| 1. |
- Gu, Jihao, et al.
(author)
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Medium-term heat load prediction for an existing residential building based on a wireless on-off control system
- 2018
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In: Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0360-5442. ; 152, s. 709-718
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- For district heating systems, prediction of the heat load is a very important topic for energy storage and optimized operation. For large and complex heating systems, most prediction models in previous publications only considered the influence of outdoor temperature, whereas the indoor temperature and thermal inertia of buildings were not included. For an energy-efficient residential building in Shijiazhuang (China), the heat load prediction is investigated using various prediction models, including a wavelet neural network (WNN), extreme learning machine (ELM), support vector machine (SVM) and back propagation neural network optimized by a genetic algorithm (GA-BP). In these models, the indoor temperature and historical loads are considered as influencing factors. It is found that the prediction accuracies of the ELM and GA-BP are slightly higher than that of WNN, so the ELM and GA-BP models provide feasible methods for the heat load prediction. The SVM shows smaller relative errors in the model prediction compared with three neural network algorithms.
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| 2. |
- Guo, Jianqiu, et al.
(author)
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Anthropometric measures at age 3 years in associations with prenatal and postnatal exposures to chlorophenols
- 2019
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In: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 228, s. 204-211
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Chlorophenols (CPs), suspected as endocrine disrupting chemicals, exposure during early life may contribute to body size. However, limited human data with inconsistent findings have examined the developmental effects of CPs exposure.Objective: To explore associations between prenatal and postnatal CPs exposure and anthropometric parameters in children aged 3 years.Methods: A subset of 377 mother-child pairs with urinary five CP concentrations were enrolled from a prospective birth cohort. Generalized linear models were conducted to evaluate associations of CPs exposure with children's anthropometric measures.Results: Maternal urinary 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) concentrations were significantly negatively associated with weight z scores [regression coefficient (beta)=-0.51, 95% confidence interval (Cl): -0.96, -0.05; p = 0.01], weight for height z scores (beta = -0.54, 95% Cl:-1.02, -0.06; p= 0.01) and body mass index (BMI) z scores (beta = -0.53, 95% CI;-1.03, 0.03; p = 0.01) of children aged 3 years, after adjustment for potential confounders and postnatal CPs exposure. In the sex-stratified analyses, these inverse associations remained among boys, while in girls, positive associations of prenatal 2,4,6-TCP exposure with weight for height z scores and BMI z scores were observed. Postnatal exposure to 2,5-diclorophenol (2,5-DCP) was positively associated with weight z scores (beta = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.50; p = 0.04), after controlling for possible confounders and maternal CPs exposure during pregnancy. Considering potential sex-specific effects, these associations were only observed in girls.Conclusions: Our findings indicate that prenatal 2,4,6-TCP exposure and postnatal 2,5-DCP exposure may have adverse and sex-specific effects on children's physical development.
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| 3. |
- Guo, Jianqiu, et al.
(author)
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Associations of prenatal and childhood chlorpyrifos exposure with Neurodevelopment of 3-year-old children
- 2019
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In: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 251, s. 538-546
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphate insecticide, has been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental effects in animal studies. However, little is known about long-term neurotoxicity of early-life CPF exposure in humans. We aimed to evaluate the associations of both prenatal and early childhood CPF exposure with neurodevelopment of children. In this observational study based on Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort, pregnant women were recruited from an agricultural region between June 2009 and January 2010, and their children were followed up from birth to age three. Urinary 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a specific metabolite of CPF, was quantified using large-volume-injection gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Developmental quotients (DQs) of children in motor, adaptive, language, and social areas were assessed by trained pediatricians. Data from 377 mother-child pairs were used in the current study. Associations between CPF exposure and neurodevelopmental indicators were estimated using generalized linear models with adjustment for potential confounders. The median concentrations of TCPy in maternal and children's urine were 5.39 mu g/L and 5.34 mu g/L, respectively. No statistically significant association was found between maternal urinary TCPy concentrations and children neurodevelopment. While for postnatal exposure, we found lower motor area DQ score 0.61 [95% confidence interval (CI): -1.13, -0.09; p = 0.02] and social area DQ score 0.55 (95% CI: -1.07, -0.03; p = 0.04) per one-unit increase in the In-transformed childhood urinary TCPy concentrations. Further stratification by sex indicated that the inverse associations were only observed in boys, but not in girls. Our findings suggest that adverse neurodevelopmental effects were associated with early childhood CPF exposure, but not prenatal exposure. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to replicate these results and to further understand the toxicological mechanisms of CPF.
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| 4. |
- Guo, Jianqiu, et al.
(author)
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Early life triclosan exposure and neurodevelopment of children at 3 years in a prospective birth cohort
- 2020
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In: International journal of hygiene and environmental health. - : Urban & Fischer. - 1438-4639 .- 1618-131X. ; 224
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Early life exposure to triclosan, an emerging endocrine disrupting chemical, may adversely impact childhood neurodevelopment, but limited epidemiologic studies have examined the associations.OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the associations between prenatal and postnatal triclosan exposure and child neurodevelopment at 3 years.METHODS: The study included 377 mother-child pairs who participated in Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS), a longitudinal birth cohort in China. Triclosan concentrations in maternal and 3-year-old child urine samples were quantified using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) were used to assess child neurodevelopment at 3 years of age. Multivariate linear regression models were applied to estimate associations of prenatal and postnatal urinary triclosan concentrations with children's developmental quotients (DQs).RESULTS: Detection frequencies of triclosan in maternal and childhood urine samples were 100% and 99.5%, respectively. The median values of prenatal and postnatal urinary triclosan levels were 0.65 and 0.44 μg/L, respectively. One ln-unit increase of maternal urinary triclosan concentration was associated with increase of DQ scores in motor area of children (regression coefficient, β = 0.28, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.03, 0.54; p = 0.03). In sex-stratified analyses, maternal urinary triclosan levels were significantly related to increases in DQ scores in motor area among boys (β = 0.25, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.50; p = 0.04), while postnatal urinary triclosan concentrations were inversely associated with DQ scores in social area in boys (β = -0.37, 95%CI: -0.72, -0.03; p = 0.03).CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that prenatal triclosan exposure predicted increases in motor scores, while postnatal triclosan exposure was related to reductions in social scores of 3-year-old children. These associations were only observed in boys. The biological mechanisms linking triclosan exposure to neurodevelopment await further studies.
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| 5. |
- Guo, Jianqiu, et al.
(author)
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Maternal and childhood urinary phenol concentrations, neonatal thyroid function, and behavioral problems at 10 years of age : The SMBCS study
- 2020
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In: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 743
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Environmental phenols, bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), and benzophenone-3 (BP-3), are known as emerging endocrine-disrupting chemicals; however, their impacts on thyroid hormones and children's neurobehaviors are still unclear.OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the associations of prenatal and childhood exposure to phenols with neonatal thyroid function and childhood behavioral problems aged 10 years.METHODS: A total of 386 mother-singleton pairs were included from Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS), a longitudinal birth cohort in China. We quantified urinary BPA, TCS and BP-3 concentrations in maternal and 10-year-old children's urine samples using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and thyroid function parameters in cord serum samples. Caregivers completed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for their children at 10 years of age. Multivariable linear regression models and logistic regression models were applied to estimate associations of urinary phenol concentrations with thyroid hormones and risks of children's behavioral problems, respectively.RESULTS: The median values of urinary BPA, TCS and BP-3 concentrations for pregnant women were 1.75 μg/L, 0.54 μg/L and 0.37 μg/L, while 1.29 μg/L, 6.64 μg/L and 1.39 μg/L for children, respectively. Maternal urinary BPA concentrations were in associations with 1.00% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.20%, 1.92%] increases in cord serum FT4 concentrations and significantly associated with increased risks of total difficulties [odds ratio (OR): 1.45, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.97], while maternal urinary levels of BP-3 were significantly related to poorer prosocial behaviors (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.39) of children at 10 years of age. In sex-stratified analyses, maternal urinary BPA concentrations were related to increased total difficulty subscales only in boys.CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that higher prenatal urinary BPA concentrations were associated with increased risks of total difficulties, especially in boys and maternal urinary BP-3 concentrations were related to poorer prosocial behaviors at 10 years.
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| 6. |
- Guo, Jianqiu, et al.
(author)
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Prenatal exposure to multiple phenolic compounds, fetal reproductive hormones, and the second to fourth digit ratio of children aged 10 years in a prospective birth cohort
- 2021
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In: Chemosphere. - : Pergamon Press. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 263
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Select phenols are known to possess hormone-disrupting properties, but no previous study has addressed the potential effects of prenatal exposure to phenol mixtures on fetal reproductive hormones and children's second to fourth digit (2D: 4D) ratio, a marker for in utero testosterone (T) exposure. We aimed to explore interrelations of prenatal phenol exposures individually and in mixtures, cord serum reproductive hormones, and 2D: 4D ratio of children aged 10 years. Urinary 11 phenol concentrations were determined from 392 pregnant women participating in a longitudinal birth cohort. We estimated associations of prenatal phenol exposures individually and in mixtures with cord reproductive hormones and children's 2D:4D ratio using three statistical approaches, including generalized linear models (GLMs), elastic net regression (ENR) models and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models. In female newborns, the three models showed that maternal triclosan (TCS) concentrations were significantly negatively associated with cord serum T levels [regression coefficient (β) = -0.076, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.138, -0.013; p = 0.018]. Additionally, maternal urinary bisphenol A (BPA) levels were related to decreases in 2D:4D ratio of the left hand in girls by GLMs (β = -0.003, 95% CI: 0.007, -0.001; p = 0.024) and ENR models, but not BKMR models. We provided evidence that prenatal TCS exposure predicted lower cord serum T levels, and maternal BPA exposure was related to decreased 2D:4D ratio of the left hand in females.
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| 7. |
- Li, Wenting, et al.
(author)
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Effects of prenatal exposure to five parabens on neonatal thyroid function and birth weight : Evidence from SMBCS study
- 2020
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In: Environmental Research. - : Academic Press. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 188
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Parabens, suspected as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, are nearly ubiquitous in the human body and exposure to these chemicals during pregnancy may disrupt thyroid hormones homeostasis and even affect fetal growth, although the impacts are still unclear.OBJECTIVES: We aimed to estimate associations of maternal urinary paraben concentrations with cord serum thyroid hormones and birth weight.METHODS: A subset of 437 mother-newborn pairs were included from a prospective birth cohort with five parabens quantified in maternal urine and seven thyroid function indicators measured in cord serum samples. Multivariable linear regression models and elastic net regression (ENR) models were applied to explore associations between individual and mixtures of prenatal urinary paraben concentrations and thyroid hormones and birth weight, respectively.RESULTS: Maternal urinary ethyl-paraben (EtP) concentrations were associated with increased cord serum total triiodothyronine levels (TT3) [percent change: 1.51%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.20%, 2.74%; p=0.017]. Urinary propyl-paraben (PrP) levels predicted higher thyroid peroxidase antibodies (percent change: 4.19%, 95% CI: 0.20%, 8.44%; p=0.041). Maternal urinary EtP and butyl-paraben (BuP) concentrations were significantly positively associated with birth weight [regression coefficient, (β)=40.9g, 95% CI: 3.99, 76.6; p=0.030; β=62.1g, 95% CI: 8.70, 115; p=0.023, for EtP and BuP, respectively]. In sex-stratified analyses, positive relationship between EtP levels and birth weight was observed in boys. Urinary EtP concentrations predicted higher TT3 levels in cord serum samples, assessing parabens as a chemical mixture with ENR models.CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal exposure to parabens may affect thyroid hormone indicators with increased serum TT3 levels and associate with higher birth weight, especially in boys. The underlying biological mechanisms and effects of prenatal paraben exposures on disruption of thyroid function homeostasis and potential impacts of childhood growth and development needed to be further investigated.
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| 8. |
- Qi, Xiaoying, et al.
(author)
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High Throughput, Absolute Determination of the Content of a Selected Protein at Tissue Levels Using Quantitative Dot Blot Analysis (QDB)
- 2018
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In: Journal of Visualized Experiments. - : MyJove Corporation. - 1940-087X. ; :138
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lacking a convenient, quantitative, high throughput immunoblot method for absolute determination of the content of a specific protein at cellular and tissue level significantly hampers the progress in proteomic research. Results derived from currently available immunoblot techniques are also relative, preventing any efforts to combine independent studies with a large-scale analysis of protein samples. In this study, we demonstrate the process of quantitative dot blot analysis (QDB) to achieve absolute quantification in a high throughput format. Using a commercially available protein standard, we are able to determine the absolute content of capping actin protein, gelsolin-like (CAPG) in protein samples prepared from three different mouse tissues (kidney, spleen, and prostate) together with a detailed explanation of the experimental details. We propose the QDB analysis as a convenient, quantitative, high throughput immunoblot method of absolute quantification of individual proteins at the cellular and tissue level. This method will substantially aid biomarker validation and pathway verification in various areas of biological and biomedical research.
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| 9. |
- Rich, Evan A., et al.
(author)
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NEAR-IR POLARIZED SCATTERED LIGHT IMAGERY OF THE DoAr 28 TRANSITIONAL DISK
- 2015
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In: Astronomical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-6256 .- 1538-3881. ; 150:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present the first spatially resolved polarized scattered light H-band detection of the DoAr 28 transitional disk. Our two epochs of imagery detect the scattered light disk from our effective inner working angle of 0.10 (13 AU) out to 0.50 (65 AU). This inner working angle is interior to the location of the system's gap inferred by previous studies using spectral energy distribution modeling (15 AU). We detected a candidate point source companion 1.08 northwest of the system; however, our second epoch of imagery strongly suggests that this object is a background star. We constructed a grid of Monte Carlo Radiative Transfer models of the system, and our best fit models utilize a modestly inclined (50 degrees), 0.01 M-circle dot disk that has a partially depleted inner gap from the dust sublimation radius out to similar to 8 AU. Subtracting this best fit, axi-symmetric model from our polarized intensity data reveals evidence for two small asymmetries in the disk, which could be attributable to a variety of mechanisms.
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| 10. |
- Zhang, Jiming, et al.
(author)
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Carbamate pesticides exposure and delayed physical development at the age of seven : Evidence from the SMBCS study
- 2022
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In: Environment International. - : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 160
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Carbamate pesticides are widely used in agriculture and cause widespread human exposure. The health effect of carbamates on physical development remains unclear. The current study aimed to explore the carbamate's health effect on physical development.METHODS: Prenatal, 3-year-old, 7-year-old urinary carbofuranphenol concentration was measured by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and adjusted by creatinine. Anthropometric indices were measured by standard method and z-score standardized. Generalized linear models (GLM) were using to assess associations between exposure measurements and anthropometric indices. The generalized estimate equation (GEE) was applied to analyze the association between multiperiod exposure and anthropometric indices, and time-interaction terms were used to exam health effect consistency of exposure in each period. Gender-stratified analysis were conducted according to results of gender-interaction terms to identify gender-specific effects.RESULTS: The gender-interaction term of prenatal exposure with height z-score was significant (β = -0.057; 95% CI: -0.113, -0.001; p = 0.045). The 3-year-old carbofuranphenol level showed negative associations with weight z-score (β = -0.019; 95% CI: -0.038, -0.000; p = 0.040), height z-score (β = -0.015; 95% CI: -0.028, -0.001; p = 0.026), chest circumference (β = -0.086; 95% CI: -0.171, -0.001; p = 0.046), and waist circumference (β = -0.128; 95% CI: -0.230, -0.026; p = 0.014). No statistically significant trend was found for prenatal and 7-year-old carbofuranphenol levels. In GEEs, carbofuranphenol level was negatively associated with weight z-score (β = -0.103; 95% CI: -0.195, -0.011; p = 0.027), height z-score (β = -0.087; 95% CI: -0.152, -0.022; p = 0.008), and chest circumference (β = -0.472; 95% CI: -0.918, -0.026; p = 0.037). Boy's height z-score was inversely associated with carbamate exposure (β = -0.140; 95% CI: -0.227, -0.053; p = 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal and postnatal carbamate exposure may affect physical developmental process.
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