Validation of the Chinese version of the Smartphone Distraction Scale.

The Smartphone Distraction Scale (SDS) is a novel assessment scale for smartphone distraction; it comprises 16 items that cover attention impulsiveness, online vigilance, multitasking, and emotion regulation. This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the SDS in college students in China. After translating and culturally adapting the original version of the SDS into Chinese, the scale was tested on a sample of 1302 college students.The validity and reliability were assessed utilizing SPSS 25.0, AMOS 25.0 and Mplus 8.3. Parallel analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed for the validity analysis. Criterion-related validity for the SDS was tested by correlation analysis with the mobile phone addiction scale (MPAI). The reliability analysis was tested by Cronbach's alpha coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). EFA and parallel analysis revealed a three-factor structure. The EFA identified factor loadings on three factors (14 items), explaining a total variance of 60.73 %. The CFA model fit was good (χ2/df = 4.644, RMSEA = 0.047, GFI = 0.930, CFI = 0.955, SRMR = 0.047), and the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis indicated measurement invariance for gender. Both convergent and discriminant validity were established. The criterion-related validity was established based on a significant correlation (r = 0.758) with the MPAI. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.916, and the split-half reliability was 0.769, demonstrating a satisfactory internal consistency. The score of ICC was 0.907, demonstrating the stability of the SDS. Based on these data, the Chinese version of the SDS demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability in a sample of college students.

Development and validation of a risk prediction model for arthritis in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in China.

Background: Considering its high prevalence, estimating the risk of arthritis in middle-aged and older Chinese adults is of particular interest. This study was conducted to develop a risk prediction model for arthritis in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in China. Methods: Our study included a total of 9599 participants utilising data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Participants were randomly assigned to training and validation groups at a 7:3 ratio. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify the potential predictors of arthritis. Based on the results of the multivariate binary logistic regression, a nomogram was constructed, and its predictive performance was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The accuracy and discrimination ability were assessed using calibration curve analysis, while decision curve analysis (DCA) was performed to evaluate the net clinical benefit rate. Results: A total of 9599 participants were included in the study, of which 6716 and 2883 were assigned to the training and validation groups, respectively. A nomogram was constructed to include age, hypertension, heart diseases, gender, sleep time, body mass index (BMI), residence address, the parts of joint pain, and trouble with body pains. The results of the ROC curve suggested that the prediction model had a moderate discrimination ability (AUC >0.7). The calibration curve of the prediction model demonstrated a good predictive accuracy. The DCA curves revealed a favourable net benefit for the prediction model. Conclusions: The predictive model demonstrated good discrimination, calibration, and clinical validity, and can help community physicians and clinicians to preliminarily assess the risk of arthritis in middle-aged and older community-dwelling adults.

The relationship between living alone or not and depressive symptoms in older adults: a parallel mediation effect of sleep quality and anxiety.

BACKGROUND: With modernization and ageing in China, the population of older adults living alone is increasing. Living alone may be a potential risk factor for depressive symptoms. However, no parallel mediation model analysis has investigated the mediating factors for living alone or not (living arrangements) and depressive symptoms. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a total number of 10,980 participants from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), 1699 of whom lived alone and 9281 of whom did not live alone. Binary logistic regression and parallel mediation effect model were used to explore the relationship between living alone or not and depressive symptoms and possible mediation effects. Bootstrap analysis was used to examine the mediation effect of living alone or not on depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Compared to the participants who were not living alone, the living alone group had a higher rate of depressive symptoms. The binary logistic regression showed that after adjusting for other covariates, the risk of depressive symptoms was approximately 0.21 times higher for living alone compared to not living alone (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.37). Further, the results of the bootstrap analysis supported the partial mediating role of sleep quality and anxiety. Mediation analysis revealed that sleep quality and anxiety partially mediate the relationship between living alone and depressive symptoms (ß = 0.008, 95% CI [0.003, 0.014]; ß = 0.015, 95% CI [0.008, 0.024], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep quality and anxiety were identified as partially parallel mediators between living alone or not and depressive symptoms. Older adults living alone with poorer sleep quality and more pronounced anxiety were positively associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms. Older adults living alone should be encouraged to engage in social activities that may improve sleep quality, relieve anxiety, and improve feelings of loneliness caused by living alone. Meanwhile, older adults living alone should receive attention and support to alleviate their depressive symptoms.

Waterwheel-inspired high-performance hybrid electromagnetic-triboelectric nanogenerators based on fluid pipeline energy harvesting for power supply systems and data monitoring.

In this work, a self-powered system based on a triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid pipeline energy harvesting module is demonstrated. Rabbit fur and poly tetra fluoroethylene (PTFE) are used as triboelectric electrodes to fabricate disk-type soft-contact triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) instead of traditional direct-contact TENGs to collect the mechanical energy of water flow and convert it into electrical energy. This design has a stable electrical output and gives an improved durability. Its simple fabrication process enables excellent potential for practical applications in industry. In addition, the hybridization of electromagnetic generator module and TENGs module to form a triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator (TEHNG) can improve the electrical output performance, especially the current output. TEHNG cannot only power small electronic devices, such as lighting systems, but also collect independent fluid energy and monitor data signals simultaneously in harsh environments, such as fluid energy harvesting in industrial production pipelines and temperature and humidity in fluid environments. This work provides an efficient strategy to harvest multiple energies simultaneously, significantly increasing the yield and promoting the application of TENGs in engineering.

Preparation of Bi/BiOBr sensitized titania nanorod arrays via a one-pot solvothermal method and construction of kanamycin photoelectrochemical aptasensors.

In this work, a photoelectrochemical (PEC) aptasensor for detecting kanamycin (KAN) was designed based on an aptamer modified Bi/BiOBr/titania nanorod array (TiO2 NRA). Bi/BiOBr was loaded onto the TiO2 NRA via a one-pot solvothermal method using glucose as a reductant. The p-n heterojunction structure constructed from chrysanthemums like BiOBr and the TiO2 NRA improves the electron transfer rate. Combined with metal Bi with the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, it further increases the absorption range of visible light and enhances the light response performance of the PEC aptasensor. The KAN aptamer is fixed to the Bi/BiOBr/TiO2 NRA photoelectric material through the CN structure. Once the aptamer precisely captures KAN molecules, photocurrent changes are generated to realize the detection of KAN. The designed PEC aptasensor shows good detection performance in the linear response range of 1 pM-200 nM, and the detection limit is 0.7 pM (S/N = 3). The aptasensor was applied to the determination of KAN in milk with satisfactory results.

A Visible Light Driven Photoelectrochemical Chloramphenicol Aptasensor Based on a Gold Nanoparticle-Functionalized 3D Flower-like MoS2/TiO2 Heterostructure.

Developing a photoactive material by combining the characteristics of a wide light response range and effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs remains a huge challenge for the construction of a photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform. Herein, a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)/MoS2/TiO2 composite was prepared through the facile hydrothermal method coupled with an in situ photoreduction technology. Benefiting from both the compositional and structure merits, the composite not only extends the absorption range to visible light but also enhances the photoelectric conversion efficiency by transferring photogenerated electrons into the conduction band of semiconductors from the plasmonic AuNP. Meanwhile, the thiolated aptamers were attached to the surface of AuNP/MoS2/TiO2 composites through the Au-S bonding to construct a visible light driven PEC aptasensor for ultrasensitive detection chloramphenicol (CAP). In the presence of CAP, the aptamers anchored on the surface of the photoactive materials could specifically recognize CAP and interact with it to form a bioaffinity complex with a steric hindrance effect, resulting in the rapid decrease of photocurrent responses. Based on this photocurrent suppression strategy, the constructed PEC aptasensing platform exhibited a high sensitivity with a wide linear range from 5 pM to 100 nM and a low detection limit of 0.5 pM.

Improved methanogenesis in anaerobic wastewater treatment by magnetite@polyaniline (Fe3O4@PANI) composites.

The magnetite@polyaniline (Fe3O4@PANI) composites with different Fe3O4 loadings were prepared, and their effect on methane production in anaerobic systems was investigated. The Fe3O4@PANI composite with a 40% loading of Fe3O4 showed a better performance on accelerating methane production rate than other composites. The methane production rate was increased by 26.98% at the Fe3O4@PANI dosage of 0.6 g L-1. The results of the contact angle and CLSM revealed that Fe3O4@PANI had a good bio-affinity and contact directly with bacteria and archaea. Then the mechanisms related to the enhancement of methane production by the composites were explored by the species annotation and enzyme activity. It showed that Fe3O4@PANI promoted the enrichment of DIET-related functional bacteria and archaea and improved the enzyme activity related to the acetoclastic methanogenic pathway.

Nischarin downregulation attenuates cell injury induced by oxidative stress via Wnt signaling.

Nischarin (NISCH) is a key protein functioning as a molecular scaffold and thereby hosting interactions with several protein partners. Here, we aimed to investigate whether NISCH downregulation could protect rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells against oxidative stress-induced injury using a model of cell injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Cell viability was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell apoptosis rate was evaluated using flow cytometry. The expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and NISCH were examined via Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining analyses. The expressions of NISCH, glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) and T-cell factor-1 (TCF-1) were examined using Western blot analysis. The results showed that incubation of H2O2 for 48 h significantly decreased the cell viability, increased the cell apoptosis rate and the NISCH expression in PC12 cells, whereas NISCH downregulation blocked the effects of H2O2 on cells. In addition, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly reduced, and the expression of Bax and caspase-3 were significantly increased by H2O2 treatment. However, these effects were partially inhibited by the downregulation of NISCH. Furthermore, H2O2 significantly weakened the transduction of Wnt signaling, including the increases of GSK-3ß and TCF-1 expressions and the decrease of ß-catenin expression, while NISCH downregulation attenuated the effect of H2O2 on Wnt signaling. Moreover, inhibition of the Wnt pathway further decreased the cell viability and promoted the cell apoptosis induced by H2O2 in PC12 cells. Our results suggest that NISCH downregulation may protect cells against oxidative stress-induced injury through regulating the transduction of Wnt signaling.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the mental vulnerability questionnaire for the undergraduate students.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of mental vulnerability questionnaire (MVQ) for undergraduate students. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design was conducted in a sample of 1217 undergraduate students. FINDINGS: The Cronbach's α of the overall scale was 0.901, the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.742, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.935. Three-factors model was got by using exploratory factor analysis, the communalities of the items were 0.646 to 0.848, explaining 75.736% variance. With confirmatory factor analysis the fit indices were chi-square/degree of freedom (CMIN/DF) = 2.796, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0947, GFI = 0.920, adjustedgoodness of fit index (AGFI) = 0.902, incremental fit index (IFI) = 0.947, root mean squareerror of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.055, Tucker Lewis index (TLI) = 0.940, root mean residual (RMR) = 0.051. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The Mental Vulnerability Questionnaire has a good reliability and validity, it can be considered as a tool to evaluate the mental vulnerability for undergraduate students.

Nischarin attenuates apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in PC12 cells.

Nischarin (NISCH) is a cytoplasmic protein known to serve an inhibitory role in breast cancer cell apoptosis, migration and invasion. Recently, NISCH has been reported to be involved in the regulation of spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the molecular mechanism is still unclear. Oxidative stress contributes to tissue injury and cell apoptosis during the development of various diseases, including SCI. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of NISCH in the regulation of apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in PC12 cells. H2O2 was used to establish an oxidative stress model in PC12 cells. Apoptosis levels were examined using flow cytometry analysis, and the expression of NISCH, Bcl-2, Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) and caspase-3 were examined using western blot and immunofluorescence staining analyses. The results demonstrated that treatment with 100 µM H2O2 significantly increased the apoptotic rate and expression of NISCH in PC12 cells. At 48 h following incubation with 100 µM H2O2, NISCH downregulation partially inhibited apoptosis of PC12 cells. In addition, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly reduced and the expression of Bax and caspase-3 were significantly increased by H2O2 treatment. These effects were also partially inhibited by the downregulation of NISCH. The authors of the present study therefore hypothesize that NISCH may function as a pro-apoptotic protein that participates in the regulation of oxidative stress, and NISCH downregulation may protect cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

Pharmacological Inhibition of O-GlcNAcase Enhances Autophagy in Brain through an mTOR-Independent Pathway.

The glycosylation of nucleocytoplasmic proteins with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine residues (O-GlcNAc) is conserved among metazoans and is particularly abundant within brain. O-GlcNAc is involved in diverse cellular processes ranging from the regulation of gene expression to stress response. Moreover, O-GlcNAc is implicated in various diseases including cancers, diabetes, cardiac dysfunction, and neurodegenerative diseases. Pharmacological inhibition of O-GlcNAcase (OGA), the sole enzyme that removes O-GlcNAc, reproducibly slows neurodegeneration in various Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models manifesting either tau or amyloid pathology. These data have stimulated interest in the possibility of using OGA-selective inhibitors as pharmaceuticals to alter the progression of AD. The mechanisms mediating the neuroprotective effects of OGA inhibitors, however, remain poorly understood. Here we show, using a range of methods in neuroblastoma N2a cells, in primary rat neurons, and in mouse brain, that selective OGA inhibitors stimulate autophagy through an mTOR-independent pathway without obvious toxicity. Additionally, OGA inhibition significantly decreased the levels of toxic protein species associated with AD pathogenesis in the JNPL3 tauopathy mouse model as well as the 3×Tg-AD mouse model. These results strongly suggest that OGA inhibitors act within brain through a mechanism involving enhancement of autophagy, which aids the brain in combatting the accumulation of toxic protein species. Our study supports OGA inhibition being a feasible therapeutic strategy for hindering the progression of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, these data suggest more targeted strategies to stimulate autophagy in an mTOR-independent manner may be found within the O-GlcNAc pathway. These findings should aid the advancement of OGA inhibitors within the clinic.

Buyang Huanwu decoction up-regulates Notch1 gene expression in injured spinal cord.

Expression of genes in the Notch signaling pathway is altered in the injured spinal cord, which indicates that Notch participates in repair after spinal cord injury. Buyang Huanwu decoction, a traditional Chinese herbal preparation, can promote the growth of nerve cells and nerve fibers; however, it is unclear whether Buyang Huanwu decoction affects the Notch signaling pathway in injured spinal cord. In this study, a rat model was established by injuring the T10 spinal cord. At 2 days after injury, rats were intragastrically administered 2 mL of 0.8 g/mL Buyang Huanwu decoction daily until sacrifice. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that at 7, 14 and 28 days after injury, the expression of Notch1 was increased in the Buyang Huanwu decoction group compared with controls. These findings confirm that Buyang Huanwu decoction can promote the expression of Notch1 in rats with incomplete spinal cord injury, and may indicate a mechanism to promote the repair of spinal cord injury.

Protein hairy enhancer of split-1 expression during differentiation of muscle-derived stem cells into neuron-like cells.

Muscle-derived stem cells were isolated from the skeletal muscle of Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats aged 3 days old. Cells at passage 5 were incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum, 20 µg/L nerve growth factor, 20 µg/L basic fibroblast growth factor and 1% (v/v) penicillin for 6 days. Cells presented with long processes, similar to nerve cells. Connections were formed between cell processes. Immunocytochemical staining with neuron specific enolase verified that cells differentiated into neuron-like cells. Immunofluorescence cytochemistry and western blot results revealed that the expression of protein hairy enhancer of split-1 was significantly reduced. These results indicate that low expression of protein hairy enhancer of split-1 participates in the differentiation of muscle-derived stem cells into neuron-like cells.