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Abstract Background Although malnutrition is common in cancer patients, its molecular mechanisms has not been fully clarified. This study aims to identify significantly differential metabolites, match the corresponding metabolic pathways, and develop a predictive model of malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we applied non-targeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to explore the serum fingerprinting of malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer. Malnutrition-specific differential metabolites were identified by orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis and t-test and matched with the Human Metabolome Database and the LIPID Metabolites and Pathways Strategy. We matched the corresponding metabolic pathways of malnutrition using pathway analysis at the MetaboAnalyst 5.0. We used random forest analyses to establish the predictive model. Results We recruited 220 malnourished and 198 non-malnourished patients with gastric cancer. The intensities of 25 annotated significantly differential metabolites were lower in patients with malnutrition than those without, while two others were higher in patients with malnutrition than those without, including newly identified significantly differential metabolites such as indoleacrylic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine(18:3/0:0). We matched eight metabolic pathways associated with malnutrition, including aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. We established a predictive model with an area under the curve of 0.702 (95% CI: 0.651–0.768) based on four annotated significantly differential metabolites, namely indoleacrylic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine(18:3/0:0), L-tryptophan, and lysophosphatidylcholine(20:3/0:0). Conclusions We identified 27 specific differential metabolites of malnutrition in malnourished compared to non-malnourished patients with gastric cancer. We also matched eight corresponding metabolic pathways and developed a predictive model. These findings provide supportive data to better understand molecular mechanisms of malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer and new strategies for the prediction, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for those malnourished.

Objectives: Tai Chi (TC) shows some beneficial effects in reducing pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the selection of criteria TC forms in previous studies were unclear and inconsistent, possibly accounting for the varying outcomes and rendering the training effects suboptimal. We have selected four optimal TC (OTC) forms based on the knee joint load and its association with pain. This pilot study sought to examine the effect of the OTC forms on reducing knee pain in individuals with knee OA. Methods: Fifteen knee OA participants were recruited. Their knee joint pain level was rated by using the Visual Analogue Scale before and after two weeks of OTC training and compared between these two assessments. Results: The two-week OTC training course was well accepted by our participants. The knee OA pain showed a significant reduction (median pain score: 5 ​cm before training and 1 ​cm post-training, Wilcoxon p ​

ObjectiveThis study explores the intricate relationship between social support and eating behaviors in children and adolescents, considering the mediating role of eating self-efficacy and the moderating effects of body mass index (BMI) and weight concern.MethodsData from 1986 primary and secondary school students aged 8 to 17 in Shanghai, China, were analyzed using moderated mediation analysis.ResultsThe results demonstrate a robust positive association between social support and eating self-efficacy, particularly prominent among individuals with low BMI (effect = 0.506, 95% CI [0.376, 0.636]). Moreover, the study highlights that eating behavior is influenced not only by eating self-control (β = −0.054, 95% CI [−0.062, −0.046]) but also by the interaction term between individuals’ perceptions of their body weight (β = −0.0008, 95% CI [−0.0015, −0.0001]).ConclusionEating self-efficacy serves as a mediator in the relationship between social support and eating behavior, modulated by BMI and weight concern. Importantly, high weight concern significantly strengthens the mediating effect of eating self-efficacy on the relationship between social support and eating behavior, regardless of BMI.

In order to study changes in the characteristic flavor of ultra-high temperature sterilized (UHT) milk under the influence of storage temperature and light, headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to detect the volatile flavor components of the product. Descriptive sensory evaluation, orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and entropy weight method were used to determine the relationship between major characteristic flavors and characteristic substances. The effects of temperature and light flux on the flavor changes of different formulations of UHT milk were analyzed, and a model for comprehensive analysis of the characteristic flavors of UHT milk was developed based on the effects of initial unsaturated fatty acid content, temperature and light flux. The results of this research provide support for the quality control of different formulations of UHT milk.

Abstract Background Cancer patients with newly created ostomies face complications that reduce quality of life (QOL) and increase morbidity and mortality. This proof-of-concept study examined the feasibility, usability, acceptability, and initial efficacy of an eHealth program titled the “Patient Reported Outcomes-Informed Symptom Management System” (PRISMS) during post-ostomy creation care transition. Methods We conducted a 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial among 23 patients who received surgical treatment with curative intent for bladder and colorectal cancer and their caregivers. After assessing QOL, general symptoms, and caregiver burden at baseline, participants were randomly assigned to PRISMS (n = 16 dyads) or usual care (UC) (n = 7 dyads). After a 60-day intervention period, participants completed a follow-up survey and post-exit interview. We used descriptive statistics and t-tests to analyze the data. Results We achieved an 86.21% recruitment rate and a 73.91% retention rate. Among the PRISMS participants who used the system and biometric devices (n = 14, 87.50%), 46.43% used the devices for ≥ 50 days during the study period. Participants reported PRISMS as useful and acceptable. Compared to their UC counterparts, PRISMS patient social well-being scores decreased over time and had an increased trend of physical and emotional well-being; PRISMS caregivers experienced a greater decrease in caregiver burden. Conclusions PRISMS recruitment and retention rates were comparable to existing family-based intervention studies. PRISMS is a useful and acceptable multilevel intervention with the potential to improve the health outcomes of cancer patients needing ostomy care and their caregivers during post-surgery care transition. A sufficiently powered RCT is needed to test its effects. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov ID: NCT04492007. Registration date: 30/07/2020.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to examine the effects of participant role (patient vs. partner), race (white vs. non‐white), and place (less vs. more neighborhood deprivation) on health outcomes (quality of life [QOL] and symptoms) and stress‐coping‐related psychosocial factors (appraisals of illness and coping resources). Methods This descriptive study included 273 patients and their partners (dyads) who transitioned from PCa treatment to self‐management. We used established, psychometrically sound measures to assess health outcomes and psychosocial factors and conducted multilevel modeling analyses. Results Compared to partners, patients reported worse physical QOL; less frequent anxiety; less pain and fatigue; less bothersome hormonal problems; more bothersome urinary and sexual problems; greater self‐efficacy; and more instrumental support. Compared to their white counterparts, non‐white dyads reported better overall, emotional, and functional QOL; less depression; more positive appraisals, and greater self‐efficacy. Compared to dyads in low ADI neighborhoods, dyads in high ADI (more deprived) neighborhoods reported worse social QOL; more bothersome urinary, sexual, and hormonal symptoms; and less interpersonal support. White patients reported the highest emotional support among all groups, while white partners reported the lowest emotional support. Conclusion Our findings underscore the need to consider social determinants of health at multiple levels when investigating PCa disparities. Considering neighborhood‐level socioeconomic factors, in addition to race and role, improves our understanding of the PCa disparities in QOL, symptoms, and psychosocial factors among patients and partners. Targeted multilevel supportive care interventions should tailor to the needs of racially diverse PCa patients and partners residing in deprived neighborhoods are needed.

This work involves the introduction of niobium oxide into lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO3) via a conventional solid-state reaction technique to yield LaAlO3:Nb (LaNbxAl1−xO3+δ) samples with Nb5+ doping levels ranging from 0.00 to 0.25 mol%. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the effects of niobium doping on the phase evolution, defect control, and reflectance of LaNbxAl1−xO3+δ powder. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the perovskite structure in all powders, and XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal successful doping of Nb5+ into LaNbxAl1−xO3+δ. The surface morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the results show that increasing the doping concentration of niobium leads to fewer microstructural defects. Oxygen vacancy defects in different compositions are analyzed at 300 K, and as the doping level increases, a clear trend of defect reduction is observed. Notably, LaNbxAl1−xO3+δ with 0.15 mol% Nb5+ exhibits excellent reflectance properties, with a maximum infrared reflectance of 99.7%. This study shows that LaNbxAl1−xO3+δ powder materials have wide application potential in the field of high reflectivity coating materials due to their extremely low microstructural defects and oxygen vacancy defects.

The pre-oxidation process of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers is a complex procedure involving multiple stages of temperature increase and isothermal temperature retention. However, the impact of the temperature increase stage on PAN fiber has often been overlooked. To address this, samples were collected before and after the temperature increase and isothermal retention stages, treating them as separate influencing factors. Therefore, the pre-oxidation process can be divided into four distinct stages: (1) A temperature increase stage before the cyclization reactions: the PAN fiber’s small-size crystals melt, and the crystal orientation changes under fixed tension, leading to shrinkage and increased orientation of the micropore. (2) An isothermal retention stage before the cyclization reactions: The crystal structure maintains well, resulting in minimal micropore evolution. The PAN fiber’s crystal orientation and micropore orientation increased under fixed tension. (3) A temperature increase stage after the cyclization reactions: The PAN fiber’s crystal melts again, reducing the average chord length and relative volume of the micropore. However, the PAN fiber can recrystallize under fixed tension. (4) An isothermal retention stage after the cyclization reactions: Significant crystal melting of the PAN fiber occurs, but the highly oriented crystals are maintained well. The average chord length and relative volume of the micropore increase. Recommendations for improving the pre-oxidation process are made according to these stages.

Obesity has been regarded as one of the major health problems worldwide. Studies demonstrated that ursolic acid (UA) can significantly ameliorate the progress of obesity. However, whether the effect of UA on obesity depends on the regulation of gut microbiota and metabolism is uncertain. To investigate the regulatory role of UA in obese mice from the perspective of intestinal microbiome and metabolomics analyses, an obese mice model was established with a high-fat diet, and the effect of UA on obesity was evaluated. The alterations of gut microbiota and metabolism related to obesity were evaluated by bioinformatic analysis. The results of the gut microbiota analysis showed that UA intervention could shift the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio at the phylum level and increase in the genera of Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Akkermansia. Additionally, metabolomics analysis showed that the beneficial influence of UA on obesity partly depended on amino acid metabolism. The current study demonstrated the roles of UA in the anti-obesity process, which depends in part on alterations in the gut microbiota and metabolism. Therefore, our findings highlight the potential therapeutic effect of UA on the improvement of diet-induced obesity in humans.

Polyethylene (PE)-based elastomers are the ideal choice for enhancing the compatibility of polypropylene/polyethylene (PP/PE) blends and improving the mechanical properties of PP-based materials. However, the issue of blend systems lies in the interplay between the crystallization processes. Therefore, we investigated the crystallization behavior during the cooling process of a new generation of PP/PE block copolymers (PP-b-PE) and random polypropylene (PPR, a copolymer of propylene and a small amount of ethylene or an alpha-olefin) blends using in-situ X-ray diffraction/scattering and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. We also conducted mechanical performance tests on PPR/PP-b-PE blends at room temperature and low temperature (−5 °C). The results indicate that during the cooling process, the PP phase of PP-b-PE will follow the PPR to crystallize in advance and form a eutectic mixture, thereby enhancing the compatibility of PP/PE. Moreover, the PPR/PP-b-PE blend will form stable β-(300) crystals with excellent mechanical properties. Due to the improved compatibility of PP/PE with PP-b-PE, PE crystals are dispersed within PP crystals, providing bonding that improves the toughness of PPR under the low stiffness failure conditions of PPR/PP-b-PE blends, thereby enhancing their impact performance at low and room temperatures. This research has great significance for both recycling waste plastics and enhancing the low-temperature toughness of PPR.

Dual-polarization radar data are useful for numerical models to improve precipitation forecasts. For an extremely heavy precipitation event that occurred in Central China on 11 August 2021, the hydrometeor concentration and water vapor content used in the initial field of the Weather Research and Forecasting (version 4.1) model are retrieved by the statistical relationship of relative humidity with dual-polarization radar reflectivity in Suizhou City of Central China. Three experiments are conducted, and the simulation results are compared after assimilating the radar data. The results indicate that the multiple factors contributing to this extreme heavy precipitation event included the divergence of upper-level airflows, the middle- and low-level low vortex/shear, the easterly jet stream in front of the low vortex, and the continuous intrusion of cold air on the ground. In addition, with the retrieval of the hydrometeor concentration and water vapor content, the composite reflectivity forecast results are more similar to the observations. Also, the location and intensity of the short-term extremely heavy precipitation event are less different from the observations. In addition, by cyclically adjusting the hydrometeor concentration and water vapor content in the initial field, we can obtain better forecasts of the reflectivity and short-term extremely heavy precipitation, and this improvement can be maintained for approximately 3 h.

Abstract Core–shell polybutadiene‐graft‐polystyrene (PB‐g‐PS) graft copolymers with different ratios of PB to PS are synthesized by emulsion polymerization. Further, the PB‐g‐PS copolymers are blended with polypheylene ether (PPE) and PS to prepare PPE/PS/PB‐g‐PS blends. The effects of PB‐g‐PS copolymer structure and matrix composition on the morphological, mechanical properties, and deformation mechanism of the blends are studied. The results show that the synthesized submicrometer‐sized PB‐g‐PS copolymer has an excellent toughening efficiency, both the copolymer and PS are introduced into PPE resin to produce a ternary blend which is combined with high toughness and processing properties. The optimum toughening effect on PPE/PS matrix is observed at the core–shell weight ratio of 70/30 in PB‐g‐PS copolymer, and the impact strength of the blends increased from 101 to 550 J m−1. In addition, the dispersion pattern of rubber particles in the matrix gradually changes from uniform dispersion to aggregation as the core–shell ratio of PB‐g‐PS copolymers increases. On the other hand, with the increase of PPE content, the dispersion of rubber particles in PPE/PS matrix is improved, and the deformation mechanism is changed from cracking to a combination of crazing and shear yielding, which can lead to absorb more energy to achieve better toughness.

ObjectiveThis review aimed to systematically examine the characteristics and outcomes of family-based psychosocial interventions offered to adult Latino patients with cancer and their caregivers.MethodsWe searched six databases from their inception dates through June 2022. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they (1) targeted both adult Latino patients diagnosed with cancer and their adult caregivers or reported subgroup analyses of Latino patients and caregivers; (2) included family-based psychosocial interventions; (3) used randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental designs; and (4) were published in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Members of our multidisciplinary team assessed the risk of bias in the reviewed studies using the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool.ResultsOur database searches yielded five studies. The studies were conducted in the U.S. and Brazil. Three studies were RCTs, and two used quasi-experimental designs. The sample sizes ranged from 18 to 230 patient-caregiver dyads. These studies culturally adapted the intervention contents and implementation methods and involved bilingual interventionists. The interventions had beneficial effects on multiple aspects of psychosocial outcomes for both patients and caregivers. We also identified methodological limitations in the reviewed studies.ConclusionsFindings from this systematic review help deepen our understanding of family-based psychosocial interventions for Latinos affected by cancer. The small number of psychosocial interventions focused on adult Latino cancer patients and their caregivers is concerning, considering that Latino populations are disproportionally burdened by cancer. Future research needs to design and evaluate culturally-appropriate interventions to support Latino patients and families who cope with cancer.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=274993, identifier CRD42021274993.

Practical application has shown that the blown-up theory has great predictive ability for predicting transitional weather systems, especially catastrophic weather systems. This study applies the blown-up theory to analyze and predict a rainstorm case in Jiangsu Province of East China to explore the applicability of the blown-up theory. At the same time, a numerical simulation experiment is conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) v4.2. The numerical results are compared with the European Center for Medium Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) data and the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS) products. It is found that there is a deviation in the simulation for the precipitation center, and further analysis indicates that it is likely related to the position of the simulated low-level shear line. On the other hand, the blown-up analyses are consistent with the actual situation and provide additional information besides the numerical simulation results. These results indicate that the blown-up charts and V-3θ diagrams are able to predict the weather system transformation, the rainfall area, and the evolution of the rainstorm, which confirms the applicability of the blown-up theory to rainstorm forecasts. This provides an auxiliary analysis method in addition to numerical simulations for rainstorm forecasts.

Styrene (St) was used as comonomer and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as grafting monomer to prepare SEBS-g-(GMA-co-St) graft copolymers via melt grafting. Then, the graft copolymers were employed as a compatibilizer for melt blending polypropylene (PP) and hydrogenated styrene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS) triblock copolymers. The effects of the amount of GMA in the graft copolymers on thermal properties, rheology, crystallization, optical and mechanical properties, and microstructure of the blends were investigated. The results show that GMA and St were successfully grafted onto SEBS. The GMA amount in the graft copolymer significantly influenced the comprehensive properties of PP/SEBS/SEBS-g-(GMA-co-St) blends. The epoxy groups of GMA reacted with PP and SEBS, forming interfacial chemical bonds, thereby enhancing the compatibility between PP and SEBS to varying extents. After introducing SEBS-g-(GMA-co-St) into PP/SEBS blends, crystallinity decreased, crystal size increased while transmittance remained above 91% with rising GMA amount in the graft copolymers, indicating excellent optical properties. Notched impact strength and elongation at break of the blends showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with increased amounts of GMA in the graft copolymers. When the amount of GMA in the graft copolymers was 3 wt%, the blends exhibited optimal toughness with notched impact strength and elongation at break of 30,165.82 J/m2 and 1445.40%, respectively. This was attributed to the tightest dispersion interface adhesion and maximum matrix plastic deformation, consistent with the mechanical performance results.

Abstract Background Men with localized prostate cancer often experience urinary, sexual, bowel, and hormonal symptoms; general distress; pain; fatigue; and sleep disturbance. For men in an intimate relationship, these symptoms disrupt couples’ relationships and intimacy. The symptoms also reduce quality of life for both men and their partners, who are often their primary caregivers. Management of the negative effects of cancer and its treatment is a significantly under-addressed supportive care need for these men and their intimate partners. To address these unmet supportive care needs, our interdisciplinary team developed and pilot tested the usability and feasibility of an evidence-based, couple-focused, tailored eHealth intervention, “Prostate Cancer Education & Resources for Couples” (PERC). Based on the adapted stress and coping theoretical framework and developed with stakeholder involvement, PERC aims to improve quality of life for both men and their partners by enhancing their positive appraisals, self-efficacy, social support, and healthy behaviors for symptom management. Methods We will test the efficacy of PERC using a population-based, geographically and demographically diverse cohort in a randomized controlled trial. Primary aim: Assess if patients and partners receiving PERC will report greater improvement in their cancer-related quality of life scores than those in the control group (usual care plus the National Cancer Institute prostate cancer website) at 4, 8, and 12 months post-baseline. Secondary aim: Test if patients and partners in PERC will report significantly more positive appraisals and higher levels of coping resources at follow-ups than those in the control group. Exploratory aim: Determine if patient race and ethnicity, education, type of treatment, or couples’ relationship quality moderate the effects of PERC on patient and partner QOL at follow-ups. Discussion This study will provide a novel model for self-managing chronic illness symptoms that impact couples’ relationships, intimacy, and quality of life. It addresses the National Institute of Nursing Research’s goal to develop and test new strategies for symptom self-management to help patients and caregivers better manage their illness and improve quality of life. It also responds to calls for programs from the Institute of Medicine and American Cancer Society to address treatment-related effects and improve survivors’ QOL. Trial registration CT.gov NCT03489057

Cancer is becoming a public health issue in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This systematic review aims to synthesise psychosocial interventions and their effects on the health outcomes of adult cancer patients and their family caregivers in SSA. We identified eligible publications in English language from PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus with Full Text, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Scopus, and African Index Medicus databases. We included psychosocial interventions targeted adult cancer patients/survivors or their family caregivers in SSA. This review identified five psychosocial interventions from six studies that support adult cancer patients and their family caregivers in SSA. The interventions focused on providing informational, psycho-cognitive, and social support. Three interventions significantly improved quality of life outcomes for cancer patients and their caregivers. Significant gaps exist between the rapidly increasing cancer burdens and the limited psychosocial educational interventions supporting adult cancer patients and their families in SSA. The reviewed studies provide preliminary evidence on development and testing interventions that aim to improve patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life.

The limited available information on variations in yield gaps (differences between actual yields and the theoretically attainable yields) restricts the development of rational strategies to optimize yields and reduce environmental costs. Quantifying the yield potential and the variations in yield gaps will help identify factors that limit yields and will enable a narrowing of the current yield gap. Here, we applied an analytical framework to yield data to identify options for closing the yield gap at the county level. We used a database containing yields for 40 counties and data from 87 representative on-farm experiments in Jilin Province, China, from 2006 to 2008. The yield potential was simulated for each region-year using a Hybrid-Maize model (http://www.hybridmaize.unl.edu/) and weather data. We then conducted a systematic and spatial analysis of actual yields to identify yield gaps at the county level. The simulated average potential yield at 27 representative sites was 15.2 Mg ha−1 (range 8.1–17.6 Mg ha−1) in Jilin Province. The on-farm experiments suggested an attainable potential yield ranging from 8.7 to 16.7 Mg ha−1 across Jilin Province. During this period, the actual maize yield varied between 4.1 and 11.9 Mg ha−1, according to the county-level data. Farmers’ fields, therefore, achieved 52% of the model yield potential and 77% of the attainable potential yield. Widely different amounts of P fertilizer input among farmers contributed significantly to regional variations in YGE. Soil Olsen-P and rainfall were also major factors. The results indicate that there is great potential to substantially increase the maize yield in non-optimal P management regions, such as in the western Jilin Province. Hence, improvements in regional P management strategies, such as at the county level, need to be assessed separately to provide a basis for increasing the actual maize yield.

This study explores the impact of assimilating radar radial velocity (RV) on the forecast of Super Typhoon Lekima (2019) using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) assimilation system with different background error length scales. The results of two single observation tests show that the smaller background error length scale is able to constrain the spread of radar observation information within a relatively reasonable range compared with the larger length scale. During the five data assimilation cycles, the position and structure of the near-land typhoon are found to be significantly affected by the setting of the background error length scale. With a reduced length scale, the WRF-3DVAR system could effectively assimilate the radar RV to produce more accurate analyses, resulting in an enhanced typhoon vortex with a dynamic and thermal balance. In the forecast fields, the experiment with a smaller length scale not only reduces the averaged track error for the 24-h forecasts to less than 20 km, but it also more accurately captures the evolutions of the typhoon vortex and rainband during typhoon landing. In addition, the spatial distribution and intensity of heavy precipitation are corrected. For the 24-h quantitative precipitation forecasts, the equitable threat scores of the experiment with a reduced length scale are greater than 0.4 for the threshold from 1 to 100 mm and not less than 0.2 until the threshold increases to 240 mm. The enhanced prediction performances are probably due to the improved TC analysis.

Abstract Background To compare the effect of loteprednol suspension eye drops after corneal transplantation with the effect of prednisolone acetate eye drops. Methods A total of 234 patients (234 eyes) who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and lamellar keratoplasty (LKP) were retrospectively included. Patients who received 1 % prednisolone acetate eye drops were defined as 1 % prednisolone acetate eye drop group (n = 96), and patients who received 0.5 % loteprednol suspension eye drops were defined as 0.5 % loteprednol suspension eye drop group (n = 138). Results 35 cases in 1 % prednisolone acetate eye drops group and 27 cases in 0.5 % loteprednol suspension eye drops group developed corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension, and were defined as prednisolone acetate group and loteprednol group. No significant differences were observed in the average intraocular pressure (IOP) at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months or 12 months postoperatively. There were significant differences in the average IOP between the two groups at 6 months postoperatively (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in the average best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 1, 3 and 12 months postoperatively between two groups. The average 6-month postoperative BCVA was significantly higher in the prednisolone acetate group than the loteprednol group (P 0.05). Conclusions 0.5 % loteprednol suspension eye drops may be considered for long-term use after corneal transplantation.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalences of CVD, CVD risk factors. and health behaviors among cancer survivor‐spouse dyads, assess how these prevalences differ by role (survivor vs spouse) and gender, and report congruences in health behaviors between survivors and their spouses. Methods We identified 1026 survivor‐spouse dyads from the 2010‐2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. We used weighted multivariable logistic and linear regressions to analyze the data related to CVD, CVD risk factors, and health behaviors. Results Survivors and spouses reported high prevalences of CVD and CVD risk factors but low engagement in healthy behaviors, including non‐smoking, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight (proxy for healthy diet). Gender and role differences were significantly related to the prevalence of CVD, CVD risk factors, and health behaviors among survivors and spouses. From 39% to 88% of survivors and spouses were congruent in their current smoking status, physical activity engagement/disengagement, and BMI. Conclusion Cancer survivors and spouses have high rates of CVD and CVD risk factors and poor engagement in healthful lifestyle behaviors. A high proportion of survivors and spouses were congruent in their current smoking status, physical activity engagement/disengagement, and BMI. Effective lifestyle interventions are needed for this high‐risk population. Couple‐focused interventions may be well‐suited for these dyads and warrant further study. Implications for Cancer Survivors Both cancer survivors and their spouses need to be non‐moking, more physically active, and maintain normal BMI in order to reduce their high risk of CVD and CVD risk factors.

Guided by the World Health Organization quality of life (WHOQOL) framework, this systematic review aimed to examine evidence about the prevalence and severity of QOL-related health problems and their influencing factors in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We identified eligible publications in English language from PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature Plus with Full Text, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Scopus, and African Index Medicus databases. We included quantitative descriptive studies that measured overall and subdomains of QOL as the outcome in adult patients/survivors with cancer in SSA. Twenty-six descriptive cross-sectional studies (27 papers) that were conducted since 1988 in different SSA countries among patients with various types of cancer met our inclusion criteria. We found inconsistencies in how the prevalence and severity of QOL-related health problems have been researched and reported across studies, which complicated comparing findings and drawing conclusions. The most common factors that influenced the overall and subdomains of QOL included coping; internal and external locus of control; symptoms and symptom management; and religious beliefs and religious care. Demographics (e.g., age and marital status), cancer-related factors (cancer stage and type of treatment), and social determinants of health (e.g., education, access to information and resources, financial distress, and urban vs rural residency) also impacted QOL and its subdomains. Our findings indicate the significant need for recognizing and managing QOL-related problems for cancer patients and caregivers in SSA. Research needs to use culturally adapted, standardized assessment tools and analysis approaches to better understand the QOL challenges this population faces. Comprehensive supportive care is needed to address the complex QOL issues in resource-limited SSA.

City image is the observer’s subjective impression of the city image. It is an important content of urban geography and planning research and has important guiding significance for shaping a unique urban space. Cognitive research on traditional urban imagery is mainly by means of questionnaires and image sketches. It has problems such as high cost, low update frequency, and limited data coverage, which cannot meet the needs of quantitative research on smart cities and urban economic development in the information age. With the advent of the era of big data and the development of Internet technology, there are more and more quantitative research results on smart city image cognition with the help of big data and deep learning technology. It will be a feasible way to apply it to urban image research. This article combines the development and transformation of smart cities with the transformation of urban planning and leads to an innovation in the construction of urban image cognition based on urban image, active representation data as the data source, and deep learning as the core technology. The theoretical connotation and cognitive dimension of urban imagery are expanded to establish a cognitive model of urban imagery. The city image is cognitively analyzed from three dimensions: image structure, image type, and image evaluation. Specific cities are taken as examples to verify the applicability and scientificity of the cognitive methods and models, so as to enhance the practicality and applicability of urban imagery in urban planning. At the same time, this research is used to answer the development dilemma of big data, summarize the development trend of big data, and explore the new changes that artificial intelligence brings to urban planning. The experimental results show that the model we designed efficiently evaluates the image of the city and can also effectively recognize the image of the city in the main urban area of Chongqing.

The module for assimilating radiance data of the Microwave Humidity Sounder-2 (MWHS-2) onboard the Feng Yun 3D (FY-3D) satellite is built in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model data assimilation (WRFDA) system. The CONV, 3DVar, and EnVar experiments are conducted to investigate the impact of assimilating the new humidity sounder based on Typhoon Ampil (2018). Both the 3DVar and EnVar experiments assimilate FY-3D MWHS-2 radiance data on top of the conventional data, while the CONV experiment only applies conventional data. In the EnVar experiment, notable geopotential height increment is observed around the typhoon, leading the typhoon to move northeast. In addition, the moisture field is improved to some extent. Finally, from the analysis of the dynamic field of the typhoon, it can be found that the EnVar experiment can adjust the dynamic structure of the typhoon. Furthermore, the assimilation of FY-3D MWHS-2 radiance data reduces the forecast error of the typhoon track and intensity. Additionally, the precipitation skill is improved in terms of rainfall pattern and the verification score. This improvement in the precipitation may be closely related to the features of the circulation structure concerning the evolution of the typhoon. The improved prediction of the position and intensity of rainbands in the FY-3D MWHS-2 radiance data assimilation experiment corresponds to a better prediction of typhoon structure.

This study investigates the impacts of the joint assimilation of microware temperature sensor, Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSUA), and microware humidity sensors, Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) and Microwave Humidity Sounder-2 (MWHS2), on the analyses and forecasts for the tropical cyclone (TC) system. Experiments are conducted using a three-dimensional variation (3DVAR) algorithm in the framework of the weather research and forecasting data assimilation (WRFDA) system for the forecasting of Typhoon Ampil (2018). The results show that the assimilation of MWHS2 radiance data improves the analyses better in terms of TC’s structure and moisture conditions than those of the MHS experiment. To some extent, the experiment with only AMSUA radiance delivers some positive impacts of the precipitation, track, and intensity forecast than the other two experiments do. In addition, the skill of the precipitation forecast is notably enhanced with higher equitable threat score (ETS) by the simultaneous assimilation of the MHS, MWHS2, and AMSUA radiance. Generally, assimilation of radiance from all sources of MHS, MWHS2, and AMSUA could combine the advantages of assimilating each type of sensors rather than individually. The consistent improvement is also confirmed for the TC’s track forecast with reduced error on average, whereas the improvement of intensity forecast is not obvious.

The melt-free radical grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto poly (lactic acid) (PLA) with styrene (St), α-methylstyrene (AMS), and epoxy resin (EP) as comonomers in a twin-screw extruder was used to prepare PLA-g-GMA graft copolymers. The prepared graft copolymers were then used as compatibilizers to prepare PLA/PPC/PLA-g-GMA blends by melt blending with PLA and polypropylene carbonate (PPC), respectively. The effects of different comonomers in the PLA-g-GMA graft copolymers on the thermal, rheological, optical, and mechanical properties and microstructure of the blends were studied. It was found that the grafting degree of PLA-g-GMA graft copolymers was increased to varying degrees after the introduction of comonomers in the PLA-g-GMA grafting reaction system. When St was used as the comonomer, the grafting degree of the PLA-g-GMA graft copolymer increased most significantly, from 0.8 to 1.6 phr. St as a comonomer also most improved the compatibility between PLA and PPC, and the haze of the blends was reduced while maintaining high transmittance. In addition, the PLA-g-GMA graft copolymer with the introduction of St as a comonomer significantly improved the impact toughness of the blends, while the thermal stability and tensile strength of the blends remained largely unchanged.

Abstract Background Appropriate depression care is a cancer‐care priority. However, many cancer survivors live with undiagnosed and untreated depression. Prostate cancer survivors may be particularly vulnerable, but little is known about their access to depression care. The goal of this study was to describe patterns and predictors of clinical diagnosis and treatment of depression in prostate cancer survivors. Methods Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate indicators of self‐reported clinical diagnosis and treatment depression as a function of individual‐level characteristics within a longitudinal dataset. The data were from a population‐based cohort of North Carolinian prostate cancer survivors who were enrolled from 2004 to 2007 on the North Carolina‐Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (N = 1,031), and prospectively followed annually from 2008 to 2011 on the Health Care Access and Prostate Cancer Treatment in North Carolina (N = 805). Results The average rate of self‐reported clinical diagnosis of depression was 44% (95% CI: 39%‐49%), which declined from 60% to 40% between prostate cancer diagnosis and 5‐7 years later. Factors associated with lower odds of self‐reported clinical diagnosis of depression include African‐American race, employment, age at enrollment, low education, infrequent primary care visits, and living with a prostate cancer diagnosis for more than 2 years. The average rate of self‐reported depression treatment was 62% (95% CI: 55%‐69%). Factors associated with lower odds of self‐reported depression treatment included employment and living with a prostate cancer diagnosis for 2 or more years. Conclusion Prostate cancer survivors experience barriers when in need of depression care.

Microwave absorber for window application is systematically studied to eliminate eletromagnetic pollution. Lossy “wheel-like” metasurface is proposed for wideband absorption. Origin of dissipation, loss features and contributions of each part in the absorber are analyzed thoroughly to reveal the absorption mechanisms. Based on the electromagnetic responses, an equivalent circuit model is established and analyzed as a practical design method for general Window-use Microwave Absorbers (WMAs). Using the method, design feasibility of WMAs can be anticipated. WMAs with adjustable single-band, dual-band or broadband absorptions can be effectively realized. Evidenced by experimental measurements, the large-scale WMA can achieve 90% absorption in 6–16.5 GHz, which is in great agreement with simulated results. In addition, the WMA can also maintain high absorption regardless of incident angles. Even through it is bent into curvature, the flexible WMA can still operate well in a wide band, which indicates the WMA is promising for applications in nonplanar situations. Evaluated in imitating usage scenario, efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) decreases only a little after having the WMA put on because of its high optical transparency. The WMA has advanced comprehensive performances. The equivalent circuit model is also proved of high reliability. Keywords: Microwave absorber, Design method, Window material, Wideband, Flexible

Abstract The paper studies the estimation and the portmanteau test for double AR(p) $\operatorname{AR}(p)$ model with Laplace(a,b) $\operatorname{Laplace}(a,b)$ distribution. The double AR(p) $\operatorname{AR}(p)$ model is investigated to propose firstly the quasi-maximum exponential likelihood estimator, design a portmanteau test of double AR(p) $\operatorname{AR}(p)$ on the basis of autocorrelation function, and then establish some asymptotic results. Finally, an empirical study shows that the estimation and the portmanteau test obtained in this paper are very feasible and more effective.