreased social participation from the 2011 wave to the 2014–2018 waves, individuals with unchanged total social participation were 59% (aRR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.35–1.87) more likely to have improved cognitive function in the 2014–2018 waves, and individuals with increased social participation were 61% (aRR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.43–1.82) more likely to have improved cognitive function, regardless of the baseline social participation status. As for the three forms of social participation, compared with the participants with decreased social participation, those with increased participation in organised social activities, increased participation in group leisure‐time activities, unchanged informal social interactions and increased informal social interactions were 24% (aRR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.02–1.51), 49% (aRR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.21–1.84), 55% (aRR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.37–1.76) and 57% (aRR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.34–1.84) more likely to have improved cognitive function (all p < 0.05) respectively. The results were stable in the sensitivity analysis. Our findings highlight the importance of promoting social participation from a multidimensional perspective (duration, frequency and forms) to improve cognitive function among older adults, for policy makers and healthcare workers in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing multifunctional microwave absorption materials is crucial in practical application. Herein, the iron-based cores@graphitic carbon@amorphous carbon composites with diverse phase compositions were annealed from urea-modulated metal organic frameworks (MOFs), MIL-88A, as precursors. By simply varying the mass ratio of urea and MIL-88A, the chemical compositions of as-prepared samples were well adjusted, which brought the variation of interfacial polarization, dipole polarization, and magnetic response. Meanwhile, the structure with outer-layered amorphous carbon and inner-layered graphitic carbon enhanced impedance matching. Therefore, with stronger microwave attenuation brought by polarization loss and better impedance matching, the high-efficient microwave absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss (R L) of −67.81 dB at 12.5 GHz and an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.76 GHz was obtained with S-05 (Fe/Fe 3 C/Fe 15.1 C@graphitic carbon@amorphous carbon), which was prepared with the weight ratio of MIL-88A and urea at 2:1. Meanwhile, the iron-based cores@graphitic carbon@amorphous carbon composites possess good heat-resistant properties due to the existence of protecting carbon layers. Thus, urea-assisted treatment paves a way for acquiring multifunctional absorbers derived from MOFs with enhanced microwave absorption performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: What proportion of people want to have a second or third child after the enactment of the three-child policy in China?Summary Answer: Under the three-child policy, fertility intention to have a second child was ∼60% (56% of women vs 65% of men), and fertility intention to have a third child was 13% (10% of women vs 17% of men) among the Chinese population.What Is Known Already: The Chinese government announced the three-child policy on 31 May 2021, allowing all couples to have up to three children. At present, there is a lack of national surveys on the fertility intentions of women and men to have a second or third child under the three-child policy in China.Study Design, Size, Duration: In June 2021, a national cross-sectional survey including 9243 respondents aged 18-49 years was conducted online from 31 provinces in China's mainland using a random sampling method.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: Data on the intention to have a second or third child were collected by anonymous questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were performed to assess fertility intentions. Multivariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between fertility intentions and the investigated factors.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: Approximately 60% (5493/9243) of the investigated people (55.6% women vs 64.7% men) intended to have a second child, and 13.0% (1203/9243) of them (10.0% women vs 17.1% men) intended to have a third child under China's three-child policy. For non-child respondents, 46.8% of women and 60.4% of men intended to have a second child. For one-child respondents, 47.8% of women and 53.8% of men intended to have a second child. For two-child respondents, 14.4% of women and 25.9% of men intended to have a third child. The mean desired family size was 1.58 children per woman, which was lower than the 1.76 children per man. Notably, the age-specified fertility intentions of men were always higher than those of women. Women with a college or higher degree (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.60, 95% CI 0.42-0.88) and a high-middle (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.95) or high (aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.48-0.85) household income, as well as men living in urban areas (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.58-0.87) and having a high-middle household income (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52-0.90), were associated with a lower intention to have a third child (all P < 0.05). In contrast, men of public service personnel had a higher intention to have a third child than factory workers (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.02-2.04, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, approximately one out of five two-child respondents intended to have a third child, while one out of four two-girl respondents (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.44-3.04) were willing to have a third child with a strong preference for boys (12.7% for boys vs 2.7% for girls). Economic and childrearing barriers were the leading barriers to having one more child.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: The online survey might limit the representativeness of the present study's sample. A large sample size was enrolled and a random sampling method was used to increase the sample diversity and representativeness.Wider Implications Of the Findings: This study will assist in estimating the impact on population demographic of the three-child policy in China. Multiple efforts are needed to create a fertility-friendly environment for couples, thereby increasing fertility intentions to have one more child and increasing fertility rates.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): No funding. The authors declare no conflict of interest.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a promising technique for achieving function-driven design as well as unique performances of parts. This article focuses on the frictional behavior of the SLMed brake disc under high-speed conditions, aiming to reveal the inherent wear mechanisms. A bench test of the SLMed disc was conducted using a full-scale flywheel brake dynamometer. The initial braking speed ranged from 50 km/h to 380 km/h, and the clamping force was from 18 kN to 37 kN. The relationship between instantaneous friction coefficient and multiple variables was explored, including clamping force, initial braking speed, and temperature. With rising temperature, the wear mechanism shifted from abrasive wear to adhesive wear. Compared to a cast disc, SLMed disc is better for high-speed conditions, as it exhibits a more stable friction coefficient, shorter braking distance, and higher braking energy efficiency. The average friction coefficient distribution of the SLMed disc is relatively more concentrated, ranging from 0.333 to 0.417, while it is from 0.277 to 0.426 for cast disc. The braking distance of the SLMed disc is 20% shorter when clamping force is 37 kN. Moreover, the braking amplification factor is proposed to enhance the accuracy of brake performance evaluation. Additionally, a preliminary utilization principle is established for SLMed discs. [Display omitted] • Frictional behavior is explored for SLMed component under high-speed conditions. • Transition of wear mechanism in SLMed part is discussed with increasing velocity. • SLM part has higher and more stable friction coefficients to suit severe condition. • Braking amplification factor is proposed to enhance braking evaluation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pustular psoriasis of pregnancy (PPP), also known as impetigo herpetiformis (IH), is a rare variant of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) in pregnancy. It typically occurs in the third trimester and is a life-threatening condition for both the pregnant mother and the fetus if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Drug-induced PPP has been reported in sporadic case reports. Here we present a case of first-trimester PPP occurring after applying drugs including chloroquine, which we consider a possible culprit triggering the disease. Case report: A 29-year-old female was admitted to our department at 45 days gestation with sudden onset of fever and widespread erythematous pustules for 9 days. She had been on medications including hydroxychloroquine before onset. The eruptions and systemic symptoms were controlled with high-dose systemic steroids; however, she was detected to have a stillbirth, and underwent dilation and curettage of the uterine. At the latest follow-up about 2 years after her admission, she reported to have delivered a healthy baby about 1 month previously. Conclusions: Chloroquine has potential to lead to PPP in the first trimester of pregnancy. Further studies are warranted to investigate the etiology and treatment of PPP to facilitate early recognition and optimal management of this relatively rare dermatosis in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flexibility of the adaptive eavesdropper (AE) who can act as a passive eavesdropper or active jammer adaptively makes the attack mode more powerful, which will bring new security threats for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communications. In this paper, we investigate secure UAV communications under multiple cooperative AEs. A cooperative attack game (CAG) is proposed to get the optimal joint attack action of multiple AEs according to the position of the aerial base station (ABS) and the Nash equilibrium (NE) point of CAG exist by proving the game as an exact potential game with at least one NE. Then, a Stackelberg game is applied to derive the ABS's optimal position based on its own sensing according to AEs' joint attack action by constructing the interactions between ABS and multiple AEs. Finally, a hierarchical learning algorithm is proposed to optimize the ABS's position for enhancing the secrecy rate under the cooperative AEs. The simulation results show that the secrecy performance can be degraded severely by the cooperative AEs, and the ABS's position promotes the enhancement of secrecy rate greatly within reasonable iteration times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reducing maternal mortality is one of the key targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In response to the impact of increased birth rate on maternal and child safety following the implementation of the two-child policy in 2013, the Chinese government implemented the risk management strategy (namely Five Strategies for Maternal and Newborn Safety, FSMNS) to reduce maternal mortality ratio (MMR). We aimed to analyze the changes in the proportion of pregnant women at high risk screened before and after the implementation of the risk management strategy and the association with maternal mortality during the two-child policy era in China.Methods: We conducted a nationwide longitudinal study using data obtained from the National Statistical Yearbook and the National Health Statistics Yearbook for all 31 provinces from 2008-2017 to assess and analyze the changes in the proportion of pregnant women at high risk screened before (2008-2013) and after (2014-2017) the implementation of the risk management strategy during the two-child policy era. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to analyze the relationship between the proportion of pregnant women at high risk and MMR after controlling for sociodemographic factors, health resources, and other maternal healthcare factors.Results: In the past decade, the number of livebirths in China increased by 32.3%, from 13.3 million in 2008 to 17.6 million in 2017. The median proportion of pregnant women at high risk in 31 provinces increased by 64.8%, from 14.87% in 2008 to 24.50% in 2017. The annual rate of increase in the median proportion of pregnant women at high risk after the implementation of risk management (1.33%) was higher than that before the implementation (0.74%). The median MMR in China decreased by 39.6%, from 21.7 per 100,000 livebirths in 2008 to 13.1 per 100,000 livebirths in 2017. The univariate GEE models showed that MMR decreased by 7.9% per year from 2008-2017 (cRR 0.92, 95% CI 0.91-0.93), and the proportion of pregnant women at high risk was negatively correlated with MMR (cRR 0.97, 95%CI 0.94-0.99; p = 0.001). In the multivariate GEE models, after adjusting for confounders, the proportion of pregnant women at high risk remained negatively correlated with MMR. In the subgroup analysis, the association of MMR with GDP per capita and government health expenditure per capita existed only prior to the implementation of risk management; while high MMR was associated with a low proportion of pregnant women at high risk after the implementation of risk management.Conclusion: The national risk management strategy contributed to the stable decline of MMR in China during the two-child policy era. Further attention should be focused on pregnant women in China's central and western regions to ensure reaching SDGs targets and the 'Healthy China Plan' by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structure and transport properties of GeBi2Te4 are investigated as a layered compound with potential applications as thermoelectric materials. A disordered arrangement of Ge and Bi atoms in a septuple‐layer structure is discovered through synchrotron radiation X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Neutron pair distribution function analysis revealed the presence of discordant Ge atoms with an off‐centering distance of 0.12 Å at 300 K. The thermal conductivity of GeBi2Te4 is very low due to the strong phonon scattering. This is a result of the three Einstein local oscillators coupled with the disordered arrangement of atoms. This study also explores further the structural characteristics of these materials and their associated phonon scattering processes. The effect of Sb substitution for Ge on the electrical transport properties of the sample is profound, resulting in a change from p‐type to n‐type conduction. An enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 0.45 at 523 K in the in‐plane direction is obtained. This research provides valuable insights into the crystal structure and transport properties of GeBi2Te4, showcasing its promising role as a thermoelectric material with potential for near‐room‐temperature applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large cohort study published in the Journal of Diabetes investigated the association between sleep patterns and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mortality among individuals with diabetes. The study found that a healthy sleep score was linearly related to a lower risk of AMI mortality in people with diabetes. Adequate sleep duration was specifically associated with the lowest risk of AMI mortality. The study used data from the UK Biobank cohort study and adjusted for important covariates such as smoking and physical activity. The findings suggest that promoting healthy sleep patterns may have a protective effect against AMI mortality in individuals with diabetes. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: We aimed to assess the prevalence of poor sleep quality during early pregnancy and its risk factors, and to explore the association between sleep quality and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Methods: This was a prospective birth cohort study that included 4352 pregnant women. Sleep quality were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The risk factors for poor sleep quality were analyzed by a logistic regression model. Log-binomial regression models were used to analyze the association between sleep quality and pregnancy outcomes.Results: The prevalence of maternal poor sleep quality during early pregnancy was 34.14%. The multivariate logistic model showed that stillbirth history (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.34, 4.47), history of induced abortion (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.49), general health-related quality of life (OR = 3.98; 95% CI: 2.97, 5.34), insufficient physical activity (OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.36), smoking (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.15), and vegetarian (OR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.54, 3.08) were risk factors for poor sleep quality, while taking folic acid consistently before pregnancy (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.72,0.97) was the protective factor. After controlling for all the confounders, poor sleep quality during early pregnancy increased the risk of premature rupture of membranes by 12% (95% CI: 1.00, 1.25).Conclusion: Pregnant women with a history of stillbirth and induced abortion, general health-related quality of life, insufficient physical activity, smoking, and a vegetarian diet tended to have poor sleep quality. More attention should be paid to healthy lifestyle of pregnant women to improve sleep quality and better pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tantalum (Ta) and zirconium (Zr) alloys were found to had low elastic modulus and similar biomechanical characteristics as the human bone. However, the biocompatibility and osteogenic potential of Ta-xZr alloyswith different proportions (20, 30, 40 and 50% Zr by atom) remains to be investigated. In this study, the biocompatibility of Ta-xZr alloys and commercially pure titanium (cpTi) was evaluated in vitro by cell counting kit-8 assay. The adhesion of MG63 osteoblasts to the surface of the alloys was observed by fluorescence microscopy, and their morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The expressions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Ki67, osteocalcin (OC), collagen-I (Col-I) and Integrin β1 mRNA in the cultured cells were determined by RT-PCR. As a result, Ta-xZr (x = 20, 30, 40 and 50 at%) alloys were non-toxic and supported proliferation of the MG63 cells. The osteoblasts adhered to the Ta-xZr alloys, and subsequently spread and proliferated rapidly. Furthermore, the cells grown on Ta-20Zr and Ta-30Zr expressed high levels of ALP, Col I and OC, indicating that the Ta-xZr alloys can induce osteogenesis. In conclusion, Ta-xZr alloys promoted the adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MG63 cells. The Ta-xZr composites with a higher proportion of Ta exhibited superior osteogenic activity, and Ta-30Zr is therefore a promising alternative for Ti implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an important cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide, but it is long‐neglected. We aimed to understand the global trends and regional differences in the incidence of HEV infection, thereby making global tailored prevention strategies. Methods: This study is a post‐hoc analysis of the data from Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Annual HEV incident cases and incidence rates from 1990 to 2017 were collected. Changes in incident cases and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) of age‐standardized incidence rates (ASRs) were calculated to quantify the temporal trends of HEV infection. Results: Globally, HEV ASRs decreased by an average 0.16% (95% CI: 0.14%‐0.17%) per year from 279.79 per 100 000 in 1990 to 269.70 per 100 000 in 2017; however, the number of HEV incident cases increased by 17.63% from 16.53 million in 1990 to 19.44 million in 2017. Against the global trend of ASR falling, an increasing trend was reported in Oceania (EAPC = 0.03; 95% CI: 0.03‐0.04) and Western Europe (EAPC = 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01‐0.03). The number of HEV incident cases increased remarkably in low (63.07%) and low‐middle (37.46%) Socio‐Demographic Index (SDI) regions between 1990 and 2017. Additionally, the number of HEV incident cases increased by 4.63% in high SDI regions, mainly in 40 plus age group. Surprisingly, more than 40% of HEV incident cases in Western Europe in 2017 were over 40 years old. Conclusions: HEV is still pending in hyperendemic regions, and it is emerging in low endemic regions, suggesting more efforts should be done to make targeted prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Z-scheme InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 composites were fabricated with hydrothermal synthesis. • Interfacial Bi O bonds boosted the charge transfer from InVO 4 and BiVO 4 to CuBi 2 O 4. • O vacancies brought by orthovanadates enhanced 1O 2 production through energy transfer. • InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 showed good photocatalytic activity for tetracycline degradation. • The composite had good reusability, stability, and performed well in natural water. Dual Z-scheme InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 (CuInBi) composites with rich oxygen vacancies and chemical bonds at the heterojunction interfaces were fabricated, for the first time, through hydrothermal method with post annealing treatment, in which CuBi 2 O 4 acts as a bridge to connect InVO 4 and BiVO 4. The as-prepared composites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity compared with the individual semiconductors. Specifically, the degradation rate of tetracycline (20 mg/L) in the presence of CuInBi-1 (1.0 g/L) was up to 5.4, 2.8, and 3.1 times faster than those in the presence of CuBi 2 O 4 , InVO 4 , and BiVO 4 , respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be partially attributed to the good light absorption of CuBi 2 O 4 , which broadens the visible light response of the InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 composites. Meanwhile, the interfacial chemical bonds in the dual Z-scheme heterojunction help accelerate charge separation and maintain strong redox activity. In addition, the oxygen vacancies, induced mainly by the low-valent vanadium atoms, facilitate the production of singlet oxygen (1O 2) through energy transfer, which easily attacks the electron-rich groups, including phenolic group, dimethylamino group, amine group, and double bonds, in tetracycline. The InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 composite exhibited excellent reusability and stability, and performed well in photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in river water and under natural sunlight, demonstrating great potential for practical application. The probable photocatalytic mechanism of InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 composite was proposed according to the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and major degradation intermediates detected in the photocatalytic system. This work demonstrates the important roles of oxygen vacancies and interfacial chemical bonds in boosting the photocatalytic activity of Z-scheme heterojunctions and provides a reference for the construction of high-activity photocatalysts for efficient degradation of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: China has the world's largest burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, there are few studies reported on the latest prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among pregnant women in China. We aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV infection and its associated risk factors among pregnant women in Yunnan, which is a province with relatively high prevalence of blood-borne viruses.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 15,641 pregnant women who underwent routine antenatal screening for HBsAg in Yunnan between 2013 and 2016. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between HBV infection and risk factors.Results: Overall, 7.89% (95% confidence interval (CI), 7.47%-8.31%) of the 15,641 pregnant women tested positive for HBsAg. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (≥35 years old; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.43-2.59), Hani ethnicity (aOR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.22-3.17), unemployed women (aOR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.30-2.72), multigravidas (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.40), and multiparas (aOR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10-1.49) were more likely to be infected with HBV. HBV infection was associated with cesarean section and preterm birth, with aORs of 1.31 (1.17-1.48) and 1.23 (1.00-1.51), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, the association between Hani ethnicity and HBV infection was significantly higher in women aged 35 years or older (aOR = 5.15; 95% CI, 1.51-17.55) than in women younger than 35 years of age (aOR = 1.69; 95% CI, 1.00-2.86).Conclusions: HBV infection among 15,641 pregnant women was of high-intermediate endemicity in Yunnan, China. Advanced age, Hani ethnicity, unemployment, and multigravid and multiparous statuses were associated with an increased prevalence of HBV infection. High-risk pregnant women should be paid more attention during routine antenatal examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave absorbers have been applied extensively to attenuate harmful electromagnetic radiation. In this study, efficient microwave absorbers are successfully prepared using metal-organic frameworks as precursors through a convenient in-situ growth and selenization approach in which NiSe nanoparticles are embedded in rod-like carbon networks decorated with graphitic carbon bubbles. The chemical composition, microstructure, graphitization degree, and corresponding microwave absorption performance are well controlled by changing the selenization condition. Remarkably, the reflection loss of the NiSe/C composite obtained at 700 °C reached −59.70 dB at 7.89 GHz and the effective absorption bandwidth was 4.67 GHz. In the as-prepared composite, pervasive carbon networks help improve conductive loss. The homogeneous interfaces between metal selenides and carbon, as well as the abundant defects and interfaces in the graphitic carbon bubbles, boost interfacial polarization and accelerate electron transfer, contributing to the high-performance absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there is a growing interest for new lead-free oxides with reversible antiferroelectric (AFE)-ferroelectric (FE) phase transition for high-power energy-storage applications. NaNbO 3 -based ceramics are particularly attractive due to their easy synthesis and cost-effectiveness. In order to stabilize reversible AFE-FE phase transition, NaNbO 3 is doped with a combination of heterovalent substitutions, although the underlying structural mechanism for the same is poorly understood. Here, we investigated local and average structures of Ca/Zr doped NaNbO 3 using neutron total scattering. We show that Ca/Zr doping increases the average AFE phase (Pbma) fraction, however, the material remains as a composite of both FE (P 2 1 ma) and AFE regions. Analysis of local structure suggests that increase in the long-range AFE phase results from more extensive twinning of local FE regions, due to introduced charge disorder. We propose that enhanced energy-storage properties of Ca/Zr-doped NaNbO 3 arises from localized twin boundary motion between the defect-induced pinning centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to assess the association between trajectories of depressive symptoms and the risk of dementia, and to compare the predictive ability of trajectories using multiple data points with depressive symptoms at a single data point. Methods: We included 5306 older adults from the Health and Retirement Study. We assessed depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiology Depression Scale (CES‐D), and identified its 8‐ year trajectories (2002–2010) using latent class trajectory modeling. We calculated hazard ratios (HR) using Cox proportional hazards models. The concordance index (C‐index) was used to compare the discriminative power of the models. Results: We identified two trajectories of depressive symptoms, characterized by maintaining low CES‐D scores, and moderate starting scores that steadily increased throughout the follow‐up period. During 40,199 person‐years, compared to the low trajectory, the increasing trajectory of depressive symptoms was associated with a higher risk of dementia (HR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.09–1.67) (C‐index = 0.759). For every point increase in the degree of depressive symptoms (CES‐D scores) in 2010, the risk of dementia increased by 7% (95% CI: 1.03–1.12) (C‐index = 0.760). The presence of depressive symptoms (CES‐D scores ≥3) in 2010 was not associated with an increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.18; 95% CI: 0.98–1.43) (C‐index = 0.759). The C‐index values of cox models showed similar discriminative power. Conclusions: The increasing trajectory of depressive symptoms at multiple data points and the degree of depressive symptoms at a single data point were associated with an increased risk of subsequent dementia among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fe-based Metal-Organic Framework material (activated MIL-88A) efficiently removes various arsenic species in water. • Pseudo-second order kinetic model reveals chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. • Molecular shapes and sizes of arsenic species affect their adsorption rates to activated MIL-88A. • Activated MIL-88A shows high adsorption capabilities across a wide pH range. • Coordination and hydrogen bonding are the main mechanisms for arsenic adsorption. Arsenic in water environment can present significant threats to human health, and eliminating arsenic pollutants from wastewater is crucial. Based on our previously reported work, this study delved into the adsorption behavior and mechanism of different arsenic contaminants (p -ASA, ROX, As(V), and DMA) on the activated Fe-based metal–organic framework (activated MIL-88A). The results show that activated MIL-88A exhibits exceptional adsorption capabilities toward diverse arsenic pollutants. The adsorption process is endothermic, spontaneous, and viable, and chemical adsorption plays a leading role. The remarkable adsorption capacity of activated MIL-88A to various arsenic pollutants is primarily attributed to coordination, while hydrogen bonding also assumes a significant role in the elimination of p -ASA and ROX. Additionally, we investigated the impact of arsenic molecule shape and size, solution pH, and the existence of specific anions and dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the adsorption of different arsenic pollutants. This study can provide valuable insights for further exploring the selective adsorption of different kinds of arsenic species by Fe-based MOF materials and improving the adsorption efficiency of MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese oxides occur widely in nature and have technical applications in various areas. This study quantitatively evaluates the thermodynamic properties of Mn5O8, a binary manganese oxide that has a layered structure and contains coexisting divalent and tetravalent manganese. Three samples of the Mn5O8 phase with slightly different manganese average oxidation states (Mn AOS) were synthesized using a wet chemical method and annealing. Synchrotron X‐ray analysis revealed that the samples contain a small amount of a secondary MnO2 phase that cannot be identified using laboratory X‐ray diffraction. High‐temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry in molten sodium molybdate at 700°C showed that all three samples are slightly higher in enthalpy than an isochemical mixture of bixbyite (Mn2O3) and pyrolusite (MnO2), probably rendering them metastable in free energy with respect to isochemical mixtures of bixbyite and pyrolusite. However, the energetic metastability (endothermic enthalpy) of Mn5O8 is very small (<6 kJ/mol) and does not depend significantly on the Mn AOS. Thus, although Mn5O8 probably does not appear on the equilibrium Mn‐O phase diagram, its small metastability allows its synthesis by a variety of low temperature reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant due to its overuse. TBOEP has been found to cause reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption during acute toxic experiment. In this study, we examined the effects of TBOEP on growth in initial generation (F0) zebrafish and transgenerational effects on growth of first generation (F1) larvae after parental long-term exposure (120 d) to environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg/L). Exposure to TBOEP resulted in significantly less growth as measured by body length, body weight and gonadosomatic index (GSI) in F0 females but not F0 males. Furthermore, the bioaccumulation of TBOEP in gonad, the alteration of the gene transcriptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and the delay in gonadal development in both female and male zebrafish were demonstrated. In addition, the residues of TBOEP were detected in F1 larvae after parental exposure, resulting in lower survival and shorter body length, as well as faster heart rate. And no significant changes in gene expressions along the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were found in F1 larvae. In conclusion, these results indicated that long-term parental exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TBOEP could inhibit the development of progeny by parental gonadal impairment and by TBOEP transfer to offspring, instead of gene transcription in GH/IGF and HPT axes. Highlights • TBOEP caused significantly less growth in F0 females but not F0 males. • TBOEP at environmentally relevant concentrations caused gonadal impairment. • The residues of TBOEP were detected in F1 larvae after exposure of parents. • Long-term parental exposure to TBOEP inhibited the development of progeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin is a first-line chemotherapy drug that is commonly used in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, insensitivity to cisplatin markedly influences the outcomes of chemotherapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) have been demonstrated to modulate drug resistance in a number of types of cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the key miRNAs involved in modulating drug resistance in ovarian cancer cells. miR-200b and miR-200c were identified to be frequently deregulated in ovarian cancer. Upregulation of miR-200b and miR-200c promoted EOC cell death in the presence of cisplatin. Upregulation of miR-125b-5p significantly decreased tumor growth in combination with cisplatin in a mouse model. Significantly, miR-200b and miR-200c reversed cisplatin resistance by targeting DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) (directly targeting DNMT3A/DNMT3B and indirectly targeting DNMT1 via specificity protein 1). These results indicate that miR-200b- and miR-200c-mediated regulation of DNMTs serves a crucial function in the cellular response to cisplatin. miR-200b- and miR-200c-mediated downregulation of DNMTs may improve chemotherapeutic efficacy by increasing the sensitivity of cancer cells and thus may have an impact on ovarian cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published in 1999, Christodoulou proved that the naked singularities of a self-gravitating scalar field are not stable in spherical symmetry and therefore the cosmic censorship conjecture is true in this context. The original proof is by contradiction and sharp estimates are obtained strictly depending on spherical symmetry. In this paper, appropriate a priori estimates for the solution are obtained. These estimates are more relaxed but sufficient for giving another robust argument in proving the instability, in particular not by contradiction. In a companion paper, we are able to prove certain instability theorems of the spherically symmetric naked singularities of a scalar field under gravitational perturbations without symmetries. The argument given in this paper plays a central role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hollow tubular In 2 O 3 /AgI photocatalysts with oxygen vacancies were synthesized. • A BIEF with e- flowing from AgI to In 2 O 3 helps the formation of Z-scheme structure. • In 2 O 3 /AgI (2:1, molar) performed well as a photocatalyst for tetracycline degradation. • 1O 2 , h+, •O 2 −, and •OH were the key reactive species in the photocatalytic system. • In 2 O 3 /AgI photocatalysts exhibited excellent structural stability and reusability. A novel In 2 O 3 /AgI heterojunction, which has a hollow tubular structure with AgI particles distributed evenly on the outer and inner surfaces of In 2 O 3 microtubes, was fabricated from annealing of AgI adhered to MIL-68(In). The as-prepared heterojunction exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity towards tetracycline degradation compared to In 2 O 3 and AgI. The presence of InAg-1 (1.0 g/L), which has a In 2 O 3 :AgI mole ratio of 2:1, could achieve 98.4% removal of tetracycline (20 mg/L) from the solution phase under visible light illumination in 10 min, and it had excellent reusability and stability. The In 2 O 3 /AgI heterojunction also exhibited excellent performance in photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in different types of water matrices and under natural sunlight illumination, demonstrating its potential in practical application. The superior photocatalytic activity of InAg-1 is attributed to the heterojunction formation and generation of oxygen vacancies (OVs), which improve the separation efficiency of photoinduced e−-h+ pairs. Meanwhile, the built-in electric field (BIEF) formed with e- flowing from AgI to In 2 O 3 , which is confirmed by density functional theory calculations, helps the formation of a Z-scheme, instead of type II, heterojunction between In 2 O 3 and AgI. Results of radical trapping experiments and electron spin resonance spectra reveal that 1O 2 , h+, •O 2 −, and •OH were the key reactive species involved in the photocatalytic degradation process. These findings indicate that Z-scheme photocatalysts with OVs could efficiently activate molecular oxygen and thus have excellent photocatalytic activity towards degradation of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been acknowledged that environmental stress is a risk factor for developing mental disorders. Chronic stress may contribute to the hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and a sustained rise in the levels of glucocorticoids (GCs). A high concentration of corticosterone (CORT) damages neuronal PC12 cells. It has been reported that (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea, exhibits neuroprotective activity. However, the protective effect of EGCG on neuronal cells injured by CORT remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to identify the effects of EGCG on CORT-injured neuronal PC12 cells and its associated mechanisms of action. CORT-injured PC12 cells were pretreated with EGCG with or without cyclopamine. Cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay, changes in cell morphology were observed using phase-contrast microscopy, cellular apoptosis was assessed by Hoechst 33342 staining, cell proliferation was measured using a cell counting kit-8 assay, mRNA levels were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and protein expression was assessed using western blot analysis. The current study demonstrated that exposure to high concentrations of CORT induced cytotoxicity and downregulated the Sonic hedgehog pathway (Shh) in PC12 cells. These effects were attenuated by EGCG. However, the EGCG-mediated neuroprotective effects, as well as upregulation of the Shh pathway were all attenuated by the Shh signaling inhibitor cyclopamine. These results indicate that EGCG protects PC12 cells from CORT-induced neurotoxicity via activation of the Shh signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous Nb-Ti-Ta (at.%) alloys with the pore size of 100–600 μm and the porosity of 50%–80% were fabricated by the combination of the sponge impregnation technique and sintering method. The results revealed that the pores were well connected with three-dimensional (3D) network structure, which showed morphological similarity to the anisotropic porous structure of human bones. The results also showed that the alloys could provide the compressive Young's modulus of 0.11 ± 0.01 GPa to 2.08 ± 0.09 GPa and the strength of 17.45 ± 2.76 MPa to 121.67 ± 1.76 MPa at different level of porosity, indicating that the mechanical properties of the alloys are similar to those of human bones. Pore structure on the compressive properties was also discussed on the basis of the deformation mode. The relationship between compressive properties and porosity was well consistent with the Gibson-Ashby model. The mechanical properties could be tailored to match different requirements of the human bones. Moreover, the alloys had good biocompatibility due to the porous structure with higher surface, which were suitable for apatite formation and cell adhesion. In conclusion, the porous Nb-Ti-Ta alloy is potentially useful in the hard tissue implants for the appropriate mechanical properties as well as the good biocompatible properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by predictions made using a bond valence sum difference map (BVS-DM) analysis, the novel Li-ion conductor Li2Mg2P3O9N was synthesized by ion exchange from a Na2Mg2P3O9N precursor. Impedance spectroscopy measurements indicate that Li2Mg2P3O9N has a room temperature Li-ion conductivity of about 10-6 S/cm (comparable to LiPON), which is 6 orders of magnitude higher than the extrapolated Na-ion conductivity of Na2Mg2P3O9N at this temperature. The structure of Li2Mg2P3O9N was determined from ex situ synchrotron and time-of-flight neutron diffraction data to retain the P213 space group, though with a cubic lattice parameter of a = 9.11176(8) Å that is significantly smaller than the a = 9.2439(1) Å of Na2Mg2P3O9N. The two Li-ion sites are found to be very substantially displaced (~0.5 Å) relative to the analogous Na sites in the precursor phase. The non-molten salt ion exchange method used to prepare Li2Mg2P3O9N produces a minimal background in powder diffraction experiments, and was therefore exploited for the first time to follow a Li+/Na+ ion exchange reaction using in situ powder neutron diffraction. Lattice parameter changes during ion exchange suggest that the reaction proceeds through a Na2-xLixMg2P3O9N solid solution (stage 1) followed by a two-phase reaction (stage 2) to form Li2Mg2P3O9N. However, full Rietveld refinements of the in situ neutron diffraction data indicate that the actual transformation mechanism is more complex and instead involves two thermodynamically distinct solid solutions in which the Li exclusively occupies the Li1 site at low Li contents (stage 1a) and then migrates to the Li3 site at higher Li contents (stage 1b), a crossover driven by the different signs of the local volume change at these sites. In addition to highlighting the importance of obtaining full structural data in situ throughout the ion exchange process, these results provide insights into the general question of what constitutes a thermodynamic phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructures, mechanical properties, apatite-forming ability and in vitro experiments were studied for Nb-25Ti-xTa (x = 10, 15, 20, 25, 35 at.%) alloys fabricated by powder metallurgy. It is confirmed that the alloys could achieve a relative density over 80%. Meanwhile, the increase in Ta content enhances the tensile strength, elastic modulus and hardness of the as-sintered alloys. When increasing the sintering temperatures, the microstructure became more homogeneous for β phase, resulting in a decrease in the modulus and strength. Moreover, the alloys showed a good biocompatibility due to the absence of cytotoxic elements, and were suitable for apatite formation and cell adhesion. In conclusion, Nb-25Ti-xTa alloys are potentially useful in biomedical applications with their mechanical and biological properties being evaluated in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed three spectral metrics, namely spectral match degree (SMD), normalized difference mangrove index (NDMI) and shortwave infrared absorption depth (SIAD), to enhance the separability between mangrove forests and terrestrial vegetation in remote sensing imagery. The Landsat 8 OLI image of an interest area in Beilunhekou National Nature Reserve was used to test the spectral metrics. The derived spectral metrics and raw band reflectance data were classified using a support vector machine classifier. Mangrove forest maps were then identified from the classified images. Identification accuracies were compared and evaluated by determining the user’s accuracy (UA), producer’s accuracy (PA), overall accuracy (OA) and by conducting McNemar’s test. Results showed that the use of spectral metrics (UA = 85%, PA = 94%, OA = 95%) outperformed the use of raw band reflectance data (UA = 72%, PA = 82%, OA = 90%). McNemar’s test confirmed that the spectral metrics were significantly better than the raw band reflectance data (Z = 4.63,p < 0.05). Therefore, the proposed spectral metrics could improve the accuracy of mangrove forest identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic stress induces altered energy metabolism and plays important roles in the etiology of depression, in which the glucocorticoid negative feedback is disrupted due to imbalanced glucocorticoid receptor (GR) functions. The mechanism underlying the dysregulation of GR by chronic stress remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the key enzyme regulating cellular energy metabolism, and related signaling pathways in chronic stress-induced GR dysregulation. In cultured rat cortical astrocytes, glucocorticoid treatment decreased the level, which was accompanied by the decreased expression of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) and reduced phosphorylation of AMPK. Glucocorticoid-induced effects were attenuated by glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) inhibitor GSK650394, which also inhibited glucocorticoid induced phosphorylation of Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a). Furthermore, glucocorticoid-induced down-regulation of GR was mimicked by the inhibition of AMPK and abolished by the AMPK activators or the histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) inhibitors. In line with the role of AMPK in GR expression, AMPK activator metformin reversed glucocorticoid-induced reduction of AMPK phosphorylation and GR expression as well as behavioral alteration of rats. Taken together, these results suggest that chronic stress activates SGK1 and suppresses the expression of LKB1 via inhibitory phosphorylation of FOXO3a. Downregulated LKB1 contributes to reduced activation of AMPK, leading to the dephosphorylation of HDAC5 and the suppression of transcription of GR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An integrated method is proposed to improve the forming quality of large-size alloy steel parts fabricated by ML-SLM. • Optimize process parameters of 24CrNiMo taking into account forming quality and productivity of large-sized parts. • Specimens in different regions and statuses have good consistency in the mechanical properties for ML-SLM. • Bench test reveals SLM-disc meets harsh working conditions due to better tribological properties and more uniform temperature distribution. Additive manufacturing of large-sized parts remains challenging due to large residual stress and performance consistency. In this paper, a method of combining process, structure and performance was proposed to control the forming quality, and the brake disc for high-speed railways was chosen as a validation example. Meanwhile, multi-laser selective laser melting (ML-SLM) was adopted to prepare large-sized products. Research mainly includes process parameters optimization, mechanical properties distribution, and structural design. Process parameters of 24CrNiMo were optimized by exploring the influence of laser power and scanning speed on porosity, pore characteristics, and forming efficiency. Results show excessive heat input could reduce forming quality, causing an increase in either porosity or pore size. Mechanical properties research reveals that 24CrNiMo parts fabricated by ML-SLM have good consistency and overcome the strength-toughness tradeoff. The ultimate tensile strength reached 1255.25 MPa and impact energy was 101 J for single-laser regions. Furthermore, the new brake disc was redesigned with an innovative hollow self-supporting heat rib structure to enable a lightweight design and simplify post-processing. Finally, the qualified product was produced, and bench tests showed SLM-disc had higher performance. The work shows this method is effective and provides an engineering example for large-sized parts fabricated by ML-SLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is highly endemic (7-8% prevalence) in rural China, causing high mortality and societal burden. Data from men of reproductive age is scarce and last reported in 2006. We assessed the seroepidemiology of men in rural China, aiming to provide updated baseline data for the prevalence of HBV infection.Methods: We established prevalence of HBV infection from data gathered through a nationwide population-based study of Chinese rural men aged 21-49 years. Data were obtained from a physical check-up programme for couples of reproductive age, the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project, that covered 31 provinces from 2010-12. We tested serological samples with ELISA and categorised participants' HBV status based on presence of HBsAg, anti-HBV core antibody (anti-HBc), and anti-HBV surface antibody (anti-HBs).Findings: 2 030 083 men were recruited into the database from Jan 1, 2010, to Dec 31, 2012, and 1 966 013 men provided serum samples for analysis. 124 274 men (6%) tested positive for HBsAg, 178 559 (9%) tested positive for anti-HBc, and 583 923 (30%) tested positive for anti-HBs. Isolated anti-HBs (an indicator of vaccine-mediated immunity) were present in 527 566 men (27%). And 1 234 127 men (63%) were negative for all HBV makers (susceptible population). HBsAg prevalence was higher in men aged 25-39 years (6·35-6·47%) than in other age groups (5·54-5·78%; p<0·0001). HBV markers were all more prevalent in the eastern region of China than in the central or western regions (all p<0·0001). 32 326 (26%) of 124 274 HBsAg-positive men tested positive for HBeAg (suggesting high infectiousness); this decreased with increasing age (p<0·0001).Interpretation: HBV prevalence in men in rural China has changed from highly endemic into intermediate endemic in the past two decades. However, the absolute number of HBV-infected men and the susceptible population is still very large.Funding: Chinese Association of Maternal and Child Health Studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurotoxicity of microcystin-leucine-arginine (MCLR) has been widely reported. However, the mechanism is not fully understood. Using primary hippocampal neurons, we tested the hypothesis that MCLR-triggered activation in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) induces the death of neurons. Microcystin-leucine-arginine inhibited cell viability at a range of 0.1 to 30 μmol/L and caused a dose-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i. This increase in [Ca2+]i was observed in Ca2+-free media and blocked by an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor, suggesting intracellular Ca2+ release. Moreover, pretreatment of hippocampal neurons with intracellular Ca2+ chelator (O,O′-bis (2-aminophenyl) ethyleneglycol-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, tetraacetoxy-methyl ester) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor antagonist (2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate) could block both the Ca2+ mobilization and the neuronal death following MCLR exposure. In contrast, the ryanodine receptor inhibitor (dantrolene) did not ameliorate the effect of MCLR. In conclusion, MCLR disrupts [Ca2+]i homeostasis in neurons by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular stores, and this increase in [Ca2+]i may be a key determinant in the mechanism underlying MCLR-induced neurotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health education is one of the most effective and efficient ways to achieve the goal of universal health coverage and the sustainable development goals. The equity of access to health services (especially services from community healthcare centers) for internal migrants is an important issue of global concern. However, due to the registration system, long-term residence plan, education level, and other determinants, it is more difficult for internal migrants to enjoy equitable health education compared with local residents. At present, there is no research on signing up with family doctors mainly from community healthcare centers among internal migrants and their impact on access to health education services. In this nationwide cross-sectional study, we used the migrant population dynamic monitoring survey (MDMS) in 2018 to assess the disparities in signing up with a family doctor and its association with health education among internal migrants in China. Among the 151,892 participants, a total of 11.26% migrants had signed up with a family doctor and 81.37% internal migrants had received health education. There was a significant association between signing up with a family doctor and health education in the univariate model (aOR = 1.113; 95% CI: 1.095, 1.132) and the multivariate model (aOR = 1.107, 95% CI: 1.089, 1.126). Meanwhile, age (aORinteraction = 0.996, 95% CI: 0.994, 0.997), migration time (aORinteraction = 0.927, 95% CI: 0.907, 0.948), and migration range (aORinteraction = 0.994, 95% CI: 0.992, 0.997) also had an impact on the relationship between signing up with family doctors and health education. Due to the health education inequalities among internal migrants in China, we need to improve health education access and utilization of internal migrants. As signed up with family doctors was significantly associated with health education among migrants in China, we recommended that the government and healthcare facilities promote health education through family doctors. The number and professional ability of family doctors should also be improved especially in areas with weak healthcare service resources in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating reduced graphene oxide (RGO) with Co/Co3O4 gives rise to the enhancement of the electromagnetic wave absorption of the composite, contributed from the excellent electric property and the unique architectural morphology of RGO. The complex permeability and complex permittivity are investigated in the range of 1–18 GHz. The reflection loss \(R_{L}\) of the Co/Co3O4 /RGO composite shows higher performance than that of the Co/Co3O4 composite due to the unique electronic property coming from the RGO. The frequency and the thickness of the absorber, of which the peak \(R_{L}\) value occurs, derived from the transmit-line theory agree well with the results from the quarter-wavelength matching principle. Hence, the Co/Co3O4 RGO composite is one of the promising candidates for microwave absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi2WO6/ZnFe2O4 integrated particles prepared by a facile two-step thermosynthesis possess large specific surface area and fair response to visible light so as to perform maximally photocatalytic decomposition toward rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The morphology of the composite is influenced by pH value of the reaction solution. The photocatalytic performance of the composite under visible light irradiation also strongly depends on the morphology beside pH value. The catalyst incorporated with magnetic species provides an effective way to retrieve and recycle the material by realizing fast separability. The composite is of high stability and exhibits both remarkable photocatalystic ability and excellent reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricate granular Fe3O4 nanoparticles with tunable particles sizes ranging from 20 to 250 nm using the solvothermal method. Magnetic stirring during the fabrication can further reduce the size of the particle. To investigate the high-frequency dynamic magnetic properties, the complex permeability and complex permittivity of the composites are measured in a frequency range of 1–15 GHz, and the reflection loss can be obtained through further calculation. The results show that the granular size strongly influences the permeability and the absorbing property of the material. The intrinsic permeability can be derived from the extended Bruggeman effective medium theory. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles assisted by magnetic stirring with a size of 20 nm shows high performance in absorption compared with other bigger counterparts prepared without magnetic stirring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong disturbances associated with auroral substorms originate from the ionosphere-magnetosphere owing to the effects of the solar wind, and the wind field in the ionosphere is related to such substorm activity. Here, we describe the analysis of four auroral substorm events, for which we employed an all-sky Fabry-Perot interferometer to observe the two-dimensional horizontal wind field and combined the results with data from an all-sky charge-coupled device imager, a fluxgate magnetometer installed at Yellow River Station, and the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network. The results demonstrate that, during auroral substorms, the vector wind field is related closely to variations in the ion drift and geomagnetic field. Moreover, we observed a changing wind field of approximately 300 m/s in response to variations in the electric and magnetic fields (likely caused by ion drag) and a disturbance of about 200 m/s that we attribute to the interaction of Joule heating and ion drag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hyperglycemia leads to spatial memory deficits. • Hyperglycemia causes dendritic spine loss and impaired synaptic plasticity. • AGEs decrease mushroom-shaped dendritic spine formation. • circ-Nbea/miR-128-3p axis may be involved in regulating the pathogenesis and progression of DE. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play key roles in various pathogenic and biological processes in human disease. However, the effect of circRNAs on the development of diabetic encephalopathy (DE) remains largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate changes in the expression of circRNAs and their potential mechanism in DE formation. Compared with db/m mice, spatial learning/memory, dendritic spines, and synaptic plasticity were all impaired in the hippocampus of the db/db mice. In addition, the dendritic spine density of neurons was significantly decreased after treatment with advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). We used high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to detect circRNA expression in DE, and the results revealed that 183 circRNAs were significantly altered in primary hippocampal neurons treated with AGEs. Three circRNAs were chosen for detection using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR), including circ-Smox (chr2: 131511984–131516443), circ-Nbea (mmu-chr3: 56079859–56091120), and circ-Setbp1 (chr18: 79086551–79087180), and circ-Nbea expression was significantly decreased. According to the bioinformatics prediction and detection using qRT–PCR and double luciferase assays, circ-Nbea sponges miR-128-3p. Based on these results, we speculated that a newly identified circRNA, circ-Nbea, may play an important role in the development of DE, and the mechanism is mediated by sponging miR-128-3p. This study provides new insight into the treatment of DE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia is a critical global public health problem. Previous cohort studies have found that influenza vaccination can decrease the risk of dementia. Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to systematically examine the relationship between influenza vaccination and dementia risk. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, medRxiv, and bioRxiv for studies investigating dementia risk based on influenza vaccination status, up to September 14, 2022. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were pooled in the meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted as well. Results: Of the 4,087 articles initially reviewed, 6 cohort studies were included in the final meta-analysis, and all eligible studies were at low risk of bias. There were 2,087,195 participants without dementia at baseline (mean age: 61.8–75.5 years, 57.05% males), and 149,804 (7.18%) cases of dementia occurred during 4.00–13.00 years of follow-up. Pooled analysis of adjusted RRs found that influenza vaccination could reduce dementia risk by 31% (RR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.57–0.83). Subgroup analyses showed that in the study with a mean age of 75–80 years or 75%–100% males, the association was generally weakened compared with studies with a mean age of 60–75 years or 25%–50% males. The results were stable in the sensitivity analyses, and no publication bias was observed. Conclusion: Influenza vaccination in older adults was markedly associated with a decreased risk of dementia. More mechanistic studies and epidemiological studies are needed to clarify the association between influenza vaccination and decreased dementia risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Lower respiratory infections (LRIs) are a leading cause of death worldwide. We aimed to estimate the trends of global and regional aetiologies, risk factors and mortality of LRIs from 1990 to 2019. Methods: From the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019, we collected relevant data, including annual LRI deaths, mortality and deaths and mortality attributable to the four high‐burden aetiologies and 14 risk factors during 1990–2019. To quantify the temporal trends, estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated by fitting linear regression model. Results: Globally, the age‐standardized mortality due to LRIs decreased by an average of 2.39% (95% CI 2.33%–2.45%) per year, from 66.67 deaths per 100,000 in 1990 to 35.72 deaths per 100,000 in 2019. Low Socio‐demographic Index regions, South Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa had the heaviest burden of LRIs. The age‐standardized mortality decreased in 18 GBD regions, whereas increased in Southern Latin America (EAPC = 1.20, 95% CI 1.03–1.37). LRIs led to considerable deaths among children under 5 years and adults older than 70 years. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the first leading aetiology, accounting for over 50% of LRI deaths. Household air pollution from solid fuels, child wasting and ambient particulate matter pollution were the three leading risk factors for LRI mortality in 2019. Conclusion: LRIs remain an important health problem globally, especially in some vulnerable areas and among children under 5 and adults over 70 years. Future researches focusing on the aetiologies and risk factors for LRIs are needed to provide targeted and updated prevention strategies. In this study based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, lower respiratory infections remain an important health problem globally. More attention should be given to children under 5 years, adults over 70 years, and some vulnerable areas including South Asia, Sub‐Saharan Africa and Southern Latin America. See relatedEditorial [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MIL-88A adsorbent were synthesized under different conditions. • Activated MIL-88A adsorbent has excellent adsorption capacity for p -ASA. • The adsorption kinetics and isotherms follow pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models. • Coordination and hydrogen bonding dominate the adsorption process. Organic arsenic pollutant p -arsanilic acid (p -ASA) in wastewater can be converted into highly toxic inorganic arsenic under natural conditions, causing serious harm to the environment and human health. In this study, an Fe-based metal – organic framework (MOF) material, activated MIL-88A, was synthesized as an adsorbent to remove p -ASA in water. Various influencing factors in the material synthesis process, including temperature, time, solution, and annealing process, were investigated to obtain the optimal reaction conditions. The synthesized activated MIL-88A had great porosity and excellent adsorption capacity for p -ASA in a wide pH range (3 ∼ 10). When the pH of the solution was 6, the activated MIL-88A achieved a great adsorption capacity of 813 mg·g−1 for the p -ASA solution with an initial concentration of 0.334 mmol·L−1. In addition, it still had excellent adsorption capacity after 4 times of repeated usage and washing. The adsorption kinetics of p -ASA on the activated MIL-88A followed the pseudo-second-order models, and the adsorption isotherms can be fitted by the Langmuir models well. The adsorption behavior was spontaneous and endothermic, and was dominated by Fe-O-As coordination and hydrogen bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]