In vivo axial load-share ratio measurement using a novel hexapod system for safe external fixator removal.

BACKGROUND: External fixation is widely used in the treatment of traumatic fractures; however, orthopedic surgeons encounter challenges in deciding the optimal time for fixator removal. The axial load-share ratio (LS) of the fixator is a quantitative index to evaluate the stiffness of callus healing. This paper introduces an innovative method for measuring the LS and assesses the method's feasibility and efficacy. Based on a novel hexapod LS-measurement system, the proposed method is to improve the convenience and precision of measuring LS in vivo, hence facilitating the safe removal of external fixators. METHODS: A novel hexapod system is introduced, including its composition, theoretical model, and method for LS measurement. We conducted a retrospective study on 82 patients with tibial fractures treated by the Taylor Spatial Frame in our hospital from September 2018 to June 2020, of which 35 took LS measurements with our novel method (Group I), and 47 were with the traditional method (Group II). The external fixator was removed when the measurement outcome (LS < 10%) was consistent with the surgeon's diagnosis based on the clinical and radiological assessment (bone union achieved). RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the fracture healing time (mean 25.3 weeks vs. 24.9 weeks, P > 0.05), frame-wearing duration (mean 25.5 weeks vs. 25.8 weeks, P > 0.05), or LS measurement frequency (mean 1.1 times vs. 1.2 times, P > 0.05). The measurement system installation time in Group I was significantly shorter compared to Group II (mean 14.8 min vs. 81.3 min, P < 0.001). The LS value of the first measurement in Group I was lower than that of Group II (mean 5.1% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.011). In Group I, the refracture rate was 0, but in Group II it was 4.3% (2/47, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The novel hexapod LS-measurement system and involved method demonstrated enhanced convenience and precision in measuring the LS of the external fixator in vivo. The LS measurement indicates the callus stiffness of fracture healing, and is applicable to evaluate the safety of removing the fixator. Consequently, it is highly recommended for widespread adoption in clinical practice.

Numerical investigation and optimal design of capillary barrier cover with passive gas collection pipes on the performance at limiting landfill gas emissions.

Relying solely on soil properties may not fully ensure the performance of capillary barrier covers at limiting landfill gas (LFG) emissions. This study proposed to install passive gas collection pipes in the coarse-grained soil layers of capillary barrier covers to enhance their performance at limiting LFG emissions. First, the LFG generation rate of municipal solid waste and its influencing factors were analyzed based on empirical formulas. This information provided necessary bottom boundary conditions for the analyses of LFG transport through capillary barrier covers with passive gas collection pipes (CBCPPs). Then, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the LFG transport properties through CBCPPs and reveal relevant influencing factors. Finally, practical suggestions were proposed to optimize the design of CBCPPs. The results indicated that the maximum whole-site LFG generation rate occurred at the end of landfilling operation. The gas collection efficiency (E) of CBCPPs was mainly controlled by the ratio of the intrinsic permeability between the coarse- and fine-grained soil (K2/K1) and the laying spacing between gas collection pipes (D). E increased as K2/K1 increased but decreased as D increased. An empirical expression for estimating E based on K2/K1 and D was proposed. In practice, CBCPPs were supposed to be constructed once the landfilling operation finished. It is best to select the fine- and coarse-grained soils with K2/K1 exceeding 10,000 to construct CBCPPs.

Statins as a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy: a Mendelian randomization and cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the foremost cause of vision loss among the global working-age population, and statins are among the most frequently prescribed drugs for lipid management in patients with DR. The exact relationship between statins and DR has not been determined. This study sought to validate the causal association between statins usage and diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: The summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) method and inverse-variance-weighted Mendelian randomization (IVW-MR) were used to identify the causal relationship between statins and DR via the use of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) (31,684 blood samples), low density lipoprotein cholesterol-related GWAS data (sample size: 440,546), and DR-related GWAS data (14,584 cases and 176,010 controls). Additionally, a cross-sectional observational study based on the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was conducted to supplement the association between DR and statins (sample size: 106,911). The odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was employed to evaluate the results. RESULTS: Based on the results of the MR analysis, HMGCR inhibitors were causally connected with a noticeably greater incidence of DR (IVW: OR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.42, 0.69], p = 0.000002; SMR: OR = 0.66, 95% CI [0.52, 0.84], p = 0.00073). Subgroup analysis revealed that the results were not affected by the severity of DR. The sensitivity analysis revealed the stability and reliability of the MR analysis results. The results from the cross-sectional study based on NHANES also support the association between not taking statins and a decreased risk of DR (OR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.37, 0.79], p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that a significant increase in DR risk was causally related to statins use, providing novel insights into the role of statins in DR. However, further investigations are needed to verify these findings.

Elemental partitioning-mediated crystalline-to-amorphous phase transformation under quasi-static deformation.

The transformation induced plasticity phenomenon occurs when one phase transforms to another one during plastic deformation, which is usually diffusionless. Here we present elemental partitioning-mediated crystalline-to-amorphous phase transformation during quasi-static plastic deformation, in an alloy in form of a Cr-Ni-Co (crystalline)/Zr-Ti-Nb-Hf-Ni-Co (amorphous) nanolaminated composite, where the constitute elements of the two phases have large negative mixing enthalpy. Upon plastic deformation, atomic intermixing occurs between adjacent amorphous and crystalline phases due to extensive rearrangement of atoms at the interfaces. The large negative mixing enthalpy among the constituent elements promotes amorphous phase transformation of the original crystalline phase, which shows different composition and short-range-order structure compared with the other amorphous phase. The reduced size of the crystalline phase shortens mean-free-path of dislocations, facilitating strain hardening. The enthalpy-guided alloy design based on crystalline-to-amorphous phase transformation opens up an avenue for the development of crystal-glass composite alloys with ultrahigh strength and large plasticity.

Phase Engineering of Nanostructural Metallic Materials: Classification, Structures, and Applications.

Metallic materials are usually composed of single phase or multiple phases, which refers to homogeneous regions with distinct types of the atom arrangement. The recent studies on nanostructured metallic materials provide a variety of promising approaches to engineer the phases at the nanoscale. Tailoring phase size, phase distribution, and introducing new structures via phase transformation contribute to the precise modification in deformation behaviors and electronic structures of nanostructural metallic materials. Therefore, phase engineering of nanostructured metallic materials is expected to pave an innovative way to develop materials with advanced mechanical and functional properties. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the engineering of heterogeneous nanophases and the fundamental understanding of nanophase formation for nanostructured metallic materials, including supra-nano-dual-phase materials, nanoprecipitation- and nanotwin-strengthened materials. We first review the thermodynamics and kinetics principles for the formation of the supra-nano-dual-phase structure, followed by a discussion on the deformation mechanism for structural metallic materials as well as the optimization in the electronic structure for electrocatalysis. Then, we demonstrate the origin, classification, and mechanical and functional properties of the metallic materials with the structural characteristics of dense nanoprecipitations or nanotwins. Finally, we summarize some potential research challenges in this field and provide a short perspective on the scientific implications of phase engineering for the design of next-generation advanced metallic materials.

Combined Structure- and Ligand-Based Approach for the Identification of Inhibitors of AcrAB-TolC in Escherichia coli.

The inhibition of efflux pumps is a promising approach to combating multidrug-resistant bacteria. We have developed a combined structure- and ligand-based model, using OpenEye software, for the identification of inhibitors of AcrB, the inner membrane protein component of the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump in Escherichia coli. From a database of 1391 FDA-approved drugs, 23 compounds were selected to test for efflux inhibition in E. coli. Seven compounds, including ivacaftor (25), butenafine (19), naftifine (27), pimozide (30), thioridazine (35), trifluoperazine (37), and meloxicam (26), enhanced the activity of at least one antimicrobial substrate and inhibited the efflux pump-mediated removal of the substrate Nile Red from cells. Ivacaftor (25) inhibited efflux dose dependently, had no effect on an E. coli strain with genomic deletion of the gene encoding AcrB, and did not damage the bacterial outer membrane. In the presence of a sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the outer membrane permeabilizer colistin, ivacaftor at 1 µg/mL reduced the MICs of erythromycin and minocycline by 4- to 8-fold. The identification of seven potential AcrB inhibitors shows the merits of a combined structure- and ligand-based approach to virtual screening.

Enrollment Success, Factors, and Prediction Models in Cancer Trials (2008-2019).

PURPOSE: To investigate the enrollment success rate of cancer clinical trials conducted in 2008-2019 and various factors lowering the enrollment success rate. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with clinical trial information from the largest registration database ClinicalTrials.gov. Enrollment success rate was defined as actual enrollment greater or equal to 85% of the estimated enrollment goal. The association between trial characteristics and enrollment success was evaluated using the multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 4,004 trials in breast, lung, and colorectal cancers were included. The overall enrollment success rate was 49.1%. Compared with 2008-2010 (51.5%) and 2011-2013 (52.1%), the enrollment success rate is lower in 2014-2016 (46.5%) and 2017-2019 (36.4%). Regression analyses found trial activation year, phase I, phase I/phase II, and phase II (v phase III), sponsor agency of government (v industry), not requiring healthy volunteers, and estimated enrollment of 50-100, 100-200, 200, and >500 (v 0-50) were associated with a lower enrollment success rate (P < .05). However, trials with placebo comparator, ≥5 locations (v 1 location), and a higher number of secondary end points (eg, ≥5 v 0) were associated with a higher enrollment success rate (P < .05). The AUC for prediction of the final logistic regression models for all trials and specific trial groups ranged from 0.69 to 0.76. CONCLUSION: This large-scale study supports a lower enrollment success rate over years in cancer clinical trials. Identified factors for enrollment success can be used to develop and improve recruitment strategies for future cancer trials.

A Novel Al-Cu Composite with Ultra-High Strength at 350 °C via Dual-Phase Particle Reinforced Submicron-Structure.

Thermal stability determines a material's ability to maintain its performance at desired service temperatures. This is especially important for aluminum (Al) alloys, which are widely used in the commercial sector. Herein, an ultra-strong and heat-resistant Al-Cu composite is fabricated with a structure of nano-AlN and submicron-Al2 O3 particles uniformly distributed in the matrix. At 350 °C, the (8.2AlN+1Al2 O3 )p /Al-0.9Cu composite achieves a high strength of 187 MPa along with a 4.6% ductility under tension. The high strength and good ductility benefit from strong pinning effect on dislocation motion and grain boundary sliding by uniform dispersion of nano-AlN particles, in conjunction with the precipitation of Guinier-Preston (GP) zones, enhancing strain hardening capacity during plastic deformation. This work can expand the selection of Al-Cu composites for potential applications at service temperatures as high as ≈350 °C.

Substantially enhanced homogeneous plastic flow in hierarchically nanodomained amorphous alloys.

To alleviate the mechanical instability of major shear bands in metallic glasses at room temperature, topologically heterogeneous structures were introduced to encourage the multiplication of mild shear bands. Different from the former attention on topological structures, here we present a compositional design approach to build nanoscale chemical heterogeneity to enhance homogeneous plastic flow upon both compression and tension. The idea is realized in a Ti-Zr-Nb-Si-XX/Mg-Zn-Ca-YY hierarchically nanodomained amorphous alloy, where XX and YY denote other elements. The alloy shows ~2% elastic strain and undergoes highly homogeneous plastic flow of ~40% strain (with strain hardening) in compression, surpassing those of mono- and hetero-structured metallic glasses. Furthermore, dynamic atomic intermixing occurs between the nanodomains during plastic flow, preventing possible interface failure. Our design of chemically distinct nanodomains and the dynamic atomic intermixing at the interface opens up an avenue for the development of amorphous materials with ultrahigh strength and large plasticity.

Risk factors and prediction model for inpatient surgical site infection after elective abdominal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the commonest healthcare-associated infection. In addition to increasing mortality, it also lengthens the hospital stay and raises healthcare expenses. SSIs are challenging to predict, with most models having poor predictability. Therefore, we developed a prediction model for SSI after elective abdominal surgery by identifying risk factors. AIM: To analyse the data on inpatients undergoing elective abdominal surgery to identify risk factors and develop predictive models that will help clinicians assess patients preoperatively. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the inpatient records of Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2021. We included the demographic data of the patients and their haematological test results in our analysis. The attending physicians provided the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) scores. The surgeons and anaesthesiologists manually calculated the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) scores. Inpatient SSI risk factors were evaluated using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Nomograms were used in the predictive models. The receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve values were used to measure the specificity and accuracy of the model. RESULTS: A total of 3018 patients met the inclusion criteria. The surgical sites included the uterus (42.2%), the liver (27.6%), the gastrointestinal tract (19.1%), the appendix (5.9%), the kidney (3.7%), and the groin area (1.4%). SSI occurred in 5% of the patients (n = 150). The risk factors associated with SSI were as follows: Age; gender; marital status; place of residence; history of diabetes; surgical season; surgical site; NRS 2002 score; preoperative white blood cell, procalcitonin (PCT), albumin, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels; preoperative antibiotic use; anaesthesia method; incision grade; NNIS score; intraoperative blood loss; intraoperative drainage tube placement; surgical operation items. Multivariate logistic regression revealed the following independent risk factors: A history of diabetes [odds ratio (OR) = 5.698, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.305-9.825, P = 0.001], antibiotic use (OR = 14.977, 95%CI: 2.865-78.299, P = 0.001), an NRS 2002 score of ≥ 3 (OR = 2.426, 95%CI: 1.199-4.909, P = 0.014), general anaesthesia (OR = 3.334, 95%CI: 1.134-9.806, P = 0.029), an NNIS score of ≥ 2 (OR = 2.362, 95%CI: 1.019-5.476, P = 0.045), PCT ≥ 0.05 µg/L (OR = 1.687, 95%CI: 1.056-2.695, P = 0.029), LDL < 3.37 mmol/L (OR = 1.719, 95%CI: 1.039-2.842, P = 0.035), intraoperative blood loss ≥ 200 mL (OR = 29.026, 95%CI: 13.751-61.266, P < 0.001), surgical season (P < 0.05), surgical site (P < 0.05), and incision grade I or III (P < 0.05). The overall area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the predictive model was 0.926, which is significantly higher than the NNIS score (0.662). CONCLUSION: The patient's condition and haematological test indicators form the bases of our prediction model. It is a novel, efficient, and highly accurate predictive model for preventing postoperative SSI, thereby improving the prognosis in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Curvature effects on the bifunctional oxygen catalytic performance of single atom metal-N-C.

Understanding the fundamental relationship between the structural information of electrocatalysts and their catalytic activities plays a key role in controlling many important electrochemical processes. Recently, single-atom catalysts (SACs) with the so-called MN4 structure, consisting of a central transition metal quadruply bound to four pyridine nitrogen atoms all situated in an extended carbon-based matrix, have attracted intensive scientific attention owing to their exceptional catalytic performance. In this work, we perform the first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to explore the curvature effects of the carbon matrix surfaces on the catalytic activities for two fundamental electrochemical processes, namely, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Our DFT results suggest that the curved surface structure can weaken the interaction between the metal atom and the N-doped carbon matrix, modify the electronic structure of the metal atom, and thus increase the adsorption strength of the reaction intermediates, resulting in enhanced OER and ORR catalytic activities of MN4 catalysts. More importantly, a prediction model is developed to evaluate the bifunctional catalytic activities of such catalysts based on their directly obtained parameters including the surface curvature of the catalysts, the number of d electrons of the metal element, and the electronegativity of the metal atom and its coordination atoms in MN4 catalysts. This prediction model not only provides some candidates, for example, FeN4, CoN4 and OsN4 for the ORR; CoN4, NiN4, RuN4, RhN4 and IrN4 for the OER; and CoN4, RuN4, IrN4 and OsN4 for the bifunctional ORR and OER, but also reasonably links the structure of catalysts with their catalytic performance, providing new possibilities for the quick design of high-performance catalysts.

Factors affecting outdoor physical activity in extreme temperatures in a sub-tropical Chinese urban population: an exploratory telephone survey.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) can be affected by extreme temperatures, however fewer studies have identified factors impacting this relationship. This study sought to identify factors associated with changes of outdoor PA during extreme cold/heat events in a sub-tropical Chinese urban population, including factors of sociodemographic, health conditions, temperature-related awareness and attitude, and protective behaviours. METHODS: Two telephone surveys were conducted a week after extreme cold/heat events in 2016 and 2017 among a cohort of Hong Kong residents over age 15. Data was collected on self-reported changes in outdoor PA level during the periods of extreme temperatures, health status, comorbidities, sociodemographic, and temperature-related awareness, and behavioural variables. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess predictors of change in outdoor PA over the two extreme temperature events. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among 435 participants (42.8% response rate), over a third of the participants reported decreased outdoor PA level in extreme temperature events, while 10% reported an increase in extreme heat. Self-reported cardiovascular diseases were associated with decreased PA level in extreme cold, while hypertension was associated with unchanged/increased PA level in extreme heat. These results suggest physical activity to be an important consideration in the understanding of climate change-and-health pathways and meriting further research.

Deferasirox alleviates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by inhibiting ferroptosis and improving intestinal microbiota.

AIMS: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) caused by multiple factors. Studies have shown that epithelial cell damage was associated with ferroptosis in UC. Therefore, our research focused on the effects and mechanism of iron chelator deferasirox in UC. MAIN METHODS: The UC model was induced by 2.5 % dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) and administered with deferasirox (10 mg/kg) for 7 days. Histological pathologies, inflammatory response, ferrous iron contents, oxidative stress and ferroptosis regulators were determined. Intestinal microbiota alteration and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and targeted metabolomics. KEY FINDINGS: Deferasirox significantly relieved the DSS-induced UC in mice, as evidenced by weight loss, survival rate, colon length shortening disease activity index (DAI) score and histology score. Deferasirox treatment reduced the level of pro inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and INF-γ). Ferroptosis was induced in mice with UC, as evidenced by ferrous iron accumulation, increased ROS production, SOD and GSH depletion, decreased the expression of GPX-4 and FTH, accompanied by increased expression of TF. Deferasirox treatment strongly reversed the alterations caused by ferroptotic characteristics in DSS-induced mice. Moreover, deferasirox treatment reshaped the composition of intestinal microbiota. The results revealed the genera of norank_f__Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Odoribacter and Blautia were increased distinctly, while Escherichia-Shigella and Streptococcus were significantly decreased by deferasirox treatment. Targeted metabolomics analysis indicated the SCFAs production enhanced in deferasirox-treated mice. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results suggested that deferasirox could treat DSS-induced UC in mice by inhibiting ferroptosis and improving intestinal microbiota.

An antibacterial chitosan-based hydrogel as a potential degradable bio-scaffold for alveolar ridge preservation.

Post-extraction, preventing the absorption of alveolar ridge to retain the supporting construction for implanted teeth is still a challenge. Herein, we developed modified chitosan (CS)-based hydrogel using N-hydroxysuccinimide-terminated 4-arm poly (ethylene glycol) (4-arm-PEG-NHS) as the crosslinking agent, after introducing it to the polyhexamethyleneguanidine hydrochloride (PHMB) solution, CS/PEG/PHMB hydrogel with the enhanced antibacterial properties was obtained. The CS/PEG hydrogel and CS/PEG/PHMB hydrogel prepared here showed excellent mechanical strength and their compressive strength could reach 440 kPa and 450 kPa, respectively. The composite hydrogel was designed to be directional porous, low cytotoxic, pH-sensitive, and degradable. The weight of the hydrogel was reduced by ∼30% after 28 days of incubation, and it swelled significantly in the acidic condition while it did not swell in the neutral and weakly alkaline environments, indicating an excellent biodegradability in the inflammation site. In vitro antibacterial experiments showed that the bacteriostatic rate of the CS/PEG/PHMB hydrogel against S. aureus was above 90%, which could effectively inhibit the spread of the bacteria and inflammation in the alveolar ridge. Additionally, the hybrid hydrogels demonstrated good biocompatibility with the NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells. Overall, the CS/PEG/PHMB hydrogel is a promising biological scaffold for maintaining the alveolar ridge and subsequently improving the success rate of the dental implant.

A crystal glass-nanostructured Al-based electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction.

Platinum-based catalysts are widely used in hydrogen evolution reactions; however, their applications are restricted because of the cost-efficiency trade-off. Here, we present a thermodynamics-based design strategy for synthesizing an Al73Mn7Ru20 (atomic %) metal catalyst via combinatorial magnetron co-sputtering. The new electrocatalyst is composed of ~2 nanometers of medium-entropy nanocrystals surrounded by ~2 nanometers of amorphous regions. The catalyst exhibits exceptional performance, similar to that of single-atom catalysts and better than that of nanocluster-based catalysts. We use aluminum rather than a noble metal as the principal element of the catalyst and ruthenium, which is cheaper than platinum, as the noble metal component. The design strategy provides an efficient route for the development of electrocatalysts for use in large-scale hydrogen production. Moreover, the superior hydrogen reaction evolution created by the synergistic effect of the nano-dual-phase structure is expected to guide the development of high-performance catalysts in other alloy systems.

Tough, Self-Healing, and Conductive Elastomer ─Ionic PEGgel.

Ionically conductive elastomers are necessary for realizing human-machine interfaces, bioelectronic applications, or durable wearable sensors. Current design strategies, however, often suffer from solvent leakage and evaporation, or from poor mechanical properties. Here, we report a strategy to fabricate ionic elastomers (IHPs) demonstrating high conductivity (0.04 S m-1), excellent electrochemical stability (>60,000 cycles), ultra-stretchability (up to 1400%), high toughness (7.16 MJ m-3), and fast self-healing properties, enabling the restoration of ionic conductivity within seconds, as well as no solvent leakage. The ionic elastomer is composed of in situ formed physically cross-linked poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) networks and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The long molecular chains of PEG serve as a solvent for dissolving electrolytes, improve its long-term stability, reduce solvent leakage, and ensure the outstanding mechanical properties of the IHP. Surprisingly, the incorporation of ions into PEG simultaneously enhances the strength and toughness of the elastomer. The strengthening and toughening mechanisms were further revealed by molecular simulation. We demonstrate an application of the IHPs as (a) flexible sensors for strain or temperature sensing, (b) skin electrodes for recording electrocardiograms, and (c) a tough and sensing material for pneumatic artificial muscles. The proposed strategy is simple and easily scalable and can further inspire the design of novel ionic elastomers for ionotronics applications.

Health Disparity Resulting from the Effect of Built Environment on Temperature-Related Mortality in a Subtropical Urban Setting.

Whereas previous studies have assessed the overall health impact of temperature in Hong Kong, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the health impact is modified by local temperature of small geographic units, which may be related to the diverse socioeconomic characteristics of these units. The effects of local temperature on non-accidental and cause-specific mortality were analyzed using Bayesian spatial models at a small-area level, adjusting for potential confounders, i.e., area-level air pollutants, socioeconomic status, and green space, as well as spatial dependency. We found that a 10% increase in green space density was associated with an estimated 4.80% decrease in non-accidental mortality risk and a 5.75% decrease in cardiovascular disease mortality risk in Hong Kong, whereas variation in local annual temperature did not significantly contribute to mortality. We also found that the spatial variation of mortality within this city could be explained by the geographic distribution of green space and socioeconomic factors rather than local temperature or air pollution. The findings and methodology of this study may help to further understanding and investigation of social and structural determinants of health disparities, particularly place-based built environment across class-based small geographic units in a city, taking into account the intersection of multiple factors from individual to population levels.

Ginsenoside Rg1 improved diabetes through regulating the intestinal microbiota in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes rats.

Ginsenoside Rg1 is the active ingredient of the plant named genus Panax (ginseng), which exhibited significant bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, and anti-diabetic effects. Herein, 4-week treatment of ginsenoside Rg1 remarkably decreased blood glucose levels and improved the resistance of insulin, oxidative stress, and inflammation along with lipid profile in T2D rats triggered via high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ). Ginsenoside Rg1 supplementation improved the intestinal microbial composition induced by type 2 diabetes (T2D), which increased the proportions of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Lachnoclostridium and decreased the proportions of Lactobacillus. Additionally, Spearman's correlation test between the gut microflora and biomedical assays (|r| > .5) revealed that the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Roseburia, and Romboutsia greatly affect intestinal microbiota, which may play pivotal roles in preventing T2D. Our findings illustrate the use of ginsenoside Rg1 as a dietary supplement along with prospective prebiotics due to its ability to alter the gut microflora and alleviate T2D-linked biochemical abnormalities. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This was the first study to elucidate the influences of ginsenosides Rg1 in improving the intestinal microbiota of T2D in SD rats. The data illustrated that the ginsenosides Rg1 remarkably increased the proportions of SCFAs producing bacteria. Hence, ginsenoside Rg1 could be used as a potential prebiotic in the treatment of T2D through alteration of intestinal microbiota.

Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Te Doped Polycrystalline Sn0.94Pb0.01Se.

Thermoelectric materials can directly convert heat and electricity, which is a kind of promising energy material. In view of cost and mechanical properties, polycrystalline SnSe material with high zT value is greatly desired. In this study, polycrystalline Sn0.94Pb0.01Se1-xTex samples were prepared by the vacuum melting-hot pressing sintering method. Sn vacancies, Pb and Te atoms were simultaneously introduced into the polycrystalline SnSe. The power factor of Sn0.94Pb0.01Se1-xTex samples was decreased, which could be attributed to the generation of n-type semiconductor SnSe2. In addition, the phonons were strongly scattered by point defects and dislocations, which led to the decrease of thermal conductivity-from 0.43 Wm-1K-1 to 0.29 Wm-1K-1 at 750 K. Finally, the polycrystalline Sn0.94Pb0.01Se0.96Te0.04 sample achieved the maximum zT value of 0.60 at 750 K.

Self-Powered Tactile Sensor for Gesture Recognition Using Deep Learning Algorithms.

A multifunctional wearable tactile sensor assisted by deep learning algorithms is developed, which can realize the functions of gesture recognition and interaction. This tactile sensor is the fusion of a triboelectric nanogenerator and piezoelectric nanogenerator to construct a hybrid self-powered sensor with a higher power density and sensibility. The power generation performance is characterized with an open-circuit voltage VOC of 200 V, a short-circuit current ISC of 8 µA, and a power density of 0.35 mW cm-2 under a matching load. It also has an excellent sensibility, including a response time of 5 ms, a signal-to-noise ratio of 22.5 dB, and a pressure resolution of 1% (1-10 kPa). The sensor is successfully integrated on a glove to collect the electrical signal output generated by the gesture. Using deep learning algorithms, the functions of gesture recognition and control can be realized in real time. The combination of tactile sensor and deep learning algorithms provides ideas and guidance for its applications in the field of artificial intelligence, such as human-computer interaction, signal monitoring, and smart sensing.