Opposite Trend Research Articles

Impacts of meteorology and mixing height on radioactive and stable aerosols in Bratislava, Slovakia

This study investigated the variability of radioactive and stable aerosols (7Be, 210Pb, 137Cs, 40K, PM10, and PM2.5) in relation to mixing layer height (MLH) based on outdoor radon and meteorological factors in Bratislava, Slovakia from 2017 to 2021. Aerosol concentrations exhibit distinct seasonal patterns, with higher 7Be concentrations in summer and lower in winter, while 137Cs, 40K, 210Pb, PM10 and PM2.5 showed almost the opposite trends. Different statistical techniques, including Pearson's correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis (MRA), and canonical correlation analysis (CCA), were employed to elucidate the intricate relationships between aerosol concentrations, MLH, and meteorological parameters. The MRA identified a significant correlation between aerosol variability and specific predictors, while the CCA highlighted the differential influence of MLH and meteorological parameters on aerosol concentrations. The analysis revealed that temperature, MLH, and relative humidity are the primary factors influencing aerosol concentrations, underscoring their pivotal role in environmental dynamics.

Adsorption of perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) on an ultrafine potato peel waste grafted β-cyclodextrin (UFPPW-β-CD)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are widely used in various consumer products. However, these compounds can cause various harm to the environment and health. Considering the high chemical stability, these compounds are not completely removed from the aqueous environment, and consequently, recent studies have detected their presence in water bodies. In this scenario, biomass-based adsorbents are promising. β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was grafted in an ultrafine potato peel waste (UFPPW) to produce a novel, efficient and sustainable adsorbent (UFPPW-β-CD) that was used to remove three different perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) from water. The efficient grafting was proved by several characterization techniques, which also demonstrated the main UFPPW-β-CD features. The UFPPW-β-CD was efficient for all PFSAs (perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS), and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)), with removal percentage higher than 74 %. The increase in the CF chain of PFSAs favored the adsorption due to the host–guest hydrophobic interactions between the CF chains of the adsorbates and the hydrophobic cavity of the β-CD. Removal percentages and adsorption capacities at pH 3.0 were 74.6 % (49.92 µg g−1) to the PFBS, 82.6 % (65.66 µg g−1) to the PFPeS, and 90 % (100.89 µg g−1) to the PFHxS. The kinetic followed the General order model, while the equilibrium agreed with the Sips isotherm. The adsorption capacity increased with the increase in the CF chain of the adsorbate, but the adsorption rate followed the opposite trend. PFSAs adsorption on the UFPPW-β-CD adsorbent was favorable and exothermic. UFPPW-β-CD could be used seven times, keeping its maximum adsorption capacity constant using ultrasound-assisted desorption. It can be concluded that UFPPW-β-CD is a sustainable adsorbent to uptake PFSAs from water, and this process is dependent on the size of the CF chains.

High concentration hydrogen attenuates sepsis-induced acute kidney injury by promoting mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion

Sepsis is a major cause of mortality among critical patients. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the common complication in patients with sepsis, characterized by rapid deterioration of renal function. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of inhaling high concentration hydrogen on septic mice with AKI and to examine the involvement of mitochondria in this process. High concentration hydrogen does not cause hypoxia and can alleviate AKI and improve 7-day survival in septic mice. Inflammatory factors are markedly elevated in the serum and renal tissues in CLP group which are dramatically down-regulated by hydrogen. The activities of both antioxidant enzymes are significantly reduced after CLP, whereas hydrogen markedly increases the activities of SOD and CAT. MMP is found to be significantly lower in CLP group whereas this effect is reversed by hydrogen. The trend of ATP content in renal tissues corresponded with that of MMP. There is a substantial downregulation of PGC-1α, Nrf2, and TFAM protein in CLP group. Drp1 expression is significantly higher in CLP group compared to Sham group, while the opposite trend is observed for MFN2. Hydrogen can reverse these changes. Inhalation of high concentration hydrogen can improve acute kidney injury, 7-day survival, inflammatory response and oxidative stress in septic mice. The mechanism may be related to inhibit renal mitochondrial fission and promote mitochondrial fusion and biogenesis.

Radiotherapy and Increased Risk of Second Primary Cancers in Breast Cancer Survivors: An Epidemiological and Large Cohort Study

BackgroundRadiotherapy (RT) for breast cancer (BC) may raise the risk of second primary cancers (SPCs), a relationship inadequately studied. MethodsWe analyzed 248268 female BC patients from 9 SEER registries, 1988-2018 , identifying SPCs >5 years after initial treatment, comparing SPC risks between RT and non-RT cohorts using Fine-Gray and Poisson regressions. ResultsOf all participants, 55.4% received surgery and RT. The RT group had a higher SPC incidence, with excess incidence significantly dropped from 6.9% in 1990 to 0.2% in 2012. The 30-year SPC incidence was 24.69% in the RT cohort and 18.11% in the NRT cohort. RT increased the risk of SPCs(HR, 1.29 [95%CI,1.26-1.33];P<0.001), BC(HR, 1.58[1.52-1.64];P<0.001), cancer of respiratory system(HR, 1.21[1.13-1.30];P=0.013), skin cancer(HR, 1.26[1.10-1.44];P<0.001), leukemia(HR, 1.30[1.11-1.54];P=0.001), soft tissue cancer(HR, 1.78[1.34-2.37]; P<0.001), and eye & orbit cancer(HR, 2.21[1.02-4.80];P=0.044), except for reducing the risk of multiple myeloma (HR 0.76). Notably, RT-related risks(RR) for BC declined with increasing age and the year of BC diagnosed, increased with longer latency, but the dynamic RR for cancer of respiratory system presented the almost opposite trends. The RT cohort had higher standardized incidence ratios than the NRT cohort and general population. Although 15-year overall survival was similar between RT and NRT cohorts, SPC presence significantly lowered 30-year survival from 35.64% to 23.90%. ConclusionsRT might increase susceptibility to SPC in breast, respiratory system, skin, soft tissue, eye and orbit, and leukemia in BC survivors. Efforts should be made to timely diagnose SPCs based on their specific patterns to improve patient’s quality of life.

Extreme rainfall and soil water consumption differences increase yield shedding at lower fruiting branches, reducing cotton water productivity under different sowing dates

Improvement of cultivated cotton adaptability to extreme climate events under climate change promotes sustainable cotton production. Extreme rainfall leads to a significant decrease in cotton yield, which may be related to changes in soil water consumption (SWC) and the vertical distribution of yield, but relevant research is still scarce. Here, a two-year cotton sowing date experiment was conducted in which geostatistics, sensor technology, the spatial grid method, and principal component analysis were combined to analyze cotton utilization of soil water during extreme rainfall (2021) and normal (2022) years. The reasons for cotton yield reduction under extreme rainfall and strategies to improve cotton production adaptability to extreme rainfall were discussed. Under extreme rainfall, the morphogenesis and reproductive organ development of cotton were inhibited. The accumulation of SWC and its relationship with the biomass accumulation of cotton on different sowing dates under extreme rainfall exhibited nearly opposite characteristics to those in a normal year. Simultaneously, the two-year yield showed the opposite trend with the change in sowing date. There existed a trade-off strategy for the vertical distribution (i.e., on the upper, middle and lower fruiting branches) of cotton yield. Extreme rainfall reduced the yield at lower fruiting branches and increased the boll-forming rate of the upper fruiting branches, which was closely related to seed cotton yield, lint yield and water productivity (WP). Optimizing the cotton sowing date (early sowing should be appropriate in this study) may improve the adaptability of cotton production under extreme rainfall, but further long-term studies are needed. This study highlights the critical practice of climate-smart agriculture and has reference value for the sustainable development of cotton production.

A study of geothermal hydraulic fracture surface morphology and heat transfer characteristics

This study analyzed the morphological characteristics of heat-treated granite fracture surfaces subjected to cyclic hydraulic fracturing (CHF) and traditional hydraulic fracturing (THF). The differences in heat transfer characteristics between THF and CHF fracture surfaces were compared using a three-dimensional numerical heat transfer model. The heat transfer properties of CHF fracture surfaces were investigated under varying injection parameters, and corresponding mathematical models were constructed. It was found that the roughness of CHF fracture surfaces was greater than that of THF, and the heat transfer performance was superior. Specifically, the overall heat transfer coefficient (OHTC) for the C1-C3 fracture surfaces increased by 55.71, 63.40, and 75.91 W/m2/K, respectively, compared to the T1-T3 fracture surfaces. The average outlet temperature (Tout) of the CHF fracture surfaces increases with higher injection flow rates and decreases with higher injection temperatures. The OHTC and local heat transfer coefficient (LHTC) exhibit opposite trends. Specifically, injection flow rates have a quadratic polynomial relationship with the Tout and a logarithmic relationship with OHTC. Additionally, the Tout of the CHF fracture surface shows a linear positive correlation with injection temperature, while OHTC has a linear negative correlation.

Regulatory mechanism of N2 flow rate on structure and properties of CrAlNiYN coatings by FCVA technique

In this work, a novel CrAlNiYN coating was prepared by filter cathode vacuum arc (FCVA) technique. The evolution of the microstructure and properties of the coatings with varying N2 flow rates was systematically investigated. The results revealed that as the N2 flow rate increased from 10 to 90 sccm, the N content in the coating increased from 2.54 to 46.20 at.%, while the Ni content significantly decreased from 67.54 to 31.15 at.%. Simultaneously, the phase structure transitioned from the intermetallic compound AlNi3 to the solid solution Al(Cr)N. This transformation, along with solid solution strengthening and grain refinement, resulted an increase in hardness from 13.4±0.4 to 26.6±0.6 GPa. Moreover, the H/E, H3/E2 and We values also displayed a gradually increasing trend, indicating improved resistance to plastic deformation. However, the adhesion strength presented a weakening trend from HF1 to HF3. Furthermore, the corrosion current density of coatings first increased and then slightly decreased with the increase of N2 flow rate, while the polarization resistance had the opposite trend of change. Among them, the coating at 10 sccm exhibited the best corrosion resistance, with the lowest icorr of 0.150 μA∙cm-2 and the highest Rp of 302.1 kΩ∙cm2.

Microstructures and mechanical properties of a novel Al-5Mg-3Zn alloy with the combined additions Sc and Zr

The study investigated the impact of Sc and co-addition of Sc and Zr on the dispersoids, subsequent grain structures and aging precipitations, and the ultimate mechanical properties of Al-5Mg-3Zn-xSc-yZr (x + y = 0.2wt.%) alloys were studied. The results indicate that the co-addition of Sc and Zr produces the highest number density of dispersoids among the three alloys. The Al-5Mg-3Zn alloy mainly comprises fully recrystallized equiaxial grains (close to 100%) after solution treatment. In contrast, the recrystallization ratio of Al-5Mg-3Zn-0.1Sc-0.1Zr remarkably decreases to 9% owing to the presence of fine and dense Al3M dispersoids to impede the mobility of sub-grain boundaries. Adding the Sc element alone reduces the number density of the T-Mg32(Al, Zn)49 and enhances their size during the subsequent aging treatment, while the co-addition of Sc and Zr elements shows an opposite trend. The primary factor contributing to this result is that the microalloying of Sc and co-addition of Sc and Zr affects the diffusion of Mg and Zn solute atoms in Al-5Mg-3Zn alloys. Consequently, the peak-aged Al-5Mg-3Zn-0.1Sc-0.1Zr alloys exhibit a yield strength of 481MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 547MPa, and an elongation of 12%, which is superior to the reported Al-5Mg-3Zn alloys. The good strength-ductility synergy can be attributed to the combination of a high number density of dispersions, grain refinement, and high-volume fraction nanoprecipitates.

1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin provides unequal protection to black fungi Knufia petricola and Cryomyces antarcticus from UV-B radiation.

Black fungi on rock surfaces endure a spectrum of abiotic stresses, including UV radiation. Their ability to tolerate extreme conditions is attributed to the convergent evolution of adaptive traits, primarily highly melanized cell walls. However, studies on fungal melanins have not provided univocal results on their photoprotective functions. Here, we investigated whether the black fungi Knufia petricola and Cryomyces antarcticus only use DHN melanin or may employ alternative mechanisms to counteract UV-induced damage. For this, melanized wild types and non-melanized Δpks1 mutants were exposed to different doses of UV-B (312 nm) followed by incubation in constant darkness or in light-dark cycles to allow light-dependent DNA repair by photolyases (photoreactivation). C. antarcticus could tolerate higher UV-B doses but was sensitive to white light, whereas K. petricola showed the opposite trend. DHN melanin provided UV-B protection in C. antarcticus, whereas the same pigment or even carotenoids proved ineffective in K. petricola. Both fungi demonstrated functional photoreactivation in agreement with the presence of photolyase-encoding genes. Our findings reveal that although the adaptive trait of DHN melanization commonly occurs across black fungi, it is not equally functional and that there are species-specific adaptations towards either UV-induced lesion avoidance or repair strategies.

Temperature and feeding frequency: interactions with growth, immune response, and water quality in juvenile Nile tilapia

Abstract Background Water temperature and feeding frequency are critical abiotic factors regulating the growth and immune function of aquatic organisms. This study investigated the effects of water temperature and feeding frequency on growth and immune function in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) over two months. A total of 360 juvenile fish (average weight: 20.00 ± 1.26 g) were divided into six groups, each with three replicates, based on a combination of three water temperatures (26, 28, and 30 °C) and two feeding frequencies (either 1 or 2 meals per day). Results At 30 ºC and 28 ºC, water electrical conductivity and total dissolved salts increased, while total ammonia nitrogen and dissolved oxygen rose slightly in groups fed twice daily, with a significant interaction between temperature and feeding frequency. The group at 30 ºC with two meals per day showed the highest final body weight (FBW). The interaction between temperature and feeding frequency significantly influenced FBW, total feed intake, and body thickness. Fish at 30 ºC exhibited upregulated hepatic growth hormone receptor 1 and insulin-like growth factor 1, while those at 28 ºC with one meal per day, as well as those at 30 ºC regardless of meal frequency, also showed increased expression of hepatic fatty acid binding protein and intestinal cluster of differentiation 36. Fish at 30 ºC had upregulated leptin levels and downregulated cholecystokinin, while those at 26 ºC displayed the opposite trend, particularly with one meal daily. Higher temperatures significantly boosted serum IgM, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lysozyme (LYZ) levels, with meal frequency also affecting malondialdehyde, IgM, and SOD levels. Additionally, 30 ºC enhanced the hepatic expression of mucin-like protein (muc), oligo-peptide transporter 1 (pept1), interleukin 1, nf-κB, complement C3, lyz, sod, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, with twice-daily meals having a more pronounced effect. Conversely, 28 ºC with one meal per day upregulated some of these genes, such as muc, pept1, and sod. Conclusions Overall, 30 ºC with two meals per day significantly improved the growth and health of juvenile Nile tilapia, while 28 ºC with two meals maintained satisfactory performance.

Electromagnetic Absorption Mechanism of TPMS‐Based Metastructures: Synergy Between Materials and Structures

Abstract3D metastructure absorbers have gained attention for their lightweight, load‐bearing capabilities, and superior electromagnetic wave absorption. However, the complex interplay between unit cell geometry, material properties, and electromagnetic response is not well understood, hindering the design of high‐performance devices. A multi‐scale model, validated is presented by simulations and experiments, that clarify the relationship between materials, structures, and electromagnetic behavior in 3D metastructures. By systematically investigating strut‐based and sheet‐based structures, volume fraction, unit size, crystal lattice orientation, and density gradient within TPMS‐based unit cells, it is revealed that unit geometry significantly influences electromagnetic field propagation and reflection loss. Specifically, under the same unit size, sheet‐based TPMS metastructures exhibit stronger reflectivity than strut‐based ones, while multilayer structures show the opposite trend. The direct correlation is also further confirmed between geometric symmetry and polarization insensitivity, with orthogonal isotropic superstructures displaying excellent polarization‐insensitive properties. This finding provides a new design principle for achieving robust, angle‐independent absorption in these materials. This work enhances understanding of the structure‐electromagnetic behavior interplay, guiding the design of next‐generation broadband, wide‐angle, and polarization‐insensitive devices.

Unexpected XPS Binding Energy Observations Further Highlighted by DFT Calculations of Ruthenocene-Containing [IrIII(ppy)2(RCOCHCORc)] Complexes: Cytotoxicity and Crystal Structure of [Ir(ppy)2(FcCOCHCORc)

The series of iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(ppy)2(RCOCHCOR′)], with R = CH3 and R′ = CH3 (1), Rc (2), and Fc (3), as well as R = Rc and R′ = Rc (4) or Fc (5), and R = R′ = Fc (6), ppy = 2-phenylpyridinyl, Fc = FeII(η5–C5H4)(η5–C5H5), and Rc = RuII(η5–C5H4)(η5–C5H5), has been investigated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) supplemented by DFT calculations. Here, in the range of 3.74 ≤ ΣχR ≤ 4.68, for Ir 4f, Ru 3d and 3p and N 1s orbitals, binding energies unexpectedly decreased with increasing ΣχR (ΣχR = the sum of Gordy group electronegativities of the R groups on β-diketonato ligands = a measure of electron density on atoms), while in Fe 2p orbitals, XPS binding energy, as expected, increased with increasing ΣχR. Which trend direction prevails is a function of main quantum level, n = 1, 2, 3…, sub-quantum level (s, p, d, and f), initial state energies, and final state relaxation energies, and it may differ from compound series to compound series. Relations between DFT-calculated orbital energies and ΣχR followed opposite trend directions than binding energy/ΣχR trends. X-ray-induced decomposition of compounds was observed. The results confirmed good communication between molecular fragments. Lower binding energies of both the Ir 4f7/2 and N 1s photoelectron lines are associated with shorter Ir-N bond lengths. Cytotoxic tests showed that 1 (IC50 = 25.1 μM) and 3 (IC50 = 37.8 μM) are less cytotoxic against HeLa cells than cisplatin (IC50 = 1.1 μM), but more cytotoxic than the free β-diketone FcCOCH2COCH3 (IC50 = 66.6 μM).

Evaluating rice lipid content, yield, and quality in response to nitrogen application rate and planting density

To investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) application rate and planting density (D) on the contents of lipid and free fatty acid, fatty acid composition, yield and quality of rice grain, a field experiment was conducted using Koshihikari (japonica) as experimental material from 2021 to 2022 with three N levels (90, 150 and 210 kg ha-1, denoted as N1, N2 and N3, respectively) and three transplanting densities (19.0 × 104, 26.7 × 104 and 40.0 × 104 plants ha-1, denoted as D1, D2 and D3, respectively). The results showed that N application rate and planting density had highly significant impacts only on the contents of free fatty acid and saturated fatty acid, respectively. Increased N and planting density enhanced the contents of lipid (29.41 mg g-1) and free fatty acid (21.47%). The highest values were obtained under N3D3 increasing by 7.02% and 3.23 percentage points, respectively, compared to other treatments. No significant differences in lipid content were found among treatments, whereas free fatty acid exhibited significant differences. The unsaturated fatty acid content increased with increasing N but first decreased and then increased with increasing planting density, while saturated fatty acid content showed the opposite trend. Appropriate N level and planting density improved the relative chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate of rice flag leaves, as well as increased grain yield, effective panicle number and spikelete number per panicle, but decreased the seed setting rate. Under N2D2, the relative chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate remained relatively high throughout the grain filling stage, resulting in the highest grain yield, with increases of 43.87-47.03% compared to other treatments. A moderate N level improved the milling quality of rice, while increased planting density reduced it. However, both increased N and planting density reduced the appearance quality and cooking and eating quality of rice. Overall, the effects of increasing N application rate and planting density on enhancing rice lipid and free fatty acid contents were limited. A combination of 150 kg ha-1 N application rate and 26.7 × 104 plants ha-1 was recommended for achieving relatively higher yield, lipid content and better grain quality.

Enrichment of trimethyl histone 3 lysine 4 in the Dlk1 and Grb10 genes affects pregnancy outcomes due to dietary manipulation of excess folic acid and low vitamin B12.

The aberrant expression of placental imprinted genes due to epigenetic alterations during pregnancy can impact fetal development. We investigated the impact of dietary modification of low vitamin B12 with varying doses of folic acid on the epigenetic control of imprinted genes and fetal development using a transgenerational model of C57BL/6J mice. The animals were kept on four distinct dietary combinations based on low vitamin B12 levels and modulated folic acid, mated in the F0 generation within each group. In the F1 generation, each group of mice is split into two subgroups; the sustained group was kept on the same diet, while the transient group was fed a regular control diet. After mating, maternal placenta (F1) and fetal tissues (F2) were isolated on day 20 of gestation. We observed a generation-wise opposite promoter CpG methylation and gene expression trend of the two developmental genes Dlk1 and Grb10, with enhanced gene expression in both the sustained and transient experimental groups in F1 placentae. When fetal development characteristics and gene expression were correlated, there was a substantial negative association between placental weight and Dlk1 expression (r = -0.49, p < 0.05) and between crown-rump length and Grb10 expression (r = -0.501, p < 0.05) in fetuses of the F2 generation. Consistent with these results, we also found that H3K4me3 at the promoter level of these genes is negatively associated with all fetal growth parameters. Overall, our findings suggest that balancing vitamin B12 and folic acid levels is important for maintaining the transcriptional status of imprinted genes and fetal development.

Short-term anticorrelations between in situ averaged charge states of Fe and O in the solar wind

Observations of the Fe and O charge states in the solar wind and interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) generally exhibit a positive correlation between the average charge states of Fe and O ($ avQ Fe $ and $ avQ O $). Because Fe and O charge states freeze at different heights in the corona, this positive correlation indicates that conditions at different heights in the corona vary as a whole. We identify short time periods in the solar wind that exhibit anticorrelations between the average Fe and O charge states and investigate their properties. We aim to distinguish whether these anticorrelations are due to the related solar sources or to transport effects (e.g., differential streaming). We study kinetic properties of the solar wind related to these anticorrelated structures as well as heavy ion differential streaming in order to infer a possible relationship between conditions in coronal source regions and the reported in situ measurements. We employed a recently developed sliding-window cross-correlation method to locate anticorrelated structures in the solar wind composition measurements between 2001 and 2010 from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE). To account for fluctuations and measurement uncertainties, we varied the timescales and temporal lags. We determined the onset and end times of the gradual increases or decreases in the average charge states of O and Fe and analyzed the kinetic and plasma properties of the anticorrelated structures. We identified 103 anticorrelated structures both in the solar wind and in ICMEs. The behavior of $ avQ Fe $ is strongly related to solar wind kinetic properties, including proton speed, proton temperature, and the proton-proton collisional age. We find that the anticorrelation of $ avQ Fe $ and $ avQ O $ during these time periods cannot be explained by differential streaming nor by unrecorded hot plasma ejections. Thus, the measured anticorrelated variations in $ avQ Fe $ and $ avQ O $ probably indicate that changes in coronal conditions at different freeze-in heights may follow opposite monotonic trends.

The causal relationships between iron status and sarcopenia in Europeans: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Previous studies have indicated potential associations between metals, lifestyle factors, and sarcopenia. However, the specific causal relationships between iron status, lifestyle factors, and sarcopenia remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach to investigate these relationships. The exposure variables included iron status, living alone, coffee intake, alcohol taken with meals, and moderate physical activity, while the outcome variable was sarcopenia, assessed by grip strength in both hands and usual walking pace. We employed the Weighted Median (WM), the Inverse Variance-Weighted (IVW), and other MR methods to explore these problems for analysis. Simultaneously, we conducted a bidirectional MR analysis to assess whether sarcopenia has a reverse causal relationship with internal iron status. In our present research, we found serum iron (P = 0.033), ferritin (P = 0.001), transferrin saturation (P = 0.029) and coffee intake (P = 0.002) revealed a negative trend for sarcopenia, living alone (P = 0.022) and alcohol taken with meal (P = 0.006) showed a opposite trend for sarcopenia. Whereas sarcopenia showed negative trend for ferritin (P = 0.041) and transferrin saturation (P = 0.043), showed the opposite trend for transferrin (P = 0.021). Our study suggested that higher serum iron levels might reduce the risk of sarcopenia. Moreover, living alone and alcohol consumption might increase the sarcopenia risk, while coffee intake and moderate physical activity could reduce the sarcopenia risk.

Fracture mode classification of UHPC based on deep learning and wavelet time–frequency spectrum derived from acoustic emission waveform

Fracture mode categorization is essential in identifying the failure stage, evaluating the damage characteristics, and providing references for structural maintenance. Acoustic emission (AE), as a passive nondestructive technique, presents great potential in damage characterization of cementitious materials and structures. In this study, a convolutional neural network (CNN) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) integrated model for tensile, shear, and mixed cracking mode classification of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) was proposed and verified based on AE waveform features. First, four-point bending and direct shear tests for UHPC specimens were carried out, respectively, to generate AE waveform signals corresponding to different cracking modes (tensile, shear, and mixed ones). Subsequently, the collected one-dimensional AE signals were converted into two-dimensional time–frequency spectrum by continuous wavelet transform. And an AE dataset was constructed after manual labeling based on the corresponding relationships between cracking modes and wavelet time–frequency spectra. Then, an automatic CNN-GRU automatic classification model was established using wavelet time–frequency spectrum images as input variables, where the CNN extracts spatial image features, and the GRU screens time dependencies and realizes final classification. The proposed CNN-GRU model achieves an accuracy of 96.17% for cracking mode classification of UHPC, which is superior both in computational accuracy and efficiency to lightweight CNN and AlexNet. Classification outcomes for UHPC specimen under four-point bending and direct shear tests revealed the proportion of tensile cracks progressively decreased with the increase of damage, while shear cracks exhibited the opposite trend. The percentage of mixed mode cracks maintained relatively stable throughout the failure stages. The model proposed in this study presents favorable performance to reveal the underlying damage evolution mechanism during UHPC fracture, which can also provide references for the cracking mode classification of other cementitious materials and structures.

Incidence Trends of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Korea for 11 Years (2006–2017)

Background/Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by joint damage. However, no incidence analyses have been conducted on a Korean population since 2013. We aimed to calculate the incidence of RA and examine trends using complete Korean National Health Insurance Service claims data from 2007. Methods: We used 16 years of Korean NHIS claims data from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2017. Patients were defined as having RA when diagnosed with ICD-10 codes M05 and M06. We set the 5-year period prior to 2006 as disease-free. Results: From 2007 to 2017, the incidence rate of RA was 35 to 43 per 100,000 individuals. The female-to-male ratio was approximately 3–3.5 to 1. The sex-standardized incidence rate was highest in the 60–69 age group but gradually declined, resulting in a reversal in 2017, with the highest incidence rate observed in the 50–59 age group. The incidence of elderly onset RA (EORA) in individuals aged &gt;60 years exhibited a decreasing trend during the study period (age 60–69, −6.45, 95% CI = −8.27 to −4.62, p &lt; 0.001; age ≥70, −6.09, 95% CI = −7.66 to −4.53, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: This study is the first to analyze the incidence trend of RA over an 11-year period. In South Korea, the incidence of RA has shown a decreasing trend since 2011; the same trend was observed in the EORA group. Young-onset RA showed the opposite trend, suggesting that RA is diagnosed earlier, due to the new RA classification criteria.

Transcriptomic profiling of backfat and muscle in Lijiang pigs with divergent body size across growth stages.

Backfat thickness is an important economic trait that affects pork quality and flavor. The Lijiang pig (LJP), a local breed in Yunnan province, China, exhibits variations in growth and body composition. However, the molecular basis for these variations is unclear. This study aimed to analyze transcriptome profiles of backfat at different growth stages in LJP with discrepant body size: two months (M2), four months, and six months. Firstly, we analyzed the gene expression differences and discovered a significantly highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at the M2 stage. Secondly, we identified four gene profiles with reverse expression trends in LJP populations with different body sizes, and the related genes mainly associated with immune response functionality. Thirdly, we observed a lower correlation in LJP with large body size at the M2 stage, with a specific enrichment of DEGs with high genetic differentiation related to neural activity. Finally, we correlated transcriptome profiles of muscle and backfat and discovered the lowest correlation at the M2 stage. Highly correlated genes exhibited more significant differences and were prominently enriched for immune response processes. This study unveils candidate genes linked to backfat growth in LJP, emphasizing the specificity of the early growth stage of backfat.

Trends in the health status of Ukrainian refugees in Norway according to month of arrival during 2022.

More than 35 000 refugees from Ukraine applied for temporary collective protection in Norway during 2022. Previous studies have shown that the refugees have poor health in several domains, and crude reports have suggested that those fleeing Ukraine at later stages have even poorer health. However, more systematic knowledge is lacking. This study aimed to analyse trends in self-reported health in a sample of adult refugees from Ukraine, by month of arrival to Norway during 2022. Data were collected via an online, digital questionnaire, in a cross-sectional study design between 28.10.22-31.01.23. Recruitment was via multiple physical and social media contact points, including asylum reception centres, municipalities, non-profit organisations, and Facebook groups for refugees in Norway. The survey included the following self-reported health outcomes: overall health, oral health, presence of long-term illnesses or disabilities, and a short version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-5). Among the 727 respondents, 82% were female, 65% were aged 30-49 years, 69% had higher education and 53% were responsible for children in Norway. There were 383 respondents who arrived between February-April (T1), 200 between May-August (T2) and 144 between September-December (T3). Compared to T1, respondents who arrived in the two later time periods were more often male, had younger age distributions, and were less likely to have completed higher education. The proportions of respondents reporting poor/very poor overall health, presence of long-term illnesses and long-term disabilities were highest in T3. Oral health and HSCL-5 showed the opposite trend, with lower proportions reporting poorer health among respondents in both later periods. Respondents in T3 were still more likely to report poor/very poor health and long-term illnesses after adjusting for sex, age group and education (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 2.71 [95%CI 1.51-4.89]) and 1.74 [1.14-2.65], respectively). Respondents who arrived later in 2022 generally reported poorer long-term health, but less psychological distress than those who arrived earlier in the year. These findings may help inform the planning of health services for refugees from Ukraine, especially in areas receiving large numbers of refugees.