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In the face of global climate change and the need for energy diversification, electrocatalytic technology emerges as an eco‐friendly solution. However, persistent electrode failures hinder long‐term stability. This review comprehensively outlines the primary causes leading to the failure of self‐supported electrodes, encompassing substrate passivation, substrate/catalyst dissolution, CO poisoning, catalyst migration and agglomeration, as well as cathodic etching. Proposed strategies center on material design, emphasizing anchoring, lattice matching, substrate stability, and morphological control. Advanced characterization techniques and in situ technologies offer promising ways. The integrated deployment of these strategies will provide crucial guidance and support for the sustainable advancement of electrocatalytic technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: To examine the burden and clusters of multimorbidity in association with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, and Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related plasma biomarkers among older adults. METHODS: This population‐based study included 5432 participants (age ≥60 years); of these, plasma amyloid beta (Aβ), total tau, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) were measured in a subsample (n = 1412). We used hierarchical clustering to generate five multimorbidity clusters from 23 chronic diseases. We diagnosed dementia and MCI following international criteria. Data were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models. RESULTS: The number of chronic diseases was associated with dementia (multivariable‐adjusted odds ratio = 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11 to 1.33), AD (1.13; 1.01 to 1.26), vascular dementia (VaD) (1.44; 1.25 to 1.64), and non‐amnestic MCI (1.25; 1.13 to 1.37). Metabolic cluster was associated with VaD and non‐amnestic MCI, whereas degenerative ocular cluster was associated with AD (p < 0.05). The number of chronic diseases was associated with increased plasma Aβ and NfL (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Multimorbidity burden and clusters are differentially associated with subtypes of dementia and MCI and AD‐related plasma biomarkers in older adults. Highlights: We used hierarchical clustering to generate five clusters of multimorbidity.The presence and load of multimorbidity were associated with dementia and mild cognitive impairment.Multimorbidity clusters were differentially associated with subtypes of dementia and Alzheimer's disease plasma biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diaphorina citri is a global citrus pest. As a vector insect, it can transmit the causative agents of citrus huanglongbing, causing irreversible losses to the citrus industry. The acquisition of genomic information can provide a molecular genetic basis for effective control of D. citri. Here, the DNBSEQ™, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, and Hi‐C technologies are applied to generate a high‐quality chromosome‐level genome of D. citri. The genome size of D. citri was 523.78 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 47.05 Mb distributed on 13 chromosomes. A total of 250.64 Mb (47.85%) repeat sequences and 24 048 protein‐coding genes were predicted. Genome resequencing of female and male individuals indicated that the sex chromosome system of D. citri is XO. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that D. citri and Pachypsylla venusta, which separated from their most recent common ancestor about 336.62 million years ago, were the most closely related. Additionally, we identified genes potentially involved in detoxification metabolism, pathogen transmission, and honeydew secretion for further investigation. The high‐quality genome provides an important reference for developing effective management strategies of D. citri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic selective oxidation of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) presents a highly efficient and eco‐friendly method for biomass utilization. Herein, we synthesized pure β‐Ni(OH)2 and amorphous Ni(OH)2 on nickel foam (NF) using a facile stepwise electrodeposition technique and evaluated their catalytic performances for the oxidation of HMF to 2,5‐furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The β‐Ni(OH)2 nanosheets‐decorated electrode (β‐NiNS/NF) exhibited excellent interfacial lattice matching with the substrate nickel, resulting in enhanced electron transfer at the catalyst‐substrate interface, as confirmed by electrochemical analysis. Consequently, the β‐NiNS/NF electrode displayed improved intrinsic electrocatalytic activity and interfacial stability. Additionally, it demonstrated effective HMF adsorption capability. These advantageous properties led to enhanced HMF conversion, selectivity, and structural stability. Notably, the β‐NiNS/NF electrode achieved an unprecedented FDCA yield of 80.6 % under relatively large current density galvanostatic electrolysis commonly used in industry. Moreover, our investigation identified a novel possible oxidation pathway during HMF electrocatalysis. This study not only showcases an efficient and scalable synthetic approach but also highlights the potential of the β‐NiNS/NF electrode for industrial HMF electrocatalytic oxidation under conditions involving relatively large applied currents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of and potential contributing factors to temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) caused by oestrogen deficiency with a persistent high bite force. Materials and methods: A TMJOA model was generated by subjecting 6‐week‐old female rats to ovariectomy (OVX) and feeding them a hard feed. The rats (n = 12/group) were divided into sham (control); OVX; OVX+hard feed (HF); OVX+hard feed+local‐joint injection of 17β‐oestradiol (an oestrogen) (E2); and OVX+hard feed+local‐joint injection of rapamycin (an autophagy activator) (RAPA)groups. Condyles were stained with haematoxylin‐eosin and Safranin O Fast Green. The expression of Beclin 1, LC3 and p‐mTOR in condylar cartilages was analysed. Results: Tissue staining revealed thinner condylar cartilage, varying numbers or fewer hypertrophic chondrocytes, and lower proteoglycan content in the cartilage matrix of the OVX group. These characteristics were more pronounced in the HF group, but were significantly recovered in the E2 and RAPA groups. Immunohistochemical staining revealed significantly lower autophagic flux in OVX/HF groups and a higher one in E2/RAPA groups. Conclusions: A persistent high bite force could aggravate TMJOA induced by oestrogen deficiency, and the application of oestrogen or rapamycin could delay its progression. Additionally, autophagy may play a role in the development of TMJOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Automatic segmentation of prostate magnetic resonance (MR) images is crucial for the diagnosis, evaluation, and prognosis of prostate diseases (including prostate cancer). In recent years, the mainstream segmentation method for the prostate has been converted to convolutional neural networks. However, owing to the complexity of the tissue structure in MR images and the limitations of existing methods in spatial context modeling, the segmentation performance should be improved further. Methods: In this study, we proposed a novel 3D pyramid pool Unet that benefits from the pyramid pooling structure embedded in the skip connection (SC) and the deep supervision (DS) in the up-sampling of the 3D Unet. The parallel SC of the conventional 3D Unet network causes low-resolution information to be sent to the feature map repeatedly, resulting in blurred image features. To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional 3D Unet, we merge each decoder layer with the feature map of the same scale as the encoder and the smaller scale feature map of the pyramid pooling encoder. This SC combines the low-level details and high-level semantics at two different levels of feature maps. In addition, pyramid pooling performs multifaceted feature extraction on each image behind the convolutional layer, and DS learns hierarchical representations from comprehensive aggregated feature maps, which can improve the accuracy of the task. Results: Experiments on 3D prostate MR images of 78 patients demonstrated that our results were highly correlated with expert manual segmentation. The average relative volume difference and Dice similarity coefficient of the prostate volume area were 2.32% and 91.03%, respectively. Conclusion: Quantitative experiments demonstrate that, compared with other methods, the results of our method are highly consistent with the expert manual segmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olfactory impairment is a potential marker for prodromal dementia, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This population‐based study included 4214 dementia‐free participants (age ≥65 years). Olfaction was assessed using the 16‐item Sniffin' Sticks identification test. In the subsamples, we measured plasma amyloid beta (Aβ)40, Aβ42, total tau, and neurofilament light chain (NfL; n = 1054); and quantified hippocampal, entorhinal cortex, and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes, and Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐signature cortical thickness (n = 917). Data were analyzed with logistic and linear regression models. In the total sample, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was diagnosed in 1102 persons (26.2%; amnestic MCI, n = 931; non‐amnestic MCI, n = 171). Olfactory impairment was significantly associated with increased likelihoods of MCI, amnestic MCI, and non‐amnestic MCI. In the subsamples, anosmia was significantly associated with higher plasma total tau and NfL concentrations, smaller hippocampal and entorhinal cortex volumes, and greater WMH volume, and marginally with lower AD‐signature cortical thickness. These results suggest that cerebral neurodegenerative and microvascular lesions are common neuropathologies linking anosmia with MCI in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subtypes of MCI have rarely focused on rural residents in China. Methods: This population‐based study included 5068 participants (age ≥60 years) who were living in rural communities. We defined MCI, amnestic MCI (aMCI), and non‐amnestic MCI (naMCI) following the Petersen's criteria that integrated neuropsychological assessments with in‐person clinical evaluations. Results: The overall prevalence of MCI, aMCI, and naMCI was 26.48%, 22.30%, and 4.18%, respectively. The prevalence of MCI increased with age. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of MCI was 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61 to 0.82) for primary school (vs. illiteracy), 0.30 (0.24 to 0.39) for middle school or above, 1.35 (1.09 to 1.67) for being farmers, 0.65 (0.54 to 0.78) for alcohol consumption, 1.43 (1.20 to 1.70) for stroke history, and 1.14 (0.95 to 1.36) for any apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele (vs ε3/ε3). Conclusions: MCI affects over one‐fourth of rural older adults in China. Overall MCI was associated with demographic factors, non‐alcohol consumption, and stroke, but not with APOE genotype and cardiometabolic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The longitudinal associations of sleep timing and time in bed (TIB) with dementia and cognitive decline in older adults are unclear. Methods: This population‐based cohort study used data from 1982 participants who were aged ≥60 years, free of dementia, and living in rural communities in western Shandong, China. At the baseline (2014) and follow‐up (2018) examinations, sleep parameters were assessed using standard questionnaires. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). Dementia was diagnosed following the DSM‐IV criteria, and the NIA‐AA criteria for Alzheimer disease (AD). Data were analyzed using restricted cubic splines, Cox proportional‐hazards models, and general linear models. Results: During the mean follow‐up of 3.7 years, dementia was diagnosed in 97 participants (68 with AD). Restricted cubic spline curves showed J‐shaped associations of sleep duration, TIB, and rise time with dementia risk, and a reverse J‐shaped association with mid‐sleep time. When sleep parameters were categorized into tertiles, the multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of incident dementia was 1.69 (95%CI 1.01–2.83) for baseline sleep duration >8 hours (vs. 7–8 h), 2.17 (1.22–3.87) for bedtime before 9 p.m. (vs. 10 p.m. or later), and 2.00 (1.23–3.24) for mid‐sleep time before 1 a.m. (vs. 1–1.5 a.m.). Early bedtime and mid‐sleep time were significantly associated with incident AD (HR range: 2.25–2.51; p < 0.05). Among individuals who were free of dementia at follow‐up, baseline long TIB, early bedtime and mid‐sleep time, early and late rise time, and prolonged TIB and advanced bedtime and mid‐sleep time from baseline to follow‐up were associated with a greater decline in MMSE score (p < 0.05). These associations with cognitive decline were statistically evident mainly among men or participants who were aged 60–74 years. Conclusions: Long TIB and early sleep timing are associated with an increased risk of dementia, and the associations with greater cognitive decline are evident only among older people aged 60–74 years and men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium‐ion batteries are widely regarded as an important candidate for low cost large‐scale storage of intermittent energies. NASICON‐type vanadium‐based phosphate with formula of Na3V2(PO4)3 exhibits promising application as cathode material for sodium‐ion batteries due to robust structural framework and high electrochemical activity. However, it is intrinsically limited by low theoretical specific capacity (117 mAh g−1) owing to only two‐electron reaction mechanism below 4.0 V. Accordingly, exploring novel vanadium‐based phosphates cathode with multi‐electron reaction mechanism is essential. Herein, carbon‐coated sodium vanadium/manganese phosphate (Na3.25V1.75Mn0.25(PO4)3/C) was reported as enhanced cathode for sodium‐ion batteries. Its structural properties, charge/discharge performance and electrochemical redox mechanism were investigated by coupling X‐ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurement, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic technique. It was unexpectedly found that the material not only achieved a high practical capacity (126.1 mAh g−1) of larger than the theoretical value of traditional Na3V2(PO4)3 compound, but also exhibited good cycling stability with 96 % capacity retention after 40 cycles. Experimental evidences revealed that the material underwent a reversible multi‐electron reaction mechanism involving V4+/V3+, Mn3+/Mn2+ and V5+/V4+ redox couples during Na extraction/insertion process, and the improved capacity was attributed to additional contribution of manganese substitution‐activated V5+/V4+ redox reaction at the high potential of ∼3.8 V (vs Na+/Na). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Little is known about whether nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with dementia or the role of serum proinflammatory cytokines in the association. We aimed to investigate the interrelationships of NAFLD, serum cytokines, and dementia among rural‐dwelling older adults. Methods: This population‐based cross‐sectional study included 5129 participants (aged ≥60 years; 61.79% women) who were living in rural communities and examined in March 2018–September 2018. NAFLD was defined through transabdominal ultrasound examination in the absence of hepatitis B or excessive alcohol consumption. Serum cytokines were measured in a subsample (n = 1686). Dementia, Alzheimer disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) were diagnosed following international criteria. Data were analyzed with logistic regression and mediation models. Results: Of the 5129 participants, 455 (8.87%) were detected with moderate‐to‐severe NAFLD, and 292 (5.69%) were diagnosed with dementia (188 with AD and 96 with VaD). The multivariable adjusted odds ratios associated with moderate‐to‐severe (vs. no‐to‐mild) NAFLD were 2.22 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.41–3.49) for all‐cause dementia, 1.88 (95% CI = 1.01–3.50) for AD, and 2.62 (95% CI = 1.33–5.17) for VaD. In the cytokine subsample, controlling for multiple potential confounders, moderate‐to‐severe NAFLD was significantly associated with higher levels of serum monocyte chemotactic protein‐1, interleukin‐17A, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interleukin‐8, and tumor necrosis factor‐α (P < 0.05). The mediation analysis showed that IL‐6 mediated 12.56% of the association between NAFLD and VaD. Conclusions: Moderate‐to‐severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with dementia and AD, especially with VaD, among rural‐dwelling Chinese older adults, in which the association with VaD is partly mediated by serum inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Olfactory impairment is associated with dementia in clinical settings. We examined the relationship of olfactory identification function with all‐cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) and assessed the discriminative ability of the Sniffin' Sticks Identification Test (SSIT), the self‐rated Ascertain Dementia 8‐item Questionnaire (AD8), and their combination for dementia detection among rural‐dwelling older adults in China. Methods: This population‐based cross‐sectional study included 4481 participants (age ≥ 65 years; 56.8% women; 38.1% illiteracy) living in rural communities. The 16‐item SSIT was performed to assess olfactory identification function. The self‐rated AD8 was administered to participants for cognitive status. We diagnosed dementia, AD, and VaD following the international criteria. Data were analyzed with logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: Of the 4481 participants, dementia was diagnosed in 139 persons (3.1%), including 92 with AD and 42 with VaD. The SSIT score (range, 0–16) was associated with multiadjusted odds ratios of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.79–0.88) for dementia, 0.84 (0.79–0.90) for AD, and 0.79 (0.71–0.87) for VaD. The area under the curve for the discrimination between participants with and without dementia was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69–0.77) for SSIT score ≤ 8 alone, 0.86 (0.82–0.89) for self‐rated AD8 score ≥ 3 alone, and 0.89 (0.86–0.92) for their combination using a logistic model. Conclusions: Olfactory impairment is a clinical marker for all‐cause dementia, AD, and VaD. The smell identification test, in combination with the brief self‐rated cognitive screening tool, is accurate for screening dementia among rural‐dwelling Chinese older adults with no or limited education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive manganese (Mn) exposure can cause nerve damage and mitochondrial dysfunction, which may involve defects in mitochondrial dynamics. Resveratrol (RSV) exerts a wide range of beneficial effects via activation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and thus may positively impact Mn‐induced mitochondrial damage through the regulation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma coactivator 1‐alpha (PGC‐1α) by SIRT1. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which RSV alleviates the nerve injury and mitochondrial fragmentation caused by Mn in C57 BL/6 mice. Our results demonstrated that RSV activated the deacetylase activity of SIRT1 and protected against the surge of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and the attenuation of ATP caused by Mn. RSV, therefore, inhibits mitochondrial fragmentation and safeguards neural cells. Increased deacetylase activity led to a reduction in the acetylation of PGC‐1α, which directly regulates DRP1 expression by binding to the DRP1 promoter. The resultant attenuation of DRP1‐mediated mitochondrial fragmentation in RSV‐pretreated mice was abolished by the addition of the SIRT1 inhibitor EX527. Taken together, these findings indicate that RSV alleviates Mn‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction mediated by DRP1 by modulating the SIRT1/PGC‐1α signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty‐seven strains of Lactobacillus were isolated from fecal samples of healthy young people in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia using pure culture methods. Lactobacillus ruminis and Lactobacillus gasseri were the dominant Lactobacillus species isolated from the intestinal microflora, accounting for 54.4% and 14.0% of the total isolates, respectively. Isolated strains were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing, and their tolerance to gastric acid and bile salt, and fermentation characteristics were evaluated. The results of experiments in vitro showed that nine of the isolated strains of Lactobacillus grew well at pH 3.0. After 11 h of incubation in artificial digestive juices, the isolated L. plantarum and the control strain L. plantarum P8 still had high survival rates. Most of the isolates and control isolates have strong tolerance to bile salts. The evaluation of fermentation characteristics indicated that the ability of the intestinal Lactobacillus to ferment skimmed milk was lower than that of the reference L. plantarum P8. In the process of storage, the viable count of screened isolates of human origin in fermented milk decreased to some extent, but remained above 7.01 ± 0.22 log CFU/ml, showing good storage characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a unique group of advanced artificial materials, metamaterials have found many interesting applications in various devices due to the ability to control electromagnetic fields. The metamaterial provides the prospect of new opportunities for the wireless power transfer (WPT) system to improve efficiency and reduce magnetic flux density. This review paper evaluates the performance of the WPT system with metamaterial from both principles and functions aspects. The objectives of this review include: (1) to present the research process and bottlenecks of metamaterial in the WPT system; (2) to clarify the design solution and checking method of the metamaterial and (3) to identify the challenges and opportunities based on the functional of the WPT system integration with metamaterial. Therefore, the process on metamaterial design, working principle of metamaterial, optimal method, equivalent model, and experimental method are reviewed. The recent efforts of the WPT system with metamaterial in efficiency enhancement, misalignments, magnetic field reduction are illustrated. Finally, the challenges and prospects of metamaterial based on the WPT system are concluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Amitraz is a broad‐spectrum insecticide/acaricide for the control of aphids, psyllids, ticks and mites. Current evidence suggests that ticks and phytophagous mites have developed strong resistance to amitraz. Previous studies have shown that multiple mechanisms are associated with amitraz resistance in ticks, but very few reports have involved Panonychus citri. We therefore used whole genome sequencing and bulked segregant analysis (BSA) to identify the mechanism underlying P. citri's resistance to amitraz. RESULTS: High‐quality assembly of the whole P. citri genome was completed, resulting in a genome of approximately 83.97 Mb and a contig N50 of approximately 1.81 Mb. Gene structure predictions revealed 11 577 genes, of which 10 940 genes were annotated. Trait‐associated regions in the genome were mapped with bulked segregant analysis and 38 candidate SNPs were obtained, of which T752C had the strongest correlation with the resistant trait, located at the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of the β‐2R adrenergic‐like octopamine receptor gene. The mutation resulted in the formation of a short hairpin loop structure in mRNA and gene expression was down‐regulated by more than 50% in the amitraz‐resistant strain. Validation of the T752C mutation in field populations of P. citri found that the correlation between the resistance ratio and the base mutation was 94.40%. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that this 5′ UTR mutation of the β‐2R octopamine receptor gene, confers amitraz resistance in P. citri. This discovery provides a new explanation for the mechanism of pest resistance: base mutations in the 5′ untranslated region of target gene may regulate the susceptibility of pests to pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging evidence has linked impaired renal function with dementia, but the neuropathological mechanisms underlying the association remains poorly understood. We sought to examine the relationships of renal function, Alzheimer's plasma biomarker, and cognitive phenotypes among rural Chinese older adults. Method: This population‐based cross‐sectional study included 5715 participants (age ≥60 years; 57.15% women; 40.49% illiteracy) in the Multimodal Interventions to Delay Dementia and Disability in Rural China (MIND‐China). We calculated the estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using serum creatinine and the simplified modification of diet in renal disease equation specifically for individuals from China, and impaired renal function was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) were diagnosed following the international criteria. Plasma amyloid‐β (Aβ) 40, Aβ42, total tau, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) concentrations were measured using the SIMOA platform in a subsample (n = 1446). Data were analyzed using logistic, the general linear regression, and mediation models. Result: Of the 5715 participants, 283 (4.95%) were detected with renal function impairment, and 326 (5.70%) were diagnosed with dementia (195 with AD and 10 with VaD). The multivariable‐adjusted odds ratios of eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (vs. >90mL/min/1.73 m2) were 2.43 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.56‐3.72) for all‐cause dementia, 2.74 (1.64‐4.49) for AD, and 1.30 (0.50‐2.98) for VaD. In the plasma biomarkers subsample, controlling for demographic factors, impaired renal function was significantly associated with higher levels of plasma Aβ40 (demographic‐adjusted β‐coefficient = 59.06; 95%CI 46.93‐71.19), Aβ42 (3.41; 2.62‐4.20), NfL (14.57; 9.08‐20.05), and total tau (0.74; 0.48‐1.01), and the observed associations remained significant even in the multivariable‐adjusted model (P<0.001). The mediation analysis showed that total tau mediated 12.77% of the association between impaired renal function and AD. Conclusion: Impaired renal function is associated with an increased risk of dementia and AD. Plasma total tau may partly underlie the association of renal function with Alzheimer's dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The choroid plexus (CP) is a major source of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) production that has been involved in clearance of CSF proteins and regulation of brain function, and possibly, in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's dementia. However, population‐based studies have not yet investigated the associations of CP volume with cognitive function and biomarkers of pathological brain aging in older adults. Method: This population‐based cross‐sectional study included 1220 older adults (age ≥60 years) derived from the Multimodal INterventions to delay Dementia and disability in rural China, who underwent structural brain magnetic resonance imaging scans. CP was automatically segmented and quantified on 3T structural T1‐weighted images. Cognitive function was assessed using a neuropsychological test battery. Dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were diagnosed following the international criteria. In the subsample (n = 905), we measured plasma amyloid beta (Aβ)40, Aβ42, total tau, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) using the Simoa platform. Data were analyzed with logistic and the general linear regression models. Result: In the total sample (n = 1220), 275 persons were diagnosed with MCI (22.54%), 30 with all‐cause dementia (2.46%), and 26 with AD (2.13%). Controlling for demographics, total intracranial volumes (ICV), cardiovascular risk factors and related disorders, and APOE genotype, larger CP volume was significantly associated with increased likelihoods of dementia (adjusted odds ratio = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.33‐3.36), AD (2.28; 1.37‐3.80), and MCI (1.27; 1.07‐1.50). In addition, larger CP volume was significantly associated with lower z‐scores of verbal fluency, executive function, and global cognition (p<0.05). Furthermore, larger CP volume was associated with smaller volumes of total gray matter and hippocampus, and greater volumes of lateral ventricles, global white matter hyperintensity (WMH), and periventricular WMH (p<0.05). In the plasma subsample, larger CP volume was significantly associated with higher plasma Aβ42 concentration (p<0.05), and marginally with higher plasma Aβ40 concentration (p = 0.07). Conclusion: Large CP volume is associated with poor performance across the cognitive continuum as well as with biomarkers of cerebral atrophic, neurodegenerative, and microvascular lesions in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plasma biomarkers have emerged as a promising approach for defining mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to characterize Alzheimer's plasma biomarkers across the clinical continuum of AD, and to assess their ability to differentiate between MCI, AD, and normal cognition. Method: This population‐based study engaged 1446 rural‐dwelling older adults (age≥60 years, 61.0% women) derived from Multimodal Interventions to Delay Dementia and Disability in Rural China study; of these, 902 were defined with normal cognition, 402 with MCI, and 142 with AD according to the international criteria. Plasma amyloid‐beta (Aβ), total‐tau (t‐tau), and neurofilament light chain (NfL) concentrations were analysed using Simoa platform. Data were analysed using the logistic and general linear models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Result: Plasma concentrations of Aβ40, Aβ42, t‐tau, and NfL were significantly increased with age (P<0.01). Women had higher plasma Aβ2 (age‐adjusted β = 0.62; 95%CI = 0.30‐0.94), Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio (0.19; 0.01‐0.36) and lower NfL concentrations (‐0.11; ‐0.16‐ ‐0.06). Plasma Aβ42 (age‐ and sex‐adjusted β = ‐0.73; ‐1.15‐ ‐0.31) and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio (‐0.51; ‐0.74‐ ‐0.29) were lower in APOE ε4 carriers than that in non‐carriers. Plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio showed an increased and decreased trend, respectively, across AD clinical spectrum. Plasma t‐tau and t‐tau/Aβ42 ratio were higher in people with AD than those with MCI or normal cognition. Plasma NfL was increased across the AD clinical continuum and outperformed other Alzheimer's biomarkers in differentiating AD from normal cognition (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.75). However, all of these plasma biomarkers performed poorly to distinguish MCI from normal cognition (AUC<0.60). When adding plasma NfL to the basic model that included age, sex, education, and APOE genotype, the AUC was 0.87 for differentiating between AD and normal cognition, 0.79 between AD and MCI, and 0.64 between MCI and normal cognition. Conclusion: Age, sex, and APOE genotype should be considered in clinical interpretation of Alzheimer's plasma biomarkers. Plasma Aβ, t‐tau, and NfL concentrations differ across the cognitive continuum, but plasma NfL, which starts to elevate in the early stages of AD development, appears to be superior than plasma Aβ and t‐tau for defining cognitive continuum in old age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence has emerged that cognitive reserve (CR) could mitigate the genetic risk of APOE ε4 allele for dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Caucasian and Black populations. Whether CR counteracts dementia risk attributable to TOMM40 variants is unknown. We examined whether lifelong CR might modify the risk of dementia and AD from APOE and TOMM40 variants among Chinese older adults. Method: This population‐based cohort study included 2052 dementia‐free participants from the Shandong Yanggu Study of Aging and Dementia, who were free of dementia at baseline (2014‐2015) and underwent follow‐up examinations in March‐September 2018. APOE (rs429358 and rs7412) and TOMM40 (rs2075650) were defined using multiple polymerase chain reaction amplification. A lifelong composite CR score was generated from six lifespan intellectual factors and then dichotomized into high and low levels according to the median CR score. Dementia and AD were clinically diagnosed following the international criteria. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional‐hazards models. The interaction between CR and APOE or TOMM40 variants was assessed on multiplicative and additive scales. Result: During an average of 3.72 years (range, 2.98‐4.46) of follow‐up, dementia was diagnosed in 94 persons, including 70 with AD. Overall, carrying APOE e4 allele (vs. non‐carriers) was associated with multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio of 1.50 (95%CI: 0.91‐2.50) for dementia and 1.71 (0.97‐3.01) for AD; the corresponding figures were 1.76 (1.09‐2.85) and 1.81 (1.04‐3.15) for carrying TOMM40 G allele (vs. AA), and 0.47 (0.27‐0.80) and 0.52 (0.27‐0.996) for high CR, respectively. There was a significant additive interaction of APOE or TOMM40 variants with CR on risks of dementia and AD. Compared to low CR, having high lifelong CR was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia and AD in APOE e4 carriers, with multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios being 0.17 (95%CI: 0.04‐0.73) and 0.13 (0.02‐1.02); the corresponding figures were 0.23 (0.07‐0.81) and 0.13 (0.02‐1.02) in TOMM40 G carriers, and 0.22(0.06‐0.74) and 0.12(0.02‐0.91) in APOE‐e4 or TOMM40 G carriers, respectively. Conclusion: Carrying TOMM40 G or APOE e4 allele is associated with increased risks of dementia and AD in Chinese older adults, and the genetic risk could be counteracted by high lifelong CR capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Current evidence supports the involvement of lipids in brain aging. A range of serum lipids is explored in association with brain structure and cognitive function amongst rural‐dwelling older adults. Methods: This population‐based cross‐sectional study included 184 rural‐dwelling adults (age ≥ 65 years, 39.1% women) in Shandong, China. In 2014–2016, data on demographics, lifestyle, health conditions and serum lipids were collected. Volumes of gray matter, white matter, ventricles, hippocampus and white matter hyperintensity were automatically estimated on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Global cognitive function was assessed with the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was defined according to Petersen's criteria. Data were analyzed using the general linear regression, logistic regression and mediation models. Results: Of the 184 participants, 47 were defined with MCI. Low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C; <1.55 vs. ≥1.55 mmol/l) was significantly associated with reduced volumes of total white matter (multi‐adjusted β = −9.77, 95% confidence interval −19.48–0.06) and hippocampus (−0.23, −0.46–0.01), a lower MMSE score (−1.49, −2.67–0.31) and a higher likelihood of MCI (multi‐adjusted odds ratio 3.21, 95% confidence interval 1.42–7.29). The mediation effects of structural brain measures on the associations between a low level of HDL‐C and MMSE score or MCI were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This study suggests that low HDL‐C may be involved in structural brain aging and cognitive dysfunction amongst rural‐dwelling older adults in China, but the association of low HDL‐C with cognitive aging phenotypes appears not to be mediated by brain structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a unified 2D axially symmetric model coupling the plasma arc and molten bath in a direct current electric arc furnace is established, with the physical phenomena at the plasma arc/molten bath interface to be confronted by the "local thermodynamic equilibrium diffusion approximation" method. After ensuring model validation and grid independence test, the fluid flow and heat transfer processes are analyzed. The numerical investigation reveals that in terms of the relative importance of driving forces in the molten bath, an anticlockwise eddy is formed at the molten bath center driven by electromagnetic force, whereas a clockwise eddy is formed near the lateral part of the molten bath driven by buoyancy force. Regarding the distribution of heat flux, the convection–conduction and radiation heat govern the rate of heat transfer from the plasma arc to the molten bath. In addition, for larger arc current, higher arc power in the plasma arc region and higher heating rates in the molten bath are obtained when the arc length is held constant; for shorter arc length, lower arc power in the plasma arc region but higher heat transfer efficiency in the molten bath is attained when the arc current is held constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon isotope (δ13C) records from marine sediments and sedimentary rocks have been extensively used in Cenozoic chemostratigraphy. The early Paleogene interval in particular has received exceptional attention because negative carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) documented in the sedimentary record, for example, at the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), ca ∼56 Ma, are believed to reflect significant global carbon cycle perturbations during the warmest interval of the Cenozoic era. However, while bulk carbonate δ13C values exhibit robust correlations across widely separated marine sedimentary basins, their absolute values and magnitude of CIEs vary spatially, especially over time intervals characterized by major deviations in global carbon cycling. Moreover, bulk carbonates in open‐marine environments are an ensemble of different components, each with a distinct isotope composition. Consequently, a comprehensive interpretation of the bulk‐δ13C record requires an understanding of co‐evolution of these components. In this study, we dissect sediments, from the late Paleocene‐early Eocene interval, at ODP Site 1209 (Shatsky Rise, Pacific Ocean) to investigate how a temporally varying bulk carbonate ensemble influences the overall carbon isotope record. A set of 45 samples were examined for δ13C and δ18O compositions, as bulk and individual size fractions. We find a significant increase in coarse‐fraction abundance across the PETM, driven by a changing community structure of calcifiers, modulating the size of the CIE at Site 1209 and thus making it distinct from those recorded at other open‐marine sites. These results highlight the importance of biogeography in the marine stable isotope record, especially when isotope excursions are driven by climate‐ and/or carbon cycle changes. In addition, community composition changes will alter the interpretation of weight percent coarse fraction as proxy for carbonate dissolution. Plain Language Summary: Bulk carbonate stable isotope records are extensively used for chemostratigraphic correlation and reconstruction of past global changes. However, bulk carbonates in open marine settings being an ensemble of various calcareous components, with individually distinct isotope composition are enigmatic in terms of their usage and interpretations. Our study dissects bulk carbonates of early Paleogene age (58–50 Ma) from ODP Site 1209, at Shatsky Rise in north‐central Pacific Ocean, and attempts to interpret bulk carbonate stable isotope records in regard to how individual components co‐evolved. Documenting the size‐fraction‐specific isotope variations within the bulk carbonate records helps us understand how varying abundances of individual group of marine calcifying organisms can affect the resultant bulk isotope compositions. Size‐fraction‐specific isotope variations also have implications on the magnitude of prominent carbon isotope excursions, for example, the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum, ca. ∼56 Ma. Key Points: Co‐evolution of different components within pelagic carbonate systems drive spatial variations within bulk carbonate stable isotope recordsAn increase in coarse fraction abundance caused by change in abundance of calcifying organims across the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) at Shatsky Rise affects its utility as a proxy for carbonate dissolutionSize‐fraction‐specific isotope variations can significantly alter the magnitude of carbon isotope excursions in bulk sediments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate factors which may predispose patients to early neurological deterioration (END) and explore peripheral biomarkers for the prediction of END in cardiogenic cerebral embolism (CCE) patients. Methods: Patients diagnosed with CCE within 24 hr of onset between January 2017 and January 2019 were included in this study. END was defined as an increase of ≥2 on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) or the emergence of new neurological symptoms within 3 days of admission. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate the factors associated with END. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then generated to determine the predictive value of the potential biomarkers and the optimal cutoff values. Results: Of the 129 (male, 55.81%; mean age 71.85 ± 11.99 years) CCE patients, 55 patients with END were identified. Hemorrhage transformation (HT), coronary heart disease (CHD), diastolic blood pressure, cystatin C levels, NIHSS score, and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) at admission were independently associated with END. A peripheral cystatin C level ≥ 1.41 mg/L and a PLR ≥ 132.97 were predictive factors for END in CCE patients. The lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) was negatively independently associated with HT, and LMR < 2.31 may predict the occurrence of HT in patients with CCE. Conclusions: Of the potential predisposing factors considered, increased cystatin C and PLR were associated with END within 3 days of CCE, and a decreased LMR may have predictive value for HT in CCE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image segmentation is a key step in the process of image data processing. The quality of image segmentation will directly affect the accuracy of image cognitive understanding. The purpose of image segmentation is to divide the image into regions with specific semantics. For the simple linear iterative clustering (SLIC) algorithm, the feature equalisation parameters need to be set manually during image segmentation, which results in the lack of segmentation effects and slow processing time. By introducing the theory of intermediary mathematics, an improved adaptive SLIC super‐pixel algorithm is proposed, which can adaptive generate characteristic equalisation parameters according to the specific situation of the image, thereby simplifying the operation steps and improving the image segmentation effect. After experimental verification and analysis, compared with the original SLIC algorithm and several other super‐pixel contrast algorithms, the algorithm in this study can effectively shorten the processing time and achieve a better segmentation effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present report describes two cases of larger cornual residual villi after dilatation and curettage because of missed abortion, treated by the hysteroscopic cold knife. One case is 39 years old and the other is 30 years old, both cases were treated with dilatation and curettage because of missed abortion, surprisingly, one of the patients suffered two curettage surgeries. After the curettage, with irregular vaginal bleeding more than 3 months, pelvic ultrasonography revealed an enlarged uterine cavity with a lager cornual residual villi was suspected. We treated them with Hysteroscopy Endo‐Operative System, the operation was successful without any complications. The blood β‐HCG drops rapidly to normal after surgery. We performed office hysteroscopy for them 1 month after the operation, and the corners of uterine were normal. The hysteroscopic cold knife may represent a valid tool for the treatment of large cornual residual villi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: A simple approach to detecting dementia in its early stages may help improve patient care. We therefore aimed to assess the power of the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) for screening dementia among rural‐dwelling older adults who are at high‐risk for cognitive impairment. Methods: This study included 961 participants at a high‐risk for dementia who had been identified from a population‐based survey of Chinese rural residents. All participants were aged 65 years and older and positive for cognitive impairment according to the Mini‐Mental State Examination or the Ascertain Dementia 8‐item Informant Questionnaire screening tests. The FAQ scale was used to evaluate daily activities. Dementia was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, criteria. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to determine the FAQ's optimal cut‐offs for dementia. The power (or accuracy) of the FAQ for screening dementia was analyzed in the total sample and in subgroups categorized by age, gender, and educational level. Results: Of the 961 participants, 84 (8.7%) were clinically diagnosed with dementia. Among individuals who were positive for cognitive impairment on the Mini‐Mental State Examination or the Ascertain Dementia 8‐item Informant Questionnaire, the parameters for an FAQ cut‐off score ≥6 as a means of discriminating those with dementia from those without dementia were area under curve = 0.899, sensitivity = 94.1%, specificity = 75.1%, positive likelihood ratio = 3.78, and accuracy = 0.768. The discriminant abilities of the FAQ scale varied with age, gender, and educational level. The discriminant parameters of the FAQ scale were similar overall among individuals who were positive on either the Mini‐Mental State Examination or the Ascertain Dementia 8‐item Informant Questionnaire test alone. Conclusion: The FAQ scale has high discriminative power to screen for dementia among rural older residents with suspected cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Catechin protects heart from myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury. However, whether catechin inhibits H/R‐induced myocardial cell apoptosis is largely unknown. Objective: This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of catechin in inhibiting the apoptosis of H/R‐induced myocardial cells. Methods: LncRNA MIAT expression was detected by qRT‐PCR. Cell viability of H9C2 cells was detected using CCK‐8 assay. The apoptosis of H9C2 cells was detected by flow cytometry. The interaction between CREB and MIAT promoter regions was confirmed by dual‐luciferase reporter gene assay and ChIP assay. Results: In MI/R rats, catechin improved heart function and down‐regulated lncRNA MIAT expression in myocardial tissue. In H/R‐induced H9C2 cells, catechin protected against cell apoptosis, and lncRNA MIAT overexpression attenuated this protective effect of catechin. We confirmed that transcription factor CREB could bind to MIAT promoter region, and catechin suppressed lncRNA MIAT expression through up‐regulating CREB. Catechin improved mitochondrial function and relieved apoptosis through promoting Akt/Gsk‐3β activation. In addition, MIAT inhibited Akt/Gsk‐3β activation and promoted cell apoptosis in H/R‐induced H9C2 cells. Finally, we found catechin promoted Akt/Gsk‐3β activation through inhibiting MIAT expression in H/R‐induced H9C2 cells. Conclusion: Catechin relieved H/R‐induced myocardial cell apoptosis through regulating CREB/lncRNA MIAT/Akt/Gsk‐3β pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat‐integrated distillation is an improved distillation technique with remarkable energy‐saving potential. A control scheme with a variable sensitive stage temperature set‐point is proposed to solve the control problem of a heat‐integrated distillation column (HIDiC). An online estimator is designed to support the variation of the set‐point. The locations of the stage temperature measurements are carefully selected based on a combination strategy with three steps. First, the sensitive stages are selected. Then, the following stages are determined by a PCA‐based method. Finally, a maximum differentiation method provides the remaining measurement selections. According to the profile parameters estimated by the proposed estimator, the set‐point of the sensitive stage temperature is adjusted adaptively to reduce the influence of the disturbances. Two commonly‐used PID controllers, the sensitive temperature control and the temperature differential control, are developed as the comparative study. The simulation results show that the proposed control scheme has a distinct advantage in restraining different disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The neuropathological mechanisms linking sleep duration with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are poorly understood. Method: This population‐based study included 2032 dementia‐free participants (age ≥60 years; 55.1% women) derived from the baseline survey of the Multimodal Interventions to Delay Dementia and Disability in Rural China; of these, data were available from 841 participants for Alzheimer's plasma biomarkers (e.g., amyloid‐β [Aβ], total tau, and neurofilament light chain [NfL] protein), 1044 for serum microvascular biomarkers (e.g., soluble adhesion molecules), and 834 for brain MRI biomarkers (e.g., total brain tissue, whiter matter, grey matter, hippocampus, lacunes, enlarged perivascular spaces [EPVS], and white matter hyperintensity [WMH]). We assessed sleep duration using the electrocardiogram‐based cardiopulmonary coupling analysis, global and domain‐specific cognitive function using a neuropsychological test battery, and MCI following the Petersen's criteria. Data were analyzed with multivariable logistic and general linear models. Result: In the total sample (n = 2032), 510 participants were diagnosed with MCI, including 438 with amnestic MCI and 72 with non‐amnestic MCI. Objectively‐measured long sleep duration (>8 vs. 6‐8 hours) was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of MCI and lower scores in global cognition, verbal fluency, attention, and executive function (P<.05). In the subsamples, long sleep duration was associated with higher plasma concentrations of Aβ40, total tau, and NfL, a lower Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, and smaller volumes of total brain tissue, grey matter, and hippocampus (P<.05). There were no significant associations of sleep duration with serum soluble adhesion molecules concentrations, white matter volumes, WMH volumes, global EPVS, and lacunes (P >.05). Conclusion: Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative pathologies represent common pathways linking long sleep duration with poor cognition in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence has linked self‐reported sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) with cognitive impairment; however, the underlying neuropathological mechanisms are poorly understood. We examined the dose‐response associations of the accelerometer‐measured daily SB and PA time with plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) among older adults and the role of systemic low‐grade inflammation in the associations. Method: This population‐based study included 1,029 dementia‐free older adults (age ≥60 years, 59.48% women) who undertook the ActiGraph substudy (March 2018‐December 2020) in MIND‐China. Plasma NfL and serum cytokines were measured on SIMOA and MSD platforms, respectively. Movement parameters were assessed with an accelerometer. Data were analyzed using the restricted cubic splines, general linear, and mediation models. Result: There were J‐shaped associations of daily SB and PA time with plasma NfL concentration, such that more daily SB time or less daily light‐intensity physical activity (LPA) and moderate‐to‐vigorous‐intensity physical activity (MVPA) time were significantly associated with increased plasma NfL only when SB time ≥8.00 hours/day or LPA time <5.00 hours/day or MVPA time <2.00 hours/day. Furthermore, more daily SB time or less daily LPA and MVPA time was significantly associated with higher serum inflammation scores (P<0.05). Finally, serum biomarkers of low‐grade inflammation could account for 15% to 19% of the associations between movement behaviors and plasma NfL level. Conclusion: More daily SB and less PA time are associated with peripheral biomarker for neurodegeneration and systemic low‐grade inflammation in older adults. The association of movement behaviors with neurodegeneration is partially mediated by systemic low‐grade inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Educational attainment in early life represents a major contributor to cognitive reserve (CR). High CR capacity derived from lifespan enriching factors could delay cognitive decline. We sought to investigate the longitudinal associations of CR capacity with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia among older adults with no or low literacy. Method: This population‐based cohort study included 2141 rural participants (age≥60 years; 59.5% women; 84.8% illiteracy or elementary school) in the Shandong Yanggu Study of Aging and Dementia who were free of dementia at baseline (August‐December 2014) and who undertook follow‐up examinations in March‐September 2018. CR capacity was estimated by integrating early‐life education attainment, adulthood occupation and marital status, and late‐life physical activity and social support, and categorized into low, intermediate, and high levels using tertiles. MCI and amnestic MCI were defined according to the Petersen's criteria that integrated clinical assessment with neuropsychological tests. Dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) were diagnosed according to the DSM‐IV and NIA‐AA criteria, respectively. Data were analyzed using the structural equation and Cox proportional‐hazards models. Result: During an average of 3.7 (SD = 0.4) years of follow‐up, 102 of the 2141 dementia‐free participants were diagnosed with dementia, including 75 with AD. Compared to the low CR level, intermediate and high CR levels were associated with multi‐adjusted hazards ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of 0.59 (0.37–0.94) and 0.47 (0.26–0.85) for dementia and 0.53 (0.31–0.92) and 0.38 (0.17–0.83) for AD, respectively. In addition, out of the 1727 MCI‐free participants at baseline, 330 developed MCI at follow‐up, including 270 with aMCI. Intermediate and high CR levels (vs. low) were associated with multi‐adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of 0.70 (0.53–0.92) and 0.60 (0.45–0.81) for MCI and 0.65 (0.48–0.87) and 0.58 (0.42–0.79) for amnestic MCI, respectively. Conclusion: In Chinese rural elderly, high CR capacity is associated with reduced risks of MCI, amnestic MCI, dementia, and AD. This suggests that the effect of CR capacity in delaying the onset of MCI and dementia exists even among rural older adults with no or very low literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous research has suggested that neutrophils could release cytokines to be involved in low‐grade chronic inflammation, which might contribute to cognitive dysfunction. However, population‐based studies have not explored the relationship between neutrophils and cognitive function in older adults. Here, we examined the associations of absolute neutrophil count (ANC) with cognitive performance and cognitive decline among rural Chinese older adults and further explored the potential mediation role of serum cytokines in their associations. Method: This population‐based longitudinal study included 1666 dementia‐free participants (age ≥60 years; 976, 58.58% women) in the substudy of MIND‐China who undertook the baseline examination in March‐September 2018; of these, 1087 were followed in November‐December 2019. At baseline, ANC was measured using a Mindray BC 6800 automated hematology analyzer. We used the neuropsychological test battery to assess global cognitive function, memory, attention, verbal fluency, and executive function. Serum IL‐6 and eotaxin3 concentrations were measured using Meso Scale Discovery (MSD). Data were analyzed using multivariable general linear models and mediation models. Result: The cross‐sectional analysis of data at baseline (n = 1666) showed that ANC (range, 0.3 ‐ 24, 109/L) was significantly associated with a lower memory z‐score (multi‐adjusted β coefficient: ‐0.131; 95% CI: ‐0.254 ‐ ‐0.008), but not with attention, verbal fluency, and executive function. Mediating modeling analysis suggested that 22.35% and 10.33% of the association between ANC and memory function were mediated by serum IL‐6 and eotaxin3, respectively. The analysis of longitudinal data (n = 1087) suggested a nonlinear relationship between ANC and memory z‐score decline, with the fourth quartile of ANC (vs. the third quartile) being significantly associated with a multi‐adjusted β coefficient of 0.146 (95% CI: 0.009 ‐ 0.283) for decline in memory z‐score. Conclusion: Higher ANC is associated with worse memory performance and faster cognitive decline in rural‐dwelling Chinese older adults, in which their association may be mediated partly by serum cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep disturbances have been associated with cognitive impairment, but their associations with plasma Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers have been rarely explored. We sought to investigate the relationships of self‐reported and cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC)‐assessed sleep disturbances, cognitive function, and plasma AD biomarkers among rural‐dwelling older adults in China. Method: This population‐based cross‐sectional study included 1987 dementia‐free individuals (age ≥60 years, 55.0% women) who participated in the CPC‐substudy as part of the baseline assessments of the MIND‐China Study; of these, 830 had data on plasma Aβ42, Aβ40, total‐tau, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) that were measured using the single molecule array (SIMOA) technology. We collected data via face‐to‐face interviews, clinical examinations, and neuropsychological test. Sleep disturbances were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the self‐administered Berlin Questionnaire, and the ECG‐based CPC analysis. We used the neuropsychological test battery to assess memory, language, attention, and executive function. Data were analyzed using logistic and general linear regression models. Result: Of the 1987 participants, CPC‐measured total sleep time (TST) >8 hours/night (vs. 5‐8 hours) was significantly associated with a lower composite z‐score of memory (β = ‐0.080; 95% CI = ‐0.160 ‐ ‐0.001), language (‐0.114; ‐0.186 ‐ ‐0.042), attention (‐0.104; ‐0.175 ‐ ‐0.033), and executive function (‐0.117; ‐0.193 ‐ ‐0.041). Self‐reported poor sleep quality was associated with a lower composite z‐score of attention function (β = ‐0.077; 95% CI = ‐0.143 ‐ ‐0.011). Self‐reported excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was associated with a lower composite z‐score of memory (β = ‐0.217; 95% CI = ‐0.350 ‐ ‐0.084), language (‐0.182; ‐0.303 ‐ ‐0.061), and attention function (‐0.162; ‐0.282 ‐ ‐0.041). In the plasma biomarker subsample, CPC‐measured TST >8 hours/night was significantly associated with lower plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio (β = ‐0.522; 95% CI = ‐0.764‐ ‐0.281) and higher plasma concentrations of Aβ40 (13.419; 6.515‐20.323), total‐tau (0.216; 0.071‐0.360), and NfL (0.071; 0.002‐0.140). There was no significant association between CPC‐measured apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and plasma AD biomarkers (P>0.05). Conclusion: Long sleep duration and self‐reported EDS were associated with poor memory, language, and attention function among older adults, in which AD pathology and neurodegeneration may be the common pathways linking sleep disturbances with cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Olfactory impairment has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We seek to investigate the relationships of impaired olfaction with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), plasma biomarkers of AD and neurodegeneration, and neuroimaging markers of microvascular lesions and neurodegeneration among Chinese older adults. Method: This population‐based cross‐sectional study included 4214 participants (age ≥65 years; 56.0% women) from MIND‐China who were free of dementia and examined in March‐September 2018. Olfactory function was assessed using the 16‐item Sniffin' Sticks identification test (SSIT). In the subsamples, we measured plasma concentrations of amyloid‐β40 (Aβ40), Aβ42, total‐tau, and neurofilament light chain (NfL) using the Simoa technology (n = 1054); and quantified hippocampal volume, entorhinal cortex volume, Alzheimer's disease‐signature cortical thickness, and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) volume on MRI scans (n = 917). The neuropsychological test battery was used to assess memory, verbal fluence, attention, and executive function. MCI and subtypes of MCI were defined according to the Petersen's criteria that integrated clinical judgement by neurologists and neuropsychological tests. Data were analyzed with logistic and general linear regression models. Result: Of the 4214 participants, MCI was diagnosed in 1102 persons (26.2%), including 931 with amnestic MCI (aMCI) and 171 with non‐amnestic MCI (naMCI). Olfactory impairment (SSIT score 0‐10) was associated with an increased likelihood of MCI, aMCI, and naMCI in a dose‐response manner (p for trend<.001). In the plasma biomarker or MRI subsample, anosmia (SSIT score 0‐7) was significantly associated with plasma total‐tau (demographic‐adjusted β = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.12‐0.41), NfL (0.12; 0.04‐0.19) and MRI biomarkers of hippocampal volume (‐0.13; ‐0.22‐ ‐0.04), entorhinal cortex volume (‐0.08; ‐0.13‐ ‐0.02), and WMHs volume (0.19; 0.08‐0.30), and marginally associated with Alzheimer‐signature cortical thickness (‐0.02; ‐0.05‐0.00, p = 0.08), but not with plasma Aβ concentrations (P>0.05). Conclusion: Anosmia may be a clinical marker for preclinical dementia and neurodegeneration among older adults. Microvascular and neurodegenerative lesions in the brain may be the common neuropathological pathways linking anosmia with cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The longitudinal associations of time in bed (TIB) (a composite indicator of sleep duration, latency, and fragmentation) and sleep timing (a marker of circadian rhythms) with dementia and cognitive decline in older adults are unclear. Method: This population‐based cohort study used data from 1982 participants in the Shandong Yanggu Study of Aging and Dementia, who were aged ≥60 years, free of dementia, and living in the rural communities in western Shandong Province, China. At the baseline (2014) and follow‐up (2018) examinations, sleep parameters were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Global cognitive function was measured using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). Dementia was diagnosed following the DSM‐IV criteria, and the NIA‐AA criteria for Alzheimer disease (AD). Data were analyzed using restricted cubic splines, Cox proportional‐hazards models, and general linear models. Result: During the mean follow‐up of 3.7 (standard deviation = 0.3) years, dementia was diagnosed in 97 participants (68 with AD). Restricted cubic spline curves showed J‐shaped associations of sleep duration, TIB, and rise time with dementia risk, and a reverse J‐shaped association with mid‐sleep time. When continuous sleep parameters were categorized into tertiles, the multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of incident dementia was 1.69 (95%CI 1.01‐2.83) for baseline sleep duration >8 hours (vs. 7‐8 hours), 2.17 (1.22‐3.87) for bedtime before 9PM (vs. 10PM or later), and 2.00 (1.23‐3.24) for mid‐sleep time before 1AM (vs. 1‐1.5AM). Early bedtime and mid‐sleep time were significantly associated with incident AD (multivariable‐adjusted HR range: 2.25‐2.51; P<0.05). Among individuals who were free of dementia at follow‐up, baseline long TIB, early bedtime and mid‐sleep time, early and late rise time, and prolonged TIB and advanced mid‐sleep time from baseline to follow‐up were associated with greater decline in MMSE score (P<0.05). These associations with cognitive decline were statistically evident mainly among men or participants who were aged <75 years. Conclusion: Long TIB and early sleep timing are associated with an increased risk of dementia and AD, and their associations with greater cognitive decline are evident only among young‐old people and men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main task of image segmentation is to partition an image into disjoint sets of pixels called clusters. Spectral clustering algorithm has been developed rapidly in recent years and it has been widely used in image segmentation. The traditional spectral clustering algorithm requires huge amount of computation to process colour images with high resolution. While one possible solution is reducing image resolution, but it will lead to the loss of image information and reduce segmentation performance. To overcome the problem of traditional spectral clustering, an image segmentation algorithm based on superpixel clustering is proposed. Firstly, the algorithm uses the superpixel preprocessing technique to quickly divide the image into a certain number of superpixel regions with specific information. Then, the similarity matrix is used to provide the input information to the spectral clustering algorithm to cluster the superpixel regions and get the final image segmentation results. The experiment results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively improve the performance in image segmentation compared with the traditional spectral clustering algorithm, and finally the substantial improvement has been obtained in respect of computational complexity, processing time and the overall segmentation effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulant rodenticides have been widely used in rodent control in China for >30 years and resistant Norway rats have been reported. Mutations in the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1 (Vkorc1) gene can cause anticoagulant resistance in rodents. In this study, we analyzed the Vkorc1 polymorphisms of 681 Norway rats collected in Zhanjiang and Harbin Cities in China from 2008 to 2015 and evaluated the warfarin resistance frequency. RESULTS: Analysis revealed four mutations, including three not previously reported. Two new synonymous mutations, His68His and Leu105Leu, are not associated with warfarin resistance. One new nonsynonymous mutation, Ala140Thr, was found in Zhanjiang rat samples collected in 3 years with low frequencies (3.3–4.0%) and is probably associated with warfarin resistance. Laboratory resistance tests suggested low warfarin resistance frequencies in rats from Zhanjiang (4.9–17.1%) and Harbin (0–2.5%) Cities. CONCLUSIONS: Both genetic analysis and laboratory resistance tests suggested low warfarin resistance frequencies in rats from Zhanjiang and Harbin Cities. The alternate usage of first‐generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) and second‐generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) might represent an effective strategy against the development of warfarin resistance in Norway rats in China. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry The low frequency of the Ala140Thr mutation and the absence of other vitamin K epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1 (Vkorc1) resistance mutations in Zhanjiang and Harbin Norway rat populations suggest a low warfarin resistance frequency after 30 years of using anticoagulant rodenticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Around one‐third of people with dementia worldwide might be attributable to seven modifiable risk factors, implying that interventions to control these risk factors may delay the onset of dementia. Therefore, we initiated the multimodal interventions to delay dementia and disability in rural China (MIND‐China) in 2018 and updated the main progresses of the project in 2018‐2021. Methods: MIND‐China is designed as a community‐based 2‐year cluster‐randomized, controlled, multimodal intervention study, which targets people who are aged 60‐79 years and living in the rural communities of Yanlou Town, western Shandong Province, China. Following the baseline examination in 2018, 52 villages in Yanlou Town are randomly (cluster‐randomization) divided into three groups: control group (regular primary health care service), vascular intervention group, and multimodal intervention group. The vascular intervention includes healthy lifestyle guidelines and the national guidelines‐based medical treatment of major cardiometabolic risk factors. The multimodal intervention group receives, in addition to the interventions planned for vascular intervention, group physical exercise, personalized leisure activities, and cognitive training. Results: In March‐September 2018, 5,765 participants underwent the core module assessments via face‐to‐face interviews, clinical examinations, neuropsychological testings, and laboratory tests (74.9% of all eligible residents). The mean age was 70.9 years (SD 5.9), 57.2% were women, 40.6% were illiterate, and 88.3% were farmers. Specific modules of examination were performed for subsamples (e.g., brain MRI scans, genetic and blood biomarkers, physical function, sleep quality, audiometric testing, and OCT examination). In May‐September 2019, the pilot study was completed to test the feasibility of the intervention programs and the implementation procedure in 7 villages (2 villages in control group, 3 villages in vascular intervention group, and 2 villages in multimodal intervention group). Recruitment of participants for interventions started in October 2019. In July‐November 2021, we conducted the 1‐year follow‐up assessments of participants in the interventions. Conclusion: By the end of 2021, MIND‐China had completed baseline screening assessment, recruitment of intervention participants, and the first follow‐up assessments following the initiation of interventions. MIND‐China demonstrates the feasibility of implementing the multimodal interventions in rural communities. COVID‐19 has minimal impact so far on the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cryogenic air separation is a high‐energy consumption process and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Reduction potentials of the CO2 emissions for both the full‐tower heat‐integrated air separation columns (F‐HIASC) and the top‐tower heat‐integrated air separation columns (T‐HIASC) are investigated. The optimization models of the minimum CO2 emissions are further proposed. The unit CO2 emissions of F‐HIASC and T‐HIASC can be decreased significantly compared to the conventional air separation columns (CASC). Furthermore, the capital cost and total annual cost are analyzed so as to evaluate properly the economic feasibility of HIASC. The results demonstrate that the total annual costs of F‐HIASC and T‐HIASC are much lower than that of CASC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Degenerative disk disease of the spine is a major cause of back pain and disability. Optimization of regenerative medical therapies for degenerative disk disease requires a deep mechanistic understanding of the factors controlling the structural integrity of spinal tissues. In this investigation, we sought to identify candidate regulatory genes controlling extracellular matrix synthesis in spinal tissues. To achieve this goal we performed high throughput next generation RNA sequencing on 39 annulus fibrosus and 21 nucleus pulposus human tissue samples. Specimens were collected from patients undergoing surgical discectomy for the treatment of degenerative disk disease. Our studies identified associations between extracellular matrix genes, growth factors, and other important regulatory molecules. The fibrous matrix characteristic of annulus fibrosus was associated with expression of the growth factors platelet derived growth factor beta (PDGFB), vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC), and fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9). Additionally we observed high expression of multiple signaling proteins involved in the NOTCH and WNT signaling cascades. Nucleus pulposus extracellular matrix related genes were associated with the expression of numerous diffusible growth factors largely associated with the transforming growth signaling cascade, including transforming factor alpha (TGFA), inhibin alpha (INHA), inhibin beta A (INHBA), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP2, BMP6), and others. Clinical significance: this investigation provides important data on extracellular matrix gene regulatory networks in disk tissues. This information can be used to optimize pharmacologic, stem cell, and tissue engineering strategies for regeneration of the intervertebral disk and the treatment of back pain. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:1356–1369, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in men. The Gleason score (GS) and biomarkers play important roles in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with PCa. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the molecular markers Ki‐67, hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in PCa. Thirty‐nine patients with 39 lesions, who had been diagnosed with PCa, were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW‐MRI) (b = 800 s/mm2). The expression of Ki‐67, HIF‐1α and VEGF was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis was applied to analyze the association between ADC and prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), GS and the expression of Ki‐67, HIF‐1α and VEGF. The group differences in ADC among different grades of Ki‐67, HIF‐1α and VEGF were also analyzed. The mean ± standard deviation of ADC was (0.76 ± 0.27) × 10−3 mm2/s. ADC correlated negatively with PSA and GS (p < 0.05). The Ki‐67 staining index (SI), HIF‐1α expression and VEGF expression in PCa were correlated inversely with ADC, controlling for age (r = –0.332, p < 0.05; r = −0.662, p < 0.0005; and r = −0.714, p < 0.0005, respectively). ADC showed a significant difference among different grades of Ki‐67 (F = 9.164, p = 0.005), HIF‐1α (F = 40.333, p < 0.0005) and VEGF (F = 22.048, p < 0.0005). In conclusion, ADC was correlated with PSA, GS, and Ki‐67, HIF‐1α and VEGF expression in patients with PCa. ADC may be used to evaluate tumor proliferation, hypoxia and angiogenesis in PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have examined occurrence and progression of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in rural China. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of SCD and explore factors associated with progression from SCD to cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Method: This community‐based study included 2488 cognitively unimpaired participants (age ≥65 years; 55.18% women; and 39.87% illiterate) in the Shandong Yanggu Study of Aging and Dementia who were examined at baseline (2014‐2015), of these, 1843 were followed in 2018. Demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and neuropsychological data were collected following a structured questionnaire. SCD was defined based on the Chinese version of the self‐rated Ascertain Dementia 8‐item Questionnaire (AD8) score. CIND and AD were diagnosed following the international criteria. Data were analyzed with the multivariate logistic regression models. Result: At baseline, 997 of the 2488 participants were defined to have SCD. The prevalence of SCD was 40.07%, and the prevalence was increased with age. Of the 1843 participants in the follow‐up examination in 2018, 189 were diagnosed with CIND and 58 with AD. Having SCD at baseline was significantly associated with the multi‐adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.55 (95% confidence interval = 1.14‐2.12) for incident CIND and 2.91 (1.56‐5.42) for incident AD. Of 745 participants with SCD at baseline, 97 progressed to CIND and 43 to AD during the average 3.79 years of follow‐up. Multivariable logistic regressions showed that the multi‐adjusted OR of incident CIND was 0.51 (0.26‐0.98) for high social support, whereas the multi‐adjusted OR of incident AD was 1.22 (1.14‐1.31) for older age (per 1‐year increment), 0.31 (0.11‐0.85) for high education, 2.77 (1.17‐6.57) for carrying the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, 0.29 (0.11‐0.75) for high social support, and 3.98 (1.37‐11.52) for mild depressive symptoms. Conclusion: SCD affects over 40% of rural‐dwelling older adults in China who are free of cognitive impairment. Older people with SCD are more likely to develop CIND and AD. Older age, illiteracy, APOE ε4 allele, low social support, and depressive symptoms are associated with accelerated progression from SCD to CIND or AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A heat-integrated distillation column (HIDiC) provides a great opportunity for energy conservation in distillation. The nonlinear wave theory offers an accurate and simplified description of the HIDiC. To utilize the wave model online, an estimator design is necessary since the wave model parameters cannot be measured directly. A method for selecting the location of the stage concentration measurements is proposed here to estimate the wave model parameters online. The first several measurement locations are selected based on a weighted principal component analysis (PCA) method, and the remaining measurements are decided on by a relative distribution index. Separation of a benzene-toluene mixture is used to illustrate the performance of the selection and estimation. The simulation results show that the proposed method has a stronger adaptability than the method based on PCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside Rd ( GS Rd) were evaluated in a rat model of spinal cord injury ( SCI). Rats in SCI groups received a T8 laminectomy and a spinal contusion injury. GS Rd 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg were administered intraperitoneally 1 hr before the surgery and once daily for 14 days. Dexamethasone 1 mg/kg was administered as a positive control. Locomotor function was evaluated using the BBB score system. H&E staining and Nissl staining were performed to observe the histological changes in the spinal cord. The levels of MDA and GSH and the activity of SOD were assessed to reflect the oxidative stress state. The production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-1 was assessed using ELISA kits to examine the inflammatory responses in the spinal cord. TUNEL staining was used to detect the cell apoptosis in the spinal cord. Western blot analysis was used to examine the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins and MAPK proteins. The results demonstrated that GS Rd 25 and 50 mg/kg significantly improved the locomotor function of rats after SCI, reduced tissue injury and increased neuron survival in the spinal cord. Mechanically, GS Rd decreased MDA level, increased GSH level and SOD activity, reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and prevented cell apoptosis. The effects were equivalent to those of dexamethasone. In addition, GS Rd effectively inhibited the activation of MAPK signalling pathway induced by SCI, which might be involved in the protective effects of GS Rd against SCI. In conclusion, GS Rd attenuates SCI-induced secondary injury through reversing the redox-state imbalance, inhibiting the inflammatory response and apoptosis in the spinal cord tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black spot leads to great marigold losses worldwide. The disease is characterized by black spots on leaves and stems in its early stages, and the whole plant has black rot at the advanced stage. In this report, 6 of 217 Alternaria strains isolated from lesions of marigold plants in Beijing were randomly selected. The morphological characteristics and a pathogenic tree based on two protein-coding genes ( gpd and alt a 1) indicated that Alternaria tagetica is the causal agent of marigold black spot in Beijing. All six Alternaria strains could successfully re-infect marigold, but they could not infect carrot or zinnia by either spore spray in a greenhouse or planting experiments in the epidemic area. This is the first report of the A. tagetica pathogen being isolated from marigold in Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]