We present the Tesco Grocery 1.0 dataset: a record of 420 M food items purchased by 1.6 M fidelity card owners who shopped at the 411 Tesco stores in Greater London over the course of the entire year of 2015, aggregated at the level of census areas to preserve anonymity. For each area, we report the number of transactions and nutritional properties of the typical food item bought including the average caloric intake and the composition of nutrients. The set of global trade international numbers (barcodes) for each food type is also included. To establish data validity we: i) compare food purchase volumes to population from census to assess representativeness, and ii) match nutrient and energy intake to official statistics of food-related illnesses to appraise the extent to which the dataset is ecologically valid. Given its unprecedented scale and geographic granularity, the data can be used to link food purchases to a number of geographically-salient indicators, which enables studies on health outcomes, cultural aspects, and economic factors. Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.11799765 Tesco operates a loyalty scheme where customers apply for a Clubcard that is used for both in-store and online purchases to accumulate points that can be later spent to redeem prizes or discount vouchers. With the customer consent, the record of their purchases is archived and anonymously linked to their Clubcard number. In this paper, we focus on the in-store purchases done in the 411 Tesco shops within the boundaries of Greater London during the entire year of 2015. We present aggregated and privacy-preserving data views that combine individual purchases at different spatial granularities, from Lower Super Output Areas  to Boroughs .Tesco is a British multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer. In 2015, it was 9th highest-grossing retailer in the world, with 81B in global revenue3, migration5), societal aspects , economic factors , health determinants , and social media discourse .Despite the importance of studying food consumption at scale, there is little data about what people actually eat over long periods of time. The fine-grained geographical information included in Tesco Grocery 1.0 is the key to link food consumption data of an entire city to any attribute that can be measured at the level of statistical census areas. These include cultural aspects  to, for example, build recommender systems that are able to suggest what people might like based on their past purchases22, and determine how these patterns relate to local cultures3. Websites containing food recipes23 have been mined to: study the complex relationships among different ingredients;25 quantify a recipe’s healthiness27 upon which health-conscious food recommender systems were then built;29 and relate potential food consumption to health outcomes30.Web data has been used to study the relationship between food and health. Food-related online communities have made it possible to study dietary patterns across entire countries31 from geo-referenced tweets, food mentions were extracted, and corresponding caloric values were found to correlate with state-wide obesity rates;12 from images of food, researchers were able to extract the portrayed food items33 and even their ingredients;34 and from geo-referenced images, researchers were able to study the relationship between food mentions and socio-economic conditions36. These datasets are publicly available, yet they do not reflect sales data: Web data suffer from a number of self-presentation and self-selection biases, which might yield a distorted picture of actual food consumption patterns38. To partly fix that, we recently analyzed the eating habits of Londoners based on Tesco data39, a richer version of which we now make publicly available.A particular class of Web data from which food and nutrition information has been extensively extracted is that of social media data:Next, we detail how the data is collected and aggregated . The nutrients are expressed in grams (g) and they represent the total weight of that nutrient in the product. The weight of fat comprises that of saturated fats and the weight of carbohydrates comprises that of sugar. We compute the total weight of alcohol by multiplying the total volume by the relative volume of alcohol, and by the density of alcohol. For example, there are 75 grams of alcohol in a 750 ml bottle of wine with 12.5% alcoholic volume 41, which is implemented by all EU countries and is widely adopted in nutrition studies42. That is, we map grams into corresponding calories by simply multiplying them by these fixed factors: 9 kcal per gram for fats, 7 kcal per gram of alcohol, 4 kcal for proteins and carbohydrates, and 2 kcal for fibers. Our value of kcal is then equal to the total calories reported on the product label (when available), rounded to the closest unit.The total energy is expressed in kilocalories ; red meat ; poultry; fish; dairy ; eggs; fats & oils ; sweets ; readymade items ; sauces ; tea & coffee; soft drinks ; bottled water; beer; wine; spirits. All items have been manually labeled and validated according to this categorization.The GTIN is also associated to a product category. The categorization includes 17 non-overlapping classes: st 2015 to December 31st 2015 by Clubcard owners whose rsidence area is within Greater London’s boundaries. The dataset contains 67,296 unique products (distinct GTINs) purchased at least once.Overall, our dataset is created starting from all the 422,453,987 individual food items purchased from January 1LSOA (Lower Super Output Area), MSOA (Medium Super Output Area), Ward, and LA .We aggregate individual purchase records at area-level using a variety of geographic resolutions: https://www.ons.gov.uk). Many publicly-available official statistics are provided at the level of these areas and, consequently, most geographic studies on UK data use them as reference geographic units. Second, the ONS provides the mapping between different levels of spatial aggregations43, which facilitates the aggregation of our raw data to coarser partitions. The mapping is always exact except at Ward level, where some higher-granularity areas might lie across the boundaries of multiple Wards. The ONS applies standard guidelines to provide a best-fitting match. Finally, aggregating the data at multiple granularities will enable a wider range of studies that might benefit from having either a high number of smaller areas containing fewer datapoints (but still big enough to preserve anonymity); or a lower number of areas characterized by more robust statistics. In the dataset, for each area, we report a number of basic census statistics collected by the ONS44 in 2015 including: population, number of males, number of females, number residents aged [0–17], number residents aged [18–64], number residents aged 65+, average age, surface area, density of residents. Table The choice of these specific aggregation levels is motivated by three main factors. First, they are spatial partitions defined by the Office for National Statistics ). To give an indication of how the customer base is representative of the overall population in the area, we compute the ratio between the number of unique customers and the number of residents, as recorded by the census:The first group of variables expresses the Tesco penetration in an area. For each area In the dataset, we provide the min-max normalized versions of these values, which can be used to filter out areas whose user base differs the most from the census statistics :purchase-dates(a) ∈ ). To provide an estimate of how often residents of area a go shopping, we supply the collective sum of days any clubcard in area a has been used (man-day(a)).We also report the number of days with at least one purchase , we cannot produce reliable estimates of per-capita food purchases. Therefore, we describe each area in terms of its Pa is the set of all food products purchased by the residents of area a, and p is one of such products.We first report the typical food product’s weight (not including drinks) and the typical drink product’s volume:kcal(p) is the value of kilocalories in p.The energy intake of food is measured in calories. To capture the energy intake, we compute the total calories contained in the typical product :Given two foods with the same amount of calories but different energy concentrations, the delivery of pleasure within people’s brains is quicker for the calorie-dense food. To capture the density of calories rather than simple calorie counts, we compute:nutrients that the body processes in different ways to produce energy and extract structural material for its growth and maintenance. The food nutrients we consider are: fats, saturated fats, carbohydrates (carbs), sugar, proteins, fibers, and alcohol. For each area, we compute the grams of each individual nutrient contained in the typical product:grams(nutrienti(p)) is the grams of nutrienti in product p. We calculate the typical product’s energy content given by each of these nutrients as:kcal is the energy intake given by that nutrient in product p.Not all calories are created equal though: the food contains different types of H of the distribution of the calories given by all the nutrients:Going beyond individual nutrients, one could study their composite impact. So, we capture the diversity of nutrients contained in the typical product. This is computed as the Shannon entropy 2 (number of distinct nutrients).Both values of entropy are also expressed in a normalized form with values bounded in . These are obtained by dividing the entropy values by the maximum entropy, calculated as: loga and the entropy of that distribution:categoryi(p) is an indicator function set to 1, if product p belongs to category i; 0 otherwise. We then calculate the relative weight of products belonging to any category compared to the total weight . We also calculate the entropy  of these relative weights.We compute the probability distribution of items belonging to the 17 different product categories being purchased in area The sample of people whose purchases are reflected in this dataset is very large but not random, as it is a set of self-selected people who decided to shop at Tesco and to opt in for a Clubcard subscription. Therefore, the set of Clubcard owners considered is not representative of the overall population in terms of demographics, socio-economic factors, or spatial distribution. However, we provide guidelines on how to filter the data to increase robustness .As we will show in the Technical Validation section, the concentration of Tesco stores is higher in the northern part of London. As a result, some areas of the city exhibit low penetration. In the dataset, we provide the information to identify low-coverage areas and filter them out if needed.The number of purchases considered is very large but by no means covers the full scope of food consumption habits of London residents. Naturally, this dataset does not reflect food consumption in restaurants. Also, it does not cover the grocery store purchases done in other chains or stores and, even among the Tesco customers, it does not include information of online purchases and of products purchased by people who do not own a Clubcard. In short, albeit this dataset reveals trends in food consumption habits at area level, it does not represent the full picture of daily food consumption.From our data, there is no way of estimating what is the diet of individual customers. Therefore, the nutrient values are provided as averages over all the items purchased by the residents of an area. In other words, we represent the nutritional features of the hypothetical average product consumed in the area. This type of representation is appropriate for some types of analysis but introduces limitations to any study that requires an average representation at the level of individuals, rather than at the level of geographical area.Figshare45 under the Creative Commons International license 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).We made the dataset available through food_categories.csv.GTIN Global Trade Item Number, a standard identifier for trade items developed by GS1, a not-for-profit organization that develops and maintains global standards for business communication. Specifically, the GTIN is the number that comes with the barcode on the product label. GS1 offers an online service for GTIN lookup (http://gepir.gs1.org/index.php/search-by-gtin).Category. The product category. The possible categories are: beer, dairy, eggs, fats & oils, fish, fruit & veg, grains, red meat, poultry, readymade, sauces, soft drinks, spirits, sweets, tea & coffee, water, and wine.We provide the list of products contained in each food category. The identifiers associated with products can be used to query external services to get additional information about them. This information is stored in a single .csv file named {aggregation}_grocery.csv) containing the aggregated information on food purchases, enriched with information coming from the census. We provide data for two temporal aggregations. One file summarizing the data for the full year and 12 files with the data for each of the calendar months. Each file contains 202 columns. Below, we provide a short description of all the fields. References to equations introduced in the Methods section are reported when appropriate.area_id. Identifier of the area.weight. Weight of the average food product, in grams (Eq. (ams (Eq. )volume. Volume of the average drink product, in liters (Eq. (ers (Eq. )energy. Nutritional energy of the average product, in kcals energy_density. Concentration of calories in the area’s average product, in kcals/gram (Eq. (ram (Eq. ){nutrient}. Weight of {nutrient} in the average product, in grams (Eq. (ams (Eq. ). Possibenergy_{nutrient}. Amount of energy from {nutrient} in the average product, in kcals h_nutrients_weight. Entropy of nutrients weight (Eq. (ght (Eq. )h_nutrients_weight_norm. Entropy of nutrients weight, normalized in .h_nutrients_calories. Entropy of energy from nutrients (Eq. (nts (Eq. )h_nutrients_calories_norm. Entropy of energy from nutrients, normalized in .f_{category}. Fraction of products of type {product_type} purchased (Eq. (sed (Eq. ).f_{category}_weight. Fraction of total product weight given by products of type {category} (Eq. (ry} (Eq. ).h_category. Entropy of food product types (Eq. (pes (Eq. ).h_category_norm. Entropy of food product categories, normalized in .h_category_weight. Entropy of weight of food product categories (Eq. (ies (Eq. ).h_category_weight_norm. Entropy of weight of food product categories, normalized in .representativeness_norm. The ratio between the number of unique customers in the area and the number of residents as measured by the census; values are min-max normalized in  across all areas (Eq. (eas (Eq. ).transaction_days. Number of unique dates in which at least one purchase has been made by one of the residents in the area.num_transactions. Total number of products purchased by Clubcard owners who are resident in the area.man_day. Cumulative number of man-days of purchase .population. Total population of residents in the area according to the 2015 census.male. Total male population in the area.female. Total female population in the area.age_0_17. Total number of residents between 0 and 17 years old.age_18_64. Total number of residents between 18 and 64 years old.age_65 + . Total number of residents aged 65 years or more.avg_age. Average age of residents according to the 2015 census.area_sq_km. Surface of the area (km2).people_per_sq_km. Population density per km2.For each geographic aggregation  we provide a.csv file (_std), the 95% confidence interval for the mean (suffix _ci95), and the values of the 2.5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 97.5th percentiles .Where applicable, measures are accompanied with their standard deviation . Yet, there are two aspects that need validation: i) the representativeness of the Tesco customer base; and ii) the ecological validity of the aggregated grocery data, namely how well they represent the general patterns of food consumption at area-level, which we estimate through food-related health outcomes in those areas.In each LSOA, we consider two quantities: number of customers and number of residents. Their frequency distributions differ Fig. : that ofrepresenta tiveness(a) (the ratio between the number of customers and the number of residents). The higher it is, the more representative that area’s data is of the general population. We find that, if one considers only the areas with at least 0.1 representativeness . That is, at least 10% of the residents are customers in each area. This is a conservative estimate as it assumes that each fidelity card is used to purchase food for one single person, while it might well be used to satisfy the needs of an entire family.To fine-tune the desired level of general population’s representativeness, researchers can consider not all areas but only part of them. To allow them to do so, we report each area’s Then, if one were to take that top 80% of the areas ranked by representativeness, the overall correlation between the number of customers and the number of residents would be considerable: it goes from 0.38 for LSOAs to 0.58 for wards  and 0.58 (wards).Prevalence of overweight and obese children. The fractions of overweight and obese primary school children in Reception class (aged 4 to 5) and year 6 (aged 10 to 11), sampled across wards. This data has been collected by the English National Health Service (NHS) in the 2013–2014 school year46.Prevalence of overweight and obese adults. The fractions of overweight and obese individuals among a statistical sample of borough residents. This data has been collected by the Active People Survey (APS) in 201247.Diabetes prevalence. The fraction of adults among those registered at a GP practice in England who are affected by type-2 diabetes48. This data has been collected by the NHS for year 2015 at ward level.We assess the ecological validity of the data by comparing the grocery purchases with metabolic syndrome conditions that are strongly linked to food consumption habits. Specifically, we consider data about the prevalence of obesity and type-2 diabetes.49, the three best dietary habits to prevent conditions associated with the metabolic syndrome are: i) limiting the intake of calories; ii) having a nutrient-diverse diet; and iii) favoring the consumption of fibers and proteins over sugars, carbohydrates, and fat. To verify whether the violation of these three recommendations is associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic disorders, we correlate diabetes and obesity prevalence with: i) the energy of the typical product (energy(a), Eq. (entropy of energy intake from different nutrients (Henergy-nutrients(a), Eq. (nutrient (energy-nutrienti(a) Eq. , Eq. ); ii) th(a), Eq. ); iii) ai(a) Eq. ).R) between nutrients and prevalence of medical conditions across areas are summarized in Fig. Spearman rank correlations  and four control variables accounting for demographics and store penetration rates: average age, % of female residents, density of residents in the area, and number of transactions. Where necessary, predictor variables undergo a logarithmic transformation. We also applied a min-max rescaling of each variable, which allowed us to compare the relative importance of different factors in predicting the outcome. Results are summarized in Table R2 > 0.6) especially compared to a baseline model where only the control variables are considered (R2 = 0.14). The magnitude of the regression coefficients indicates that all independent variables have predictive power, with the nutrient entropy being the strongest one.To build stronger evidence that the food descriptors provided in the dataset are directly linked to food-related illnesses–and not just proxies for confounding determinants of those ailments–we ran an ordinary least squares regression. The regression aims at predicting the prevalence of diabetes from the two highest-correlated factors (energy-carbs and Henergy-nutrients as independent variables retains a high explanatory power (R2 = 0.56). We plotted the actual diabetes prevalence values against the values predicted by this 2-variable regression model in Fig. a’s representa tiveness(a) (the ratio between the number of customers and the number of residents). To do that, we partition areas in equally-sized groups of areas with comparable values of representativeness, and average the standardized residuals within each group  calls for the use of hierarchical regression models. Specifically, we ran a Bayesian hierarchical regressionOverall, the correlations and the regression results indicate that the aggregated food purchases are predictive of the illnesses related to food consumption, even after controlling for confounding factors, speaking to the ecological validity of our dataset.All files are provided in comma separated value format, with header on the first line and one record per line. This type of files is easily parsed with any programming language  or spreadsheet utilities .{aggregation}_grocery_info.csv files) can be integrated with other datasets using the geographical area identifier–the first column in every file–as join key. It is important to note that the boundaries of the geographical areas were periodically redefined in the past decades. In the dataset, we use the 2011 definition of LSOAs, MSOAs and Boroughs (the most recent one at the time of writing) and the 2015 definition of wards. The list of area ids over time and instructions on how to map data across aggregation levels are available on the official London Greater Authority atlas43.The spatial data (In the Technical Validation Section, we showed that filtering out areas with lower coverage yields a sample that is more representative of the general population. The same type of filtering can be achieved by retaining only the entries with highest values of representativeness.


Glenea cantor Fabricius were studied with scanning electron microscopy. The antennae of G. cantor were observed to be filiform, consisting of scape, pedicel, and flagellum (nine flagellomeres). Four distinct types of sensory receptors were observed, including sensilla chaetica, sensilla trichodea, sensilla basiconica, and Böhm bristles. Three morphological subtypes of sensilla chaetica were found on the antennae, and sensilla trichodea were also categorized into three morphological subtypes. Sensilla basiconica was grouped into two morphological subtypes that were found on subsegments F2-F9 of the flagellum, and Böhm bristles were only found at the intersegmental joints between the scape and the head and between the scape and the pedicel. The antennae of male and female adults were similar in shape, length, and diameter. However, the length, diameter, distribution, and number of each of the four distinct types of sensilla on the males were significantly different from those on females. The types, lengths, diameters, numbers, and distributions of these sensilla were described, and their possible functions were also discussed. The results indicated that the base and end of an antennal segment have a similar sensillum density, but the middle section sensor density is significantly greater, especially for olfactory and gustatory sensilla, possibly because the joints are more involved in mechanical sensing. The density of sensors is closely related to its sensing function; so, future studies on the biology of olfaction and sexual communication in G. cantor will be facilitated by these observations.The external morphology and distribution of antennal sensilla of  The Bombax ceiba L. was found to be a new important host plant of the longhorn beetle in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China in 2018. The baobab tree has multiple uses and is highly valued in Southern Africa, particularly in rural communities, where people depend on this resource for their livelihoods   and Adanelihoods . InformaInsect antennae are segmented appendages that are well-equipped. An antenna’s surface is covered by a wide variety of antennal sensilla, which have primary functions of chemoreception and mechanoreception. Chemosensation is of crucial importance to most insects, regulating and triggering various behaviors. Sensilla are specialized structures of the epidermis, especially in the forms of hairs, pegs, and so on . A mechaG. cantor has been conducted. Various options have been explored to control the G. cantor, including physical control, chemical control, and biological approaches. For example, several parasites have been found to be effective . This descriptive work will provide a better understanding of the behavioral mechanisms in this stem-boring pest. Coupled with sensory physiology, the results of our study may provide an effective control measure for this pest with semiochemicals.The purpose of this study was to characterize and determine the antennal morphology and sensillar ultrastructure of the ceiba longhorn beetle G. cantor infestation and cut them into 10 sections (10–15 cm in diameter × 40 cm in length). The stalk sections were placed in four bubble containers in a yarn cages (40 cm × 80 cm × 80 cm) sprayed with water once every 7 d in a controlled environment . The antennae were stored in a 70% alcohol solution until they were examined.In June 2018, we collected three kapok plants from Qingxiu Mountain , Nanning, China, that had withered in the upper stalk due to The antennae were cleaned three times in an ultrasonic bath JP-010T  at 250 W for 300 s each. The antennae were then fixed separately in 2.5% glutaraldehyde at 4°C for 12 h. The antennae were dehydrated through an ascending ethanol series of 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, and 100% with 10 min intervals. The prepared antennae were stored in a glass container with a desiccant and dried for 24 h. After drying, the samples were mounted on a holder using double-sided sticky tape , sputter coated with gold-palladium, and then observed under a SEM  operated at 5–10 kV. Images were digitally recorded and stored on a computer.2. The number of sensors in each sample was recorded, and the average value was taken. Then, the number of sensors in the area was extrapolated to the corresponding value of the actual area of the site, and the data were statistically analyzed. Sensilla that had relatively low numbers  were counted individually.The identification and classification of the sensillum types and the terminology used in this work were based on the studies of t-test was applied to determine the possible sexual dimorphism of antennal sensilla between males and females using the SPSS statistical software package, version 25.0 . Student’s t-test or analysis of variance were applied to determine the possible differences in of the number, length, and width of antennal sensilla, and the values are reported as means ± standard error (SE). The significance level was set at 0.05.The sensillar distribution patterns were precisely described using Adobe Photoshop software, Version CS6. The distribution of each type of sensillum was analyzed between the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the antennae in both sexes. In all, five individual structures per type were subjected to a quantitative analysis of sensilla. The G. cantor adults. The antennae of G. cantor were filiform, each consisting of a scape, pedicel, and flagellum . The scapes were cylindrically shaped and located in the antennal socket between the compound eyes. Each pedicel was a trapezoid and clearly shorter than the scape and each flagellomere. The nine flagellomeres of each flagellum with blunt tips were similar in shape but different in size. There were no significant differences between males and females in the length or diameter of the antennae  and diameter  of pedicels in females were dramatically and significantly greater than those in males  between the sexes , sensilla chaetica , sensilla trichodea , and sensilla basiconica (SB I and II). The numbers and distributions of these sensilla in different segments of both sexes are shown in Böhm bristles are a special type of sensillum chaeticum located only on the joint region between the ommateum and the scape and on the joint region between the scape and the pedicel. The lengths and diameters of Böhm’s bristles (Bb) were greater in females than in males. The average length of Bb on Sc in females (49.21 ± 5.08 μm) was dramatically and significantly longer than that in males (32.21 ± 6.06 μm), but not significantly different between females (49.17 ± 8.62 μm) and males  are clearly recognizable, and their tips protrude beyond all other sensilla. These sensilla are at nearly a 45° angle to the surface of the antenna ,B, and ISensilla chaetica type II (SCh II) are the most numerous antennal sensilla; they are studded on all joints of antennae on each side. They are robust, groove-walled, and stout hairs. The diameter of this subtype of sensillum slowly increases distally, then suddenly decreases near the end of the sensillum to form a pointed tip , Fig. 4CSensilla chaetica type III (SCh III) are visible at the junction of each segment of the flagellomeres. These sensilla are long, spiny, robust, groove-walled, and curved with wide sockets; the tips are not porous  and 4B. Sensilla trichodea are hair-like protruding receptors with longitudinal grooves (stripes) or smooth and perforated surfaces, and are widely distributed on the antennae. The base of each sensillum is embedded in a wide or narrow receptor nest, and the morphological structure of sensilla trichodea can be classified into three distinct types: ST I, II, and III.Sensilla trichodea type I (ST I) insert into a broad sockets; they are long, slender, straight, or curved with smooth surfaces . ST I isSensilla trichodea type II (ST II) are curved hairs with blunt tips. The hair base inserts tightly into a small cuticular socket at a 45–60° angle to the surface of the antenna. Furthermore, ST II are visible at the junctions of flagellomeres  and theiSensilla trichodea type III (ST III) are slightly curved hairs with smooth surfaces and pores . These sSensilla basiconica are interspersed among the flagellomeres. Generally, a sensillum basiconica has a pedestal shape or a conical uplift base. In the center of the base, there are small cone-shaped receptors of different shapes, which have chemical sensory functions such as smell perception and taste perception. The basiconic sensilla can be further classified into two types based on their surface micro-morphology: Sensilla SB I and II. These sensilla are visible at most junctions of flagellomeres .Sensilla basiconica I (SB I) are cone-shaped and straight with slightly pointed tips . These sSensilla basiconica II (SB II) are thumb-like shapes, each with a smooth wall and blunt tip. These sensilla are distributed from the second to the ninth flagellomere in both sexes . The aveG. cantor are largely consistent with those reported for other long-horned beetle species, such as Tetropium fuscum (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) (Xylotrechus grayii (White) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)  (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)  , Xylotrebycidae) , and Monbycidae) . In thisbycidae) , possiblbycidae) .G. cantor are similar in size, shape, and structure in both sexes, which is consistent with previous research , so males have more developed antennae. The results of SEM results of the antennae of the longicorn beetles show that the types of antennal sensilla of females and males are the same, but there are differences in their numbers and distribution. According to their external shape, dimensions, and location, three types of chaeticum, three types of trichodeum, two types of basiconicum, and one type of Böhm bristle were distinguished in both male and female G. cantor.The antennae of research . There wG. cantor may increase its mechanosensory perception when climbing on a female’s back, while highly developed SCh II and SCh III in female G. cantor may facilitate oviposition.Previous research suggests that SCh and Bb may function as proprioceptors, sensing antennal movement . As in mG. cantor, the numbers, lengths, and diameters of ST II and ST III on male antennae were greater than on female antennae, probably because males need greater chemoreceptivity to the sex pheromone in addition to the host volatiles. This research shows that males have more robust ST II and ST III than females (G. cantor. ST and SB are used by females for host recognition and oviposition.On the other hand, a role in olfaction and gustation is suggested for ST and SB . In G. c females . Moreove females . In addi females  indicate females  and thisG. cantor using a SEM, which provided valuable insights into the possible functions of each sensillum. We also evaluated the sexual differences in the number and distribution of various sensilla. These results will help us better understand the host selection and courtship behavior of G. cantor as well as help correlate these behaviors with electrophysiological mechanisms in future studies. The observed differences in the sensillar distribution and function will greatly facilitate designing more effective semiochemical control methods for insect pests.In summary, this study was designed to characterize the external morphology of antennal sensillum types of


Falls represent a global health issue among older adults and cause a considerable burden on medical systems. In this study, a fall-risk assessment profile was developed for community-dwelling older adults.The data of survey participants aged > 65 years were obtained from three rounds  of the National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan. In total, 8356 older participants were included in this study. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine potential predictors associated with falls. The regression coefficients of the predictors in the final model were translated into scores (by multiplying by 5) and then summed to obtain a total risk-score for falls. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the discriminative performance of the risk assessment profile.Self-reported falls within 1 year accounted for 19.1% of the total falls. The predictors that were included in the risk profile according to the logistic regression analysis results were as follows: female sex , living alone , urinary incontinence , perceived unhealthiness , perceived pain , hospital admission in the past year , low activity of daily living (ADL) scores , and low mobility function scores . At a total risk-score cutoff point of 6 (range 0–17), the model predicted falls with a sensitivity and specificity of 75.16 and 52.75%, respectively (area under the ROC curve = 0.70).The fall-risk assessment profile comprising eight predictors—female sex, living alone, incontinence, perceived unhealthiness, perceived pain, hospital admission in the past year, low ADL scores, and low mobility function scores—may serve as an assessment tool for identification of older adults with a high risk of falling, and assessment results can be used to facilitate community-based intervention. Falls represent a major cause of disability and death, particularly in the older population, and contribute to serious public health problems worldwide . Age is Falls in older adults can be prevented. A history of falls is associated with a high risk of recurrent falling , 10. TheIn this study, we developed a risk assessment profile for falls in older adults by using a national database, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in Taiwan. The predictors of the risk of falling in older patients were investigated, and a total risk score was calculated to identify older adults at a high risk of falling.The NHIS is a large-scale, cross-sectional, and face-to-face survey that is conducted once every 4 years by the Health Promotion Administration, National Health Research Institutes, Food and Drug Administration, and Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan. The participants in the NHIS were sampled using a multistage probability proportional to sample size technique. Survey questionnaires were prepared for three age groups, namely, ≥65 years, 12–64 years, and ≤ 11 years. In this study, the participants aged ≥65 years were obtained from the NHIS 2005, 2009, and 2013 databases, respectively. This study was approved by the Taipei Medical University-Joint Institution Review Board (TMU-JIRB N201612015), and the data were provided by the Health and Welfare Data Science Center.The participants recalled their fall experiences in the past year, including falls caused by slipping, walking, dizziness, sitting, standing, or lying down. Several aspects of physical and social functioning were also assessed in the NHIS, and the potential predictors of the risk of falling were classified into four categories: demographic characteristics, health status, activity or mobility, and life style. In total, 34 potential predictors listed in the NHIS database were selected for developing the risk profile of falling for the older participants.2 and those with BMI > 24 kg/m2 were compared.The demographic characteristics included age (> 75 years or ≤ 75 years), sex, living in a highly urbanized area  and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) scores, including scores for core daily personal self-care tasks . Low ADL and IADL scores reflected difficulty performing more than two activities. Four life style variables, namely regular exercise, alcohol use, current smoking status, and betel nut chewing, were evaluated.p > 0.2 in univariate logistic regression. Additionally, if two variables were highly correlated (Spearman correlation 0.4), the variable that was more easily measured was retained. After excluding the non-eligible variables, multivariable logistic regression and backward elimination with a stay-significance level of 0.2 were applied to identify the potential predictors to be included in the risk profiles of falling in the older adults. The modified falling risk profile was investigated and the weight (score) of each predictor was defined as the regression coefficient multiplied by 5 and rounded off to the nearest integer. A total risk-score was calculated for each participant. The evaluation values used in this study were negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, and specificity. PPV indicated the probability of falling among the participants who were in the high-risk group, and NPV indicated the probability of not falling among the participants who were in the low-risk group. Sensitivity represented the probability of correctly identifying the older participants who experienced falls  as having at least one fall, and specificity was the probability of correctly identifying the older patients who did not experience falls . The diagnostic value was evaluated based on the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, and the optimal cutoff point value was defined as the point corresponding with the maximum summed sensitivity and specificity. The analyses were performed using SAS software, Version 9.4 in the SAS system for Windows.Fall-related risk factors were identified using a multistep process. First, prevalence, percentage of missing values, and univariate logistic regression were calculated for each potential variable. The Spearman correlations between the variables were also calculated. Variables were excluded if their prevalence was less than 10%, the number of missing values exceeded 10%, or The baseline characteristics of the participants are listed in Table The odd of falling in the female participants was 1.51 times higher than that in the male participants . The odd of falling in the participants aged > 75 years was 1.40 times higher than that in the participants aged 65–75 years .p-values from the univariate analysis for each potential factor are denoted in the fifth column of Table p > 0.2). Moreover, the ADL score, which was relatively easy to measure, was significant and highly correlated with the IADL score. Therefore, the ADL score was retained as a factor, and the IADL score was excluded. After applying the exclusion criteria, 24 potential predictors remained in the risk profile of falling.The flow chart illustrating the selection of the potential factors is presented in Fig. p > 0.05. The older participants who had been admitted to the hospital in the past year exhibited a high risk-score (4) in the risk profile of falling. The participants with low mobility scores exhibited a risk-score of 3. Some of the participants who were women, were living alone, had urinary incontinence, or experienced pain exhibited risk-scores of 2. The older participants with poor perceived health status or low ADL score, exhibited risk-scores of 1.All 24 eligible factors were assessed in the multivariable regression model by using backward elimination, and the 12 factors selected for the final risk profile were age, sex, living alone, education, work status, diabetes, urinary incontinence, self-reported health status, pain, hospital admission in past year, ADL score, and mobility. The results are displayed in Table The ROC curve of the risk of falling profile in the older participants is shown in Fig. The series of nationwide surveys revealed that the risk of falling in the older participants with at least one fall could be predicted using a risk profile based on eight predictors. The participants who were women, lived alone, experienced urinary incontinence, self-reported poor health status, experienced pain, had undergone hospital admission in the past year, had low ADL scores, or had low mobility scores exhibited a high risk of falling. The AUROC was 0.7 for the proposed risk assessment instrument. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity varied with cutoff scores. At a cutoff score of 6, the summation of sensitivity (75.16%) and specificity (52.75%) was maximal.. In this study, living alone was a significant risk factor for falling. One health risk, urinary incontinence, was observed in more than one-third of older adults who lived in communities, had long stay durations in institutions, or had undergone hospitalization. Our study indicated that urinary incontinence was a risk factor for falls, and several cross-sectional epidemiological studies have shown a significant association between the occurrence of falls and urinary incontinence [Our results revealed that the risk of falling differed in the male and female participants. The reason for the higher risk in the female participants than in the male participants may have been the loss of bone mineral density associated with menopause . Howeverntinence , 24. Chrntinence , 26. In ntinence .In our study, low ADL scores and low mobility were associated with high risk of falling. Similar results have been previously reported , 29. TheAll the significant risk factors from our study have been presented separately in previous studies. In this study, these risk factors were evaluated simultaneously. A modified falling risk assessment instrument was proposed; health providers can use this instrument to easily assess older adults’ risk of falling. In this study, the total risk-score was calculated, facilitating identification of patients with high risk of falling. In practice, health providers can refer high-risk patients to relevant intervention programs to prevent falls.A limitation in this study was that some data, such as physical activity volume, were self-reported. This may have reduced the accuracy of data and thus resulted in recall bias. The fall experience was recalled retrospectively, and this may result in recall bias. Another limitation was that impact and severity of falls were not evaluated in this study. Moreover, our predicting model did not include a history of falls, which is known as a strong predictors of falls.This study exhibited several strengths. The risk profile was developed based on a large sample, which was selected by an experienced survey group through a standard interview process. The population-based sample used in this study was representative of the population of older adults in Taiwan.Based on the data obtained from three rounds of the NHIS in Taiwan, an instrument for the assessment of the risk of falling in older adults (in Taiwan) was developed. A friendly tool was proposed to identify older adults with a high risk of falls. Identification of these individuals may reduce the number of injuries and fractures resulting from falls.


Allergic rhinitis is an allergic disease of the nasal mucosa mediated by IgE after the body is exposed to allergens. Acupuncture of sphenoid ganglion is a new technique developed by Professor Li Xinwu in the 1860 s to treat allergic rhinitis the efficacy of acupuncture on the sphenopalatine ganglion in the treatment of AR has been clinically verified, but a systematic review and meta-analysis of them is lacking. Our purpose is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on the sphenopalatine ganglion in the treatment of AR.We will search 8 electronic databases, including: Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, CBM, Wanfang, VIP, WHO ICTRP, ChiCTR, Clinical Trials, Grey Literature Database. The literature search, screening and extraction will be carried out independently by 2 researchers. When the opinions are not uniform, it depends on the opinion of the third researcher. We will use RevmanV.5.3 to perform a fixed-effect meta-analysis on the date of clinical homogeneity studies, and the level of evidence will pass GRADE method.This systematic review and meta-analysis will put a high-quality synthesis of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture of sphenoid ganglion treatment in AR.The review will provide a comprehensive basis for the treatment of AR patients with acupuncture on the sphenopalatine ganglion.Since this article does not involve patient privacy, ethical approval is not required.INPLASY2020100067. AR not only seriously affects the daily life and work of patients, but also causes a certain economic burden, and becomes one of the potential risk factors of asthma attack. Therefore, effective treatment of AR is significant. At present, clinical treatment is mainly based on glucocorticoids, antihistamines, anti-leukotrienes and other drugs, but long-term use has certain side effects.Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a non-infectious disease of the nasal mucosa mainly mediated by serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) after the body is exposed to allergens, Its main clinical manifestations are paroxysmal sneezing, nasal itching, nasal congestion, runny nose, etc., and can be accompanied by symptoms such as eyes. Since then, some doctors have used this method to treat allergic rhinitis, and the curative effect has been confirmed. The needle entry point of the sphenopalatine ganglion is located between the zygomatic arch and the coronoid of the mandible, close to the Xiaguan point. Acupuncture usually uses 0.35x60 mm filigree needles to pierce directly from here to the pterygopalatine fossa that is where the sphenopalatine ganglia is located to improve nasal ventilation and reduce intranasal gland secretion. As a result, the purpose of this study is to systematically review the existing literature to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture of the sphenopalatine ganglion in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.Acupuncture of sphenopalatine ganglion is a new technique developed by Professor Li Xinwu in the 1860 s for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. According to clinical reports, acupuncture of sphenopalatine ganglion is effective in treating various types of rhinitis up to 94%, and the cure rate is 70.6%.22.1) statement guidelines.The protocol was registered on INPLASY (registration number. INPLASY2020100067). The protocol will be reported in the systematic review and meta-analysis of the preferred project report .2.2.5Main outcomes: The nasal symptom score will be evaluated as the primary outcome. The nasal symptom score (TNSS): sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose, nasal congestion and ocular symptom.Additional outcomes: Quality of life questionnaire for nasal conjunctivitis (RQLQ); Visual analogue scale (VAS).2.3The details were adjusted according to the specific databases including Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM), the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Wangfang Database (WF), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, the World Health Organzation International Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP), Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR), Clinical Trials, Grey Literature Database. No limitation on language or publication type's restriction will be applied. Table 2.42.4.1Literature retrieval, screening and data extraction were conducted by 2 researchers  independently through a standardized eligibility form. In case of disagreement, a third-party assessor (XPY) shall be consulted to assist judgment, and the missing information shall be supplemented by contacting the author. The general information of the selected articles will be extracted, including first author, country, year of publication, study design, duration of follow-up, duration of disease, sample size, detailed intervention, control treatment and the like. When the data of articles are sufficient or ambiguous, one of the authors will contact the original author to request detailed and additional information by e-mail or telephone. All selection processes will be represented by the PRISMA flow chart Fig. .2.4.2According to the indicators required for screening, we have produced an EXCEL form that meets the relevant requirements for data input and analysis before data extraction. Two independent reviewers  will extract data from eligible studies and enter the following information in the data extraction sheet. When the data can not be extracted through discussion to reach a consensus, the decision will be made by the third-party reviewers (XPY). The table will extract the main information of the selected article, including title, first author, country/region, publication year, study design, follow-up time, disease duration, sample size, detailed interventions, control treatment, primary/secondary outcome indicators, adverse reactions and so on. The above information will be cross-checked by 2 reviewers. If there is a dispute, they will directly contact the corresponding author of the article to check the information.2.4.3 tool provided by the Cochrane Handbook to conduct a rigorous quality assessment of the literature. Evaluation content includes: random allocation method, concealment of distribution, blindness of method, completeness of result data, selective reporting of research results, other sources of bias, etc. Through the evaluation of the above content quality, it is divided into 3 levels: “low risk of bias”, “uncertain risk of bias”, and “high risk of bias”. When the 2 reviewers cannot reach a consensus, it can be handed over to the third-party reviewer for decision.In the literature evaluation, we will use the Risk of Bias in Systematic reviews (ROBIS)2.4.4Using the relative risk ratio (RR) of 95% confidence interval dichotomous outcomes assessment, and continuous analysis of data mean difference (MD) with 95% CI or standard CD (SCD).2.4.5When possible, we will choose to analyze data based on intentions. If data is missing or incomplete presence, we will contact the original investigator to obtain missing data results. If this data is not available in the present analysis will depend on the existing data.2.4.6I2 test to analyze whether there is heterogeneity in the research. When P < 1, I2 > 50%, it is considered that there is heterogeneity between experiments, and random effects model can be used for analysis. On the contrary, there is no heterogeneity between the data, and the fixed effects model (FEM) comprehensive data is selected 2.4.4. Strategy for date synthesisAccording to the Cochrane Handbook, we will choose the Chi-Squared test and the 2.4.7When the included study sample size is greater than 10, we will use a funnel chart to assess publication bias. If the funnel chart is unevenly distributed, it indicates that there is publication bias, and vice versa.2.4.8I2 < 50%) or random-effects model (I2 ≥ 50%) will be selected. The dichotomous data will be analyzed by RR with 95% CIs, while the continuous data will be analyzed by MD/SMD with 95% CIs. The meaningful heterogeneity will be explained by any additional assessment included sensitivity analysis or subgroup analysis depended on the data.RevMan5.3.5 will be used for all statistical analyses. Based on the heterogeneity levels of the included studies, the fixed-effects model  based on the results of 5 indicators .The quality of the evidence will be graded and assessed according to the “Grades of Recommended Assessment, Designation and Evaluation (GRADE)” standard.3 In the United States, the incidence of AR is 14% for adults and 13% for children. According to the survey, the number of AR patients worldwide currently exceeds 500 million. The incidence of AR is closely related to factors such as environment, genetics, and nutrition. The incidence of AR is closely related to factors such as environment, genetics, and nutrition. Therefore, the prevention and treatment principles of AR include environmental control, drug therapy, and specific immunotherapy and so on. Clinical treatment of AR includes intranasal and oral antihistamines, intranasal and oral decongestants, intranasal and oral corticosteroids, intranasal anticholinergics, and oral leukotriene receptor antagonists.Allergic rhinitis is a non-infectious chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa mainly mediated by IgE after the body is exposed to allergens. It is one of the most common respiratory allergic diseases in clinical practice. Although AR is not life-threatening, it causes long-term distress to patients lives and work due to its repeated or persistent disease. The incidence of AR in China is increasing year by year, especially in children and adolescents. In 2011, the average prevalence of AR in children in 8 central cities in China was 9.8%.,14 Compared with traditional acupoints, acupuncture on the sphenopalatine ganglion for allergic rhinitis has the characteristics of simple point selection, no dialectical matching of acupoints, and fewer acupuncture parts. It has obvious effects in both long-term and short-term treatment. At present, a large number of clinical studies have also proved that acupuncture at the sphenopalatine ganglion can effectively reduce the clinical symptoms of AR.,16 However, there is still a lack of evidence-based medicine to prove whether acupuncture on the sphenopalatine ganglion is effective in improving the clinical symptoms of AR patients. Therefore, this program will analyze and summarize the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on the sphenopalatine ganglion in the treatment of AR, and provide medical staff with more effective information. Therefore, this program will analyze and summarize the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on the sphenopalatine ganglion in the treatment of AR, and provide medical staff with more effective information and better guide clinical treatment.In China, acupuncture is one of the common treatments for allergic diseases. The efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of allergic rhinitis has been clinically affirmed.Conceptualization: PeiYu Xiong, Bo Jia.Data curation: Tao Yuan, Lu Xu.Formal analysis: PeiYu Xiong, Lu Xu.Funding acquisition: Bo Jia.Methodology: PeiYu Xiong.Project administration: Bo Jia.Supervision: Tao Yuan.Writing – original draft: PeiYu Xiong, Bo Jia.Writing – review & editing: PeiYu Xiong, Bo Jia.


Background: The incidence of autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATD) may vary with the beginning of reproductive function, although few reports differentiate the incidence before and during the onset of puberty, examining gender bias. We analyzed onset of ATD in a pediatric population to assess gender differences in onset age, disease subtype, pubertal status, autoimmune co-morbidity, family history and treatment, focusing on the interaction between gender and pubertal stage.Patients and methods: We retrospectively recorded 382 children and adolescents with ATD. In each patient physical examination was considered. The presence of other associated autoimmune diseases (AAD) and familial predisposition was also recorded.Results: Predominant prevalence was noted in females compared to males (p < 0.001), both in Hashimoto's diseases (HD or HT) and Graves' disease (GD) (p < 0.001). Mean age at diagnosis showed no significant difference between sexes (p > 0.05). A higher prevalence in pubertal subjects was noted compared to prepubertal , without sexes difference intra- and inter-puberty groups . Both in HT and in GD, the prevalence of autoimmune associated diseases (AAD) was higher in males compared to females (p = 0.04), with similar distribution according to the pubertal maturation. The familial predisposition was similarly distributed in both genders (p > 0.05) and into pubertal stages (p > 0.05).Conclusions: Females are more prone to develop ATD during puberty, earlier in HT than in GD. The effect of puberty is not different between genders, suggesting the role of additional factors other than hormones. The screening for detection of ATD is recommended in all patients with positive family history and other autoimmune diseases, mostly in males. Considerations of gender in pediatrics could be important to define pathogenic mechanisms of ATD and to help in early diagnosis and clinical management. Autoimmune thyroid diseases (ATD), which includes both Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD), are the most common etiology of acquired thyroid dysfunction in pediatrics –3 ATD arBoth polyautoimmunity and familial autoimmunity are typical findings of ATD , 6, suppIn pediatrics, ATD usually occur in puberty , 2 but tThat being so, we analyzed a pediatric population with onset of ATD to assess the gender differences as regard onset age, disease subtype, pubertal status, autoimmune co-morbidity, family history and treatment, focusing on the interaction between gender and pubertal stage. The gender specific characteristics of disease across puberty may help early diagnosis and clinical management.We retrospectively recorded 382 children and adolescents with ATD (HT and GD) who have been referred to the Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology Unit of the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo for diagnosis and treatment over a decade (2009–2019).ATD diagnosis was based on the finding of one or more positive thyroid autoantibodies and a characteristic thyroid ultrasound, lacking homogeneity, with a hypogenic or mixed echopattern.In each patient, physical examination was performed. The presence of eventual associated autoimmune diseases (AAD) at the ATD diagnosis was also recorded.Positive family history of autoimmune thyroid disorders was collected (only first-degree relatives were considered significant) in order to analyze the effect of familial predisposition on the development of ATD.The protocol was performed with the approval of the Ethical Committee of Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy and according to the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants or their responsible guardians were asked their written consent after being informed about the nature of the study.Physical examination of patients at first diagnosis included evaluation of height, weight, BMI , stages of puberty according to Marshall and Tanner , 9.Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were performed as previously described .Pubertal development was classified as: prepubertal = Tanner 1; early puberty = Tanner 2–3; late puberty = Tanner 4–5.TSH, FT4 and FT3 and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb) anti-thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb), were measured as previously reported .Thyroid ultrasound studies were performed by the same operator (VC) with patients in a supine position with the neck hyperextended, by using an Aloka machine  with a 7–13 MHz linear transducer.t-test.Qualitative variables were described as counts and percentage and the chi square test was used to compare the differences between groups. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test the normal distribution of quantitative variables. As quantitative variables were normally distributed, the results were expressed as the mean value and standard deviation (SD) and compared between groups with p < 0.001). Mean age at the diagnosis was 11.58±0.21 years without significant sexes difference .Out of the 382 patients with ATD (361 HT and 21 GD) included in the study, 325 (85%) were females and 57 (15%) were males  and late puberty in 111 (29.37%), p < 0.001, without sexes difference intra-  and inter-puberty groups , Pre-pubertal status was present in 79 (20.9%) of our patients, and pubertal condition in 298 (78%), p = 0.04). Mean age of the subjects with poliautoimmunity was similar compared to patients with a single disease  and there was no difference between gender or according to pubertal stage distribution (p > 0.05). Celiac disease was detected in 58 of subjects , type 1 diabetes in 19 , autoimmune gastritis 6 , vitiligo 11 , and alopecia in 9  children.AAD was noted in 100 (26.18%) of our overall population, with higher prevalence in males compared to females . Mean age at onset was not different in patients with or without a positive family history , as well as the gender lineage did not make any difference (p = 0.25). Distribution of the pubertal maturation in the groups with or without positive family history was similar taking into account the gender bias .Positive family history of autoimmune diseases was reported in 204 of our patients (53.83%), without difference in prevalence between males and females (p = 0.8) with no gender difference also according to pre- and pubertal condition .At the onset of disease, hormonal treatment was started in 204  of children and the rate was similar in males and females . Mean age at diagnosis was 11.58 ± 0.21 years without significant difference between gender .Out of the 382 patients with ATD, 361 subjects were diagnosed with HT, with predominance of female population  and inter-puberty groups , Pre-pubertal status was detected in 21.3% of our patients, and pubertal condition in 78.7%, p < 0.01). The mean age of the patients with poliautoimmunity was similar in comparison with those carrying only one disease ; no difference between gender was found (p = 0.9). Celiac disease was detected in 56 of subjects , type 1 diabetes mellitus in 17 , autoimmune gastritis in 6 , vitiligo in 11 , and alopecia in 9  children. Distribution of the pubertal stages in the patients with or without associated autoimmune diseases was not different according to the gender .AAD was diagnosed in 27.14% of the study sample with ATD, with higher prevalence in males compared to females . Mean age at onset in subjects with positive familiarity was not different compared to patients without  and no difference was evident according to gender lineage (p = 0.25). Even the distribution of the pubertal stages in the groups with or without a positive family history was not different taking into account the gender bias .Positive familiarity for autoimmune diseases was reported in 54.47% of our patients, without a different prevalence between males and females (p = 0.8). No significant difference between gender according to the presence of both polyautoimmunity and puberty . In our series, all patients were adequately treated, with a good control of signs and symptoms.At the onset of disease, hormonal treatment with L-thyroxine was started in 183 of children (47.9%) and the rate was similar in males and females . Mean age at diagnosis was not different in females compared to males .Out of the 382 patients with ATD, 21 subjects were diagnosed with GD, with a higher prevalence in females ; no gender difference between intra-  and inter-puberty groups  was documented, Pre-pubertal status was recorded in 19.0% of patients and pubertal condition in 81%, p < 0.01), that presented both CD and type 1 diabetes, and were at late puberty.Associated autoimmune diseases was detected in 2 males patients . Mean age at onset was not different in subjects with or without a positive family history  and according to the gender lineage (p = 0.25). Distribution of the pubertal stages in the groups with or without familiarity was not different according to the gender (p = 0.3).A positive familiarity for autoimmune diseases was reported in 42.86% of patients, without difference in prevalence between males and females , as compared with other genome areas . The assFindings reported in our series are in line with the evidence that ATD is often accompanied by other organ-specific autoimmune disorders, confirming that common genetic factors may prejudice an individual to developing autoimmunity . AlthougWe confirmed the higher prevalence of ATD in females. Moreover, we showed that the prevalence of AAD was higher in males compared to females. This result supports that non-HLA genes, such as Polymorphisms in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte anti- gen-4, acid phosphatase locus 1, Discs large homolog 5, interleukin-10, and apolipoprotein E, may be also associated with susceptibility to multiple autoimmune disease , 21. AddThe observed familial predisposition to GD and HT confirms the crucial role of the genetic component in the development of this disease. Indeed, we documented that more than 50% of subjects with ATD presented a positive family history, supporting the notion that maternal and paternal inheritance may also contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. The lack of the gender specific familial risk suggests that the interaction of genes and environmental factors may underlie parental inheritance of autoimmunity .In adults, a difference between males and females are reported in age at onset of ATD . In thisWe are aware that there are some limitations in our study starting from recognizing that the retrospective design has numerous disadvantages with an inferior level of evidence. Of note, we did not observe a gender difference in the severity among ATD, as it has been previously reported . HoweverIn conclusion, females are more prone to develop ATD during puberty, in particularly HT in early stage and GD in late stage. The impact of puberty is not different in females and males, supporting the role of additional factors other than sex hormones. We recommend screening for detection of ATD in all children and adolescents with positive family history and other autoimmune diseases, especially in males. Considerations of gender in pediatrics could be important to define pathogenic mechanisms of ATD and to help in early diagnosis and clinical management.The datasets generated for this study are available on request to the corresponding author.The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Ethical Committee of Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. Written informed consent to participate in this study was provided by the participants' legal guardian/next of kids.VC, RN, and DL designed experiments and wrote and supervised the manuscript. CR recorded data of the patients and wrote the manuscript. AI, RAm, FB, AC, and FV recorded data of the patients. AD performed statistical analysis. RAl performed biochemical evaluation. All authors have read and approved the paper.The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.


Marketed GA is currently produced chemically, but increasing demand is driving the search for eco-friendlier and more efficient production approaches. Cell-based production of GA represents an alternative strategy for GA production. A series of synthetic pathways for GA have been ported into Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris, respectively, and these engineered cells show the ability to synthesize GA de novo. Optimization of the GA metabolic pathways in host cells has leapt forward, and the titer and yield have increased rapidly. Meanwhile, cell-free multi-enzyme catalysis, in which the desired pathway is constructed in vitro from enzymes and cofactors involved in GA biosynthesis, has also realized efficient GA bioconversion. This review presents an overview of studies of the development of cell-based GA production, followed by a brief discussion of potential applications of biosensors that respond to GA in these biosynthesis routes. B. B64]. B into GA , 66. A sendocina . These tfugation . Brieflyl d-GlcA .Fig. 4InPetroll et al.  construcE. coli. Two years later, an effective high-throughput screening approach was established, and applied in the identification of highly active mutants of MIOX [E. coli strain containing the GA biosensor system could act as a GA “detector”, and with its help, the GA concentration within medium or a reaction mixture could be ranked. Though this approach is not a quantitative analysis method, it is suitable for high-throughput sorting, and a feasible solution to the lack of a fast and effective GA detection method. Yeasts are candidate host cells that may be better suited for the production of GA than E. coli, because of their higher resistance to acid toxicity from GA accumulation in vivo. Unfortunately, GA-inducible transcriptional regulators of natural eukaryotic promoters have not been reported, though it is believed that these components would be straightforward and powerful tools for yeast metabolic engineering. Transplantation of prokaryotic transcriptional activators into the eukaryotic chassis is a potential solution to this problem [It is highly desirable to develop an effective GA concentration screening approach. Promoters responding to GA, and promoters that allow for real-time control of upstream genes, would be an effective solution. Such promoters and their transcriptional regulators would have high value, and enable optimum GA pathway flux and construction of GA biosensors. The biosensors would be powerful during the identification of critical in vivo points for improvement of GA titer, and for directed evolution of enzymes involved in GA biosynthesis. In 2016, Rogers et al.  develope of MIOX . An E. c problem –74.E. coli, S. cerevisiae, and P. pastoris, and these engineered cells show the ability to synthesize GA de novo. After abundant works to improve the GA metabolic pathways in host cells, GA titers from glucose have reached around 5 g/L (from glucose) and 6 g/L (from glucose and MI) when E. coli and P. pastoris are used as host cells, respectively.GA is commonly identified as one of the “top value-added chemicals from biomass”, and is currently produced by chemical method. The alternative is bio-based production approaches. Therefore, the development of GA production based on fermentation and metabolically engineered cells or in vitro cell-free biocatalysis has leapt forward in recent years, and GA titers and yield have increased rapidly , 64, 69.Probing protein sequence–function relationships of MIOXs then engineering members of this enzyme family would yield MIOX variants with desired enzymatic activity and increased stability, which would be a fundamentally important step in advancing biobased GA production. Furthermore, tools in synthetic biology are changing rapidly, which will be important for improvement of the efficiency of GA biobased production. There has been recent interest in the dynamic regulation of flux through metabolic pathways to overcome some of the issues arising from the introduction of the GA biosynthesis pathway into host cells. In the future, with a range of metabolite sensors responding to GA directly or to intermediate metabolites within the GA biosynthesis pathway being discovered or artificially constructed, control can be implemented at different dynamic timescales.Briefly, we expect that continuing advances in synthetic biology and protein engineering will allow the design of efficient and environmentally-friendly approaches to produce GA, and meet the requirements of GA application in medicine and industry.


Background: Quality of life (QOL) is a crucial part of evaluating health conditions IN adolescents. The purposes of this study were to (1) examine the relationship of QOL and smoking, physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) among Chinese adolescents, (2) explore the relationship between PA-ST combination and QOL of adolescents, and (3) investigate the dose-response relationship between PA-ST and QOL. Methods: This study randomly selected 12,900 adolescents (11–18 years) from 13 administrative regions in Shandong Province, China. The data gathering tools for Smoking (tobacco), PA (PAQ-A) and ST (average daily time for ST) and QOL questionnaire  were completed among all adolescents. Statistical analysis was performed by T test, chi-square test and multiple linear regression. Results: 12,641 adolescents (aged 12–18) completed the study. In multiple linear regression models, the result demonstrated that the adolescents from rural areas, with high ST, low PA, and smoking, with older age and low socioeconomic status, showed a lower QOL score. First-time smokers under 10 years revealed the lowest QOL, and PA > 30 min five days per week have the highest QOL. In addition, boys and girls with PA > 30 min three to four days per week in high ST group obtain the higher scores  than low PA-low ST groups. Conclusions: Adolescents from rural areas suffer from a relatively poorer QOL. More than 30 min of PA five or more days for boys and three or four days per week for girls could decrease negative effects of ST and improve QOL. Quality of life (QOL) has become a critical measure of outcome for people with mental and physical health concerns , and ideIt is known that social cognitive theory (SCT)  is a freNotably, tobacco use has become the second leading death risk factor in the world , and a hOptimal PA could relieve the negative effects of high ST on QOL . Some stAlthough relevant studies have explored the influence of smoking, PA, and ST on the QOL of adolescents, there are several problems. First, the correlation between smoking status and self-reported quality of life are unclear . The resThis research used a cross-sectional study design to investigate adolescents in Shandong Province, China from 2017 to 2018. There are 90 public middle and high schools that were randomly selected from 13 administrative regions in terms of the province’s  specificNinety physical education (PE) teachers were recruited from middle and high schools who had previous experience in evaluating youth fitness programs. Workshops were held to train PE teachers and graduate students who administered all questionnaires by following standard operating procedures. All PE teachers had to participate in two training seminars that facilitated quality control for the method of assessment. Students completed a 40 min questionnaire independently during PE class under the guidance of PE teachers and graduate students. It is well-noted by all participants that all the data was collected on a voluntary, anonymous and confidential basis, was kept on a password-protected website, and only direct researchers could access the data. The sample questionnaires are published in Supplementary Materials.Demographic factors: These include gender, age, grade, place of residence and socioeconomic status. Two options for place of residence are urban and rural areas. The SES of guardians was investigated from the aspects of educational background and occupational status ,40.Physical Activities: Physical activity (PA) was evaluated by the physical activity questionnaire for adolescents (PAQ-A). This scale is a revised version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) and aims to assess the PA level of adolescents , and itsScreen time: The adolescents who participated in this study all reported the average daily time for watching TV or video, using computers, video games, tablets PC, mobile phones or other social tools, as well as the average time spent using computers for tasks unrelated to learning, and according to the recommendations of international ST this figure was divided into high ST (≥2 h per day) and low ST (<2 h per day) .Smoking (tobacco): Four questions were applied to determine the smoking status of teenagers: (1) Have you ever tried smoking, even if it was a puff? (2) How old were you when you first tried cigarette smoking, even if it was a puff? (3) How many days did you smoke in the last 30 days? (4) How many cigarettes did you smoke per day on smoking days? According to question (1) (2), the age of first smoking is divided into four groups: no, age 10 and under, age 11–14, age 15 and above; According to question (3) (4), the number of cigarettes per month was calculated, and then divided into three groups: never smokers, occasional smokers (smokes 5 or under cigarettes per month), and regular smokers (smokes 6 or more cigarettes per month).p = 0.00). Using the Chinese version, Cronbach’s reliability α = 0.885, content validity , and construct validity  were carried out, which have good reliability and validity, meet the requirements of psychometrics [Quality of Life: The quality of life was assessed by the Quality of Life Scale for Child and Adolescents . Reliabiometrics , and hasometrics .The scale contains three factors. Social and psychological function factors mainly deal with teacher-student relationship, peer relationship, parent-child relationship, learning ability and attitude, self-concept and other dimensions; physiological and mental health factors mainly cover somatic sensation, negative emotions, work attitude, etc.; the living environment factor mainly controls the dimensions of life convenience, activity opportunity, exercise ability, etc. A higher score indicates a better QOL. The scale assesses the QOL of children and adolescents from four aspects: life, psychology, social function, and living environment.n) and percentages (%) Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were categorized as small if d > 0.2, medium if d > 0.5 and large if d > 0.8 [p ≤ 0.05 is statistically significant, and IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows  was used for all statistical analyses.Descriptive statistics were performed on all variables by chi-square test and T test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) according to gender. Continuous variables were expressed as mean and standard deviation (mean ± standard deviation), and categorical variables were expressed as numbers . Moreover, PA score was also higher in boys at 2.34 compared to 2.18 in girls . The percentages of screen time category are low ST (86.73%) and high ST (13.27%), and there was a significant difference between girls  and boys  . The average QOL of adolescents was 140.31 points, and there was no significant difference between males and females in the total QOL.12,641 adolescents  were included in the final statistical analysis of this study. Descriptive statistical analysis results based on gender  show thaAccording to the classification of variables, it can be seen from the total score for QOL  that urbAs shown in As shown in The relationship between ST-PA combination and QOL was analyzed by linear regression model. According to the model , compareThis study explores the relationship between QOL and smoking, PA, and ST among Chinese adolescents. The relationship between PA–ST combination and QOL and its relationship between quantity and effect were also explored, while accounting for demographic factors such as age, sex, place of residence and socioeconomic status. We found that adolescents with high levels of PA have a better QOL, and more than 30 min of PA 5 days and above per week are most strongly associated with a better QOL; older, rural, smoking and ST were associated with poorer QOL and those first trying cigarette smoking at the age of 10 and under had the worst QOL; in addition, more than 30 min of PA five or more days a week–low ST combination had the best QOL. Boys who did more than 30 min of PA five days a week and girls who did more than 30 min of PA three to four days a week had a better QOL than girls who did not do more than 30 min of PA on any day.Chinese adolescents need a lot of time to study and prepare for exams, which causes some mental health problems ,50, and Our findings suggest that adolescents who smoke have a lower quality of life, compared to the behavioral health of (non-smoking) adolescents reported in previous studies, with general mental health and fewer depressive symptoms . HoweverAt present, there is a divergence in the relationship between PA and QOL of adolescents ,34. The From the perspective of the relationship between PA–ST combination and QOL, previous studies have shown that increasing PA is more important for improving the health of adolescents than reducing ST , and higOur research found that smoking behavior, PA level, ST duration, age, place of residence, and socioeconomic status of Chinese adolescents are all related to quality of life. In addition, our conclusion that high levels of PA could ameliorate the negative effects of high ST is consistent with previous studies . MoreoveThis study has several strengths. First, the sample size is large and representative. Random large sampling allows us to better provide the required precision and avoid errors from testing a small number of possibly atypical samples. Second, measurement is by well-validated questionnaires, thus contributing to the reliability and validity of this approach. Third, the relationship between smoking, PA–ST combination and QOL in Chinese adolescents is discussed for the first time, and it is one of the only cross-sectional studies to date that has preliminarily explored the dose–response relationship of PA–ST combination. From this perspective, the study is significant because it provides a reference for formulating strategies to improve the QOL of adolescents in the future.The limitations of the study include the following: First, this study is a cross-sectional study, which cannot accurately explain and analyze the cause and effect relationship. In the future, a longitudinal study is needed for further analysis. Second, this study has not explored other tobacco products such as cigarillo brands, hookah, and e-cigs, which are often more common than cigarettes. Third, the statistical analysis does not account for interactional effects. Fourth, the self-rated reports can bias results due to social desirability. Finally, this study did not distinguish the quality of screen time and the use of social media. We need to separate from the screen time that required by specific uses of social media in educational terms, such as professional study, health promotion, etc.This study explored the relationship between smoking, PA, ST and QOL of Chinese adolescents, and explored the relationship between PA–ST combination and QOL, and the dose–response relationship, while accounting for demographic factors. We found that Chinese adolescents with high ST, smoking, older, rural, and lower SES had a poorer QOL, while those who first tried cigarette smoking at the age of 10 or under are most strongly associated with poorer QOL. A high level of PA is associated with a better QOL, and more than 30 min of PA five or more days a week was most strongly associated with better QOL. In addition, the group with high PA (more than 30 min of PA five or more days a week)–low ST had the best QOL. More than 30 min of PA five or more days a week for boys and three or four days a week for girls can improve the negative effects of high ST and improve QOL. Therefore, strategies for improving the QOL of Chinese adolescents should focus on smoking, PA, ST, the older, the rural and low SES adolescents and take into consideration the relationship between QOL and related PA–ST combinations.


Culturally and linguistically different immigrants in the U.S. are considered populations with low health literacy in general, thereby having a high risk of negative health outcomes such as frailty. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of social support and acculturation on the relationship between health literacy and frailty of Korean immigrants in existing models of health literacy. A total of 244 Korean immigrants aged 50 years and older residing in Southern United States (Alabama and Georgia) were recruited. Path analysis was used to examine the pathways among variables, and the indirect effects of health literacy were analyzed. The results revealed that health literacy and social support directly influenced frailty; social support and acculturation were identified to influence health literacy. Health literacy had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between social support and frailty and a complete mediating effect in the relationship between acculturation and frailty. Therefore, to prevent frailty, it is necessary to consider enhancing immigrants’ health literacy by elevating acculturation and social supports. Frailty is a state that is vulnerable to stressors with decreased physiological resilience, resulting in increased disability, morbidity, and mortality ,2. It isHealth literacy (HL) is another issue to which older adults are more vulnerable. HL includes not only obtaining and understanding health-related information, but also the ability to appraise and apply health-related information in a sociocultural context to make appropriate health decisions . Low HL Frailty and HL are particularly important issues for older adults. Recently, several studies have been conducted to examine the relationship between frailty and HL. A study of Taiwanese community-dwelling older adults aged over 65 years determined that HL was correlated with prefrailty and frailty regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status, and educational attainment . A studyBased on these preceding studies, this study aims to examine the relationship between frailty and HL in middle-aged and older Korean adults who immigrated to the Southern U.S. (Alabama and Georgia). Generally, immigrants are regarded as vulnerable populations with low HL, resulting in serious health disparities and worsening health outcomes ,21. FactSocial support played an important role in moderating the negative effects of acculturation stress . AccultuThis was a descriptive cross-sectional survey study to examine the significant paths among HL, social support, acculturation, and frailty. Convenience sampling was used to recruit community-dwelling Korean older adults aged 50 years or older. The sample size was calculated based on the recommendation of a sample to a parameter ratio of 10:1 for testing the mediating effect using structural equation modeling (SEM) . Since tData were collected from June to October of 2020. Surveys given to the participants included questions on general characteristics, measures of frailty, HL, social support, and acculturation. The principal investigator (PI) contacted various Korean centers  in Alabama and Georgia, and had a meeting with center directors in person. The PI explained the purpose of the study and, with the consent of the head of the center, began collecting data. Data collection was carried out in three ways: (1) the PI visited the selected centers and directly explained to the participants the nature of the survey, allowed participants to complete their responses followed by the collection of their surveys in a private space away from the PI; (2) participants who requested to complete their surveys at home did so and then submitted their responses to their respective centers; and (3) when the PI was not available, the head of the center explained the purpose of the survey to the participants and then collected their responses. Explanation and written consent preceded all data collected from participants. A gift worth $3 was provided as a sign of gratitude.The path model of this study was based on a model based on an Intervention Research on Health Literacy among an Ageing Population (IROHLA) comprehensive HL model  and an iThe integrated HL model was developed through a systematic review of the literature on HL . AccessiWhen integrating the above two models, it can be seen that individual, situational, and social and environmental determinants affect HL and ultimately affect frailty. This study designed social support as a situational determinant and acculturation as a social and environmental determinant. Acculturation is a comprehensive concept that refers to a phenomenon that causes changes in cultural patterns when individuals with culturally different backgrounds constantly contact new cultures . In summFrailty was assessed using the Korean version of the FRAIL scale  proposedHL was measured using the Health Literacy Survey-12 Questionnaires (HLS-Q12) . HLS-Q12Social support was measured using the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) . The MSPAcculturation was measured using the East Asian Acculturation Measure (EAAM) . Items wCovariates were age, gender, monthly income, and length of residency in the U.S. (years) based on previous studies ,10,17,20Descriptive analyses were conducted to describe the sample characteristics and the main variables. Correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationships between the four main variables: HL, social support, acculturation, and frailty.Path analyses were conducted to estimate the pathways among the main variables to examine (1) whether social support or acculturation affects frailty or HL and (2) HL affects frailty. Additionally, indirect effects of HL on the relationship between (1) social support to frailty and (2) acculturation to frailty were confirmed through path analysis. Since path analysis is widely used to examine the mediating effect due to better power and more accurate Type I error rates , path anDescriptive analyses were completed using SPSS Statistics version 27.0, and path models were estimated using Mplus version 8.3.α of the three main variables in this study, acculturation, social support, and HL were 0.84, 0.94, and 0.95, respectively.r = 0.51 and r = 0.42, respectively) and frailty was negatively correlated with social support, acculturation, and HL .Prior to conducting path analysis, correlations among the main variables were confirmed . The resβ = 0.40, p < 0.001) and social support  exhibited a significant and positive relationship with HL. For frailty, HL  and social support  had a significant, negative, and direct relationship. Among the covariates, the immigration period was significantly related to HL . This path model demonstrated a good model fit , and explained 32% and 13% of the variance of HL and frailty, respectively.β = −0.03, p = 0.045) in the relationship between social support and frailty. In the relationship between acculturation and frailty, HL had a significant complete mediating effect .The mediating effect of HL is presented in This study demonstrated that HL and social support directly influenced frailty and social support and acculturation influenced HL. Furthermore, HL had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between social support and frailty and a complete mediating effect in the relationship between acculturation and frailty. Although the indirect effect of HL was relatively small, it is notable that frailty can be mediated by HL.Several studies have found a relationship between frailty and HL ,18,19, bSocial support exhibited a significant role in this study by affecting HL and frailty. Older adult immigrants tended to depend on social support from the same nationality groups of the community or their family. Particularly, family members play a major role in their health care decision-making . As evidLonger residency in the U.S. affected higher HL, meaning that immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for a long time are better able to adapt to their host culture and language, thereby having an increased ability to acquire health-related information. This result was consistent with the pathway of acculturation to HL, in which the meaning of acculturation is one’s adaptation to a new culture. Acculturation exhibited a significant effect on frailty through HL but showed no significant direct effect on frailty in this study. Therefore, to reduce the risk of frailty, there is a need for strategies to improve the immigrants’ level of acculturation to induce a positive effect on HL. Participants in this study scored higher in the separation dimension , while ASince the U.S. has a larger immigrant population than any other country, with 44.8 million consisting of 13.7% of the U.S. population , health Since this study was conducted on Korean immigrants residing in several states in the Southern U.S. with convenience sampling, there is a limitation of generalizability of the results. Considering that significant pathways may appear different across different age groups, it is necessary to examine with age groups of sufficient samples and verify as an individual model. In addition, this study measured frailty with a self-reported scale. The prevalence of frailty in this study was similar to that of previous studies; however, a physical measurement for frailty is also required to validate this study. Finally, this study was a cross-sectional study showing only the relationship between variables. A longitudinal study is recommended to investigate causality.This study had an implication that revealed relationships among frailty, HL, social support, and acculturation of middle-aged and older Korean immigrants in the U.S. based on two integrated models with path analysis. Social support and HL exhibited significant effects on frailty while acculturation did not, and HL had an indirect effect on the relationship between frailty and social support, frailty, and acculturation, respectively. Therefore, to prevent frailty, it is necessary to consider enhancing immigrants’ health literacy by elevating acculturation and social supports.