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Aim: The rise of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in children has become a worldwide challenge, but population-based survey targeted on pre-school children is lacking. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of DM and IFG in pre-school children and their association with obesity and susceptible behaviours.Methods: A population-based survey was conducted and 21,571 Chinese children aged 5-6 years were recruited from 66 kindergartens in Tianjin, China during the year of 2016-2018. Fasting glucose was measured for all participants. Children with fasting glucose over 7.0 mmol/L was defined as DM, and 5.6-6.9 mmol/L was defined as IFG.Results: The prevalence of DM and IFG in the current study among Chinese children aged 5-6 years old was 0.05% and 1.18%, respectively, with significant gender and regional disparities (p < 0.001). The risk of abnormal fasting glucose increased with obesity (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.00-2.06, p < 0.05), especially with moderate/severe obesity (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.10-3.10, p < 0.05). Further analyses found that as compared to children who had at least 2 h/day physical activity, physical activity <1 h/day increased the risk of abnormal fasting glucose independently of BMI z-score (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.10-2.91, p < 0.05).Conclusions: The study was the first population-based large-scale survey of DM and IFG which targeted on pre-school children, and demonstrated that moderate/severe obesity and inadequate physical activity raised the risk of DM and IFG early from pre-school. The findings highlighted the necessity of early detection for abnormal glucose and control of obesity and susceptible behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous analysis showed that passive smoking and overweight were associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a synergistic manner, while GDM increased the risk of macrosomia/large for gestational age (LGA). This study aimed to examine any interactive effects between passive smoking and overweight/obesity on risk of macrosomia/LGA. Methods: From 2010 to 2012, 22,302 pregnant women registered for pregnancy at a primary hospital in Tianjin, China. Data were collected longitudinally; that is, from their first antenatal care visit, at the glucose challenge test (GCT) time (24–28 weeks of gestation) and at delivery. Passive smoking was self-reported. Macrosomia was defined as birth weight ≥4,000 g. Binary logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additive interaction was used to test the synergistic effect. Results: Passive smokers accounted for 57.4% of women (n = 8,230). Using nonpassive smoking and prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) <24.0 kg/m2 as the reference, the adjusted ORs of overweight alone and passive smoking alone for macrosomia were 2.39 (95% CI: 2.11–2.71) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.04–1.32). Copresence of passive smoking and prepregnancy BMI ≥24.0 kg/m2 increased the OR to 2.70 (95% CI: 2.28–3.20), with a significant additive interaction. After further adjustment for GDM or GCT, the OR of copresence of both risk factors was slightly attenuated to 2.52 (2.13–3.00) and 2.51 (2.11–2.98), with significant additive interaction. However, the additive interaction between prepregnancy overweight/obesity and passive smoking for LGA was nonsignificant. Conclusions: Prepregnancy overweight/obesity was associated with an increased risk of macrosomia in Chinese women synergistically with passive smoking during pregnancy, and most of the association was not modified by hyperglycemia during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to develop a machine learning–based prediction model for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in early pregnancy in Chinese women. Materials and methods: We used an established population‐based prospective cohort of 19,331 pregnant women registered as pregnant before the 15th gestational week in Tianjin, China, from October 2010 to August 2012. The dataset was randomly divided into a training set (70%) and a test set (30%). Risk factors collected at registration were examined and used to construct the prediction model in the training dataset. Machine learning, that is, the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) method, was employed to develop the model, while a traditional logistic model was also developed for comparison purposes. In the test dataset, the performance of the developed prediction model was assessed by calibration plots for calibration and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUR) for discrimination. Results: In total, 1484 (7.6%) women developed GDM. Pre‐pregnancy body mass index, maternal age, fasting plasma glucose at registration, and alanine aminotransferase were selected as risk factors. The machine learning XGBoost model‐predicted probability of GDM was similar to the observed probability in the test data set, while the logistic model tended to overestimate the risk at the highest risk level (Hosmer–Lemeshow test p value: 0.243 vs. 0.099). The XGBoost model achieved a higher AUR than the logistic model (0.742 vs. 0.663, p < 0.001). This XGBoost model was deployed through a free, publicly available software interface (https://liuhongwei.shinyapps.io/gdm%5frisk%5fcalculator/). Conclusion: The XGBoost model achieved better performance than the logistic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacterjejuni is an important foodborne pathogen worldwide; however, there is a lack of information on the prevalence and antibiotic-resistant profile of C. jejuni in the People's Republic of China. We determined the prevalence and characteristics of C. jejuni on the retail level in Tianjin, one of the five national central cities in China. A total of 227 samples of chicken wings, legs, and breasts were collected from supermarkets and wet markets; 42 of these samples were confirmed to be positive for Campylobacter contamination. The contamination rates of C. jejuni and other Campylobacter species were 13.7% (31 of 227 samples) and 5.7% (13 of 227 samples), respectively. A group of 31 C. jejuni isolates was subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. All (100%) the selected isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid; 77.4% were resistant to tetracycline, 67.7% to doxycycline, 35.5% to gentamicin, 25.8% to clindamycin and florfenicol, 19.4% to chloramphenicol, and 12.9% to erythromycin and azithromycin. A remarkably high proportion (41.9%) of multidrug-resistant isolates was identified. Multilocus sequence typing was conducted to study the population structure of the C. jejuni strains and their relationship to human isolates. The correlation between antimicrobial resistance traits and certain sequence types (STs) or clonal complexes was determined as well. A great genetic diversity of poultry isolates was identified, with 11 STs belonging to 6 clonal complexes and 11 singleton STs. The novel STs accounted for 40.9% (n = 9) of the 22 STs. ST-21, ST-353, ST-354, ST-443, ST-607, and ST-828 complexes had been previously identified from human isolates. This study revealed an extensive level of antimicrobial resistance and genetic diversity in C. jejuni isolated from chicken products in Tianjin, highlighting the necessity of performing enforced interventions to reduce Campylobacter prevalence in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insufficient information on water conservation dynamics and potential in ecological engineering areas often restrict the selection and implementation of ecological restoration measures in arid and semiarid climates. Based on the regional water balance equation and GIS spatial analysis tools, this article assessed the spatial-temporal changes in water conservation in Xilin Gol League, a representative region of the Beijing–Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project Area. The results indicated that the yearly amount of water conservation in Xilin Gol League reached 1.27 billion cubic meters, and annual precipitation of approximately 6.36 mm was retained per hectare. The water conservation capacity in Xilin Gol League showed a notably increasing tendency during the period of 2000–2015 and increased from west to east. The northeast of East Ujimqin Banner had the highest capacity, contributing 16.19% of the total water conservation amount. Compared to 2000, approximately 65.86% of Xilin Gol League presented water conservation capacity increases in 2015, 15.25% of which were significant. The water conservation in Xilin Gol League correlated with the changes in precipitation, temperature, and vegetation coverage, and unfavorable changes in these factors led to a significant decline in regional water conservation capacity. Therefore, multiple ecological restoration strategies are proposed for the improvement of water conservation capacity in the low-efficiency areas. • Dynamic changes in water conservation in ecological engineering area were quantified. • The water conservation capacity notably increased from west to east during 2000–2015. • The water conserved increased in 66% of the study area and decreased in western area. • Rainfall, temperature, and vegetation determine the changes in water conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are extensively used as flame retardants and plasticizers, but their endocrine disrupting potentials have raised concerns. However, the impacts of OPFR exposures on reproductive and thyroid hormones in females remains unclear. In this study, serum concentrations of OPFRs were investigated, and levels of reproductive and thyroid hormones, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, anti-Müllerian hormone, prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T), and thyroid stimulating hormone, were analyzed in childbearing-age females undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatment from Tianjin, a coastal city in China (n = 319). Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) was the predominant OPFR, with a median concentration of 0.33 ng/mL and a detection frequency of 96.6%. In the whole population, tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) were positively associated with T (p < 0.05), while triethyl phosphate (TEP) was negatively associated with LH (p < 0.05) and LH/FSH (p < 0.01). Particularly, TCIPP was negatively associated with PRL in the younger subgroup (age≤30, p < 0.05). Moreover, TCIPP was negatively associated with diagnostic antral follicle counting (AFC) in the mediation analysis by a dominating direct effect (p < 0.01). In conclusion, serum levels of OPFRs were significantly associated with reproductive and thyroid hormone levels and a risk of decreased ovarian reserve in childbearing-age females, with age and body mass index being significant influencing factors. [Display omitted] • Serum levels of OPEs are reported in Chinese females of childbearing age. • Serum TDCIPP and TCIPP are positively associated with serum T. • Serum TEP is negatively associated with serum LH and LH/FSH. • Serum TCIPP is negatively associated with serum antral follicle counting. • Age and BMI influence the associations between serum OPEs and reproductive hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic growth (EG) and energy consumption (EC) are interacting processes critical to regional sustainability. The evolution mechanism and the nexus between them in the development process of Jing-Jin-Ji Region, which is one of the most important agglomerations in China, remain unrevealed systematically. First, the trends in decoupling state between EG and EC during 2001–2016 are checked with the Impact-Gross domestic product-Technology (IGT) model. Then, EG and EC are defined as two sub-systems to form a whole system, with EG as the fast variable and EC as the slow one. The evolutional interactions among the two subsystems and the whole system are elaborated through the Haken model based on the synergetic theory. By identifying changes in the decoupling index (D r) and the control variables (a, b, λ 1 and λ 2) simulated by the Haken model, it can be demonstrated that the development of Beijing reached a relatively good state, with synergetic coordination of EG and EC. The effect of EG on EC and EC on EG reversed in Tianjin (from positive to negative) and Hebei (from negative to positive), respectively. EC kept prompting EG in Tianjin and EG kept inhibiting EC in Hebei. Both regions have not achieved a complete synergy of EG and EC, calling for further ameliorations in economic development and energy consumption patterns in a transitional period. This study is a first attempt to apply Haken model in the field of energy and economy from the perspective of synergetics. The exploration of the evolutional nexus between EG and EC in the Jing-Jin-Ji Region is expected to provide important references for policy formulation both locally and for other regions. • Decoupling state between energy and economy is examined by IGT model. • Haken model is used to analyze the evolutional nexus between energy and economy. • Beijing has achieved synergetic coordination of economic growth and energy consumption. • Tianjin and Hebei haven't reached complete synergy needing ameliorations in subsystems. • It's a first attempt to study the evolution of energy and economy from view of synergetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pregnancy overweight was associated with a 2.3-fold risk of macrosomia and large-for-gestational age (LGA) infants. • Gestational diabetes (GDM) and prepregnancy overweight had a synergistic effect on the risk of macrosomia and LGA. • Our findings highlight the importance to maintain normal body weight before pregnancy for perinatal health. Obesity increases risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and GDM increases risk of macrosomia but their inter-relations for increased risk of macrosomia remain uncertain. We aimed to examine associations between prepregnancy overweight and macrosomia, and synergistic effects between prepregnancy overweight and GDM on macrosomia. From 2010 to 2012, 19,622 women in urban Tianjin, China, underwent a 50-g 1-h glucose challenge test (GCT) at 24–28 gestational weeks and followed by a 75-g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) if the GCT value was ≥ 7.8 mmol/L. GDM was defined according to International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group's criteria. Overweight was defined as body mass index ≥ 24.0 kg/m2. Logistic regression was performed to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additive interaction between prepregnancy overweight and GDM was used to test synergistic effects. In the cohort, 1791 (9.1%) and 1726 (8.8%) of the women delivered a macrosomic infant or a large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infant, respectively. Prepregnancy overweight was associated with increased risk of macrosomia and LGA with adjusted ORs being 2.29 (95%CI: 2.07–2.54) and 2.27 (2.05–2.52), respectively. Copresence of prepregnancy overweight and GDM greatly enhanced the adjusted ORs of overweight alone (ORs for macrosomia and LGA: 2.17, 1.94–2.42 & 2.21,1.98–2.47) and GDM alone (ORs for macrosomia and LGA: 2.01,1.48–2.72 & 2.14, 1.60–2.87) for macrosomia and LGA to 5.29 (4.07–6.87) for macrosomia and 4.72 (3.66–6.10) for LGA, with significant additive interactions. Prepregnancy overweight increased the risks of macrosomia and LGA independently and synergistically with GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hybrid graph neural network can realize 72 h real-time reliable prediction. • AOD data can provide extra constraint information for the prediction model. • Quantifying domain spatial information can reduce redundant information. • Expanding the modeling area in different directions is necessary for 72 h prediction. • The GNN_LSTM model can dynamic forecast the "source"-receptor relationship. The observation-based air pollution forecasting method has high computational efficiency over traditional numerical models, but a poor ability in long-term (after 6 h) forecasting due to a lack of detailed representation of atmospheric processes associated with the pollution transport. To address such limitation, here we propose a novel real-time air pollution forecasting model that applies a hybrid graph deep neural network (GNN_LSTM) to dynamically capture the spatiotemporal correlations among neighborhood monitoring sites to better represent the physical mechanism of pollutant transport across the space with the graph structure which is established with features (angle, wind speed, and wind direction) of neighborhood sites to quantify their interactions. Such design substantially improves the model performance in 72-hour PM 2.5 forecasting over the whole Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region (overall R2 increases from 0.6 to 0.79), particularly for polluted episodes (PM 2.5 concentration > 55 µg/m3) with pronounced regional transport to be captured by GNN_LSTM model. The inclusion of the AOD feature further enhances the model performance in predicting PM 2.5 over the sites where the AOD can inform additional aloft PM 2.5 pollution features related to regional transport. The importance of neighborhood site (particularly for those in the upwind flow pathway of the target area) features for long-term PM 2.5 forecast is demonstrated by the increased performance in predicting PM 2.5 in the target city (Beijing) with the inclusion of additional 128 neighborhood sites. Moreover, the newly developed GNN_LSTM model also implies the "source"-receptor relationship, as impacts from distanced sites associated with regional transport grow along with the forecasting time (from 0% to 38% in 72 h) following the wind flow. Such results suggest the great potential of GNN_LSTM in long-term air quality forecasting and air pollution prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]