Isomer of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and red blood cell indices in adults: The Isomers of C8 Health Project in China.

This study aimed to explore the isomer-specific, sex-specific, and joint associations of PFAS and red blood cell indices. We used data of 1,238 adults from the Isomers of C8 Health Project in China. Associations of PFAS isomers and red blood cell indices were explored using multiple linear regression models, Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression models and subgroup analysis across sex. We found that serum concentration of linear (n-) and branched (Br-) isomers of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) were significantly associated with red blood cell indices in single-pollutant models, with stronger associations observed for n-PFHxS than Br-PFHxS, in women than in men. For instance, the estimated percentage change in hemoglobin concentration for n-PFHxS (3.65%; 95% CI: 2.95%, 4.34%) was larger than that for Br-PFHxS (0.96%; 95% CI: 0.52%, 1.40%). The estimated percentage change in red blood cell count for n-PFHxS in women (2.55%; 95% CI: 1.81%, 3.28%) was significantly higher than that in men (0.12%; 95% CI: -1.04%, 1.29%) (Pinter < 0.001). Similarly, sex-specific positive association of PFAS mixture and outcomes was observed. Therefore, the structure, susceptive population, and joint effect of PFAS isomers should be taken into consideration when evaluating the health risk of chemicals.

Immunotherapeutic allogeneic dendritic cell and autologous tumor cell fusion vaccine alone or combined with radiotherapy in canine oral malignant melanoma is safe and potentially effective.

Introduction: Immunotherapy represents a promising breakthrough in cancer management and is being explored in canine melanomas. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in priming T-cell-mediated immune reactions through the antigen-presenting function. Combining immunotherapy and radiation therapy may generate more substantial anti-cancer efficacy through immunomodulation. Objectives: Our research reported a preliminary result of the safety and outcome of a kind of immunotherapy, the allogeneic dendritic cell and autologous tumor cell fusion vaccine, alone or in combination with hypofractionated radiation therapy, in canine oral malignant melanoma. Methods: Two groups of dogs with histopathological diagnoses of oral malignant melanoma were recruited. In group 1 (DCRT), dogs received a combination of DC fusion vaccine and radiotherapy. In group 2 (DC), dogs received DC fusion vaccine alone. DC vaccination was given once every 2 weeks for four doses. Radiotherapy was performed weekly for five fractions. Dogs that received carboplatin were retrospectively collected as a control group (group 3). Results: Five dogs were included in group 1 (two stage II, three stage III), 11 in group 2 (three stage I/II, eight stage III/IV), and eight (two stage I/II, six stage III/IV) in the control group. Both DC and DCRT were well-tolerated, with only mild adverse events reported, including mucositis, gastrointestinal discomfort, and injection site reactions. The median progression-free intervals in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 214 (95% CI, NA, due to insufficient data), 100 (95% CI, 27-237), and 42 days (95% CI, NA-170), respectively, which were not significantly different. The 1-year survival rates were 20, 54.5, and 12.5% in groups 1, 2, and 3. Dogs in the DCRT group exhibited significantly higher TGF-ß signals than the DC group throughout the treatment course, indicating a possible higher degree of immunosuppression. Conclusion: The manuscript demonstrated the safety of dendritic cell/tumor cell fusion vaccine immunotherapy, alone or in combination with radiotherapy. The results support further expansion of this immunotherapy, modification of combination treatment and protocols, and investigation of combining DC vaccine with other treatment modalities. Clinical trial registration: Preclinical Trials, PCTE0000475.

Vascular access type and prognosis in elderly hemodialysis patients: a propensity-score-matched study.

BACKGROUND: To compare the impact of tunneled cuffed catheters (TCCs) and arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) on outcomes in elderly hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: A retrospective matched cohort study was performed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the baseline conditions, and we compared all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), hospitalization, and infection rates between AVF and TCC patients ≥70 years old. Cox survival analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for death. RESULTS: There were 2119 patients from our center in the Chinese National Renal Data System (CNRDS) between 1 January 2010 and 10 October 2023. Among these patients, 77 TCC patients were matched with 77 AVF patients. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the TCC and AVF groups (30.1/100 vs. 33.3/100 patient-years, p = 0.124). Among the propensity score-matched cohorts, no significant differences in Kaplan-Meier curves were observed between the two groups (log-rank p = 0.242). The TCC group had higher rates of MACCEs, hospitalization, and infection than the AVF group (33.7/100 vs. 29.5/100 patient-years, 101.2/100 vs. 79.5/100 patient-years, and 30.1/100 vs. 14.1/100 patient-years, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that high Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score was a risk factor for death. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between elderly HD patients receiving TCCs and AVFs. Compared with those with a TCC, elderly HD patients with an AVF have a lower risk of MACCEs, hospitalization, and infection.

Enhanced predictive performance of the GRACE risk score by incorporating lipoprotein(a) for major adverse cardiac events in acute myocardial infarction patients undergoing PCI.

Background: As scientific research advances, the landscape of detection indicators and methodologies evolves continuously. Our current study aimed to identify some novel perioperative indicators that can enhance the predictive accuracy of the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score for the in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: A total of 647 adult patients with AMI admitted to the emergency department were consecutively enrolled in the retrospective research starting from June 2016 to September 2019. The endpoint was in-hospital MACE. Stepwise regression analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to select the indicators for the union model established by nomogram. Bootstrap with 1000 replicates was chosen as the internal validation of the union model. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and calibration plot were used to evaluate the discrimination and calibration. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to evaluate the clinical sufficiency of the nomogram. Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) were used to evaluate the goodness of fit. Results: Lipoprotein(a) combined with serum uric acid, fasting blood glucose, and hemoglobin could improve the GRACE risk score. The AUC of the union model was 0.86, which indicated a better discriminative ability than the GRACE risk score alone (AUC, 0.81; P < 0.05). The calibration plots of the union model showed favorable consistency between the prediction of the model and actual observations, which was better than the GRACE risk score. DCA plots suggested that the union model had better clinical applicability than the GRACE risk score. Conclusion: Lipoprotein(a) has shown promise in augmenting the predictive capability of the GRACE risk score, however, it may be beneficial to integrate it with other commonly used indicators.

[Application of single-sperm sequencing in resolving the carrier status of preimplantation genetic testing for chromosomal structural rearrangements in Robertsonian translocations].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application value of single-sperm sequencing in resolving the carrier status of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for chromosomal structural rearrangements in Robertsonian translocations. METHODS: Haplotypes were constructed by single-sperm isolation combined with single-sperm sequencing for a patient with 45, XY, der(13; 14)(q10; q10). Twenty single-sperm samples were isolated by mechanical braking and subjected to whole-genome amplification (WGA), and then the Asian Screening Array (ASA) gene chip was used to detect the 183 708 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the WGA products. The single sperm associated with the translocation that could be used as haplotype inference was detected by copy number variation (CNV) sequencing, and the chromosomal haplotypes with normal and Robertsonian translocations were inferred. Three biopsy samples of embryonic trophoblast cells were used as the objects. After whole-genome amplification, high-throughput sequencing was employed to determine the status of the translocation chromosome carried by the embryos. The available blastocysts were selected for transfer, and the amniotic fluid samples were taken at 18 weeks of gestation to confirm whether the fetus carried the pathogenic mutation. RESULTS: A total of 6 037 SNP sites were screened by single-sperm sequencing, and 30 sites selected to distinguish normal and translocation haplotypes. Preimplantation haplotype analysis showed that all the three embryos were euploids without Robertsonian translocation chromosome. Genetic testing of amniotic fluid in the second trimester confirmed that the karyotype of the fetus was 46, XN, carrying no Robertsonian translocation chromosome. CONCLUSION: For male carriers of Robertsonian translocation, single sperm sequencing can be used to screen SNP sites to construct haplotypes for distinguishing normal and Robertsonian translocation embryos, and to provide a basis for embryo selection by preimplantation chromosomal structural genetic testing.

Effect of ozone oxidation on gastrointestinal digestion and absorption characteristics of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) surimi gels in vitro.

To investigate the quality of different ozone-oxidized surimi gels and their in vitro digestion and absorption characteristics, surimi rinsed with different concentrations of ozonated water (0, 8, 26 mg/L) were prepared. Then, the degree of oxidation and gel structure of surimi were determined, the in vitro digestion and absorption of the gels were simulated, and the digestion and absorption products were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The results showed that the quality of surimi gels was improved after proper ozone oxidation. After ozone water rinsing, the dry matter digestibility, peptide, and amino acid content increased, and the changes of all three were in line with the Logistic kinetic model (R2 = 0.95-0.99). Caco-2 cell absorption experiments showed that the absorption rate of peptides and amino acids decreased after ozone water rinsing. In summary, ozone oxidation can promote the digestion of surimi gels, but it also reduces the absorption of peptides and amino acids by Caco-2 cells. This study provides a reference for the application of ozone in the food field.

The combined effect of triglyceride-glucose index and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic coronary syndrome: A multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are the commonly used biomarkers for insulin resistance and systemic inflammation, respectively. We aimed to investigate the combined association of TyG and hsCRP with the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). METHODS: A total of 9421 patients with CCS were included in this study. The primary endpoint was defined as a composite of MACE covering all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and revascularization. RESULTS: During the 2-year follow-up period, 660 (7.0%) cases of MACE were recorded. Participants were divided equally into three groups according to TyG levels. Compared with the TyG T1 group, the risk of MACE was significantly higher in the TyG T3 group. It is noteworthy that among patients in the highest tertile of TyG, hsCRP >3 mg/L was significantly associated with an increased risk of MACE, whereas the results were not significant in the medium to low TyG groups. When patients were divided into six groups according to hsCRP and TyG, the Cox regression analysis showed that patients in the TyG T3 and hsCRP >3 mg/L group had a significantly higher risk of MACE than those in the TyG T1 and hsCRP ≤3 mg/L group. However, no significant interaction was found between TyG and hsCRP on the risk of MACE. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the concurrent assessment of TyG and hsCRP may be valuable in identifying high-risk populations and guiding management strategies among CCS patients.

Formation and kinetic analysis of AGEs in Pacific white shrimp during frying.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are complex and heterogeneous compounds closely associated with various chronic diseases. The changes in Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML), Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL), Nε-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolon-2-yl)-ornithine (MG-H1), and fluorescent AGEs (F-AGEs) in fried shrimp during frying (170 °C, 0-210 s) were described by kinetic models. Besides,the correlations between AGEs contents and physicochemical indicators were analyzed to reveal their intrinsic relationship. Results showed that the changes of four AGEs contents followed the zero-order kinetic, and their rate constants were ranked as kCML < kCEL ≈ kMG-H1 < kF-AGEs. Oil content and lipid oxidation were critical factors that affected the AGEs levels of the surface layer. Protein content and Maillard reaction were major factors in enhancing the CML and CEL levels of the interior layer. Furthermore, the impact of temperature on the generation of CML and CEL was greater than that of MG-H1 and F-AGEs.

Long-term ambient ozone exposure and childhood asthma, rhinitis, eczema, and conjunctivitis: A multi-city study in China.

Evidence on the link of long-term exposure to ozone (O3) with childhood asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and eczema is inconclusive. We did a population-based cross-sectional survey, including 177,888 children from 173 primary and middle schools in 14 Chinese cities. A satellite-based spatiotemporal model was employed to assess four-year average O3 exposure at both residential and school locations. Information on asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and conjunctivitis was collected by a standard questionnaire developed by the American Thoracic Society. We used generalized non-linear and linear mixed models to test the associations. We observed linear exposure-response associations between O3 and all outcomes. The odds ratios of doctor-diagnosed asthma, rhinitis, eczema, and conjunctivitis associated with per interquartile increment in home-school O3 concentration were 1.31 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.28, 1.34), 1.25 (95 %CI: 1.23, 1.28), 1.19 (95 %CI: 1.16, 1.21), and 1.28 (95 %CI: 1.21, 1.34), respectively. Similar associations were observed for asthma-related outcomes including current asthma, wheeze, current wheeze, persistent phlegm, and persistent cough. Moreover, stronger associations were observed among children who were aged > 12 years, physically inactive, and exposed to higher temperature. In conclusion, long-term O3 exposure was associated with higher risks of asthma, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and eczema in children.

Metabolic pathways altered by air pollutant exposure in association with coagulation function among the rural elderly.

Air pollution exposure has been linked with coagulation function. However, evidence is limited for the relationships between air pollution, coagulation function and metabolomics in humans. We recruited a panel of 130 rural elderly from the Chayashan township in China, all of whom were free of pre-existing cardiovascular diseases and had provided residential address information. We conducted clinical examinations and collected blood samples from these rural elderly for the detection of coagulation biomarkers (e.g, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, thrombin time, and prothrombin time) and untargeted metabolites in both December 2021 and August 2022. We used mini ambient air quality monitor to measure the mean levels of five air pollutants (e.g., PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO and O3) during 1 to 2 weeks before blood sample collection. The Mummichog pathway analysis was used to identified potential metabolic features and pathways. In this study, we identified 5 pathways associated with both air pollution and coagulation function, and further pinpointed eight metabolic features within these pathways. The majority of these features were lipids, including arachidonic acid and linoleic acid. Overall, the findings of this study offer insights into potential mechanisms, particularly lipid metabolism, that may underlie the association between air pollution and coagulation function.

Spinel-Type Structured Phosphor Near-Infrared-II Emission: Intervalence Charge Transfer and Hetero-Valent Chromium Pairs.

Near-infrared (NIR) emitting phosphors draw much attention because they show great applicability and development prospects in many fields. Herein, a series of inverse spinel-type structured LiGa5O8 phosphors with a high concentration of Cr3+ activators is reported with a dual emission band covering NIR-I and II regions. Except for strong ionic exchange interactions such as Cr3+-Cr3+ and Cr3+ clusters, an intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) process between aggregated Cr ion pairs is proposed as the mechanism for the ~1210 nm NIR-II emission. Comprehensive structural and luminescence characterization points to IVCT between two Cr3+ being induced by structural distortion and further enhanced by irradiation. Construction of the configurational energy level diagram enabled elucidation of this transition within the IVCT process. Therefore, this work provides insight into the emission mechanism within the high Cr3+ concentration system, revealing a new design strategy for NIR-II emitting phosphors to promote its response.

Multifunctional Janus Membrane for Diabetic Wound Healing and Intelligent Monitoring.

The complex microenvironment of diabetic wounds often hinders the healing process, ultimately leading to the formation of diabetic foot ulcers and even death. Dual monitoring and treatment of wounds can significantly reduce the incidence of such cases. Herein, a multifunctional Janus membrane (3D chitosan sponge-ZE/polycaprolactone nanofibers-ZP) was developed by incorporating the zinc metal-organic framework, europium metal-organic framework, and phenol red into nanofibers for diabetic wound monitoring and treatment. The directional water transport capacity of the resulting Janus membrane allows for unidirectional and irreversible drainage of wound exudate, and the multifunctional Janus membrane creates up to a 99% antibacterial environment, both of which can treat wounds. Moreover, the pH (5-8) and H2O2 (0.00-0.80 µM) levels of the wound can be monitored using the color-changing property of phenol red and the fluorescence characteristic of Eu-MOF on the obtained membrane, respectively. The healing stages of the wound can also be monitored by analyzing the RGB values of the targeted membrane images. This design can more accurately reflect the wound state and treat the wound to reduce bacterial infection and accelerate wound healing, which has been demonstrated in in vivo experiments. The results provide an important basis for early intervention in diabetic patients.

Quasi-Solid-State Na-O2 Battery with Composite Polymer Electrolyte.

Na-O2 batteries have emerged as promising candidates due to their high theoretical energy density (1,601 Wh kg-1), the potential for high energy storage efficiency, and the abundance of sodium in the earth's crust. Considering the safety issue, quasi-solid-state composite polymer electrolytes are among the promising solid-state electrolyte candidates. Their higher mechanical toughness provides superior resistance to dendritic penetration compared with traditional liquid electrolytes. The flexibility of the composite polymer electrolyte matrix allows it to conform to various battery configurations and considerably reduces safety concerns related to the combustion risks associated with conventional liquid electrolytes. In this study, we employed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and sodium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI) as the polymer matrix and sodium ion-conducting agent, respectively. We incorporated nanosized NZSP (25 wt %) to create the composite polymer electrolyte membrane. This CPE design facilitates ion conduction pathways through both sodium salt and NZSP. By utilizing a liquid electrolyte infiltration method, we successfully enhanced its ionic conductivity, achieving an ionic conductivity of 10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature.

Impact of dietary inflammatory index on gestational diabetes mellitus in normal and overweight women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To systematically investigate the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), with a focus on the role of BMI in this relationship. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Medline, CINAHL Complete, Chinese Periodical Full-text Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China Wanfang Database for rele-vant observational studies published up to August 2023. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The pooled effect size was calculated using a random-effects model. Sub-group and meta-regression analyses were performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: The study included 54,058 participants from 10 studies. Pregnant women with a higher DII, indicating a pro-inflammatory diet, had a significantly increased risk of GDM compared to those with a lower DII, indicating an anti-inflammatory diet (pooled OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36; I²=70%, p <0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed a stronger association in normal weight stratification (OR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.04-1.51), case-control studies (OR: 1.45, 95%CI: 1.03-2.05), Asia (OR: 1.26, 95%CI: 1.10-1.43), Europe (OR: 1.27, 95%CI: 1.09-1.48), 3-day dietary record as a dietary assessment tool (OR: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.16-1.46), physical activity adjustment (OR: 1.28, 95%CI: 1.13-1.46), and energy intake adjustment (OR: 1.33, 95%CI: 1.19-1.48). Meta-regression analysis confirmed that geographical region significantly influenced heterogeneity between studies (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An elevated DII is independently linked to a higher risk of GDM, especially in women of normal weight.

Combined genome and transcriptome provides insight into the genetic evolution of an edible halophyte Suaeda salsa adaptation to high salinity.

Suaeda salsa L. is a typical halophyte with high value as a vegetable. Here, we report a 447.98 Mb, chromosomal-level genome of S. salsa, assembled into nine pseudomolecules (contig N50 = 1.36 Mb) and annotated with 27,927 annotated protein-coding genes. Most of the assembled S. salsa genome, 58.03%, consists of transposable elements. Some gene families including HKT1, NHX, SOS and CASP related to salt resistance were significantly amplified. We also observed expansion of genes encoding protein that bind the trace elements Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn, and genes related to flavonoid and α-linolenic acid metabolism. Many expanded genes were significantly up-regulated under salinity, which might have contributed to the acquisition of salt tolerance in S. salsa. Transcriptomic data showed that high salinity markedly up-regulated salt-resistance related genes, compared to low salinity. Abundant metabolic pathways of secondary metabolites including flavonoid, unsaturated fatty acids and selenocompound were enriched, which indicates that the species is a nutrient-rich vegetable. Particularly worth mentioning is that there was no significant difference in the numbers of cis-elements in the promoters of salt-related and randomly selected genes in S. salsa when compared with Arabidopsis thaliana, which may affirm that plant salt tolerance is a quantitative rather than a qualitative trait in terms of promoter evolution. Our findings provide deep insight into the adaptation of halophytes to salinity from a genetic evolution perspective.

Neurotoxicity of fine and ultrafine particulate matter: A comprehensive review using a toxicity pathway-oriented adverse outcome pathway framework.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can cause brain damage and diseases. Of note, ultrafine particles (UFPs) with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 100 nm are a growing concern. Evidence has suggested toxic effects of PM2.5 and UFPs on the brain and links to neurological diseases. However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been fully illustrated due to the variety of the study models, different endpoints, etc. The adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework is a pathway-based approach that could systematize mechanistic knowledge to assist health risk assessment of pollutants. Here, we constructed AOPs by collecting molecular mechanisms in PM-induced neurotoxicity assessments. We chose particulate matter (PM) as a stressor in the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and identified the critical toxicity pathways based on Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). We found 65 studies investigating the potential mechanisms linking PM2.5 and UFPs to neurotoxicity, which contained 2, 675 genes in all. IPA analysis showed that neuroinflammation signaling and glucocorticoid receptor signaling were the common toxicity pathways. The upstream regulator analysis (URA) of PM2.5 and UFPs demonstrated that the neuroinflammation signaling was the most initially triggered upstream event. Therefore, neuroinflammation was recognized as the MIE. Strikingly, there is a clear sequence of activation of downstream signaling pathways with UFPs, but not with PM2.5. Moreover, we found that inflammation response and homeostasis imbalance were key cellular events in PM2.5 and emphasized lipid metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment in UFPs. Previous AOPs, which only focused on phenotypic changes in neurotoxicity upon PM exposure, we for the first time propose AOP framework in which PM2.5 and UFPs may activate pathway cascade reactions, resulting in adverse outcomes associated with neurotoxicity. Our toxicity pathway-based approach not only advances risk assessment for PM-induced neurotoxicity but shines a spotlight on constructing AOP frameworks for new chemicals.

Long-term exposure to ozone and sleep disorders in children: A multicity study in China.

Evidence regarding the link between long-term ambient ozone (O3) exposure and childhood sleep disorders is little. This study aims to examine the associations between long-term exposure to O3 and sleep disorders in children. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey, including 185,428 children aged 6-18 years in 173 schools across 14 Chinese cities during 2012 and 2018. Parents or guardians completed a checklist using Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children, and O3 exposure at residential and school addresses was estimated using a satellite-based spatiotemporal model. We used generalized linear mixed models to test the associations with adjustment for factors including socio-demographic variables, lifestyle, meteorology and multiple pollutants. Mean concentrations of O3, particulate matter with diameters ≤2.5 mm (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were 89.0 µg/m3, 42.5 µg/m3 and 34.4 µg/m3, respectively. O3 and NO2 concentrations were similar among provinces, while PM2.5 concentration varied significantly among provinces. Overall, 19.4% of children had at least one sleep disorder. Long-term exposure to O3 was positively associated with odds of sleep disorders for all subtypes. For example, each interquartile increment in home-school O3 concentrations was associated with a higher odds ratio for global sleep disorder, at 1.22 (95% confidence interval: 1.18, 1.26). Similar associations were observed for sleep disorder subtypes. The associations remained similar after adjustment for PM2.5 and NO2. Moreover, these associations were heterogeneous regionally, with more prominent associations among children residing in southeast region than in northeast and northwest regions in China. We concluded that long-term exposure to O3 is positively associated with risks of childhood sleep disorders. These associations varied by geographical region of China.

Uncovering the freezing energy release of salted grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) flesh: Effects of water state and protein structure on the thermal properties.

The effect of NaCl content on the protein structures, water status and thermal properties of grass carp flesh, along with its relationship with energy required for freezing was investigated to improve the quality of frozen flesh and to reduce energy consumption for freezing. Adding salt prompted the shifting of the secondary structure of α-helix to ß-sheet, ß-turn and random coil. The interaction between water molecules and hydrophilic groups in the unfolded protein structure increased nonfreezing water content, which decreased specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity of sample during freezing. The lowest energy required (235.69 kJ/kg) for freezing was found in 7% NaCl salted sample, indicating a 38.39% reduction compared to the unsalted sample. Few pores between muscle fibers were observed in the 3% and 5% NaCl salted sample. Therefore, an optimal salt concentration improved quality of frozen flesh and reduced the energy required for freezing, promoting energy-efficient freezing of aquatic products.

How Parental Mediation and Parental Phubbing Affect Preschool Children's Screen Media Use: A Response Surface Analysis.

Parental mediation (PM) and parental phubbing (PP) are two pivotal factors that influence children's screen media use. This study used response surface analysis to examine the combined effect of PM and PP on screen time among preschool children. A total of 3,445 parents with preschool-aged children participated in this study, providing self-reported data on PM, PP, and their children's screen time (CST). The results revealed that CST decreased when parents enhanced their mediation behaviors and reduced phubbing behaviors in the cases of congruence between PM and PP. In instances of incongruence, reduced screen time was observed when parents exhibited lower frequency in mediating their CST and displayed fewer phubbing behaviors compared with situations where parents mediated their children more frequently but engaged in higher levels of phubbing behaviors. The findings suggest that PM play a significant role in mitigating preschool-aged children's excessive screen time. Moreover, it is critical to establish positive role modeling by reducing PP behaviors.

Regioselective Electrooxidative [3+2] Annulation between Indole and Aniline Derivatives to Construct Functionalized Indolo[2,3-b]indoles.

A protocol for the electrooxidative [3+2] annulation to generate indolo[2,3-b]indoles in an undivided cell is reported. It exhibits good yields with excellent regioselectivities and tolerates various functional groups without external chemical oxidants. Cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory calculations indicate that the [3+2] annulation is initiated by the simultaneous anodic oxidation of indole and aniline derivatives, and the step to determine the rate relies on the combination of radical cations.