Modeling and chewing parameters calibration of Euryale ferox based on discrete element method.

Euryale ferox was chosen for this study to examine its mechanical properties during chewing. Experiments and the discrete element method were used to conduct the study. Initially, the intrinsic and contact parameters of E.

Exploring the association between atmospheric pollutants and preterm birth risk in a river valley city.

Objective: To investigate the association between exposure to atmospheric pollutants and preterm birth in a river valley-type city and its critical exposure windows.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was used to collect data from the medical records of preterm and full-term deliveries in two hospitals in urban areas of a typical river valley-type city from January 2018 to December 2019. A total of 7,288 cases were included in the study with general information such as pregnancy times, the number of cesarean sections, occupation, season of conception and regularity of the menstrual cycle.

Janus structural TaON/Graphene-like carbon dual-supported Pt electrocatalyst enables efficient oxygen reduction reaction.

Developing carbon-supported Pt-based electrocatalysts with high activity and long-durability for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an enormous challenge for their commercial applications due to the corrosion of carbon supports in acid/alkaline solution at high potential. In this work, a Janus structural TaON/graphene-like carbon (GLC) was synthesized via an in-situ molecular selfassembly strategy, which was used as a dual-carrier for platinum (Pt). The as-obtained Pt/TaON/GLC presents high half-wave potential (0.

Relationship between air pollutants and spontaneous abortion in a coal resource valley city: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Pollutants in the atmosphere have been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes in women. However, such investigations are scarce in metropolitan northern China. The major exposure window of air pollution affecting pregnant women is also unknown.

Discovery of unique CYP716C oxidase involved in pentacyclic triterpene biosynthesis from Camptotheca acuminata.

Dozens of triterpenes have been isolated from Camptotheca acuminata, however, triterpene metabolism in this plant remains poorly understood. The common C28 carboxy located in the oleanane-type and ursane-type triterpenes indicates the existence of a functionally active triterpene, C28 oxidase, in this plant. Thorough mining and screening of the CYP716 genes were initiated using the multi-omics database for C.

Weakened Crystalline SnNb O for Enhanced Performance in Photocatalytic H Production and CO Reduction.

Low crystalline photocatalysts with unsaturated active sites, such as oxygen vacancy (O ), is reported to exhibit enhanced adsorption and activation of oxygen-containing small molecules, such as H O and CO , thus boosting the activity in photocatalytic H evolution and CO reduction. However, numerous low-crystalline photocatalysts show unsatisfactory stability due to the easily repaired surface O . Herein, three SnNb O with different crystallinity were prepared by hydrothermal approach with similar precursors.

Hexokinase1: A glucose sensor involved in drought stress response and sugar metabolism depending on its kinase activity in strawberry.

Hexokinase1 (HXK1) is a bifunctional enzyme that plays indispensable roles in plant growth, nitrogen utilization, and stress resistance. However, information on the HXK family members of strawberries and their functions in glucose sensing and metabolic regulation is scarce. In the present study, four HXKs were firstly identified in the genome of and .

Associations of environmental factors with total cholesterol level of middle-aged and elderly people in China.

Background: Dyslipidemia is a key factor causing cardio cerebrovascular diseases, and the total cholesterol (TC) is an important lipid indicator among them. Studies have shown that environmental factors have a strong association with TC levels. Previous studies only focused on the seasonal variation of TC level and the short-term effects of some environmental factors on TC level over time, and few studies explored the geographical distribution of TC level and quantified the impact of environmental factors in space.

Genetic Polymorphisms of Nuclear Factor-κB Family Affect the Bone Mineral Density Response to Zoledronic Acid Therapy in Postmenopausal Chinese Women.

The aim of this study was to explore the allelic association between genetic polymorphisms of the NF-κB pathway and the variance of clinical effects of zoledronic in postmenopausal Chinese women with osteoporosis. In the study, 110 Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were recruited. Every patient received zoledronic once a year.

Steroids Therapy in Patients With Severe COVID-19: Association With Decreasing of Pneumonia Fibrotic Tissue Volume.

Background: We use longitudinal chest CT images to explore the effect of steroids therapy in COVID-19 pneumonia which caused pulmonary lesion progression.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 78 patients with severe to critical COVID-19 pneumonia, among which 25 patients (32.1%) who received steroid therapy.

Relationship between ambient air pollution and preterm birth: a retrospective birth cohort study in Yan'an, China.

Preterm birth (PTB) has been associated with exposure to air pollution, but it is unclear whether effects might vary among air pollution sources in a valley city, and yet few studies have investigated refined susceptible windows for PTB. We performed a retrospective birth cohort study in Yan'an city, a typical valley city in the west of China, and analyze the effects of air pollutants on premature delivery, identify critical windows for maternal air pollutants exposure and PTB. The pregnant women who gave birth in the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University and Yan'an people's Hospital from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 were selected as the research objects.

Nonlinear associations between environmental factors and lipid levels in middle-aged and elderly population in China: A national cross-sectional study.

Background: Blood lipid is an important factor affecting cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and elderly people. At present, the associations between environmental factors and blood lipid level in elderly people has been controversial, and the nonlinear effect of their relationship is lack of research.

Methods: This study used data from a national cross-sectional survey of blood lipid levels in 13,354 subjects and data from environmental monitoring sites.

Serum Periostin Level and Genetic Polymorphisms Are Associated with Vertebral Fracture in Chinese Postmenopausal Women.

Purposes: In order to investigate the association between serum periostin levels and the variation of its encoding gene and the prevalence of vertebral fractures and bone mineral density (BMD) in Chinese postmenopausal women, an association study was performed.

Materials And Methods: 385 postmenopausal women were recruited. For participants without a history of vertebral fracture, lateral X-rays of the spine covering the fourth thoracic spine to the fifth lumbar spine were performed to detect any asymptomatic vertebral fractures.

GIPR rs10423928 and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women in Shanghai.

We demonstrated previously that there is a correlation between glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Both GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide are incretins. The glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide receptor (GIPR) SNP rs10423928 has been extensively studied.

Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With Bone and Obesity Phenotypes in Chinese Female Nuclear Families.

Objective: The current study was conducted to determine whether peak bone mineral density (BMD) and obesity phenotypes are associated with certain gene polymorphisms found in Chinese nuclear families with female children.

Methods: A total of 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in and around the gene were identified in 1,300 subjects who were members of 390 Chinese nuclear families with female children. Then, BMD readings of the femoral neck, total hip, and lumbar spine as well as measurements of the total lean mass (TLM), total fat mass (TFM), and trunk fat mass were obtained dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Association of HIVEP3 Gene and Lnc RNA with Femoral Neck Bone Mineral Content and Hip Geometry by Genome-Wide Association Analysis in Chinese People.

Purpose: GWAS has successfully located and analyzed the pathogenic genes of osteoporosis. Genetic studies have found that heritability of BMD is 50%-85% while the other half is caused by hip geometric parameters and tissue horizontal characteristics. This study was designed to study the GWAS of osteoporosis in Shanghai Han population.