Change of function and brain activity in patients of right spastic arm paralysis combined with aphasia after contralateral cervical seventh nerve transfer surgery.

Left hemisphere injury can cause right spastic arm paralysis and aphasia, and recovery of both motor and language functions shares similar compensatory mechanisms and processes. Contralateral cervical seventh cross transfer (CC7) surgery can provide motor recovery for spastic arm paralysis by triggering interhemispheric plasticity, and self-reports from patients indicate spontaneous improvement in language function but still need to be verified. To explore the improvements in motor and language function after CC7 surgery, we performed this prospective observational cohort study. The Upper Extremity part of Fugl-Meyer scale (UEFM) and Modified Ashworth Scale were used to evaluate motor function, and Aphasia Quotient calculated by Mandarin version of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB-AQ, larger score indicates better language function) was assessed for language function. In 20 patients included, the average scores of UEFM increased by .40 and 3.70 points from baseline to 1-week and 6-month post-surgery, respectively. The spasticity of the elbow and fingers decreased significantly at 1-week post-surgery, although partially recurred at 6-month follow-up. The average scores of WAB-AQ were increased by 9.14 and 10.69 points at 1-week and 6-month post-surgery (P < .001 for both), respectively. Post-surgical fMRI scans revealed increased activity in the bilateral hemispheres related to language centrals, including the right precentral cortex and right gyrus rectus. These findings suggest that CC7 surgery not only enhances motor function but may also improve the aphasia quotient in patients with right arm paralysis and aphasia due to left hemisphere injuries.

NAT10 promotes synovial aggression by increasing the stability and translation of N4-acetylated PTX3 mRNA in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies indicate that N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10)-mediated ac4C modification plays unique roles in tumour metastasis and immune infiltration. This study aimed to uncover the role of NAT10-mediated ac4C in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) functions and synovial immune cell infiltration in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: FLSs were obtained from active established patients with RA. Protein expression was determined by western blotting or immunohistochemistry or multiplexed immunohistochemistry. Cell migration was measured using a Boyden chamber. ac4C-RIP-seq combined with RNA-seq was performed to identify potential targets of NAT10. RNA immunoprecipitation was used to validate the interaction between protein and mRNA. NAT10 haploinsufficiency, inhibitor remodelin or intra-articular Adv-NAT10 was used to suppress arthritis in mice with delayed-type hypersensitivity arthritis (DYHA) and collagen II-induced arthritis (CIA) and rats with CIA. RESULTS: We found elevated levels of NAT10 and ac4C in FLSs and synovium from patients with RA. NAT10 knockdown or specific inhibitor treatment reduced the migration and invasion of RA FLSs. Increased NAT10 level in the synovium was positively correlated with synovial infiltration of multiple types of immune cells. NAT10 inhibition in vivo attenuated the severity of arthritis in mice with CIA and DTHA, and rats with CIA. Mechanistically, we explored that NAT10 regulated RA FLS functions by promoting stability and translation efficiency of N4-acetylated PTX3 mRNA. PTX3 also regulated RA FLS aggression and is associated with synovial immune cell infiltration. CONCLUSION: Our findings uncover the important roles of NAT10-mediated ac4C modification in promoting rheumatoid synovial aggression and inflammation, indicating that NAT10 may be a potential target for the treatment of RA, even other dysregulated FLSs-associated disorders.

Dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia: a cross-sectional study of residents in Wuhu, China.

BACKGROUND: While dyslipidemia has been recognized as a potential risk factor for hyperuricemia, there is currently a dearth of large-scale data specifically focused on studying the relationship between these two conditions. To address this gap, the present study analyzed a dataset of 298,891 physical examination records to investigate in greater detail the clinical classification and compositional relationship between hyperuricemia and dyslipidemia. METHODS: For this investigation, a cross-sectional research design was utilized to analyze physical examination data that was gathered from Yijishan Hospital in Wuhu, China between 2011 and 2016. Logistic regression was employed to examine the association between hyperuricemia and dyslipidemia. Furthermore, the association between hyperuricemia and dyslipidemia was evaluated based on the clinical classifications of dyslipidemia and its components. RESULTS: A total of 298,891 participants from China (124,886 [41.8%] females) were included in the study, with an age range of 18 to 90 years (mean [SD]: 47.76 [13.54] years). In multivariate analysis, the odds of hyperuricemia was 1.878 times higher in patients with dyslipidemia compared to those without dyslipidemia (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.835-1.922). In the clinical classification of dyslipidemia, individuals with hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia had 1.753 times (95% CI: 1.706-1.802) and 1.925 times (95% CI: 1.870-1.982) higher odds of hyperuricemia, respectively, compared to those without dyslipidemia. Among the components of dyslipidemia, the odds ratios for hyperuricemia in individuals in the fourth quartile compared to those in the first quartile were 3.744 (95% CI: 3.636-3.918) for triglycerides, 1.518 (95% CI: 1.471-1.565) for total cholesterol, and 1.775 (95% CI: 1.718 - 1.833) for non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Dyslipidemia has been independently linked with hyperuricemia. Moreover, the elevation of triglycerides or total cholesterol levels, including conditions such as hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, have been observed to have a positive association with the development of hyperuricemia.

Iron hydroxyphosphate electro-Fenton catalyst for efficient removal of sulfamethoxazole and resource recycling into slow-release fertiliser ammonium ferrous phosphate.

Although the electro-Fenton (EF) process is effective for wastewater treatment, recycling spent catalysts remain a major challenge. Therefore, we introduce a reuse strategy for spent catalysts where an iron hydroxyphosphate [Fe5(PO4)4(OH)3·2H2O] catalyst is utilized. Fe5(PO4)4(OH)3·2H2O obtained •OH and •O2- by activating in-situ produced H2O2, and the degradation rate of sulfamethoxazole reached 94.5% after 120 min and showed excellent stability (maintained above 90%) for 10 cycles. Finally, the used catalyst was converted into slow-release ammonium ferrous phosphate (NH4FePO4·H2O) fertiliser at a conversion rate of 85.6%. NH4FePO4·H2O significantly promoted plant and seed growth within 6 days, highlighting the contribution of the resource recycling of the spent catalyst. This study serves as a valuable reference for the efficient utilization of spent catalysts. This study successfully applied EF catalysts and explored the recycling of spent catalysts.

Verification of surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) alignment for proton breast and chest wall patients by comparison to CT-on-rails and kV-2D alignment.

BACKGROUND: Surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) systems have been widely installed and utilized on linear accelerators. However, the use of SGRT with proton therapy is still a newly developing field, and published reports are currently very limited. PURPOSE: To assess the clinical application and alignment agreement of SGRT with CT-on-rails (CTOR) and kV-2D image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) for breast treatment using proton therapy. METHODS: Four patients receiving breast or chest wall treatment with proton therapy were the subjects of this study. Patient #1's IGRT modalities were a combination of kV-2D and CTOR. CTOR was the only imaging modality for patients #2 and #3, and kV-2D was the only imaging modality for patient #4. The patients' respiratory motions were assessed using a 2-min surface position recorded by the SGRT system during treatment. SGRT offsets reported after IGRT shifts were recorded for each fraction of treatment. The agreement between SGRT and either kV-2D or CTOR was evaluated. RESULTS: The respiratory motion amplitude was <4 mm in translation and <2.0° in rotation for all patients. The mean and maximum amplitude of SGRT offsets after application of IGRT shifts were ≤(2.6 mm, 1.6° ) and (6.8 mm, 4.5° ) relative to kV-2D-based IGRT; ≤(3.0 mm, 2.6° ) and (5.0 mm, 4.7° ) relative to CTOR-based IGRT without breast tissue inflammation. For patient #3, breast inflammation was observed for the last three fractions of treatment, and the maximum SGRT offsets post CTOR shifts were up to (14.0 mm, 5.2° ). CONCLUSIONS: Due to the overall agreement between SGRT and IGRT within reasonable tolerance, SGRT has the potential to serve as a valuable auxiliary IGRT tool for proton breast treatment and may improve the efficiency of proton breast treatment.

Plant-Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Modulate Carbohydrate Metabolism in Connection with Host Plant Defense Mechanism.

Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could potentially enhance photosynthesis and benefit plant growth by improving soil nutrient uptake and affecting plant hormone balance. Several recent studies have unveiled a correlation between alterations in photosynthesis and host plant resistance levels. Photosynthesis provides materials and energy for plant growth and immune defense and affects defense-related signaling pathways. Photosynthetic organelles, which could be strengthened by PGPR inoculation, are key centers for defense signal biosynthesis and transmission. Although endophytic PGPRs metabolize plant photosynthates, they can increase soluble sugar levels and alternate sugar type and distribution. Soluble sugars clearly support plant growth and can act as secondary messengers under stressed conditions. Overall, carbohydrate metabolism modifications induced by PGPR may also play a key role in improving plant resistance. We provide a concise overview of current knowledge regarding PGPR-induced modulation in carbohydrate metabolism under both pathogen-infected and pathogen-free conditions. We highlight PGPR application as a cost-saving strategy amidst unpredictable pathogen pressures.

The Effect of Syntactic Similarity on Intra-Sentential Switching Costs: Evidence from Chinese-English Bilinguals.

In order to better understand the role of syntactic similarity in a code-switched sentence, the current study explored the effect of similar and different syntactic structures on Chinese-English bilinguals' intra-sentential switching costs. L2 proficiency and switching directions as factors that potentially intervene in bilingual performance were together explored to see if there was any interaction. We manipulated the degree of syntactic similarity by utilizing clauses in active voice (greater similarity) and passive voice (lesser similarity). The study conducted a self-paced reading paradigm as a more natural language reading processing. Results showed overall longer reading times for active sentences than passive counterparts, which supported a syntactic similarity impediment rather than facilitation. The impediment seemed to be predominant irrespective of L2 proficiency. Furthermore, syntactic similarity modulated the asymmetry of switching costs between forward (L1-L2) and backward (L2-L1) direction: word RTs for the 1st and the 2nd switched word yielded greater costs in L2-L1 condition, while greater costs in L1-L2 condition was observed in 3rd switched word RTs and average RTs. The present study observed syntactic similarity impediment rather than facilitation for Chinese-English bilinguals. Notably, syntactic similarity plays a predominant role compared to L2 proficiency, and modulates the asymmetry between switching directions.

The mutation rate of rpoB gene showed an upward trend with the increase of MIRU10, MIRU39 and QUB4156 repetitive number.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) is a frequently used typing method for identifying the Beijing genotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which is easily transformed into rifampicin (RIF) resistance. The RIF resistance of Mtb is considered to be highly related with the mutation of rpoB gene. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between the repetitive number of MIRU loci and the mutation of rpoB gene. METHODS: An open-source whole-genome sequencing data of Mtb was used to detect the mutation of rpoB gene and the repetitive number of MIRU loci by bioinformatics methods. Cochran-Armitage analysis was performed to analyze the trend of the rpoB gene mutation rate and the repetitive number of MIRU loci. RESULTS: Among 357 rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB), 304 strains with mutated rpoB genes were detected, and 6 of 67 rifampicin susceptible strains were detected mutations. The rpoB gene mutational rate showed an upward trend with the increase of MIRU10, MIRU39, QUB4156 and MIRU16 repetitive number, but only the repetitive number of MIRU10, MRIU39 and QUB4156 were risk factors for rpoB gene mutation. The Hunter-Gaston discriminatory index (HGDI) of MIRU10 (0.65) and QUB4156 (0.62) was high in the overall sample, while MIRU39 (0.39) and MIRU16 (0.43) showed a moderate discriminatory Power. CONCLUSION: The mutation rate of rpoB gene increases with the addition of repetitive numbers of MIRU10, QUB4156 and MIRU39 loci.

Age and sex trend differences in hemoglobin levels in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Both age and gender are the influence factors of hemoglobin concentration. However, the changing trend of hemoglobin levels between males and females with age remains unclear. This study aimed to explore their changing characteristics in different genders. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Physical Examination Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College in Wuhu, China from 2014 to 2016. The generalized linear model was applied to explore the relationship between age, gender and hemoglobin levels. RESULTS: Among the 303,084 participants, the mean age for females and males was 46.9 ± 13.4(15-98) and 48.1 ± 13.7(14-98) years old, respectively. Generalized smoothing splines showed that hemoglobin levels increased up to age 25 and then decreased in men; in women the levels increased up until age 20, and then decreased, with slight increase again (ß = 0.244, P < 0.01). After dividing all participants into hyperglycemia and normal groups, only the normal female group showed a significant upward trend (ß = 0.257, P < 0.01) between ages 50-59. CONCLUSIONS: Hemoglobin concentration changes with age and the curve is different in males and females. The slightly upward trend of female hemoglobin in the age range of 50-59 years old should be considered in developing the reference range of hemoglobin making.

The V-shaped curve relationship between fasting plasma glucose and human serum albumin in a large health checkup population in China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and human serum albumin (HSA) in a large health checkup population in China. METHODS: In this cross-sectional health checkup study, we enrolled a population of 284,635 subjects from Wuhu between 2011 and 2016. All participants completed the physical examination, blood biochemical examination, and blood routine examination. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes in men and women was 6.11% and 2.98%, respectively. The average level of HSA and FPG was significantly higher in men than in women (48.44 ± 3.25 vs. 47.14 ± 3.22, P < 0.0001; 5.50 ± 1.26 vs. 5.26 ± 0.94, P < 0.0001). There were significant differences in blood biochemistry and blood routine values by gender. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results showed that FPG and HSA were a V-shaped curve, and the threshold value of HSA was 40.7 mmol/L. FPG and HSA still showed a V-shaped curve after stratification by gender and age. In the male group, FPG decreased with HSA when HSA<42.3 mmol/L, and increased when HSA ≥ 42.3 mmol/L. In the female group, FPG decreased with HSA when HSA<35.7 mmol/L, and increased when HSA ≥ 35.7 mmol/L. In the age<65 group, FPG decreased with HSA when HSA<37.5 mmol/L, and increased when HSA ≥ 37.5 mmol/L. In the age ≥ 65 group, FPG decreased with HSA when HSA<43.2 mmol/L, and increased when HSA ≥ 43.2 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: A V-shape relationship exists between fasting plasma glucose and human serum albumin among the Chinese health checkup population studied.

A novel aptamer-G-quadruplex/hemin self-assembling color system: rapid visual diagnosis of invasive fungal infections.

BACKGROUND: The clinical symptoms of invasive fungal infections (IFI) are nonspecific, and early clinical diagnosis is challenging, resulting in high mortality rates. This study reports the development of a novel aptamer-G-quadruplex/hemin self-assembling color system (AGSCS) based on (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucans' detection for rapid, specific and visual diagnosis of IFI. METHODS: We screened high affinity and specificity ssDNA aptamers binding to (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucans, the main components of cell wall from Candida albicans via Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment. Next, a comparison of diagnostic efficiency of AGSCS and the (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucans assay ("G test") with regard to predicting IFI in 198 clinical serum samples was done. RESULTS: Water-soluble (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucans were successfully isolated from C. albicans ATCC 10,231 strain, and these low degree of polymerization glucans (< 1.7 kD) were targeted for aptamer screening with the complementary sequences of G-quadruplex. Six high affinity single stranded DNA aptamers (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6) were found. The linear detection range for (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucans stretched from 1.6 pg/mL to 400 pg/mL on a microplate reader, and the detection limit was 3.125 pg/mL using naked eye observation. Using a microplate reader, the sensitivity and specificity of AGSCS for the diagnosis of IFI were 92.68% and 89.65%, respectively, which was higher than that of the G test. CONCLUSION: This newly developed visual diagnostic method for detecting IFI showed promising results and is expected to be developed as a point-of-care testing kit to enable quick and cost effective diagnosis of IFI in the future.

Prognostic models for breast cancer: based on logistics regression and Hybrid Bayesian Network.

BACKGROUND: To construct two prognostic models to predict survival in breast cancer patients; to compare the efficacy of the two models in the whole group and the advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive (HER2+) subgroup of patients; to conclude whether the Hybrid Bayesian Network (HBN) model outperformed the logistics regression (LR) model. METHODS: In this paper, breast cancer patient data were collected from the SEER database. Data processing and analysis were performed using Rstudio 4.2.0, including data preprocessing, model construction and validation. The L_DVBN algorithm in Julia0.4.7 and bnlearn package in R was used to build and evaluate the HBN model. Data with a diagnosis time of 2018(n = 23,384) were distributed randomly as training and testing sets in the ratio of 7:3 using the leave-out method for model construction and internal validation. External validation of the model was done using the dataset of 2019(n = 8128). Finally, the late HER2 + patients(n = 395) was selected for subgroup analysis. Accuracy, calibration and net benefit of clinical decision making were evaluated for both models. RESULTS: The HBN model showed that seventeen variables were associated with survival outcome, including age, tumor size, site, histologic type, radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy, distant metastasis, subtype, clinical stage, ER receptor, PR receptor, clinical grade, race, marital status, tumor laterality, and lymph node. The AUCs for the internal validation of the LR and HBN models were 0.831 and 0.900; The AUCs for the external validation of the LR and HBN models on the whole population were 0.786 and 0.871; the AUCs for the external validation of the two models on the subgroup population were 0.601 and 0.813. CONCLUSION: The accuracy, net clinical benefit, and calibration of the HBN model were better than LR model. The predictive efficacy of both models decreased and the difference was greater in advanced HER2 + patients, which means the HBN model had higher robustness and more stable predictive performance in the subgroup.

Optimization of the Extraction Process and Antioxidant Activity of Polysaccharide Extracted from Centipeda minima.

The purpose of this study is to optimize the extraction process and study antioxidant activity of Polysaccharide extracted from Centipeda minima. The Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology was adopted to optimize the extraction process of polysaccharides from Centipeda minima. We purified the crude polysaccharides from Centipeda minima, as well as determined the purity, monosaccharide composition, and molecular weight of the purified fraction. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the structural features of the polysaccharides. Further, we investigated the antioxidant activities of different fractions of polysaccharides. Consequently, the results showed that the optimum extraction conditions for polysaccharides were: a liquid-solid ratio of 26 mL/g, extraction temperature of 85.5 °C, and extraction time of 2.4 h. Moreover, the yield of polysaccharides measured under these conditions was close to the predicted value. After purification, we obtained four components of Centipeda minima polysaccharides (CMP). The purity, monosaccharide composition, molecular weight, and structural characteristics of CMP were different, but with similar infrared absorption spectra. CMP exhibited a typical infrared absorption characteristic of a polysaccharide. Besides, CMP displayed good antioxidant activity, with potential to scavenge DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide radical. Therefore, this study provides a reference for future research on the structure and biological activity of CMP, and lays a theoretical foundation for food processing and medicinal development of CMP.

Measurements of fetal dose with Mevion S250i proton therapy system with HYPERSCAN.

PURPOSE: To characterize potential dose to the fetus for all modes of delivery (dynamic adaptive aperture, static adaptive aperture, and no adaptive aperture) for the Mevion S250i Proton Therapy System with HYPERSCAN and compare the findings with those of other available proton systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fetal dose measurements were performed for all three modes of dose delivery on the Mevion S250i Proton therapy system with HYPERSCAN (static aperture, dynamic aperture and uncollimated). Standard treatment plans were created in RayStation for a left-sided brain lesion treated with a vertex field, a left lateral field, and a posterior field. Measurements were performed using WENDI and the RANDO with the detector placed at representative locations to mimic the growth and movement of the fetus at different gestational stages. RESULTS: The fetal dose measurements varied with fetus position and the largest measured dose was 64.7 µSv per 2 Gy (RBE) fraction using the dynamic aperture. The smallest estimated fetal dose was 45.0 µSv per 2 Gy (RBE) at the base of the RANDO abdomen (47 cm from isocenter to the outer width of WENDI and 58.5 cm from the center of the WENDI detector) for the static aperture delivery. The vertex fields at all depths had larger contributions to the total dose than the other two and the dynamic aperture plans resulted in the highest dose measured for all depths. CONCLUSION: The reported doses are lower than reported doses using a double-scattering system. This work suggests that avoiding vertex fields and using the static aperture will help minimize dose to the fetus.

Assessment of Blood Volume in Liposuction Fluids Using Colorimetry.

OBJECTIVE: The possibility of using a color contrast method to evaluate blood loss during liposuction was assessed. A color chart of blood-lipid content associated with different blood volumes was developed. METHODS: Three color cards with different concentrations of blood were developed based on clinical parameters. The color cards were used to evaluate the volume of blood present in liposuction solutions obtained from 60 clinical liposuction patients. The red blood cell count also was evaluated for each patient. The data obtained using each evaluation method were compared and statistically analyzed to determine the most accurate calculation formula. RESULTS: The red blood cell counts were compared to the color card results. The paired t test results for the calculated values for the 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1 color cards and the red blood cell count values were comparable (44.3 ± 22.1 ml vs. 53.6 ± 25.0 ml, t = 10.5; 45.4 ± 19.0 ml vs. 55.2 ± 20.7 ml, t = 18.1; 41.9 ± 25.6 ml vs. 52.8 ± 28.3 ml, t = 14.0). The P values were < 0.05, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant. The average standard error of the mean was 0.90, 0.54, and 0.77, respectively. Sixty samples were evaluated in a scatter diagram using the two detection methods. Trend analysis revealed that the two results demonstrated a linear increase (y = 5.6 + 1.1x), R2 = 0.989, indicating that the two inspection methods were highly correlated with only small errors. CONCLUSION: The colorimetric card protocol developed in this study could quickly, accurately, and conveniently calculate blood volumes in liposuction fluids, which has considerable clinical significance. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://www.springer.com/00266 .

Chemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oil from Centipeda minima.

This study elucidated the chemical composition of essential oil from Centipeda minima (EOCM) and its antibacterial and antioxidant activities with two chemical monomers thymol and carvacrol. The main chemical composition of EOCM, analyzed by GC-MS, were trans-chrysanthenyl acetate, thymol, aromadendrene and ß-caryophyllene. In the screening of antibacterial activity against S. aureus, two monomers with antibacterial activity were obtained: thymol and carvacrol. The MIC of EOCM, thymol and carvacrol were 0.625 mg/mL, 0.156 mg/mL and 0.156 mg/mL, respectively. The experimental results were shown that three drugs could inhibit the growth of S. aureus and inhibit the formation of biofilm by changing the permeability of cell membrane and interfering with the metabolic activities in bacteria. The scavenging effects of the three drugs on DPPH radical and hydroxyl radical showed that the antioxidant effect of the three drugs was EOCM > carvacrol > thymol.

Preparation and evaluation of attractive microspheres for control of Agrilus planipennis fairmaire.

Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire is an important wood boring pest of Fraxinus species in the family Oleaceae. Oxacyclotridecan-2-one is an attractant of A. planipennis. Traps with attractive lures can be used in mass trapping of insect pests, but the traps are a bit expensive and they must be set up and dismantled in the field. To develop an attract and kill method for A. planipennis, we enveloped oxacyclotridecan-2-one into sustained-released microspheres. The attractant microspheres were prepared using the solvent evaporation method. An orthogonal test L16(45) was used to optimize the five preparation factors: the quantities of polylactic acid (PLA), gelatin, Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), attractant, and the rotational speed. The results showed that optimal conditions for preparation of microspheres were 2.5 g PLA, 0.5 g gelatin, 1.25 g PVA, 2 mL attractant and 600 r min-1 rotational speed. The encapsulation efficiency of the prepared microspheres was 95.22%, and the attractant loading rate was 15.61%. The release rate of attractant from prepared microspheres was about 26.74% on the first day, and then gradually entered a sustained-release stage for about 10 days that lasted for 17 days. Preliminary field control experiments showed that the prepared microspheres could attract and kill A. planipennis adults when sprayed together with insecticide.

Couples' Cognition, Intimacy, and Activity Engagement: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the actor and partner effects of cognition on activity engagement and the potential mediating role of intimate relationship in older couple dyadic context. METHODS: Data for this study were obtained from heterosexual couples who participated in the 2020 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. Constructing a dyadic model of couples' cognitions, activity engagement, and intimacy using structural equation modeling to analyze the relationship between variables and mediating effects. RESULTS: At the actor level, cognition was positively correlated with their activity participation. At the partner level, wives' cognition and husbands' activity engagement were positively correlated. Husband's cognitive score affect wife's subjective feelings about intimacy. The mediation effect of Wife's intimacy on the relationship between husband's cognition and wife's activity engagement was significant. CONCLUSIONS: In older couples, cognition influences activity engagement at a binary level, and this association is influenced by the level of intimacy. Improving intimacy can help increase activity engagement in older couples, which in turn promotes health. Clinical Implications Maintaining cognition helps older people enjoy good marriage and participation in activities. For women, the closer the partnership, the higher the frequency of participating in various activities.

Chlorinated Polyfluorinated Ether Sulfonates and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Adults: Isomers of C8 Health Project in China.

Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonates (Cl-PFESAs) are one kind of replacement chemistry for perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS). Recent studies have shown that Cl-PFESAs could interfere with thyroid function in animal models. However, epidemiological evidence on the link between Cl-PFESAs and thyroid function remains scarce. In this study, we focused on two representative legacy perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and two PFOS alternatives (6:2 and 8:2 Cl-PFESAs) in the general adult population from a cross-sectional study, the "Isomers of C8 Health Project in China". Three serum thyroid hormones (THs), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4), were measured. We fitted generalized linear regression, restricted cubic spline regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression models to assess associations of individual Cl-PFESAs, legacy PFAS, and PFAS mixtures with THs, respectively. We found individual PFAS and their mixtures were nonlinearly associated with THs. The estimated changes of the TSH level (µIU/mL) at the 95th percentile of 6:2 Cl-PFESA and PFOS against the 5th percentile were -0.74 (95% CI: -0.94, -0.54) and -1.18 (95% CI: -1.37, -0.98), respectively. The present study provided epidemiological evidence for the association of 6:2 Cl-PFESA with thyroid hormone levels in the general adult population.

Prediction of carotid plaque by blood biochemical indices and related factors based on Fisher discriminant analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish the predictive model of carotid plaque formation and carotid plaque location by retrospectively analyzing the clinical data of subjects with carotid plaque formation and normal people, and to provide technical support for screening patients with carotid plaque. METHODS: There were 4300 subjects in the ultrasound department of Maanshan People's Hospital collected from December 2013 to December 2018. We used demographic and biochemical data from 3700 subjects to establish predictive models for carotid plaque and its location. The leave-one-out cross-validated classification, 600 external data validation, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to verify the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and application value of the model. RESULTS: There were significant difference of age (F = - 34.049, p < 0.01), hypertension (χ2 = 191.067, p < 0.01), smoking (χ2 = 4.762, p < 0.05) and alcohol (χ2 = 8.306, p < 0.01), Body mass index (F = 15.322, p < 0.01), High-density lipoprotein (HDL) (F = 13.840, p < 0.01), Lipoprotein a (Lp a) (F = 52.074, p < 0.01), Blood Urea Nitrogen (F = 2.679, p < 0.01) among five groups. Prediction models were built: carotid plaque prediction model (Model CP); Prediction model of left carotid plaque only (Model CP Left); Prediction model of right carotid plaque only (Model CP Right). Prediction model of bilateral carotid plaque (Model CP Both). Model CP (Wilks' lambda = 0.597, p < 0.001, accuracy = 78.50%, sensitivity = 78.07%, specificity = 79.07%, AUC = 0.917). Model CP Left (Wilks' lambda = 0.605, p < 0.001, accuracy = 79.00%, sensitivity = 86.17%, specificity = 72.70%, AUC = 0.880). Model CP Right (Wilks' lambda = 0.555, p < 0.001, accuracy = 83.00%, sensitivity = 81.82%, specificity = 84.44%, AUC = 0.880). Model CP Both (Wilks' lambda = 0.651, p < 0.001, accuracy = 82.30%, sensitivity = 89.50%, specificity = 72.70%, AUC = 0.880). CONCLUSION: Demographic characteristics and blood biochemical indexes were used to establish the carotid plaque and its location discriminant models based on Fisher discriminant analysis (FDA), which has high application value in community screening.