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Abstract Background Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) with lymph node (LN) metastasis is linked to poor prognosis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain largely undefined. This study aimed to elucidate the immunogenomic landscape associated with LN metastasis in LUAD. Methods We employed broad-panel next-generation sequencing (NGS) on a cohort of 257 surgically treated LUAD patients to delineate the molecular landscape of primary tumors and identify actionable driver-gene alterations. Additionally, we used multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) on a propensity score-matched cohort, which enabled us to profile the immune microenvironment of primary tumors in detail while preserving cellular metaclusters, interactions, and neighborhood functional units. By integrating data from NGS and mIHC, we successfully identified spatial immunogenomic patterns and developed a predictive model for LN metastasis, which was subsequently validated independently. Results Our analysis revealed distinct immunogenomic alteration patterns associated with LN metastasis stages. Specifically, we observed increased mutation frequencies in genes such as PIK3CG and ATM in LN metastatic primary tumors. Moreover, LN positive primary tumors exhibited a higher presence of macrophage and regulatory T cell metaclusters, along with their enriched neighborhood units (p

Abstract Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and a significant cause of acquired blindness in the working-age population worldwide. Aging is considered as an important risk factor for DR development. Macrophages in aged mice bear typical M2 marker proteins but simultaneously express a pro-inflammatory factor profile. This may explain why the level of intraocular inflammation does not decrease during proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) despite the occurrence of neovascularization and fibrosis (M2 activation). α-Klotho (KL) was originally discovered as a soluble anti-aging factor, which is mainly expressed in kidney tubular epithelium, choroid plexus in the brain and secreted in the blood. However, the role of KL in DR pathophysiology has not been previously reported. Methods Type 1 (streptozotocin [STZ]-induced) and type 2 (a high-fat diet along with a low dose of STZ) diabetic mouse models were established and injected with or without KL adenovirus via the tail vein for 12 weeks. Vldlr−/− mice were injected intravitreally with or without soluble KL protein from P8 to P15. The retinal structure and function were analyzed by electroretinogram and optical coherence tomography. The neovascular lesions were analyzed by retinal flat mount and RPE flat mount. The senescence markers, macrophage morphology, and KL expression levels were detected by immunofluorescence staining. A cell model was constructed using RAW264.7 cells stimulated by 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE) and transfected with or without KL adenovirus. The senescence-associated secretory phenotypes were detected by qRT-PCR. Senescence was detected by SA-β-Gal staining. Serum, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor KL levels of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics were applied to predict the change of proteins and biological function after overexpression of KL in macrophages. The effects of KL on the HECTD1 binding to IRS1 were analyzed by bioinformatics, molecular docking, and Western Blot. Results Serum, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor KL levels were lower in patients with PDR than in those with cataracts. KL relieved the retinal structure damage, improved retina function, and inhibited retinal senescence in diabetic mice. KL administration attenuated the neovascular lesions in VLDLR−/− mice by decreasing the secretion of VEGFA and FGF2 from macrophages. KL also protected RAW264.7 cells from 4HNE-induced senescence. Additionally, it inhibited E3 ubiquitin ligase HECTD1 expression in both diabetic mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells and 4HNE-treated RAW264.7 cells. KL inhibited HECTD1 binding to IRS1 and reduced the ubiquitination of IRS1. Conclusions Macrophage aging is involved in DM-induced retinopathy. KL alleviates DM-induced retinal macrophage senescence by downregulating HECTD1 and decreasing IRS1 ubiquitination and degradation. Meanwhile, KL administration attenuated the neovascular lesions by altering the activation state of macrophages and decreasing the expression of VEGFA and FGF2.

BackgroundA rational diet is the foundation of health. Dietary guidelines for Chinese residents and Chinese Food Guild Pagoda aim to provide healthy eating guidance for Chinese residents.ObjectiveTo evaluate the rationality and applicability of the "Chinese Food Guild Pagoda" (2022).MethodsThe energy and nutrient supplies of foods recommended by the Food Pagoda-were calculated based on the chinese food composition Table. The degree of requirement satisfaction for energy or nutrients was calculated by comparing with the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) or adequate intake (AI) for adults (≥ 18 years) with light physical activity according to the Chinese dietary reference intakes.ResultsThe estimated energy intake was 46662.79-10062.28 kJ, which met the 6697.36-10046.04 kJ set by the Food Pagoda. We estimated that 65.74-102.78 g of protein, 59.67-82.71 g of fat, and 211.27-333.19 g of carbohydrate were provided by following the Food Pagoda. Adequate vitamins and minerals were also provided by following the Food Pagoda. However, the amounts of vitamin E was estimated to be 2.40-3.28 times and sodium was 1.59-1.75 times of AI, while selenium was 63.40%-98.15% of RNI.ConclusionThe amounts of vitamin E and sodium by following the Food Pagoda may be higher and selenium may be lower than recommended intakes. Energy and other nutrients in the Food Pagoda are suitable for general adults in China.

Abstract With the accelerated operation of subway networks, the increasing number of subway transfer stations results in inefficient passenger travel. The target of this paper is to solve the research question of how to reduce transfer waiting time (TWTT) for heterogeneous passengers. The key problem is to determine the optimal concerted train timetable considering the transfer walking time (TWKT) of the passengers. On the basis of field survey data, the regression method was used to establish a TWKT prediction model for general passengers (G) and vulnerable passengers (V), including the elderly, passengers traveling with children, and those carrying large luggage. Afterward, a two-objective integer programming model was formulated to minimize the subway operating costs and TWTT for each group, in which V is given the priority weight to ensure social equity. The headway, loading capacity, and TWKT of heterogeneous passengers were set as optimization model constraints. A genetic algorithm (GA) was designed to find the optimal solution. A case study in which the Beijing Jianguomen Station was selected as the key transfer station was conducted to verify the performance of the proposed model. Key results show that the total TWTT for V and G can be reduced by 18.6% and 27.2%, respectively, with one train saved. Results of the parameter sensitivity analysis reveal the interconnection between the operating cost, heterogeneous passenger proportion, and transfer time. The proposed model can be used for improving transfer efficiency for passengers while considering the enterprise operating costs.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is contemplating expanding its list of environmental goods (EG) for trade liberalization to fight climate change. In support of doing so, this study proposes that a long list that retains controversies is better for carbon emission reduction than a short common list. This study examines four mechanisms of longer lists: enlarging market scales, enriching product mixes, enhancing product sophistication, and enriching trade patterns. Using China’s emerging EG trade during the 2001–2015 period as a case study, this study compares four EG lists with different EG. The results show that: (1) a longer list reduces carbon emissions from both imports and exports, making domestic regions with different advantages have better chances of improving carbon efficiencies. (2) Product sophistication reduces the emission gap between trading partners, regardless of the length of EG lists. (3) China’s EG exports contribute to carbon reduction in leading regions, while EG imports provide laggard regions with better chances of reducing carbon emissions. These findings provide three implications for future list-making: it is important to (1) seek a long and inclusive list rather than a short common list, (2) shift the focus from environmental end-use to the technological contents of products, and (3) balance the demand of laggard regions to import and the capacity of leading regions to export.

Increasing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) planting density is the most effective production management method for increasing yields; however, excessive crop populations under high planting densities may experience elevated risk of stem lodging. We conducted this study to assess the relationship between reduced lodging and increased yield, investigate the effects of planting density on wheat population structure, stem strength, and material transport, and provide a basis for rationale planting densities. The experiments were carried out using a split-plot design with three replicates. The main plots contained two wheat varieties: Bainong 5819 (BN5819) and Bainong 4199 (BN4199), and the sub-plots contained four planting density treatments: 90 × 104 plants/ha (D1), 180 × 104 plants/ha (D2), 270 × 104 plants/ha (D3), and 360 × 104 plants/ha (D4). A two-year field trial was conducted in 2021–2023. The relationships between population structure characteristics, changes in stem strength, activation, and retransport of stem material after anthesis, and achievement of high and stable yields were investigated at the different planting densities. When the planting density of wheat increased from D1 to D4 treatment, the activity of fructan hydrolase was significantly increased. Compared with D1 treatment, the highest activity of fructan hydrolase was increased by 457.47 μg/h/g under D4 treatment. At the same time, the increase of density also increased the contribution rate of dry matter accumulation (CDMA) to grain after anthesis increased, with the highest increase in CDMA at 33.67%, which significantly reduced stem strength. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative association between CDMA and stem strength. Specifically, CDMA levels were significantly lower with the D3 treatment than the D4 treatment, while stem strength remained higher after anthesis as an adaptive response to mitigate lodging risk. Stem storage compounds can promote grain filling and a weight increase in inferior grains. The number of spikes per unit area increased significantly with increasing planting density, but the number of grains per spike and 1000-grain weight decreased significantly. In two years, the number of spikes in D3 treatment increased by a maximum of 211.67 × 104 ha−1 and 99.17 × 104 ha−1, respectively, compared to D1 and D2 treatments. The number of grains per spike was significantly higher than that of D4 treatment, the highest being 3.68 grains. Therefore, in the North China Plain with suitable water, fertilizer, and temperature, the sowing density of 270 × 104 plants/ha established population structure, significantly reduced CDMA, maintained post-anthesis stem strength, enhanced resilience of stems against post-anthesis lodging, and resulted in high yields by stabilizing the number of grains per spike and increasing the number of wheat spikes.

Activated carbon has an excellent porous structure and is considered a promising adsorbent and electrode material. In this study, activated carbon fibers (ACFs) with abundant microporous structures, derived from natural cotton fibers, were successfully synthesized at a certain temperature in an Ar atmosphere and then activated with KOH. The obtained ACFs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), elemental analysis, nitrogen and carbon dioxide adsorption–desorption analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N2 adsorption–desorption measurement. The obtained ACFs showed high porous qualities and had a surface area from 673 to 1597 m2/g and a pore volume from 0.33 to 0.79 cm3/g. The CO2 capture capacities of prepared ACFs were measured and the maximum capture capacity for CO2 up to 6.9 mmol/g or 4.6 mmol/g could be achieved at 0 °C or 25 °C and 1 standard atmospheric pressure (1 atm). Furthermore, the electrochemical capacitive properties of as-prepared ACFs in KOH aqueous electrolyte were also studied. It is important to note that the pore volume of the pores below 0.90 nm plays key roles to determine both the CO2 capture ability and the electrochemical capacitance. This study provides guidance for designing porous carbon materials with high CO2 capture capacity or excellent capacitance performance.

Abstract Enterococcus faecalis is one of the main pathogens that causes hospital-acquired infections because it is intrinsically resistant to some antibiotics and often is capable of biofilm formation, which plays a critical role in resisting the external environment. Therefore, attacking biofilms is a potential therapeutic strategy for infections caused by E. faecalis. Current research indicates that diacerein used in the treatment of osteoarthritis showed antimicrobial activity on strains of gram-positive cocci in vitro. In this study, we tested the MICs of diacerein using the broth microdilution method, and successive susceptibility testing verified that E. faecalis is unlikely to develop resistance to diacerein. In addition, we obtained a strain of E. faecalis HE01 with strong biofilm-forming ability from an eye hospital environment and demonstrated that diacerein affected the biofilm development of HE01 in a dose-dependent manner. Then, we explored the mechanism by which diacerein inhibits biofilm formation through qRT-PCR, extracellular protein assays, hydrophobicity assays and transcriptomic analysis. The results showed that biofilm formation was inhibited at the initial adhesion stage by inhibition of the expression of the esp gene, synthesis of bacterial surface proteins and reduction in cell hydrophobicity. In addition, transcriptome analysis showed that diacerein not only inhibited bacterial growth by affecting the oxidative phosphorylation process and substance transport but also inhibited biofilm formation by affecting secondary metabolism, biosynthesis, the ribosome pathway and luxS expression. Thus, our findings provide compelling evidence for the substantial therapeutic potential of diacerein against E. faecalis biofilms.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) holds promise as a cancer-specific treatment that selectively kills various types of malignant cells. We used CAP-activated media (PAM) to utilize a range of the generated short- and long-lived reactive species. Specific antibodies, small molecule inhibitors and CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing approaches showed an essential role for receptor tyrosine kinases, especially epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, in mediating triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell responses to PAM. EGF also dramatically enhanced the sensitivity and specificity of PAM against TNBC cells. Site-specific phospho-EGFR analysis, signal transduction inhibitors and reconstitution of EGFR-depleted cells with EGFR-mutants confirmed the role of phospho-tyrosines 992/1173 and phospholipase C gamma signaling in up-regulating levels of reactive oxygen species above the apoptotic threshold. EGF-triggered EGFR activation enhanced the sensitivity and selectivity of PAM effects on TNBC cells. The proposed approach based on the synergy of CAP and EGFR-targeted therapy may provide new opportunities to improve the clinical management of TNBC.

Sn-2 palmitate is widely used in infant formula. However, little is known about its effects on metabolism and body composition in middle-aged and elderly adults. In a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, we enrolled Chinese adults aged 45–75 years with self-reported constipation. Individuals were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to a 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-glycerol (OPO)-enriched oil (66% palmitic acid in the sn-2 position) or a control vegetable oil (24% palmitic acid in the sn-2 position) daily for 24 weeks. Skim milk powder was used as the carrier for both fats. Interviews and body composition were performed at baseline, week 4, week 12 and week 24. A fasting blood draw was taken except at week 4. This study was a secondary analysis and considered exploratory. A total of 111 adults (83 women and 28 men, mean age 64.2 ± 7.0 years) were enrolled, of whom 53 were assigned to the OPO group and 57 to the control group. During the intervention, blood glucose, triglyceride, the triglyceride-glucose index, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and remnant cholesterol remained stable, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased in both groups (p = 0.003). No differences in change were observed between the groups (all p > 0.05). From baseline to week 24, the level of visceral fat increased slightly (p = 0.017), while body weight, total body water, protein, soft lean mass, fat-free mass, skeletal muscle and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) decreased in two groups (p < 0.01). At weeks 4, 12 and 24, the SMI decreased less in the OPO group than in the control group, with a trend towards significance (p = 0.090). A 24-week daily intake of sn-2-palmitate-enriched oil had no adverse impact on fasting blood glucose, lipids and body composition compared with the control vegetable oil in Chinese adults (funded by Chinese Nutrition Society National Nutrition Science Research Grant, National Key Research and Development Program of China and Wilmar (Shanghai) Biotechnology Research & Development Center Co., Ltd.; ChiCTR1900026480).

Abstract Neural interfaces for stable access to the spinal cord (SC) electrical activity can benefit patients with motor dysfunctions. Invasive high‐density electrodes can directly extract signals from SC neuronal populations that can be used for the facilitation, adjustment, and reconstruction of motor actions. However, developing neural interfaces that can achieve high channel counts and long‐term intraspinal recording remains technically challenging. Here, a biocompatible SC hyperflexible electrode array (SHEA) with an ultrathin structure that minimizes mechanical mismatch between the interface and SC tissue and enables stable single‐unit recording for more than 2 months in mice is demonstrated. These results show that SHEA maintains stable impedance, signal‐to‐noise ratio, single‐unit yield, and spike amplitude after implantation into mouse SC. Gait analysis and histology show that SHEA implantation induces negligible behavioral effects and Inflammation. Additionally, multi‐unit signals recorded from the SC ventral horn can predict the mouse's movement trajectory with a high decoding coefficient of up to 0.95. Moreover, during step cycles, it is found that the neural trajectory of spikes and low‐frequency local field potential (LFP) signal exhibits periodic geometry patterns. Thus, SHEA can offer an efficient and reliable SC neural interface for monitoring and potentially modulating SC neuronal activity associated with motor dysfunctions.

Objective The protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (PNA) formula, based on the urea nitrogen appearance (UNA), is popularly used by stable continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients to estimate dietary daily protein intake (DPI). However, we found that the estimated DPI was higher than that directly evaluated from the dietary records of most of our CAPD patients. Therefore, in the present study, we tried to determine possible bias in PNA estimation by UNA with a nitrogen balance study of our CAPD patients. Methods Thirty-one CAPD patients with stable clinical conditions were included. Their 3-day dietary records were reviewed by a dedicated dietitian to calculate their energy, protein, and nitrogen intake (NI). The nitrogen removal (NR) from urine and dialysate was measured by the Kjeldahl technique. Then, we calculated the proportion of urea nitrogen appearance (UNA) in total nitrogen appearance (TNA) and analyzed the possible factors that could affect this proportion. Results Among these patients, 17 males and 14 females, the mean age was 64.19 ± 12.42, and the dialysate drainage volume was 6700 (2540) ml/day. The percentage of UNA in TNA was 63.22 ± 6.66%. Compared with the other classic nitrogen balance studies in the CAPD population, the protein nitrogen and other nonurea nitrogen losses in this study were all lower. Based on these 31 nitrogen balance studies, we proposed a pair of new equations to estimate PNA by UNA. (1) PNA = 9.3 + 7.73 UNA; (2) PNA = PNPNA + TPL = 6.7 + 7.28 UNA + TPL. Conclusion Our study suggested that the PNA formula generated from previous European studies overestimated DPI in our CAPD patients.

Abstract Periodontitis is an infection‐induced inflammation, evidenced by an increase in inflammatory macrophage infiltration. Recent research has highlighted the role of plasma‐activated medium (PAM) as a regulator of the innate immune system, where macrophages are the main effector cells. This study therefore aims to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of PAM on macrophages and its potential applications for periodontitis management. PAM was generated using an argon jet and applied to culture macrophages. Proinflammatory macrophage markers were significantly reduced after PAM stimulation, and this was correlated with the activation of autophagy via the Akt signaling pathway. Further investigations on the proregenerative effects of PAM‐treated macrophages on periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) revealed a significant increase in the expression of osteogeneis/cementogenesis‐associated markers as well as mineralization nodule formation. Our findings suggest that PAM is an excellent candidate for periodontal therapeutic applications.

Background: As a novel energy homeostasis regulator, Adropin not only plays a vital part in meditating energy metabolism, but also has a certain correlation with atherosclerotic diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Adropin on the long-term prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: 162 recruited patients with AMI were divided into low Adropin group (Adropin

With the application of low-dose computed tomography in lung cancer screening, pulmonary nodules have become increasingly detected. Accurate discrimination between primary lung cancer and benign nodules poses a significant clinical challenge. This study aimed to investigate the viability of exhaled breath as a diagnostic tool for pulmonary nodules and compare the breath test with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT). Exhaled breath was collected by Tedlar bags and analyzed by high-pressure photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPPI-TOFMS). A retrospective cohort (n = 100) and a prospective cohort (n = 63) of patients with pulmonary nodules were established. In the validation cohort, the breath test achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.872 (95% CI 0.760–0.983) and a combination of 16 volatile organic compounds achieved an AUC of 0.744 (95% CI 0.7586–0.901). For PET-CT, the SUVmax alone had an AUC of 0.608 (95% CI 0.433–0.784) while after combining with CT image features, 18F-FDG PET-CT had an AUC of 0.821 (95% CI 0.662–0.979). Overall, the study demonstrated the efficacy of a breath test utilizing HPPI-TOFMS for discriminating lung cancer from benign pulmonary nodules. Furthermore, the accuracy achieved by the exhaled breath test was comparable with 18F-FDG PET-CT.

Cotton processing is the process of converting harvested seed cotton into lint by cleaning, ginning, and cleaning the lint. The real-time acquisition of lint parameters during processing is critical in improving cotton processing quality and efficiency. The existing online inspection system cannot realize quantitative sampling detection, resulting in large fluctuations in the detection of moisture rate, and the impurity content of lint can only be measured according to the number of impurity grains and the percentage of impurity areas. This research developed a quantitative sampling device for cotton lint processing that can collect the right number of cotton samples and obtain the weight of the samples, laying the foundation for the accurate detection of cotton lint dampness and impurity rates. This research aimed to develop an online quantitative sampling device with a sampling plate as its core. The quantitative sampling procedure, consisting of a gas–solid two-phase flow in a cotton pipeline, was numerically simulated and experimentally analyzed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the discrete element method (DEM). According to the coupling results, the maximum pressure differential between the top and bottom regions of the sampling plate when conveying was 1024.45 Pa. This pressure is adequate to allow for cotton samples to accumulate on the sampling plate. Simultaneously, the steady conveying speed of lint is 59.31% of the unloaded conveying wind speed, providing a theoretical foundation for the sampling time of the quantitative sample device in the processing chain. The results from testing the prototype indicate that the quantitative sampling device in the cotton flow can effectively perform the quantitative sampling of cotton lint under uniform conditions, with a sampling pass rate of 84%.

Actinidia chinensis Planch. is a fruit tree originating from China that is abundant in the wild. Actinidia eriantha Benth. is a type of A. chinensis that has emerged in recent years. The shape of A. eriantha is an elongated oval, and the skin is covered with dense, non-shedding milk-white hairs. The mature fruit has flesh that is bright green in colour, and the fruit has a strong flavour and a grass-like smell. It is appreciated for its rich nutrient content and unique flavour. Vitamin C, sugar, and organic acids are key factors in the quality and flavour composition of A. eriantha but have not yet been systematically analysed. Therefore, we sequenced the transcriptome of A. eriantha at three developmental stages and labelled them S1, S2, and S3, and comparisons of S1 vs. S2, S1 vs. S3, and S2 vs. S3 revealed 1218, 4019, and 3759 upregulated differentially expressed genes and 1823, 3415, and 2226 downregulated differentially expressed genes, respectively. Furthermore, the upregulated differentially expressed genes included 213 core genes, and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that they were enriched in hormones, sugars, organic acids, and many organic metabolic pathways. The downregulated differentially expressed genes included 207 core genes, which were enriched in the light signalling pathway. We further constructed the metabolic pathways of sugars, organic acids, and vitamin C in A. eriantha and identified the genes involved in vitamin C, sugar, and organic acid synthesis in A. eriantha fruits at different stages. During fruit development, the vitamin C content decreased, the carbohydrate compound content increased, and the organic acid content decreased. The gene expression patterns were closely related to the accumulation patterns of vitamin C, sugars, and organic acids in A. eriantha. The above results lay the foundation for the accumulation of vitamin C, sugars, and organic acids in A. eriantha and for understanding flavour formation in A. eriantha.

Abstract. Background:. Weight gain during chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer contributes to their poor prognosis. However, a growing number of studies have found that metabolic disorders seem to play a more important role in breast cancer prognosis than weight gain. This study aimed to explore the prognostic effects of body mass index (BMI), weight gain, and metabolic disorders on the overall survival (OS) and prognosis of patients with breast cancer who underwent chemotherapy. Methods:. Data from the inpatient medical records of patients with breast cancer who underwent chemotherapy at the Beijing Cancer Hospital Breast Cancer Center from January to December 2010 were retrospectively collected, and the patients were followed up until August 2020. Results:. A total of 438 patients with stages I to III breast cancer met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Forty-nine (11.19%) patients died, while 82 (18.72%) patients had tumor recurrence and metastasis at the last follow-up (August 2020). From the time of diagnosis until after chemotherapy, no significant differences were observed in the body weight (t = 4.694, P

Abstract With the rapid economic growth, air quality continues to decline. High-intensity pollution emissions and unfavorable weather conditions are the key factors for the formation and development of air heavy pollution processes. Given that research into air quality prediction generally ignore pollutant emission information, in this paper, the random forest supervised learning algorithm is used to construct an air quality prediction model for Zhangdian District with industrial waste gas daily emissions and meteorological factors as variables. The training data include the air quality index (AQI) values, meteorological factors and industrial waste gas daily emission of Zhangdian District from 1st January 2017 to 30th November 2019. The data from 1st to 31th December 2019 is used as the test set to assess the model. The performance of the model is analysed and compared with the backpropagation (BP) neural network, decision tree, and least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) function, which has better overall prediction performance with an RMSE of 22.91 and an MAE of 15.80. Based on meteorological forecasts and expected air quality, a daily emission limit for industrial waste gas can be obtained using model inversion. From 1st to 31th December 2019, if the industrial waste gas daily emission in this area were decreased from 6048.5 million cubic meters of waste gas to 5687.5 million cubic meters, and the daily air quality would be maintained at a good level. This paper deeply explores the dynamic relationship between waste gas daily emissions of industrial enterprises, meteorological factors, and air quality. The meteorological conditions are fully utilized to dynamically adjust the exhaust gas emissions of key polluting enterprises. It not only ensures that the regional air quality is in good condition, but also promotes the in-depth optimization of the procedures of regional industrial enterprises, and reduces the conflict between environmental protection and economic development.

The flipped classroom is a well-recognized instructional approach that improves learning performance and experience through two sequential phases: pre-class preparation and in-class collaboration. Despite the large differences between the two phases, few studies have explored their separate effects on flipped learning. This study conducted a hierarchical linear regression to investigate how the two sequential phases and their featured behaviors can predict learning performance and experience in a flipped classroom at the undergraduate level. The results indicated that students' pre-class discussion positively predicted their assignment scores to a moderate degree, while the in-class collaboration was negatively correlated with test scores. However, the two phases had a limited impact on students' flipped learning experience. The results also highlight the influence of students’ initial interest and prior achievement on their flipped learning experience. The findings can extend our understanding of the flipped classroom approach and inform its design and implementation in higher education contexts.

BackgroundProspective observations on the effectiveness, safety, tolerance, and influence of comorbidity of add-on lacosamide (LCM) therapy are still lacking, especially for domestic generic LCM in China.ObjectiveIn this multicenter real-world study, we aimed to evaluate lacosamide (LCM) as the first add-on therapy in adult Chinese patients with focal epilepsy that had initially been treated with monotherapy.MethodsA cohort of consecutive focal epilepsy patients aged over 16 years were enrolled and followed at the multi-epilepsy centers in China. LCM was prescribed as the first add-on therapy. The main outcome measures included seizure frequency and response rate. Data on seizure-free rate, retention rate, scales of depression and anxiety, and adverse events were also collected as additional outcome measures.ResultsA total number of 107 adult subjects (60 men, 56.07%) were enrolled. The mean age was 37.16 ± 15.01 years, and the mean age at seizure onset was 312.35 ± 199.97 months. After the LCM add-on therapy, the ≥50% response rates were 76.19, 81.73, 94.12, and 95.79% at the visit at 4 weeks (visit 2), 8 weeks (visit 3), 16 weeks (visit 4), and 24 weeks (visit 5), respectively, compared to the baseline (visit 1). A total of 34 patients (31.78%) had no seizures during the whole follow-up period. The posttreatment emotional performance of the 97 subjects, defined as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory (NDDI) scores, was significantly better than the baseline one. Only one patient suffered from mild dizziness.ConclusionLCM as the first add-on therapy in adult focal epilepsy in China was effective and safe. Further prospective studies with long-term follow-up periods are needed to confirm our present findings.Clinical trial registrationhttp://www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2100042485.

Skin aging has attracted much attention among the current aging population of society. The seeds of Cucurbita moschata possess a variety of potential biological activities as a healthy diet. However, limited information is available on the skin-antiaging properties of C. moschata seed protein and its hydrolysate. Herein, we developed a novel strategy for protecting human skin cells against oxidative stress-induced aging by C. moschata seed polypeptides. C. moschata seed polypeptides (CSPs) with different molecular weight distributions were successfully prepared by controlling the protease hydrolysis time. The proportions of < 1,000 Da polypeptides of P-1, P-2, and P-3 were 0.11, 20.26, and 92.72%, respectively. P-3 contained the highest proportion of polypeptides of size < 1,000 Da, which was observed to promote human skin fibroblast (HSF) growth by MTT assay, cell cycle, and morphology. P-3 has an efficient repair effect on the H2O2-induced aging of HSF cells. To explain this phenomenon, cell lifespan, intracellular ROS level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and glutathione (GSH) content were investigated to reveal the interactions between P-3 and antiaging. With the increase in P-3 concentration, the ROS level significantly decreased, and the SOD activity and GSH content significantly increased in H2O2-induced HSF cells. These findings indicated that CSPs have the potential to inhibit skin aging, which could be advantageous in the health industry for providing personal care.

Purpose: The Canadian university where this study took place has established an international exchange program in teacher education with a large Chinese university. This study was designed to examine how the international exchange program influenced Chinese science teacher candidates’ understanding of science education and how such learning impacted their teaching in China. Design/Approach/Methods: The study adopted a qualitative research design with interview and reflective journal as the main approaches for data collection. Findings: Participants greatly appreciated the opportunity of exchange. They reported an improved understanding of Canadian school education and its science curriculum and pedagogy, which changed many aspects of their original values about the relationship between the teacher and students, classroom environment, and so on. Although they faced many constraints to implement what they learned from the exchange in Chinese science classrooms, what they learned had never been forgotten. Participants tried to apply them here and there at the level they could control. Originality/Value: There are many reported studies in the literature about Chinese international students on Western campuses. However, research on Chinese students who participate in international exchange programs is very rare. The findings of this study can inform policymakers and education practitioners about student international exchange programs and benefit future exchange participants.

Optimizing supplemental irrigation (SI) measures and enhancing stem lodging resistance can be the keys to achieving a high and stable yield and high efficiency in wheat. The experiment was established as a two-factor field trial in 2018–2020. We used four SI combinations at different stages: rain-fed (T0), SI at jointing (T1), SI at jointing + anthesis (T2), and SI at regreening + jointing + anthesis (T3) with ‘Bainong4199’ (BN4199) and ‘Zhoumai18’ (ZM18) as experimental materials. We researched the effects of different SI combinations on the stem characteristics, stem vigor, grain filling, and yield of winter wheat. The results suggest that the basal internode at the anthesis stage grew with the increase in SI amount, but the stem fracture resistance of T1 and T2 was higher than that of T0 and T3. As grain filling continued, the lodging index increased and stem vigor decreased. In comparison with T3, the average stem lodging index of T2 decreased by 21.92% for ‘BN4199’ and 36.63% for ‘ZM18’, but the WUE increased by 29.76% and 14.92%, respectively. The grain yield increased with the increase in irrigation times during the growth period; there was no significant difference between T2 and T3 in 2018–2019. In a biennial comparison, the grain yield of all treatments in 2019–2020 was significantly lower than those in 2018–2019, and the grain yield of ‘ZM 18’ was lower than that of ‘BN 4199’. Correlation analysis displayed that there were significant positive correlations between post-anthesis stem vigor and the dry matter contribution rate of post-anthesis to grains and between the grain filling rate at 21–28 days after anthesis (DAA) and stem strength at 30 DAA. In summary, selecting a high-yield lodging-resistant wheat variety with SI at jointing and anthesis was beneficial for forming strong stems and maintaining higher stem vigor at the later growth stage for grain filling, which reduced lodging risk and ensured high yield and high WUE.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has garnered significant interest as an innovative approach for cancer treatment, owing to its notable tumor specificity and selectivity, minimal systemic toxicity and side effects, and absence of the requirement for field stimulation during treatment. This treatment utilizes nanocatalytic medicines containing transitional metals to release metal ions within tumor cells, subsequently initiating Fenton and Fenton-like reactions. These reactions convert hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into hydroxyl radical (•OH) specifically within the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. However, insufficient endogenous H2O2, the overexpressed reducing substances in the TME, and the weak acidity of solid tumors limit the performance of CDT and restrict its application in vivo. Therefore, a variety of nanozymes and strategies have been designed and developed in order to potentiate CDT against tumors, including the application of various nanozymes and different strategies to remodel TME for enhanced CDT (e.g., increasing the H2O2 level in situ, depleting reductive substances, and lowering the pH value). This review presents an overview of the design and development of various nanocatalysts and the corresponding strategies employed to enhance catalytic drug targeting in recent years. Additionally, it delves into the prospects and obstacles that lie ahead for the future advancement of CDT.

BackgroundSarcopenic obesity (SO) has been indicated as a scientific and clinical priority in oncology. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impacts of preoperative SO on therapeutic outcomes in gastrointestinal surgical oncology.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases through March 4th 2022 to identify cohort studies. Endpoints included postoperative complications and survival outcomes. Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsTwenty-six studies (8,729 participants) with moderate to good quality were included. The pooled average age was 65.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 63.7–67.6] years. The significant heterogeneity in SO definition and diagnosis among studies was observed. Patients with SO showed increased incidences of total complications (odds ratio 1.30, 95% CI: 1.03–1.64, P = 0.030) and major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ IIIa, odds ratio 2.15, 95% CI: 1.39–3.32, P = 0.001). SO was particularly associated with the incidence of cardiac complications, leak complications, and organ/space infection. SO was also predictive of poor overall survival (hazard ratio 1.73, 95% CI: 1.46–2.06, P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (hazard ratio 1.41, 95% CI: 1.20–1.66, P < 0.001). SO defined as sarcopenia in combination with obesity showed greater association with adverse outcomes than that defined as an increased ratio of fat mass to muscle mass. A low prevalence rate of SO (< 10%) was associated with increased significance for adverse outcomes compared to the high prevalence rate of SO (> 20%).ConclusionThe SO was associated with increased complications and poor survival in gastrointestinal surgical oncology. Interventions aiming at SO have potentials to promote surgery benefits for patients with gastrointestinal cancers. The heterogeneity in SO definition and diagnosis among studies should be considered when interpreting these findings.Systematic Review Registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=255286], identifier [CRD42021255286].

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) is a multimodal ion channel implicated in diverse physiopathological processes. Its important involvement in immune responses has been suggested such as in the macrophages’ phagocytosis process. However, the endogenous signaling cascades controlling the gating of TRPV2 remain to be understood. Here, we report that enhancing tyrosine phosphorylation remarkably alters the chemical and thermal sensitivities of TRPV2 endogenously expressed in rat bone marrow-derived macrophages and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. We identify that the protein tyrosine kinase JAK1 mediates TRPV2 phosphorylation at the molecular sites Tyr(335), Tyr(471), and Tyr(525). JAK1 phosphorylation is required for maintaining TRPV2 activity and the phagocytic ability of macrophages. We further show that TRPV2 phosphorylation is dynamically balanced by protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 1 (PTPN1). PTPN1 inhibition increases TRPV2 phosphorylation, further reducing the activation temperature threshold. Our data thus unveil an intrinsic mechanism where the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation dynamic balance sets the basal chemical and thermal sensitivity of TRPV2. Targeting this pathway will aid therapeutic interventions in physiopathological contexts.

Using phasor-FLIM (Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy), Wang et al. reveal differential usages of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis in living islet cells following glucose stimulation. This study suggests the applicability of FLIM as a drug discovery tool as it reports perturbations in glucose metabolism in living islet cells.

Aiming at the problems of low classification accuracy and overfitting caused by the limited number of particleboard image samples, a Capsule Network algorithm based on the improved CBAM (Convolutional Block Attention Module) attention model is proposed. The improved algorithm utilizes the GELU equation to improve the CBAM attention model and incorporates it into the convolutional layer of the Capsule Network. In this way, the improved algorithm optimizes the feature maps of surface defects and, meanwhile, improves the training efficiency and stability of the model. The improved algorithm alleviates the overfitting problem by adding a dropout layer, which makes the model more suitable for small sample classification. The effectiveness of the method proposed in this paper is verified by classification experiments on the dataset of particleboard surface defect images.

Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (Lp N1115) was isolated from fermented milk products. The administration of Lp N1115 is safe and well tolerated in Chinese children, but its effectiveness among young Chinese children is still unclear. To investigate the efficacy of Lp N1115 as a probiotic to enhance gut development in Chinese infants and toddlers born by cesarean section, 109 healthy and cesarean-delivered infants aged 6–24 months were recruited for a 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled trial, with 101 finally completing the study. Saliva and stool samples were collected and detected at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 of the intervention. Statistical analyses were performed by using a per-protocol (PP) approach. After 12 weeks of intervention, the fecal pH in the control group increased (p = 0.003), while the fecal pH in the experimental group did not change. Salivary cortisol decreased from baseline in the experimental group (p = 0.023), while the control group showed little change. In addition, Lp N1115 increased the fecal sIgA content of infants aged 6–12 months (p = 0.044) but had no obvious effect on fecal calprotectin and saliva sIgA. At week 4, the increase in Lactobacillus relative to baseline was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p = 0.019). Further analysis showed a trend toward a higher detection rate of Lactobacillus in the experimental group than in the control group (p = 0.039). In conclusion, Lp N1115 was able to enhance the content of Lactobacillus and maintain fecal pH levels. Its beneficial effects on gut development were more obvious in 6–12-month-old infants.

In this paper, a new nonlinear robust fault-tolerant tracking control method is proposed for a tri-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under unknown abnormal actuator behaviors together with unknown external disturbances. The actuator anomalies are modeled as time-varying multiplicative parameters to improve the model accuracy. The control system is decoupled into two parts, including the inner-loop attitude control and the outer-loop position control. The radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is utilized in the outer loop to estimate the actuator anomalies and external disturbances, and then the state feedback controller is employed for the position tracking of the UAV. Then, the robust integral of the signum of the error (RISE) controller is designed for the inner loop to compensate for actuator anomalies and external disturbances. The composite stability of the closed-loop system and the asymptotical tracking performance are proved via a Lyapunov-based stability analysis. Numerical simulations based on the proposed fault tolerant control (FTC) scheme as well as the comparison results with a sliding mode-based FTC method validate the effectiveness and better performance of the proposed control design.

Abstract Compared with traditional lead-acid batteries, nickel–cadmium batteries and nickel-hydrogen batteries, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are much more environmentally friendly and much higher energy density. Besides, LIBs own the characteristics of no memory effect, high charging and discharging rate, long cycle life and high energy conversion rate. Therefore, LIBs have been widely considered as the most promising power source for mobile devices. Commonly used LIBs contain carbonate based liquid electrolytes. Such electrolytes own high ionic conductivity and excellent wetting ability. However, the use of highly flammable and volatile organic solvents in them may lead to problems like leakage, thermo runaway and parasitic interface reactions, which limit their application. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) can solve these problems, while they also bring new challenges such as poor interfacial contact with electrodes and low ionic conductivity at room temperature. Many approaches have been tried to solve these problems. This article is divided into three parts to introduce polyethylene oxide (PEO) based polymer-ceramic hybrid solid electrolyte, which is one of the most efficient way to improve the performance of SPEs. The first part focuses on polymer-lithium salt (LiX) matrices, including their ionic conduction mechanism and impact factors for their ionic conductivity. In the second part, the influence of both active and passive ceramic fillers on SPEs are reviewed. In the third part, composite SPEs’ preparation methods, including solvent casting and thermocompression, are introduced and compared. Finally, we propose five key points on how to make composite SPEs with high ionic conductivity for reference.

Summary: Background: Breathomics testing has been considered a promising method for detection and screening for lung cancer. This study aimed to identify breath biomarkers of lung cancer through perioperative dynamic breathomics testing. Methods: The discovery study was prospectively conducted between Sept 1, 2020 and Dec 31, 2020 in Peking University People's Hospital in China. High-pressure photon ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used for breathomics testing before surgery and 4 weeks after surgery. 28 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were selected as candidates based on a literature review. VOCs that changed significantly postoperatively in patients with lung cancer were selected as potential breath biomarkers. An external validation was conducted to evaluate the performance of these VOCs for lung cancer diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to establish diagnostic models based on selected VOCs. Findings: In the discovery study of 84 patients with lung cancer, perioperative breathomics demonstrated 16 VOCs as lung cancer breath biomarkers. They were classified as aldehydes, hydrocarbons, ketones, carboxylic acids, and furan. In the external validation study including 157 patients with lung cancer and 368 healthy individuals, patients with lung cancer showed elevated spectrum peak intensity of the 16 VOCs after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and comorbidities. The diagnostic model including 16 VOCs achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.952, sensitivity of 89.2%, specificity of 89.1%, and accuracy of 89.1% in lung cancer diagnosis. The diagnostic model including the top eight VOCs achieved an AUC of 0.931, sensitivity of 86.0%, specificity of 87.2%, and accuracy of 86.9%. Interpretation: Perioperative dynamic breathomics is an effective approach for identifying lung cancer breath biomarkers. 16 lung cancer-related breath VOCs (aldehydes, hydrocarbons, ketones, carboxylic acids, and furan) were identified and validated. Further studies are warranted to investigate the underlying mechanisms of identified VOCs. Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China (82173386) and Peking University People's Hospital Scientific Research Development Founds (RDH2021–07).

Metal-ion-based self-assembly supramolecular theranostics exhibit excellent performance in biomedical applications owing to their potential superiorities for simultaneous precise diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, and monitoring the response to therapy in real-time. Specially, the rational designed systems could achieve specific in vivo self-assembly through complexation or ionic interaction to improve tissue-specific accumulation, penetration, and cell internalization, thereby reducing toxicities of drugs in diagnostics and therapy. Furthermore, such imaging traceable nanosystems could provide real-timely information of drug accumulation and therapeutic effects in a non-invasive and safe manner. Herein, the article highlights the recent prominent applications based on the metal ions self-assembly in cancer treatment. This strategy may open up new research directions to develop novel drug delivery systems for cancer theranostics.

Abstract Background Obesity is a major risk factor for the global burden of disease in countries that are economically developed or not. This study aimed to investigate the association between diet quality and obesity indicators applying DASH and aMed. Methods This cross-sectional study on adult nutrition and chronic disease in Inner Mongolia (n = 1320). Dietary data were collected using 24-h diet recall for 3 consecutive days and weighing method. DASH and aMed were used to assess the dietary quality. WC, BMI and WC-BMI were used as obesity indicators. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between diet quality and obesity indicators. Results Higher diet quality, assessed by DASH, was only associated with WC. The odds ratio (OR) for abdominal obesity in the highest tertile of DASH scores compared with the lowest was 0.71 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53, 0.96; P trend = 0.03). Furthermore, aMed was inversely associated with obesity indicators. OR for abdominal obesity in the highest tertile of aMed score compared with the lowest were 0.63 (95% CI 0.47, 0.87; P trend = 0.005) and 0.57 (95% CI 0.41, 0.77; P trend = 0.02) for overweight and obesity, respectively, and 0.60 (95% CI 0.44, 0.81; P trend = 0.02) for high obesity risk. Conclusions Our findings suggest that dietary quality assessed using aMed is more closely associated with obesity than assessment using DASH in working-age adults in Inner Mongolia. The Mediterranean diet can be recommended as a healthy diet to control weight.

Probiotics could improve our health by balancing the gut microbiota or interacting with intestinal mucosa directly. This randomized, single-blind, controlled intervention study purposed to explore the effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (LP N1115) on dyslipidaemia. A total of 109 dyslipidaemia subjects were recruited and divided randomly into two groups: 52 subjects in probiotics group and 57 subjects in placebo group. Blood samples were collected to test serum lipid parameters. Fecal samples were collected to analyze the gut microbiota by Illumina Miseq sequence machine. Administration of 4 × 1010 CFU/day LP N1115 for 12 weeks was found to improve dyslipidaemia profiles by lowering serum total cholesterol (TC) (P = 0.028) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) (P = 0.028). A significant decrease in FPG was also found in probiotic group (P = 0.001). The Chao1 index increased significantly in probiotic group after intervention (P

Understanding the effects of drying on the selenium (Se) content and Se bioaccessibility of Se-rich plants is critical to dietary supplementation of Se. The effects of five common drying methods (far-infrared drying (FIRD), vacuum drying (VD), microwave vacuum drying (MVD), hot air drying (HD), and freeze vacuum drying (FD)) on the content and bioaccessibility of Se and Se species in Cardamine violifolia leaves (CVLs) were studied. The content of SeCys2 in fresh CVLs was the highest (5060.50 μg/g of dry weight (DW)); after FIRD, it had the lowest selenium loss, with a loss rate of less than 19%. Among all of the drying processes, FD and VD samples had the lowest Se retention and bioaccessibility. FIRD, VD, and FD samples have similar effects on antioxidant activity.

With a fast-growing population of immigrant and international students entering English-medium higher education in Canada, it is critical to understand the nature of academic experiences for these students and what contributes to their academic acculturation and post-secondary success. As such, a literature review was carried out to identify emerging themes related to students using English as an additional language in post-secondary settings. This article is based on a literature review of 87 empirical studies, conducted between 2008 and 2018, related to the academic acculturation journey of international students using English as an additional language in English medium higher education setting. Three major themes—academic engagement, academic socialization, and social integration in relation to English language ability—emerged from the literature among a multitude of influential factors. The findings of this literature review point to the importance of supporting students using English as an additional language as they navigate a new academic culture.

Feeding problems are biopsychosocial in nature and have a great influence on children's growth. The aim of this study was to profile the status and possible influencing factors of feeding difficulty among normal Chinese toddlers, and to investigate its association with health and development. This study is a part of the Young Investigation (YI study) conducted in 10 cities in China. Data from 924 children aged 1–3 years were analyzed. Data on socio-demographic factors, feeding behaviors, self-reported diseases, and anthropometry parameters were collected. Blood samples were drawn to determine hemoglobin levels. Feeding difficulty was evaluated by the Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale (MCH-FS). Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3) were used to assess developmental progress. Multivariable analyses were performed to explore the potential associations. The mean total score of the MCH-FS was 35.21 ± 12.90 and the highest scored item was “acting up/making a big fuss during mealtimes.” Feeding difficulty occurred more often among children with picky eating behavior or whose caregivers once used the strategy of pre-mastication. Children with feeding difficulty had lower intakes of cereals, vegetables, and fruits, and were more likely to suffer from diarrhea (OR, 2.04; 95%CI: 1.32, 3.11) or constipation (OR, 2.04; 95%CI: 1.27, 3.24), but not anemia. Feeding difficulty was also negatively associated with weight, height, head circumference and mid-upper-arm circumference-related Z-scores (P all < 0.05). In addition, it was related to poorer fine motor skills, personal and social skills, and total scores of ASQ-3 (β, −9.00; 95%CI: −15.11, −2.89). Feeding difficulty assessed by MCH-FS showed a negative association with children's health and development, supporting the need for early identification.

Diet quality during reproduction is crucial to maternal and infant health. However, the association between dietary diversity and bone health of pregnant women remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the dietary quality of Chinese urban gravidas using the dietary diversity score (DDS), and to explore the relationship of the DDS with micronutrient adequacy and bone health. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 775 pregnant women aged 18 years or older in urban China. Dietary diversity was assessed using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) indicator. A 24-h dietary recall was used to collect diet data and to calculate the MDD-W and the nutrient intake. Bone health was measured using quantitative ultrasound and assessed by the speed of sound (SOS). Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the DDS and the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) were calculated. A multivariable linear regression model was used to estimate the effect size of the DDS on the SOS. The mean DDS was 6.61 ± 1.53 points and 91.0% of participants reported the consumption of five or more food groups. Women in the diverse diet subgroup (DDS ≥ 7 points) were more likely to consume all kinds of food except starchy staples and had higher NARs. Pearson’s correlation coefficients between the DDS and the NAR ranged from 0.161 to 0.484. For participants in the second trimester, those with a diverse diet had a higher SOS. A multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the DDS was positively and significantly associated with the SOS (β = 17.18, 95% CI = 5.97–28.39, p = 0.003), but this was not the case for women in the first and third trimesters. Urban Chinese women had good dietary diversity during pregnancy. A higher dietary diversity was associated with a higher NAR. From the point of view of bone, a diverse diet was positively correlated with better bone status, suggesting the importance of improving diet diversity for pregnant women, especially from mid-pregnancy.

Objectives: To develop a Brief Adolescent Respiratory System Health Assessment Scale-Student Version (BARSHAS-SV) and test the validity and reliability of the scale.Methods: Considering common respiratory system diseases and respiratory system symptoms as a theoretical basis, researchers developed a Brief Adolescent Respiratory System Health Assessment Scale-Student Version-I (BARSHAS-SV-I). After six medical experts reviewed the BARSHAS-SV-I, and six adolescents tested the BARSHAS-SV-I, researchers developed an updated BARSHAS-SV-II. Researchers randomly selected two middle schools in Baoding, China. Thousand twenty nine valid questionnaires were recovered. Researchers evaluated the validity and reliability of the scale and obtained the final version of the scale (BARSHAS-SV). The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to evaluate the construct validity of the scale. The content validity index (CVI) was used to evaluate the content validity of the scale. The Cronbach's α coefficient and the mean inter-item correlation coefficient (MIIC) were used to assess the reliability of the scale.Results: BARSHAS-SV Cronbach's α = 0.910, content validity = 0.941, and factor cumulative variance contribution rate = 64.047% conducting EFA. Conducting CFA, Chi square value (χ2) = 233.806, degrees of freedom (df) = 106, Chi square value/degree of freedom (χ2/df) = 2.206, root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.063, normed fit index (NFI) = 0.922, goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.917, Tueker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.942, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.955, incremental fit index (IFI) = 0.956. BARSHAS-SV consisted of 4 dimensions and 17 items. Four factors were as follows: Factor 1, mild respiratory system diseases (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.781); Factor 2, severe respiratory system diseases (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.829); Factor 3, respiratory system symptoms (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.835); Factor 4, treatment and recovery of respiratory system diseases (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.845).Conclusions: BARSHAS-SV is a valid and reliable method that can be applied to assess adolescent respiratory system health status. BARSHAS-SV may help teachers and medical staff in schools to quickly and conveniently evaluate the adolescent respiratory system health status and identify respiratory issues.

Background: Evidence on the effects of dietary quality on the risk of postpartum depression in the Chinese population is limited. This study aimed to examine the association between dietary quality and postpartum depression in Chinses lactating women.Methods: A total of 939 participants from 10 cities were included in this analysis. A one-time 24-h dietary recall was used to obtain the data on food consumption and dietary quality was assessed based on Diet Balance Index. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale was considered at a cutoff point of 10 to detect postpartum depression. Poisson regression models were used to explore the association of dietary quality with postpartum depression.Results: Depressed women tended to have a more inadequate intake of vegetables and have more insufficient food variety. The median (25th, 75th) of the overall high bound score (HBS), low bound score (LBS), and diet quality distance (DQD) was 9 (5, 14), 30 (25, 37), and 40 (34, 47), respectively. Compared with subjects with the lowest quartile of LBS, those with the highest quartile of LBS had a higher risk of postpartum depression [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR), 1.08; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.01, 1.15; P for trend, 0.043]. We also observed a significant association between DQD and postpartum depression (Q4 vs. Q1: aPR, 1.07; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.14; P for trend, 0.036).Conclusion: Poor dietary quality was associated with postpartum depression in Chinese lactating women.

Background: Health campaign interventions, particularly those tailored to the target audience’s needs and preferences, can cost-effectively change people’s attitudes and behaviors towards better health decision-making. However, there is limited research on how to best tailor seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns for young adults. Vaccination is vital in protecting young adults and their social circles (vulnerable populations like older adults) from the influenza virus and critical in shaping these emerging adults’ vaccination habits in the long run. However, amid the prevalence of easily-accessible, attention-grabbing, and often malicious false and misinformation (e.g., COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories), it may be more challenging to develop vaccination messages that resonate with young adults well enough to attract their attention. Therefore, to bridge the research gap, this study examines young adults’ preferences for seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns to inform effective intervention design and development. Methods: Qualitative survey questions were developed to gauge young adults’ preferences for seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns. A total of 545 young adults (73.9% female, Mage ​= ​19.89, SD ​= ​1.44) from a large University offered complete answers to a cross-sectional online survey. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis procedures were adopted to guide the data analysis process. Results: Thematic analysis revealed that young adults prefer seasonal influenza vaccination campaigns that rely on (1) quality and balanced information from (2) credible information sources, positioned in the (3) relevant health contexts, (4) emphasize actionable messages, and incorporate (5) persuasive campaign design. Interestingly, while many participants underscored the importance of fear-appeal messages in persuading them to take health actions, some young adults also suggested avoiding fear campaigns due to discomfort. Conclusions: Insights of the study can inform seasonal influenza vaccination design and development, and have the potential to shed light on vaccination messaging in other vaccine contexts, such as COVID-19 vaccines. Results also underscore the need for health experts and government officials to adopt a more nuanced approach when selecting persuasive campaign appeals. While some young adults may resonate well with fear appeals, others may not. Future research could examine the underlying mechanisms that drive young adults’ preference for vaccination campaign intervention to enrich the literature further.

Abstract Background Gut microbiota affects lipid metabolism interactively with diet. Equol, a metabolite of isoflavones produced by gut bacteria, may contribute substantially in beneficial lipid-lowering effects. This study aimed to examine equol production-related gut microbiota differences among humans and its consequent association with blood lipid levels. Results Characterization of the gut microbiota by deep shotgun sequencing and serum lipid profiles were compared between equol producers and non-producers. Gut microbiota differed significantly at the community level between equol producers and non-producers (P = 0.0062). At the individual level, 32 species associated with equol production were identified. Previously reported equol-producing related species Adlercreutzia equolifaciens and Bifidobacterium bifidum showed relatively higher abundance in this study in equol producers compared to non-producers (77.5% vs. 22.5%; 72.0% vs. 28.0%, respectively). Metabolic pathways also showed significant dissimilarity between equol producers and non-producers (P = 0.001), and seven metabolic pathways were identified to be associated with the equol concentration in urine. Previously reported equol production-related gene sequences in A. equolifaciens 19450T showed higher relative abundance in equol producers than in non-producers. Additionally, we found that equol production was significantly associated with the prevalence of dyslipidemia, including a marginal increase in serum lipids (27.1% vs. 50.0%, P = 0.02). Furthermore, equol production was not determined by intake of soy isoflavones, which suggested that gut microbiota is critical in the equol production process. Conclusion Both content and functioning of the microbial gut community significantly differed between equol producers and non-producers. Further, equol producers showed lower prevalences of dyslipidemia, which suggests the important role that equol might play in lipid metabolism by gut microbiota.

Abstract Background As an insulin-dependent disease, type 1 diabetes requires paying close attention to the glycemic control. Studies have shown that mobile health (mHealth) can improve the management of chronic diseases. However, the effectiveness of mHealth in controlling the glycemic control remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis using the available literature reporting findings on mHealth interventions, which may improve the management of type 1 diabetes. Methods We performed a systematic literature review of all studies in the PubMed, Web of Science, and EMbase databases that used mHealth (including mobile phones) in diabetes care and reported glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values as a measure of glycemic control. The fixed effects model was used for this meta-analysis. Results This study analyzed eight studies, which involved a total of 602 participants. In the meta-analysis, the fixed effects model showed a statistically significant decrease in the mean of HbA1c in the intervention group: − 0.25 (95% confidence interval: − 0.41, − 0.09; P = 0.003, I 2 = 12%). Subgroup analyses indicated that the patient’s age, the type of intervention, and the duration of the intervention influenced blood glucose control. Funnel plots showed no publication bias. Conclusions Mobile health interventions may be effective among patients with type 1 diabetes. A significant reduction in HbA1c levels was associated with adult age, the use of a mobile application, and the long-term duration of the intervention.

Background This study investigated the risk factors for severe weight loss (SWL) within one year after minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy. Methods Esophageal cancer patients who underwent McKeown esophagectomy between January and July 2017 were prospectively enrolled. Preoperative body weight (PBW) was chosen as the initial body weight. Results Forty‐four patients were enrolled and successfully followed up for one year. Median weight loss was 7.4% (quartile: 5.3–8.1%) and 12.6% (quartile: 8.8–17.7%) four weeks and one year after surgery, respectively. Accelerated weight loss occurred during the first two weeks after discharge, with median weight loss of 5.6% (quartile: 4.2–7.1%). Multivariable analysis showed that age ≥ 70 years (odds ratio [OR] 7.65; P = 0.030), preoperative sarcopenia (OR 7.18; P = 0.030), the first surgery in the daily schedule (OR 6.87; P = 0.032) and vocal cord paralysis (OR 12.30; P = 0.046) were independent risk factors for short‐term (4 weeks) SWL (> 7.5% PBW), while an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3–4 (OR 6.58; P = 0.047), a high fat‐free mass (OR 21.91; P = 0.003), and vocal cord paralysis (OR 25.83; P = 0.017) were independent risk factors for long‐term (1 year) SWL (> 13.0% PBW) after esophagectomy. Postoperative symptoms of insomnia, appetite loss, dysphagia, eating difficulties, and taste issues were also related to SWL. Conclusions In esophageal cancer patients who have undergone esophagectomy, the first two weeks after hospital discharge is a key period for nutrition intervention. Patients with associated factors for SWL require postoperative nutrition support.

We aimed to investigate dietary vitamin A (DVA) intake, serum vitamin A (SVA) concentrations, and breast milk vitamin A (BMVA) concentrations of urban lactating Chinese women and explore the associated factors. We recruited 326 lactating women from ten cities in China and collected their dietary information, blood samples, and breast milk samples. SVA and BMVA were assessed with high-performance liquid chromatography. Mann–Whitney U tests, Kruskal–Wallis H tests, Chi-square tests, Spearman correlation tests, and multiple regression analyses were conducted. The median (25th, 75th) of DVA, SVA and BMVA were 372.36 (209.12, 619.78) μg RAE/day, 1.99 (1.71, 2.35) μmol/L, and 1.67 (1.13, 2.15) μmol/L, respectively. Only 3.1% of lactating women met the recommended nutrient intake of Vitamin A (VA), and 20.6% had a BMVA level below 1.05 μmol/L. Compared to underweight or normal weight women, overweight or obese lactating women had lower DVA and BMVA but higher SVA (p = 0.022; p = 0.030; p = 0.003). Multiparous women had a higher risk of inadequate BMVA (p = 0.023) than primiparous women. SVA and BMVA were positively associated with DVA, especially for lactating women not using VA supplements (β = 0.174, 95%CI = 0.025, 0.324, p = 0.022; β = 0.501, 95%CI = 0.208, 0.795, p = 0.001). There was no association between SVA and BMVA (β = 0.165, 95%CI = −0.037, 0.366, p = 0.109). In conclusion, VA nutritional status among Chinese urban lactating women needs more attention, especially for those who are obese, overweight, or higher parity. Increased DVA may contribute to increased BMVA.

The multimodal sensory channel transient receptor potential vanilloid-3 (TRPV3) is expressed in epidermal keratinocytes and implicated in chronic pruritus, allergy, and inflammation-related skin disorders. Gain-of-function mutations of TRPV3 cause hair growth disorders in mice and Olmsted syndrome in humans. Nevertheless, whether and how TRPV3 could be therapeutically targeted remains to be elucidated. We here report that mouse and human TRPV3 channel is targeted by the clinical medication dyclonine that exerts a potent inhibitory effect. Accordingly, dyclonine rescued cell death caused by gain-of-function TRPV3 mutations and suppressed pruritus symptoms in vivo in mouse model. At the single-channel level, dyclonine inhibited TRPV3 open probability but not the unitary conductance. By molecular simulations and mutagenesis, we further uncovered key residues in TRPV3 pore region that could toggle the inhibitory efficiency of dyclonine. The functional and mechanistic insights obtained on dyclonine-TRPV3 interaction will help to conceive therapeutics for skin inflammation.