Cardiorespiratory fitness as a mediator between body fat rate and executive function in college students

PurposeTo examine whether body fat rate (BF%) is associated with cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) mediates the association between BF% and Executive function (EF) in young adults.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 226 college students were recruited from an university. Flanker, 2-back, and odder and shifting tasks were used to assess EF. The incremental cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed, and maximal oxygen consumption was recorded during test. The body composition measuring instrument was used to evaluate the participants’ BF%.ResultsThe BF% of college students was negatively correlated with each EF, BF% was negatively correlated with CRF, and CRF was negatively correlated with EF (P< 0.001). Structural equation modeling (SEM) and simultaneous analysis of several groups were used to construct mediator model. The CRF of college students plays a partial mediating role between BF% and EF, and the mediating effect accounts for 48.8% of the total effect value. Sex has no moderate effect on the relationship between BF%, CRF, and EF.ConclusionsCollege students with high BF% can improve their CRF by strengthening physical exercise, thereby indirectly improving their EF. Therefore, college students who have a higher body fat percentage should be compensated for engaging in physical exercise in order to enhance their CRF and mitigate the detrimental effects of obesity and overweight on EF

Genesis of a giant Paleoproterozoic strata-bound magnesite deposit: Constraints from Mg isotopes

The final publication is available at Elsevier via https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2016.06.020 © 2016. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Giant strata-bound magnesite deposits are absent in modern and most Phanerozoic sedimentary environments but occur predominantly in Precambrian strata. These deposits may have formed directly through precipitation of evolved Mg-rich seawater in an evaporative shallow-marine setting or, alternatively, by epigenetic–hydrothermal replacement of the Mg-rich carbonate precursor. To test these hypotheses, we obtained the first Mg isotope data from the world’s largest strata-bound magnesite deposit belt, hosted by the ca. 2.1 Ga Dashiqiao Formation in Northeast China. The Mg isotope compositions (d26Mg) of most magnesite ores in the Huaziyu deposit are heavier (–0.75 ± 0.26‰) than most Proterozoic sedimentary dolostones. The Mg isotope compositions and major and trace element data indicate that the magnesites are probably not of hydrothermal origin. Instead, a Mg-rich carbonate precursor precipitated from evaporating seawater in a semi-closed system. Diagenetic brines altered the Mg-rich carbonate precursor to magnesite. Subsequently, recrystallization during regional metamorphism produced coarsely crystalline and saddle magnesite. These interpretations are consistent with the geological features and other geochemical data (element concentrations and C and O isotopes) for the magnesite ores. Hence, we interpret the formation of the Huaziyu magnesite deposit to be dominated by evaporative sedimentation and brine diagenesis.Natural Science Foundation of China || (41203004) MLR Public Benefit Research Foundation of China || (201211074) NSERC Discovery Gran

A multi-isotope approach towards constraining the origin of large-scale Paleoproterozoic B-(Fe) mineralization in NE China

The final publication is available at Elsevier via https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2017.01.030 © 2017. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Borate ore deposits occur predominantly in Phanerozoic evaporative sedimentary environments but are scarce in Precambrian strata. However, massive B- and Mg-rich borate deposits are abundant in the Paleoproterozoic strata of Northeast (NE) China. In addition, several of these borate deposits are dominated by Fe (e.g., >60% Fe2O3 content in the Wengquangou deposit). To constrain the origin of these unusual deposits, we obtained B, Fe, and Mg isotope data on the wall rocks and ores of the Mg-rich Houxianyu borate deposit and the Fe-rich Wengquangou borate deposit in NE China. The d11B values of the borate deposits (10.7 ± 4.4‰, n = 15) are higher than most types of igneous and non-evaporative sedimentary rocks, suggesting that B is of evaporative sedimentary origin. However, the borate deposits have a limited range of d56Fe values near 0‰ (0.05 ± 0.18‰, n = 24), which is similar to igneous rocks and thus points to a magmatic origin for the Fe. The d26Mg values of the ores and associated rocks ( 0.52 ± 0.34‰, n = 24) are intermediate between Mg-rich carbonate rocks and igneous rocks, suggesting a mixed sedimentary and magmatic origin for the Mg. Regional metamorphism and intense deformation modified the deposits significantly by promoting metasomatic alteration of the igneous rocks and evaporite minerals, thus resulting in mixing of magmatic and sedimentary-evaporative sources as well as recrystallization of the sedimentary borate precursors to metamorphic borate minerals. Hence, the B, Fe, and Mg isotope data together with geological and mineralogical observations indicate that formation of the Paleoproterozoic B-(Fe) deposits in NE China involved a three-stage process: enrichment of B and Mg by evaporative sedimentation, introduction of Fe and additional Mg by volcanism, and modification by regional metamorphism/metasomatism.NSFC || (No. 41203004) NSFC || (No. 4127306 CAGS Research Fund || (YYWF201603) NSERC Discovery Grant || (RGPIN-435930

Basaltic and Solution Reference Materials for Iron, Copper and Zinc Isotope Measurements

Iron, Cu and Zn stable isotope systems are applied in constraining a variety of geochemical and environmental processes. Secondary reference materials have been developed by the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences (CAGS), in collaboration with other participating laboratories, comprising three solutions (CAGS-Fe, CAGS-Cu and CAGS-Zn) and one basalt (CAGS-Basalt). These materials exhibit sufficient homogeneity and stability for application in Fe, Cu and Zn isotopic ratio determinations. Reference values were determined by inter-laboratory analytical comparisons involving up to eight participating laboratories employing MC-ICP-MS techniques, based on the unweighted means of submitted results. Isotopic compositions are reported in per mil notation, based on reference materials IRMM-014 for Fe, NIST SRM 976 for Cu and IRMM-3702 for Zn. Respective reference values of CAGS-Fe, CAGS-Cu and CAGS-Zn solutions are as follows: δ56Fe = 0.83 ± 0.06 and δ57Fe = 1.20 ± 0.12, δ65Cu = 0.57 ± 0.05, and δ66Zn = -0.79 ± 0.12 and δ68Zn = -1.65 ± 0.24, respectively. Those of CAGS-Basalt are δ56Fe = 0.15 ± 0.05, δ57Fe = 0.22 ± 0.05, δ65Cu = 0.12 ± 0.07, δ66Zn = 0.17 ± 0.11, and δ68Zn = 0.34 ± 0.21 (2s)

Challenges in quantifying changes in the global water cycle

Human influences have likely already impacted the large-scale water cycle but natural variability and observational uncertainty are substantial. It is essential to maintain and improve observational capabilities to better characterize changes. Understanding observed changes to the global water cycle is key to predicting future climate changes and their impacts. While many datasets document crucial variables such as precipitation, ocean salinity, runoff, and humidity, most are uncertain for determining long-term changes. In situ networks provide long time-series over land but are sparse in many regions, particularly the tropics. Satellite and reanalysis datasets provide global coverage, but their long-term stability is lacking. However, comparisons of changes among related variables can give insights into the robustness of observed changes. For example, ocean salinity, interpreted with an understanding of ocean processes, can help cross-validate precipitation. Observational evidence for human influences on the water cycle is emerging, but uncertainties resulting from internal variability and observational errors are too large to determine whether the observed and simulated changes are consistent. Improvements to the in situ and satellite observing networks that monitor the changing water cycle are required, yet continued data coverage is threatened by funding reductions. Uncertainty both in the role of anthropogenic aerosols, and due to large climate variability presently limits confidence in attribution of observed changes

Reemerging superconductivity at 48 K across quantum criticality in iron chalcogenides

Pressure plays an essential role in the induction1 and control2,3 of superconductivity in iron-based superconductors. Substitution of a smaller rare-earth ion for the bigger one to simulate the pressure effects has surprisingly raised the superconducting transition temperature Tc to the record high 55 K in these materials4,5. However, Tc always goes down after passing through a maximum at some pressure and the superconductivity eventually tends to disappear at sufficiently high pressures1-3. Here we show that the superconductivity can reemerge with a much higher Tc after its destruction upon compression from the ambient-condition value of around 31 K in newly discovered iron chalcogenide superconductors. We find that in the second superconducting phase the maximum Tc is as high as 48.7 K for K0.8Fe1.70Se2 and 48 K for (Tl0.6Rb0.4)Fe1.67Se2, setting the new Tc record in chalcogenide superconductors. The presence of the second superconducting phase is proposed to be related to pressure-induced quantum criticality. Our findings point to the potential route to the further achievement of high-Tc superconductivity in iron-based and other superconductors.Comment: 20 pages and 7 figure