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Abstract Background Overdose mortality increased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is unclear to what extent the COVID-19 mortality had contributed to this increase at the neighborhood level. Methods This was an ecological study based on New York City United Hospital Fund (NYC UHF) neighborhood-level data from 2019 to 2021, split into two time-windows: pre-COVID (2019) and during-COVID (2020 and 2021). Linear regression models were used to estimate the effect of cumulative COVID-19 mortality on the increase in drug overdose mortality from the pre-COVD to during-COVID periods at the neighborhood level, with and without adjusting for neighborhood characteristics. Results Drug overdose mortality rate increased from 21.3 to 33.4 deaths per 100,000 person-years across NYC UHF neighborhoods from pre-COVID to during-COVID. For each additional COVID-19 death per 1,000 person-years at the neighborhood level, the increase in drug overdose mortality rose 2.4 (95% CI: 1.7, 3.3) times. Furthermore, neighborhoods with a higher percentage of Hispanic residents, a higher percentage of single-person households, and a higher percentage of residents with health insurance experienced significantly larger increases in drug overdose mortality. In contrast, neighborhoods with a higher percentage of residents aged 75 and older had a smaller increase in drug overdose mortality. Conclusions NYC neighborhoods with higher cumulative COVID-19 mortality experienced a greater increase in drug overdose mortality during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Background This study aimed to analyze the effects of anterior descending mandible (ADM) and free superior mesenteric artery (SMAS) folding flaps on post-parotidectomy facial depression. Methods This retrospective study examined the effects of sex, age, surgical sample size, method, duration, and blood loss on postoperative complications in 65 patients. Results No significant differences involving sex, age, or sample size for surgical resection were observed between the two groups. The incidence of Frey syndrome (P = 0.175) and the locations of facial nerve injuries and tumors were not significantly different between the two groups. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in postoperative facial depression between the groups (P = 0.045, P

Introduction To investigate the toxicity of combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P) hyaluronic acid (HA) gel nanoparticles (HA-CA4P-NPs) in OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma). Methods Toxicity was investigated using fluorescence microscopy, MTT as-say, flow cytometry, and OSCC xenograft mouse models. Results Compared with CA4P, HA-CA4P-NPs generated nearly 10 times more fluorescence in OSCC cells. Cytotoxicity assays showed that HACA4P-NPs were more toxic to SCC-4 cells but not to HNECs. Remarkable necrosis was induced in SCC-4 cells after exposure to HA-CA4P-NPs, and related proteins were upregulated. Furthermore, HA-CA4P-NPs significantly reduced the tu-mour size. Conclusions HA-CA4P-NPs improved drug release and delivery, and in-creased cytotoxicity to cancer cells.

BackgroundBone health is important for older adults, and vitamin K (VK) is central to regulating bone formation and promoting bone health. However, whether VK can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and bone loss is unclear. This study hypothesized that different levels of VK intake exert varying effects on bone health in people aged over 50 years.MethodsIndividuals aged above 50 years were recruited from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. VK intake, based on 24-h dietary recall, was divided into three groups, namely the high, medium, and low groups, by sex and tertile. Weighted multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the effects of VK intake on the risk of osteoporosis and bone loss at the femoral neck, trochanter, intertrochanter, total femur, lumbar spine, and overall.ResultsThis study included 5,075 individuals. Of them, 1,001 (18%) had osteoporosis (808 women, 83%) and 2,226 (46%) had osteopenia (1,076 women, 54%). Overall, a medium level of VK intake was associated with a reduced risk of bone loss. In women, medium- [odds ratio, OR (95% confidence interval, CI): 0.66(0.47, 0.93)] and high-level [OR (95% CI): 0.71(0.52, 0.98)] VK intake were associated with a decreased risk of osteoporosis. In contrast, only medium-level VK intake was associated with a reduced risk of bone loss [OR (95% CI): 0.58(0.41, 0.81)]. Similar results were obtained for the trochanter, intertrochanter, total femur, and lumbar spine. In men, only medium-level VK intake was associated with a reduced risk of bone loss at the femoral neck [OR (95% CI): 0.66(0.48, 0.90)], whereas high-level VK intake corresponded to a reduced risk of bone loss to the lumbar spine [OR (95% CI): 0.68(0.47, 0.99)]. Nonetheless, VK intake levels did not affect the risk of osteoporosis.ConclusionThis study demonstrates sex- and bone-site-specific variations in the associations between VK intake levels and bone health in individuals aged over 50 years. Further large-scale cohort studies or randomized controlled trials are warranted to explore the effects of different VK intake levels on bone health in people regardless of their sex and bone site.

Background: The expression profiles of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during pupal development have been demonstrated to be vital in age estimation of forensic entomological study. Here, using forensically important Aldrichina grahami (Diptera: Calliphoridae), we aimed to explore the potential of intrapuparial stage aging and postmortem interval (PMI) estimation based on characterization of successive developmental transcriptomes and gene expression patterns. Methods: We collected A. grahami pupae at 11 successive intrapuparial stages at 20 °C and used the RNA-seq technique to build the transcriptome profiles of their intrapuparial stages. The DEGs were identified during the different intrapuparial stages using comparative transcriptome analysis. The selected marker DEGs were classified and clustered for intrapuparial stage aging and PMI estimation and then further verified for transcriptome data validation. Ultimately, we categorized the overall gene expression levels as the dependent variable and the age of intrapuparial A. grahami as the independent variable to conduct nonlinear regression analysis. Results: We redefined the intrapuparial stages of A. grahami into five key successive substages (I, II, III, IV, and V), based on the overall gene expression patterns during pupal development. We screened 99 specific time-dependent expressed genes (stage-specific DEGs) to determine the different intrapuparial stages based on comparison of the gene expression levels during the 11 developmental intrapuparial stages of A. grahami. We observed that 55 DEGs showed persistent upregulation during the development of intrapuparial A. grahami. We then selected four DEGs (act79b, act88f, up and ninac) which presented consistent upregulation using RT-qPCR (quantitative real-time PCR) analysis, along with consideration of the maximum fold changes during the pupal development. We conducted nonlinear regression analysis to simulate the calculations of the relationships between the expression levels of the four selected DEGs and the developmental time of intrapuparial A. grahami and constructed fitting curves. The curves demonstrated that act79b and ninac showed continuous relatively increasing levels. Conclusions: This study redefined the intrapuparial stages of A. grahami based on expression profiles of developmental transcriptomes for the first time. The stage-specific DEGs and those with consistent tendencies of expression were found to have potential in age estimation of intrapuparial A. grahami and could be supplementary to a more accurate prediction of PMI.

Abstract Remote sensing technology, which conventionally employs spectrometers to capture hyperspectral images, allowing for the classification and unmixing based on the reflectance spectrum, has been extensively applied in diverse fields, including environmental monitoring, land resource management, and agriculture. However, miniaturization of remote sensing systems remains a challenge due to the complicated and dispersive optical components of spectrometers. Here, m‐phase GaTe0.5Se0.5 with wide‐spectral photoresponses (250–1064 nm) and stack it with WSe2 are utilizes to construct a two‐dimensional van der Waals heterojunction (2D‐vdWH), enabling the design of a gate‐tunable wide‐spectral photodetector. By utilizing the multi‐photoresponses under varying gate voltages, high accuracy recognition can be achieved aided by deep learning algorithms without the original hyperspectral reflectance data. The proof‐of‐concept device, featuring dozens of tunable gate voltages, achieves an average classification accuracy of 87.00% on 6 prevalent hyperspectral datasets, which is competitive with the accuracy of 250–1000 nm hyperspectral data (88.72%) and far superior to the accuracy of non‐tunable photoresponse (71.17%). Artificially designed gate‐tunable wide‐spectral 2D‐vdWHs GaTe0.5Se0.5/WSe2‐based photodetector present a promising pathway for the development of miniaturized and cost‐effective remote sensing classification technology.

We study a new framework for designing differentially private (DP) mechanisms via randomized graph colorings, called rainbow differential privacy. In this framework, datasets are nodes in a graph, and two neighboring datasets are connected by an edge. Each dataset in the graph has a preferential ordering for the possible outputs of the mechanism, and these orderings are called rainbows. Different rainbows partition the graph of connected datasets into different regions. We show that if a DP mechanism at the boundary of such regions is fixed and it behaves identically for all same-rainbow boundary datasets, then a unique optimal $(\epsilon,\delta)$-DP mechanism exists (as long as the boundary condition is valid) and can be expressed in closed-form. Our proof technique is based on an interesting relationship between dominance ordering and DP, which applies to any finite number of colors and for $(\epsilon,\delta)$-DP, improving upon previous results that only apply to at most three colors and for $\epsilon$-DP. We justify the homogeneous boundary condition assumption by giving an example with non-homogeneous boundary condition, for which there exists no optimal DP mechanism.

Abstract By using PacBio HiFi technology, we produced over 700 Gb of long-read sequencing (LRS) raw data; and by using Illumina paired-end whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing technology, we generated more than 70 Gb of short-read sequencing (SRS) data. With LRS data, we assembled one genome and then generate a set of annotation data for an early-matured Geng/japonica glutinous rice mega variety genome, Longgeng 57 (LG57), which carries multiple elite traits including good grain quality and wide adaptability. Together with the SRS data from three parents of LG57, pedigree genome variations were called for three representative types of genes. These data sets can be used for deep variation mining, aid in the discovery of new insights into genome structure, function, and evolution, and help to provide essential support to biological research in general.

AbstractSarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) angarosinica (Rohdendorf, 1937) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) is a species of both medical and ecological significance. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of S. angarosinica was sequenced and characterized. The mitogenome has a total length of 15,215 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and an adenine and thymine-rich region. This mitogenome comprises 39.5% adenine, 9.4% guanine, 14.4% cytosine, and 36.8% thymine. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that S. angarosinica is closely related to Sarcophaga similis. This study enriches the genetic data on S. angarosinica and will contribute to establishing the phylogenetic relationships among flesh flies.

Abstract Cancer cells typically display redox imbalance compared with normal cells due to increased metabolic rate, accumulated mitochondrial dysfunction, elevated cell signaling, and accelerated peroxisomal activities. This redox imbalance may regulate gene expression, alter protein stability, and modulate existing cellular programs, resulting in inefficient treatment modalities. Therapeutic strategies targeting intra‐ or extracellular redox states of cancer cells at varying state of progression may trigger programmed cell death if exceeded a certain threshold, enabling therapeutic selectivity and overcoming cancer resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Nanotechnology provides new opportunities for modulating redox state in cancer cells due to their excellent designability and high reactivity. Various nanomaterials are widely researched to enhance highly reactive substances (free radicals) production, disrupt the endogenous antioxidant defense systems, or both. Here, the physiological features of redox imbalance in cancer cells are described and the challenges in modulating redox state in cancer cells are illustrated. Then, nanomaterials that regulate redox imbalance are classified and elaborated upon based on their ability to target redox regulations. Finally, the future perspectives in this field are proposed. It is hoped this review provides guidance for the design of nanomaterials‐based approaches involving modulating intra‐ or extracellular redox states for cancer therapy, especially for cancers resistant to radiotherapy or chemotherapy, etc.

Flocking, as paradigmatically exemplified by birds, is the coherent collective motion of active agents. As originally conceived, flocking emerges through alignment interactions between the agents. Here, we report that flocking can also emerge through interactions that turn agents away from each other. Combining simulations, kinetic theory, and experiments, we demonstrate this mechanism of flocking in self-propelled Janus colloids with stronger repulsion on the front than on the rear. The polar state is stable because particles achieve a compromise between turning away from left and right neighbors. Unlike for alignment interactions, the emergence of polar order from turn-away interactions requires particle repulsion. At high concentration, repulsion produces flocking Wigner crystals. Whereas repulsion often leads to motility-induced phase separation of active particles, here it combines with turn-away torques to produce flocking. Therefore, our findings bridge the classes of aligning and nonaligning active matter. Our results could help to reconcile the observations that cells can flock despite turning away from each other via contact inhibition of locomotion. Overall, our work shows that flocking is a very robust phenomenon that arises even when the orientational interactions would seem to prevent it.

The credibility thesis premises that an institution's endogenous credibility and function, rather than its form, ensures its persistence. Informal rental housing (IRH), an informal housing institution in China, was suggested to serve as a dwelling for low-income residents in previous research on institutional credibility. Combining the institutional functionalism in credibility thesis and the relational and constructivist perspective in the strategic-relational approach (SRA), this research on two distinct SPRH cases in Shenzhen aims to re-examine the credibility thesis, moving the emphasis away from institutional functions toward the interaction between function and dysfunction, and their substitutability in the relation reconstruction dynamics. It reveals that the informal housing institution's credibility rationale has shifted in Shenzhen. Instead of serving a dwelling function, IRH is becoming an investment tool for profit-making and a part of public service for government targets, contributing to the credibility of informal housing and exacerbating the exclusion of the disadvantaged groups from urban areas. IRH's institutional credibility is contingent upon not just the endogenous institutional function, but also on the interplay of the function and dysfunction embedded in its institutional environment.

Functional molecules have been attracting increasing attention in environmental and physiological studies. In particular, folic acid (FA) could be considered a key factor in estimating, adjusting, and making decisions in the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. It promotes the general significance and conceptual for considering FA molecular scientific research detections, which implies related advancement in both of biological structure and detection methods. Among these applications, the FA molecule acts as a coenzyme that incorporates carbon atoms and synthesizes purines and pyrimidines. Therefore, the calibration method has real applications and can be used as a sensing platform and for detection approaches, which conveys the internal relationship between the FA molecule and physiological characterization. This mini review briefly discusses multiple FA application fields and detection pathways and could supplement their utilization in anticipation of the onset of disease.

Sarcopenia prevalence and its risk factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) vary partly due to definition criteria. This systematic review aimed to identify the prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia in COPD patients. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022310750). Nine electronic databases were searched from inception to September 1st, 2022, and studies related to sarcopenia and COPD were identified. Study quality was assessed using a validated scale matched to study designs, and a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate sarcopenia prevalence. COPD patients with sarcopenia were compared to those without sarcopenia for BMI, smoking, and mMRC. The current meta-analysis included 15 studies, with a total of 7,583 patients. The overall sarcopenia prevalence was 29% [95% CI: 22%-37%], and the OR of sarcopenia in COPD patients was 1.51 (95% CI: 1.19-1.92). The meta-analysis and systematic review showed that mMRC (OR = 2.02, P = 0.04) and age (OR = 1.15, P = 0.004) were significant risk factors for sarcopenia in COPD patients. In contrast, no significant relationship was observed between sarcopenia and smoking and BMI. Nursing researchers should pay more attention to the symptomatic management of COPD and encourage patients to participate in daily activities in the early stages of the disease.

ABSTRACTMiddle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is enzootic in dromedary camels and causes zoonotic infection and disease in humans. Although over 80% of the global population of infected dromedary camels are found in Africa, zoonotic disease had only been reported in the Arabia Peninsula and travel-associated disease has been reported elsewhere. In this study, genetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of MERS-CoV in dromedary camels in Ethiopia were investigated during 2017–2020. Of 1766 nasal swab samples collected, 61 (3.5%) were detected positive for MERS-CoV RNA. Of 484 turbinate swab samples collected, 10 (2.1%) were detected positive for MERS-CoV RNA. Twenty-five whole genome sequences were obtained from these MERS-CoV positive samples. Phylogenetically, these Ethiopian camel-originated MERS-CoV belonged to clade C2, clustering with other East African camel strains. Virus sequences from camel herds clustered geographically while in an abattoir, two distinct phylogenetic clusters of MERS-CoVs were observed in two sequential sampling collections, which indicates the greater genetic diversity of MERS-CoV in abattoirs. In contrast to clade A and B viruses from the Arabian Peninsula, clade C camel-originated MERS-CoV from Ethiopia had various nucleotide insertions and deletions in non-structural gene nsp3, accessory genes ORF3 and ORF5 and structural gene N. This study demonstrates the genetic instability of MERS-CoV in dromedaries in East Africa, which indicates that the virus is still actively adapting to its camel host. The impact of the observed nucleotide insertions and deletions on virus evolution, viral fitness, and zoonotic potential deserves further study.

Native culture construction has been a prevalent issue in many countries, and its integration with intelligent technologies seems promising. In this work, we take the Chinese opera as the primary research object and propose a novel architecture design for an artificial intelligence-assisted culture conservation management system. This aims to address simple process flow and monotonous management functions provided by Java Business Process Management (JBPM). This aims to address simple process flow and monotonous management functions. On this basis, the dynamic nature of process design, management, and operation is also explored. We offer process solutions that align with cloud resource management through automated process map generation and dynamic audit management mechanisms. Several software performance testing works are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed culture management system. The testing results show that the design of such an artificial intelligence-based management system can work well for multiple scenarios of culture conservation affairs. This design has a robust system architecture for the protection and management platform building of non-heritage local operas, which has specific theoretical significance and practical reference value for promoting the protection and management platform building of non-heritage local operas and promoting the transmission and dissemination of traditional culture profoundly and effectively.

Estimating the age of pupa during the development time of the blow fly Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is of forensic significance as it assists in determining the time of colonization (TOC), which could help to determine the postmortem interval (PMI). However, establishing an objective, accurate, and efficient method for pupa age inference is still a leading matter of concern among forensic entomologists. In this study, we utilized hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology to analyze the reflectance changes of pupa development under different temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C). The spectrograms showed a downtrend under all temperatures. We used PCA to reduce the dimensionality of the spectral data, and then machine learning models (RF, SVR-RBF, SVR-POLY, XGBR, and Lasso) were built. RF, SVR with RBF kernel, and XGBR could show promise in accurate developmental time estimation using accumulated degree days. Among these, the XGBR model consistently exhibited the most minor errors, ranging between 3.9156 and 7.3951 (MAE). This study has identified the value of further refinement of HSI in forensic applications involving entomological specimens, and identified the considerable potential of HSI in forensic practice.

Abstract Background and Purpose Lafora disease (LD) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder manifesting primarily as fatal, congenital, and neurodegenerative epilepsies. We aimed to describe the MRI characteristics due to gene mutations in a Chinese pedigree with LD. Methods Whole‐exome sequencing, muscle biopsy, pedigree analysis, and MRI analysis were conducted. Five family members (two of whom were affected by LD) were whole‐genome sequenced. Longitudinal changes in brain MRI volumes were analyzed by Freesurfer. Results We identified a new intron heterozygous mutation in the EMP2A gene c.71 (exon 1) G>A in a Chinese LD pedigree that was characterized by refractory seizures, progressive vision impairment, and declines in motor and cognitive functions. The patient suffered generalized tonic–clonic seizures since the age of 15 years and had severe forms of progressive myoclonic seizure. She eventually died after being admitted to the intensive care unit due to status epilepticus at the age of 24 years. Period acid Schiff staining showed positive polyglucosan particles in muscle biopsy specimens. Regions of atrophy in the whole brain, and especially in the hippocampus, were detected. Conclusions We identified a new heterozygous mutation (c.71+1G>A) in a Chinese LD pedigree, which broadens the mutation spectrum of LD genes. We found that the patient exhibited brain volumetric atrophy along with rapidly worsening symptoms. These results contribute to our understanding of LD.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a versatile method to synthesize 2D materials, but usually requires high growth temperatures. Here, the authors report a BiOCl-assisted CVD approach to grow 2D nanosheets from 27 different layered and nonlayered materials at temperatures

Abstract Background Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has been used to diagnose and risk-stratify patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). The prognostic value of CMR parameters for LVNC, especially feature tracking (CMR-FT), is not well known in LVNC patients with left ventricular dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate whether the combination of CMR-FT with traditional CMR parameters can increase the prognostic value of CMR for LVNC patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods A total of 123 candidates were retrospectively included in this multicenter study and 55 LVNC patients (mean age, 45.7 ± 16.2 years; 61.8% men) remained after applying the exclusion criteria. Clinical features, left ventricular (LV) function parameters, global and segment myocardial strain, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were evaluated. The outcomes include the composite events of cardiovascular death, heart transplantation, hospitalization for heart failure, thromboembolic events, and ventricular arrhythmias. Results After a median follow-up of 5.17 years (interquartile range: 0.17 to 10.58 years), 24 (36.8%) patients experienced at least one major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). The myocardial strain parameters of patients with events were lower than those of patients without events. In the univariable Cox analysis, LVEF, the presence of LGE, global longitudinal strain (GLS) and segmental strains, including longitudinal strain at the apical level and radial and circumferential strain at the basal level, were significantly associated with MACEs. In the multivariate analysis, LGE (hazard ratio (HR) 3.452, 95% CI 1.133 to 10.518, p = 0.029) was a strong predictor of MACEs and significantly improved the predictive value (chi-square of the model after adding LGE: 7.51 vs. 13.47, p = 0.009). However, myocardial strain parameters were not statistically significant for the prediction of MACEs after adjusting for age, body mass index, LVEF and the presence of LGE and did not increase the prognostic value (chi-square of the model after adding GLS: 13.47 vs. 14.14, p = 0.411) in the multivariate model. Conclusions The combination of CMR-FT with traditional CMR parameters may not increase the prognostic value of CMR in LVNC patients with reduced LVEF, while the presence of LGE was a strong independent predictor of MACEs and significantly improved the predictive value.

In the navigation of rudderless dual-motor propulsion ships, it is often necessary for the dual motor to run stably at different given speeds. However, the existing coupling strategies cannot achieve precise cooperative control of the dual motor under different given commands. Therefore, in this study, we proposed a variable error difference compensation-coupling control (VEDC-CC) strategy. Simultaneously, a coupling compensation coefficient determination method based on the self-error difference of the dual motor was introduced. The VEDC-CC utilizes the self-error difference of the dual motor as the input for the coupling compensation controller, which enables the mutual coupling of self-errors, and effectively improves the cooperative controlling performance under different given commands. Moreover, the employed variable compensation coefficient determination method enhances the disturbance coupling performance and the response speed of the system. In this study, we analyzed the different navigation conditions and dual-propeller load characteristics of a rudderless dual-motor propulsion ship. Taking a rudderless dual-motor propulsion ship designed based on the cruise ship “Feng Hua Xue Yue” as the object, the VEDC-CC strategy was validated through simulation tests, considering the propeller load characteristics and actual operating conditions. The experimental results demonstrated that the VEDC-CC strategy could meet the practical control needs of the target ship.

To overcome the shortcoming of the Fuzzy C-means algorithm (FCM)—that it is easy to fall into local optima due to the dependence of sub-spatial clustering on initialization—a Multi-Strategy Tuna Swarm Optimization-Fuzzy C-means (MSTSO-FCM) algorithm is proposed. Firstly, a chaotic local search strategy and an offset distribution estimation strategy algorithm are proposed to improve the performance, enhance the population diversity of the Tuna Swarm Optimization (TSO) algorithm, and avoid falling into local optima. Secondly, the search and development characteristics of the MSTSO algorithm are introduced into the fuzzy matrix of Fuzzy C-means (FCM), which overcomes the defects of poor global searchability and sensitive initialization. Not only has the searchability of the Multi-Strategy Tuna Swarm Optimization algorithm been employed, but the fuzzy mathematical ideas of FCM have been retained, to improve the clustering accuracy, stability, and accuracy of the FCM algorithm. Finally, two sets of artificial datasets and multiple sets of the University of California Irvine (UCI) datasets are used to do the testing, and four indicators are introduced for evaluation. The results show that the MSTSO-FCM algorithm has better convergence speed than the Tuna Swarm Optimization Fuzzy C-means (TSO-FCM) algorithm, and its accuracies in the heart, liver, and iris datasets are 89.46%, 63.58%, 98.67%, respectively, which is an outstanding improvement.

Abstract Background Currently, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, and dyslipidaemia is an independent and modifiable major risk factor. Previous studies on shift work with dyslipidaemia and hair cortisol concentration (HCC) have yielded conflicting results. The aim of this study was to clarify the association between shift work, dyslipidaemia, and HCC. We further explored the mediating effect of HCC. Methods In this cohort study, baseline data were collected from participants in May 2013. The cohort included 2170 participants- 1348 shift workers and 822 non-shift workers- who were followed up for 6 years with four questionnaire surveys from July 2014, October 2015, and May to December 2019. Hair samples were collected from 340 participants during the baseline period for HCC testing with an automated radioimmunoassay. Dyslipidaemia was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III diagnostic criteria. Results Shift workers had a higher risk of dyslipidaemia than workers on the fixed day shift (two-shift RR = 1.408, 95% CI: 1.102–1.798; three-shift RR = 1.478, 95% CI: 1.134–1.926; four-shift RR = 1.589, 95% CI: 1.253–2.015). Additionally, shift workers had higher HCC levels than fixed day shift workers, with geometric mean concentration (GMC) ± geometric standard difference (GSD) = 2.625 ± 2.012 ng/g, two-shift GMC ± GSD = 3.487 ± 1.930 ng/g, three-shift GMC ± GSD = 2.994 ± 1.813 ng/g, and four-shift GMC ± GSD = 3.143 ± 1.720 ng/g. High HCC was associated with a high incidence of dyslipidaemia. After controlling for confounding factors, this study showed that HCC played a role in mediating dyslipidaemia in shift workers and accounted for 16.24% of the effect. Conclusions Shift work was linked to increased risk of dyslipidaemia compared with fixed day shift work. Higher HCC was associated with a higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia. HCC had a significant mediating effect on dyslipidaemia in shift workers.

BackgroundNeutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play an important role in the development and progression of ulcerative colitis (UC). Peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) is essential for the formation of NETs via catalyzing histone citrullination. This study mainly to explore the role of PAD4-mediated NETs in intestinal inflammation of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC.MethodsAcute and chronic colitis mouse models were established by supplementing DSS in drinking water. Colon tissues from colitis mice were analyzed for the level of PAD4 expression, citrullinated histone H3(Cit-H3), intestinal histopathology, and inflammatory cytokines secretion. Serum samples were tested for systemic neutrophil activation biomarkers. Colitis mice administered with Cl-amidine, a PAD4 inhibitor, and PAD4 knockout mice were investigated to detect NETs formation, intestinal inflammation, and barrier function.ResultWe found the formation of NETs significantly increased in DSS-induced colitis mice and was correlated with disease markers. Blocking NETs formation by Cl-amidine or PAD4 genetic knockout could alleviate clinical colitis index, intestinal inflammation, and barrier dysfunction.ConclusionThis study provided a research basis for the role of PAD4-mediated NETs formation in the pathogenesis of UC and suggested that inhibition of PAD4 activity and the formation of NETs may be helpful for the prevention and treatment of UC.

ObjectiveAn analysis of the clinical features of autoimmune encephalitis accompanied by anti-amphiphysin antibodies.MethodsThe data of encephalitis patients with anti-amphiphysin antibodies were retrospectively evaluated, including demographics, neurological and laboratory findings, imaging, treatment, and prognostic predictions.ResultsTen patients aged between 29 and 78 years (median age 52 years) were included. The male: female ratio was 4:6. Limbic encephalitis was found in nine patients while epileptic seizures were present in seven patients. All patients showed anti-amphiphysin antibody positivity in sera while one ninth was positive for CSF antibody. The EEG findings were abnormal, including reductions in background activity, and the presence of diffuse slow waves, sharp waves, and spikes and waves. Five patients showed signs of increased T2 signals in the medial temporal lobe on MRI while PET showed either hyper- or hypo-metabolic changes in several brain regions, including the temporal lobe, hippocampus, basal ganglia, frontal and parietal cortices. Nine of ten patients were treated with immunotherapy, with improvements of varying degrees. There was a significant reduction in seizure frequency, and all patients were seizure-free at last follow-up.ConclusionAutoimmune encephalitis with anti-amphiphysin antibodies has a variety of clinical manifestations. The most common symptom is limbic encephalitis. Although relief from seizures can be achieved relatively easily, many patients suffer psychiatric, cognitive, and sleep sequelae. The disease was found to be associated with a lower incidence of cancer than has been previously reported for paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes.

Objectives: To describe hospital spending and length of stay for mental disorders in Hunan, China. Methods: We extracted hospital care data for Hunan province from the Chinese National Health Statistics Network Reporting System. Patients with mental disorders (ICD-10 codes: F00 to F99) as the principal diagnosis and hospitalized between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019 were included. We retrieved information on age, sex, number of comorbidities, diagnosis, level of hospital, hospital costs, date of admission and discharge, length of stay (LOS), and method of payment of eligible participants. Spending at the provincial level, and spending and LOS at the individual level were described. Quantile regression and linear regression were conducted to investigate factors for hospital cost and LOS for major mental disorders. Results: The 2019 annual spending on mental disorders in Hunan province was 160 million US dollars, and 71.7% was paid by insurance. The annual spending on schizophrenia was 84 million dollars, contributing to a primary burden of mental disorders. The median spending for mental disorders was $1,085 per patient, and the median hospital stay was 22 days. The study identified several significant factors associated with hospital cost and LOS, including age, sex, comorbidity, and level of the hospital. In particular, a higher level of the hospital was associated with a higher hospital spending but a shorter LOS. Women with schizophrenia had a comparable hospital spending but a significantly shorter LOS than men with schizophrenia. Conclusion: Hospitalization spending for patients with mental disorders is substantial. Schizophrenia is the major burden of hospitalization for mental disorders. While patients treated at a higher level of hospital had higher spending, they stayed shorter in these hospitals.

Abstract With oceanic reverberation and a large amount of data being the main sources of interference for underwater acoustic target detection, it is difficult to obtain a more robust detection performance by relying on the traditional constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detection method. An adaptive sonar CFAR detection method based on a back propagation (BP) neural network is proposed. The method combines the artificial intelligence algorithm and the traditional detection algorithm, and uses the classification ability of the algorithm to select the detection algorithm, which can effectively improve the adaptation ability of the algorithm and the environment and the false alarm control ability. The method combines the artificial intelligence algorithm and the traditional detection algorithm, and uses the classification ability of the algorithm to select the detection algorithm, which can effectively improve the adaptation ability of the algorithm and the environment and the false alarm control ability. This method uses a BP neural network to train the target echo signal to complete the clutter background classification and establish the clutter background recognition classification set. According to the output result of each classification, the best CFAR detector is selected from four CA/SO/GO/OS‐CFAR detectors to detect the target. The simulation results show the detection performance of the proposed method in a uniform environment, a multi‐target environment, and a clutter edge environment. The results show that the environment adaptability is strong for different clutter backgrounds, which further improves the control ability of false alarms under a non‐uniform background.

Food safety has emerged as a significant concern for global public health and sustainable development. The development of analytical tools capable of rapidly, conveniently, and sensitively detecting food safety hazards is imperative. Over the past few decades, personal glucose meters (PGMs), characterized by their rapid response, low cost, and high degree of commercialization, have served as portable signal output devices extensively utilized in the construction of biosensors. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanism underlying the construction of PGM-based biosensors, which consists of three fundamental components: recognition, signal transduction, and signal output. It also detailedly enumerates available recognition and signal transduction elements, and their modes of integration. Then, a multitude of instances is examined to present the latest advancements in the application of PGMs in food safety detection, including targets such as pathogenic bacteria, mycotoxins, agricultural and veterinary drug residues, heavy metal ions, and illegal additives. Finally, the challenges and prospects of PGM-based biosensors are highlighted, aiming to offer valuable references for the iterative refinement of detection techniques and provide a comprehensive framework and inspiration for further investigations.

The unequal distribution of territorial space resources stands out as a leading cause of the human–land contradictions and environmental degradation. These issues are especially pronounced in the Minjiang River Basin, which exhibits significant regional disparities. In pursuit of solutions to these pressing problems and the identification of sustainable developmental pathways, this study presents an innovative territorial space double optimization simulation model. This model integrates quantity structure optimization and distribution pattern optimization, in order to comprehensively consider the optimization of territorial space allocation and build a new territorial space pattern for the Minjiang River Basin in 2030. On this basis, we employed the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model and scenario analysis method to design the double optimization scenario and natural development scenario. By comparing these two scenarios, and calculating the ecological benefits (EB), economic benefits (ECB), carbon storage (CS), and comprehensive benefits (CB) achieved in different scenarios, the validity of the double optimization model was fully verified. The results indicated that: ① the loss of sub-ecological space (PeS) under the natural development scenario was significantly larger than that under the double optimization scenario, and the loss should be mainly attributed to the large expansion of production space (PS) and living space (LS); ② the area of ecological space (ES) has reduced since 2020, but less area was lost and the retention rate was higher under the double optimization scenario; ③ the natural development scenario made the research region gain more ECB, but it also resulted in the loss of more EB and CS, whereas the Minjiang River Basin under the double optimization scenario was able to effectively balance the relationship among the three, thus achieving the best CB. The research findings provide strong scientific support for alleviating the human–land contradictions, protecting the ecological security in the basin, and promoting the sustainable development of the region.

Immunosuppressants are emerging as promising candidates for cancer therapy with lower cytotoxicity compared to traditional chemotherapy drugs; yet, the intrinsic side effects such as immunosuppression remain a critical concern. Herein, we introduce a photoactivatable antitumor immunosuppressant called dmBODIPY-FTY720 (BF) that shows no cytotoxicity but can be temporally and locally activated by deep-red light illumination to induce tumor cell apoptosis. To further reduce potential side effects, we integrate BF with another classic photosensitizer called methylene blue (MB) that is activated under the same wavelength of deep-red light (>650 nm) and successfully establish a red-light-activatable AND Boolean logic gate through a mechanism that we found to be synergetic apoptotic induction. At further decreased dosages, deep-red light illumination does not induce cell death in the presence of either BF or MB, but significant cancer cell death is triggered in the presence of both drugs. Therefore, the dosage of BF is further reduced, which will be highly beneficial to minimize any potential side effects of BF. This AND-gated strategy has been successfully applied in vivo for effective suppression of hepatocarcinoma tumors in living mice.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between changing occupational stress levels, hair cortisol concentration (HCC), and hypertension.MethodsBaseline blood pressure of 2520 workers was measured in 2015. The Occupational Stress Inventory-Revised Edition (OSI-R) was used to assess changes in occupational stress. Occupational stress and blood pressure were followed up annually from January 2016 to December 2017. The final cohort numbered 1784 workers. The mean age of the cohort was 37.77±7.53 years and the percentage male was 46.52%. At baseline, 423 eligible subjects were randomly selected for hair sample collection to determine cortisol levels.ResultsIncreased occupational stress was a risk factor for hypertension [risk ratio (RR) = 4.200, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.734-10.172]. The HCC of workers with elevated occupational stress was higher than that of workers with constant occupational stress [(ORQ score ≥70: geometric mean±geometric standard deviation = 5.25±3.59 ng/g hair; 60-90: 5.02±4.00; 40-59: 3.45±3.41; ConclusionsIncreased occupational stress could lead to an increase in hypertension incidence. High HCC could increase the risk of hypertension. HCC acts as a mediator between occupational stress and hypertension.

Some existing chaotic maps have the drawbacks of a narrow range of chaotic parameters and discontinuities, which may be inherited by new chaotic systems generated from them as seed maps. We propose a chaotic model that can generate N-dimensional chaotic systems to overcome the problem. By fixing the original parameters of the seed map in the chaotic range, we then introduce new parameters and use modular operations to widen the range of the parameters and increase the complexity. Simulation results show that the generated chaotic system has good chaotic dynamics. Based on this chaotic model, we propose a multiple-image encryption algorithm that is not limited by image type, number, and size. The resistance to plaintext attacks is enhanced by a permutation–diffusion algorithm based on overlapping blocks. We design a newly defined lookup table operation based on Latin squares with enhanced nonlinearity and randomness. By adjusting the overlapping block parameters and the number of Latin squares, users can design different encryption levels to balance encryption efficiency and encryption effectiveness. The experimental results show that the proposed image encryption algorithm can effectively encrypt multiple images, and all the evaluation indexes reach the expected value.

A mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can increase the risk of neurodegenerative-related disease, and serious long-term outcomes are often overlooked. In forensic science, the accurate identification of mTBIs can directly affect the application of evidence in practice cases. Recent research has revealed that the oral cavity and fecal microbiota play a fundamental role in deeply interconnecting the gut and brain injury. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the temporal changes of the oral cavity and fecal bacterial communities with damage identification and post-injury time estimation after mTBI. In this study, we analyzed the oral cavity and fecal bacterial communities in mTBI rats under 12 different post-injury times (sham, 0 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 2 d, 3 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d, and 14 d post-injury) using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The sequence results revealed bacteria belonging to 36 phyla, 82 classes, 211 orders, 360 families, 751 genera, and 1398 species. Compared to the sham group, the relative abundance of the bacterial communities varied markedly in the post-injury groups. Importantly, our data demonstrated that Fusobacteria, Prevotellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Lactobacillaceae might be the potential candidates for mTBI identification, and 2 h post-injury was a critical time point to explore the temporal changes of mTBI injury-time estimation. The results also provide new ideas for mTBI treatment in the clinic.

Gout is a chronic disease. Gout symptoms are often experienced in the middle of the night. The onset of gout in the middle of the night is closely related to abnormal liver and gallbladder meridian. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and possible mechanism of action of Tongbixiao pills in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. The Tongbixiao pills we used included several traditional Chinese medicines, most of which tonify the spleen; strengthen the liver; benefit the kidney; and reduce heat, dampness, and blood stasis. In this randomized clinical study of 105 patients, we found that Tongbixiao pills can reduce uric acid levels in hyperuricemia patients. Additionally, the efficacy was similar to that of allopurinol and the level of uric acid did not increase significantly at eight weeks after withdrawal. In the absence of notable adverse reactions, Tongbixiao pills can also increase uric acid excretion, reduce serum creatinine and lipid levels, and reduce inflammation and relieve gout symptoms. In addition, we used SD rats to simulate gout and arthritis and divided them into five groups: normal group, model group, low-dose group, medium-dose group, and high-dose group. The inflammatory indices of the 40 SD rats were observed. After seven days, ankle swelling in rats in the treatment group was significantly reduced. The indices of uric acid, creatinine, and urea nitrogen in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group, which proved that Tongbixiao pills could inhibit hyperuricemia in rats, thus treating gout. This study demonstrates that Tongbixiao pills can treat gout, provide more treatment options for gouty arthritis, and improve the quality of life of patients.

Heat treatment is one of the most effective controlling factors used to improve the thermal conductivity (TC) of any alloy castings. In this work, the microstructure of the Al-7Si binary alloy modified by heat treatment at 520 °C for 1−48 h was reported. Both size and shape of the eutectic Si particles are affected by the heat treatment process. Optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were carried out to characterize the eutectic Si phase transformation. The acicular-shaped eutectic `Si particles were broken into smaller segments and gradually spheroidized. The TC of the alloy heat treated for 12 h increases by 10.5% compared to the as-cast alloy. The correlation between the TC performance and the morphology of eutectic Si phases is detailed discussed.

Abstract Low‐dimensional (including two‐dimensional [2D], one‐dimensional [1D], and zero‐dimensional [0D]) semiconductor materials have great potential in electronic/optoelectronic applications due to their unique structure and characteristics. Many 2D (such as transition metal dichalcogenides and black phosphorus) and 1D (such as NWs) materials have demonstrated superior performance in field effect transistors, photodetectors (PDs), and some flexible devices. And in some hybrid structures of 0D materials and 1D or 2D materials, the modification of 1D and 2D devices by 0D materials is embodied. This type of hybrid heterostructure has a larger performance optimization compared with the original. In the application of PDs, the variety of low‐dimensional materials and properties enable wide‐spectrum detection from ultraviolet UV to infrared, which provide a potential option for PDs under various conditions. For flexible electronic devices, high performance and mechanical stability are two important features. Low‐dimensional materials offer unparalleled advantages in flexible devices. In this review, we will focus on the various low‐dimensional materials that have been extensively studied and their applications in the electronics/optoelectronic and flexible electronics. From the composition and lattice structure of materials (including alloys) to the construction of various devices and heterostructures, we will introduce their application and recent development under various conditions. These works can provide valuable guidance for the construction and application of more high‐performance and multifunctional devices.

The majority of the sonic frequency bands used in active sonar detection and identification are within the resonance region of the target. The poles of target are very important characteristics of the resonance region. This paper analyzes and studies the method of extracting poles by using the matrix Pencil Method. A method which can determine the number of poles of underwater target automatically is proposed. It can average the poles that are gathered to synthesize a point as an alternative pole. Then by setting up a reasonable threshold. The poles with the higher energy in the target echo is extracted as the main pole. Aiming at the problem that the main poles of the target are missing or there are false poles in some directions, the main poles extracted from multiple directions of the target are integrated to obtain the final poles of the target. Finally, to prove the feasibility of proposed novel method echo pole extraction, the experiment was conducted in underwater spherical shell and thin rod in a silencing pool.

We examined nasal swabs and serum samples acquired from dromedary camels in Nigeria and Ethiopia during 2015–2017 for evidence of influenza virus infection. We detected antibodies against influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) viruses and isolated an influenza A(H1N1)pdm09–like virus from a camel in Nigeria. Influenza surveillance in dromedary camels is needed.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationships among N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) exposure, cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs2031920, rs3813867, rs6413432), transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) SNP rs58542926 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: Baseline data were collected from participants who were then followed for 5 years in a prospective cohort study. The cohort initially consisted of 802 workers and ultimately included 660 people, all of whom underwent annual occupational health examinations from 2010 to 2015. Results: The above-threshold group (≥7.3 mg/m³ adjusted relative risk (RR)= 3.620, 95%CI 2.072–6.325) was significantly more likely to develop NAFLD than the below-threshold group (

ObjectiveThis work aims to analyze the 100 most cited papers in radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer.MethodsThe 100 most cited papers in radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy between 1990 and 2020 were identified with Thompson Reuters Web of Science citation indexing on August 24, 2020. The publication years, source titles, countries/regions, total citations, and average citations per year were extracted from the Web of Science. The research type and research domain were classified by the authors.ResultsThese 100 papers were cited a total of 28,714 times, and the median number of citations was 169.5 (ranging from 116 to 1,700 times). The most cited paper was “Concurrent cisplatin-based radiotherapy and chemotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer” by Rose et al., with a total citation of 1,700 times. The International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics (40 papers), Radiotherapy and Oncology (14 papers), and the Journal of Clinical Oncology (12 papers) published the largest number of papers. USA (47 papers), Austria (18 papers), Canada (13 papers), and England (13 papers) contributed the largest number of papers. Image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) had the largest number of papers (25 papers). Concurrent chemotherapy was the most cited research domain, with 10,663 total citations and 592.4 citations per paper.ConclusionIn the present study, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most cited papers in radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer in the past 30 years. IGABT and concurrent chemotherapy were the most cited research domains.

Current diagnostic criteria for left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) may be poorly related to adverse prognosis. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is a predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), but risk stratification of LGE in patients with LVNC remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) data of 75 patients from three institutes and examined the correlation between different LGE types and MACE based on the extent, pattern (including a specific ring-like pattern), and locations of LGE in LVNC. A total of 51 patients (68%) presented LGE. A specific ring-like pattern was observed in 9 (12%). MACE occurred in 29 (38.7%) at 4.3 years of follow-up (interquartile range: 2.1–5.7 years). The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for patients with ring-like LGE were 6.10 (95% CI, 1.39–26.75, p < 0.05). Free-wall or mid-wall LGE was associated with an increased risk of MACE after adjustment (HR 2.85, 95% CI, 1.31–6.21; HR 4.35, 95% CI, 1.23–15.37, respectively, p < 0.05). The risk of MACE in LVNC significantly increased when the LGE extent was greater than 7.5% and ring-like, multiple segments, and free-wall LGE were associated with MACE. These results suggest the value of LGE risk stratification in patients with LVNC.

Abstract With the increasing demand for detection accuracy and sensitivity, dual‐band polarimetric image sensor has attracted considerable attention due to better object recognition by processing signals from diverse wavebands. However, the widespread use of polarimetric sensors is still limited by high noise, narrow photoresponse range, and low linearly dichroic ratio. Recently, the low‐dimensional materials with intrinsic in‐plane anisotropy structure exhibit the great potential to realize direct polarized photodetection. Here, strong anisotropy of 1D layered bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) is demonstrated experimentally and theoretically. The Bi2S3 photodetector exhibits excellent device performance, which enables high photoresponsivity (32 A W−1), Ion/Ioff ratio (1.08 × 104), robust linearly dichroic ratio (1.9), and Hooge parameter (2.0 × 10−5 at 1 Hz) which refer to lower noise than most reported low‐dimensional materials‐based devices. Impressively, such Bi2S3 nanowire exhibits a good broadband photoresponse, ranging from ultraviolet (360 nm) to short‐wave infrared (1064 nm). Direct polarimetric imaging is implemented at the wavelengths of 532 and 808 nm. With these remarkable features, the 1D Bi2S3 nanowires show great potential for direct dual‐band polarimetric image sensors without using any external optical polarizer.

Evidence has demonstrated that either metabolites or intestinal microbiota are involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD). To explore the interaction between plasma metabolomics and intestinal microbiome in the progress of T2D-DKD, in the current study, we analyzed metabolomics in the plasma of db/db mice with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and also examined intestinal prokaryotes and entire gut microbiome dysbiosis at the genus level with both 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing techniques. We found that Negativibacillus and Rikenella were upregulated, while Akkermansia, Candidatus, Erysipelatoclostridium and Ileibacterium were downregulated in the colon of db/db mice compared with non-diabetic controls. In parallel, a total of 91 metabolites were upregulated, while 23 were downregulated in the plasma of db/db mice. The top five upregulated metabolites included D-arabinose 5-phosphate, estrone 3-sulfate, L-theanine, 3′-aenylic acid and adenosine 5′-monophosphate, and the five most significantly downregulated metabolites were aurohyocholic acid sodium salt, calcium phosphorylcholine chloride, tauro-alpha-muricholic acid sodium salt, galactinol and phosphocholine. These plasma metabolites were interacted with intestinal microbiomes, which are mainly involved in the pathways related to the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid elongation, steroid biosynthesis, and D-arginine and D-ornithine metabolism. In the differential metabolites, N-acetyl-L-ornithine, ornithine and L-kyn could be metabolized by the correspondingly differential ontology genes in the intestinal metagenome. The current study thereby provides evidence for a gut–metabolism–kidney axis in the metabolism of db/db mice, in which the gut microbiome and circulating metabolomics interact, and suggests that information from this axis may contribute to our understanding of T2D and DKD pathogenesis.

Objective The present study was designed to demonstrate the relationships among shift work, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and sleep disorders.Design A cross-sectional study.Setting Three petroleum administrations in Karamay city of Xinjiang, China.Participants 435 individuals including 164 males and 271 females participated in the research.Outcome measures Information on shift work was collected by a self-administered questionnaire. HCC was determined using an automatic radioimmunoassay instrument. Sleep quality was measured on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale.Results Shiftwork was associated with an increased prevalence of sleep disorders compared with the fixed day shift (two shifts: OR 3.11, 95% CI 1.57 to 6.19; three shifts: OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.38 to 5.98; four shifts: OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.17 to 4.18; others: OR 3.88, 95% CI= 1.36 to 11.08). Workers with different shift patterns had higher HCC levels than day workers ((fixed day shift: geometric mean±geometric SD=2.33±1.65; two shifts: 3.76±1.47; three shifts: 3.15±1.64; four shifts: 3.81±1.55; others: 3.60±1.33) ng/g hair, η2=0.174) and high HCC was associated with the higher prevalence of sleep disorders (OR 4.46, 95% CI 2.70 to 7.35). The mediating effect of HCC on the relationship between shift work and sleep disorders was 0.25 (95% CI 0.09 to 0.41).Conclusion We found that, when compared with the fixed day shift, shiftwork was associated with both the higher HCC, and also with an increased risk of sleep disorders. High HCC was associated with the occurrence of sleep disorders. In addition, HCC had mediating effect in shift work and sleep disorders. Thus, HCC can be considered as an early marker of shiftwork circadian disruption to early detection and management of sleep disorders.

Flower of Gentiana veitchiorum has traditionally been used as an herbal medicine in Tibet for treatment of variola, respiratory infection, and pneumonia. However, the effective components contained in flower are not identified yet, and the underlying mechanisms for anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidative activities remain to be elucidated. Here, we first extracted the flavonoid mixture from G. veitchiorum flower. The mixture was then further isolated and the within compounds was identified through the high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS). The results showed that apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone) was the most abundant flavonoid in G. veitchiorum flower. We next examined the antioxidative activity of the extracted apigenin using the ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) assays and found that a positive correlation between apigenin concentration and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging rate. The biochemical assays further revealed that the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were reduced, while the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was increased after apigenin treatment in hyperlipidemic rats. Moreover, we performed histopathological investigations and found that the lipidic deposition patterns were recovered and the amount of lipid vacuoles was significantly reduced in apigenin-treated hyperlipidemic rat liver. Western blotting assay showed that the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) were up-regulated in the apigenin-treated samples. Overall, our results demonstrated that the apigenin isolated from G. veitchiorum flower exhibited radical scavenging activities, and reversed the high fat diet-induced oxidative damage in rats. Its antioxidative activities are probably achieved via LDLR-LCAT signaling pathway.

In some legume–rhizobium symbioses, host specificity is influenced by rhizobial type III effectors-nodulation outer proteins (Nops). However, the genes encoding host proteins that interact with Nops remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to identify candidate soybean genes associated with NopD, one of the type III effectors of Sinorhizobium fredii HH103. The results showed that the expression pattern of NopD was analyzed in rhizobia induced by genistein. We also found NopD can be induced by TtsI, and NopD as a toxic effector can induce tobacco leaf death. In 10 soybean germplasms, NopD played a positively effect on nodule number (NN) and nodule dry weight (NDW) in nine germplasms, but not in Kenjian28. Significant phenotype of NN and NDW were identified between Dongnong594 and Charleston, Suinong14 and ZYD00006, respectively. To map the quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with NopD, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross between Dongnong594 and Charleston, and chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from Suinong14 and ZYD00006 were used. Two overlapping conditional QTL associated with NopD on chromosome 19 were identified. Two candidate genes were identified in the confident region of QTL, we found that NopD could influence the expression of Glyma.19g068600 (FBD/LRR) and expression of Glyma.19g069200 (PP2C) after HH103 infection. Haplotype analysis showed that different types of Glyma.19g069200 haplotypes could cause significant nodule phenotypic differences, but Glyma.19g068600 (FBD/LRR) was not. These results suggest that NopD promotes S. fredii HH103 infection via directly or indirectly regulating Glyma.19g068600 and Glyma.19g069200 expression during the establishment of symbiosis between rhizobia and soybean plants.

Adipic acid is one of the most important feedstocks for producing resins, nylons, lubricants, plasticizers. Current industrial petrochemical process, producing adipic acid from KA oil, catalyzed by nitric acid, has a serious pollution to the environment, due to the formation of waste nitrous oxide. Hence, developing cleaner methods to produce adipic acid has attracted much attention of both industry and academia. This mini-review article discussed advances on adipic acid synthesis from bio-renewable feedstocks, as well as most recent progress on cleaner technology from fossil fuels over novel catalytic materials. This work on recent advances in green adipic acid production will provide insights and guidance to further study of various other industrial processes for producing nylon precursors.

La educación femenina de las etnias minoritarias de China presenta problemas importantes que tienen repercusiones que van más allá del propio desarrollo personal y profesional de estas mujeres. A ello se añade que las investigaciones realizadas al respecto se concentran principalmente en las zonas desarrolladas, dejando de lado zonas remotas y atrasadas como Xinjiang. Por ello, el objetivo de este trabajo es identificar los estudios desarrollados para conocer la situación educativa de dichas mujeres. Atendiendo a este propósito, hemos realizado una revisión documental, debido principalmente a la dificultad para realizar investigaciones in situ. Los resultados muestran problemas en la educación femenina de las etnias minoritarias: gran número de analfabetas y con bajo estatus social, escaso porcentaje de escolarización, diferencias regionales y étnicas, influencia del pensamiento tradicional y religioso, limitado nivel educativo e insuficiente calidad de la educación. Finalmente, ofrecemos algunas sugerencias que pueden ayudar a solventar estos problemas.

Tooth loss is a prevailing condition in China due to the high prevalence of oral diseases. Since previous studies explored the association between tooth loss and handgrip strength showed incongruous results, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between tooth loss and handgrip strength in Tianjin, China. Cross-sectional data in the present study used baseline data of Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) Cohort Study during 2013-2016. Eligible adults (n = 26275) were classified into four groups depending on the number of missing teeth (excluding third molars): 0, 1-2, 3-5 and ≥6. Handgrip strength was measured using a handheld type dynamometer. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the relationships between tooth loss and handgrip strength and handgrip strength per body weight according to gender. After adjustment for potential confounders, the relationships existed between increasing categories of tooth loss and handgrip strength, as well as handgrip strength per weight. The data of stratified analysis showed that there was a trending association between decreased handgrip strength and fewer retained teeth both in males and females less than 60 years of age (P for trend

Given their superior dynamics, microprobes represent promising probe candidates for high-speed roughness measurement applications. Their disadvantage, however, lies in the fact that the volume of the microprobe’s silicon tip decreases dramatically during roughness measurement, and the unstable tip geometry leads to an increase in measurement uncertainty. To investigate the factors that influence tip geometry variation during roughness measurement, a rectangular-shaped tip characterizer was employed to characterize the tip geometry, and a method for reconstructing the tip geometry from the measured profile was introduced. Experiments were conducted to explore the ways in which the tip geometry is influenced by tip wear, probing force, and the relative movement of the tip with respect to the sample. The results indicate that tip fracture and not tip wear is the main reason for tip volume loss, and that the lateral dynamic load on the tip during scanning mode is responsible for more tip fracture than are other factors.