Meta-analysis of a mindfulness yoga exercise intervention on depression – based on intervention studies in China

BackgroundUsing statistical methods to analyze and summarize the research data of the inclusion criteria, to provide a quantitative average effect size to interpret the influence of mindfulness yoga exercise on patients with different depressive symptoms, explain the therapeutic effect of mindfulness yoga therapy on depression and its possible mechanism of action, and provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of patients with depression.MethodReview Manage 5.4 software was used to comprehensively evaluate the effect of yoga exercise on depression interventions to provide a reference for improving mental health. CNKI, PubMed, Web of science, EBSCO were searched for all case–control research articles on yoga for depression from 2000 to 2022. After screening, data extraction and quality evaluation of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) by inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 22 studies with 2,216 patients were included, including 1,101 in the yoga intervention group and 1,115 in the control group.ResultsThe results showed a large heterogeneity in the literature on the effect of yoga exercise on depression, with a combined total effect size [SMD = −1.53, 95%CI (−1.96, −1.10), p < 0.00001].ConclusionMindfulness yoga exercise is effective in preventing and treating depression and improving mental health, and may be considered as a non-medical, low-cost intervention as an adjunct to pharmacological treatment

The role of the kynurenine pathway in cardiovascular disease

The kynurenine pathway (KP) serves as the primary route for tryptophan metabolism in most mammalian organisms, with its downstream metabolites actively involved in various physiological and pathological processes. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) serve as the initial and pivotal enzymes of the KP, with IDO playing important and intricate roles in cardiovascular diseases. Multiple metabolites of KP have been observed to exhibit elevated concentrations in plasma across various cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and acute myocardial infarction. Multiple studies have indicated that kynurenine (KYN) may serve as a potential biomarker for several adverse cardiovascular events. Furthermore, Kynurenine and its downstream metabolites have complex roles in inflammation, exhibiting both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on inflammatory responses under different conditions. In atherosclerosis, upregulation of IDO stimulates KYN production, mediating aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-induced exacerbation of vascular inflammation and promotion of foam cell formation. Conversely, in arterial calcification, this mediation alleviates osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Additionally, in cardiac remodeling, KYN-mediated AhR activation exacerbates pathological left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis. Interventions targeting components of the KP, such as IDO inhibitors, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, and anthranilic acid, demonstrate cardiovascular protective effects. This review outlines the mechanistic roles of KP in coronary atherosclerosis, arterial calcification, and myocardial diseases, highlighting the potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value of KP in cardiovascular diseases, thus providing novel insights for the development and application of related drugs in future research

Suicidal ideation in medical students of Hebei province: prevalence and associated factors

ObjectivesThis study investigated the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) among Chinese medical students and its associated risk factors.MethodsA total of 6643 medical students (2383 males/4260 females) were recruited from a medical college in Hebei Province, China. Demographic data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (CTQ-SF) was used to evaluate childhood maltreatment (CM), and the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC) was used to evaluate the stressful life events. Suicidal ideation was assessed using the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors affecting SI.ResultsThe prevalence of SI in medical students was 11.5% (763/6643). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that SI was significantly associated with younger age, a female sex, being lovelorn, being introverted, experiencing CM during childhood, and experiencing stressful life events within the past 12 months. Of the five subtypes of CM, emotional abuse may have the strongest effect on SI (OR=2.76, 95% CI: 1.72–4.42). The joint effects of CM and stressful life events were significantly associated with an increased risk of SI (OR=5.39, 95% CI: 4.15–6.98).ConclusionThe prevalence of SI among medical students is high, and medical students who have experienced CM and stressful life events have a higher tendency towards SI. Screening for both CM and stressful life events may be an effective way of identifying individuals at high risk of SI

C-Band 30 W High PAE Power Amplifier MMIC with Second Harmonic Suppression for Radar Network Application

In order to meet the application requirements of radar networks for high efficiency and high second harmonic suppression (SHS) of power amplifiers, this paper proposes a C-band 30 W power amplifier (PA) microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) based on 0.25 μm gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) process. The proposed PA uses a two-stage amplifier structure to achieve high power gain. A topology with SHS is designed in the output-matching network. Besides, the large signal model load pull simulation and the harmonic control technology in the output stage are used to improve efficiency. The high-power additional efficiency (PAE) and high SHS of the PA MMIC are achieved simultaneously. In the 5–6 GHz frequency range, multiple indicator measurements of the proposed PA show that output power is over 45 dBm, the PAE is more than 57%, the SHS exceeds 45 dBc, the power gain is greater than 24 dB, which are conducted under the condition of 100 μs pulse width and 10% duty cycle. In addition, the size of the PA MMIC, including bonding pads, is 3.3 × 3.1 mm2

First‐Principles Study of the Electronic Properties of Egg Albumen Optoelectronic Artificial Synapses by Carbon Nanotube Insertion

Abstract The realization of artificial synapses based on biomaterials is of great significance for the development of environmentally friendly neuromorphic hardware systems and artificial intelligence. In this sense, a bioartificial synapse composited with egg albumen (EA) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is fabricated. Based on the adjustable weight of the artificial synapse, the plasticity of electrical synapses is explored. Due to the photogenerated carriers and thermoelectric effects of carbon nanotubes, the device has optoelectronic properties, so the optoelectronic synaptic plasticity of the device is explored under light pulses. The device is well suited for biological synapses and shows great potential for applications in future high‐density storage and neuromorphic computing systems. In addition, to further study the physical mechanism of the conductive process of the device, the electrical characteristics of the contact interface between carbon nanotubes doped with Fe substitution and the upper electrode Al are mainly analyzed by first principles, and the adsorption, charge distribution, and band structure between them are theoretically studied

Thermal Impact Analysis and Electric–Thermal Coupled Modeling of Photovoltaic/Battery Space Power System with Different Surface Coatings

Thermal performance has long been recognized as a critical attribute for space systems. Thermal control surface coating is a common method in passive thermal protection. Unfortunately, limited analyzing models and data on the influence of thermal control coatings’ α/ε (absorptivity/emissivity) on the space power system have been published to date. To fill this gap, we proposed a multiphysics model that combined environmental temperature calculating and electrical performance analysis together for the satellite power system. In this paper, different coating materials are applied to the radiator surface and thermal insulation surface, respectively. Additionally, a new concept of energy storage, named energy storage voltage, is introduced. The results are analyzed and parametric fits with different formulas using ordinary least squares are conducted. Finally, the change rules are presented, which will prove particularly useful to the space industry, for example, in thermal designs and on-orbit battery studies

Artificial Synapses Based on an Optical/Electrical Biomemristor

As artificial synapse devices, memristors have attracted widespread attention in the field of neuromorphic computing. In this paper, Al/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/egg albumen (EA)–graphene quantum dots (GQDs)/PMMA/indium tin oxide (ITO) electrically/optically tunable biomemristors were fabricated using the egg protein as a dielectric layer. The electrons in the GQDs were injected from the quantum dots into the dielectric layer or into the adjacent quantum dots under the excitation of light, and the EA–GQDs dielectric layer formed a pathway composed of GQDs for electronic transmission. The device successfully performed nine brain synaptic functions: excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), short-term potentiation (STP), short-term depression (STD), the transition from short-term plasticity to long-term plasticity, spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), spike-rate-dependent plasticity (SRDP), the process of learning, forgetting, and relearning, and Pavlov associative memory under UV light stimulation. The successful simulation of the synaptic behavior of this device provides the possibility for biomaterials to realize neuromorphic computing

The creation and validation of predictive models to assess the risk of unfavorable outcomes following hybrid total arch repair for Stanford type A aortic dissection

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to develop and validate a nomogram for the individualized prediction of adverse events in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD) undergoing hybrid total aortic arch repair. Methods From April 2019 to April 2022, we conducted a comprehensive review of the medical records of Stanford type A aortic dissection patients who underwent hybrid total aortic arch repair surgery at our hospital. Patients were separated into two groups based on whether or not a composite adverse event occurred following surgery. Using univariate and multivariate analyses of logistic regression, the prediction model was created. Construct risk prediction models utilizing nomograms and evaluate their precision, discrimination, and clinical utility. Results Age, platelets, serum blood urea nitrogen, and ascending aortic diameter were the variables included in the nomogram by univariate and multivariate analysis. The risk model performed well in internal validation, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.829. The calibration curve demonstrated good agreement between predicted and actual probabilities (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P = 0.22). Clinical decision analysis curves demonstrate predictive nomograms’ clinical utility. Conclusion This study created and validated a nomogram for predicting the risk of composite endpoint events in TAAD patients undergoing hybrid total aortic arch repair. The nomogram can help determine the severity of a patient’s condition and provide a more personalized diagnosis and treatment

Studies of phytochemical constituents by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS of black hulless barley bran and its antioxidation and α-glucosidase inhibition effect

Anthocyanidins and flavonoids are important components in plant. In present study, the anthocyanidins and flavonoids in black hulless barley bran were identified by operating UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Among them, chrysoeriol 7-O-glucouronid, luteolin 7-O-glucouronid, chrysoeriol, and luteolin were quantified by using UPLC. Additionally, the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and total anthocyanin content (TAC) were determined. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity (via ferric reducing, DPPH and ABTS method) and α-glucosidase inhibition effect were estimated. From the results, fifty-one constituents comprised 19 anthocyanidins and 32 flavonoids were detected in hulless barley bran fractions. Wherein compounds 1 and 9–19 (belong to anthocyanidins), and 21, 25–32, 35–42, 44–50 (belong to flavonoids) were first identified in hulless barley. The contents of chrysoeriol 7-O-glucouronid luteolin 7-O-glucouronid, chrysoeriol and luteolin were higher in E80% than that of in E40%, but were not detected in E20%. Another, the TAC exhibited the trend of E40% > E80% > E20%, and the TPC and TFC showed same trend of E40% > E20% > E80%. The higher TPC and TFC showed stronger antioxidant activity. However, no significant correlation between TAC, TPC, TFC and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was observed. These results provided the anthocyanidins and flavonoids information, antioxidant value and α-glucosidase inhibition potential, which could provide reference in the development of black hulless barley bran