Associations of Socioeconomic Status Inequity with Incident Age-related Macular Degeneration in Middle-Aged and Elderly Population.

Background: The relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) inequity and incident age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains unclear. We aim to investigate whether low SES increases the risk of AMD and to explore the effect of a healthy lifestyle on this association. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 316,663 UK Biobank individuals. SES inequity was identified via latent class analysis using education, household income, and occupational status. Healthy lifestyle score was calculated based on smoking, alcohol drinking, and physical activity (PA). Incident AMD was defined according to diagnosis records. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the relationship of low SES and AMD. Interrelationships of healthy lifestyle score on SES-AMD association were explored, including modification, mediation, and joint effects. Results: During the average 12.2 years of follow-up, 6,355 AMD cases were diagnosed. Participants with medium SES (hazard ratio: 1.10 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 1.21]) and low SES (hazard ratio: 1.22 [95% CI 1.11 to 1.34]) had an increased risk of incident AMD compared to participants with high SES. PA significantly affected this association. Moreover, the association between low SES and AMD was significantly mediated (11.3%, 95% CI: 6.56 to 23.0) by smoking. Similarly, alcohol drinking suppressed (9.59%, 95% CI: 4.00 to 23.2) the association between high SES and AMD. Besides, a significant joint effect of SES and healthy lifestyle score was found. Conclusions: We provide further evidence for the relationship of socioeconomic inequity, healthy lifestyle, and incident AMD. Future public health strategies should aim to reduce socioeconomic inequity to prevent AMD.

Heat Exposure and Dementia-Related Mortality in China.

Importance: Although existing research has found daily heat to be associated with dementia-related outcomes, there is still a gap in understanding the differing associations of nighttime and daytime heat with dementia-related deaths. Objectives: To quantitatively assess the risk and burden of dementia-related deaths associated with short-term nighttime and daytime heat exposure and identify potential effect modifications. Design, Setting, and Participants: This case-crossover study analyzed individual death records for dementia across all mainland China counties from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019, using a time-stratified case-crossover approach. Statistical analysis was conducted from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019. Exposures: Two novel heat metrics: hot night excess (HNE) and hot day excess (HDE), representing nighttime and daytime heat intensity, respectively. Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes were the relative risk and burden of dementia-related deaths associated with HNE and HDE under different definitions. Analysis was conducted with conditional logistic regression integrated with the distributed lag nonlinear model. Results: The study involved 132 573 dementia-related deaths (mean [SD] age, 82.5 [22.5] years; 73 086 women [55.1%]). For a 95% threshold, the median hot night threshold was 24.5 °C (IQR, 20.1 °C-26.2 °C) with an HNE of 3.7 °C (IQR, 3.1 °C-4.3 °C), and the median hot day threshold was 33.3 °C (IQR, 29.9 °C-34.7 °C) with an HDE of 0.6 °C (IQR, 0.5 °C-0.8 °C). Both nighttime and daytime heat were associated with increased risk of dementia-related deaths. Hot nights' associations with risk of dementia-related deaths persisted for 6 days, while hot days' associations with risk of dementia-related deaths extended over 10 days. Extreme HDE had a higher relative risk of dementia-related deaths, with a greater burden associated with extreme HNE at more stringent thresholds. At a 97.5% threshold, the odds ratio for dementia-related deaths was 1.38 (95% CI, 1.22-1.55) for extreme HNE and 1.46 (95% CI, 1.27-1.68) for extreme HDE, with an attributable fraction of 1.45% (95% empirical confidence interval [95% eCI], 1.43%-1.47%) for extreme HNE and 1.10% (95% eCI, 1.08%-1.11%) for extreme HDE. Subgroup analyses suggested heightened susceptibility among females, individuals older than 75 years of age, and those with lower educational levels. Regional disparities were observed, with individuals in the south exhibiting greater sensitivity to nighttime heat and those in the north to daytime heat. Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this nationwide case-crossover study suggest that both nighttime and daytime heat are associated with increased risk of dementia-related deaths, with a greater burden associated with nighttime heat. These findings underscore the necessity of time-specific interventions to mitigate extreme heat risk.

Long-term exposure to particulate matter pollution and incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke: A prospective cohort study in Eastern China.

Although epidemiological studies have demonstrated significant associations of long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution with stroke, evidence on the long-term effects of PM exposure on cause-specific stroke incidence is scarce and inconsistent. We incorporated 33,282 and 33,868 individuals aged 35-75 years without a history of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke at the baseline in 2014, who were followed up till 2021. Residential exposures to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µm (PM10) for each participant were predicted using a satellite-based model with a spatial resolution of 1 × 1 km. We employed time-varying Cox proportional hazards models to assess the long-term effect of PM pollution on incident stroke. We identified 926 cases of ischemic stroke and 211 of hemorrhagic stroke. Long-term PM exposure was significantly associated with increased incidence of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, with almost 2 times higher risk on hemorrhagic stroke. Specifically, a 10 µg/m³ increase in 3-year average concentrations of PM2.5 was linked to a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.35 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-1.54) for incident ischemic stroke and 1.79 (95% CI: 1.36-2.34) for incident hemorrhagic stroke. The HR related to PM10, though smaller, remained statistically significant, with a HR of 1.25 for ischemic stroke and a HR of 1.51 for hemorrhagic stroke. The excess risks are larger among rural residents and individuals with lower educational attainment. The present cohort study contributed to the mounting evidence on the increased risk of incident stroke associated with long-term PM exposures. Our results further provide valuable evidence on the heightened sensitivity of hemorrhagic stroke to air pollution exposures compared with ischemic stroke.

Enhancing tendon-bone integration and healing with advanced multi-layer nanofiber-reinforced 3D scaffolds for acellular tendon complexes.

Advancements in tissue engineering are crucial for successfully healing tendon-bone connections, especially in situations like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) restoration. This study presents a new and innovative three-dimensional scaffold, reinforced with nanofibers, that is specifically intended for acellular tendon complexes. The scaffold consists of a distinct layered arrangement comprising an acellular tendon core, a middle layer of polyurethane/type I collagen (PU/Col I) yarn, and an outside layer of poly (L-lactic acid)/bioactive glass (PLLA/BG) nanofiber membrane. Every layer is designed to fulfill specific yet harmonious purposes. The acellular tendon core is a solid structural base and a favorable environment for tendon cell functions, resulting in considerable tensile strength. The central PU/Col I yarn layer is vital in promoting the tendinogenic differentiation of stem cells derived from tendons and increasing the expression of critical tendinogenic factors. The external PLLA/BG nanofiber membrane fosters the process of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells differentiating into bone cells and enhances the expression of markers associated with bone formation. Our scaffold's biocompatibility and multi-functional design were confirmed through extensive in vivo evaluations, such as histological staining and biomechanical analyses. These assessments combined showed notable enhancements in ACL repair and healing. This study emphasizes the promise of multi-layered nanofiber scaffolds in orthopedic tissue engineering and also introduces new possibilities for the creation of improved materials for regenerating the tendon-bone interface.

Association between low lung function and the increased risk of age-related macular degeneration: A population-based prospective cohort study.

Background: Low lung function is associated with an increased risk of age-related diseases. However, the relationship between age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness, and lung function remains unclear. We aimed to investigate whether low lung function increases the risk of AMD and the potential mechanisms behind this association. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of 409 230 UK Biobank participants with completed lung function after excluding individuals with AMD. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the risk of AMD incidence and mediation models to explore potential mechanisms driven by inflammatory markers, erythrocyte-related measures, and metabolites. Results: Overall, 6477 AMD cases were diagnosed across an average of 12.4 years of follow-up. Participants with low lung function had an increased risk of developing AMD compared to those with high lung function (forced vital capacity: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.20 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-1.34); forced expiratory volume in one second: aHR = 1.32 (95% CI = 1.18-1.47); peak expiratory flow: aHR = 1.32 (95% CI = 1.20-1.45)). Inflammatory markers and erythrocyte-related measures mediated this relationship, acting as a pathway through which low lung function influenced AMD. The interactions of body mass index (BMI), sex, and smoking were significant and the effect of lung function on AMD was higher in men, obese, and smoking populations. Conclusions: The increased risk of AMD was associated with low lung function, with inflammatory and erythrocyte-related markers mediating this relationship. This suggests that improvements in lung function could reduce the risk of AMD, thereby promoting health and longevity.

Associations between air pollution and the onset of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A time-stratified case-crossover study in China.

BACKGROUND: Associations between air pollution and the acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) have been established primarily in time-series studies in which exposure and case data were at the aggregate level, limiting the identification of susceptible populations. RESEARCH QUESTION: Are air pollutants associated with the onset of AECOPD in China? Who is more susceptible to the effects of air pollutants? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: AECOPD data were obtained from the Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Registry study and air pollution data were assigned to individuals based on their residential address. We adopted a time-stratified case-crossover study design combined with conditional logistic regression models to estimate the associations between six air pollutants and AECOPD. Stratified analyses were performed by individual characteristics, disease severity, COPD types, and the season of exacerbations. RESULTS: A total of 5,746 patients were finally included. At a 2-day lag, for each interquartile range increase in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, odds ratios for AECOPD were 1.054 (95% CI: 1.012, 1.097) and 1.050 (95% CI: 1.009, 1.092), respectively. The associations were more pronounced in participants who were aged < 65 years, had experienced at least one severe AECOPD in the past year, were first diagnosed with COPD between the ages of 20 and 50, and experienced AECOPD in the cool seasons. By contrast, significant associations for NO2, SO2, and CO lost significance when excluding cases collected before 2020 or with larger distance from the monitoring station, and no significant association was observed for O3. INTERPRETATION: This study provides robust evidence that short-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with higher odds of AECOPD onset. Individuals who are young, have severe COPD or young COPD, and experience an exacerbation during the cooler seasons may be particularly susceptible. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT2657525 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Dynamic Covalent Bonds Regulate Zinc Plating/Stripping Behaviors for High-Performance Zinc Ion Batteries.

Artificial interfaces provide a comprehensive approach to controlling zinc dendrite and surface corrosion in zinc-based aqueous batteries (ZABs). However, due to consistent volume changes during zinc plating/stripping, traditional interfacial layers cannot consistently adapt to the dendrite surface, resulting in uncontrolled dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution. Herein, dynamic covalent bonds exhibit the Janus effect towards zinc deposition at different current densities, presenting a holistic strategy for stabilizing zinc anode. The PBSC intelligent artificial interface consisting of dynamic B-O covalent bonds is developed on zinc anode to mitigate hydrogen evolution and restrict dendrite expansion. Owing to the reversible dynamic bonds, PBSC exhibits shape self-adaptive characteristics at low current rates, which rearranges the network to accommodate volume changes during zinc plating/stripping, resisting hydrogen evolution. Moreover, the rapid association of B-O dynamic bonds enhances mechanical strength at dendrite tips, presenting a shear-thickening effect and suppressing further dendrite growth at high current rates. Therefore, the assembled symmetrical battery with PBSC maintains a stable cycle of 4500 hours without significant performance degradation and the PBSC@Zn||V2O5 pouch cell demonstrates a specific capacity exceeding 170 mAh g-1. Overall, the intelligent interface with dynamic covalent bonds provides innovative approaches for zinc anode interfacial engineering and enhances cycling performance.

Association of exposure to ultraviolet radiation and warm-season ozone air pollution with incident age-related macular degeneration: A nationwide cohort study in China.

BACKGROUND: As the leading cause of blindness, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) performs an adverse impact on human health and disability. AMD have been reported to be associated with environmental factors; however, the association between ultraviolet (UV) radiation, warm-season ambient ozone pollution, and incident AMD remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, 19,707 participants without AMD at baseline were included from a nationwide longitudinal cohort in China. UV radiation and warm-season ozone exposure were evaluated through satellite-based models. Incident AMD was diagnosed via ophthalmological fundus images. Cox proportional hazard regression models were employed to explore the association of UV radiation and warm-season ozone with incident AMD, and the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. RESULTS: During 312,935 person-month of follow-up, 3774 participants developed to AMD. High exposure to both UV radiation and warm-season ozone was associated with increasing risk of incident AMD, with HRs and 95 % CIs of 1.32 (1.23, 1.41) and 1.20 (1.11, 1.29) in two-exposure models, respectively. Moreover, negative interaction between UV radiation and warm-season ozone was identified, and it was found that exposure to high UV radiation and low ozone presented the highest hazard for AMD. Subgroup analyses showed that the UV-AMD association was stronger in southern China, while the ozone-AMD association was greater in northern China and rural areas. CONCLUSION: Our study provides the first epidemiological evidence that both UV radiation and warm-season ozone would elevate the risk of incident AMD, and the hazard of higher UV radiation may be attenuated by exposure to ozone. Strategies for decreasing AMD burden should jointly consider environmental exposures and geographic locations.

Differential associations of fine and coarse particulate air pollution with cause-specific pneumonia mortality: A nationwide, individual-level, case-crossover study.

BACKGROUND: The connections between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM2.5-10) and daily mortality of viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia were unclear. OBJECTIVES: To distinguish the connections between PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 and daily mortality due to viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia. METHODS: Using a comprehensive national death registry encompassing all areas of mainland China, we conducted a case-crossover investigation from 2013 to 2019 at an individual level. Residential daily particle concentrations were evaluated using satellite-based models with a spatial resolution of 1 km. To analyze the data, we employed the conditional logistic regression model in conjunction with polynomial distributed lag models. RESULTS: We included 221,507 pneumonia deaths in China. Every interquartile range (IQR) elevation in concentrations of PM2.5 (lag 0-2 d, 37.6 µg/m3) was associated with higher magnitude of mortality for viral pneumonia (3.03%) than bacterial pneumonia (2.14%), whereas the difference was not significant (p-value for difference = 0.38). An IQR increase in concentrations of PM2.5-10 (lag 0-2 d, 28.4 µg/m3) was also linked to higher magnitude of mortality from viral pneumonia (3.06%) compared to bacterial pneumonia (2.31%), whereas the difference was not significant (p-value for difference = 0.52). After controlling for gaseous pollutants, their effects were all stable; however, with mutual adjustment, the associations of PM2.5 remained, and those of PM2.5-10 were no longer statistically significant. Greater magnitude of associations was noted in individuals aged 75 years and above, as well as during the cold season. CONCLUSION: This nationwide study presents compelling evidence that both PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 exposures could increase pneumonia mortality of viral and bacterial causes, highlighting the more robust effects of PM2.5 and somewhat higher sensitivity of viral pneumonia.

Quantification of the Heat-Related Risk and Burden of Hospitalizations for Cause-Specific Injuries and Contribution of Human-Induced Climate Change: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study in China.

BACKGROUND: Although ambient temperature has been linked with injury incidence, there have been few nationwide studies to quantify the temperature-related risk and burden of cause-specific injury hospitalizations. Additionally, the impact of human-induced climate change to injury burden remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: Our objectives are to examine the associations between ambient temperature and injury hospitalizations from various causes and to quantify the contribution of human-induced warming to the heat-related burden. METHODS: We collected injury hospitalization data from a nationwide hospital-based registry in China during 2000-2019. Using a time-stratified case-crossover design, we investigated the associations between daily mean temperature (°C) and cause-specific injury hospitalizations. We also quantified the burden of heat-related injuries under the scenarios with and without anthropogenic forcing, using the Detection and Attribution Model Intercomparison Project to assess the contribution of human-induced warming. RESULTS: Our study included a total of 988,087 patients with hospitalization records for injuries. Overall, compared to the temperature at minimum risk of hospitalization (-12.1°C), the relative risk of hospitalization at extreme hot temperature (30.8°C, 97.5th percentile) was 1.18 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14, 1.22], with an approximately linear association between temperature and hospitalization. Vulnerability to heat-related injuries was more pronounced among males, young (<18 years of age) or middle-aged (45-64 years of age) individuals, and those living in the North. The heat-related attributable fraction increased from 23.2% in the 2000s to 23.6% in the 2010s, with a corresponding increase in the contribution of human-induced change over time. In the 2010s, the heat-related attributable fractions for specific causes of injury ranged from 12.4% to 54.4%, with human-induced change accounting for 6.7% to 10.6% of the burden. DISCUSSION: This nationwide study presents new evidence of significant associations between temperature and cause-specific injury hospitalizations in China and highlights the increasing contribution of human-induced warming to the injury burden. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14057.

Mechanistic insights into cardiovascular effects of ultrafine particle exposure: A longitudinal panel study.

BACKGROUND: Ultrafine particle (UFP) has been linked with higher risks of cardiovascular diseases; however, the biological mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the cardiovascular responses to short-term UFP exposure and the biological pathways involved. METHODS: A longitudinal panel study was conducted among 32 healthy, non-smoking young adults in Shanghai, China, who were engaged in five rounds of follow-ups between December 2020 and November 2021. Individual exposures were calculated based on the indoor and outdoor real-time measurements. Blood pressure, arterial stiffness, targeted biomarkers, and untargeted proteomics and metabolomics were examined during each follow-up. Linear mixed-effect models were applied to analyze the exposure and health data. The differential proteins and metabolites were used for pathway enrichment analyses. RESULTS: Short-term UFP exposure was associated with significant increases in blood pressure and arterial stiffness. For example, systolic blood pressure increased by 2.10 % (95 % confidence interval: 0.63 %, 3.59 %) corresponding to each interquartile increase in UFP concentrations at lag 0-3 h, while pulse wave velocity increased by 2.26 % (95 % confidence interval: 0.52 %, 4.04 %) at lag 7-12 h. In addition, dozens of molecular biomarkers altered significantly. These effects were generally present within 24 h after UFP exposure, and were robust to the adjustment of co-pollutants. Molecular changes detected in proteomics and metabolomics analyses were mainly involved in systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, coagulation, and disturbance in lipid transport and metabolism. DISCUSSION: This study provides novel and compelling evidence on the detrimental subclinical cardiovascular effects in response to short-term UFP exposure. The multi-omics profiling further offers holistic insights into the underlying biological pathways.

Double-Salts Super Concentrated Carbonate Electrolyte Boosting Electrochemical Performance of Ni-Rich LiNi0.90Co0.05Mn0.05O2 Lithium Metal Batteries.

Current lithium-ion batteries cannot meet the requirement of higher energy density with further large-scale application of electrical vehicles. Lithium metal batteries combined with Ni-rich layered oxides cathode are expected as the one of promising solutions, while the poor electrode and electrolyte interface impedes the commercial development of lithium metal batteries. A new double-salts super concentrated (DSSC) carbonate electrolyte is proposed to improve the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.90Co0.05Mn0.05O2 (NCM9055)||Li metal battery which exhibits stable cycling performance with the capacity retention of 93.04% and reversible capacity of 173.8 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 1 C, while cells with conventional 1 m diluted electrolyte remains only 60.55% and capacity of 114.2 mAh g-1. The double salts synergistic effect in super concentrated electrolyte promotes the formation for more balanced stable cathode electrolyte interface (CEI) inorganic compounds of CFx, LiNOx, SOF2, Li2SO4, and less LiF by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) test, and the uniform 2-3 nm rock-salt phase protection layer on the cathode surface by transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization, improving the cycling performance of the Ni-rich NCM9055 layered oxide cathode. The DSSC electrolyte also can relief the Li dendrite growth on Li metal anode, as well as exhibit better flame retardance, promoting the application of more safety Ni-rich NCM9055||Li metal batteries.

Stable Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by Lithiophilic Core-Shell Nanowires on Copper Foam.

Lithium (Li) metal batteries have attracted considerable research attention due to their exceptionally high theoretical capacity. However, the commercialization of Li metal batteries faces challenges, primarily attributed to uncontrolled growth of Li dendrites, which raises safety concerns and lowers coulombic efficiency. To mitigate Li dendrites growth and attain dense Li deposition, the hybrid SiO2-Cu2O lithiophilic film applied to a 3D copper foam current collector is developed to regulate the interfacial properties for achieving even and dense Li deposition. The SiO2-Cu2O possesses strong Li+ trapping capability through strong lithiophilicity from Cu2O. Additionally, the SiO2-Cu2O enables uniform ion diffusion through the domain-limiting effect of the holes in the SiO2 layer, inducing an even and dense Li plating/stripping behavior at a large capacity. Furthermore, the SiO2 layer promotes the formation of an initial high inorganic content Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI) through selective preferential binding with anion and solvent molecules. When the SiO2-Cu2O@Li anode is coupled with a LiFePO4 (LFP) cathode, the resulting full cell exhibits superior cycling stability and rate performance. These results provide a facile approach to construct a lithiophilic current collector for practical Li metal anodes.

In Situ Constructed Spinel Layer Stabilized Upcycled LiCoO2 for High Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

With ever-increasing requirements for cathodes in the lithium-ion batteries market, an efficiency and eco-friendly upcycling regeneration strategy is imperative to meet the demand for high-performance cathode materials. Herein, a facile, direct and upcycling regeneration strategy is proposed to restore the failed LiCoO2 and enhance the stability at 4.6 V. Double effects combination of relithiation and outside surface reconstruction are simultaneously achieved via a facile solid-phase sintering method. The evolution process of the Li-supplement and grain-recrystallization is systematically investigated, and the high performance of the upcycled materials at high voltage is comprehensively demonstrated. Thanks to the favorable spinel LiCoxMn2-xO4 surface coating, the upcycled sample displays outstanding electrochemical performance, superior to the pristine cathode materials. Notably, the 1% surface-coated LiCoO2 achieves a high discharge-specific capacity of 207.9 mA h g-1 at 0.1 C and delivers excellent cyclability with 77.0% capacity retention after 300 cycles. Significantly, this in situ created spinel coating layer can be potentially utilized for recycling spent LiCoO2, thus providing a viable, promising recycling strategy insights into the upcycling of degraded cathodes.

Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Fasting Blood Glucose and Diabetes in 20 Million Chinese Women of Reproductive Age.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence of the associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and diabetes risk from women of reproductive age, in whom diabetes may have adverse long-term health effects for both themselves and future generations, remains scarce. We therefore examined the associations of long-term PM2.5 exposure with fasting blood glucose (FBG) level and diabetes risk in women of reproductive age in China. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study included 20,076,032 women age 20-49 years participating in the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in China between 2010 and 2015. PM2.5 was estimated using a satellite-based model. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of PM2.5 exposure with FBG level and diabetes risk, respectively. Diabetes burden attributable to PM2.5 was estimated using attributable fraction (AF) and attributable number. RESULTS: PM2.5 showed monotonic relationships with elevated FBG level and diabetes risk. Each interquartile range (27 µg/m3) increase in 3-year average PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 0.078-mmol/L (95% CI 0.077, 0.079) increase in FBG and 18% (95% CI 16%, 19%) higher risk of diabetes. The AF attributed to PM2.5 exposure exceeding 5 µg/m3 was 29.0% (95% CI 27.5%, 30.5%), corresponding to an additional 78.6 thousand (95% CI 74.5, 82.6) diabetes cases. Subgroup analyses showed more pronounced diabetes risks in those who were overweight or obese, age >35 years, less educated, of minority ethnicity, registered as a rural household, and residing in western China. CONCLUSIONS: We found long-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with higher diabetes risk in women of reproductive age in China.

Accelerated sonochemical fabrication of MIn2S4 (M = Zn, Mg, Ni, Co) for ultra-high photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production.

Ternary metal sulfide (MIn2S4) by virtue of large extinction coefficient, suitable band gap and stability, has been proposed as a candidate for photocatalytic synthesis hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, MIn2S4 is conventionally synthesized by solvothermal method that is generally characterized by tedious operational steps and long reaction time. In this work, four sonoMIn2S4 (M = Zn, Mg, Ni, Co) were successfully prepared by sonochemical method within 2 h. These as-synthesized sonoMIn2S4 delivered much high-efficient photocatalytic H2O2 generation. Particularly, the sonoZnIn2S4 presented H2O2 production rate of 21295.5 µmol∙g-1∙h-1 in water/benzylalcohol system, which is 3.0 times that of ZnIn2S4 prepared by solvothermal method. The remarkably improved photocatalytic performance of sonoZnIn2S4 might be due to the multiple defects and fast electron-hole pair separation caused by ultrasound cavitation effect. Other metal sulfide photocatalysts with high performance were efficiently fabricated by facile sonochemical technology as well. The sonochemical method realized the rapid preparation of metal sulfide photocatalysts and efficient production of H2O2, which benefits to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG-7 and SDG-12.

Higher ambient temperatures may worsen obstructive sleep apnea: A nationwide smartwatch-based analysis of 6.2 million person-days.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious type of sleep disorder that can lead to cardiometabolic and neurocognitive diseases. We utilized smart device-based photoplethysmography technology to collect sleep data from the Chinese population from 2019 to 2022. Distributed lag nonlinear models combined with a generalized nonlinear model or a linear mixed effects model were used to investigate the short-term associations between daily temperature and indicators of OSA severity. We included a total of 6,232,056 d of sleep monitoring data from 51,842 participants with moderate to severe risk of OSA from 313 Chinese cities. The relationships between ambient temperature and OSA exacerbation, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and minimum oxygen saturation (MinSpO2) were almost linear and present only on the same day. Higher temperatures were associated with a greater risk of OSA exacerbation, with an 8.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.6%-9.3%) increase per 10 °C increase in temperature. A 10 °C increase in daily temperature corresponded to an AHI increase of 0.70 events h-1 (95% CI: 0.65-0.76) and a MinSpO2 decrease of 0.18% (95% CI: 0.16%-0.19%). Exposure to elevated temperatures during the night can also lead to adverse effects. The effects of higher temperatures on OSA severity were stronger among men, participants with a body mass index ≥24 kg m-2, those aged 45 years and older, individuals with a history of hypertension and diabetes, and during the cold season. This large-scale, nationwide, longitudinal study provides robust evidence suggesting that higher ambient temperatures may immediately worsen OSA.

Air pollutants, genetic susceptibility, and incident schizophrenia in later life: A prospective study in the UK Biobank.

OBJECTIVE: Air pollution has been linked to multiple psychiatric disorders, but little is known on its long-term association with schizophrenia. The interaction between air pollution and genetic susceptibility on incident schizophrenia has never been reported. We aimed to explore the associations between long-term air pollution exposure and late-onset schizophrenia and evaluate whether genetic susceptibility could modify the association. METHODS: This population-based prospective cohort study included 437,802 middle-aged and elderly individuals free of schizophrenia at baseline in the UK Biobank. Land use regression models were applied in the estimation of the annual average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and inhalable particulate matter (PM10) at residence. The associations between air pollutants and schizophrenia were evaluated by using Cox proportional hazard models. A polygenic risk score of schizophrenia was constructed for exploring potential interaction of air pollutants with genetic susceptibility. RESULTS: An interquartile range increase in PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx was associated with the hazard ratios (HR) for incident schizophrenia at 1.19, 1.16, 1.22, and 1.09, respectively. The exposure-response curves for the association of air pollution with incident schizophrenia were approximately linear. There are additive interactions of air pollution score (APS), PM10, NO2, and NOx with genetic risk. Specifically, compared with participants with low genetic susceptibility and low APS, the HR was 3.23 for individuals with high genetic risk and high APS, among which 0.49 excess risk could be attributed to the additive interaction, accounting for 15 % of the schizophrenia risk. CONCLUSION: This large-scale, prospective cohort study conveys the first-hand evidence that long-term air pollution exposure could elevate schizophrenia incidence in later life, especially for individuals with higher genetic risks. The findings highlight the importance of improving air quality for preventing the late-onset schizophrenia in an aging era, especially among those with high genetic risks.

Fluorinated Surface Engineering Towards High-Rate and Durable Potassium-Ion Battery.

Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) crucially affects the rate performance and cycling lifespan, yet to date more extensive research is still needed in potassium-ion batteries. We report an ultra-thin and KF-enriched SEI triggered by tuned fluorinated surface design in electrode. Our results reveal that fluorination engineering alters the interfacial chemical environment to facilitate inherited electronic conductivity, enhance adsorption ability of potassium, induce localized surface polarization to guide electrolyte decomposition behavior for SEI formation, and especially, enrich the KF crystals in SEI by self-sacrifice from C-F bond cleavage. Hence, the regulated fluorinated electrode with generated ultra-thin, uniform, and KF-enriched SEI shows improved capacity of 439.3 mAh g-1 (3.82 mAh cm-2), boosted rate performance (202.3 mAh g-1 at 8.70 mA cm-2) and durable cycling performance (even under high loading of ~8.7 mg cm-2). We expect this practical engineering principle to open up new opportunities for upgrading the development of potassium-ion batteries.

Effects of pH-varying thermal modification on sewage sludge: A focus on releasing nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing substances.

Sewage sludge is promising for the recovery and utilisation of nutrient components, but its complex nature hinders the release of these components. The combination of pH and thermal modifications shows promise for the release of nutrient components from sludge. However, comprehensive studies on the full spectrum of pH levels and corresponding mechanisms of pH-varying thermal modification are lacking. In this study, the main nutrient components, physicochemical properties, molecular structure, and noncovalent interactions of sludge were comprehensively investigated through pH-varying thermal modification (within a pH range of 2.0 to 12.0 under the same thermal condition). The experimental results showed that the release of main organics, particularly nitrogen (N)-containing organics, was well-fitted, with a tick-like function (R2: 0.74-0.96). The thermal protons exhibited a notable accumulative mutagenic effect on the N-containing organics release, while the thermal hydroxyl ions had a more direct effect, as revealed by the changes in multivalent metals and molecular structures with the protonation-deprotonation of carboxyl groups. The driving force for the release of N-containing organics was identified as the fluctuation of electrostatic interactions at the solid-liquid interface of the sludge. However, the release of phosphorus (P)-containing substances exhibited a contrasting response to that of N-containing substances with varying pH, likely because the reaction sites of thermal protons and thermal hydroxyl ions for P-containing substances were different. Moreover, high concentrations of thermal protons and hydroxyl ions collapsed the Lifshitz-van der Waals interactions of sludge, resulting in a decrease in viscoelasticity and binding strength. These propositions were further confirmed through statistical analyses of the main indicators of the main nutrient components, physicochemical properties, and noncovalent interactions of sludge. These findings can provide a basis for optimising characteristic-specific methods to recovery nutrient components (N/P) from sludge.