Point Defect Scattering and Phonon Softening for Achieving High Thermoelectric Performance in p-Type ZnSb with Optimal Carrier Concentration.

The thermoelectric material ZnSb has been intensively studied on account of its good thermodynamic stability and earth-abundant constituent elements, both of which make it feasible for mass production. However, the practical application of ZnSb is limited by its relatively poor thermoelectric performance, characterized by a low power factor and high lattice thermal conductivity. Herein, we demonstrate that there is a significant improvement in the thermoelectric figure of merit of ZnSb by combining Ge doping at the Sb site with Cd alloying at the Zn site.

Source reservoir configuration and geological geochemical control of coal and shale.

The Longtan Formation in Sichuan Basin is a new field and new strata for the exploration and development of coal measure gas, and the evaluation of geochemical and geological conditions is lacking. In this study, elemental geochemistry, mineralogy, organic geochemistry of source rocks (organic matter type, abundance, maturity), and only geophysical analysis of bulk rock (Low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, Mercury intrusion, and nuclear magnetic resonance) were performed to determine the reservoir pore structure and source-reservoir geological-geochemical controlling factors. Geochemistry and mineralogy reveal frequent shale and tuffaceous sandstone interbeds in the southern Sichuan Basin under the Emeishan igneous rock provenance supply and relatively oxic environment.

Evaluation of heavy metal pollution and ecological risk of surface sediments in a tropical mountainous River-Estuary-Shelf Continuum system: A case study of the Selangor River, Malaysia.

As human activities continue to increase, the global production of pollutants has increased significantly, with the majority of pollutants being transported to the ocean via rivers, resulting in intensified pollution in estuaries and coastal areas. To maintain a healthy marine ecological environment, it is necessary to consider rivers, estuaries, and coastal seas as integrated systems and implement pollution management based on the concept of land-ocean integration. In this study, heavy metal elements in the surface sediments of Selangor River-Estuary-Coastal Shelf Continuum were collected and analysed to assess their pollution levels and potential ecological risks.

Maternal Gut Inflammation Aggravates Acute Liver Failure Through Facilitating Ferroptosis via Altering Gut Microbial Metabolism in Offspring.

Microbial transmission from mother to infant is important for offspring microbiome formation and health. However, it is unclear whether maternal gut inflammation (MGI) during lactation influences mother-to-infant microbial transmission and offspring microbiota and disease susceptibility. In this study, it is found that MGI during lactation altered the gut microbiota of suckling pups by shaping the maternal microbiota in the gut and mammary glands.

World Allergy Organization (WAO) Diagnosis and Rationale for Action against Cow's Milk Allergy (DRACMA) guideline update - XI - Milk supplement/replacement formulas for infants and toddlers with CMA - Systematic review.

Background: Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is the most complex and common food allergy in infants. Elimination of cow's milk from the diet and replacement with a specialized formula for infants with cow's milk allergy who cannot be breastfed is an established approach to minimize the risk of severe allergic reactions while avoiding nutritional deficiencies. Given the availability of multiple options, such as extensively hydrolyzed cow's milk-based formula (eHF-CM), aminoacid formula (AAF), hydrolyzed rice formula (HRF), and soy formula (SF), there is some uncertainty regarding which formula might represent the most suitable choice with respect to health outcomes.

Meta-Analysis of Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma Combined with Minoxidil for Androgenetic Alopecia.

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a prevalent type of hair loss that impacts individuals of both genders. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and minoxidil have been employed as therapeutic interventions for AGA, yet the efficacy of their concurrent use remains ambiguous.

Objective: To perform a comprehensive review and meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in combination with minoxidil for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA).

World Allergy Organization (WAO) Diagnosis and Rationale for Action against Cow's Milk Allergy (DRACMA) guideline update - XII - Recommendations on milk formula supplements with and without probiotics for infants and toddlers with CMA.

Background: Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is the most common food allergy in infants. The replacement with specialized formulas is an established clinical approach to ensure adequate growth and minimize the risk of severe allergic reactions when breastfeeding is not possible. Still, given the availability of multiple options, such as extensively hydrolyzed cow's milk protein formula (eHF-CM), amino acid formula (AAF), hydrolyzed rice formula (HRF) and soy formulas (SF), there is some uncertainty as to the most suitable choice with respect to health outcomes.

Changes in risk factors for food sensitization in early life: Analysis over a period of 10 years.

Background: Although epidemiological trends of childhood food sensitization (FS) in IgE-mediated food allergy were reported in China, few studies have examined at changes in its risk factors.

Objective: To investigate the change in early-life risk factors associated with childhood food sensitization during 2009-2019 in China.

Methods: Data from two cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2009 and 2019 (401 and 513 children, respectively) were analyzed.

The role of plasma cortisol in dementia, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Many clinical studies have shown a correlation between plasma cortisol and neurological disorders. This study explored the causal relationship between plasma cortisol and dementia, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis based on Mendelian randomization (MR) method.

Methods: Data were taken from the summary statistics of a genome-wide association study, FinnGen consortium and United Kingdom Biobank.

Comparative efficacy and safety of antidepressant therapy for the agitation of dementia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Dementia is a clinical syndrome commonly seen in the elderly individuals. With the prevalence of dementia, the incidence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia patients is increasing annually. Agitation, as one of the neuropsychiatric symptoms, has a serious impact on the quality of life of patients with dementia.

Mental health and psychosocial problems among laboratory technicians in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Hebei, China.

Objective: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an increased mental burden has been widely reported among medical health workers such as physicians and nurses. However, data on laboratory technicians exposed to COVID-19 have rarely been published. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of psychological symptoms among laboratory technicians and analyze potential risk factors associated with these symptoms.

The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder following traumatic childbirth: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although birth trauma may be a risk factor for postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), no systematic review regarding the incidence of postpartum PTSD in women with traumatic childbirth has been reported.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of PTSD in women following traumatic childbirth by systematically reviewing and synthesizing all available evidence.

Search Strategy: Six databases were searched using a combination of related terms for birth trauma and PTSD.

Trends in the contributions of atopic family history to pediatric food sensitization and allergy.

Objective: Family history of atopic diseases (FHA) contributes to food allergy (FA). But little is known whether FHA primarily increases IgE-mediated, non-IgE-mediated FA, or both. And the trends in the contributions of FHA to food sensitization (FS) and FA remain unclear.

World Allergy Organization (WAO) Diagnosis and Rationale for Action against Cow's Milk Allergy (DRACMA) Guideline update - XIV - Recommendations on CMA immunotherapy.

Background: The prevalence of cow's milk allergy (CMA) is approximately 2-4.5% in infants and less than 0.5% in adults.

Exosomal Circular RNA as a Biomarker Platform for the Early Diagnosis of Immune-Mediated Demyelinating Disease.

Exosomes can pass through the blood-brain barrier and are present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The components in exosomes, such as DNA, RNA, protein, and lipids, change greatly and are closely related to disease progression. Circular RNA (circRNA) is stable in structure and has a long half-life in exosomes without degradation.

DRAMP 2.0, an updated data repository of antimicrobial peptides.

Data Repository of Antimicrobial Peptides (DRAMP, http://dramp.cpu-bioinfor.org/ ) is an open-access comprehensive database containing general, patent and clinical antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).

Involvement of Endothelin-1, HS and Nrf2 in Beneficial Effects of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Global Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Vascular Dementia in Mice.

The present study explored the role of endothelin-1, HS, and Nrf2 in remote preconditioning (RIPC)-induced beneficial effects in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R)-induced vascular dementia. Mice were subjected to 20 min of global ischemia by occluding both carotid arteries to develop vascular dementia, which was assessed using Morris water maze test on 7th day. RIPC was given by subjecting hind limb to four cycles of ischemia (5 min) and reperfusion (5 min) and it significantly restored I/R-induced locomotor impairment, neurological severity score, cerebral infarction, apoptosis markers along with deficits in learning and memory.

Role of hydrogen sulfide in cognitive deficits: Evidences and mechanisms.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a gaseous molecule and is endogenously produced in the brain by cystathionine beta-synthase, 3-mercaptopyruvate-sulfurtransferase, cysteine aminotransferase and cystathionine γ-lyase. Physiologically, HS acts as a neuromodulator and regulates synaptic activity of neurons and glia to promote the development of long-term potentiation. A decrease in HS levels in the brain and plasma has been directly correlated with the degree of severity of Alzheimer disease in patients.

The comparison of skin prick test, serological specific IgE test and solid phase immunoassay in the diagnosis of infantile allergic diseases.

Background: This retrospective study was designed in order to compare the usefulness of skin prick tests, serological specific IgE tests and solid phase immunoassays in the diagnosis of infantile allergic diseases.

Methods: Two hundred infants with allergic diseases (120 infants with eczema and 80 infants with asthma), diagnosed in the Pediatric Clinic of our hospital between June of 2011 and June of 2016, were selected to participate in the study. 100 healthy infants were included in a control group.

Admissibility of simultaneous prediction for actual and average values in finite population.

This paper studies the admissibility of simultaneous prediction of actual and average values of the regressand in the generalized linear regression model under the quadratic loss function. Necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for the simultaneous prediction to be admissible in classes of homogeneous and nonhomogeneous linear predictors, respectively.

The global impact of the DRACMA guidelines cow's milk allergy clinical practice.

Background: The 2010 Diagnosis and Rationale for Action against Cow's Milk Allergy (DRACMA) guidelines are the only Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines for cow's milk allergy (CMA). They indicate oral food challenge (OFC) as the reference test for diagnosis, and suggest the choice of specific alternative formula in different clinical conditions. Their recommendations are flexible, both in diagnosis and in treatment.

Intrauterine sensitization of ovalbumin in the third trimester increases the risk of food allergy in progeny.

Intrauterine sensitization caused by food allergens plays an important role in the food allergy development in progeny. The aim of our study was to determine the critical period of intrauterine sensitization during pregnancy. Female mice were exposed to ovalbumin (OVA) during different trimesters of pregnancy.

World Allergy Organization-McMaster University Guidelines for Allergic Disease Prevention (GLAD-P): Vitamin D.

Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases is approximately 10 % in infants whose parents and siblings do not have allergic diseases and 20-30 % in those with an allergic first-degree relative. Vitamin D is involved in the regulation of the immune system and it may play a role in the development, severity and course of asthma and other allergic diseases.

Objective: The World Allergy Organization (WAO) convened a guideline panel to develop evidence-based recommendations addressing the use of vitamin D in primary prevention of allergic diseases.

World Allergy Organization-McMaster University Guidelines for Allergic Disease Prevention (GLAD-P): Prebiotics.

Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases in infants, whose parents and siblings do not have allergy, is approximately 10 % and reaches 20-30 % in those with an allergic first-degree relative. Intestinal microbiota may modulate immunologic and inflammatory systemic responses and, thus, influence development of sensitization and allergy. Prebiotics - non-digestible oligosaccharides that stimulate growth of probiotic bacteria - have been reported to modulate immune responses and their supplementation has been proposed as a preventive intervention.