Prevalence and correlates of mental health problems among different occupations of medical workers during COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Background: Health workers involved in the fight to prevent the COVID-19 outbreak were exposed to hazards. Detailed information on mental health problems in different medical occupations is crucial. To examined the prevalence of mental health issues in three medical occupations as well as the relationships between mental health problems and correlates in each occupation. Methods: This study utilizing the Questionnaire Star program was conducted among medical workers working at medical institutions in China from February 17 to 24, 2020. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to assess mental health problems. Results: The prevalence of any mental health problems in the three occupations was 43.6, 34.6, and 32.9% for nurses, paramedical workers (PMWs), and doctors, respectively. Three occupations shared some correlates, such as being overworked, not having enough time to rest, support from colleagues, and previous mental health status. There were specific factors for each occupation. For doctors, age, educational level, living status, support from family, and previous physical status were related factors in mental health problems. Working in a designated hospital for treating COVID-19, having COVID-19 event exposures, and receiving support from family were associated with the mental health problems of the nurses. PMWs' mental health problems was linked to educational level and care from supervisors or heads of department. Conclusion: Different medical occupations have distinct impacts on mental health issues. Policy makers and mental health professionals working to prepare for potential disease outbreaks should be aware of multiple factors in different occupations.

A sacrificial layer strategy for photolithography on highly hydrophobic surface and its application for electrowetting devices.

Patterning micro-structures on highly hydrophobic surface by photolithography is usually inevitable for fabricating devices based on electrowetting effects. The key challenges for such photolithography processes are how to coat photoresist uniformly and maintain the hydrophobicity of the highly hydrophobic surface, which are usually two contradict aspects. Moreover, the patterned microstructure must adhere to the highly hydrophobic surface excellently, which is critical for device application. However, a simple and robust fabrication process that fulfills all the above requirements was seldom reported. In this paper, we developed a sacrificial layer photolithography strategy on highly hydrophobic surface. Photoresist is easily coated uniformly all over the substrate by introducing a sacrificial layer between the photoresist and the highly hydrophobic surface. The hydrophobicity of the exposed hydrophobic surface was maintained and the adhesion of the microstructures to the substrate is excellent. An electrowetting display sample was demonstrated by this fabrication strategy, which showed dynamic image displaying with response time less than 40 ms. The strategy is applicable to both rigid and flexible substrate and manufacturing compatible. We believe our developed photolithography process is important for research and development of devices based on electrowetting effect.

Effects of dietary oxidized konjac glucomannan sulfates (OKGMS) and acidolysis-oxidized konjac glucomannan (A-OKGM) on the immunity and expression of immune-related genes of Schizothorax prenanti.

In the present study, konjac glucomannan (KGM) was degraded by H2O2, and then used trisulfonated sodium amine and HCl, individually, to obtain two kinds of derivatives: oxidized konjac glucomannan sulfates (OKGMS) and acidolysis-oxidized konjac glucomannan (A-OKGM). The effects of two OKGM modified products on the immune parameters and expressions of toll-like receptor 22 (TLR22), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and interferon regulatory factors 7 (IRF7) genes in Schizothorax prenanti were determined. The alternative haemolytic complement (ACH50) activity was found to be significantly increased by the OKGMS diets. The immunoglobulin M (IgM) level was significantly enhanced by the OKGMS diets. The lysozyme activity was significantly increased by both OKGMS and A-OKGM diets. The superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in fish fed with all doses of OKGMS diets was significantly higher than that in fish fed with basal diet. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity in fish fed with 0.8% and 1.6% A-OKGM diets was significantly higher than control group. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly decreased by both OKGMS and A-OKGM diets. The 0.8% A-OKGM diet significantly up-regulated TLR22 gene expression in the head kidney and spleen. TLR22 gene expression was significantly promoted by all OKGMS diets in the mesonephros and liver. The MyD88 mRNA level in 1.6% A-OKGM group significantly increased in the head kidney. The low dose of OKGMS significantly induced the MyD88 gene expression in the mesonephros, gut and liver, while 0.8% A-OKGM group also showed a significantly enhanced MyD88 mRNA expression in the gut. High dose of OKGMS significantly increased the IRF7 mRNA expression in the mesonephros and spleen. Fish fed with low dose of A-OKGM showed significantly higher expression of IRF7 in the gut and liver. Present study suggested that OKGMS and A-OKGM can act as immunostimulant to improve the immune indexes and up-regulate the immune-related gene expressions.

Metal contact effect on the performance and scaling behavior of carbon nanotube thin film transistors.

Metal-tube contact is known to play an important role in carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNT-FETs) which are fabricated on individual CNTs. Less attention has been paid to the contact effect in network type carbon nanotube thin film transistors (CNT-TFTs). In this study, we demonstrate that contact plays an even more important role in CNT-TFTs than in CNT-FETs. Although the Schottky barrier height at the metal-tube contact can be tuned by the work function of the metal, similar to the case in CNT-FETs, the contact resistance (Rc) forms a much higher proportion of the total resistance in CNT-TFTs. Interestingly, the contact resistivity was found to increase with channel length, which is a consequence of the percolating nature of the transport in CNT films, and this behavior does not exist in CNT-FETs and normal 2D Ohmic conductors. Electrical transport in CNT-TFTs has been predicted to scale with channel length by stick percolation theory. However, the scaling behavior is also impacted, or even covered up by the effect of Rc. Once the contact effect is excluded, the covered scaling behavior can be revealed correctly. A possible way of reducing Rc in CNT-TFTs was proposed. We believe the findings in this paper will strengthen our understanding of CNT-TFTs, and even accelerate the commercialization of CNT-TFT technology.

Recombination and functional studies of a dual-action peptide for diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To study a recombined chimeric peptide consisting of lysozyme N-terminal sequence and exendin-4 (shortly LYZ(N)-EX4) as a dual-action peptide for diabetes. METHODS: LYZ(N)-EX4 was recombined into plasmid pET-32a(+) and expressed in Escherichia coli. The fusion protein was separated by affinity chromatography and hydrolyzed by enterokinase to prepare LYZ(N)-EX4. The chimeric peptide was digested by thrombin and the digests were analyzed by HPLC. The secondary peptides were identified by mass spectrometry. Biological activities of the thrombin digests were determined in vitro, using NIT-1 cells for insulin promoting action and using human white blood cells (WBC) for anti-AGEs action. RESULTS: The fusion protein was highly expressed in E. coli and LYZ(N)-EX4 was obtained via hydrolysis of the fusion protein. The thrombin digests of LYZ(N)-EX4 were separated by HPLC into two peaks, which were identified as LYZ(N) and EX4 by mass spectrametry. Functional studies found that the digests were able to antagonize the effects of AGEs on expression of RAGE mRNA in WBC, promote cell activity, stimulate PDX-1 mRNA expression and increase insulin secretion by NIT-1 cells, suggesting the actions of LYZ(N) and EX4 on the cells. CONCLUSIONS: LYZ(N)-EX4 was sensitive to thrombin digestion, and the secondary peptides LYZ(N) and EX4 could function as anti-AGEs and insulin-promoting peptides, respectively.

[Enzymatic extraction and antibacterial activity of aucubin from Eucommia ulmoides leaves].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the technology of Aucubin in Eucommia ulmoides leaves extracted by enzymatic method and its antibacterial activity. METHODS: Aucubin in Eucommia ulmoides leaves was extracted by cellulase method. The extraction technology was optimized using the content of Aucubin as index. The antibacterial activity of Aucubin was determined. RESULTS: The results showed that the optimum technology was as follows; The solid-liquid ratio was 1:12, extracted for 50 min by 0.4% enzyme at 50 degrees C in pH 6.0. The extraction rate of Aucubin was as high as 17.892 mg/g. The Aucubin extracted could obviously inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the MIC of Aucubin against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were 4.832 mg/mL and 9.664 mg/mL respectively. However, Aucubin presented weak inhibitory effect on Streptococcus pneumonia and MG-hemolytic streptococcus, the MIC of Aucubin against them were all 28.946 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: The extraction technology obtained in this experiment is reasonable and feasible with high extraction rate, and the Aucubin has some antibacterial activity.

Protective effects of different extracts of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. against thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

A comparison of analysis in evaluating the hepatoprotective action of fractional ethanolic (F0), ethyl acetic (F1), n-butanol (F2) and aqueous (F3) extracts of E. ulmoides Oliv. (EUO) against thioacetamide (TAA) induced hepatic damage was studied in mice. The extract (453 mg/kg-F0, 104 mg/kg-F1, 95 mg/kg-F2 and 237 mg/kg-F3 body weight, po, once daily for 15 days) restored serum marker enzymes levels to normal in TAA treated mice. The biochemical biomarkers viz., total protein, albumin and total bilirubin were also restored forward normal level expression pattern of liver protein profile of mice by using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed 144 spots in TAA administered group which were significantly reduced in EUO extracts treated group. Among the four extracts ethyl acetate (F1) and n-butanol (F2) extracts showed more significant liver protection. TAA induced injury can be correlated with its high phenolic content in these extracts which may have hepatoprotective effects in regulating liver proteins by scavenging free radicals.

[Study on the extraction technology of total flavonoids from Selaginella uncinata].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the extraction technology of total flavonoids and improve the extraction ratio of total flavonoids from Selaginella uncinata. METHODS: Using the content of flavonoids as the index determined by UV spectrophotometry, chose single factor experiment to investigate the total flavonoids content influenced by four factor ethanol concentration, extracting time, extraction times and solvent content on the influence of extraction efficiency. And on the basis, L9 (3(4)) orthogonal experiment was carried out. RESULTS: The ethanol reflux extraction conditions were as tollows: extracted in 60% ethanol (solid-liquid rate at 1: 35) for 3 times and heated for 1.5 hours per time. CONCLUSION: The optimum extraction by the orthogonal design method is rational and feasible, provides experimental basis for improving the content of the total flavonoids and further scientific theoretical basis for industrial production of the total flavonoids from Selaginella uncinata.