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Background: The plant-based paleolithic diet (PD) and the paleolithic-like lifestyle (PLL) may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including colorectal adenomas. These dietary and lifestyle approaches are proposed to exert their effects through mechanisms such as reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin levels. However, whether PD and PLL is associated with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been determined. Methods: A cohort of 74,721 individuals who participated in the PLCO study were included in this analysis. Adherence to the PD and PLL was assessed using PD and PLL scores, where higher scores indicated greater adherence. Multivariable Cox models were utilized to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of CRC and its subsites (proximal colon cancer and distal CRC). Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify potential effect modifiers. Results: During a mean follow-up of 9.2 years, a total of 694 CRC cases were identified. Participants in the highest compared with the lowest quartiles of PD score had a lower risk of CRC (Q4 vs Q1: HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.61–0.95, Ptrend = 0.009) and proximal colon cancer (Q4 vs Q1: HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55–0.97, Ptrend = 0.02). A stronger inverse association was observed for PLL score with the risk of CRC (Q4 vs Q1: HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.51–0.81, Ptrend < 0.001), proximal colon (Q4 vs Q1: HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46–0.83, Ptrend = 0.001) and distal CRC (Q4 vs Q1: HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48–0.98, Ptrend = 0.03). Subgroup analyses revealed the inverse association of PD score with the risk of CRC was more pronounced in participants with BMI < 30 (Q4 vs Q1: HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.53–0.87) than in those with BMI ≥ 30 (Q4 vs Q1: HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.68–1.67) (Pinteraction = 0.02). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that adhering to the PD and PLL could be a new option to reduce CRC risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus (Motschulsky) is a host-specific root-feeding pest of the tree-of-heaven tree, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, in China. The trunk trap net (TTN) with a wire ring and a TTN with a moist sponge cushion have captured a large number of these weevils. The dispersal ability of weevils may undermine eradication efforts for this pest. Tree-of-heaven is an invasive plant in the United States. Studies have shown that the closely related species E. scrobiculatus and E. brandti, are potential biological control agents for A. altissima in the United States. In this study, we evaluated the dispersal ability of E. scrobiculatus in the field and laboratory to further investigate its use as a biological control agent. We released 1,800 E. scrobiculatus in each of two plots using a mark-release-recapture method and captured 12.5% (n = 225) of the weevils in the plot with an attractant and 10.9% (n = 197) of the weevils in the plot without an attractant. The results show that the dispersal distance equation of E. scrobiculatus throughout the time is y = 44.5844 + 0.8252x–0.0074x² + C + D. The maximum dispersal distance in the field was 67.5 m after 60 days and the mean dispersal distance was 1.14 m day−1. We determined that wounded A. altissima increased the dispersal of E. scrobiculatus, especially for males. The dispersal rate of E. scrobiculatus increased with wind speeds of 1.8–3.1 m s−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose in life is critical to positive development among youth, especially those purposes that focus on an aspect of the world beyond the self. However, existing instruments have not adequately assessed beyond-the-self purpose. The Claremont Purpose Scale addresses the purpose construct, measuring the goal orientation, personal meaningfulness, and beyond-the-self focus among youth in the United States. We developed a version of the scale for use in the Chinese context among youth. In our two-part study, Study 1 developed the preliminary scale, and Study 2 evaluated its validity and reliability. The results indicated this scale is valuable for the assessment of the purpose of Chinese youth, has theoretical and practical implications for the measurement of beyond-the-self purpose, and can contribute to Chinese youth purpose research and future cross-cultural studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), a member of the species Enterovirus D of the Picornaviridae family, was first isolated in 1962 in the United States. EV-D68 infection was only infrequently reported until an outbreak occurred in 2014 in the US; since then, it has continued to increase worldwide. EV-D68 infection leads to severe respiratory illness and has recently been reported to be linked to the development of the neurogenic disease known as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), mostly in children, seriously endangering public health. Hitherto, treatment options for EV-D68 infections were limited to supportive care, and as yet there are no approved, specific antiviral drugs or vaccines. Research on EV-D68 has mainly focused on its epidemiology, and its virologic characteristics and pathogenesis still need to be further explored. Here, we provide an overview of current research on EV-D68, including the genotypes and genetic characteristics of recent epidemics, the mechanism of infection and virus–host interactions, and its relationship to acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), in order to broaden our understanding of the biological features of EV-D68 and provide a basis for the development of effective antiviral agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]