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Fast food restaurants are important for both residents and tourists in Macau because they serve as a common cultural and organizational entity. The objective of this study is to identify the attributes, consequences, and value of fast food consumption among tourists and residents in Macau and to compare hierarchical value maps between the two different groups. Data were collected in fast food restaurants in Macau. A hard laddering method was utilized based on Means-end chain theory, in order to identify how attributes of fast food are connected to consumers' final values. The findings indicate that good taste, brand reputation, and restaurant ambience are important attributes shared among tourists and residents. While brand familiarity and the lack of a language barrier were more important attributes to tourists, reasonable prices were the most important attribute that residents appreciated. This study provides useful insights that will enable fast food operators to develop and efficiently communicate their value propositions to their target customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of activating blood and resolving stasis in patients with IgA nephropathy. Methods: From inception to May 2022, databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, WanFang database, Chinese Biomedical Database, VIP, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for randomized controlled trials about enhancing blood circulation and removing stasis for IgA nephropathy. For the articles that satisfied the requirements, quality assessment and meta-analysis were done. Results: Seventeen randomized controlled trials with a total of 1653 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that activating blood and resolving stasis could increase therapeutic effectiveness (risk ratio (RR) = -0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-0.37, -0.2), P = 0.0006) and decrease levels of serum creatinine (RR = -0.47, 95% CI (-0.37, -0.2), P = 0.0006), urea nitrogen (RR = 0.85, 95% CI (1.44, 0.26), P = 0.005), 24-hour urinary protein quantification (RR = 1.6, 95% CI (2.44, 0.95). P = 0.00001), and urine red blood cell count (RR = 1.7, 95% CI (2.57, 0.82), P = 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of security (RR = 0.6, 95% CI (0.36, 1.01), P = 0.05). Conclusion: Western medicine combined activating blood and resolving stasis is more efficient than Western medicine therapy alone in treating IgA nephropathy, but it still needs to be supported by additional large-scale, multi-center randomized controlled clinical trials due to the poor quality of the included trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tissue homeostasis, intestinal stem cells (ISCs) undergo continuous self-renewal to sustain rapid cellular turnover. In this issue of Cell , Capdevila et al. 1 and Malagola, Vasciaveo, et al. 2 identify a new ISC population in the upper crypt that can generate Lgr5+ stem cells during homeostasis. In tissue homeostasis, intestinal stem cells (ISCs) undergo continuous self-renewal to sustain rapid cellular turnover. In this issue of Cell , Capdevila et al. and Malagola, Vasciaveo, et al. identify a new ISC population in the upper crypt that can generate Lgr5+ stem cells during homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on challenging the traditional interpretation of Shakespeare's use of the term "Cathayan" in "Twelfth Night" arguing that editorial glosses have incorrectly attributed a moralizing valence to the term. Topics include the historical context of Ming China's policies on international maritime exchange, the influence of eighteenth-century editors in shaping racialized interpretations, and a proposal that Shakespeare's reference to Cathay in the play.

To explore the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) on patients suffering from dry eye disease (DED), a complex inflammatory condition, we reviewed data from PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL in the past 10 years (2013 to 2023). These sources provided randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that examined the efficacy of omega-3 FAs on DED patients with accessible pre- and post-intervention data, excluding trials with overlapping participants, without omega-3 supplementation, or those lacking placebo control or quantitative assessments. Two independent reviewers extracted data related to dry eye symptom scores, tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer's tests, osmolarity, and corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), and the results were analyzed by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 4. We incorporated 19 related RCTs assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, encompassing 4246 DED patients with various etiologies. Patients given omega-3 treatment demonstrated more significant improvements in dry eye symptoms (Hedges' g = −1.047; p < 0.001), TBUT [standardized mean difference (SMD) = −0.939; p < 0.001], scores from the Schirmer test (SMD = −0.372; p < 0.001), CFS (SMD = −0.299; p = 0.037), and osmolarity (SMD = −0.721; p < 0.001) compared to those on a placebo regimen. In the meta-regression analysis of DED symptoms, the daily dose of omega-3 (coefficient = −0.0005, p = 0.002), duration of omega-3 intake (coefficient = −0.1399, p = 0.021), and percentage of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (coefficient = −0.0154, p < 0.001) exhibited a significant positive correlation with a reduction in dry eye symptom scores. Apart from CFS, similar trends were noted in TBUT, Schirmer tests, and osmolarity scores. Based on the evidence, omega-3 FAs effectively reduce DED symptoms, especially in high doses, for a long duration, and with increased EPA levels. However, given the heterogeneity in study results and diverse patient characteristics, caution is needed in generalizing these findings. In conclusion, omega-3 FA supplementation is still recommended for DED management in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinyl sulfones are important structural motifs with a wide range of applications in the biomedical field. Although the hydrosulfonylations of alkynes have provided straightforward strategies for the synthesis of vinyl sulfones, these methods still exhibit several drawbacks, such as the use of large amounts of transition metal catalysts or/and additional additives. Herein, we report an efficient and mild multicomponent reaction (MCR) for the preparation of vinyl sulfones achieved by carrying out hydrosulfonylation of alkynes with the corresponding aryl diazonium salts, K2S2O5 and thiophenols at room temperature without any metal catalysts or additives. This transformation was the first example of a thiophenol as a hydrogen source reacting with vinyl radical with the advantages of high chemoselectivity and step-economy. Notably, the method was found to also be applicable to aliphatic alkynes, circumventing the limitations of existing methods, and a gram-scale experiment proceeded smoothly, proving the practicality of the methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus species are prone to suffer from copper (Cu) toxicity because of improper application of Cu-based agrochemicals. Copper immobilization mediated by pectin methylesterase (PME) in the root cell wall (CW) is effective for Cu detoxification. However, the underlying mechanisms of the structural modification and stress responses of citrus root CW pectin to Cu toxicity have been less discussed. In the present study, seedlings of 'Shatian pummelo' (Citrus grandis L. Osbeck) and 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck), which differ in Cu tolerance, were irrigated with nutrient solution containing 0.5 (as control), 100, 300 or 500 μM Cu for 18 weeks in sandy culture or 24 h in hydroponics. At the end of treatments in the 18-week sandy culture, Cu toxicity on CW pectin content, Cu distribution, degree of pectin methylesterification (DPM) and the PME enzyme activity were discussed. At the genome-wide level, PME gene family was identified from the two citrus species, and qRT-PCR array of citrus PMEs under control and 300 μM Cu stress for 18 weeks were performed to screen the Cu-responsive PME genes. Moreover, the candidate genes that responded to Cu toxicity were further examined within 24 h. The results showed that Cu toxicity increased the root CW pectin content. The root CW pectin under Cu toxicity was remodeled by upregulation of the expression of the Cu-responsive PME genes followed by increasing PME activity, which mainly promoted low methylesterased pectin level and the Cu content on root CW pectin. Compared with C. sinensis , C. grandis root CW had a lower DPM and higher Cu content on the Cu-stressed root CW pectin, contributing to its higher Cu tolerance. Our present study provided theoretical evidence for root CW pectin remodeling in response to Cu toxicity of citrus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital pathology workflows in toxicologic pathology rely on whole slide images (WSIs) from histopathology slides. Inconsistent color reproduction by WSI scanners of different models and from different manufacturers can result in different color representations and inter-scanner color variation in the WSIs. Although pathologists can accommodate a range of color variation during their evaluation of WSIs, color variability can degrade the performance of computational applications in digital pathology. In particular, color variability can compromise the generalization of artificial intelligence applications to large volumes of data from diverse sources. To address these challenges, we developed a process that includes two modules: (1) assessing the color reproducibility of our scanners and the color variation among them and (2) applying color correction to WSIs to minimize the color deviation and variation. Our process ensures consistent color reproduction across WSI scanners and enhances color homogeneity in WSIs, and its flexibility enables easy integration as a post-processing step following scanning by WSI scanners of different models and from different manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) is widely use worldwide despite its addictive potential. Although psychostimulant use has been linked to occurrence of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, data is lacking on how regular kratom use affects ER stress. This case-control study first determined differences in ER stress sensor protein expression (BiP, sXBP1, ATF4, CHOP, JNK, and p-JNK) between regular kratom users and healthy controls. Second, it evaluated the association between kratom use characteristics, targeted ER stress sensor protein expression, and "kratom use disorder" diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders 5th Edition (DSM-5) among regular kratom users. Methods: In total, 60 regular kratom users and 50 healthy control-group participants were recruited and administered a sociodemographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire. While participants who used kratom were also administered a kratom use characteristics questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from all participants, and targeted ER stress sensor protein expression was determined via Western blot analysis. Results: The study's findings revealed first that kratom users registered significantly higher protein expression in all targeted ER stress sensors compared to the control group. Second, higher protein expression of CHOP (B = 5.061, standard error [SE] = 2.547, Wald = 3.948, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.382, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.071 to 9.656, p = 0.047) and p-JNK (B = 5.795, SE = 2.635, Wald = 4.544, AOR = 17.025, 95% CI = 1.395 to 24.123, p = 0.017) increased the odds of kratom use disorder occurrence. Kratom use characteristics and other ER stress sensor protein expression were not associated with kratom use disorder. Conclusion: Regular kratom use may induce protracted ER stress, leading to the decompensation of the unfolded protein response to maintain ER homeostasis. This effect may be linked to kratom use disorder occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To sufficiently house and support persons experiencing homelessness (PEH), deeper understandings of the cultural appropriateness and responsiveness of community resources and the service delivery system is essential. In the case of Metro Vancouver, Canada, the cultural appropriateness and responsiveness of Housing First as a service model for supporting PEH was explored. Methods: Local service providers and stakeholders (n = 52) participated in three full day service-mapping workshops to identify Housing First supports for older adults, youth, and women experiencing homelessness, as part of a municipal-wide participatory and action-oriented study. Data were analyzed using a structured framework thematic analysis approach and cultural safety and humility lenses. Results: We generated three key themes: (i) insufficient built environments create challenges across gender and age, (ii) cultural safety and humility concerns at the intersection of gender and age, and (iii) implications for a culturally-responsive Housing First implementation. Conclusions: Findings informed the development of a Culturally-Responsive Planning resource to support housing, health, and social service providers who are implementing Housing First initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 5-exo-dig/6-endo-trig bicyclization of 1,6-enynes with sulfonyl hydrazides in the aqueous phase using the cheap and available tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI)–tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) combined system is reported. The resulting reaction of diverse nitrogen- and oxygen-polyheterocycles displays high chemical selectivity, high step-economy, and a moderate substrate scope. Moreover, iodosulfonylation can be realized by modulating the structure of the 1,6-enynes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous literature has suggested physical exercise may improve cognitive impairments and mitigate depressive symptoms. However, few studies examined the impact of resistance exercise intervention on cognition and depression in older Chinese Americans. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the effects of resistance exercise training on cognitive performance and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older Chinese Americans. The study was a two-arm randomized controlled trial with pre-test/post-test design. Thirty older adults were randomly assigned into the resistance exercise intervention group or the wait-list control group. Participants' cognitive performance and depressive symptoms were evaluated at baseline (pre-test) and at 12 weeks (post-test). The results showed that there were significant differences between the intervention and control groups on changes in symptoms of depression, global cognitive function, visuospatial/executive functions, attention, language, and orientation. However, there were no significant differences between both groups on changes in naming, abstraction, and delayed recall domains. The findings of this study suggest that resistance exercise training has a positive impact on improving cognitive performance and depressive symptoms in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epithelium-derived cytokines interleukin (IL)-25, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) are important mediators that initiate innate type 2 immune responses in asthma. Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are commonly used to prevent asthma exacerbations. However, the effects of LTRAs on epithelium-derived cytokines expression in airway epithelial cells are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of LTRAs on the expression of epithelium-derived cytokines in human airway epithelial cells and to explore possible underlying intracellular processes, including epigenetic regulation. A549 or HBE cells in air-liquid interface conditions were pretreated with different concentrations of LTRAs. The expression of epithelium-derived cytokines and intracellular signaling were investigated by real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot. In addition, epigenetic regulation was investigated using chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis. The expression of IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP was increased under LTRAs treatment and suppressed by inhaled corticosteroid cotreatment. Montelukast-induced IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP expression were mediated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways and regulated by histone H3 acetylation and H3K36 and H3K79 trimethylation. LTRAs alone might increase inflammation and exacerbate asthma by inducing the production of IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP; therefore, LTRA monotherapy may not be an appropriate therapeutic option for asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–ligand cooperation (MLC) catalysis is one of the most important concepts in the field of organometallic catalysis. However, diverse functional ligands result in ambiguous mechanisms and constrain the understanding of MLC catalysis. Herein, a theoretical study based on DFT calculations is performed to shed light on the mechanistic preference of borrowing-hydrogen N-alkylation catalysed by a ruthenium complex with dual proton-responsive sites. The results suggest that the reaction pathway mediated by the α-NH site requires overcoming a higher activation energy barrier (31.4 kcal mol−1) compared with the γ-NH site due to the ligand distortion after protonation. Nevertheless, the instability caused by the ligand distortion does not transform into catalytic activity for the subsequent hydrogenation reaction. In contrast, the γ-NH site facilitates the rate-determining hydride transfer step (21.1 kcal mol−1) via non-covalent interaction instead of participating in the bond formation and breaking process, which is found to be a more plausible mechanism. These findings demonstrate the versatile role of ligand N–H functionality, which may provide useful guidance for the design of new MLC catalysts in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by variable airflow obstruction, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and airway inflammation. The chronic inflammation of the airway is mediated by many cell types, cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory mediators. Research suggests that exposure to air pollution has a negative impact on asthma outcomes in adult and pediatric populations. Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health, and it impacts the lungs' innate and adaptive defense systems. A major pollutant in the air is particulate matter (PM), a complex component composed of elemental carbon and heavy metals. According to the WHO, 99% of people live in air pollution where air quality levels are lower than the WHO air quality guidelines. This suggests that the effect of air pollution exposure on asthma is a crucial health issue worldwide. Macrophages are essential in recognizing and processing any inhaled foreign material, such as PM. Alveolar macrophages are one of the predominant cell types that process and remove inhaled PM by secreting proinflammatory mediators from the lung. This review focuses on macrophages and their role in orchestrating the inflammatory responses induced by exposure to air pollutants in asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we present a transition‐metal‐free radical cyclization of 2‐arylbenzoimidazoles with unactivated alkanes. By using di‐tert‐butyl peroxide (DTBP) to promote the C(sp3)−H bond functionalization, this approach enables assembly of various benzimidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinolin‐6(5H)‐ones in aqueous media. This strategy can not only well tolerate a wide range of cyclic alkanes, straight‐chain alkanes, toluene derivatives, as well as pharmaceutical molecule eudesmol, but also provides an approach for the functionalization of unactivated C(sp3)−H bonds in aqueous media under transition‐metal‐free systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing oligo DNAs into assemblies dramatically changes the nature of those biomacromolecules. DNA crossover is one of the classic oligo‐based nanostructures in which two or more DNA double helixes connect to each other by crossover points showing the potential to be used as structural units to develop multifunctional systems. However, research about this motif is scarce, especially in the field of biomedicine. In this study, DNase‐resistant and tumor‐distinguishing DNA nano‐assemblies based on the crossover motifs called double crossover motif (DX) and three‐helix bundle motif (3HB) are constructed. Owning to the peculiarity of secondary structure, the crossover motif shows great resistance to DNases. Such resistance is closely relevant to the 3D structure, which is confirmed by circular dichroism spectra (CD) and kinetic studies. The aptamer, AS1411, is conjugated to DNA motifs on the predetermined sites with the specific number. Depending on computer‐aided design, up to two AS1411 are conjugated to DX (DX‐x), and up to three are conjugated to 3HB (3HB‐x). Surprisingly, 3HB equipped with 3 aptamers show the best tumor discriminating ability. Confirmed by super‐resolution microscopy and live cell imaging, the manipulatable tumor specificity renders the DNA motif a potential agent for biomedical applications, including in vivo application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperglycemia, which can lead to apoptosis, hypertrophy, fibrosis, and induces hyperinflammation in diabetic vascular complications due to oxidative stress. In order to elucidate the potential dual roles and regulatory signal transduction of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 in human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMCs), we established an oxidative cell model in HTMCs using 5.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM d -glucose-supplemented media and characterized the TGF-β-related oxidative stress pathway. Further analysis was conducted to investigate oxidative damage and protein alterations in the HTMC caused by the signal transduction. This was done through a series of qualitative cell function studies, such as cell viability/apoptosis analysis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, analysis of calcium release concentration, immunoblot analysis to detect the related protein expression alteration, and analysis of cell fibrosis to study the effect of different severities of hyperglycemia. Also, we illustrated the role of TGF-β1/2 in oxidative stress-induced injury by shRNA-mediated knockdown or stimulation with recombinant human TGF-β1 protein (rhTGF-β1). Results from the protein expression analysis showed that p-JNK, p-p38, p-AKT, and related SMAD family members were upregulated in HTMCs under hyperglycemia. In the cell functional assays, HTMCs treated with rhTGFβ-1 (1 ng/mL) under hyperglycemic conditions showed higher proliferation rates and lower ROS and calcium levels. To summarize, mechanistic analyses in HTMCs showed that hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress activated TGF-β1 along with its associated pathway. General Significance: While at low concentrations, TGF-β1 protects cells from antioxidation, whereas at high concentrations, it accumulates in the extracellular matrix, causing further HTMC dysfunction. • Accumulation of iROS can lead to fibrosis in HTMCs under high glucose treatment. • Excessive TGF-β can trigger severe oxidative damage. • Low levels of TGF-β1 protected HTMCs against oxidative damage. • TGF-β1 knockdown aggravates oxidative damage caused by hyperglycemia in HTMCs. • ROS caused by hyperglycemia combined with H 2 O 2 lead to more HTMC dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Improving augmentative biological control relies on the development of a cost-effective and readily available diet for rearing natural enemy insects. This study highlights the effectiveness of Ephestia kuehniella eggs in promoting the development of the predatory ladybird beetle Propylea japonica. It represents the first study in assessing the advantages of E. kuehniella eggs as dietary sources for ladybirds by examining transcriptional regulation. The eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella, are frequently utilized as alternative diets and have demonstrated promising outcomes when consumed by various insects. Nonetheless, the specific reasons for their effectiveness remain unclear. In our study, we assessed the developmental performance of the ladybird Propylea japonica when fed E. kuehniella eggs, alongside 12 factitious prey or artificial diets. Our findings revealed that ladybirds fed E. kuehniella eggs displayed a performance comparable to those fed the natural prey Megoura crassicauda. Transcriptome profiling of larvae raised on E. kuehniella eggs and M. crassicauda revealed that genes upregulated in the former group were enriched in metabolic pathways associated with carbohydrates, lipids, and other essential nutrients. This suggests that E. kuehniella eggs may have a higher nutrient content compared to natural prey. Furthermore, a notable downregulation in the expression of immune effector genes, such as Attacin and Coleoptericin, was observed, which might be attributed to the lower microbial content in E. kuehniella eggs compared to M. crassicauda. We suggest that the difference between E. kuehniella eggs and M. crassicauda as food sources for P. japonica lies in their nutrient and microbial contents. These findings provide valuable insights for the advancement of innovative artificial breeding systems for natural enemies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when an individual experiences a traumatic event that exceeds the limits of psychological endurance. Many veterans experience PTSD. PTSD can negatively impact veterans' quality of life, functioning, life satisfaction, and overall well-being. It is important to analyze the concept of PTSD in the veteran population. This concept analysis aimed to investigate the defining attributes, a model case, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents related to the concept of PTSD among veterans. Walker and Avant's method was used to guide this concept analysis of PTSD. The results showed that three attributes were determined from the analysis: intrusive memories of traumatic events, feelings of isolation and estrangement, and negative cognitions. PTSD is conceptualized as a collection of symptoms that arise from highly traumatic experiences. The military environment predisposes veterans to traumatic events that should be identified or acknowledged. A better understanding of the concept of PTSD can facilitate the development of effective interventions for the veteran population and enhance their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • DNA strands could be self-assembled into well-defined 2D or 3D nanostructures. • DNA nanomachines could be designed as drug carriers for targeted cancer therapy. • DNA nanomachine shows great potential in PD-1 mediated immunotherapy and the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 systems. • Intelligent DNA nanomachines can respond to the changes in the external environment. As an emerging field, DNA nanotechnology has been applied to the fabrication of drug delivery systems. Unprecedented spatial addressability and intrinsic sequence encoding enable DNA strands to self-assemble into well-defined 2D and 3D DNA nanostructures with specifically controlled sizes, shapes and surface charges. Multifunctional DNA nanostructures have been created and applied as promising platforms for drug delivery, imaging, and theranostics. Advantages of chemotherapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy, among others, have been integrated into such functional nanodevices, showing potential in tumor-targeted therapy and diagnosis. In this review, we summarize general methods for the construction of DNA nanodevices and focus on targeting strategies favored by the compatibility of DNA nanotechnology. Additionally, we highlight the outlook and challenges facing the use of DNA nanotechnology in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose During the survival period of breast cancer patients, an understanding of and ability to implement health knowledge may be important for survivors' physical and mental quality of life (QOL). This study aims to investigate the health literacy and predictors of QOL for survivors of breast cancer. Method: A cross‐sectional design was used, and convenience sampling was performed. Eighty‐six survivors with breast cancer were recruited from a general hospital in northern Taiwan from February to August 2017. Taiwan's health literacy scale and SF‐12 questionnaire were used for data collection. Results: The average health literacy score was 3.28. Education level and breast cancer stage were significant factors for the health literacy of survivors with breast cancer. Age, body mass index and health literacy were predictors of physical health‐related QOL. Health literacy also was a predictor of mental health‐related QOL. Conclusion: The results provide the factors associated health literacy as well as health‐related QOL. Nurses should understand the health literacy among survivors with breast cancer and improve health literacy to optimize their quality of life. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Individuals with lower health literacy generally had fewer communications with medical personnel regarding their own risk of disease.Individuals with higher health literacy tend to have better social‐related QOL. What this paper adds? Survivors with early‐stage breast cancer tended to be younger (aged 60 years or less) had normal body mass index, continued working, had no other illnesses and better physical health.Survivors with normal body mass index who had not received chemotherapy had better mental health.Health literacy was the main predictor and accounted for 20% of the variance in physical health and for 18.8% of the variance in mental health. Implications of this paper: Nurses should understand the importance of health literacy, which is a key factor to improve QOL for survivors with breast cancer.Nurses should develop individualized care plans for survivors based on different levels of health literacy to improve the efficiency of the nurse–patient dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We also reviewed the published literatures and summarized the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, treatment strategies and patient prognosis of multiple myeloma with involvement of the pancreas. A plain abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed dilatation of the upper segment of the common bile duct (CBD) and the intrahepatic bile duct. Surgical procedures other than distal pancreatectomy for isolated pancreatic tail involvement are not commonly performed due to the common systemic nature of the disease.5 ERCP can be used to treat obstructive jaundice via a biliary stent placement and has been increasingly used in patients with secondary pancreatic plasmacytoma in recent years. [Extracted from the article]

The production of high safety automotive structural parts with cast aluminum alloy still faces significant challenges, particularly in terms of comprehensive mechanical properties and performance consistency. To illustrate this point, the automotive battery enclosure made of AlSi10MgMn alloy material was used as an example to examine mechanical properties and bifilm defects. The study analyzed the room temperature mechanical properties of the test bars by using the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and %Elongation values obtained through the two-parameter Weibull distribution analysis method. Additionally, the fracture surface of the tensile samples was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) technique was used to analyze the composition of the bifilm defects. The results show an average tensile strength of 273.4 MPa and %Elongation of 6.0% in the tensile sample, while the Weibull moduli of the average tensile strength and %Elongation are small. The fracture surface of the tensile sample shows typical bifilm defects, with the microscopic metallographic images showing curved and tangled cracks. The bifilm defects were combined with Al6(MnFe)Si, β-AlFeMnSi, and Si phase at the grain boundary, resulting in the formation of a compound defect. Furthermore, the complex inner surfaces of the bifilm were made up of typical fold, wrinkle, and cavity features. Due to the mechanical folding of the bifilm, gaps are observed at the boundary between the oxide film and the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entrainment defects generated during the preparation of semi-solid slurries following the rheocasting technique impart poor mechanical and comprehensive properties to the casting. However, the mechanism of formation of these defects in semi-solid slurry has rarely been studied, so the mechanism of the formation of entrainment defects in the semi-solid A356 aluminum alloy be herein reported. The speed of the thermal equilibrium body (TEB) was maintained at 1300 and 2500 rpm where the entrainment defects of slurry were analyzed under conditions of internal cooling thermal equilibrium (ICTE). Results obtained using the SEM and computed tomography revealed the formation of bifilm defects, bubble trails, gas pores, and shrinkage pores in the slurry produced when the speed of rotation was 2500 rpm which resulted in lower elongation. The tensile specimens fabricated at the 2500 rpm speed were worse than those fabricated when the rotational speed was 1300 rpm in the aspect of elongation and reliability of mechanical properties. Results from numerical simulation and water simulation indicated that the phenomenon of surface turbulence promoted the formation of entrainment defects, and the bubbles entrapped inside the slurries could not escape according to the bubble theory floating calculation. • Extensive and dispersed gas pores and shrinkage defects are found in the selected samples fabricated at 2500 rpm, as shown in Fig. 4a and 4b. As Fig. 4c reveals that the shapes and sizes of gas pores and shrinkage defects are clearly different from each other. • Fig. 5 presents a typical bifilm defect with its crack-like characteristics, which form an irregular shape due to its continuous folding, and this feature can be used to distinguish it from the stress-induced crack morphology. • Results from numerical simulation and water simulation indicated that the phenomenon of surface turbulence promoted the formation of entrainment defects, and the bubbles entrapped inside the slurries could not escape according to the bubble theory floating calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal phthalocyanine-linked conjugated microporous polymers (MPc-CMPs) have huge potential applications in energy conversion and storage systems. However, the inherent low conductivity limits their practical application. Herein, the MPc-CMPs are hybridized with highly conductive carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via the easy vacuum filtration method. Interestingly, the composite (denoted as CoPc-CMP/CNTs) shows the flexible feature, which can be served as the flexible binder-free electrode for supercapacitors (SCs). As expected, the flexible CoPc-CMP/CNTs exhibits a high specific capacitance of 289.1 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and good capacity retention of 82.4% over 1350 cycles at a high current density of 10 A g−1. Furthermore, First-principle calculations are used to elucidate the superiority of CoPc-CMP to other analogues. The good electrochemical performance could be attributed to the synergistic effect from the high pseudocapacitance and good conductivity of CoPc-CMP as well as the capacitive contribution and good conductivity of CNTs. Our strategy provides a new avenue to develop the high-performance SCs via rational integration of MPc-CMPs with highly conductive CNTs. Metal phthalocyanine-linked conjugated microporous polymers are hybridized with highly conductive carbon nanotubes via the easy vacuum filtration method. Interestingly, the composite shows the flexible feature, which can be served as the flexible binder-free electrode for supercapacitors. Image 1 • Metal phthalocyanine-linked conjugated microporous polymers are synthesized. • Polymers are hybridized with carbon nanotube to form a flexible electrode. • The flexible electrode shows good electrochemical performance for supercapacitors. • Density functional theory calculations reveal its metallic property and superiority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ladybird beetles (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) are highly diverse in their feeding habits. Most of them are specialist feeders, while some can have a broad spectrum of prey. As a representative group of generalists, the tribe Coccinellini includes many aphidophagous species, but members of this tribe also feed on other hemipterous insects including coccids, psyllids and whiteflies. As a result, several species are effective biological control agents or invasive species with serious non-target effects. Despite their economic importance, relatively little is known about how they adapt to new prey. Results: In this study, comparisons of the life history traits and transcriptomes of ladybirds fed initial (aphids) and alternative prey (mealybugs) were performed in three Coccinellini species. The use of alternative prey greatly decreased performance, implied by the significantly prolonged development time and decreased survival rate and adult weight. Prey shifts resulted in a set of differentially expressed genes encoding chemosensory proteins and digestive and detoxifying enzymes. Conclusions: Our results suggest that these generalists do not perform well when they use alternative prey as the sole nutrition source. Although their capacity for predation might have created an opportunity to use varied prey, they must adapt to physiological obstacles including chemosensing, digestion and detoxification in response to a prey shift. These findings challenge the effect of Coccinellini predators on the biological control of non-aphid pests and suggest the possibility of non-target attacks by so-called specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-induced proximal tubule (PT) injury remains a serious safety concern throughout drug development. Traditional in vitro 2-dimensional (2D) and preclinical in vivo models often fail to predict drug-related injuries presented in clinical trials. Various 3-dimensional (3D) microphysiological systems (MPSs) have been developed to mimic physiologically relevant properties, enabling them to be more predictive toward nephrotoxicity. To explore the capabilities of an MPS across species, we compared cytotoxicity in hRPTEC/TERT1s and rat primary proximal tubular epithelial cells (rPPTECs) following exposure to zoledronic acid and ibandronate (62.5–500 µM), and antibiotic polymyxin B (PMB) (50 and 250 µM, respectively). For comparison, we investigated cytotoxicity using 2D cultured hRPTEC/TERT1s and rPPTECs following exposure to the same drugs, including overlapping concentrations, as their 3D counterparts. Regardless of the in vitro model, bisphosphonate-exposed rPPTECs exhibited cytotoxicity quicker than hRPTEC/TERT1s. PMB was less sensitive toward nephrotoxicity in rPPTECs than hRPTEC/TERT1s, demonstrating differences in species sensitivity within both 3D and 2D models. Generally, 2D cultured cells experienced faster drug-induced cytotoxicity compared to the MPSs, suggesting that MPSs can be advantageous for longer-term drug-exposure studies, if warranted. Furthermore, ibandronate-exposed hRPTEC/TERT1s and rPPTECs produced higher levels of inflammatory and kidney injury biomarkers compared to zoledronic acid, indicating that ibandronate induces acute kidney injury, but also a potential protective response since ibandronate is less toxic than zoledronic acid. Our study suggests that the MPS model can be used for preclinical screening of compounds prior to animal studies and human clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is devoted to the issues of economic and political integration of the Asia-Pacific region (APR) in the context of a power balance shift in East Asia. Owing to a violent (military) way of resolving country's contradiction, used in the past, is not acceptable in the modern world. So, now, major actors of international relations choose a strategy of integration from the perspective of their national interests (i.e. on favorable terms) instead of a confrontation strategy. When China rise and successfully handles the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and actively makes "the Belt and Road Initiative" come true, now, looks around Asia, most countries in Asia such as ASEAN still incline to choose to deepen economic relations with China at present, for example "ASEAN Framework for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)," it makes China will continue to operate regional integration in Asia to increase their influence. China will be able to transform its economic power into military might. That is, economic integration will has spillover effects on politics or security. China, as the most rapidly developing economy and one of the most active political actors of the region, is in the focus of the paper. In this report, it is proposed to analyze the policy of the three leading actors, that's American, China and Russia in terms of their approach to the integration processes in Asia-Pacific region, in particular, the impact of China's rise and Russia - China relations, China-US relations and their prospects in the nearest future on changing the power balance. Thus, this article will apply two theories, theory of balance of power and integration theory, sums to assess changes in Asia-Pacific power. China-US relations are analyzed from the perspective of their possible strategic rivalry. China-Russia relations are overviewed against the background of Russia's "turn to the East". So, we can find that, integration, especially economic integration in APR, may be a strategic tool for internal and external balancing. America and Russia, especially America, will necessary to seek cooperation partners for shifting balance of power in East Asia, owing to China-US strategic rivalry and China-Russia strategic partnership. Most second-tier Asia-Pacific countries, like Taiwan, Vietnam, India and etc., have to maneuver between the United States and China. The prospects for regional integration of the APR look unclear against the backdrop of this confrontation of world powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of β‐hydroxy(alkoxy)selenides was developed through the electrochemical iodide‐catalyzed oxyselenation of styrene derivatives with dialkyl(aryl)diselenides under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies showed that the cation I+ is involved during the whole process, and accelerates the formation of seleniranium ion via substitution and addition reaction with dialkyl(aryl)diselenides and styrene derivatives. The corresponding products are formed in good to excellent yields. This electrochemical oxyselenation provides an efficient strategy for difunctionalization of alkenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Threonine enhanced the growth performance of fish. • Threonine improved muscle amino acid and fatty acid compositions of fish. • Threonine improved muscle essential amino acid chemical score of fish. • Threonine enhanced muscle hardness may be related to collagen biosynthesis. To further explain the improvement effect of threonine (Thr) on the fillet quality of fish, a 9-week feeding experiment was conducted. After feeding graded levels of Thr (2.38, 5.38, 8.38, 11.38, 14.38 and 17.38 g/kg), the compositions of fillet hydrolyzed amino acid and fatty acid, and the muscle hardness associated with collagen biosynthesis were mainly analyzed in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The results showed that Thr increased the pH value, changed the amino acids and fatty acid composition of fillets, especially essential amino acid (EAA), C22:6n3 (DHA) and C20:5n3 (EPA). Furthermore, this study revealed for the first time that the improvement of muscle hardness by Thr was associated with collagen biosynthesis, and the TGF-β1/Smads, LARP6a and Hsp47 regulate transcriptional processes, translation initiation and post-translational modifications in collagen biosynthesis, respectively. This study offered a basis for exploring the contribution of Thr in improving muscle quality in sub-adult grass carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), an environmental endocrine disruptor, may lead to developmental immunotoxicity in offspring. The causal relationship and underlying mechanism require further study. A subset of Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study data (n = 283) was analyzed and found a significant association between urinary DEHP metabolite levels from the third trimester of pregnancy and plasma levels of IL-28A and IL-29, named IFNλs, in cord blood. A trans-maternal murine model mimicking human DEHP exposure way showed that bone marrow-derived dendritic cells from maternal DEHP-exposed F1 offspring secreted higher IL-28A levels than control cells, indicating a potential causal relationship. Human bronchial epithelial cell lines treated with DEHP or its primary metabolite, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hexyl) phthalate (MEHP), expressed significantly higher levels of IFNλs mRNA or protein than controls. MEHP's effect on IFNλs expression was blocked by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and PPARγ antagonists, and inhibited by a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor or a histone methyltransferase inhibitor. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that MEHP treatment promoted histone modifications at H3 and H4 proteins at the promoter regions of Il28a and Il29 genes. These results suggest maternal DEHP exposure could result in high IFNλ expression in offspring, and the health risk of early-life exposure requires further investigation. Schematic representation of DEHP trans-maternal effect on altered IFNλ expression in offspring. In the TMICS birth cohort study, a positive association was observed between maternal urinary DEHP metabolites from the third trimester of the mother's pregnancies and plasma IFNλs (IL-28A and IL-29) levels in cord blood. A murine model mimicking human exposure to DHEP showed that maternal DEHP exposure leads to increased expression of IL-28A level in Flt3L-differentiated offspring dendritic cells (Flt3L-DC) in response to TLR4 and TLR7/8 signaling. An in vitro epithelial cell line analysis demonstrated that treatment with MEHP, a primary metabolite of DEHP, could increase expression of IFNλs mRNA and protein, at least in part, through activities of PPARα and PPARγ and histone modifications at H3 and H4 proteins. Flt3L: fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand. HBE: human lung epithelial cell. TLR: toll-like receptor. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There was a significant reduction in deceased-donor organ referral during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. • COVID-19 had no negative impact on brain death confirmation rate and family consent rate. • COVID-19 had a minimal effect on overall organ donation activity. • With effective measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in a community, it is possible to support the needs of both patients with COVID-19 and deceased-donor organ donation services. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was expected to have a negative impact on organ donation. With the differences in health care systems and lockdown policies in various regions, the pandemic's effect on organ donation and transplant service may vary. Most of the deceased donor organ referrals in our hospital came from non–intensive care units (ICUs). The objective of this study is to report our experience and quantify the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on deceased donor organ donation in our center. This was a retrospective observational study comparing the deceased donor organ donation activity during the period January 23 to November 30, 2020 with the same period in 2018 in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong. There was a 26.9% reduction in deceased donor organ donor referral in 2020 compared with 2018. No significant difference in the proportion of referrals from ICU or non-ICU areas between the 2 time periods was observed. The brain death confirmation rate was significantly higher in 2020 (40.8% vs 20.2%, P =.003). Nine patients had family consent for organ donation in 2020 (vs 7 patients in the same period in 2018). There were no significant differences in consent rate and number of recovered organs between the 2 periods. With effective measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in a community, it is possible to support the needs of both patients with COVID-19 and deceased donor organ donation services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives The digital revolution has resulted in innovative solutions and technologies that can support the well-being, independence, and health of seniors. Yet, the notion of the "digital divide" presents significant inequities in terms of who accesses and benefits from the digital landscape. To better understand the social and structural inequities of the digital divide, a realist synthesis was conducted to inform theoretical understandings of information and communication technologies (ICTs); to understand the practicalities of access and use inequities; to uncover practices that facilitate digital literacy and participation; and to recommend policies to mitigate the digital divide. Research Design and Methods A systematic search yielded 55 articles published between 2006 and 2016. Synthesis of existing knowledge, combined with user-experience elicited through a deliberative dialogue session with community stakeholders (n = 35), made visible a pattern of privilege that determined individual agency in ICT access and use. Results Though age is consistently centralized as the key determinant of the digital divide, our analyses, which encompassed both van Dijk's resources and appropriation theory and intersectionality, appraised this notion and revealed that age is not the sole determinant. Findings highlight the role of other factors that contribute to digital inequity among community-dwelling middle-aged (45–64) and older (65+) adults, including education, income, gender, and generational status. Discussion and Implications Informed by results of a realist synthesis that was guided by intersectional perspectives, a conceptual framework was developed outlining implications for theory, policy, and practice to address the wicked problem that is the digital divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different sterile cytoplasm types of nine cabbage cytoplasmic male sterile materials were identified by molecular marker in the study, in order to better use molecular marker to conduct the assisted breeding in the future. Genomic DNA was isolated from Chinese cabbage by CTAB method. The design of two pairs of specific primers was performed on conserved flanking region of orfl38 gene in the GenBank. PCR was performed with genomic DNA of the nine Chinese cabbage materials. The bands were sequenced. The homologous comparison was conducted in NCBI, and finally, the type of sterile cytoplasm was determined. The results showed that the bands were amplified only in four Chinese cabbage male sterile materials with two pairs of specific primers PI/PR and PIII/PIV, while the other five materials did not obtain the relative bands. The result was consistent with the field sterility identification. And then four molecular markers of Chinese cabbage Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) were obtained. After conducting a homologous comparative analysis with BLAST in GenBank, it was found that the homologous degree was 100% in specific segments of the three sterility materials (LI-CI, L3-CI and L3-F l) and Ogu orfl38 gene (GenBank accession No.: HQ149728) of the reported broccoli Ogu CMS. The homologous degree of LI-Fl was 99% with a variation point. The type of cytoplasmic male sterility of the other five materials needed further research. Four materials of the nine were identified as the radish cytoplasmic male sterility materials and four molecular markers were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeration is an effective in situ remediation technique to accelerate the stabilization process and reduce the odor's concentration of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The distribution of oxygen in a landfill is crucial to the effective operation and performance of a landfill aeration project. In this study, field-scale tests of air injection via vertical wells were conducted at an MSW landfill in Shanghai, China. The spatial and temporal distributions of oxygen during single- and multiple-well injections were measured and compared. The results showed that the methane volume fraction decreased from 60% to less than 10%, and the oxygen volume fraction increased to approximately 15% only after 2 h of air injection. The rapid change in gas concentration over time could potentially be attributed to the preferential flow that occurred in the heterogeneous MSW. Further, a dual-porosity model was proposed to simulate the rapid advection and diffusion of air in the macropores, thus reflecting the fast increase in the oxygen concentration in the total pore space. During multiple-well injection, a "competitive injection" phenomenon was observed; specifically, the air injection volume of different vertical wells greatly varied even under the same injection pressure due to the large difference in the gas permeability of waste in different areas, and different degrees of aerobic degradation of waste would occur in different areas. Electrical resistivity tomography images showed that only part of the leachate was driven away by the air, leading to an uneven increase in waste resistivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Asylum seekers, refugees and persons without legal status have been reported to experience a range of difficulties when accessing public services and supports in the UK. While research has identified health care barriers to equitable access such as language difficulties, it has not considered the broader social contexts of marginalization experienced through the dynamics of 'othering'. The current study explores health and health care experiences of Somali and Iraqi asylum seekers, refugees and persons without legal status, highlighting 'minoritization' processes and the 'pathologization' of difference as analytical lenses to understand the multiple layers of oppression that contribute to health inequities.Methods: For the study, qualitative methods were used to document the lived experiences of asylum seekers, refugees and persons without legal status. Thirty-five in-depth interviews and five focus groups were used to explore personal accounts, reveal shared understandings and enable social, cognitive and emotional understandings of on-going health problems and challenges when seeking treatment and care. A participatory framework was undertaken which inspired collaborative workings with local organizations that worked directly with asylum seekers, refugees and persons without legal status.Results: The analysis revealed four key themes: 1) pre-departure histories and post-arrival challenges; 2) legal status; 3) health knowledges and procedural barriers as well as 4) language and cultural competence. Confidentiality, trust, wait times and short doctor-patient consultations were emphasized as being insufficient for culturally specific communications and often translating into inadequate treatment and care. Barriers to accessing health care was associated with social disadvantage and restrictions of the broader welfare system suggesting that a re-evaluation of the asylum seeking process is required to improve the situation.Discussions: Macro- and micro-level intersections of accustomed societal beliefs, practices and norms, broad-level legislation and policy decisions, and health care and social services delivery methods have affected the health and health care experiences of forced migrants that reside in the UK. Research highlights how 'minoritization processes,' influencing the intersections between social identities, can hinder access to and delivery of health and social services to vulnerable groups. Similar findings were reported here; and the most influential mechanism directly impacting health and access to health and social services was legal status.Conclusions: Equitable health care provision requires systemic change that incorporate understandings of marginalization, 'othering' processes and the intersections between the past histories and everyday realities of asylum seekers, refugees and persons without legal status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to provide reference for rational fertilization and agrochemical application in cucumber plantation, and relieve the problem of environmental pollution and vegetable agrochemical residues. The effects of different combinations of fertilization and agrochemical application on cucumber yield and cost input were investigated. Four treatments were conducted, including T1 (conventional fertilization + conventional agrochemical application, CK), T2 (conventional fertilization + recommended agrochemical application), T3 (recommended fertilization + conventional agrochemical application) and T4 (recommended fertilization + recommended agrochemical application). The results showed that T4 had fewer kinds of fertilizers and agrochemicals than that of T1, and had a yield increasing effect on cucumber, and the yield increase was 7003.5 kg/hm², with an increasing rate of 19.25% ; and it also had obvious cost-saving and benefit-increasing effects, specifically, the cost was saved by 10941 yuan/hm² and the benefit was increased by 31951.5 yuan/hm². The results of this experiment were satisfactory, and higher benefit was obtained with lower input. This study will provide reference for cucumber planter to choose fertilizers and agrochemicals, and lays a foundation for alleviating the ecological soil problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a six-month lifestyle-based intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults with hypertension. A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the differences between the intervention and control groups on HRQOL (N=196). The results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups on change in HRQOL, but the final regression models were statistically significant. SF-36 mental component summary (MCS) score at baseline, stress at baseline, and change in stress were significant predictors for predicting change in the SF-36 MCS. SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) at baseline and change in stress were significant predictors for predicting change in the SF-36 PCS. The findings suggest that the development of an effective intervention in improving HRQOL should be considered within individual, interpersonal, societal, and cultural factors for future research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stereoselective synthesis of tri-substituted alkenes is challenging. Herein, we report a Ni-catalyzed regio- and stereo-selective hydroalkylation of internal alkynes with non-activated alkyl halides. This method does not use any sensitive organometallic reagents and shows good functional group compatibility, which enables the efficient synthesis of many tri-substituted olefins from readily available coupling partners. It also provides a straightforward method for the modification of bioactive organic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: Home and community engagement are key contextual factors for aging well, particularly for older adults in vulnerable social positions. A community-based participatory action research project conducted in Western Canada examined how to best use the shared amenity spaces in a low-income seniors' apartment complex in order to connect services and programs with tenants and to provide opportunities for service providers and local stakeholders to build upon and create new relationships toward collaboration and service delivery. Design and Methods: Pre-move deliberative dialogue workshops (n = 4) were conducted with stakeholders (e.g., service providers, developers, and municipal government employees). Workshop participants (n = 24) generated ideas and plans on how physical and social environments can contribute to the social engagement of senior tenants. Results: Shared dialogue led to community investment and asset sharing by integrating the knowledge and experiences of multiple stakeholder groups into the planning process. This article highlights how collaborative planning approaches for the effective use of the social environment (e.g., social programming), within the physical environment (e.g., amenity and community spaces), can generate rich and illuminating data for informing enhancements in the social environment of apartment dwelling low-income seniors. Contextual challenges to service provision are discussed, including the need for communication about and coordination of on-site programming, culturally diverse and responsive programming, and longterm funding. Implications: Prolonging independent community living with the assistance of support services should be a goal to both delay premature relocation into institutional care and meet the preferences of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We report an approach, termed Repeated k‐t‐subsampling and artifact‐minimization (ReKAM), for removing motion artifacts in free‐breathing abdominal MRI. The method is particularly valuable for challenging patients who may not hold their breath for a long time or have irregular respiratory rate. Methods: The ReKAM framework comprises one acquisition module and two reconstruction modules. A fast MRI sequence is used to repeatedly acquire multiple sets of k‐t space data. Motion artifacts are then minimized by two reconstruction modules: (a) a bootstrapping module in k‐t‐space is used to identify a low‐artifact image; (b) a constrained reconstruction module that integrates projection onto convex set (POCS) and multiplexed sensitivity encoding (MUSE), termed POCSMUSE, is applied to further remove residual artifact. The ReKAM framework is compatible with different pulse sequences, and generally applicable to irregular data sampling patterns in k‐space. Free‐breathing fast spin‐echo MRI data, acquired from healthy volunteers and patients, were used to evaluate the developed ReKAM method. Results: Experimental results show that the ReKAM technique can produce high‐quality free‐breathing images with the artifact levels comparable to that of breath‐holding MRI. Conclusion: The ReKAM framework improves the quality of free‐breathing abdominal MRI data, and is compatible with various MRI pulse sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Individuals with intellectual disability ( ID) are prone to inattention, are slow in learning and reaction, and have deficits in memory skills. Providing proper vocational education and training for individuals with intellectual disability is able to enhance their occupational skills. Materials and Methods This study applied video prompting to provide instructional prompts to help participants accurately perform an assigned occupational activity. A control system installed with developed software was used to turn a standard dance pad into a sensor to detect the participants' standing position and to automatically trigger video prompting. Results The results show that the participants' correct performance of the target behaviour improved significantly after their exposure to the video prompting intervention, and this positive outcome remained consistent during the maintenance phase. Conclusion Video prompting combined with dance pads was a feasible approach to improving the occupational skills of the three students with intellectual disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban contains two ursane-type triterpene saponins, asiaticoside and madecassoside, as major secondary metabolites. In order to select candidate genes encoding UDP-glucosyltransferases (UGTs) involved in asiaticoside biosynthesis, we performed transcriptomic analysis of leaves elicited by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Among the unigenes, 120 isotigs and 13 singletons of unique sequences were annotated as UGTs, including 37 putative full-length cDNAs, and 15 of the putative UGT genes were named according to the UGT committee nomenclature protocols. One of them, UGT73AH1, was characterized by heterologous expression in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells. After induction with IPTG, a total protein extract was assayed with UDP-glucose and asiatic acid. UPLC-QTOF/MS analysis showed that UGT73AH1 catalyzes the glycosylation of asiatic acid to its monoglucoside. It remains unclear whether glycosylation occurs on the triterpene C-2α, C-3β, C-23, or C-28 position. However, it is very likely that UGT73AH1 glucosylates the C-28 position, because only C-28 bears a glucose moiety in the final pathway product of asiatic acid, while C-2α, C-3β, and C-23 remain un-conjugated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) are enzymes that play a key role in control of the biosynthesis of phytosterols and triterpene saponins. In order to uncover OSC genes from Polygala tenuifolia seedlings induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA), RNA-sequencing analysis was performed using the Illumina sequencing platform. A total of 148,488,632 high-quality reads from two samples (control and the MeJA treated) were generated. We screened genes related to phytosterol and triterpene saponin biosynthesis and analyzed the transcriptional changes of differentially expressed unigene (DEUG) values calculated by fragments per kilobase million (FPKM). In our datasets, two full-length cDNAs of putative OSC genes, PtCAS1, and PtCAS2, were found, in addition to the PtBS (β-amyrin synthase) gene reported in our previous studies and the two cycloartenol synthase genes of P. tenuifolia. All genes were isolated and characterized in yeast cells. The functional expression of the two PtCAS genes in yeast cells showed that the genes all produce a cycloartenol as the sole product. When qRT-PCR analysis from different tissues was performed, the expressions of PtCAS1 and PtCAS2 were highest in flowers and roots, respectively. After MeJA treatment, the transcripts of PtCAS1 and PtCAS2 genes increased by 1.5- and 2-fold, respectively. Given these results, we discuss the potential roles of the two PtCAS genes in relation to triterpenoid biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of antiphospholipid (aPL), antinuclear (ANA) or antithyroid (ATA) antibodies in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are controversial. The present study aims to investigate which autoantibodies are associated with the pregnancy outcome of patients undergoing first IVF/ICSI treatment. A total of 3763 IVF/ICSI patients were recruited from January to December 2015. Forty-five patients positive for aPL presenting adverse outcomes in their first cycle received low-dose aspirin treatment before the second transfer. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess any association between autoantibodies and IVF/ICSI outcomes. The aCL-IgG was significantly associated with live birth rate (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.36–0.96, p < 0.05) and miscarriage rate (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.23–3.40, p < 0.01). The aCL-IgM was associated with miscarriage rate (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.29–3.54, p < 0.01). The aβ 2 GPI-IgG was associated with implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.24–0.96, p < 0.05; OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.13–0.87, p < 0.05, respectively). After the low-dose aspirin treatment, the live birth rate (37.0% vs. 19.1%, p < 0.05) increased significantly in patients with positive for aPL. In contrary, the aβ 2 GPI-IgM, ANA, anti-thyroglobulin (aTG) and anti-thyroperoxidase (aTPO) antibodies had no association with IVF/ICSI outcome. It is suggested that the presence of aCL-IgG, aCL-IgM and aβ 2 GPI-IgG might exert a detrimental effect on IVF/ICSI outcomes. Low-dose aspirin treatment could be useful for patients positive for these antibodies. Therefore, it is suggested that these antibodies should be assessed prior to IVF/ICSI treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital inequality is one of the most critical issues in the “information age”, few studies have examined the social inequality in information resources and digital use patterns. In the rural areas, such information communication technology (ICT) facilities could not guarantee that users can easily access information technology and overcome the so-called “digital divide.” This research aims to discover the psychological factors that influence information and communication technology (ICT) adoption behavior, as well as confirm whether “information literacy” and “digital skills” have moderator effects in the research model. Using a survey of 875 participants and a structural equation modeling approach, we find that task characteristics and social interaction improve media richness, media experience, and media technostress, which in turn enhance ICT adoption behavior. The proposed theoretical model shows that the impact of ICT adoption behavior is moderated by information literacy and digital skills. The findings of this research can offer guidelines for policy makers and educators who evaluate a community's ICT adoption behavior so as to provide proper access to ICT and promote its visibility by incorporating ICT in educational activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]