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An interseting Cu(II)-based organic framework containing a Cu2O5 cluster, [Cu (TBA)(CH3OH)]n (1) has been hydrothermally synthesized with tetrabromoterephthalate (H2TBA) ligand, and characterized through infrared spectroscopy (IR), elemental and thermal analysis (EA), power X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analyses. The X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis shows that the CuII center is hexa-coordinated and situated on perfect octahedral geometry formed by four carboxyl oxygen atoms of four symmetry-related TBA2− anions and two O-donors of two reverse µ2-CH3OH bridges. Each TBA2− ligand plays as a µ4 tetra-monodentate linker and connect four Cu2+ cations together to form the three dimensional structure of 1. Surprisingly, there are no significant hydrogen bonds and π-stack interactions in 1, but the Br···Br halogen bonds interactions. Detailed topology analysis found that the 3D cluster-based metal-organic framework of 1 can be simplified to 4 topological types: a 4-c 1-nodal net dia with point symbol {66}, a 6,6-c 2-nodal net htp with point symbol {413·62}{48·66·8}, a 4,6-c 2-nodal net bpq with point symbol {32·62·72}{34·42·64·75}, and a 6,8-c 2-nodal net 6,8T902 with point symbol {34·44·54·63}{38·414·54·62}, respectively. Moreover, 1 exhibits intense solid-state luminescence emissions centered at 478 nm at room temperature, which mainly originates from the intraligand π→ π* transitions of TBA2−. The CCDC number of 1 is 2,355,788. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has indicated that formononetin demonstrates a potent anti-inflammatory effect in various diseases. However, its impact on sterile inflammation kidney injury, specifically acute kidney injury (AKI), remains unclear. In this study, we utilized an ischemia/reperfusion-induced AKI (IRI-AKI) mouse model and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) to investigate the effects of formononetin on sterile inflammation of AKI and to explore the underlying mechanism. The administration of formononetin significantly preserved kidney function from injury, as evidenced by lower serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels compared to IRI-AKI mice without treatment. This was further confirmed by less pathological changes in renal tubules and low expression of tubular injury markers such as KIM-1 and NGAL in the formononetin-treated IRI-AKI group. Furthermore, formononetin effectively suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-1β) and macrophage infiltration into the kidneys of AKI mice. In vitro studies showed that formononetin led to less macrophage polarization towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype in BMDMs stimulated by LPS and IFN- γ. The mechanism involved the KLF6 and p-STAT3 pathway, as overexpression of KLF6 restored pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and pro-inflammatory polarization. Our findings demonstrate that formononetin can significantly improve renal function and reduce inflammation in IRI-AKI, which may be attributed to the inhibition of KLF6/STAT3-mediated macrophage pro-inflammatory polarization. This discovery presents a new promising therapeutic option for the treatment of IRI-AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density in children.

BACKGROUND Shale pore structure is the key to determine reservoir storage and migration capacity. It is of great significance for improving the productivity assessment of continental shale gas in China, and fracturing technology. OBJECTIVES To investigate the pore structure and three dimensional distribution mode of the seventh member of Yanchang Formation shale and its controlling factors. METHODS Ar-ion milling SEM and synchrotron micro X-ray microscopy were used to characterize the pore structures. RESULTS The SEM results indicated that the interparticle pores (300-600nm) and micro-fractures were the main reservoir space of the seventh member of Yanchang Formation shale gas. Most of the micro-fractures were formed by the precipitation of clay minerals and presented as a flat shape, which likely caused collapse of borehole walls. Organic pores were less developed and mainly associated with organic clay minerals. The micro X-ray microscopy showed that the seventh member of Yanchang Formation shale had laminated structures at micro-scale with organic matter laminations of 10-20μm in thickness. The results indicated that the seventh member shale had strong plasticity, which was against horizontal fracturing. CONCLUSIONS The results can provide significant data support for developing a percolation model and improving fracturing technology of shale gas.

Objective To understand the current situation and characteristics of chronic disease comorbidities among the elderly living alone in China, to analyze their comorbidity patterns, and to explore the relationship between health-related behaviors and chronic comorbidity in the elderly living alone, so as to provide basis for co-prevention and co-management of multiple diseases in the elderly. Methods Based on the data of the 2018 Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey (CLHLS), the network map was used to identify the common binary co-disease patterns of chronic diseases in the elderly living alone, and the Gephi software was used to visualize the chronic disease co-disease network of the elderly. Using Apriorism algorithm, the association rules were used to analyze the correlation between health-related behaviors and co-diseases of the elderly living alone, and multi-factor Logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation between chronic diseases and health-related behaviors of the elderly living alone. Results A total of 1 905 elderly people living alone over 65 years were included, of whom 766 suffered from two or more chronic diseases, and the co-morbidity of chronic diseases was 40.2%. A total of 45 meaningful binary co-disease patterns with strong links were identified through network map analysis, of which 10 were related to hypertension and 7 were related to heart disease. The strong association rules among the association rules of health-related behaviors and co-diseases of the elderly living alone were poor sleep quality, no physical activity, no exercise, and no outdoor activity. The multivariate Logistic regression model showed that the elderly living alone with smoking (OR =1.791, 95% CI: 1.205-2.664) and alcohol consumption (OR=1.597, 95% CI: 1.084-2.353) had an increased risk of chronic co-disease compared with those without chronic diseases. Elderly people living alone with exercise (OR=0.132, 95% CI: 0.100-0.175), outdoor activities (OR=0.047, 95% CI: 0.035-0.063), good sleep quality (OR=0.469, 95% CI: 0.319-0.688), and adequate sleep (OR=0.648, 95% CI: 0.484-0.867) had a lower risk of chronic comorbidity. Conclusion The comorbidity pattern of the elderly living alone in China is complex and related to health-related behaviors. The risk of comorbidity in the elderly can be reduced by improving health-related behaviors, such as increasing exercise and outdoor activities and adjusting sleep duration and sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size of organic matter (OM) pore in shale directly affects shale gas content, and its connectivity is of great significance for gas migration and exploitation. Three-dimension reconstructions down to nanometer scale (about 10 nm) are performed on OM pores in samples from the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Qiliao area using Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM). The results indicate that FIB-SEM technique is an effective method for three-dimension characterization of nano-scale (>3 nm) pore structures of micro-scale shale samples. Honeycomb OM pores distribute uniformly with poor connectivity, and their diameters are dominated by 10-200 nm. Micro-crack like OM pores at the interface exhibit good connectivity on the local area, with diameters concentrated at 200-300 nm. Bulk porosity of shale is positively correlated to OM content. For shale with OM pores as host, the concentrated distribution of the organic matter and the good continuity will result in a small size of unit cell for characterization of porosity.

Three dimensional (3D) structures of nanometer scale pores is a determining factor for the shale gas micro-seepage mechanism, and it is a critical issue needing to be solved urgently to develop a better model for the description of flow behavior in shale. In this study, 3D structure of the OM pores of the Longmaxi formation shale sample (Φ=7 μm) from the Sichuan basin was rebuilt using synchrontron radiation CT and experimental CT respectively. The purpose of the study was to compare the pore structural parameters obtained from the radiation CT and experimental CT. The results indicate:(1) The OM pores, with a porosity of about 60%, exhibit a honeycomb pattern and good connectivity. The pore size distribution exhibits a bimodal pattern, mainly concentrating in 60-150 nm and 500-1400 nm, and pores with diameters larger than 500 nm contribute the most to the total porosity. (2) The porosity and the total pore number obtained from synchrontron radiation CT and experimental CT remain consistent within the accepted margin of error, but the total throat number and throat diameters obtained from the second method above suggest a relatively large difference. Although the pore size distribution and coordination number distribution laws are similar, there are obvious deviations considering the exact figures. (3) For 3D characterization of shale pore structures using nanometer CT, there are problems of threshold partition and small scan view. The problems can be reduced by three plans starting with reconstruction algorithm, 3D data analysis and REV.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of systemic inflammation, assessed by high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) levels, on prediabetes progression and regression in middle‐aged and older adults based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Methods: Participants with prediabetes from CHARLS were followed up 4 years later with blood samples collected for measuring fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The level of hs‐CRP was assessed at baseline and categorized into tertiles (low, middle, and high groups). Prediabetes at baseline and follow‐up was defined primarily according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs). We also performed stratified analyses according to age, gender, BMI, the presence of hypertension, and the disease history of heart disease and dyslipidemia and sensitivity analyses excluding a subset of participants with incomplete data. Results: Of the 2,874 prediabetes included at baseline, 834 participants remained as having prediabetes, 146 progressed to diabetes, and 1,894 regressed to normoglycemia based on ADA criteria with a 4 year follow‐up. After multivariate logistics regression analysis, prediabetes with middle (0.67–1.62 mg/L) and high (>1.62 mg/L) hs‐CRP levels had an increased incidence of progressing to diabetes compared with prediabetes with low hs‐CRP levels (<0.67 mg/L; OR = 1.846, 95%CI: 1.129–3.018; and OR = 1.632, 95%CI: 0.985–2.703, respectively), and the incidence of regressing to normoglycemia decreased (OR = 0.793, 95%CI: 0.645–0.975; and OR = 0.769, 95%CI: 0.623–0.978, respectively). Stratified analyses and sensitivity analyses showed consistent results. Conclusions: Low levels of hs‐CRP are associated with a high incidence of regression from prediabetes to normoglycemia and reduced odds of progression to diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopic pore structures of shale are the basis for investigating the adsorption and migration mechanism of shale gas and building a geological model. Ar ion milling combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is the main technique for analyzing microscopic pore structures of shale. However, previous research focused mainly on pore classification and lacked insufficient studies on the quantitative characteristics of pore structures. In order to conduct quantitative research on pore structures and improve the quality of pore segmentation, edge detection, watershed, auto and manual thresholding methods were used in this study to perform segmentation of mineral matrix pore and organic matter pore based on SEM images. By comparing results obtained from all of these methods, the conclusion drawn was that the manual thresholding method could reflect pores with diameters larger than 1 nm and identify the organic matter, pores and brittle minerals accurately by selecting a suitable segmentation thresholding value, guaranteeing the analysis to be closer to the true states. The proposed method provides a more effective method for quantitative analyses of shale pore structures.