To obtain a nationally representative Chinese three-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire value set based on the time trade-off (TTO) method. Methods: A multistage, stratified, clustered random nationally representative Chinese sample was used. The study design followed an adapted UK Measurement and Valuation of Health protocol. Each respondent valued 11 random states plus state 33333 and "unconscious" using the TTO method in face-to-face interviews. Three types of models were explored: ordinary least squares, general least squares, and weighted least squares models. Results: In total, 5939 inhabitants aged 15 years and older were interviewed. Of these, 5503 satisfactorily interviewed participants were included in constructing models. An ordinary least squares model including 10 dummies without constant and N3 had a mean absolute error of 0.083 and a correlation coefficient of 0.899 between the predicted and mean values. Goodness-of-fit indices of two models based on split subsample were similar. Conclusions: TTO values were higher in our study compared with those in a study carried out in urban areas, which is mirrored by the higher values in rural areas. Several other aspects, in addition to the valuation procedure, might have influenced the results, such as factors beyond demographic factors such as view on life and death and believing in an afterlife, which need further investigation. Future studies using the three-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire should consider using this value set based on a nationally representative sample of the Chinese population.

Background There is a paucity of literature available as to the relationship between different levels of each metabolic syndrome (MetS) component and decreased GFR. In the present study, we aimed to demonstrate whether MetS always plays a critical role in decreased GFR. Methods A crosssectional study was conducted between February 2010 and September 2012, with 75,468 adults enrolled undergoing measurements of blood pressure as well as tests of blood and urine samples. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and the chi-square test was used for categorical variables and described as a percentage. Results Of the 75,468 participants, 350 (0.5%) subjects met criteria for the decreased GFR, with a mean age of 48.79 ± 13.76 years. After adjustment for age, diastolic blood pressure and high-density lipoprotein were inversely related to decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in multivariable analyses, with an OR (95% CI) of 0.57 (0.39-0.84) and 0.41 (0.24-0.72), respectively. The prevalence rate of CKD in critical group was 0.73% (154 of 21,127) and 0% (0 of 370) in noncritical group. In analysis stratified by the type of MetS components, the differences in noncritical group and the reference group were not statistically significant ( 2 ¼ 1.349, p40.05). Conclusions MetS does not always play a critical role in decreased GFR, with different levels of individual components of MetS exerting idiosyncratic effects in decreased eGFR. In fact, patients with abnormal body mass index, high triglycerides, and elevated fasting plasma glucose would not have impact on decreased GFR.

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Sepia pharaonis is an excellent candidate for aquaculture in China. However, the low survival rate during early feed transition is a bottleneck restricting industrial development. Understanding the changes in digestive physiology and intestinal microflora during feed transition should enable us to meet their nutritional needs to improve production. In this study, we investigate the digestive enzyme of S. pharaonis and undertake histological observations of the digestive gland and intestine. The intestinal microflora 16S rRNA genes were also analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of the pre, mid, and post-feed transition stages (20, 40, and 60 days post-hatching (DPH), respectively). The digestive enzymes from the digestive gland (trypsin and chymotrypsin) rapidly decrease at 40 DPH when compared to their levels at 20 DPH, but mostly recovered by 60 DPH. The alkaline phosphatase and lipase increased sharply by 40 DPH, then peaked at 60 DPH. The intestinal digestive enzymes followed similar trends during feed transition, except for lipase activity, which decreased after 20 DPH and remained low, even at 60 DPH. Feed transition affects the morphogenesis of the digestive tract and feed transition stress leads to the impairment of the digestive gland and intestinal morphology, which reduces the digestive capacity, but almost totally recovers by 60 DPH. Moreover, the comparison of the intestinal microbial composition during feed transition revealed that the dominant phylum Bacteroidetes gradually increased to a peak at 40 DPH and then decreased until 60 DPH. The microbial composition changed with the most abundant genus Pseudomonas being replaced by Acinetobacter. The phylum and family level investigation suggested the microbiota in the rearing water had limited influence on the intestinal microbiota. The intestinal microbiota diversity increased during feed transition. This study improves our understanding of changes and adaptations in cuttlefish during feed transition.

Near-infrared (NIR) plays a vital role in the fields of photothermal therapy, bioimaging, photodynamic therapy, and medical diagnosis. In this comprehensive experiment, organic nanoparticles based on electron-transfer complexes (viz., coronene (COR) and 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-benzoquinonedimethane (TCNQ)) were prepared via precipitation. Absorption in the NIR regions was determined using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and the structure of the nanoparticles was analyzed using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The photothermal properties of the nanoparticles were evaluated via infrared thermal imaging. This study applies the frontier of scientific research to experimental teaching, which helps students to consolidate their scientific knowledge, improve their experimental skills and laboratory safety consciousness, broaden their scientific research vision, and instill the exploration spirit of scientific theoretical research with the ultimate goal of application "landing".