The language of religious affiliation: social, emotional, and cognitive differences

Religious affiliation is an important identifying characteristic for many individuals and relates to numerous life outcomes including health, well-being, policy positions, and cognitive style. Using methods from computational linguistics, we examined language from 12,815 Facebook users in the United States and United Kingdom who indicated their religious affiliation. Religious individuals used more positive emotion words (β = .278, p < .0001) and social themes such as family (β = .242, p < .0001), while nonreligious people expressed more negative emotions like anger (β = −.427, p < .0001) and categories related to cognitive processes, like tentativeness (β = −.153, p < .0001). Nonreligious individuals also used more themes related to the body (β = −.265, p < .0001) and death (β = −.247, p < .0001). The findings offer directions for future research on religious affiliation, specifically in terms of social, emotional, and cognitive differences

DataSheet1_Effect of myopia and astigmatism deepening on the corneal biomechanical parameter stress-strain index in individuals of Chinese ethnicity.xlsx

Purpose: To investigate the differences in corneal biomechanical parameter stress–strain index (SSI) among different degrees of myopic eyes in Chinese individuals and to analyze the relevant factors of the SSI.Methods: This study analyzed the right eyes of 240 participants (240 eyes) aged 18–34 years. The participants were divided into low-, moderate-, high-, and ultra-high myopia groups according to their spherical equivalent (SE), with 60 eyes included in each group. Spherical, cylinder, and SE were measured via automatically integrated optometry. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using a non-contact tonometer. AL was measured using an IOLMaster device. Corneal curvature and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured using a Pentacam. SSI and biomechanical corrected IOP (bIOP) were measured via corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology (Corvis ST). The statistical analyses included one-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests and normal distribution histogram methods, Levene variance homogeneity tests, Pearson’s correlation analyses, multiple linear stepwise regression analyses, one-way ANOVA, and LSD t-tests.Results: The mean (±SD) age of the 240 participants was (24.97 ± 4.16) years. The SSI was positively correlated with spherical, cylinder, SE, CCT, IOP, and bIOP and negatively correlated with K1 and AL (r = 0.475, 0.371, 0.497, 0.169, 0.291, 0.144, −0.154, and −0.464, respectively; all p 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis performed with SSI as the dependent variable, and spherical, cylinder, K1, CCT, and IOP as independent variables produced the following regression equation: SSI = 0.989 + 0.017 spherical + 0.042 cylinder +0.018 IOP (R2 = 0.402, F = 31.518, p 0.05).Conclusion: SSI decreased with increasing myopia and astigmatism in the Chinese participants. The SSI was significantly lower in high and ultra-high myopia, especially ultra-high myopia. These findings indicate that increased corneal elasticity may be related to the pathogenesis of high and ultra-high myopia.</p

DataSheet2_Effect of myopia and astigmatism deepening on the corneal biomechanical parameter stress-strain index in individuals of Chinese ethnicity.xlsx

Purpose: To investigate the differences in corneal biomechanical parameter stress–strain index (SSI) among different degrees of myopic eyes in Chinese individuals and to analyze the relevant factors of the SSI.Methods: This study analyzed the right eyes of 240 participants (240 eyes) aged 18–34 years. The participants were divided into low-, moderate-, high-, and ultra-high myopia groups according to their spherical equivalent (SE), with 60 eyes included in each group. Spherical, cylinder, and SE were measured via automatically integrated optometry. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using a non-contact tonometer. AL was measured using an IOLMaster device. Corneal curvature and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured using a Pentacam. SSI and biomechanical corrected IOP (bIOP) were measured via corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology (Corvis ST). The statistical analyses included one-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests and normal distribution histogram methods, Levene variance homogeneity tests, Pearson’s correlation analyses, multiple linear stepwise regression analyses, one-way ANOVA, and LSD t-tests.Results: The mean (±SD) age of the 240 participants was (24.97 ± 4.16) years. The SSI was positively correlated with spherical, cylinder, SE, CCT, IOP, and bIOP and negatively correlated with K1 and AL (r = 0.475, 0.371, 0.497, 0.169, 0.291, 0.144, −0.154, and −0.464, respectively; all p 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis performed with SSI as the dependent variable, and spherical, cylinder, K1, CCT, and IOP as independent variables produced the following regression equation: SSI = 0.989 + 0.017 spherical + 0.042 cylinder +0.018 IOP (R2 = 0.402, F = 31.518, p 0.05).Conclusion: SSI decreased with increasing myopia and astigmatism in the Chinese participants. The SSI was significantly lower in high and ultra-high myopia, especially ultra-high myopia. These findings indicate that increased corneal elasticity may be related to the pathogenesis of high and ultra-high myopia.</p

K⁺, Sr²⁺-Triggered Phase Transitions from Chiral Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline to G‑Quadruplex CTLC with Circularly Polarized Luminescence

A convenient method to prepare luminescently thermotropic liquid crystalline (TLC) with chiral centers is established by combining cationic Gemini surfactants, CnH2n+1(CH3)2N+(CH2)2N+(CH3)2CnH2n+1·Br2 (n–2–n·2Br, n = 10, 12, 14, and 16, respectively) and guanosine 5′-monophosphate disodium salt (GMP). Under thermally annealing, the complexes of surfactant-GMP (n-GMP) self-assemble into TLCs with circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) performance, except for 10-GMP. The phase structure and CPL handedness in TLCs can be regulated by changing the alkyl chain length of n–2–n·2Br. Columnar tetragonal (Colt) mesophase of 12-GMP exhibits right-handed CPL (R-CPL) emission, while chiral smectic C (SmC*) phases containing 14- or 16-GMP display left-handed CPL (L-CPL) emission. The introduction of K+ or Sr2+ triggers n-GMP to be G-quadruplexes with identical chirality and luminescence, and further regulates the phase structure and CPL property. TLCs can be transformed to be columnar rectangular (Colr) or Colt phases with R-CPL emission. We find that the mesogenic units feature the same chiral moiety can realize R- and L-CPL emitting, and prepare the tunable CPL-active LCs through natural biomolecules. These results deepen our understanding of chiral luminescence mesogens and G-quadruplex structures, providing the new insight for the fabrication of nondoped LC materials with CPL performance

Formation of Homogeneous Epinephrine-Melanin Solutions to Fabricate Electrodes for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Biosensing

The development of a simple but effective surface modification method is very important for the construction of biosensing interfaces. In this work, a postsynthetic water-soluble epinephrine-melanin (EPM) prepared from the self-polymerization of epinephrine has been demonstrated as an alternative of the widely used in situ formed polydopamine (PDA) for the surface coating of TiO2 nanoparticles and the construction of a photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensing interface. In contrast to the formation of insoluble aggregates in solution for dopamine, a homogeneous solution was obtained for epinephrine after the self-polymerization. The use of EPM as a postsynthetic material enables the surface coating of TiO2 with the simple drop-casting method. Compared with the widely used dip-coating method for in situ PDA modification, the developed drop-casting method based on the use of water-soluble postsynthetic EPM saves more time, avoids the waste of bulk solution, and undoubtedly decreases the batch-to-batch inconsistencies. The simple coating of commercially available TiO2 nanoparticles with EPM greatly enhances the PEC performance due to the charge transfer property of EPM. The application of EPM in the construction of the PEC biosensing interface was demonstrated by the immobilization of a model biorecognition element (prostate specific antigen (PSA) antibody) onto EPM modified indium tin oxide (ITO) photoanode. Sensitive detection of PSA with high selectivity and stability was obtained on the basis of the biological recognition ability of PSA antibody. This work may renew the use of postsynthetic melanin-like biopolymers in other fields

Table1_Mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy analysis in keratoconus patients from China.DOCX

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants have been implicated in keratoconus (KC). The present study aimed to characterize the mtDNA heteroplasmy profile in KC and explore the association of mitochondrial heteroplasmic levels with KC.Methods: Mitochondrial sequencing of peripheral blood samples and corneal tomography were conducted in 300 KC cases and 300 matched controls. The number of heteroplasmic and homoplasmic variants was calculated across the mitochondrial genome. Spearman’s correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the number of heteroplasmic variants and age. The association of mtDNA heteroplasmic level with KC was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Moreover, the relationship between mitochondrial heteroplasmic levels and clinical parameters was determined by linear regression analysis.Results: The distribution of mtDNA heteroplasmic variants showed the highest number of heteroplasmic variants in the non-coding region, while the COX3 gene exhibited the highest number in protein-coding genes. Comparisons of the number of heteroplasmic and homoplasmic non-synonymous variants in protein-coding genes revealed no significant differences between KC cases and controls (all p > 0.05). In addition, the number of heteroplasmic variants was positively associated with age in all subjects (r = 0.085, p = 0.037). The logistic regression analyses indicated that the heteroplasmic levels of m.16180_16181delAA was associated with KC (p C were not correlated with thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), steep keratometry (Ks), and flat keratometry (Kf) (all p > 0.05) in KC cases and controls separately.Conclusion: The current study characterized the mtDNA heteroplasmy profile in KC, and revealed that the heteroplasmic levels of m.16180_16181delAA were associated with KC.</p

Ternary Hybrid Material for High-Performance Lithium–Sulfur Battery

The rechargeable lithium–sulfur battery is a promising option for energy storage applications because of its low cost and high energy density. The electrochemical performance of the sulfur cathode, however, is substantially compromised because of fast capacity decay caused by polysulfide dissolution/shuttling and low specific capacity caused by the poor electrical conductivities of the active materials. Herein we demonstrate a novel strategy to address these two problems by designing and synthesizing a carbon nanotube (CNT)/NiFe₂O₄–S ternary hybrid material structure. In this unique material architecture, each component synergistically serves a specific purpose: The porous CNT network provides fast electron conduction paths and structural stability. The NiFe₂O₄ nanosheets afford strong binding sites for trapping polysulfide intermediates. The fine S nanoparticles well-distributed on the CNT/NiFe₂O₄ scaffold facilitate fast Li⁺ storage and release for energy delivery. The hybrid material exhibits balanced high performance with respect to specific capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability with outstandingly high Coulombic efficiency. Reversible specific capacities of 1350 and 900 mAh g^–1 are achieved at rates of 0.1 and 1 C respectively, together with an unprecedented cycling stability of ∼0.009% capacity decay per cycle over more than 500 cycles

Photoelectrochemical Biosensor for Sensitive Detection of Soluble CD44 Based on the Facile Construction of a Poly(ethylene glycol)/Hyaluronic Acid Hybrid Antifouling Interface

The serum level of soluble CD44 is directly associated with several clinicopathological parameters of malignant diseases. There is a great need for the development of an easy and cost-effective detection method for soluble CD44 for both the diagnosis and the treatment of cancers. In this work, a simple photoelectrochemical (PEC) method for the sensitive detection of serum-soluble CD44 is proposed based on the construction of a hybrid antifouling coating on the TiO2 substrate. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly­(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are co-immobilized using a biomimetic one-step surface functionalization approach. The immobilized HA shows strong recognition abilities toward soluble CD44, and the synergistic antifouling effect achieved by the combination of PEG and HA improves the sensing specificity. Based on the inhibitory effect of CD44 recognition on the PEC signal of the TiO2 substrate, a PEC biosensor is developed with a wide response range and a low detection limit. The development of antibody-free biosensors may promote the application of soluble CD44 as a biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant diseases

PRISMA flow diagram.

<p>PRISMA flow diagram.</p

Association of the Ephreceptor Tyrosinekinase-Type A2 (<i>EPHA2</i>) Gene Polymorphism rs3754334 with Age-Related Cataract Risk: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Recent clinical studies have assessed the association of various polymorphisms on the ephreceptor tyrosinekinase-type A2 (<i>EPHA2</i>) with the risk for age-related cataract in populations of different ethnic/racial backgrounds, but inconsistent results have been obtained.</p><p>Objective</p><p>This meta-analysis aimed to identify if any polymorphism(s) might be commonly present in different ethnic/racial populations in association with the age-related cataract risk.</p><p>Methods</p><p>The PubMed and Web of Science databases (up to December 1, 2012) were searched for clinical studies on the association of <i>EPHA2</i> polymorphisms with the risk for age-related cataract. The polymorphisms that were assessed in all eligible studies were analyzed for their association with the risk for age-related cataract using different models.</p><p>Results</p><p>Three studies were identified, which were conducted, respectively, on white Americans in the Unites States and on Asians in Indian and China. The polymorphism, rs3754334, was the only one studied in all these three studies and was therefore the focus of this meta-analysis. No publication bias or heterogeneity was found. Our analysis results demonstrated that rs3754334 was associated with the risk of any cataracts in the recessive (OR = 1.202, 95% CI: 1.051–1.375, P = 0.007) and Codominant (OR = 1.194, 95% CI: 1.035–1.378, P = 0.015) models, but its association with cortical or nuclear phenotype of age-related cataract was not evident.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Polymorphism, rs3754334, might be a variant on the <i>EPHA2</i> gene that is commonly associated with the risk for age-related cataract in different ethnical and geographical populations.</p></div