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Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of injectable cemented hollow pedicle screw (CICPS) in the treatment of osteoporotic lumbar degenerative diseases through a large sample long-term follow-up study. Additionally, we aim to explore the risk factors affecting interbody fusion. Methods: A total of 98 patients who underwent CICPS for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for osteoporotic lumbar degenerative disease from March 2011 to September 2017 were analyzed. X-ray and electronic computed tomography (CT) imaging data were collected during preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up periods. The data included changes in intervertebral space height (ΔH), screw failure, cement leakage (CL), and intervertebral fusion. The patients were divided into two groups based on their fusion status one year after surgery: satisfied group A and dissatisfied group B. Surgical data such as operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume and surgical complications were recorded, and visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate the improvement of lumbar and leg pain. Results: The mean follow-up time was 101.29 months (ranging from 70 to 128 months). A total of 320 CICPS were used, with 26 screws (8.13%) leaking, 3 screws (0.94%) experiencing cement augmentation failure, and 1 screw (0.31%) becoming loose and breaking. The remaining screws were not loose or pulled out. Female gender, decreased bone density, and CL were identified as risk factors affecting interbody fusion (P < 0.05). Early realization of interbody fusion can effectively prevent the loss of intervertebral space height (P < 0.05) and maintain the surgical treatment effect. Both VAS and ODI scores showed significant improvement during the follow-up period (P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that decreased bone density and cement leakage were risk factors for prolonged interbody fusion. Conclusions: The results of long-term follow-up indicate that PMMA enhanced CICPS has unique advantages in achieving good clinical efficacy in the treatment of osteoporosis lumbar degenerative diseases. Attention should be paid to identify female gender, severe osteoporosis, and CL as risk factors affecting interbody fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To Chinesize the Nursing Home Care-related Quality of Life Scale (NHC-QoL) and to test its reliability and validity. Methods According to the Brislin model, the NHC-QoL scale was translated into Chinese and cross-cultural debugging was carried out. Using convenience sampling method, 198 elderly people from 4 nursing institutions in Shiyan city were investigated by questionnaire from March to July 2023 to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale. Results There were 14 items in the Chinese version of NHC-QoL. The content validity index of each item was 0.7-1.0, and the content validity index of the scale was 0.929. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 5 common factors, which could explain 67.914% of the total variation. After discussion within the research group, the common factors were reduced to 2 common factors namely environment and service (11 items) and social interaction (3 items). The total Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.758 and the test-retest reliability was 0.783. Conclusion The Chinese version of NHC-QoL scale has good reliability and validity and can be used to evaluate the quality of life of the elderly in nursing institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core–shell structured SiO2@C nanospheres with different sizes were fabricated using a method of "template synthesis – organic coating – carbonizing". After etching away the SiO2 cores, hollow carbon (void@C) nanospheres were obtained. The microwave absorption properties of the different structured nanospheres were compared, and the size effect of the nanospheres was further discussed. The SiO2@C/paraffin composites with a filling ratio of 30 wt% achieved a broad effective absorption (reflection loss ≤−10 dB) of 7.4 GHz at a thickness of 3.2 mm, covering the whole X and Ku bands, and the minimum reflection loss reaches −41.7 dB at 17.6 GHz at a thickness of 2.6 mm. The void@C/paraffin composites achieved an effective absorption broadband of 7.1 GHz and a minimum reflection loss of −21.9 dB at a thickness of 2.2 mm and a low filling ratio of 2 wt%, meeting the requirements for industrial lighting applications. Moreover, for both structures, the nanospheres with larger diameters exhibited stronger absorption performance. The excellent EMW absorption performances of the core–shell SiO2@C/paraffin and void@C/paraffin composites are mainly due to polarization loss and electrical conductivity loss, respectively, depending on the mobility of the electrons in the materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Three new POM-based coordination polymers, [Cu(timb)2(W6O19)]n (1), {[Zn3(Htimb)2(H2timb)2(H2O)2(ZnW12O40)2]·2H2O}n (2), and {[Ni(Htimb)(H2O)3(H2W12O40)0.5]·3H2O}n (3) (timb = 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene), have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions. Compound 1 contains one 3D framework constructed by CuII atoms and timb ligands with a rare 3,6-connected pyr topology, while the polyoxoanions are situated in the cavities. For compound 2, the 3D framework is composed of a 2,4-connected network (A) and hcb network (B) in the BBABB mode. The 1D chains of compound 3 are arranged into a 3D framework by a variety of hydrogen bonding interactions between the [H2W12O40]6− polyoxoanions, coordinated water molecules and free water molecules. Magnetic data of compounds 1 and 3 show the presence of antiferromagnetic behavior. In addition, the highest proton conductivities of compounds 2 and 3 reach 2.32 × 10−5 S cm−1 and 3.38 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 358 K and 98% RH, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reducing asthma exacerbations is a major target of current clinical guidelines, but identifying features of exacerbation-prone asthma (EPA) using multidimensional assessment (MDA) is lacking. Objective: To systemically explore the clinical and inflammatory features of adults with EPA in a Chinese population. Methods: We designed a cross-sectional study using the Severe Asthma Web-based Database from the Australasian Severe Asthma Network (ASAN). Eligible Chinese adults with asthma (n = 546) were assessed using MDA. We stratified patients based on exacerbation frequency: none, few (1 or 2), and exacerbation prone (≥3). Univariate and multivariable negative binomial regression analyses were performed to investigate features associated with the frequency of exacerbations. Results: Of 546 participants, 61.9% had no exacerbations (n = 338), 29.6% had few exacerbations (n = 162), and 8.4% were exacerbation prone (n = 46) within the preceding year. EPA patients were characterized by elevated blood and sputum eosinophils but less atopy, with more controller therapies but worse asthma control and quality of life (all p < 0.05). In multivariable models, blood and sputum eosinophils (adjusted rate ratio = 2.23, 95% confidence interval = [1.26, 3.84] and 1.67 [1.27, 2.21], respectively), FEV1 (0.90 [0.84, 0.96]), bronchodilator responsiveness (1.16 [1.05, 1.27]), COPD (2.22 [1.41, 3.51]), bronchiectasis (2.87 [1.69, 4.89]), anxiety (2.56 [1.10, 5.95]), and depression (1.94 [1.20, 3.13]) were found. Further, upper respiratory tract infection (1.83 [1.32, 2.54]) and food allergy (1.67 [1.23, 2.25]) were at high risk of asthma symptom triggers. Conclusion: EPA is a clinically recognizable phenotype associated with several recognizable traits that could be addressed by targeted treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1- x wt)Bi 0.0025 Nb 0.0025 Ti 0.995 O 2 - x wt Bi 2 Ti 4 O 11 composite ceramics with high permittivity were fabricated by a conventional sintering method. The sintering temperature was decreased from 1300 °C to 1130 °C, and the grain size was reduced from ~2.6 μm to ~1.5 μm by the addition of Bi 2 Ti 4 O 11 phase. When x wt = 0.2, the breakdown strength was increased from 1 kV/cm to 13 kV/cm while preserving high permittivity (ϵ' ~ 1100). Microstructure, I–V behavior, and Impedance spectroscopy studies demonstrated that the enhanced breakdown strength and excellent dielectric properties were attributed to the small grain size and the highly resistant grain boundaries. These advantages, together with its excellent DC bias stability of dielectric constant (0–1050 V/cm), give the composites a great potential in rutile TiO 2 -based high voltage MLCC applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel FeB/B 4 C nanowire composite was synthesized by a catalyst-assisted process. The results showed that the composite contains mainly B 4 C nanowires with diameters under 100 nm and FeB nanoparticles with a size of ~50 nm. Reflection loss value of the FeB/B 4 C nanowire-paraffin composite reaches −13.6 dB at 8.2 GHz when the thickness is 3.5 mm, and absorption bandwidth with RL below −10 dB reaches 1.6 GHz (7.5–9.1 GHz). The minimum RL value reaches −50.8 dB at 17.4 GHz when the thickness is 4.8 mm, with the absorption bandwidth increased to 2.4 GHz (15.6–18.0 GHz). Electromagnetic parameters of the composite were studied to understand its excellent microwave absorbing properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the mechanisms of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA)‐improved plant salt tolerance, strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv. 'Benihoppe') were treated with 10 mg l−1 ALA under 100 mmol l−1 NaCl stress. We found that the amount of Na+ increased in the roots but decreased in the leaves. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) observations showed that ALA‐induced roots had more Na+ accumulation than NaCl alone. Measurement of the xylem sap revealed that ALA repressed Na+ concentrations to a large extent. The electron microprobe X‐ray assay also confirmed ALA‐induced Na+ retention in roots. qRT‐PCR showed that ALA upregulated the gene expressions of SOS1 (encoding a plasma membrane Na+/H+ antiporter), NHX1 (encoding a vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter) and HKT1 (encoding a protein of high‐affinity K+ uptake), which are associated with Na+ exclusion in the roots, Na+ sequestration in vacuoles and Na+ unloading from the xylem vessels to the parenchyma cells, respectively. Furthermore, we found that ALA treatment reduced the H2O2 content in the leaves but increased it in the roots. The exogenous H2O2 promoted plant growth, increased root Na+ retention and stimulated the gene expressions of NHX1, SOS1 and HKT1. Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of H2O2 generation, suppressed the effects of ALA or H2O2 on Na+ retention, gene expressions and salt tolerance. Therefore, we propose that ALA induces H2O2 accumulation in roots, which mediates Na+ transporter gene expression and more Na+ retention in roots, thereby improving plant salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]