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Aims Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) is a sex‐specific index of visceral adiposity based on body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol. This study aims to demonstrate the association of VAI and its longitudinal transition patterns with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in middle‐aged and older Chinese. Materials and methods Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) were analysed. Participants were classified into high‐ and low‐VAI groups at baseline, and subsequently into four transition patterns during follow‐up (2011–2015): maintained‐high, maintained‐low, high‐to‐low, and low‐to‐high VAI. Multivariable Cox frailty models with random effects were used to assess the associations of VAI and its transitions with T2DM. Results A total of 7245 participants were analysed, among which 818 developed T2DM by 2018. A positive association between baseline high‐VAI levels and T2DM was observed (HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.27–1.75). Compared with people with maintained low‐VAI pattern during follow‐up, those with transition patterns of maintained‐high VAI, high‐to‐low VAI, and low‐to‐high VAI were at higher risk of T2DM (HR = 1.97, 1.52, and 1.56, respectively, all p < 0.05). The risk of T2DM decreased significantly in the high‐to‐low VAI group as compared to the maintained‐high VAI group (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.60–0.99). Conclusions This study demonstrated the significant associations of baseline VAI and its transitions with the risk of new‐onset T2DM. Early prevention efforts are needed to control the development of T2DM in Chinese with high‐VAI levels.

The storage and utilization of energy is one of the important topics in the development of science and technology, especially regarding secondary batteries, which are efficient electrical-/chemical-energy-converting devices. This review systematically introduces the important research progress made in the context of secondary batteries, starting from their development and leading to the introduction of related basic theoretical knowledge. The current research on secondary batteries that are based on different systems and related key materials is discussed in detail, and includes lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, potassium-ion batteries, magnesium-ion batteries, zinc-ion batteries, calcium-ion batteries, aluminum-ion batteries, fluorine-ion batteries, chloride-ion batteries, dual-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur (Se) batteries, sodium-sulfur (Se) batteries, potassium-sulfur (Se) batteries, polyvalent metal-sulfur-based batteries, lithium-oxygen batteries, sodium-oxygen batteries, potassium-oxygen batteries, aqueous metal-ion batteries, polyvalent metal-oxygen batteries, lithium-bromine (or lithium-iodine) batteries, photo-assisted batteries, flexible batteries, organic batteries, and metal-carbon dioxide batteries. Additionally, the common characterization techniques for electrode reaction processes in battery research are also introduced, including cryoelectron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, synchrotron radiation, in situ spectroscopic techniques, and magnetic characterization. This paper will help researchers to systematically understand secondary battery technology and provide good guidance for future research on secondary batteries.

ObjectiveTo assess the association between early life exposure to famine and the risk of metabolic obesity phenotypes among adults in middle age.MethodsThe study selected two comparison groups. Comparison A consisted of a non-exposed group born between 1963-1965 from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2015 wave (N=862) and a fetal-exposed group born between 1959-1961 from the 2011 wave (N=507). Comparison B consisted of an early childhood-exposed group born between 1955-1957 from the 2011 wave (N=830) and a fetal-exposed group born between 1959-1961 from the 2015 wave (N=552). Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to explore the associations between different periods of famine exposure and obesity, metabolic health status, and metabolic obesity phenotypes, with stratification by sex.ResultsCompared with the non-exposed group, participants exposed to famine in the fetal period had a significantly lower risk of overweight/obesity (OR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.63-0.97) and a higher risk of metabolically unhealthy status (OR: 1.73, 95%CI: 1.34-2.23) and metabolically unhealthy non-obesity (MUNO) (OR: 2.12, 95%CI: 1.46-3.08) at the age of 50-52 years. In the sex-stratified analysis, males exposed to famine in the fetal period had a significantly lower risk of overweight/obesity (OR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.43-0.80) and metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) (OR: 0.56, 95%CI: 0.37-0.85), while such associations were not found in females. Compared with the early childhood exposure group, participants in the fetal exposure group had a significantly lower risk of metabolic unhealthy status (OR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.51-0.85) and MUNO (OR: 0.50, 95%CI: 0.35-0.72). Those associations were observed in both males and females.ConclusionExposure to famine in early life increased the risk of metabolically unhealthy status in adulthood. Different metabolic subtypes should be identified at an early stage and followed by classification, intervention, and treatment.