Effect of rPMS on N-type calcium channel in rats with neuropathic pain

Purpose: To investigate the effect of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) on N-type calcium channel of rats with neuropathic pain (NP). Methods: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into control, mock surgical, model, and rPMS groups. For the model and rPMS groups, rat NP models were made based on chronic constriction injury (CCI) model from January 2018 to June 2019; the mock surgical group was treated to expose the sciatic nerve, while the control group received no treatment. Results: Compared to the control group, the model group demonstrated a prominent increase in spontaneous pain-like behaviors, threshold of claw withdrawal in reaction to mechanical stimulation, substance P, glutamic acid, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and calcium current, with a decrease in paw withdrawal thermal latency (PwTL) (p < 0.05). In comparison to the model group, alleviated spontaneous pain-like behaviors, reduced threshold of claw withdrawal in reaction to mechanical stimulation, substance P, glutamic acid, CGRP, and calcium current rPMS, with increased PwTL were observed in the rPMS group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: rPMS alleviates NP syndromes and inhibits the activity of N-type calcium channel in rats. This finding provides a theoretical basis and reference for the clinical application of rPMS in the treatment of NP. Keywords: Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS); Neuropathic pain; N-type calcium channel; Paw withdrawal thermal latenc

A logistic regression model for microalbuminuria prediction in overweight male population

Background: Obesity promotes progression to microalbuminuria and increases the risk of chronic kidney disease. Current protocols of screening microalbuminuria are not recommended for the overweight or obese.

Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The relationship between metabolic risk factors and microalbuminuria was investigated. A regression model based on metabolic risk factors was developed and evaluated for predicting microalbuminuria in the overweight or obese.

Results: The prevalence of MA reached up to 17.6% in Chinese overweight men. Obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia were the important risk factors for microalbuminuria in the overweight. The area under ROC curves of the regression model based on the risk factors was 0.82 in predicting microalbuminuria, meanwhile, a decision threshold of 0.2 was found for predicting microalbuminuria with a sensitivity of 67.4% and specificity of 79.0%, and a global predictive value of 75.7%. A decision threshold of 0.1 was chosen for screening microalbuminuria with a sensitivity of 90.0% and specificity of 56.5%, and a global predictive value of 61.7%.

Conclusions: The prediction model was an effective tool for screening microalbuminuria by using routine data among overweight populations

Can minority shareholders’ “hand-voting” promote green innovation of Enterprises—Empirical evidence from Chinese listed companies

China’s listed companies have serious Principal-agent problem of the second kind. Large shareholders have violated the rights and interests of minority shareholders in an endless stream of cases. However, the voice of encouraging minority shareholders to actively participate in enterprise decision-making is growing day-by-day. However, there is no consensus on whether the enthusiasm of minority shareholders in decision-making can have a positive impact on enterprises. Therefore, this article takes China’s A-share listed companies from 2016 to 2020 as the research sample, and from the perspective of green innovation, discusses whether the minority shareholders’ active participation in enterprise decision-making can improve the level of green innovation of enterprises. The study found that the minority shareholders’ active participation in enterprise decision-making can improve the level of green innovation. Moreover, the minority shareholders’ “hand voting” improves the green innovation level of enterprises by influencing the media attention; A higher level of legal environment is conducive to strengthening the role of minority shareholders’ participation in the shareholders’ meeting in green innovation. Based on the property right nature, regional and industrial level, further research found that the minority share-holders’ role in improving green innovation capacity is more significant in non-state-owned enterprises, eastern regions and heavy pollution industries. The research results show that minority shareholders, as an important force to monitor the senior executives’ behavior and enhance corporate value, actively participate in corporate decision-making, can not only improve corporate governance, but also benefit the sustainable development of enterprises

Research Progress on Key Technologies for Coupled Combustion of Coal and Solid Waste in Coal-Fired Unit

[Introduction] The co-combustion of coal and solid waste can not only realize the energy recycling of solid waste, but also is one of the paths to realize carbon emission reduction of coal-fired power generation. [Method] This paper reviewed the study on co-combustion of coal and solid waste in coal-fired power plants, and mainly introduced the combustion application and technology development of co-combustion of coal and different solid wastes based on the current mainstream power plant boiler as a reactor; Evaluated the development of co-combustion technology of coal and solid waste from the perspectives of fuel economy, fly ash characteristics of mixed fuels, pollutant emissions, and carbon tax; Finally discussed the characteristics of direct and indirect mixing technologies. [Result] Direct co-combustion of coal and solid waste is required to minimize the impact on boiler operation, especially the emission of gas pollutants, the impact of fly ash on heat transfer surfaces, and the harmless disposal of fly ash. Indirect co-combustion can avoid the influence of mixed fuel combustion on the furnace, but requires high hardware cost investment and more complicated coupling technology. The oxygen-enriched combustion technology still needs to optimize the existing boiler structure to improve the applicability of the technology. [Conclusion] The direct co-combustion is better than the indirect co-combustion considering the realizability and the cost, and the extensive adaptability of circulating fluidized bed fuel is conducive to the application of direct co-combustion technology of coal and solid waste. With the development of the oxygen- enriched combustion technology based on the circulating fluidized bed, it is more conducive to realize carbon emission reduction in coal-fired power plant

The association between ferritin levels and all-cause mortality in stroke patients

PurposeThe purpose of study was to describe the association between ferritin and all-cause mortality of cases with stroke.MethodsClinical data derived from Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care were analyzed. The primary endpoint was 30-day mortality. The potential prognostic roles of Ferritin L were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard models. The independent prognostic roles of Ferritin L in the cases were analyzed by smooth curve fitting.ResultsConcerning 30-day mortality, the HR (95% CI) for a high Ferritin (≥373) was 1.925 (1.298, 2.854; p = 0.00113), compared to a low ferritin (< 373). After adjusting for multiple confounders, the HR (95% CI) for a high Ferritin (≥373) was 1.782 (1.126, 2.820; p = 0.01367), compared to a low Ferritin (< 373). A non-linear association between Ferritin and 30-day mortality was found. Using recursive algorithm and two-piecewise linear regression model, inflection point (IP) was calculated, which was 2,204. On the left side of the IP, there was a positive relationship between Ferritin and 30-day mortality, and the effect size, 95% CI and p value were 1.0006 (1.0004, 1.0009) p < 0.0001, respectively. On the right of the IP, the effect size, 95% CI and p value were 1.0000 (1.0000, 1.0000) and 0.3107, respectively.ConclusionFerritin was associated with increased risk of stroke; it is important to further examine the association if the increased uric acid would increase the outcome of stroke in a longitudinal study. The non-linear relationship between Ferritin and all-cause mortality of stroke was observed. Ferritin was a risk factor for the outcome of stroke when ferritin was <2204

Mixed Ownership Reform and Environmental Sustainable Development—Based on the Perspective of Carbon Performance

Mixed ownership reform has contributed greatly to China’s economic development; however, there is little literature on how mixed ownership reform affects carbon performance in the context of environmentally sustainable development. Therefore, this paper takes A-share industrial state-owned enterprises in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2008 to 2020 as research samples to investigate the impact of mixed ownership reform on carbon performance through empirical tests. The results show that the mixed ownership reform of state-owned enterprises can improve the carbon performance of enterprises. The intermediary test shows that green innovation plays an intermediary role in the relationship between mixed ownership reform and carbon performance. Furthermore, compared with green management innovation, mixed ownership reform has a stronger promoting effect on green technology innovation, and green technology innovation has a greater impact on carbon performance. Heterogeneity analysis shows that in heavily polluted industries and competitive industries, mixed ownership reform of state-owned enterprises has a more significant role in improving carbon performance. Therefore, the mixed ownership reform of state-owned enterprises is of great significance for promoting environmental sustainable development. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence for the environmental sustainable development of state-owned enterprises in emerging markets

Associations between frailty, sociodemographic characteristics and quality‐of‐life among community‐dwelling older adults: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Aim To explore the quality‐of‐life among community‐dwelling older adults in China and to examine the associations between frailty, sociodemographic characteristics and quality‐of‐life. Design A cross‐sectional correlational study was adopted. Methods Questionnaire study of 311 community‐dwelling older adults using the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire and FRAIL scale. Results Highest quality‐of‐life was found for the physical symptoms factor and the lowest for quality of everyday activities/fun. Frailty was associated with total quality‐of‐life and the physical symptoms and sickness impact factors. For total quality‐of‐life, the odds of being in the group with a median score or more decreased for frail older people (OR 0.30) versus non‐frail and increased for those with medical insurance from employer versus basic (OR 2.30) and those doing exercise ≥30 min 3 days/week or more versus less (OR 2.12). Registered nurses caring for community‐dwelling older adults should screen for and prevent frailty and encourage exercise to improve their quality‐of‐life