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Word is important in Chinese reading. However, when inter-word spaces are inserted into Chinese text, there is no facilitation or disruption to adults' reading. Researchers argued that there was a trade-off between word segmentation facilitation and disruption due to format unfamiliarity. To assess the trade-off hypothesis, in Experiment 1, we tested Grade 1, 2 and 3 children who have less reading experience than adults and manipulated four spacing conditions: normal unspaced, word spaced, character spaced, and nonword spaced text. In Experiment 2, we collected data from Grade 1 and 3 with the word spaced condition and normal unspaced condition. Overall, global analyses from both Experiments consistently showed that word spacing facilitated Grade 1 reading, with much reduced facilitation for higher grade readers; local measures (total reading time and second-pass reading time) replicated the same pattern in which word spacing effects were more pronounced among younger readers. In summary, we obtained greater facilitatory effects of word spacing for younger compared with elder readers, which provides strong evidence for the trade-off hypothesis.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore associations of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and whether LPCs mediated the associations of bile acids with GDM risk or had interactive effects with bile acids on GDM risk.DesignWe conducted a 1:1 nested case-control study (n = 486) from a large prospective pregnant women cohort in urban Tianjin, China. Blood samples were collected at their first antenatal care visit (median at 10th gestational week). LPCs were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Conditional binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis were used to identify cutoff points of these metabolites for GDM risk.ResultsOf the 6 detectable LPCs, LPC14:0 less than 0.24 nmol/mL, LPC15:0 at 0.45 nmol/mL or greater, and LPC18:0 at 18.00 nmol/mL or greater were independently associated with GDM risk. Adjustment for LPC18:0 slightly attenuated odds ratios (ORs) of deoxycholic acid (DCA, ≤ 0.36 nmol/mL) and glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA, ≤ 0.07 nmol/mL) for GDM, and the correlations of DCA and GUDCA with LPC18:0 were weak. However, the presence of DCA at 0.36 nmol/mL or less greatly amplified the adjusted OR of LPC18:0 at 18.00 nmol/mL or greater alone for GDM from 8.18 (2.51-26.7) up to 17.7 (6.64-47.1), with significant additive interaction. Similarly, the presence of GUDCA at 0.07 nmol/mL or less also greatly amplified the adjusted OR of LPC18:0 at 18.00 nmol/mL or greater alone for GDM from 17.2 (1.77-168) up to 73.8 (12.7-429), with significant additive interaction.ConclusionsLPCs in early pregnancy were associated with GDM risk. Low DCA or GUDCA greatly amplified the effect of high LPC18:0 on GDM, and its molecular mechanism is worth further investigations.

Problem: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common mucosal fungal infection, and Candida albicans is the main causative agent. The NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in VVC, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Method of Study: Vaginal epithelial cells were divided into three groups: control, C. albicans strain SC5314 (wild‐type, WT), and WT+ Matt Cooper Compound 950 (MCC950, a specific NLRP3 inhibitor). After human vaginal epithelial cells were pretreated with 1 µmol/L MCC950 for 2 h, C. albicans (MOI = 1) was cocultured with the human vaginal epithelial cells for 12 h. The cell supernatants were collected, LDH was detected, and the IL‐1β and IL‐18 levels were determined by ELISA. The expression of the pyroptosis‐related proteins NLRP3, Caspase‐1 p20 and GSDMD was measured by Western blotting analysis. The protein expression of the pyroptosis‐related N‐terminus of GSDMD (GSDMD‐N) was detected by immunofluorescence. Results: In this study, we showed that the WT C. albicans strain induced pyroptosis in vaginal epithelial cells, as indicated by the LDH and proinflammatory cytokine levels and the upregulated levels of the pyroptosis‐related proteins NLRP3, Caspase‐1 p20, and GSDMD‐N. MCC950 reversed the changes in the expression of these proteins and proinflammatory cytokines in vaginal epithelial cells. Conclusion: C. albicans activated the NLRP3 inflammasome to induce vaginal epithelial cell pyroptosis. MCC950 inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome, reduced vaginal epithelial cell pyroptosis, and decreased the release of inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variable-speed pump-turbine is the core component of a hydraulic storage and energy generation station. When the pump-turbine operates at a constant speed, its response to the power grid frequency is poor. In order to improve the hydraulic efficiency of the pumped storage unit, variable-speed units are used. However, there has been no numerical study on the effect of the rotational flow characteristics within the gap of a variable-speed pump-turbine. This paper calculates the flow characteristics within the gap of a variable-speed pump-turbine under three typical pump modes (maximum head minimum flow condition, minimum head maximum flow condition, and maximum speed condition). The research results indicate that the rotational speed significantly affects the pressure distribution, velocity distribution, and turbulent kinetic energy distribution within the crown and band gaps. The higher the speed, the larger the area of the high-pressure region before the runner inlet compared to other operating conditions, and similarly, the low-pressure area after the runner outlet is also larger than in other operating conditions. The change in speed mainly affects the internal flow field of the crown gap, with the most noticeable changes occurring in the pressure and flow velocity at the inlet and outlet of the crown gap. There is a clear trend of pressure drop and velocity increase within the gap as the speed increases. However, with the increase in speed, the pressure distribution and flow velocity within the band gap remain almost the same. In addition to speed changes, it is observed that the pressure within the gap and the flow velocity within the passages are also related to the head, especially in the condition of maximum head, where this relationship becomes more noticeable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foveal load effect is one of the most fundamental effects in reading psychology, and also one of the most controversial issues in recent years. The foveal load effect refers to the phenomenon that the difficulty of foveal processing affects parafoveal preview. In Chinese reading, whether the foveal load effect exists, as well as whether this effect is modulated by parafoveal word frequency, remains unclear. In this study, the eye-tracking technique was used to track the eye movements of 48 subjects. Utilized the boundary paradigm with single-character words as parafoveal words, the present study manipulated foveal word frequency (high and low), parafoveal word frequency (high and low), and two types of preview (identical preview and pseudocharacter preview) to investigate these questions. The results revealed that the foveal word frequency does not influence preview, suggesting the absence of the foveal load effect when using single-character words as parafoveal words. Furthermore, parafoveal word frequency does not modulate the effect of the foveal load on the preview. This empirical evidence contributes to refining the understanding of the Chinese reading model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Accurate screening and targeted preparative isolation of active substances from natural medicines have long been technical challenges in natural medicine research. Objectives: This study outlines a new approach for improving the efficiency of natural product preparation, focusing on the rapid and accurate screening of potential active ingredients in Ganoderma lucidum and efficient preparation of lipoxidase inhibitors, with the aim of providing new ideas for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with G. lucidum. Methods: The medicinal plant G. lucidum was selected through ultrafiltration coupled with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (UF–LC–MS) and computer‐assisted screening for lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors. In addition, the inhibitory effect of the active compounds on LOX was studied using enzymatic reaction kinetics, and the underlying mechanism is discussed. Finally, based on the earlier activity screening guidelines, the identified ligands were isolated and purified through complex chromatography (high‐speed countercurrent chromatography and semi‐preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography). Results: Five active ingredients, ganoderic acids A, B, C2, D2, and F, were identified and isolated from G. lucidum. We improved the efficiency and purity of active compound preparation using virtual computer screening and enzyme inhibition assays combined with complex chromatography. Conclusion: The innovative methods of UF–LC–MS, computer‐aided screening, and complex chromatography provide powerful tools for screening and separating LOX inhibitors from complex matrices and provide a favourable platform for the large‐scale production of bioactive substances and nutrients. We combine UF‐LC‐MS, computerized virtual screening with enzyme inhibition testing, and other coupled applications of compound chromatography for the preparation and separation to improve the preparation efficiency and purity of LOX inhibitors in Ganoderma lucidum, rapid discovery and structural analysis of the active ingredient of LOX inhibitors, and simultaneous discovery of the active site and inhibitory mechanism of action of the active ingredient against the enzyme, which enables systematic screening, preparation, and evaluation of the efficacy of chemical ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between fear of COVID‐19 and mental health of nurses and the effects of psychological capital and burnout in this relation. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Methods: The online surveys were conducted among mainland Chinese nurses. Participants (n = 445; average age 32.89 ± 6.76 years) completed an online‐questionnaire based on the Fear of COVID‐19 Scale, the Psychological Capital Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for Medical Professionals Scale and the 12‐Item Short Form Health Survey. Data analysis was conducted by Pearson's correlation analysis, Harman single‐factor test and the bootstrap method for mediating effect testing. Results: (1) The study demonstrated a significant direct effect of fear of COVID‐19 on nurses' mental health, as well as on mediating factors such as burnout and psychological capital. (2) Regression analyses confirmed that while psychological capital bolstered mental health, burnout undermined it, with fear of COVID‐19 further imposing a negative influence. (3) Fear of COVID‐19 exerted an effect on the mental health of nurses by the independent and chain intermediary functions of psychological capital and burnout, resulting in a total mediating effect of −0.233. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate screening and targeted preparative isolation of active substances in natural medicines have long been two technical challenges in natural medicine research. This study outlines a new approach to improve the efficiency of natural product preparation, focusing on rapidly and accurately screening potential active ingredients in Inonotus obliquus as well as efficiently preparing 5‐lipoxidase (5‐LOX) inhibitors, to provide new ideas for the treatment of asthma with Inonotus obliquus. First, we used ultrafiltration (UF) mass spectrometry to screen for three potential inhibitors of 5‐LOX in Inonotus obliquus. Subsequently, the inhibitory effect of the active ingredients screened in the UF assay on 5‐LOX was verified using the molecular docking technique, and the potential role of the active compounds in Inonotus obliquus for the treatment of asthma was analyzed by network pharmacology. Finally, based on the above activity screening guidelines, we used semi‐preparative liquid chromatography and consecutive high‐speed countercurrent chromatography to isolate three high‐purity 5‐LOX inhibitors such as betulin, lanosterol, and quercetin. Obviously, through the above approach, we have seamlessly combined rapid discovery, screening, and centralized preparation of the active ingredient with molecular‐level interactions between the active ingredient and the protease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much is known about disaster mitigation (DM) actions, but little is known about the impact of migration as an exogenous shock. Rural farmers in mountainous areas are under the pressure of poverty, and also face the threat of geo‐hazards. Therefore, a more complex relationship exists between rural farmers' willingness to out‐migration for work and their DM behavior. To gain insight into the relationship between the two, we constructed the social–ecological system (SES) framework based on the survey data of 864 households in 53 villages in Chongqing, and verified our findings using the endogenous switching regression model and the mediation effect model. The results show that labor out‐migration has a negative correlation with the DM behavior of peasant households. When the total effect is further categorized into the direct effect and mediation effect; the negative total effect of labor out‐migration on the DM of farmers changes from a significant to an insignificant negative direct effect. It can be seen that labor out‐migration is not the direct cause of low motivation for DM, but the loss of leadership caused by labor out‐migration, the dilution of farmers' sense of place, and the decline of farmers' risk perception are the causes that ultimately lead to the decline of farmers' action ability for DM. This study confirms that the SES framework is suitable for empirical research on how labor out‐migration affects the ability of local villages to ensure DM action. These findings add new theoretical insights to the literature on DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]