Age-specific differences in the association between prediabetes and cardiovascular diseases in China:A national cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease(CVD)is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,the global burden of which is rising.It is still unclear the extent to which prediabetes contributes to the risk of CVD in various age brackets among adults.To develop a focused screening plan and treatment for Chinese adults with prediabetes,it is crucial to identify variations in the connection between prediabetes and the risk of CVD based on age.AIM To examine the clinical features of prediabetes and identify risk factors for CVD in different age groups in China.METHODS The cross-sectional study involved a total of 46239 participants from June 2007 through May 2008.A thorough evaluation was conducted.Individuals with prediabetes were categorized into two groups based on age.Chinese atherosclerotic CVD risk prediction model was employed to evaluate the risk of developing CVD over 10 years.Random forest was established in both age groups.SHapley Additive exPlanation method prioritized the importance of features from the perspective of assessment contribution.RESULTS In total,6948 people were diagnosed with prediabetes in this study.In prediabetes,prevalences of CVD were 5(0.29%)in the younger group and 148(2.85%)in the older group.Overall,11.11%of the younger group and 29.59% of the older group were intermediate/high-risk of CVD for prediabetes without CVD based on the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China equation in ten years.In the younger age group,the 10-year risk of CVD was found to be more closely linked to family history of CVD rather than lifestyle,whereas in the older age group,resident status was more closely linked.CONCLUSION The susceptibility to CVD is age-specific in newly diagnosed prediabetes.It is necessary to develop targeted approaches for the prevention and management of CVD in adults across various age brackets.

Temporal and spatial differences in human activities performed in Urban Green Spaces of Vilnius(Lithuania)

Urban green spaces(UGS)are relevant to city well-being,as recognized by the United Nations’Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).However,few studies have studied the temporal use of UGS.This work assessed the seasonal,weekly,and daily use of three urban green spaces(Vingis Park,Bernardino Garden,and Jomantas Park)in Vilnius(Lithuania).The study is based on an on-site observation-based survey,which recorded users’characteristics,activities,and weather conditions during summer and winter.The results showed that UGS’s seasonal,weekly,and daily use differed according to park and users’characteristics.Parks with a higher diversity of facilities had a high seasonal difference in the number of observed activities.User numbers were higher in the summer for activities with children,social activities,sports,and water activities than in the winter.Jomantas Park had the lowest variability in user characteristics.Weather variables were linked to changes in users’activities.Higher precipitation and lower temperature were associated with reducing the number of users and the diversity of registered activities.Most of the stationary activities were observed during summer.The diversity of the observed activities was associated with the available facilities rather than the park size.The distribution of stationary activities was spatially correlated with facility/equipment(benches,playgrounds,sports,and fitness equipment)and proximity to water features.The results of this study are relevant for UGS design,planning,and management.

Study on sex differences and potential clinical value of threedimensional computerized tomography pelvimetry in rectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic rectal cancer radical surgery is a complex procedure affected by various factors.However,the existing literature lacks standardized parameters for the pelvic region and soft tissues,which hampers the establishment of consistent conclusions.AIM To comprehensively assess 16 pelvic and 7 soft tissue parameters through computerized tomography(CT)-based three-dimensional(3D)reconstruction,providing a strong theoretical basis to address challenges in laparoscopic rectal cancer radical surgery.METHODS We analyzed data from 218 patients who underwent radical laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer,and utilized CT data for 3D pelvic reconstruction.Specific anatomical points were carefully marked and measured using advanced 3D modeling software.To analyze the pelvic and soft tissue parameters,we emp-loyed statistical methods including paired sample t-tests,Wilcoxon rank-sum tests,and correlation analysis.RESULTS The investigation highlighted significant sex disparities in 14 pelvic bone parameters and 3 soft tissue parameters.Males demonstrated larger measurements in pelvic depth and overall curvature,smaller measurements in pelvic width,a larger mesorectal fat area,and a larger anterior-posterior abdominal diameter.By contrast,females exhibited wider pelvises,shallower depth,smaller overall curvature,and an increased amount of subcutaneous fat tissue.However,there were no significant sex differences observed in certain parameters such as sacral curvature height,superior pubococcygeal diameter,rectal area,visceral fat area,waist circumference,and transverse abdominal diameter.CONCLUSION The reconstruction of 3D CT data enabled accurate pelvic measurements,revealing significant sex differences in both pelvic and soft tissue parameters.This study design offer potential in predicting surgical difficulties and creating personalized surgical plans for male rectal cancer patients with a potentially“difficult pelvis”,ultimately improving surgical outcomes.Further research and utilization of these parameters could lead to enhanced surgical methods and patient care in laparoscopic rectal cancer radical surgery.

Interhemispheric and longitudinal differences in the ionosphere-thermosphere coupling process during the May 2024 superstorm

Geomagnetic storm events have a strong influence on the ionosphere–thermosphere(I-T)coupling system.Analyzing the regional response process of the I-T system and its differences across the northern and southern hemispheres is an important but challenging task.In this study,we used a combination of multiple observations and a model simulation to examine the north–south hemispheric difference in the I-T coupling system in the American and Asian sectors during the geomagnetic superstorm that occurred in May 2024.Observations of the total electron content(TEC)showed that the Asian sector had negative storms in the northern hemisphere and positive storms in the southern hemisphere,a process that exacerbated the hemispheric differences in the TEC.However,both hemispheres of the American sector showed negative storms.The thermospheric composition changes also differed between the two sectors,and their variation could partially explain the hemispheric differences caused by positive and negative storms.Moreover,the influence of the thermospheric density change was less than that of the thermospheric composition.Finally,the dynamic effect of the thermospheric wind and the plasma transport processes strongly modulated the north–south differences in the TEC at nighttime in the American and Asian sectors,respectively,during this superstorm.

Emotional differences based on comments on doctor-patient disputes with varying levels of severity

BACKGROUND The risks associated with negative doctor-patient relationships have seriously hindered the healthy development of medical and healthcare and aroused wide-spread concern in society.The number of public comments on doctor-patient relationship risk events reflects the degree to which the public pays attention to such events.Thirty incidents of doctor-patient disputes were collected from Weibo and TikTok,and 3655 related comments were extracted.The number of comment sentiment words was extracted,and the comment sentiment value was calculated.The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare differences between each variable group at different levels of incidence.Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to examine associations between variables.Regression analysis was used to explore factors influencing scores of comments on incidents.RESULTS The study results showed that public comments on media reports of doctor-patient disputes at all levels are mainly dominated by“good”and“disgust”emotional states.There was a significant difference in the comment scores and the number of partial emotion words between comments on varying levels of severity of doctor-patient disputes.The comment score was positively correlated with the number of emotion words related to positive,good,and happy)and negatively correlated with the number of emotion words related to negative,anger,disgust,fear,and sadness.CONCLUSION The number of emotion words related to negative,anger,disgust,fear,and sadness directly influences comment scores,and the severity of the incident level indirectly influences comment scores.

Three-dimensional analysis of age and sex differences in femoral head asphericity in asymptomatic hips in the United States

BACKGROUND The sphericity of the femoral head is a metric used to evaluate hip pathologies and is associated with the development of osteoarthritis and femoral-acetabular impingement.AIM To analyze the three-dimensional asphericity of the femoral head of asymptomatic pediatric hips.We hypothesized that femoral head asphericity will vary significantly between male and female pediatric hips and increase with age in both sexes.METHODS Computed tomography scans were obtained on 158 children and adolescents from a single institution in the United States(8-18 years;50%male)without hip pain.Proximal femoral measurements including the femoral head diameter,femoral head volume,residual volume,asphericity index,and local diameter difference were used to evaluate femoral head sphericity.RESULTS In both sexes,the residual volume increased by age(P<0.05).Despite significantly smaller femoral head size in older ages(>13 years)in females,there were no sex-differences in residual volume and aspherity index.There were no age-related changes in mean diameter difference in both sexes(P=0.07)with no significant sex-differences across different age groups(P=0.06).In contrast,there were significant increases in local aspherity(maximum diameter difference)across whole surface of the femoral head and all quadrants except the inferior regions in males(P=0.03).There were no sex-differences in maximum diameter difference at any regions and age group(P>0.05).Increased alpha angle was only correlated to increased mean diameter difference across overall surface of the femoral head(P=0.024).CONCLUSION There is a substantial localized asphericity in asymptomatic hips which increases with age in.While 2D measured alpha angle can capture overall asphericity of the femoral head,it may not be sensitive enough to represent regional asphericity patterns.

Keep in mind sex differences when prescribing psychotropic drugs

Women represent the majority of patients with psychiatric diagnoses and also the largest users of psychotropic drugs.There are inevitable differences in efficacy,side effects and long-term treatment response between men and women.Psychopharmacological research needs to develop adequately powered animal and human trials aimed to consider pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of central nervous system drugs in both male and female subjects.Healthcare professionals have the responsibility to prescribe sex-specific psychopharmacotherapies with a priority to differentiate between men and women in order to minimize adverse drugs reactions,to maximize therapeutic effectiveness and to provide personalized management of care.

Sex differences in the association between the muscle quality index and the incidence of depression: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Depression presents significant challenges to mental health care.Although phy-sical activity is highly beneficial to mental and physical health,relatively few stu-dies have conducted on the relationship between them.AIM To investigate the association between muscle quality index(MQI)and incidence of depression.METHODS The data used in this cross-sectional study were obtained from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey,which included informa-tion on MQI,depression,and confounding factors.Multivariable logistic regre-ssion models were employed,while taking into account the complex multi-stage sampling design.A restricted cubic spline model was utilized to investigate the non-linear relationship between the MQI and depression.Additionally,subgroup analyses were performed to identify influential factors.RESULTS The prevalence of depression in this population was 8.44%.With the adjusted model,the MQI was associated with depression in females(odds ratio=0.68,95%confidence interval:0.49-0.95)but not in males(odds ratio=1.08,95%confidence interval:0.77-1.52).Restricted cubic spline adjustment of all covariates showed a significant negative non-linear relationship between depression and the MQI in females.The observed trend indicated an 80%decrease in the risk of depression for each unit increase in MQI,until a value of 2.2.Subsequently,when the MQI exceeded 2.2,the prevalence of depression increased by 20%for every unit increase in the MQI.Subgroup analyses further confirmed that the MQI was negatively associated with de-pression.CONCLUSION The MQI was inversely correlated with depression in females but not males,suggesting that females with a higher MQI might decrease the risk of depression.

Model of Mediating Determinants of Time Differences in INDYCAR

The IndyCar series distinguishes itself by providing the same design and operation of the single-seater to its pilots.The difference in times is then attributable to the skills of the drivers,but considering the data from the races could test this assumption.The objective of this work was to establish a trajectory model to predict race times.A cross-sectional,correlational,and explanatory work was carried out with a sample of 18,474 records in the period from 2020 to 2023 of the IndyCar series.The results show that the time span predicts the time differences.In relation to the studies of acceptance of the technology,the adjustment of this to human capacities to explain the time differences in the series of racing cars is discussed.

Analyzing the Differences in the Concepts of Love Between Korean and American Women Using the Female Characters in Kim Ji-young,Born in 1982 and The Sun Also Rises as Examples

This paper scrutinizes the differences in the conceptualization of love between Korean and American women.Grounded in an analysis of literary figures,Brett and Kim Ji-young,the study unravels the intricate interplay of cultural,historical,and societal forces shaping these perspectives.The contrasting landscapes of the United States,driven by ideals of freedom and individualism,and Korea,entrenched in Confucian values and collectivism,serve as crucibles for forming women’s roles,self-perception,and societal expectations.The examination extends to communication styles,illuminating the directness of American expression versus Korea’s reliance on formalism.Through this exploration,the paper illustrates the profound impact of cultural contexts on the intricate tapestry of love,offering a nuanced understanding of divergent viewpoints within a global context.

The Impact of Urban and Rural Education Gap on Student Achievement Differences

With our country’s social development,the gap between urban and rural education has become increasingly obvious,especially the difference in student achievement.This study aims to explore the impact of the urban-rural education gap on student achievement.The study adopts a quantitative analysis method to collect and analyze the academic performance,learning resources,and social resources of urban and rural students.The results show that the unbalanced distribution of educational resources in urban and rural areas is the key factor leading to the gap in students’achievement.For example,urban education resources are abundant while rural education resources are relatively scarce.At the same time,the difference in social environment and family economic status also have a significant impact on student achievement.The differences between urban and rural areas,particularly in terms of family economic conditions and their ability to invest in education,further widen the gap between urban and rural education.The results of this study can provide a reference for reducing the gap between urban and rural education and improving the academic performance of rural students.A fair education policy is essential to narrow the gap between urban and rural education resources distribution,so as to improve the equality of education in society.

Exploring Phonetic Differences and Cross-Linguistic Influences: A Comparative Study of English and Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation Patterns

Exploring the differences in phonemes and cross-linguistic influences, particularly by comparing the pronunciation patterns of English and Mandarin, is crucial for language learners. Such comparative studies can help learners better understand and overcome the pronunciation difficulties encountered during second language acquisition. English and Mandarin have significant differences in their vowel and consonant systems, tones, intonation, and syllable structures. A deep understanding of these differences allows learners to engage in targeted pronunciation training, reducing accent interference. This research provides guidance for improving language teaching methods, enabling teachers to design more effective pronunciation strategies and exercises based on the students’ native language backgrounds, thus enhancing learning outcomes. Additionally, cross-linguistic studies aid in improving speech recognition and conversion technologies, achieving higher accuracy and naturalness in multilingual speech processing systems. From a cultural exchange perspective, understanding and respecting the phonetic characteristics of different languages help to enhance the effectiveness and mutual understanding in cross-cultural communication. The comparative study of English and Mandarin pronunciation patterns not only provides a theoretical foundation for language education and technological applications but also promotes effective communication in multilingual environments. This thesis uses a comparative research method to elucidate the study of English and Mandarin pronunciation patterns. It begins with an analysis of the characteristics and similarities of the pronunciation patterns in both languages. The thesis then examines the differences between English and Mandarin pronunciation patterns through four aspects: the number and complexity of vowel phonemes, types and distribution of consonant phonemes, tones and stress, and intonation and phonetic phenomena. Finally, based on the comparative analysis of the differences, the thesis offers targeted policy recommendations for learning English and Mandarin.

Comparative Analysis of Differences among Northern,Jiangnan,and Lingnan Classical Private Gardens Using Principal Component Cluster Method

This paper investigates the design essence of Chinese classical private gardens,integrating their design elements and fundamental principles.It systematically analyzes the unique characteristics and differences among classical private gardens in the Northern,Jiangnan,and Lingnan regions.The study examines nine classical private gardens from Northern China,Jiangnan,and Lingnan by utilizing the advanced tool of principal component cluster analysis.Based on literature analysis and field research,273 variables were selected for principal component analysis,from which four components with higher contribution rates were chosen for further study.Subsequently,we employed clustering analysis techniques to compare the differences among the three types of gardens.The results reveal that the first principal component effectively highlights the differences between Jiangnan and Lingnan private gardens.The second principal component serves as the key to defining the types of Northern private gardens and distinguishing them from the other two types,and the third principal component indicates that Lingnan private gardens can be categorized into two distinct types as well.

A Comprehensive Study on Gender Language and Its Differences in China

The study of language and gender,especially the study of gender language differences involves many fields such as psychology,sociology,anthropology,language and literature,news media,education,and so on.Starting from the broad definition of gender language,this paper composes and reviews the research history of domestic gender language and its differences.Around the research history of domestic gender language,the research period is divided according to the timeline into germination,genesis,and growth.Divided by theme and content,the main content is the phenomenon of sexism in language;the second is the study of gender language style differences;the third is the root causes of sexism and verbal gender differences,i.e.,the construction of the corresponding theories;and the fourth is the discussion of the limitations of the study of gender language in foreign countries.

Discussion on the Differences between Chinese and Western Cultures and Intercultural Translation

Due to different geographical backgrounds and development histories,there are certain cultural differences between China and Western countries,which often lead to cultural conflicts and seriously affect the efficiency and effectiveness of cultural exchanges.In the context of accelerating economic globalization and integration,as well as increasing cooperation among countries,in order to ensure the accuracy of translation,it is necessary to have a proficient and accurate understanding of the cultural differences between China and the West.By relying on these cultural differences,we can improve communication patterns and continuously enhance intercultural translation skills.

Caloric restriction-mimetics for the reduction of heart failure risk in aging heart: with consideration of gender-related differences

The literature is full of claims regarding the consumption of polyphenol or polyamine-rich foods that offer some protection from developing cardiovascular disease(CVD). This is achieved by preventing cardiac hypertrophy and protecting blood vessels through improving the function of endothelium. However, do these interventions work in the aged human hearts? Cardiac aging is accompanied by an increase in left ventricular hypertrophy, along with diastolic and systolic dysfunction. It also confers significant cardiovascular risks for both sexes. The incidence and prevalence of CVD increase sharply at an earlier age in men than women. Furthermore, the patterns of heart failure differ between sexes, as do the lifetime risk factors. Do caloric restriction(CR)-mimetics, rich in polyphenol or polyamine, delay or reverse cardiac aging equally in both men and women? This review will discuss three areas:(1) mechanisms underlying age-related cardiac remodeling;(2) gender-related differences and potential mechanisms underlying diminished cardiac response in older men and women;(3) we select a few polyphenol or polyamine rich compounds as the CRmimetics, such as resveratrol, quercetin, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate and spermidine, due to their capability to extend health-span and induce autophagy. We outline their abilities and issues on retarding aging in animal hearts and preventing CVD in humans. We discuss the confounding factors that should be considered for developing therapeutic strategies against cardiac aging in humans.

Sex differences in the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment in 19,528 cancer patients

Background:The scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment(PG-SGA)has been widely used to assess the nutritional status of cancer patients.The purpose of this study is to compare the differences in PG-SGA scores and the 7 domain scores of the PG-SGA in male and female cancer patients.Methods:This study was conducted at 72 hospitals from July 2013 to December 2018,a part of the Investigation on Nutritional Status and its Clinical Outcomes of Common Cancers.The PG-SGA was recorded to evaluate the nutritional status of patients.A total of 19,528 patients with 13 common malignancies were included in this study.Student t test and the χ^(2) test were applied to analyze the sex diferences in the 7 domain scores.The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database was used to analyze the expression levels of symptom-related genes.Results:There were significant sex dfferences in the PG-SGA(P=0.032),notably in patients with gastric cancer(male vs female:9.09±4.86 vs 9.58±5.07,P=0.005)and esophageal cancer(9.64±4.90 vs 10.46±4.96,P=0.011)and the average total PG-SGA of female patients was slightly higher than that of male patients(7.64±4.98 vs 7.77±5.14).The differences were mainly related to the weight,eating,symptom,as well as activity and physical function scores in the stratified analysis.Possible causes of the sex differences were the rates of nausea,vomiting,dry mouth,and other symptoms,in both gastric and esophageal cancer patients.Analysis of the TCGA database suggested that most of the related genes were sex neutral,except for genes related to dysphagia in gastric cancer(VEGFC was higher in female patients,VEGFA and VEGFB higher in male patients).Conclusions:There are sex differences in the PG-SGA scores in patients with various tumor types(female patients generally had higher scores than male patients),with differences mainly in the weight,eating,symptom,as well as activity and physical function scores.The sex differences in PG-SGA scores might be due to the differences in the clinical manifestations of the disease,and further studies should be carried out to investigate other factors influencing the PG-SGA scores in cancer patients.This study provides basic data supporting the individualized nutritional treatment of cancer patients in clinical practice.

Chromatic and achromatic differences of melanin-and carotenoid-based plumage coloration in five minivet species(Pericrocotus spp.)under conspecific and predator visual systems

Adaptive mate choice has been accepted as the leading theory to explain the colorful plumage of birds.This theory hypothesizes that conspicuous colors act as signals to advertise the qualities of the owners.However,a dilemma arises in that conspicuous colors may not only attract mates,but also alert predators.The"private channels of communication"hypothesis proposes that some intraspecific signals may not be visible to heterospecific animals because of different visual systems.To better understand the evolution of plumage colors and sexual selection in birds,here we studied the chromatic difference and achromatic differences of melanin-and carotenoid-based plumage coloration in five minivet species(Pericrocotus spp.)under conspecific and predator visual systems.We found that either the chromatic or achromatic difference among male or female minivets’plumage was consistently higher under conspecific vision than under predator vision for all five studied species of minivets.This result indicated that individual differences in plumage colors of minivets were visible to the conspecific receivers and hidden from potential predators as a result of evolution under predation risk and conspecific communication.However,males were under a higher risk of predation because they were more conspicuous than females to the vision of a nocturnal predator.

Regional differences in gully network connectivity based on graph theory:a case study on the Loess Plateau,China

Material exchange frequently occurs in gullies,and thus the relationship between a gullynetwork structure and sediment transport potential has attracted considerable interest.However,previous researches ignored the difficulty of material transport from sources to sinks,and did not quantify the connectivity of a network structure.In this study,we used a graph model structure to model gully networks of six typical sample areas in the Loess Plateau of China and quantified gully network connectivity using four indexes:average node strength,accessibility from sources to sinks,potential flow,and network structural connectivity index.Results show that:(1)Reflected by different quantitative indexes,the trends of gully network connectivity in different regions are similar.From north to south,the connectivity of a sample area first increases and then decreases.(2)The more mature gullies have stronger network connectivity.Small resistance is conducive to material transport in the gullies.(3)The node connectivity index of the gully network shows a significant aggregation distribution in space,and node connectivity on the main channel is often stronger than that on the branch trench.These results not only deepen the understanding of the process and mechanism of loess gully geomorphic development and evolution but also provide a reference for geomorphic studies.

Minor Pressure Differences within the Fontan-Anastomosis in Patients with Total Cavopulmonary Connection by 4D-Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background: Pressure measurement in total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) patients is a domain of cardiaccatheterization. 4D velocity encoded cardiovascular magnetic resonance (4D–flow MRI) offers an alternative forassessment of even minor pressure differences. The scope of this study was to measure even minor pressure differencesin the anastomosis of TCPC patients, who are clinically uncompromised. Methods: Twenty-four patients(median 15 years [8;34]) with TCPC were studied prospectively by 4D-flow MRI. Pressure differences betweensuperior vena cava (SVC) and extracardiac conduit (C) to both right pulmonary artery (RPA) and left pulmonaryartery (LPA) were assessed. Small fluid obstructions as vortices within the anastomosis were detected by flowpathlines from 4D-flow MRI. In two patients pressure differences were calculated also by computational flowdynamics (CFD) as a plausibility check for the order of magnitude. Results: Median values of pressure differencesin the anastomosis between SVC and RPA were 0.63 (0.21–2.1) mmHg, between C and RPA 0.67 (0.3–2.2)mmHg, between SVC and LPA 0.8 (0.3–2.4) mmHg and between C and LPA 0.7 (0.2–1.9) mmHg. Patients withpotential flow obstruction (stents, occluder, vortices) had significantly higher gradients at the anastomosis (p <0.05) than patients without potential obstructions, although the absolute values were small. CFD- and measurement-based pressure difference showed good agreement. Conclusion: 4D-flow MRI is able to detect minor pressuredifferences within the Fontan circuit even in patients with apparently satisfactory TCPC. Slightly higherpressure differences are due to the presence of small flow obstruction.