Prediction and sensitivity analysis of chlorophyll a based on a support vector machine regression algorithm.

Outbreaks of planktonic algae seriously affect the water quality of rivers and are difficult to control. Based on the analysis of the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of environmental factors, this study uses a support vector machine regression (SVR) algorithm to establish a chlorophyll a (Chl-a) prediction model and conduct Chl-a sensitivity analysis. In 2018, the average Chl-a content was 126.25 ug/L. The maximum total nitrogen (TN) content was 16.68 mg/L and high year-round. The average NH4+-N and total phosphorous (TP) contents were only 0.78 and 0.18 mg/L. The content of NH4+-N was higher in spring and increased significantly along the water flow, while TP decreased slightly along the water flow. We used a radial basis function kernel SVR model and tenfold cross-validation method to optimize parameters. The penalty parameter c was 1.4142, the kernel function parameter g was 1, and the training and verification errors were only 0.032 and 0.067, respectively, indicating a good model fit. Based on a sensitivity analysis of the SVR prediction model, the maximum sensitivity coefficients of Chl-a to TP and WT were 0.571 and 0.394, respectively, and the contributions were 33% and 22%, respectively. The next highest sensitivity coefficients were those of DO (0.28, 16%) and pH (0.243, 14%). The sensitivity coefficients of TN and NH4+-N were the lowest. According to the current water environment pollution conditions, TP is the limiting factor of Chl-a in the Qingshui River, and it is also the main prevention and control factor of phytoplankton outbreak.

F-box and WD repeat domain containing 7 inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells by degrading delta-like ligand 1 to block Notch signaling pathway.

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a precursor of liver cirrhosis, and activated hepatic stellate cells are an important driver of fibrosis. F-box and WD repeat domain containing 7 (FBXW7) expression level is down-regulated in HF, but the underlying mechanism is yet to be elucidated. The interaction between FBXW7 and delta-like ligand 1 (DLL1) was predicted. LX-2 cells were subjected to transfection of FBXW7/DLL1 silencing or overexpression plasmid. The expressions of FBXW7 and DLL1 in HF in vitro were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot. The LX-2 cell cycle, viability, proliferation, and ubiquitination were determined by flow cytometry, cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and ubiquitination assays, respectively. FBXW7 overexpression suppressed the cell viability and proliferation, facilitated cell cycle arrest, and down-regulated α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Collagen I, and DLL1 protein levels, but FBXW7 silencing did the opposite. DLL1 was bound to and ubiquitin-dependently degraded by FBXW7 overexpression. DLL1 overexpression promoted the cell viability and proliferation, accelerated cell cycle, and up-regulated the levels of α-SMA, Collagen I, NOTCH2, NOTCH3, and HES1, but these trends were reversed by FBXW7 overexpression. To sum up, FBXW7 overexpression suppresses the progression of HF in vitro by ubiquitin-dependently degrading DLL1.

Bioorganic fertilizers improve the adaptability and remediation efficiency of Puccinellia distans in multiple heavy metals-contaminated saline soil by regulating the soil microbial community.

Soil salinization and heavy metal (HM) pollution are global environmental problems. Bioorganic fertilizers facilitate phytoremediation, but their roles and microbial mechanisms in natural HM-contaminated saline soils have not been explored. Therefore, greenhouse pot trials were conducted with three treatments: control (CK), manure bioorganic fertilizer (MOF), and lignite bioorganic fertilizer (LOF). The results showed that MOF and LOF significantly increased nutrient uptake, biomass, toxic ion accumulation in Puccinellia distans, soil available nutrients, SOC, and macroaggregates. More biomarkers were enriched in MOF and LOF. Network analysis confirmed that MOF and LOF increased the number of bacterial functional groups and fungal community stability and strengthened their positive association with plants; Bacteria have a more significant effect on phytoremediation. Most biomarkers and keystones play important roles in promoting plant growth and stress resistance in the MOF and LOF treatments. In summary, besides enrichment of soil nutrients, MOF and LOF can also improve the adaptability and phytoremediation efficiency of P. distans by regulating the soil microbial community, with LOF having a greater effect.

Health behaviors, obesity, and marital status among cancer survivors: a MEPS study.

PURPOSE: Promoting positive health behaviors helps improve cancer survivors' health outcomes during survivorship; however, little is known about whether health behaviors differ by marital status. The purpose is to examine whether health behaviors and obesity among cancer survivors vary by marital status and whether the type of cancer and sociodemographic factors influence the relationship. METHODS: We examined smoking, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) among 1880 individuals diagnosed with prostate, breast, or colon cancer who were identified from the 2011-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). We used Rao-Scott design-adjusted chi-square tests and weighted multivariable logistic regressions to achieve the research aims. RESULTS: Current smoking behavior and BMI were significantly related to marital status. Survivors who had never married were the most likely to be current smokers across all cancer types. Married survivors were the most likely to be overweight or obese, while widowed survivors were the most likely to have a normal weight. The relationship between BMI and marital status varied by cancer type. Widowed colon cancer survivors were least likely to be overweight or obese; divorced/separated colon cancer survivors were most likely to be obese or overweight. Health behavior disparities were found among cancer survivors of different age, sex, race, and levels of education and income. CONCLUSIONS: There were relationships between marital status, health behaviors, and obesity among cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Our results suggested that relationship status and sociodemographic factors need to be considered in tailoring interventions to promote health behaviors among cancer survivors.

Symptom Experiences Among Individuals With Prostate Cancer and Their Partners: Influence of Sociodemographic and Cancer Characteristics.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if subgroups of individuals with prostate cancer and their partners could be identified based on their distinct symptom profiles and to identify and characterize subgroups based on sociodemographic and cancer characteristics. SAMPLE & SETTING: 263 individuals with prostate cancer and 263 partners recruited from three academic cancer centers in the Midwest. METHODS & VARIABLES: Latent class analysis was applied to divide individuals into subgroups based on symptom prevalence. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the prevalence of each symptom, predict subgroup membership, and adjust for direct or indirect effects of covariates on the symptoms. RESULTS: Three distinct subgroups (low, moderate, and high symptoms) were identified among individuals with prostate cancer and partners, respectively. Education and household income of individuals with prostate cancer were associated with different symptom burdens. Partners' household income differentiated among the subgroups. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Understanding the influence of sociodemographic and cancer characteristics can inform risk stratification and tailored symptom management interventions.

Synergistic mechanisms of bioorganic fertilizer and AMF driving rhizosphere bacterial community to improve phytoremediation efficiency of multiple HMs-contaminated saline soil.

The addition of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or bioorganic fertilizer (BOF) alone has been reported to enhance plant tolerance to heavy metals and salt stress and promote plant growth, while their synergistic effects on plant growth and rhizosphere microorganism are largely unknown. This study explored the effects of AMF (Rhizophagus intraradices), BOF and BOF + RI assisted phytoremediation on heavy metals contaminated saline soil improvement and revealed the microbial mechanism. For this purpose, a pot trial consisting of four treatments (CK, RI, BOF and BOF + RI) was carried out. The results showed that the biomass, nutrient element contents, the accumulation of heavy metals and Na of Astragalus adsurgens and soil properties were most significantly improved by BOF + RI. BOF + RI significantly impacted rhizosphere microbial diversity, abundance and community composition. Chloroflexi and Patescibacteria at the phylum level and Actinomadura, Iamia, and Desulfosporosinus at the genus level were significantly enriched in BOF + RI. Network analysis revealed that BOF + RI significantly changed the keystone and enhanced complexity and interaction. Most of the keystones had roles in promoting plant growth and stress resistance. This study suggested that phytoremediation assisted by BOF and AMF is an attractive approach to ameliorate heavy metals contaminated saline soil.

The Challenges of Enrollment and Retention: A Systematic Review of Psychosocial Behavioral Interventions for Patients With Cancer and Their Family Caregivers.

CONTEXT: Psychosocial behavioral interventions (PBIs) that target patients with cancer and their caregivers face challenges in participant enrollment and retention. OBJECTIVES: 1) Describe characteristics of the patient-caregiver PBI studies; 2) examine participant enrollment and retention rates; 3) identify factors influencing participant enrollment and retention rates; and 4) explore the strategies to promote enrollment and retention rates. METHODS: We identified randomized controlled trials that tested PBIs among adult patients with cancer and caregivers in five electronic databases. We conducted narrative and quantitative analyses to synthesize our findings. RESULTS: Among 55 qualified studies reviewed, most tested the efficacy of PBIs (n = 42) and used two study arms (n = 48). In-person meeting was the most common PBI delivery mode. The primary outcomes included quality of life, physical health, and symptoms. The average of enrollment rates of patient-caregiver dyads was 33% across studies (range 8%-100%; median = 23%). The average retention rate at the end of follow-ups was 69% (range 16%-100%; median = 70%). The number of study arms, recruitment method, type of patient-caregiver relationship, and intervention duration influenced enrollment rates. Study design (efficacy vs. pilot), follow-up duration, mode of delivery, type of relationship, and intervention duration influenced retention rates. Sixteen studies reported retention strategies, including providing money/gift cards upon study completion and/or after follow-up survey, and excluding patients with advanced cancer. CONCLUSION: Researchers need to incorporate effective strategies to optimize enrollment and retention in patient-caregiver PBI trials. Researchers need to report detailed study processes and PBI information to improve research transparency and increase consistency.

Enhancing survivorship care planning for patients with localized prostate cancer using a couple-focused web-based, mHealth program: the results of a pilot feasibility study.

PURPOSE: To examine the feasibility of an enhanced survivorship care plan (ESCP) that integrated the web-based program Patient Education Resources for Couples (PERC) into a standardized survivorship care plan (SCP) and estimated the outcomes of ESCPs versus SCPs. METHODS: In this randomized pilot trial, localized prostate cancer (PC) patients and partners (i.e., couple) were randomly assigned to ESCP that contained a link to PERC or to SCP that contained a link to general PC information on the National Cancer Institute website. Couples completed assessments measuring quality of life (QOL), appraisal of symptoms, and coping resources at baseline (T1) and 4-6 months later (T2). We examined feasibility (e.g., recruitment and retention) using descriptive statistics. Linear mixed models examined changes in couples' outcomes over time and Poisson regression examined differences in patient healthcare utilization. RESULTS: Sixty-two couples completed T1 surveys (recruitment rate 41.6%) and were randomly assigned to receive ESCP (n = 31) or SCP (n = 31). Twenty-eight (ESCP) and 25 (SCP) couples completed T2 surveys (retention rates = 90.3% vs. 80.7%). ESCP participants (70%) reviewed webpages consistent with patients' symptoms. ESCP patients reported greater program satisfaction (p = 0.02) and better urinary symptom scores (p < 0.01) than SCP patients. CONCLUSIONS: Delivering ESCPs that embed a web-link to a couple-focused, tailored program is feasible and can potentially improve patient outcomes. The promising results need to be validated in a larger definitive trial using a diverse sample. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: SCPs, enhanced using a web-based intervention (e.g., PERC), may help PC cancer survivors better manage their urinary symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04350788.

Illness Uncertainty and Its Antecedents for Patients With Prostate Cancer and Their Partners.

OBJECTIVES: Guided by Mishel's uncertainty in illness theory, patterns of change in uncertainty were explored over time for patients with prostate cancer and their partners. In addition, the relationships between uncertainty and its antecedents were examined, and the role effects (patient versus partner) on these relationships were assessed. SAMPLE & SETTING: This study is a secondary analysis of the longitudinal data collected from a randomized clinical trial. METHODS & VARIABLES: The current authors fitted multiple-level models that included time-invariant baseline variables (sociodemographics and cancer factors) and time-varying variables (uncertainty, symptoms, and social support) measured at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 months thereafter. RESULTS: No statistically significant patterns of change in uncertainty over time were detected. Partners reported greater uncertainty than patients. Higher uncertainty was associated with more general and prostate cancer-specific symptoms, recurrent and advanced prostate cancer, higher prostate-specific antigen level, and lower social support. More urinary symptoms were associated with greater uncertainty in patients than in partners. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Uncertainty management can be tailored for and target symptom management and social support.

Cardiovascular disease, risk factors, and health behaviors among cancer survivors and spouses: A MEPS Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalences of CVD, CVD risk factors. and health behaviors among cancer survivor-spouse dyads, assess how these prevalences differ by role (survivor vs spouse) and gender, and report congruences in health behaviors between survivors and their spouses. METHODS: We identified 1026 survivor-spouse dyads from the 2010-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. We used weighted multivariable logistic and linear regressions to analyze the data related to CVD, CVD risk factors, and health behaviors. RESULTS: Survivors and spouses reported high prevalences of CVD and CVD risk factors but low engagement in healthy behaviors, including non-smoking, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight (proxy for healthy diet). Gender and role differences were significantly related to the prevalence of CVD, CVD risk factors, and health behaviors among survivors and spouses. From 39% to 88% of survivors and spouses were congruent in their current smoking status, physical activity engagement/disengagement, and BMI. CONCLUSION: Cancer survivors and spouses have high rates of CVD and CVD risk factors and poor engagement in healthful lifestyle behaviors. A high proportion of survivors and spouses were congruent in their current smoking status, physical activity engagement/disengagement, and BMI. Effective lifestyle interventions are needed for this high-risk population. Couple-focused interventions may be well-suited for these dyads and warrant further study. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Both cancer survivors and their spouses need to be non-moking, more physically active, and maintain normal BMI in order to reduce their high risk of CVD and CVD risk factors.

Prevalence of cardiovascular disease and risk factors, quality of life, and health behaviors of cancer survivors and their spouses: findings from MEPS.

PURPOSE: Few population-based studies have examined the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk factors, quality of life (QOL), and health behaviors of cancer survivors and their spouses. This case-control study aimed to fill this gap using the data from a set of large-scale surveys of individuals and families across the USA. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2010-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Using one-to-many (1:5) propensity score matching, we identified cancer survivors (N = 1037) and noncancer-matched controls (N = 5185), as well as survivor spouses (N = 1038) and matched controls (N = 5190). We used weighted multivariable logistic and linear regressions to examine the categorical and numerical outcomes. RESULTS: Compared with noncancer controls, survivors have higher rates of stroke (p < .05), hypertension (p < .05), high cholesterol (p < .01), fair or poor health (p < .0001), and report self-reported worse physical QOL scores (PCS) (p < .0001). A higher percentage of survivors report receiving BP checks (p < .01), serum cholesterol assessments (p < .001), routine physical checkups (p < .01), blood stool tests (p < .05), colonoscopies (p < .0001), and flu vaccinations (p < .05). Survivor spouses, compared to their respective matched controls, reported higher rates of serum cholesterol testing (p < .001), routine physical checkups (p < .01), and flu vaccinations (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the general population, cancer survivors are at higher risk for CVD, report worse physical QOL, and, along with their spouses, more frequently receive certain preventive health care services. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: There is a need for intervention to more fully engage cancer survivors and spouses in lifestyle behavior change associated with decreased CVD and related risk factors and improved QOL.