Abstract Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) can serve as a more convenient and economical alternative to heart rate (HR) for exercise intensity control. This study aims to explore the influence of factors, such as indicators of demographic, anthropometric, body composition, cardiovascular function and basic exercise ability on the relationship between HR and RPE, and to develop the model predicting RPE from HR. 48 healthy participants were recruited to perform an incrementally 6-stage pedaling test. HR and RPE were collected during each stage. The influencing factors were identified with the forward selection method to train Gaussian Process regression (GPR), support vector machine (SVM) and linear regression models. Metrics of R2, adjusted R2 and RMSE were calculated to evaluate the performance of the models. The GPR model outperformed the SVM and linear regression models, and achieved an R2 of 0.95, adjusted R2 of 0.89 and RMSE of 0.52. Indicators of age, resting heart rate (RHR), Central arterial pressure (CAP), body fat rate (BFR) and body mass index (BMI) were identified as factors that best predicted the relationship between RPE and HR. It is possible to use GPR model to estimate RPE from HR accurately, after adjusting for age, RHR, CAP, BFR and BMI.

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to explore the effects of bone marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Conditioned Medium (MSC-CM) treating diabetic foot ulcers in rats. Methods: Models of T2DM rats were induced by a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of STZ in SD rats. Models of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) were made by operation on hind limbs in diabetic rats. Rats were divided into four groups (n = 6 for each group), i.e., Normal Control group (NC), Diabetes Control group (DM-C), MSC-CM group and Mesenchymal Stem Cells group (MSCs). MSC-CM group was treated with an injection of conditioned medium derived from preconditioned rats’ bone marrow MSCs around ulcers. MSCs group were treated with an injection of rats’ bone marrow MSCs. The other two groups were treated with an injection of PBS. After the treatment, wound closure, re-epithelialization (thickness of the stratum granulosums of the skin, by H&E staining), cell proliferation (Ki67, by IHC), angiogenesis (CD31, by IFC), autophagy (LC3B, by IFC and WB; autoly-sosome, by EM) and pyroptosis (IL-1β, NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD and GSDMD-N, by WB) in ulcers were evaluated. Results: After the treatment wound area rate, IL-1β by ELISA, and IL-1β, Caspase-1, GSDMD and GSDMD-N by WB of MSC-CM group were less than those of DM group. The thickness of the stratum granulosums of the skin, proliferation index of Ki67, mean optic density of CD31 and LC3B by IFC, and LC3B by WB of MSC-CM group were more than those of DM group. The present analysis demonstrated that the injection of MSC-CM into rats with DFUs enhanced the wound-healing process by accelerating wound closure, promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis, enhancing cell autophagy, and reducing cell pyroptosis in ulcers. Conclusions: Studies conducted indicate that MSC-CM administration could be a novel cell-free therapeutic approach to treat DFUs accelerating the wound healing process and avoiding the risk of living cells therapy.

ABSTRACT Drought stress and nutrient deficiency are two main factors that restrict the growth and yield of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the effects of N fertilizer on root growth and pod yield of peanut under different water conditions are unclear. The growth, root morphology, and pod yield of peanut were studied under different water and N combinations. Two soil water treatments were tested: Well-watered (WW, 80%-85% field capacity) and drought stress conditions (DS, 55%-60% field capacity). Three N treatments were tested: no N application (NN), moderate N (MN, 90 kg ha-1), and high N (HN, 180 kg ha-1). Results showed that pod yield of peanut was limited by drought and N deficiency. Compared with NN, peanut shoot DM and pod yield were improved by MN under DS, with an average increase range of pod yield of 16.2% in the 2 yr. The annual average root length density (RLD) in the deeper soil layer (40-100 cm) was 5.5% higher under DS-MN than DS-NN treatment. The N use efficiency (NUE) was 12.3% higher under WW than DS treatment, and the NUE of MN was significantly higher than that of HN under different water treatments. Root lengths in 40-60 and 60-80 cm soil layers were also positively correlated with pod yield (r = 0.66** and 0.47**, respectively) and NUE (r = 0.60* and 0.85**, respectively). In this study, root growth in deeper soil was improved by MN application under DS, thus increasing yield and NUE of DS conditions.

ABSTRACT Urban areas are important contributors to the increase of global CO2 levels due to human activities, but continuous records of CO2 concentration in cities are scarce, especially in the developing world. In this study we present five years of simultaneous, in-situ measurements at a university campus in the south of Mexico City (UNAM) and at a high-altitude station, the Altzomoni atmospheric observatory (ALTZ), 60 km apart from the first site. The characteristics of the daily cycles, seasonality, and long-term trends were extracted from both time series. The features of the daily and seasonal cycles at UNAM are dominated by the dynamics of the boundary layer growth, while the seasonality at Altzomoni is determined by both the local meteorology and the photosynthetic activity of the vegetation. Annual CO2 growth rates of 2.4 and 2.6 ppm yr-1 were estimated for UNAM and Altzomoni, respectively, in close agreement with reported global growth rates and with previous estimates of total column CO2 trends. The simultaneous monitoring at the urban and the mountain sites revealed a regular exchange of air masses between the city and its vicinities. The annual cycle at UNAM shows a secondary CO2 maximum at the end of the dry season, the source of which is yet to be determined, but likely due to incoming air parcels enriched with emissions from agricultural burnings. Likewise, the daily CO2 cycle at ALTZ during the dry season shows evidence of a daily afternoon arrival of polluted air masses from the neighboring urban areas. This study lays the foundation of an upcoming expansion in the CO2 measurement sites and capabilities in the metropolitan area of Mexico City.

RESUMEN Las áreas urbanas son importantes contribuyentes al aumento de los niveles globales de CO2 debido a las actividades humanas, pero los registros continuos de concentración de CO2 en las ciudades son escasos, especialmente en el mundo en vías de desarrollo. En este estudio presentamos cinco años de mediciones simultáneas in situ en un campus universitario en el sur de la Ciudad de México (UNAM) y en una estación a gran altura, el observatorio atmosférico Altzomoni (ALTZ), a 60 km de distancia del primer sitio. Las características de los ciclos diarios, la estacionalidad y las tendencias a largo plazo se extrajeron de ambas series de tiempo. El ciclo diario y estacional en la UNAM están dominados por la dinámica del crecimiento de la capa límite, mientras que la estacionalidad en Altzomoni está determinada tanto por la meteorología local como por la actividad fotosintética de la vegetación. Se estimaron tasas de crecimiento anual de CO2 de 2.4 y 2.6 ppm año-1 para UNAM y ALTZ, respectivamente, en estrecha concordancia con las tasas de crecimiento global reportadas y con estimaciones previas de las tendencias de la fracción molar seca de CO2 en columna. El monitoreo simultáneo en los sitios urbano y de montaña reveló un intercambio regular de masas de aire entre la ciudad y sus alrededores. El ciclo anual en la UNAM muestra un máximo de CO2 secundario al final de la estación seca cuya fuente aún no se ha determinado, pero que probablemente esté asociado con el arribo de parcelas de aire enriquecidas con emisiones de quemas agrícolas. Asimismo, el ciclo diario de CO2 en ALTZ durante la estación seca muestra evidencia de una llegada vespertina de masas de aire contaminado de las áreas urbanas vecinas. Este estudio sienta las bases de una próxima expansión en los sitios y capacidades de medición de CO2 en el área metropolitana de la Ciudad de México.

Abstract Xuan-Mugua is a Chinese traditional fruit and is mainly preserved by air drying. To explore the effect of temperature on the drying property and quality of the fruits, they were sliced and dried at 60-90 °C. The results indicated that the drying time shortened from 150 to 80 min with the increasing temperature and the minimal time was found at 90 °C. The total phenolic content and antioxidant activity generally decreased by 5.09-18.27% at higher temperature (90 °C) and their maximums respectively appeared at 60 and 80 °C. Compared with the medium temperatures (60 and 70°C), the phenolic profiles changed obviously at higher temperatures (80 and 90 °C), and a transformation of chlorogenic acid was detected; besides, with the increasing temperature, the main phenolics including catechin and chlorogenic acid respectively decreased by 29.3% and 18.4%. Taking the above findings together, 70 °C should be the proper temperature to dry Xuan-Mugua fruits.

Abstract Photoperiod is an important environmental factor affecting animal physiological function. Melatonin is an endogenous hormone that plays an important role in circadian and seasonal (or cyclical) rhythms and seasonal reproduction in mammals. To investigate the effects of melatonin on the reproductive performance of adult male mice under different photoperiods, sixty mice were randomly allotted to six groups: control (Light Dark, 12 L:12 D), control plus melatonin (MLD, 12 L:12 D), 24-hour continuous light (LL, 24 L:0 D), 24-hour continuous light plus melatonin (MLL 24 L:0 D), constant darkness (DD, 0 L:24 D), and constant darkness plus melatonin (MDD, 0 L:24 D). Normal saline (100 μL) was injected into the LD, LL, and DD groups at noon each day; the MLD, MLL, and MDD groups were injected with melatonin (1 mg/mL; 2 mg/kg·body weigh). After 24 hours of prolonged light exposure, testis morphology decreased, convoluted seminiferous tubules became sparse, the diameter of convoluted seminiferous tubules decreased, and the level of sex hormones decreased. After the administration of exogenous melatonin, testicular morphology and sex hormone levels decreased in the MLD group under normal light conditions. In the MLL group, the testicular tissue morphology returned to normal, the diameter of convoluted tubules increased, the hormone levels of LH (Luteinizing hormone) and MTL (melatonin) significantly increased (P<0.05), and th0e gene expressions of LHβ and Mtnr1A (Melatonin receptors 1A) increased. There was almost no difference in the MDD group under continuous darkness. In conclusion, melatonin can damage the reproductive performance of male mice under normal light conditions, while exogenous melatonin can alleviate and protect the testicular injury of male mice under continuous light conditions.

Abstract Objectives: Depression is common after both lacunar stroke and non-lacunar stroke and might be associated with lesion locations as proven by some studies. This study aimed to identify whether lesion location was critical for depression after both lacunar and non-lacunar strokes. Methods: A cohort of ischemic stroke patients was assigned to either a lacunar stroke group or a non-lacunar stroke group after a brain MRI scan. Neurological deficits and treatment response was evaluated during hospitalization. The occurrence of depression was evaluated 3 months later. Logistic regressions were used to identify the independent risk factors for depression after lacunar and non-lacunar stroke respectively. Results: 83 of 246 patients with lacunar stroke and 71 of 185 patients with non-lacunar stroke developed depression. Infarctions in the frontal cortex, severe neurological deficits, and a high degree of handicap were identified as the independent risk factors for depression after non-lacunar stroke, while lesion location was not associated with depression after lacunar stroke. Conclusion: The main determinants for depression after lacunar and non-lacunar stroke were different. Lesion location was critical only for depression after non-lacunar stroke.

Um material catódico homogêneo contendo LiFe0.9Mn0.1PO4 recoberto com carbono foi sintetizado através de uma reação de etapa única no estado sólido usando glucose como fonte de carbono. Difratometria de raios X de pó (XRD), microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM), voltametria cíclica (CV), espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica (EIS) e medidas galvanostáticas foram empregadas na caracterização das amostras. A dopagem com manganês e a comodificação com carbono não afetaram a estrutura de olivina do LiFePO4, mas melhoraram a sua cinética em termos da quantidade de energia elétrica fornecida, da polarização e da capacidade de manter uma alta capacitância em altas taxas de carga e descarga. Quando comparado com o LiFePO4/C não-dopado, o LiFe0.9Mn0.1PO4/C apresentou uma boa distribuição de tamanho - em torno de 100-200 nm - e um desempenho eletroquímico melhor. Em taxas de 0,1, 1,0, 3,0 e 10,0 C (C = 170 mA g-1), o eletrodo LiFe0.9Mn0.1PO4/C apresentou capacidades de descarga de 154,1, 138,8, 120,0 e 94,0 mA h g-1, respectivamente. Resultados obtidos por voltametria cíclica (CV) e espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica (EIS) indicaram que a polarização e a resistência de transferência de carga da amostra diminuíram significativamente devido à dopagem com manganês.

Homogeneous carbon-coated LiFe0.9Mn0.1PO4 cathode material was synthesized by one-step solid-state reaction using glucose as carbon source. Powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and galvanostatic measurements were employed to characterize the samples. Mn-doping and carbon co-modification did not affect the olivine structure of LiFePO4, but improved its kinetics in terms of capacity delivery, polarization and rate capability. When compared with the undoped LiFePO4/C, the LiFe0.9Mn0.1PO4/C sample presented good size distribution - around 100-200 nm - and better electrochemical performance. At current rates of 0.1, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 C (C = 170 mA g-1), the LiFe0.9Mn0.1PO4/C electrode delivered discharge capacities of 154.1, 138.8, 120.0 and 94.0 mA h g-1, respectively. Results obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) indicated that the polarization and charge transfer resistance of the sample were greatly decreased by Mn-doping.