Unlocking the potential of biochar: an iron-phosphorus-based composite modified adsorbent for adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in aqueous environments and response surface optimization of adsorption conditions.

In this work, iron-phosphorus based composite biochar (FPBC) was prepared by modification with potassium phosphate and iron oxides for the removal of heavy metal ions from single and mixed heavy metal (Pb and Cd) solutions. FTIR and XPS characterization experiments showed that the novel modified biochar had a greater number of surface functional groups compared to the pristine biochar. The maximum adsorption capacities of FPBC for Pb(II) and Cd(II) were 211.66 mg·g-1 and 94.08 mg·g-1 at 293 K. The adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by FPBC followed the proposed two-step adsorption kinetic model and the Freundlich isothermal adsorption model, suggesting that the mechanism of adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by FPBC involved chemical adsorption of multiple layers. Mechanistic studies showed that the introduction of -PO4 and -PO3 chemisorbed with Pb(II) and Cd(II), and the introduction of -Fe-O increased the ion exchange with Pb(II) and Cd(II) during the adsorption process and produced precipitates such as Pb3Fe(PO4)3 and Cd5Fe2(P2O7)4. Additionally, the abundant -OH and -COOH groups also participated in the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II). In addition, FPBC demonstrated strong selective adsorption of Pb(II) in mixed heavy metal solutions. The Response Surface Methodology(RSM) analysis determined the optimal adsorption conditions for FPBC as pH 5.31, temperature 26.01 °C, and Pb(II) concentration 306.30 mg·L-1 for Pb(II). Similarly, the optimal adsorption conditions for Cd(II) were found to be pH 5.66, temperature 39.34 °C, and Cd(II) concentration 267.68 mg·L-1. Therefore, FPBC has the potential for application as a composite-modified adsorbent for the adsorption of multiple heavy metal ions.

Research hotspots and trends of complementary and alternative therapy for neuropathic pain: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a common type of pain in clinic. Due to the limited effect of drug treatment, many patients with NP are still troubled by this disease. In recent years, complementary and alternative therapy (CAT) has shown good efficacy in the treatment of NP. As the interest in CAT for NP continues to grow, we conducted a bibliometric study of publications on CAT treatment for NP. The aim of this study is to analyze the development overview, research hotspots and future trends in the field of CAT and NP through bibliometric methodology, so as to provide a reference for subsequent researchers. METHODS: Publications on CAT in the treatment of NP from 2002 to 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Relevant countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and references were analyzed bibliometrically using Microsoft Excel 2021, bibliometric platform, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace. RESULTS: A total of 898 articles from 46 countries were published in 324 journals, and they were contributed by 4455 authors from 1102 institutions. The most influential country and institution are China (n = 445) and Kyung Hee University (n = 63), respectively. Fang JQ (n = 27) and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (n = 63) are the author and journal with the most publications in this field. The clinical efficacy, molecular biological mechanisms and safety of CAT for NP are currently hot directions. Low back pain, postherpetic neuralgia, acupuncture, and herbal are the hot topics in CAT and NP in recent years. CONCLUSION: This study reveals the current status and hotspots of CAT for NP. The study also indicates that the effectiveness and effect mechanism of acupuncture or herbs for treating emotional problems caused by low back pain or postherpetic neuralgia may be a trend for future research.

SPTLC3 Is Essential for Complex I Activity and Contributes to Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulated metabolism of bioactive sphingolipids, including ceramides and sphingosine-1-phosphate, has been implicated in cardiovascular disease, although the specific species, disease contexts, and cellular roles are not completely understood. Sphingolipids are produced by the serine palmitoyltransferase enzyme, canonically composed of 2 subunits, SPTLC1 (serine palmitoyltransferase long chain base subunit 1) and SPTLC2 (serine palmitoyltransferase long chain base subunit 2). Noncanonical sphingolipids are produced by a more recently described subunit, SPTLC3 (serine palmitoyltransferase long chain base subunit 3). METHODS: The noncanonical (d16) and canonical (d18) sphingolipidome profiles in cardiac tissues of patients with end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy and in mice with ischemic cardiomyopathy were analyzed by targeted lipidomics. Regulation of SPTLC3 by HIF1α under ischemic conditions was determined with chromatin immunoprecipitation. Transcriptomics, lipidomics, metabolomics, echocardiography, mitochondrial electron transport chain, mitochondrial membrane fluidity, and mitochondrial membrane potential were assessed in the cSPTLC3KO transgenic mice we generated. Furthermore, morphological and functional studies were performed on cSPTLC3KO mice subjected to permanent nonreperfused myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Herein, we report that SPTLC3 is induced in both human and mouse models of ischemic cardiomyopathy and leads to production of atypical sphingolipids bearing 16-carbon sphingoid bases, resulting in broad changes in cell sphingolipid composition. This induction is in part attributable to transcriptional regulation by HIF1α under ischemic conditions. Furthermore, cardiomyocyte-specific depletion of SPTLC3 in mice attenuates oxidative stress, fibrosis, and hypertrophy in chronic ischemia, and mice demonstrate improved cardiac function and increased survival along with increased ketone and glucose substrate metabolism utilization. Depletion of SPTLC3 mechanistically alters the membrane environment and subunit composition of mitochondrial complex I of the electron transport chain, decreasing its activity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a novel essential role for SPTLC3 in electron transport chain function and a contribution to ischemic injury by regulating complex I activity.

The role of foam cells in spinal cord injury: challenges and opportunities for intervention.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in a large amount of tissue cell debris in the lesion site, which interacts with various cytokines, including inflammatory factors, and the intrinsic glial environment of the central nervous system (CNS) to form an inhibitory microenvironment that impedes nerve regeneration. The efficient clearance of tissue debris is crucial for the resolution of the inhibitory microenvironment after SCI. Macrophages are the main cells responsible for tissue debris removal after SCI. However, the high lipid content in tissue debris and the dysregulation of lipid metabolism within macrophages lead to their transformation into foamy macrophages during the phagocytic process. This phenotypic shift is associated with a further pro-inflammatory polarization that may aggravate neurological deterioration and hamper nerve repair. In this review, we summarize the phenotype and metabolism of macrophages under inflammatory conditions, as well as the mechanisms and consequences of foam cell formation after SCI. Moreover, we discuss two strategies for foam cell modulation and several potential therapeutic targets that may enhance the treatment of SCI.

[Evolution and implementation pathways from desertification prevention and control to sandy land management and use in China]. / 中国从防沙治沙到管沙用沙的演变过程与实现路径.

The construction of ecological civilization emphasizes holistic protection of "mountain-water-forest-farmland-lake-grassland-sand", which has become an important concept of desertification prevention projects in arid and semi-arid areas of China. In the past, sandy land management and use have been neglected in desertification prevention and control, in that the links have not been effectively connected and the long-term and efficient desertification prevention has not been realized. Therefore, combining Qian Xuesen's understanding of "deserticulture", we comprehensively discussed the "long-term achievements" of China's desertification control miracle from the perspective of the historical evolution of the interaction of technology and practice, and the strategic development of policy guidance. Further, we defined the concepts of desertification prevention, desertification control, and sandy land management and use. We analyzed the coupling and coordination relationship between the four links and the scientific principle based on the development of ecological industry chain. Finally, we put forward the policy and market realization pathways, with efficient sandy land management as the core, desertification prevention as the basis, desertification control as the channel, and long-term sandy land use as the foundation. We expected to provide theoretical and practical guidance for creating a new miracle of China's desertification prevention and control.

Objectively measured the impact of ambient air pollution on physical activity for older adults.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution poses a significant health risk to the human population, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, potentially discouraging their engagement in physical activity. However, there is a lack of sufficient objective and longitudinal data in current research on how air pollution affects physical activity among older adults. With these gaps, we aimed to explore the relationship between air pollution and objective measurement-based physical activity among older adults by engaging in a longitudinal study design. METHODS: A total of 184 older adults were recruited from three cities with varying levels of air quality. Mean daily minutes of physical activity were measured with 7 consecutive days of accelerometer monitoring (ActiGraph GT3X-BT). Corresponding air pollution data including daily PM2.5 (µg/m3), PM10 (µg/m3) and air quality index (AQI) were sourced from the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre at monitor locations close to older adults' addresses. Associations between air quality and physical activity were estimated using a fixed effect model, adjusting for average daytime temperature, rain, age and weight. RESULTS: AQI and PM2.5 were observed to exhibit significant, inverse, and linear associations with mean daily walk steps, minutes of light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in the single variable models. A one-level increase in AQI corresponded to a decline in 550.04 steps (95% [CI] = -858.97, -241.10; p < 0.001), 10.43 min (95% [CI] = -17.07, -3.79; p < 0.001), 4.03 min (95% [CI] = -7.48, -0.59; p < 0.001) and 4.16 min (95% [CI] = -7.77, -0.56; p < 0.001) in daily walking steps, LPA, MPA, and MVPA, respectively. A one-level increase in PM2.5 correlated with a decline in daily walk steps, LPA, MPA and MVPA by 361.85 steps (95% [CI] = -516.53, -207.16; p < 0.001), 8.97 min (95% [CI] = -12.28, -5.66; p < 0.001), 3.73 min (95% [CI] = -5.46, -2.01; p < 0.001,) and 3.79 min (95% [CI] = -5.59, -1.98; p < 0.001), respectively. However, PM10 displayed a significant negative association exclusively with LPA, with one-level increase in PM10 resulting in a 3.7-minute reduction in LPA (95% [CI] = -6.81, -0.59, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Air pollution demonstrates an inverse association with physical activity levels among older adults, potentially discouraging their engagement in physical activity. Different air quality indicators may exert varying impacts on physical activity. Future studies are warranted to enhance policy interventions aimed at reducing air pollution and promoting physical activity.

Nicotinamide riboside activates renal metabolism and protects the kidney in a model of Alport syndrome.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with renal metabolic disturbances, including impaired fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ) is a small molecule that participates in hundreds of metabolism-related reactions. NAD + levels are decreased in CKD, and NAD + supplementation is protective. However, both the mechanism of how NAD + supplementation protects from CKD, as well as the cell types most responsible, are poorly understood. Using a mouse model of Alport syndrome, we show that nicotinamide riboside (NR), an NAD + precursor, stimulates renal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α signaling and restores FAO in the proximal tubules, thereby protecting from CKD in both sexes. Bulk RNA-sequencing shows that renal metabolic pathways are impaired in Alport mice and dramatically activated by NR in both sexes. These transcriptional changes are confirmed by orthogonal imaging techniques and biochemical assays. Single nuclei RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, both the first of their kind from Alport mice, show that NAD + supplementation restores FAO in the proximal tubules with minimal effects on the podocytes. Finally, we also report, for the first time, sex differences at the transcriptional level in this Alport model. Male Alport mice had more severe inflammation and fibrosis than female mice at the transcriptional level. In summary, the data herein identify both the protective mechanism and location of NAD + supplementation in this model of CKD.

Human-derived bacterial strains mitigate colitis via modulating gut microbiota and repairing intestinal barrier function in mice.

BACKGROUND: Unbalanced gut microbiota is considered as a pivotal etiological factor in colitis. Nevertheless, the precise influence of the endogenous gut microbiota composition on the therapeutic efficacy of probiotics in colitis remains largely unexplored. RESULTS: In this study, we isolated bacteria from fecal samples of a healthy donor and a patient with ulcerative colitis in remission. Subsequently, we identified three bacterial strains that exhibited a notable ability to ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, as evidenced by increased colon length, reduced disease activity index, and improved histological score. Further analysis revealed that each of Pediococcus acidilactici CGMCC NO.17,943, Enterococcus faecium CGMCC NO.17,944 and Escherichia coli CGMCC NO.17,945 significantly attenuated inflammatory responses and restored gut barrier dysfunction in mice. Mechanistically, bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that these three strains partially restored the overall structure of the gut microbiota disrupted by DSS. Specially, they promoted the growth of Faecalibaculum and Lactobacillus murinus, which were positively correlated with gut barrier function, while suppressing Odoribacter, Rikenella, Oscillibacter and Parasutterella, which were related to inflammation. Additionally, these strains modulated the composition of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecal content, leading to an increase in acetate and a decrease in butyrate. Furthermore, the expression of metabolites related receptors, such as receptor G Protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 43, were also affected. Notably, the depletion of endogenous gut microbiota using broad-spectrum antibiotics completely abrogated these protective effects. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that selected human-derived bacterial strains alleviate experimental colitis and intestinal barrier dysfunction through mediating resident gut microbiota and their metabolites in mice. This study provides valuable insights into the potential therapeutic application of probiotics in the treatment of colitis.

In Situ Growth of MOF from Wood Aerogel toward Bromide Ion Adsorption in Simulated Saline Water.

Utilizing metal-organic framework (MOF) materials for the extraction of bromide ions (Br-) from aqueous solutions, as an alternative to chlorine gas oxidation technology, holds promising potential for future applications. However, the limitations of powdered MOFs, such as low utilization efficiency, ease of aggregation in water, and challenging recovery processes, have hindered their practical application. Shaping MOF materials into application-oriented forms represents an effective but challenging approach to address these drawbacks. In this work, a novel Ag-UiO-66-(OH)2@delignified wood cellulose aerogel (CA) adsorbent is synthesized using an oil bath impregnation method, involving the deposition of UiO-66-(OH)2 nanoparticles onto CA and the uniform dispersion of Ag0 nanoparticles across its surface. CA, characterized by the intertwined cellulose nanofiber structure and a highly hydrophilic surface, serves as an ideal substrate for the uniform growth of UiO-66-(OH)2 nanoparticles, which, in turn, spontaneously reduce Ag+ to form distributed Ag0 nanoparticles due to the abundant hydroxyl groups provided. Leveraging the well-defined biological structure of CA, which offers excellent mass transfer channels, and the highly dispersed Ag adsorption sites, Ag-UiO-(OH)2/CA exhibits remarkable adsorption capacity (642 mg/gAg) under optimized conditions. Furthermore, an integrated device is constructed by interconnecting Ag-UiO-(OH)2/CA adsorbents in series, affirming its potential application in the continuous recovery of Br-. This study not only presents an efficient Ag-UiO-(OH)2/CA adsorbent for Br- recovery but also sheds light on the extraction of other valuable elements from various liquid ores.

Bile Acid Receptor Agonist Reverses Transforming Growth Factor-ß1-Mediated Fibrogenesis in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Kidney Organoids.

Chronic kidney disease progresses through the replacement of functional tissue compartments with fibrosis, a maladaptive repair process. Shifting kidney repair toward a physiologically intact architecture, rather than fibrosis, is key to blocking chronic kidney disease progression. Much research into the mechanisms of fibrosis is performed in rodent models with less attention to the human genetic context. Recently, human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived organoids have shown promise in overcoming the limitation. In this study, we developed a fibrosis model that uses human iPSC-based 3-dimensional renal organoids, in which exogenous transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) induced the production of extracellular matrix. TGF-ß1-treated organoids showed tubulocentric collagen 1α1 production by regulating downstream transcriptional regulators, Farnesoid X receptor, phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (p-SMAD3), and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Increased nuclear TAZ expression was confirmed in the tubular epithelium in human kidney biopsies with tubular injury and early fibrosis. A dual bile acid receptor agonist (INT-767) increased Farnesoid X receptor and reduced p-SMAD3 and TAZ, attenuating TGF-ß1-induced fibrosis in kidney organoids. Finally, we show that TAZ interacted with TEA-domain transcription factors and p-SMAD3 with TAZ and TEA-domain transcription factor 4 coregulating collagen 1α1 gene transcription. In summary, we establish a novel, readily manipulable fibrogenesis model and posit a role for bile acid receptor agonism early in renal parenchymal fibrosis.

EVLncRNAs 3.0: an updated comprehensive database for manually curated functional long non-coding RNAs validated by low-throughput experiments.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as crucial regulators across diverse biological processes and diseases. While high-throughput sequencing has enabled lncRNA discovery, functional characterization remains limited. The EVLncRNAs database is the first and exclusive repository for all experimentally validated functional lncRNAs from various species. After previous releases in 2018 and 2021, this update marks a major expansion through exhaustive manual curation of nearly 25 000 publications from 15 May 2020, to 15 May 2023. It incorporates substantial growth across all categories: a 154% increase in functional lncRNAs, 160% in associated diseases, 186% in lncRNA-disease associations, 235% in interactions, 138% in structures, 234% in circular RNAs, 235% in resistant lncRNAs and 4724% in exosomal lncRNAs. More importantly, it incorporated additional information include functional classifications, detailed interaction pathways, homologous lncRNAs, lncRNA locations, COVID-19, phase-separation and organoid-related lncRNAs. The web interface was substantially improved for browsing, visualization, and searching. ChatGPT was tested for information extraction and functional overview with its limitation noted. EVLncRNAs 3.0 represents the most extensive curated resource of experimentally validated functional lncRNAs and will serve as an indispensable platform for unravelling emerging lncRNA functions. The updated database is freely available at https://www.sdklab-biophysics-dzu.net/EVLncRNAs3/.

SKN-1/NRF2 upregulation by vitamin A is conserved from nematodes to mammals and is critical for lifespan extension in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Vitamin A (VA) is a micronutrient essential for the physiology of many organisms, but its role in longevity and age-related diseases remains unclear. In this work, we used Caenorhabditis elegans to study the impact of various bioactive compounds on lifespan. We demonstrate that VA extends lifespan and reduces lipofuscin and fat accumulation while increasing resistance to heat and oxidative stress. This resistance can be attributed to high levels of detoxifying enzymes called glutathione S-transferases, induced by the transcription factor skinhead-1 (SKN-1). Notably, VA upregulated the transcript levels of skn-1 or its mammalian ortholog NRF2 in both C. elegans, human cells, and liver tissues of mice. Moreover, the loss-of-function genetic models demonstrated a critical involvement of the SKN-1 pathway in longevity extension by VA. Our study thus provides novel insights into the molecular mechanism of anti-aging and anti-oxidative effects of VA, suggesting that this micronutrient could be used for the prevention and/or treatment of age-related disorders.

The identification of new roles for nicotinamide mononucleotide after spinal cord injury in mice: an RNA-seq and global gene expression study.

Background: Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), an important transforming precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Numerous studies have confirmed the neuroprotective effects of NMN in nervous system diseases. However, its role in spinal cord injury (SCI) and the molecular mechanisms involved have yet to be fully elucidated. Methods: We established a moderate-to-severe model of SCI by contusion (70 kdyn) using a spinal cord impactor. The drug was administered immediately after surgery, and mice were intraperitoneally injected with either NMN (500 mg NMN/kg body weight per day) or an equivalent volume of saline for seven days. The central area of the spinal cord was harvested seven days after injury for the systematic analysis of global gene expression by RNA Sequencing (RNA-seq) and finally validated using qRT-PCR. Results: NMN supplementation restored NAD+ levels after SCI, promoted motor function recovery, and alleviated pain. This could potentially be associated with alterations in NAD+ dependent enzyme levels. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that NMN can inhibit inflammation and potentially regulate signaling pathways, including interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), toll-like receptor, nod-like receptor, and chemokine signaling pathways. In addition, the construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and the screening of core genes showed that interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF 7), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (Cxcl10), and other inflammationrelated factors, changed significantly after NMN treatment. qRT-PCR confirmed the inhibitory effect of NMN on inflammatory factors (IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-17A, IRF7) and chemokines (chemokine ligand 3, Cxcl10) in mice following SCI. Conclusion: The reduction of NAD+ levels after SCI can be compensated by NMN supplementation, which can significantly restore motor function and relieve pain in a mouse model. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR systematically revealed that NMN affected inflammation-related signaling pathways, including the IL-17, TNF, Toll-like receptor, NOD-like receptor and chemokine signaling pathways, by down-regulating the expression of inflammatory factors and chemokines.

The Effect of Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine on Oxidative Stress in the Spinal Cord and Skeletal Muscle After Spinal Cord Injury.

Oxidative stress is a frequently occurring pathophysiological feature of spinal cord injury (SCI) and can result in secondary injury to the spinal cord and skeletal muscle atrophy. Studies have reported that glycine and N-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) have anti-aging and anti-oxidative stress properties; however, to date, no study has assessed the effect of GlyNAC in the treatment of SCI. In the present work, we established a rat model of SCI and then administered GlyNAC to the animals by gavage at a dose of 200 mg/kg for four consecutive weeks. The BBB scores of the rats were significantly elevated from the first to the eighth week after GlyNAC intervention, suggesting that GlyNAC promoted the recovery of motor function; it also promoted the significant recovery of body weight of the rats. Meanwhile, the 4-week heat pain results also suggested that GlyNAC intervention could promote the recovery of sensory function in rats to some extent. Additionally, after 4 weeks, the levels of glutathione and superoxide dismutase in spinal cord tissues were significantly elevated, whereas that of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased in GlyNAC-treated animals. The gastrocnemius wet weight ratio and total antioxidant capacity were also significantly increased. After 8 weeks, the malondialdehyde level had decreased significantly in spinal cord tissue, while reactive oxygen species accumulation in skeletal muscle had decreased. These findings suggested that GlyNAC can protect spinal cord tissue, delay skeletal muscle atrophy, and promote functional recovery in rats after SCI.

Fibrosis quantification using multiphoton excitation imaging of picrosirius red stained cardiac tissue.

Traditional methodologies for fibrosis quantification involve histological measurements, staining with Masson's trichrome and picrosirius red (PSR), and label-free imaging using second harmonic generation (SHG). The difficulty of label-free cardiac SHG imaging is that both collagen (i.e., collagen 1 fibrils) and myosin are harmonophores that generate SHG signals, and specific identification of either collagen or myosin is difficult to achieve. Here we present an alternate method of quantifying cardiac fibrosis by using PSR staining followed by multiphoton excitation fluorescence imaging. Our data from the deoxycorticosterone model of cardiac fibrosis shows that this imaging method and downstream analyses, including background correction, are robust and easy to perform. These advantages are due to the high signal-to-noise ratio provided by PSR in areas of collagen fibers. Furthermore, the hyperspectral and fluorescence lifetime information of PSR-stained area of fibrosis shows better quantification can eventually be obtained using more complex instrumentation.

Exploring Perceptual Intensity Properties Using Electrotactile Stimulation on Fingertips.

Understanding electrotactile parametric properties is a crucial milestone in achieving intuitive haptics. Perceptual intensity is a primary property, but its exploration remains challenging due to subjectivity. To address this problem, this study conducted two experiments on fingertips and proposed two metrics based on significant findings. Experiment 1 found a significant linear relationship (R 2 = 0.981) between pulse amplitude (PA) and pulse width (PW) in the logarithmic plane, and proposed a metric of parameter intensity (PI) to estimate the intensity of parameters. In Experiment 2, subjective intensity (SI) was defined and measured using a scale of 0 to 10. A metric model of SI (SI model) was derived based on the linear relationship (R 0.78) between PI and measured SI. A calibration method was proposed and its prediction accuracy has been verified. An average RMSE of 11.2 % indicated an accuracy close to the subjective judgment error of 8.7 %. Results are consistent across subjects and four different electrode-skin conditions (ESC). The findings of this study provide theoretical support for SI prediction and regulation, which is significant for electrotactile feedback.

Artificial Intelligence Applications to Public Health Nutrition.

Public health nutrition occupies a paramount position in the overarching domains of health promotion and disease prevention, setting itself apart from nutritional investigations concentrated at the individual level [...].

In Situ Observation of Cellular Structure Changes in and Chain Segregations of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 on TiO2 Films under a Photocatalytic Device.

Cyanobacteria outbreaks are serious water pollution events, causing water crises around the world. Photocatalytic disinfection, as an effective approach, has been widely used to inhibit blue algae growth. In this study, a tiny reaction room containing a TiO2 film was designed to fulfill in situ optical observation of the destruction process of a one-dimensional multicellular microorganism, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, which is also a typical bacterial strain causing water blooms. It was found that the fragment number increased exponentially with the activation time. The fracture mechanics of the algae chains were hypothesized to be the combining functions of increased local tensile stress originated from the cell contracting as well as the oxidative attacks coming from reactive oxygen species (ROSs). It was assumed that the oxidative species were the root cause of cellular structure changes in and chain fractures of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 in the photocatalytic inactivation activity.

Accelerometer-measured physical activity patterns are associated with phenotypic age: Isotemporal substitution effects.

Prolonged sitting appears to accelerate aging, while optimal physical activity patterns have been found to delay the process. It is an emerging topic, and no conclusions have been reached regarding the relationship between physical activity patterns and biomarkers-measured aging. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between sensor-based objectively measured physical activity and phenotypic age using a nationwide population from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States. Weighted linear regression models were performed to evaluate the association between sedentary behavior, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and phenotypic age. A total of 6439 eligible participants were included and the weighted respondents were 49,964,300. Results showed that prolonged sitting was positively associated with phenotypic age in the fully adjusted model [ß (95% CI): 0.009(0.007,0.011), p < 0.001], while increasing volume of LPA and MVPA was associated with younger phenotypic age using the fully adjusted model [ß (95% CI): -0.010(-0.013,-0.006), p < 0.001; -0.062(-0.075,-0.048), p < 0.001]. By utilizing the Isotemporal Substitution Model, it was found that replacing 30 min of sedentary behavior with 30 min of LPA or MVPA per day was associated with estimated 0.4 or 1.9 years of phenotypic age reduction. According to the study's findings, maintaining a certain level of physical activity could delay the process of aging and intensity matters.