The objective of the study is to assess the TNF-α levels in PCOS patients and healthy controls. A comprehensive electronic search in Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database was conducted ...up to July 2016. Random-effects model was used to estimate the standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twenty-nine studies with a total of 1960 participants (1046 PCOS patients and 914 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. The TNF-α levels in PCOS patients were significantly higher than those in controls (random-effects, SMD = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.28-0.92, P<0.001). With regard to the subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity, study quality, methods, and BMI, significantly high TNF-α levels were found in patients with PCOS in almost all of these subgroups. In the subgroup stratified by HOMA-IR ratio and T ratio, significant differences were only observed in the subgroups with HOMA-IR ratio of >1.72(SMD = 0.967, 95% CI = 0.103-1.831, P = 0.028, I2 = 93.5%) and T ratio>2.10 (SMD = 1.420, 95% CI = 0.429-2.411, P = 0.005, I2 = 96.1%). By meta-regression it was suggested that ethnicity might contribute little to the heterogeneity between the included studies. Through cumulative meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis it was supposed that the higher TNF-α levels of PCOS patients compared to healthy controls was stable and reliable. This meta-analysis suggests that the circulating TNF-α levels in women with PCOS are significantly higher than those in healthy controls. It may be involved in promoting insulin resistance and androgen excess of PCOS.
The large-scale consumption and discharge of antibiotic tetracycline (TC) urge us to search for a highly efficient and eco-friendly technology to remove it. In this work, face-contact ZnSnO
3
@g-C
3
...N
4
core–shell heterojunction was successfully constructed via one-step calcination route. The experimental data indicate that the photocatalytic TC removal performance of ZnSnO
3
@g-C
3
N
4
(1:3) reaches 90.8% within 120 min under the same condition compared with bulk g-C
3
N
4
(32% degradation) and ZnSnO
3
(9% degradation). The improved photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the formation of core–shell structure between ZnSnO
3
and g-C
3
N
4
which not only enlarges visible light response but also effectively separates electron–hole pairs. Meanwhile, this face-contact ZSO-CN photocatalyst displays much more contact interfaces than the point-contact ZSO-CN photocatalyst, and the contact interfaces could play the part of efficient channels for charge transfer. Finally, the photocatalytic reaction mechanism on ZnSnO
3
@g-C
3
N
4
was also stated at length through active species capture and electron spin resonance (ESR) tests. And the possible intermediates products were discussed through the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis.
Aims and objectives
The study aimed to (1) investigate the changes in maternal and paternal depression, along with social support, across the 6‐month postpartum period; (2) explore the relationships ...between maternal and paternal depression and social support during the 6‐month postpartum period; and (3) compare the differences in postpartum depression and social support between mothers and fathers at 2–3 days, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postpartum.
Background
An increasing body of evidence now shows that postpartum depression affects both mothers and fathers. The notable increase in postpartum depression in China is particularly concerning.
Design
A longitudinal study was conducted, guided by the STROBE checklist.
Methods
122 pairs of parents were recruited from September 2020 to October 2021 at a teaching hospital in Guangzhou, China. Data were collected from each parent at 2–3 days, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postpartum, using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Social Support Rating Scale. We also acquired socio‐demographic and obstetric data at 2–3 days postpartum.
Results
Maternal depression was lowest at 2–3 days postpartum compared with that measured at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postpartum. Maternal and paternal social support was highest at 2–3 days postpartum compared with that measured at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postpartum. Maternal depression was significantly correlated with paternal depression while maternal social support was significantly correlated with paternal social support at different time points.
Conclusion
Postpartum depression in mothers and social support in both mothers and fathers, showed significant changes during the 6‐month postpartum period.
Relevance to clinical practice
Healthcare providers should pay attention to the mental health of both parents, view them as a team and provide both family‐based and women‐cantered interventions.
Herein, a unique 0D/2D nanodiamonds (NDs)/hematite (Fe
2
O
3
) composite photocatalyst was constructed by the solvothermal method and then was used to remove tetracycline pollutants in the aqueous ...solution, where the NDs nanoparticles were tightly anchored on the surface of hexagonal Fe
2
O
3
nanosheets. The superior photocatalytic performance (85%, 180 min) was obtained by the optimum 15-NDs/Fe
2
O
3
composite sample (containing 15 wt% NDs), which is approximately 4.13 times higher than that of pure Fe
2
O
3
. This is because the introduction of NDs nanoparticles not only promotes the visible-light absorption of Fe
2
O
3
, but also facilitates the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes in the interface of composite by the design of Z-scheme heterostructure. Besides, the intermediates, active species and reaction mechanism in the photocatalytic process were also discussed. This work enriches the knowledge in designing of novel 0D/2D Z-scheme heterojunction composites for photocatalysis.
Tire production is increasing every year due to the increase in vehicle sales. The generation and disposal of waste are inherent to life itself and have presented very serious problems to the human ...community in China. Recently, some research has been devoted to the use of tire-recycled steel fibers in concrete. This study is focusing on the use of tire-recycled steel fibers. Several volume ratios of tire-recycled steel fibers were used in concrete mix to fabricate and test. Reinforced concrete obtains evidence and satisfactory improvement by adding tire-recycled steel fibers, mostly in compressive strength, splitting strength, flexural tensile strength, and flexural toughness. The strength and flexural toughness of the tire-recycled steel fiber reinforced concrete are lower than those of industrial steel fibers. To obtain concrete with approximately the same strength or toughness, the content of tire-recycled steel fibers should be about 1%-2% higher than that of industrial steel fibers. In addition, the load-deflection curve tends to become fuller after the first crack, and the second peak of the load continues to increase. The steel fiber reinforced concrete is getting closer to the ideal elastic-plastic material.
Improving the salt tolerance of direct-seeding rice at the seed germination stage is a major breeding goal in many Asian rice-growing countries, where seedlings must often establish in soils with a ...high salt content. Thus, it is important to understand the genetic mechanisms of salt tolerance in rice and to screen for germplasm with salt tolerance at the seed germination stage. Here, we investigated seven seed germination-related traits under control and salt-stress conditions and conducted a genome-wide association study based on the re-sequencing of 478 diverse rice accessions.
The analysis used a mixed linear model and was based on 6,361,920 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 478 rice accessions grouped into whole, indica, and non-indica panels. Eleven loci containing 22 significant salt tolerance-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified based on the stress-susceptibility indices (SSIs) of vigor index (VI) and mean germination time (MGT). From the SSI of VI, six major loci were identified, explaining 20.2% of the phenotypic variation. From the SSI of MGT, five major loci were detected, explaining 26.4% of the phenotypic variation. Of these, seven loci on chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 11, and 12 were close to six previously identified quantitative gene loci/genes related to tolerance to salinity or other abiotic stresses. The strongest association region for the SSI of MGT was identified in a ~ 13.3 kb interval (15450039-15,463,330) on chromosome 1, near salt-tolerance quantitative trait loci controlling the Na
: K
ratio, total Na
uptake, and total K
concentration. The strongest association region for the SSI of VI was detected in a ~ 164.2 kb interval (526662-690,854) on chromosome 2 harboring two nitrate transporter family genes (OsNRT2.1 and OsNRT2.2), which affect gene expression under salt stress. The haplotype analysis indicated that OsNRT2.2 was associated with subpopulation differentiation and its minor/rare tolerant haplotype was detected.
These results provide valuable information for salt tolerance-related gene cloning and for understanding the genetic mechanisms of salt tolerance at the seed germination stage. This information will be useful to improve the salt tolerance of direct-seeding rice varieties by genomic selection or marker-assisted selection.
On the basis of the bifunctional 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)terephthalic acid (H2BTA), four three-dimensional (3D) Pb(II)/Zn(II) coordination polymers (CPs), {Zn(BTA)·1.5(DOA)} n (1), Zn(BTA) n ...(2), Pb(BTA) n (3), and Pb(BTA) n (4), have been synthesized (DOA = dioxane). Structural analyses reveal that two Zn(II)-based complexes are 3D (4,4)-c pts pseudo-supramolecular isomers for 1 and 2, and two Pb(II)-based complexes are supramolecular isomers with a 3D (4,5,6)-c net for 3 and a 3D 6-c pcu net for 4, respectively. Furthermore, the gas adsorption behaviors of complexes 1 and 2 for N2, CO2, and CH4 have been studied in detail at varying temperatures, and the results showed that the adsorption capacities to CO2 at 273 K and 1 bar are stronger than those of other gases. Meanwhile, the selectivity of 1 and 2 for CO2/CH4 was evaluated by the usage of the ideal adsorbed solution theory, whose selectivity exceeded those of reported MOFs under similar conditions. In addition, the fluorescent measurements showed that 1–4 present high sensitivity and selectivity for Fe3+/Cr2O7 2– ions. And the possible fluorescence sensing mechanism of CPs to Fe3+ and Cr2O7 2– ions was also examined.
To establish a rapid and accurate method for detecting volatile components of corn, which will guide the production of corn products beloved by consumers. The fingerprints of corns under different ...treatments, including native, washing, blanching, precooling, freezing, steaming, boiling, frying, and freeze-drying, were depicted via gas chromatography ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was found via the Venn diagram and relative odor activity value (ROAV) that n-hexanal, 1-octene-3-ol, decylaldehyde, and 2-pentylthiazole could be the key flavor compounds present in corns. In addition, according to volatile fingerprint characteristics and the aroma profile of sensory evaluation, it was found that corns could be divided into four categories, which was consistent with the results of GC-IMS. Also, the results of the sensory panel showed that steamed, boiled, and fried corns were much more popular than corns under other treatments with the panel. The results indicated that a rapid method to classify products was established by GC-IMS. A suitable processing technology could produce a specific flavor, and further refined research might be focused on finding the best way to process corns.
High dropout rates are a common problem reported in web-based studies. Understanding which risk factors interrelate with dropping out from the studies provides the option to prevent dropout by ...tailoring effective strategies.
This study aims to contribute an understanding of the predictors of web-based study dropout among psychosomatic rehabilitation patients. We investigated whether sociodemographics, voluntary interventions, physical and mental health, digital use for health and rehabilitation, and COVID-19 pandemic-related variables determine study dropout.
Patients (N=2155) recruited from 4 psychosomatic rehabilitation clinics in Germany filled in a web-based questionnaire at T1, which was before their rehabilitation stay. Approximately half of the patients (1082/2155, 50.21%) dropped out at T2, which was after the rehabilitation stay, before and during which 3 voluntary digital trainings were provided to them. According to the number of trainings that the patients participated in, they were categorized into a comparison group or 1 of 3 intervention groups. Chi-square tests were performed to examine the differences between dropout patients and retained patients in terms of sociodemographic variables and to compare the dropout rate differences between the comparison and intervention groups. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess what factors were related to study dropout.
The comparison group had the highest dropout rate of 68.4% (173/253) compared with the intervention groups' dropout rates of 47.98% (749/1561), 50% (96/192), and 42.9% (64/149). Patients with a diagnosis of combined anxiety and depressive disorder had the highest dropout rate of 64% (47/74). Younger patients (those aged <50 y) and patients who were less educated were more likely to drop out of the study. Patients who used health-related apps and the internet less were more likely to drop out of the study. Patients who remained in their jobs and patients who were infected by COVID-19 were more likely to drop out of the study.
This study investigated the predictors of dropout in web-based studies. Different factors such as patient sociodemographics, physical and mental health, digital use, COVID-19 pandemic correlates, and study design can correlate with the dropout rate. For web-based studies with a focus on mental health, it is suggested to consider these possible dropout predictors and take appropriate steps to help patients with a high risk of dropping out overcome difficulties in completing the study.
Biorefineries are fundamental for sustainable energy. This research explored the conversion of biomass-derived Levulinic acid (LA) into essential compounds γ-valerolactone (GVL) and 1,4-pentanediol ...(1,4-PDO) using the Ru2.5Mn15Al catalyst. The study underscores the role of Ru incorporation and specific promoters in enhancing catalyst efficiency. The crucial challenge is to destroy the particularly stable ring structure of GVL. The crucial roles of acidity and specific metal species in directing catalytic pathways were revealed by the detailed characterization of the catalyst's textural, acidic, reduction, and electronic properties. They provided valuable insights for sustainable chemical synthesis.
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