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We synthesized a noninvasive and point-of-care snoring sensor with comparable accuracy to commercial devices. The 1,5-PDAC-based humidity sensor exhibits a time stability up to 28 800 seconds (8 hours) in the working range of 11–95% RH.

In recent years, the performance research of perovskite materials is not only concentrated in the field of solar cells or optics, but the field of gas sensing has gradually entered the public view. However, the detection of nitric oxide (NO) by lead-free halide perovskites has not yet been reported. Herein, we use Cs2PtI6 to realize the first example of a halide perovskite applied to NO sensing. Due to favoring Pt-N binding, the material has some excellent properties such as a NO detection limit as low as 100 parts-per-billion (ppb), ultrahigh selectivity to NO, and can work at room temperature for more than 2 months. In situ sum frequency generation (SFG) spectra and crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) analysis reveal that the strong bonding interaction between Pt 5s and N 2s ensure the high adsorption energy, and Pt 5d electron back donation to N 2px, N 2pz antibonding causes the conductive change of the sensors. In addition, its flexible wearable technology shows the application potential of the device and promotes the further development of perovskite materials.

Background Numerous studies have suggested that age at first birth (AFB) is inversely associated with metabolic diseases, but positively associated with liver cancer in women. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a canonical example of metabolic dysfunction and inflammation-based liver disease, while the association between AFB and risk of NAFLD remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between AFB and the odds of NAFLD in women. Methods Women older than 20 years at the time of the survey were analyzed using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999 to 2018 in the US. AFB was obtained with self-administered questionnaires. NAFLD was diagnosed as fatty liver index ≥ 60. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using logistic regression models. Results Of the 12,188 women included in this study, 5,670 (46.5%) had NAFLD. Compared to individuals with AFB of 30–32 years old (reference group), the fully adjusted ORs and 95% CI in women with AFB 35 years compared with the reference group. Conclusions Women with younger AFB have higher odds of NAFLD in later life. Policymakers should consider focusing on those with earlier AFB for screening and prevention of NAFLD.

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) are promising for gas sensing owing to the large surface area, size-tunable pores, abundant active sites, and their semiconducting nature. However, 2D COFs are usually produced in the form of insoluble micro crystallites. Their poor contacts between grain boundaries severely suppress the conductivity, which are too low for chemresistive gas sensing. Here, we demonstrate that halide perovskite nanocrystals can be employed as electric glues to bond 2D COF crystallites to significantly improve their conductivity by two orders of magnitude, activating them to detect NO2 with high selectivity and sensitivity. Resonant microcantilever (RMC), grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC), density functional theory (DFT) and sum-frequency generation (SFG) analyses prove that 2D COFs can enrich and transfer electrons to NO2 molecules, leading to increased device conductivity. Our work gives a new approach to improving the conductivity of 2D COF films and expands the applications of 2D COF micro crystallites.

Context The influences of diabetes duration and glycemic control and their potential interplays on the risk of heart failure (HF) remain unclear. Objective This work aimed to investigate the association of diabetes duration and glycemic control with the risk of HF. Methods A total of 23 754 individuals with diabetes but without HF during the baseline recruitment of UK Biobank were included in this study. Duration of diabetes was self-reported, and the status of glycemic control was reflected by glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. Their associations with incident HF were assessed using multivariate Cox models adjusting for traditional risk factors. Results Duration of diabetes and HbA1c levels both were positively associated with the risk of HF. The hazard ratios (HRs) (95% CI) for diabetes durations of 5 to less than 10, 10 to less than 15, and 15 years or more were 1.09 (0.97-1.23), 1.13 (0.97-1.30), and 1.32 (1.15-1.53), respectively (vs < 5 years); and the HRs for HbA1c of 53.0 to less than 58.5 mmol/mol (7.0% to < 7.5%), 58.5 to less than 63.9 mmol/mol (7.5% to < 8.0%), and 63.9 mmol/mol or greater (8.0%) were 1.15 (1.02-1.31), 1.07 (0.91-1.26), and 1.46 (1.30-1.65), respectively (vs < 53.0 mmol/mol [7.0%]). Individuals with the longest disease duration (≥ 15 years) and poorer glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 63.9 mmol/mol [8.0%]) had a particularly higher risk of HF (P for interaction = .026). Conclusion The risk of HF among individuals with diabetes increases with a longer duration of diabetes and increasing HbA1c levels. This finding may contribute to the individualized prevention of HF in patients with diabetes if being considered in clinical practices and policy-making.

In recent years, the performance research of perovskite materials is not only concentrated in the field of solar cells or optics, but the field of gas sensing has gradually entered the public view. However, the detection of nitric oxide (NO) by lead-free halide perovskites has not yet been reported. Herein, we use Cs

Recently, elevated homocysteine was reported to be associated with frailty in cross-sectional studies. However, whether homocysteine is causally associated with frailty is unknown. Here, we explore the inter-relationships between five non-synonymous genetic variants of homocysteine metabolic four genes, plasma homocysteine levels, and frailty. Data of 1480 individuals aged 70–87 years from the ageing arm of Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study were used. Five variants of the four homocysteine metabolic enzyme genes were genotyped. Frailty was defined using Fried’s phenotype criteria. The percentage of high homocysteine (>15μmol/L) is 33.3%. Two functional variants that decrease methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) activities, C677T (Ala222Val, rs1801133) and A1298C (Glu429Ala, rs1801131), were significantly associated with increased homocysteine levels (β=−1.16, p=0.01; and β=1.46, p

Aim To explore the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between social frailty (SF) and incident depressive symptoms in a Chinese population. Methods SF was measured with 6 questions (6 points maximum; 0-1 = non-SF, 2-3 = pre-SF, 4-6 = SF). Depressive symptoms were defined as a score of ≥6 on the Geriatric Depression Scale. Compared to baseline, participants with a ≥2-point increase in the Geriatric Depression Scale score were considered to have worsening depressive symptoms. Results At baseline, among 1764 participants, 9.9% (n = 175) had depressive symptoms, 3.6% (n = 61) were SF, and 38.2% (n = 650) were pre-SF. The percentage of depressive symptoms increased with SF status from 5.1% (non-SF) to 12.9% (pre-SF), to 41.0% (SF). In cross-sectional analysis, after adjustments for multiple covariates, depressive symptoms were significantly associated with both pre-SF (odds ratio (OR) = 2.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.01-4.32) and SF (OR = 16.70, 95% CI 8.80-31.71). During the 3-year follow-up period, 10.0% (n = 117) of the participants developed depressive symptoms. In longitudinal analyses, after multiple adjustments, SF and pre-SF were associated with a 2.31-fold (95% CI 1.10-4.88) and 1.58-fold (95% CI 1.05-2.38) increased risk of incidence of depressive symptoms, respectively. Among participants without depressive symptoms at baseline, 23.2% had worsening depressive symptoms, and SF was associated with increased risk of worsening depressive symptoms (OR = 2.07, 95% CI 1.18-3.65). Conclusions Our findings suggested that SF may be a predictor of depression among Chinese community-dwelling older adults. In addition, in elders with no depressive symptoms at baseline, those with SF had greater odds of worsening depressive symptoms 3 years later.

BACKGROUND Ultrasound (US) is the preferred imaging method for cryptorchidism, but most guidelines indicate that its value is questionable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of ultrasonic mobility and testicular atrophy index (TAI) based on three‑dimensional US (3DUS) in preoperative and postoperative assessment of the undescended testis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data from 158 children with unilateral extraperitoneal cryptorchidism were collected and their diagnoses were surgically confirmed. They were divided into different age groups and into 2 ultrasonic mobility groups: the mobile group (MG) and the restricted group (RG). Differences in sonographic characteristics between different groups were compared. Three-dimensional ultrasound performed with virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) was used to determined preoperative and postoperative TAI and the reliability of TAI was analyzed. RESULTS Measurement of testicular volume with the VOCAL method was significantly more reliable than that done with the two-dimensional Lambert method. In all age groups, preoperative testicular volumes were smaller than that in the contralateral scrotal testis and postoperatively, they increased steadily. Both preoperative and postoperative TAI were higher in the RG than in the MG. In the MG, postoperative TAI decreased significantly in all age groups. In the RG, in contrast, effective volume growth was only achieved in patients who had undergone surgery before they reached age 1 year. CONCLUSIONS TAI values determined with 3DUS using the VOCAL technique objectively reflect recovery of testicular volume following surgery for undescended testicle. Ultrasonic mobility evaluation is beneficial for clinical management of the condition.

The solid chitosan-tranexamic acid salts were successfully prepared by the method of half-wet grinding with chitosan and tranexamic acid as raw materials. The physical properties including water solubility and stability of the prepared samples were tested, and their structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, the in vitro pro-coagulant activity was evaluated by the test tube method. The results showed that the prepared chitosan-tranexamic acid salts could be dissolved in weak acidic, neutral and weak alkaline aqueous solutions, expanding the dissolution range. The characterization results indicated that the protonation reaction of the chitosan amino group was achieved without solvent and the crystallinity degree of chitosan-tranexamic acid salts decreased by comparison with chitosan. The hemostasis evaluation showed that chitosan-tranexamic acid salts with different mass ratios had pro-coagulant activities in vitro. In particular, the clotting time of chitosan acid salt with mass ratio of 1:2 was shorter than that of Yunnan Baiyao. This effort laid the foundation for the development of the promising chitosan-based hemostatic materials.

Background: To explore the associations of several genetic variants identified in the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of European ancestry with mild renal impairment glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese Han population.Methods: Data of 1788 community-dwelling elders from the baseline survey of the ageing arm of the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study was used. Plasma creatinine based GFR was estimated using the eGFR-EPI equations.Results: Of the 10 common polymorphisms identified in GWAS of the European ancestry, rs17319721 located in the first intron of the SHROOM3, was associated with GFR. A allele was associated with both decreased GFR level and greater odds of mild renal impairment (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01-1.23, p=0.029) defined by GFR2 after adjusting for multiple confounds of chronic kidney disease. In addition, compared with rs17319721-GG genotype, AA was associated with both higher depressive score and greater risk of depression prevalence, showing a pleiotropic effects of rs17319721. However, we did not found significant association of GFR levels with another 42 common polymorphisms that was previously reported to be associated with the traditional risk factors of kidney diseases.Conclusions: SHROOM3-rs17319721 is associated with GFR levels, kidney impairment, and depressive symptoms in a Chinese population.

Background To explore the associations of several genetic variants identified in the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of European ancestry with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese Han population. Methods Data of 1788 community-dwelling elders from the baseline survey of the ageing arm of the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study was used. Plasma creatinine based GFR was estimated using the eGFR-EPI equations. Results Of the 10 selected polymorphisms identified in GWAS of the European ancestry, rs17319721 located in the first intron of the SHROOM3, was associated with GFR. A allele was associated with both decreased GFR level and greater odds of GFR decrease (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01-1.23, p=0.029) defined by GFR

Owing to their special photoelectric properties, halide perovskites have always attracted research attention. Hollow-structured halide perovskites have many practical applications but are challenging to prepare as most template methods violate their poor chemical and thermal stability. In this study, novel halide perovskite Cs2 PdBr6 hollow nanospheres are prepared using a template-free method; specifically, large quantities of highly pure lead-free halide perovskite Cs2 PdBr6 hollow nanospheres are produced at 30 °C without a surfactant. These ultrapure nanospheres exhibit superiority in chemresistive detection of CO with a detection limit of 50 ppb, which is the lowest among all the reported CO sensing materials. Moreover, in situ sum-frequency-generation spectra and density functional theory calculations reveal that the high sensitivity is attributable to the large specific surface area and surfactant-free surface of rich Br- vacancies that favor CO binding. Overall, this work provides insight on regulation of the halide perovskite structure and the use of hollow spheres in gas-sensing applications.

To explore the associations of frailty phenotype and frailty index (FI) defined frailty and pre-frailty with mortality in a Chinese elderly population.Data of 1788 community-dwelling elders aged 70-84 years from the ageing arm of Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study, a prospective cohort study, were used. Frailty phenotype was defined using modified Fried's phenotype (FP) criteria and FI was constructed using 45 health deficits. Mortality was ascertained using the Death Registry of Rugao's Civil Affairs Bureau.During 3-year follow-up, 149 (8.3%) of the 1788 elderly subjects died. For frailty phenotype, about 9.5% of the elderly were frail and 43% were pre-frail. For FI, frail (FI 0.21) was approximately 27.5%, and pre-frail (FI: 0.1-0.21) was approximately 51.3%. Highest mortality was observed among frail participants defined by both FP and FI criteria (all Log Rank P 0.05). Frailty defined by the frailty index was associated with a 2.31 fold (95% CI 1.16-4.6) risk of all-cause death compared with robust elderly. Compared with the robust elderly, not only frailty (HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.31-3.83) defined by frailty phenotype but also pre-frailty (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.03-2.21) was associated with risk of all-cause mortality.Frailty, defined by either phenotype or index, is associated with increased risks of mortality in elderly Chinese community population.

Based on the catastrophe theory of nonlinear science, a cusp catastrophe model of a super-long pile under axially load is established, and the vertical ultimate bearing capacity expression of super-long pile is derived. By fitting pile load-settlement field test data, the coefficients of a hypothetical super-long pile load-deformation curve and the value of ultimate bearing capacity are obtained. The results show that: the cusp catastrophe model is applicable to the determination of ultimate bearing capacity, and can be used to predict the buckling failure of a super-long pile. In addition, a fold catastrophe model is established to investigate the effects of plastic softening on the ultimate bearing capacity. The derived ultimate bearing capacity expression implies that the radius of the elastic and the plastic softening zones are relevant to the ultimate bearing capacity.