A latent profile analysis of sleep disturbance in relation to mental health among college students in China

AimsThis study aimed to examine the subtype classification characteristics of sleep disturbance (SD) in college students and their associations with sample characteristic factors and mental health outcomes.MethodsThe sample comprised 4,302 college students (Mean age = 19.92 ± 1.42 years, 58.6% females). The Youth Self-Rating Insomnia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, 8-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences, and 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were used to assess adolescents’ sleep disturbance, depressive symptoms, psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), and resilience. Latent profile analysis, logistic regression, and liner regression analysis were used to analyze the data.ResultsThree subtypes of SD in college students were identified: the high SD profile (10.6%), the mild SD profile (37.5%), and the no SD profile (51.9%). Compared with college students in the “no SD” profile, risk factors for “high SD” include being male and poor parental marital status. Sophomores were found to predict the “high SD” profile or “mild SD” profile relative to the “no SD” profile. College students in the “mild SD” profile or “high SD” profile were more likely to have a higher level of depressive symptoms and PLEs, while a lower level of resilience.ConclusionThe findings highlighted that target intervention is urgently needed for male college students, sophomores, and those with poor parental marital status in the “mild SD” profile or “high SD” profile

Measurements of Milli-Newton Surface Tension Forces with Tilted Fiber Bragg Gratings

Small lateral forces (lower than 0.1 N) cannot normally be measured with conventional single-mode fiber-based sensors because of the high value of their Young modulus (\u3e70 GPa). Here we demonstrate the measurement of lateral forces in the range from 0.2 to 1.4 × 10−3 N with a tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) in conventional single-mode fiber pushed against the surface tension (ST) of a bead of water. The measured transmission changes of individual cladding mode resonances of the TFBG corresponding to these force values are of the order of 29 dB. Separate measurements of the contact angle between the surface of the water and the fiber are used to calibrate the sensor with help from the known value of ST for water. Once calibrated, a TFBG can be used to measure unknown forces in the same range or to measure an unknown ST, provided a separate force measurement is available

Application of in vitro Drug Metabolism Studies in Chemical Structure Optimization for the Treatment of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP)

Currently no approved treatment exists for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) patients, and disease progression results in severe restriction of joint function and premature mortality. LDN-193189 has been demonstrated to be efficacious in a mouse FOP disease model after oral administration. To support species selection for drug safety evaluation and to guide structure optimization for back-up compounds, in vitro metabolism of LDN-193189 was investigated in liver microsome and cytosol fractions of mouse, rat, dog, rabbit, monkey and human. Metabolism studies included analysis of reactive intermediate formation using glutathione and potassium cyanide (KCN) and analysis of non-P450 mediated metabolites in cytosol fractions of various species. Metabolite profiles and metabolic soft spots of LDN-193189 were elucidated using LC/UV and mass spectral techniques. The in vitro metabolism of LDN-193189 was significantly dependent on aldehyde oxidase, with formation of the major NIH-Q55 metabolite. The piperazinyl moiety of LDN-193189 was liable to NADPH-dependent metabolism which generated reactive iminium intermediates, as confirmed through KCN trapping experiments, and aniline metabolites (M337 and M380), which brought up potential drug safety concerns. Subsequently, strategies were employed to avoid metabolic liabilities leading to the synthesis of Compounds 1, 2, and 3. This study demonstrated the importance of metabolite identification for the discovery of novel and safe drug candidates for the treatment of FOP and helped medicinal chemists steer away from potential metabolic liabilities

Microbial community structure characteristics among different karst aquifer systems, and its potential role in modifying hydraulic properties of karst aquifers

Little is known about how microbial activity affects the hydraulic properties of karst aquifers. To explore the potential impacts of microbial activity on the hydraulic properties of karst aquifers, microbiological analysis, heat tracer, isotope (dissolved inorganic carbon isotope, δ13CDIC) and aqueous geochemical analyses were conducted at six monitoring wells in Northern Guangdong Province, China. Greater hydraulic conductivity corresponded to a low temperature gradient to an extent; the temperature gradient in karst groundwater aquifers can reflect the degree of dissolution. Higher HCO3− concentrations coupled with lower d-excess and pH values at B2 and B6 reflect potential microbial activity (e.g., Sulfuricurvum kujiense) causing carbonate dissolution. Microbial activity or the input of anthropogenic acids, as evidenced by significantly more positive δ13CDIC values, potentially affect carbonate dissolution in deep karst aquifers, which eventually alters hydraulic properties of karst aquifer. However, more direct evidence is needed to quantify the effects of microbial activity on carbonate dissolution in karst aquifers

Buckling Analysis of a Large Shelter with Composites

We present here linear and nonlinear finite element analyses of a newly designed deployable rapid assembly shelter (DRASH J) manufactured by DHS Systems. The structural analysis is carried out in three stages. Firstly, single composite tubes (struts) under three-point bending are modeled with five layers of orthotropic materials in three different orientations and the simulation results are compared with the actual test data for validation. Secondly, a comprehensive structural model for the entire shelter is constructed with the consideration of two types of strut scissor points, namely natural and forced scissor (crossing) points, as well as partial-fixed hub joints, which allow rotations along individual hub slots (grooves). Finally, a simplified structural model is created by introducing fixed joints for the scissor points as well as rigid links for the hubs. With sufficient verifications with experiments and different modeling methods, linear and nonlinear finite element analyses are then carried out for both the comprehensive and simplified shelter models. Based on the simulation results, we are able to identify a few critical issues pertaining to proper design and modifications of such shelter systems, such as various end wall supports pertaining to the overall structural stability

Simulation of Piston Effects on Platform Screen Doors Considering Air Leakage

The complex wind effects around platform screen doors (PSDs) caused by train-induced piston wind effect and positive micropressure waves in subway station platforms are investigated. Numerical modeling of the wind field around full-scale PSDs with real gaps under different inflow conditions is developed to analyze the pressure distributions on and around the PSDs and the corresponding recirculation regions in the frontal and rear PSD areas with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. An equivalent porous media model is developed to obtain the relationship between the pressure difference and wind velocity based on Darcy–Forchheimer’s Law. It includes a viscosity loss term and an inertial loss term in the simulation of the air leakage flow generated from the PSD gap. The coefficients of these two terms are estimated from the CFD results from the full-scale models. The complicated flow field originated from the gaps is the main cause of the large wind pressure on the PSD, and the flow velocity on the platform may significantly affect the comfort of pedestrians and of the safety design of the PSD system

An Innovative Method for Project Transaction Mode Design Based on Case-Based Reasoning: A Chinese Case Study

Aiming at the design of a project transaction mode, the case-based reasoning (CBR) method is used as a methodology to build a case-based reasoning system based on project performance predictions. Thirty-four cases are initially selected for the practical application. Based on the classical CBR, the performance forecast is added, an improved continuous variable interpolation scoring method is proposed, and three types of manual revision methods are proposed: owner’s preference for the project transaction mode, extreme value, and secondary learning. The innovative method is verified with Nanjing HF Project as an example, and the results show that the case-based reasoning system can optimize the selection and design of the project transaction mode, providing a certain guarantee for project performance and facilitating the transfer of construction experience and knowledge within the construction industry