An investigation of the risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in natural population-based cohorts in China - a nested case-control study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become one of the most significant chronic diseases in China. According to conventional wisdom, smoking is the pathogenic factor. However, current research indicates that the pathophysiology of COPD may be associated with prior respiratory system events (e.g., childhood hospitalization for pneumonia, chronic bronchitis) and environmental exposure (e.g., dust from workplace, indoor combustion particles). Dyspnea, persistent wheezing, and other respiratory symptoms further point to the need for pulmonary function tests in this population. Reducing the burden of chronic diseases in China requires a thorough understanding of the various factors that influence the occurrence of COPD. Methods: Using a cohort from the natural population, this study used nested case-control analysis. We carried out a number of researches, including questionnaire surveys and pulmonary function testing, in the Northwest and Southeast cohorts of China between 2014 and 2021. After removing any variations in the baseline data between patients and control subjects using propensity score matching analysis, the risk factors were examined using univariate or multivariate regression. Result: It was discovered that prior history of chronic bronchitis, long-term wheezing symptoms, and environmental exposure-including smoking and biofuel combustion-were risk factors for COPD. Dyspnea, symptoms of mobility limitation, organic matter, and a history of hospitalization for pneumonia at an early age were not significant in the clinical model but their incidence in COPD group is higher than that in healthy population. Discussion: COPD screening effectiveness can be increased by looking for individuals with chronic respiratory symptoms. Smokers should give up as soon as they can, and families that have been exposed to biofuels for a long time should convert to clean energy or upgrade their ventilation. Individuals who have previously been diagnosed with emphysema and chronic bronchitis ought to be extra mindful of the prevention or advancement of COPD.

Production of gas-releasing electrolyte-replenishing Ah-scale zinc metal pouch cells with aqueous gel electrolyte.

Aqueous zinc batteries are ideal candidates for grid-scale energy storage because of their safety and low-cost aspects. However, the production of large-format aqueous Zn batteries is hindered by electrolyte consumption, hydrogen gas evolution and accumulation, and Zn dendrites growth. To circumvent these issues, here we propose an "open" pouch cell design for large-format production of aqueous Zn batteries, which can release hydrogen gas and allow the refilling of the electrolyte components consumed during cell cycling. The cell uses a gel electrolyte containing crosslinked kappa (k)-carrageenan and chitosan. It bonds water molecules and hinders their side reaction with Zn, preventing electrolyte leakage and fast evaporation. As a proof-of-concept, we report the assembly and testing of a Zn | |ZnxV2O5·nH2O multi-layer "open" pouch cell using the carrageenan/chitosan gel electrolyte, which delivers an initial discharge capacity of 0.9 Ah and 84% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 200 mA g‒1, 370 kPa and 25 °C.

Core strength training in university female tennis players / Treino de fortalecimento do core em tenistas universitárias / Entrenamiento de la fuerza del core en tenistas universitarias

ABSTRACT Introduction Core strength training has been extensively used in competitive sports training, achieving remarkable results in the most competitive sports training by maximizing athletes' strength and accuracy. It is believed that a specific protocol for female university tennis players can bring the same results. Objective Verify the effectiveness of core strength training in the performance of female university tennis players. Methods Randomized controlled trial of female university tennis players (n=40) with a specific core strength training protocol versus traditional strength training methods. Changes in tactical skills pre and post-experiment were compared. Descriptive statistical treatment of the collected results was confronted with current literature. Results Compared with traditional strength training, core strength training proved to be more conducive to developing core strength in female college tennis players. Conclusion Core strength training assists in the development of skills and tactics in female college tennis players. Evidence level II; Therapeutic Studies - Investigating the results.

RESUMO Introdução O treino de fortalecimento do core tem sido amplamente utilizado no treinamento esportivo competitivo, alcançando resultados notáveis no treino esportivo mais acirrado ao maximizar a força e precisão dos atletas. Acredita-se que um protocolo específico para as tenistas universitárias possa causar os mesmos resultados. Objetivo Verificar a eficácia do treinamento de força do core no treinamento de tenistas universitárias. Métodos Estudo randomizado controlado de tenistas universitárias (n=40) com protocolo específico de fortalecimento de core para fortalecimento versus métodos tradicionais de treino de força. Foram comparadas as alterações das habilidades táticas pré e pós experimento. O tratamento estatístico descritivo dos resultados coletados foi confrontado com a literatura atual. Resultados Comparado com o treinamento de força tradicional, o treinamento de força do core revelou-se mais propício ao desenvolvimento da força do core em tenistas universitárias. Conclusão O treinamento de força do core auxilia no desenvolvimento da habilidade e tática das tenistas universitárias. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - Investigação de resultados.

RESUMEN Introducción El entrenamiento de la fuerza del core se ha utilizado ampliamente en el entrenamiento deportivo de competición, logrando resultados notables en el entrenamiento deportivo más competitivo al maximizar la fuerza y la precisión de los atletas. Se cree que un protocolo específico para los tenistas universitarios puede provocar los mismos resultados. Objetivo Comprobar la eficacia del entrenamiento de la fuerza del core en el entrenamiento de las tenistas universitarias. Métodos Estudio controlado aleatorio de jugadoras de tenis universitarias (n=40) con un protocolo específico de entrenamiento de la fuerza del core para el fortalecimiento frente a los métodos tradicionales de entrenamiento de la fuerza. Se compararon los cambios en las habilidades tácticas antes y después del experimento. El tratamiento estadístico descriptivo de los resultados recogidos se confrontó con la literatura actual. Resultados En comparación con el entrenamiento de fuerza tradicional, el entrenamiento de fuerza del core demostró ser más propicio para el desarrollo de la fuerza del core en las tenistas universitarias. Conclusión El entrenamiento de la fuerza del core ayuda al desarrollo de la habilidad y la táctica de las tenistas universitarias. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - Investigación de resultados.

Sequencing of methylase-accessible regions in integral circular extrachromosomal DNA reveals differences in chromatin structure.

BACKGROUND: Although extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) has been intensively studied for several decades, the mechanisms underlying its tumorigenic effects have been revealed only recently. In most conventional sequencing studies, the high-throughput short-read sequencing largely ignores the epigenetic status of most ecDNA regions except for the junctional areas. METHODS: Here, we developed a method of sequencing enzyme-accessible chromatin in circular DNA (CCDA-seq) based on the use of methylase to label open chromatin without fragmentation and exonuclease to enrich ecDNA sequencing depth, followed by long-read nanopore sequencing. RESULTS: Using CCDA-seq, we observed significantly different patterns in nucleosome/regulator binding to ecDNA at a single-molecule resolution. CONCLUSIONS: These results deepen the understanding of ecDNA regulatory mechanisms.

Miniaturized optical fiber tweezers for cell separation by optical force.

In advanced biomedicine and microfluidics, there is a strong desire to sort and manipulate various cells and bacteria based on miniaturized microfluidic chips. Here, by integrating fiber tweezers into a T-type microfluidic channel, we report an optofluidic chip to selectively trap Escherichia coli in human blood solution based on different sizes and shapes. Furthermore, we simulate the trapping and pushing regions of other cells and bacteria, including rod-shaped bacteria, sphere-shaped bacteria, and cancer cells based on finite-difference analysis. With the advantages of controllability, low optical power, and compact construction, the strategy may be possibly applied in the fields of optical separation, cell transportation, and water quality analysis.

Functional metal-organic framework boosting lithium metal anode performance via chemical interactions.

Dendrite growth and low coulombic efficiency are two major factors that limit the utilization of Li metal electrodes in future generations of high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. This article reports the first study on metal-organic framework (MOF) materials for boosting the electrochemical performance of Li metal electrodes and demonstrates the power of molecular-structure functionalization for realizing desirable ion transport and Li metal nucleation and growth. We show that dendrite-free dense Li deposition and stable Li plating/stripping cycling with high coulombic efficiency are enabled by modifying a commercial polypropylene separator with a titanium-based MOF (NH2-MIL-125(Ti)) material. The NH2-MIL-125(Ti)-coated-separator renders Li|Cu cells that can run for over 200 cycles at 1 mA cm-2-1 mA h cm-2 with average coulombic efficiency of 98.5% and Li|Li symmetric cells that can be cycled at 1 mA cm-2-1 mA h cm-2 for more than 1200 h without short circuiting. The superior cycling stability is attributed to the amine substituents in the NH2-MIL-125(Ti) structure which induce increased Li+ transference numbers and uniform and dense early-stage Li deposition.