Leisure Time Physical Activity Preferences, Behaviors, and Hypertension: Evidence From the China Health & Nutrition Survey, 2004-2011

Background: Physical activity has been continuously declining in China. At the same time, prevalence of hypertension has dramatically increased. The associations between leisure time physical activity preference, behavior, and development of hypertension in Chinese adults remained not fully understood and few studies have examined these associations using longitudinal data. Objectives: This dissertation examined the interrelationships among leisure time activity preference, behavior, and the incidence of hypertension using longitudinal data from 2004 to 2011 in the China Health and Nutrition Survey. It also assessed the urban-rural disparities. Methods: A total of 2,687 adults were included in the analysis. Multivariate logistic regressions and proportional hazard regressions were performed to assess the associations after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, marital status, community types, region of residence, education, employment status, annual household income, smoking status, alcohol consumption, current health status, health insurance coverage, and BMI. Urban-rural differences were also investigated by stratified analysis. Results: In the sample, 62.3% were from urban, 47.4% were men, and the mean age was 40. Adjusted estimates show that leisure time activity preference was a significant predictor of actual behavior (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01-1.09); leisure time activity was a significant protector from developing hypertension (HR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.41-0.87); changes in (reduced) leisure time activity preference were associated with higher incidence of hypertension (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.13-3.28). These correlations were found to be significant among urban residents (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01-1.10, HR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.38-0.87, and OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.04-4.60 respectively) not in rural participants. Conclusions: Leisure time physical activity preference, behavior and development of hypertension were significantly correlated with each other. Changing people’s preference for leisure time activity may be helpful in hypertension prevention and control in China. In addition, health interventions in rural areas may increase residents’ access to exercise facilities and maintain their activity preference through social modelling. In urban areas, educating healthy diet and occupational physical activity pattern might be helpful

The Social Influence Enhanced by the Mass Media Broadcasting in Innovation Diffusion

Based on the Bass model and the micro-model of mass media network, we propose an agent-based threshold approach including the mutual interaction between social relationship network and mass media network. Taking the heterogeneity of individuals into account, it is found that the direct advertisement from mass media broadcasting will attract the potential adopters greatly at the beginning of innovation diffusion. In the middle of diffusion process, the previous adopters formalize a positive feedback to the potential adopters via mass media broadcasting. The social collective effect can be strongly enhanced if the potential adopter prefer to mass media broadcasting. Furthermore, it is found that the complexity of the social relationship network may postpone the social collective effect

Research on Value Assessment Methods of the NEWOTCBB Listed Company

With the constant improvement of our multi-level capital market, the new third board which is specifically for high-growth high-tech non-listed enterprise to transfer stock and finance directionally has gradually become an important part on the capital market. We call it NEWOTCBB. With the growing of the new third board, system constantly improving and financing constantly simplifying, it is of great significance for the small and medium-sized enterprise development. As an investor, having a correct understanding to the value of the companies in the national equities exchange and quotations can make the right investment decisions. So how to properly assess the value of the new third board companies becomes increasingly important for investors. Different valuation methods have their own characteristics. In this paper, with in-depth analysis of the characteristics of new third board companies enterprises and comparing the advantages and disadvantages of various evaluation methods, it is to identify the quotations valuation method - Real Options. Key words: NEWOTCBB; The new third board; Real optio

Myrothecium-like new species from turfgrasses and associated rhizosphere

Myrothecium sensu lato includes a group of fungal saprophytes and weak pathogens with a worldwide distribution. Myrothecium s.l. includes 18 genera, such as Myrothecium, Septomyrothecium, Myxospora, all currently included in the family Stachybotryaceae. In this study, we identified 84 myrothecium-like strains isolated from turfgrasses and their rhizosphere. Five new species, i.e., Alfaria poae, Alf. humicola, Dimorphiseta acuta, D. obtusa, and Paramyrothecium sinense, are described based on their morphological and phylogenetic distinctions. Phylogenies were inferred based on the analyses of sequences from four DNA loci (ITS, cmdA, rpb2 and tub2). The generic concept of Dimorphiseta is broadened to include a third type of seta, i.e. thin-walled, straight with obtuse apices

Ligand-induced monoubiquitination of BIK1 regulates plant immunity

The detection of microorganism-associated ligands by plant cells activates a signalling cascade in which the kinase BIK1 is monoubiquinated, released from the FLS2-BAK1 complex, and internalized by endocytosis. Recognition of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) triggers the first line of inducible defence against invading pathogens(1-3). Receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs) are convergent regulators that associate with multiple PRRs in plants(4). The mechanisms that underlie the activation of RLCKs are unclear. Here we show that when MAMPs are detected, the RLCK BOTRYTIS-INDUCED KINASE 1 (BIK1) is monoubiquitinated following phosphorylation, then released from the flagellin receptor FLAGELLIN SENSING 2 (FLS2)-BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1-ASSOCIATED KINASE 1 (BAK1) complex, and internalized dynamically into endocytic compartments. The Arabidopsis E3 ubiquitin ligases RING-H2 FINGER A3A (RHA3A) and RHA3B mediate the monoubiquitination of BIK1, which is essential for the subsequent release of BIK1 from the FLS2-BAK1 complex and activation of immune signalling. Ligand-induced monoubiquitination and endosomal puncta of BIK1 exhibit spatial and temporal dynamics that are distinct from those of the PRR FLS2. Our study reveals the intertwined regulation of PRR-RLCK complex activation by protein phosphorylation and ubiquitination, and shows that ligand-induced monoubiquitination contributes to the release of BIK1 family RLCKs from the PRR complex and activation of PRR signalling

Visual characterization of associative quasitrivial nondecreasing operations on finite chains

In this paper we provide visual characterization of associative quasitrivial nondecreasing operations on finite chains. We also provide a characterization of bisymmetric quasitrivial nondecreasing binary operations on finite chains. Finally, we estimate the number of functions belonging to the previous classes.Comment: 25 pages, 18 Figure

Endovascular Repair of Ascending Aortic Dissection A Novel Treatment Option for Patients Judged Unfit for Direct Surgical Repair

ObjectivesThis paper sought to report the outcomes of patients who are considered unfit for urgent surgical repair of ascending aortic dissections (AADs) who were treated using a novel endovascular repair strategy.BackgroundAAD is best treated by direct surgical repair. Patients who are unable to undergo this form of treatment have poor prognoses. Previously, clinical case reports related to endovascular repair of AAD have been controversial.MethodsBetween May 2009 and January 2011, 41 consecutive patients with AAD were treated in our institution. Fifteen patients were considered poor candidates for direct surgical repair and subsequently underwent the endovascular repair.ResultsThe nature of the referral process to our tertiary care facility made the median time from aortic dissection onset to treatment 25.5 days (range: 6 to 353 days). Dissections in 5 patients (33.3%) were considered acute, and those in 10 patients (66.7%) were considered chronic. The rate of successful stent-graft deployment was 100%, and there were no major morbidities or deaths in the perioperative period. Median follow-up was 26 months (range: 16 to 35 months). One new dissection occurred in the aortic arch at 3 months and was treated with a branched endograft. Significant enlargements of true lumens and decreases of false lumens and overall thoracic aorta were noted after the procedures.ConclusionsEndovascular repair of AAD was an appropriate treatment option in patients who were considered poor candidates for traditional direct surgical repair by the clinical criteria used in our institution. A larger series of cases with longer follow-up is needed to substantiate these results

Association between chronic disease multimorbidity and leisure-time physical activity: Evidence from the China Multiethnic Cohort study

ObjectiveTo reveal the associations between multimorbidity and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) by ethnicities in China.Materials and methodsSelf-reported information on a range of occupational, household, transport, and LTPA was collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire. A total of 17 chronic diseases were assessed based on self-reported lifetime diagnoses or medical examinations. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between multimorbidity and the risks of low LTPA.ResultsThe mean age of all participants was 51.2 years old. Of all, 61.4% were women and 57.9% were from the Han population. A significantly negative association (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.89–0.95) was found between multimorbidity and low LTPA, with a stronger association among minority populations (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.82–0.91) than among the Han population (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.92–1.01). For both the minority population and the Han population, digestive system multimorbidity and digestive-metabolic system multimorbidity had a significantly negative association with low LTPA. For the Han population, the association of intersystem multimorbidity for the circulatory-respiratory system (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04–1.31) with low LTPA was stronger than that of intrasystem multimorbidity for the circulatory (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01–1.25) and respiratory systems (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.04–1.25).ConclusionThere are significant associations between multimorbidity and low LTPA based on this large multiethnic population. Our findings suggest that LTPA-tailored interventions should be designed for specific ethnic groups according to different types of multimorbidity

Virulence Determinants Are Required for Brain Abscess Formation Through Staphylococcus aureus Infection and Are Potential Targets of Antivirulence Factor Therapy

Bacterial brain abscesses (BAs) are difficult to treat with conventional antibiotics. Thus, the development of alternative therapeutic strategies for BAs is of high priority. Identifying the virulence determinants that contribute to BA formation induced by Staphylococcus aureus would improve the effectiveness of interventions for this disease. In this study, RT-qPCR was performed to compare the expression levels of 42 putative virulence determinants of S. aureus strains Newman and XQ during murine BA formation, ear colonization, and bacteremia. The alterations in the expression levels of 23 genes were further confirmed through specific TaqMan RT-qPCR. Eleven S. aureus genes that persistently upregulated expression levels during BA infection were identified, and their functions in BA formation were confirmed through isogenic mutant experiments. Bacterial loads and BA volumes in mice infected with isdA, isdC, lgt, hla, or spa deletion mutants and the hla/spa double mutant strain were lower than those in mice infected with the wild-type Newman strain. The therapeutic application of monoclonal antibodies against Hla and SpA decreased bacterial loads and BA volume in mice infected with Newman. This study provides insights into the virulence determinants that contribute to staphylococcal BA formation and a paradigm for antivirulence factor therapy against S. aureus infections