Publications by authors named "Na Cao"
Galactose oxidase has long captured the interest of the biocatalysis and biotechnology communities due to its unique catalytic characteristics and versatility with various substrates. In our previous studies, we demonstrated that galactose oxidase GAO-5F from Fusarium odoratissimum can oxidize agarose to produce a polyaldehyde polymer, which can be further crosslinked with gelatin to produce food packaging films. Despite its commendable catalytic performance, GAO-5F falls short of meeting the requirements for industrial applications.
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- The study explores the relationship between traditional radiographic measurements of shoulder asymmetry and new surface topographic measurements, suggesting these relationships will be weak.
- Data was collected from a registry of patients with idiopathic scoliosis, focusing on ST scanning along with standard radiographic evaluation methods.
- Results showed that while the ST-based AC angle showed moderate-to-strong correlations with some radiographic measures, other ST measurements exhibited weak or no correlation, indicating a complex relationship between the two measurement types.
In this paper, we show the interaction phenomena about the first-order lump wave and multiple solitons by four theorems. The interaction phenomena are divided into two types, one type is absorbing collision phenomenon and the other type is elastic collision phenomenon. Six sets of dynamic plots over time are showed the phenomenon of absorbing interactions with energy transfer process, the phenomenon of elastic interactions with restoration of the initial state after collision.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBidirectional and dynamic relationships between social isolation and frailty among older adults in China.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr
October 2023
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the bidirectional and dynamic relationships between Social Isolation (SI) and frailty among older adults in China.
Methods: Using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), this study utilized a Generalized Cross-Lagged Model (GCLM) to examine the temporal interrelationships between SI and frailty among individuals aged 65 years and older.
Results: The findings revealed significant bidirectional associations between SI and frailty among older adults in China.
Numerous studies have reported that long-term sports training can affect inhibitory control and induce brain functional alterations. However, the influence of environmental dynamics in sports training on inter-cortical connectivity has not been well studied. In the current study, we used twin-coil transcranial magnetic stimulation to investigate the functional connectivity between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and ipsilateral primary motor cortex (M1) during proactive and reactive inhibition in participants with sports skills in dynamic environment (open-skill experts), stable environment (closed-skill experts), and no sports skills (controls).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentified as a critical risk factor for childhood asthma, environmental pollution plays a pivotal role. However, research on the effects and mechanisms of phthalates mixture and their interactions in relation to childhood asthma is still lacking. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted from 2009 to 2018, our research explored the link between phthalates in urine and the prevalence of childhood asthma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel Br-doped BiWO photocatalyst for high-efficiency removal of norfloxacin: mechanism and photocatalytic activity.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on creating and modifying a bismuth tungstate (BiWO) photocatalyst with bromine (Br) to enhance its effectiveness in degrading norfloxacin (NOR) under visible light.
- It was found that the optimal Br doping level for maximizing photocatalytic performance is 3%, achieving a degradation rate of 94.67% for norfloxacin.
- Characterization techniques confirmed successful Br modification, which increased BiWO's surface area, reduced the band gap for better light absorption, and improved the movement of charges, contributing to the photodegradation process.
Reciprocal Relations of Social Isolation and Multimorbidity in Chinese Elderly.
Am J Prev Med
January 2025
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the relationship between social isolation (SI) and multimorbidity (having multiple health issues) in older Chinese adults, using data from 2002 to 2018.
- Researchers found that in the short-term, increased SI links to greater future multimorbidity and vice versa, but in the long-term, previous multimorbidity tends to lead to higher SI levels.
- The findings emphasize that initial health conditions (multimorbidity) are more likely to influence later experiences of social isolation in older adults.
Analysis of Pathological Factors of Long Head of Biceps Tendinopathy Based on Network Pharmacology.
J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effectiveness and mechanisms of Danggui Buxue Tang in treating biceps longus tendon injuries and explores related factors influencing the injury.
- Using network pharmacology analysis, researchers identified significant protein-protein interactions and related signaling pathways involved in inflammation and immunity associated with these injuries.
- The results suggest that Danggui Buxue Tang can effectively reduce inflammation and regulate the immune system, making it a promising treatment option for biceps brachii muscle injuries.
Root nodule symbiosis (RNS) between legumes and rhizobia is a major source of nitrogen in agricultural systems. Effective symbiosis requires precise regulation of plant defense responses. The role of the defense hormone jasmonic acid (JA) in the immune response has been extensively studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Understanding the tooth anatomy is crucial for ensuring effective endodontic treatment. This study investigated the root canal morphology of the second mesiobuccal (MB2) canal in maxillary first molars (MFMs) in a Chinese population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Methods: This study evaluated 486 MFMs with MB2 canals from 285 participants undergoing CBCT examination and determined the Vertucci's classification and position of the MB2 canal orifice.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated how Social Isolation (SI), loneliness, and disability are interconnected among older Chinese adults, highlighting that SI is a stronger predictor of disability than loneliness.
- Utilizing data from over 50,000 older adults over 16 years, the research indicates that accumulative disadvantages from SI can lead to increased disability, which in turn can elevate feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- The findings emphasize the importance of reducing SI through early interventions to prevent future disability and improve overall well-being in older adults.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the use of intracardiac electrocardiogram (IC-ECG) technology for placing epicutaneo-cava catheters (ECC) in premature infants, focusing on its effectiveness and safety compared to traditional methods.
- - Analysis of 303 cases showed a 95% matching rate between IC-ECG and chest X-ray placements, with IC-ECG providing higher QRS amplitudes when catheters were optimally positioned.
- - The research concludes that IC-ECG is both effective and safe for ECC localization in preterm infants, though a 10.6% incidence of catheter-related complications was noted, especially related to the length of insertion.
Background: This study explored how modifiable social determinants of cognitive function can influence these gender gaps.
Methods: We utilized six waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), including 56,127 individuals aged 65+. The Kitagawa-Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition approach was used for the analysis.
Patterns of Social Isolation and Low Social Support and Frailty Trajectories Among Chinese Older Adults.
J Appl Gerontol
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- - This study examines social isolation and low social support in Chinese older adults, analyzing data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey over 13 years (2005-2018) using various statistical methods.
- - Researchers identified five distinct patterns of social isolation and low support, as well as three typical frailty trajectories among older adults, revealing that these patterns significantly relate to the trajectories of frailty.
- - To enhance the health of older adults, it’s recommended that initiatives like Healthy China 2030 focus on the relationship between social isolation and low social support.
Aging has a significant impact on the function and metabolism of T cells. Cholesterol, the most important sterol in mammals, is known as the "gold of the body" because it maintains membrane fluidity, rigidity, and signal transduction while also serving as a precursor of oxysterols, bile acids, and steroid hormones. Cholesterol homeostasis is primarily controlled by uptake, biosynthesis, efflux, and regulatory mechanisms.
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- Vesicle trafficking is a crucial process in eukaryotic cells, involving the exchange of materials between organelles, and multisubunit tethering complexes (MTCs), like the HOPS complex, play a key role in this.
- The study developed an efficient method to overexpress and purify the HOPS complex from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by integrating a strong promoter before each subunit and using advanced purification techniques.
- The researchers achieved significantly higher yields of the HOPS complex compared to previous methods and also successfully purified two other MTCs, paving the way for more detailed biochemical and functional studies in the future.
Dual trajectories of depression and social participation among Chinese older adults.
Geriatr Nurs
November 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study examined how social participation (SP) and depression develop together among older adults, using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study over seven years.
- Researchers found distinct patterns, identifying two types of SP and three types of depression trajectories, and confirmed that changes in SP were linked to changes in depression across different groups.
- The findings suggest that interventions should target vulnerable groups, like those with high depression and low SP, while also addressing shared risk factors that affect both issues.
3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) is a food-process toxic substance, and its main target organ is the kidney. The present study examined and characterized the nephrotoxicity and the lipidomic mechanisms in a model of kidney injury in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats treated with high (45 mg/kg) and low (30 mg/kg) doses of 3-MCPD. The results showed that the ingestion of 3-MCPD led to a dose-dependent increase in serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels and histological renal impairment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to examine whether the implementation of Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) policy could reduce the disability among middle-aged and older adults in China, and to test the heterogeneity of the effects. Data came from four waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2011 to 2018). The Difference-In-Differences (DID) method and the panel data fixed effect model were used to estimate the effect of implementation of LTCI policy on disability among individuals aged 45 years and above.
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- The text discusses a filamentous fungus that causes rice blast, a major threat to food safety, highlighting the importance of fatty acid metabolism in eukaryotes.
- Researchers identified a protein called MoAcb1, related to acyl-CoA binding, and discovered that disrupting it causes delays in hyphal growth, conidial production, and appressorium development.
- The study concludes that MoAcb1 is crucial for processes like conidia germination, appressorium formation, pathogenicity, and autophagy in the fungus.
Article Synopsis
Upper- and lower-limb neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is known to modulate the excitability of the neural motor circuits. However, it remains unclear whether short-duration trunk muscle NMES could achieve similar neuromodulation effects. We assessed motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited through transcranial magnetic stimulation of the primary motor cortex representation of the trunk extensor muscles to evaluate corticospinal excitability.
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- A galactose oxidase gene named GAO-5F was cloned and expressed, belonging to the AA5 family, consisting of 681 amino acids with a molecular weight of 72 kDa.
- GAO-5F shows optimal activity at 40 °C and pH 7.0, displaying enhanced thermostability compared to previous galactose oxidases, maintaining activity under various conditions.
- The enzyme also acts specifically on D-galactose and agarose, leading to the development of a polyaldehyde polymer for creating edible packaging films, marking a novel use of galactose oxidase in modifying agarose.