This study aimed to explore the relationship between physical exercise (PE) and mobile phone dependence (MPD) in Chinese university students and verify the potential role of self-control (SC) in mediating the decrease of MPD by PE. Through the quota sampling, 608 students that complied with the requirements were surveyed from 10 universities in China. PE, MPD, and SC were assessed using standard scales. For data analysis, t-tests, correlation analysis, hierarchical regression, and regression analysis were carried out in turn. The results showed significant gender differences in PE, MPD, and SC. For male students, the level of PE and score of SC were higher than those in females, yet the MPD score was lower. PE and SC were negatively related to MPD (r = −0.124, p < 0.01; r = −0.563, p < 0.001), so both could remarkably predict MPD (β = −1.00, p < 0.05; β = −0.552, p < 0.001). Gender was also a significant predictor for MPD (β = 0.089, p < 0.05). PE could, to some extent, decrease MPD, in which SC played a significant mediating role—its mediating effect accounted for nearly 71% of the total effect. The present study shows that PE is negatively correlated with MPD, and SC mediates the decrease of MPD by PE for university students in China. This indicates that the improvement of SC by PE could be a highly trustworthy and practicable way to effectively address the issue of MPD in university students or other young people across the world.

Background and aimsMobile phone addiction (MPA) has recently aroused much attention due to its high incidence and considerable health hazards. Although some existing studies have documented that physical activity is negatively associated with MPA, it is little known about the potential effects underlying this relation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical activity and MPA among undergraduates in China, and to further examine the moderating effect of exercise type in the relation between them.MethodsBy the quota sampling, a total of 650 participants engaged in this survey and completed relevant measurements including physical activity rating scale-3 (PARS-3) and mobile phone addiction tendency scale (MPATS).ResultsGender (β = 0.271, P < 0.05) and major (β = −0.169, P < 0.05) could significantly predict MPA, respectively, and physical activity was an imperative protective factor to decrease MPA (β = −0.266, P < 0.001). While the physical activity level enhanced from none exercise to medium exercise, an optimum dose-response relationship would emerge between physical activity and MPA (F(3,604) = 4.799, P < 0.01). Most important, the relation between physical activity and MPA can be moderated by exercise type. Especially in terms of aerobic endurance exercise, the higher level of physical activity the undergraduates performed, the lower degree of MPA would be suffered by them (β = −0.266, P < 0.001).DiscussionThese findings could be conducive to better understand the positive and potential effects of physical activity on the intervention in MPA, and served as a persuasive evidence that as for university students, actively engaging in aerobic endurance exercise with the medium activity level would be a practicable exercise strategy to deal with MPA in daily lifestyle behavior.

Larimichthys crocea (large yellow croaker) is a type of perciform fish well known for its peculiar physiological properties and economic value. Here, we constructed an improved version of the L. crocea genome assembly, which contained 26,100 protein-coding genes. Twenty-four pseudo-chromosomes of L. crocea were also reconstructed, comprising 90% of the genome assembly. This improved assembly revealed several expansions in gene families associated with olfactory detection, detoxification, and innate immunity. Specifically, six hepcidin genes (LcHamps) were identified in L. crocea, possibly resulting from lineage-specific gene duplication. All LcHamps possessed similar genomic structures and functional domains, but varied substantially with respect to expression pattern, transcriptional regulation, and biological function. LcHamp1 was associated specifically with iron metabolism, while LcHamp2s were functionally diverse, involving in antibacterial activity, antiviral activity, and regulation of intracellular iron metabolism. This functional diversity among gene copies may have allowed L. crocea to adapt to diverse environmental conditions.

IntroductionDanceSport is described as a dance involving a male–female partner. It is important to comprehend the partnership between dance couples so that their competitive performance can be effectively supported. However, only a few studies have verified the influence of partnership between DanceSport couples on competitive performance and explored its psychological mechanism to provide means to deal with the partnership. The reason was that there was a lack of appropriate assessment tools.AimsThis multi-study outlines the development, content, and construct validity of a novel, mixed-method tool to assess DanceSport partnership.MethodsThe development of the Partnership Scale-DanceSport Couples (PS-DSC) included four studies and data from four samples of Chinese elite dancers (N = 914 total). In stage 1, outlined in study 1, PS-DSC items were generated and then refined using the feedback provided by academics, sports coaches, and elite dancers. In stage 2, outlined in studies 2 and 3, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to examine the structure of the PS-DSC items. In stage 3, outlined in study 4, composite reliability, discriminant validity, and convergent validity were assessed. The result of this process was a 13-item three-factor instrument. Based on these initial findings, the PS-DSC provided the first valid and reliable way of measuring partnerships between DanceSport couples.ConclusionThis study has taken the promising first step in developing a tool to comprehensively measure partnerships between DanceSport couples.

The gut microbiota is closely associated with the health of the host and is affected by many factors, including exercise. In this study, we compared the gut microbial changes and exercise performance over a 14-week period in mice that performed exercise (NE; n = 15) and mice that did not perform exercise (NC; n = 15). Mice were subjected to stool collection and exercise tests one week prior to adaptive training and after 2, 6, 10, and 14 weeks of exercise. Bacteria associated with the stool samples were assessed via Illumina-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing. While there was no significant difference in body weight between the groups (p &gt; 0.05), the NE group had a significantly higher exercise performance from weeks 2–14 (p &lt; 0.01) and lower fat coefficient (p &lt; 0.01) compared with the NC group. The Shannon index of the gut microbiota in the NC group was higher than that in the NE group at weeks 6 and 10, and the Chao1 index was higher than that in the NE group at week 14. Exercise performance positively correlated with the relative abundance of Phascolarctobacterium. Grouped time series data analysis demonstrated that Bifidobacteria, Coprococcus, and one unnamed genus in the Clostridiales order were significantly increased in the NE group, which correlated with increased glucose, flavonoid, arginine, and proline metabolism. In conclusion, moderate-intensity treadmill exercise significantly increased the exercise performance of mice and changed the core bacteria and bacterial metabolic activity. These results provide a reference for studying the effects of exercise intervention and exercise performance on the gut microbiota of mice.

Aims: To isolate and characterize the novel Bacillus thuringiensis strains from bryophytes collected from Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Province of China, and identify new B. thuringiensis strains and toxins active against mosquitoes. Methods and Results: Twelve novel B. thuringiensis strains were isolated from 76 bryophyte samples. According to the results of this preliminary screening, LLB6 was the most toxic to Aedes albopictus. Then phase-contrast as well as scanning electron microscopy, bioassays, cloning, sequencing and expression were performed to characterize the novel isolate LLB6 and its new gene cry2Ac5. Conclusions: Bacillus thuringiensis occurred naturally on bryophytes. LLB6 isolated from Physcomitrium japonicum was toxic to A. albopictus. A new cry2Ac5 gene of LLB6 was detected, cloned and expressed successfully. Bioassays on A. albopictus showed that the expressed Cry2Ac5 was also toxic to the third instar larvae. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report of B. thuringiensis strains isolated from bryophytes. It represents a specific source of new B. thuringiensis strains and is of great importance for the knowledge of the ecology of B. thuringiensis. Novel LLB6 harboring the new gene cry2Ac5 and its expressed Cry2Ac5 protein revealed activity against A. albopictus and became a new member of B. thuringiensis toxins. 301Japanese encephalitis all over the world. About 20 million people are infected by dengue virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes with about 24 000 deaths every year. Therefore, mosquito management is an essential component for the control of mosquito-borne diseases. It has been known that the cyt and cry genes (cyt1, cyt2, cry2, cry4, cry10 and cry11) of B. thuringiensis encode the proteins active against mosquitoes. However, insect resistance to B. thuringiensis, especially to Cry proteins, has been found in recent years. Moreover, the similar or even higher level of insect resistance to commercial B. thuringiensis products has been reported in many countries. As a result of the severe impact of mosquito-borne diseases on public health, identification of new B. thuringiensis strains and toxins active against mosquitoes has increasingly come to attention (Schnepf et al. 1998).Wuyi Mountain is one of the world's natural and cultural heritages in China. It has a typical moderate subtropical climate with abundant rainfall, and warm and humid weather. The bryophyte samples collected from Wuyi Mountain were used to isolate B. thuringiensis. The purpose was to gain more information on the distribution of B. thuringiensis populations and to screen the strains active against A. albopictus. LLB6 was obtained and found to contain the cry2Ac gene, encoding protein toxic to Dipteran insects. To learn more about the characteristics of the cry2Ac gene of LLB6 and its encoding protein, we cloned and sequenced this gene, and successfully expressed the protein in Escherichia coli BL21. The Cry2Ac of LLB6 had been named as Cry2Ac5 by the B. thuringiensis delta-endotoxin nomenclatu...

In order to determine the effect of different light source’s spectrum to a subjects’ visual performance, this experiment examined three fluorescent lamps with a colour temperature of 2700K, 4000K and 6500K and an incandescent lamp. The results were compared to the average recognition rate a “reference person” from different light sources. Experimental results show significant differences in the recognition rate from different optical spectrum light source and recognition rate value. We determined the best combination of ambient and chalkboard light source and propose avoiding combination for classroom lighting that is clearly inferior. This article provides selection reference for optimal classroom ambient and blackboard lighting. In recent years, the study of psychological and physiological effect of light has become one of the most important field in lighting research[1]. Studies has shown that different light spectrum could affect human circadian rhythm, body temperature and alertness, which directly affecting work efficiency and health[2]. The effects by classroom light spectrum on efficiency and health cannot be ignored, as the students are exposed to one particular lighting environment for extended periods of time. Through a systematic survey of classroom lighting in several universities in Chongqing and Chengdu, T5 fluorescent of high colour temperature about 6500K was the predominant choice for classroom general lighting as well as blackboard lighting. Many students complained that they tired easily at this colour temperature. In another study on classroom light source[3] students’ preference for colour temperature is not fixed but varies according to classroom’s function and illuminance level. It was insufficient to choose colour temperature of classroom lighting based on the results of the above questionnaire. We therefore chose and compared T5 fluorescent lamps of 2700K, 4000K and 6500K colour temperature on the visual performance and their effects on study efficiency, asthenopia and physiological rhythm. Due to space limitations this article only discusses the contrast experiment of visual performance.

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