Browsing by Author "Zhang H"
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- ItemAn Investigation of the Relationship Between Dietary Patterns in Early Pregnancy and Maternal/Infant Health Outcomes in a Chinese Cohort(Frontiers Media S A, 2022-04-22) de Seymour JV; Beck KL; Conlon CA; Jones MB; Colombo J; Xia Y-Y; Han T-L; Qi H-B; Zhang H; Baker PN; Juturu VBACKGROUND: Studies assessing links between maternal diet and pregnancy outcomes have focused predominantly on individual nutrients or foods. However, nutrients are typically consumed in combinations of foods or beverages (i.e., dietary patterns). Taking into account the diet as a whole appreciates that nutrient absorption and metabolism are influenced by other nutrients and the food matrix. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary pattern consumption in early pregnancy and pregnancy/infant outcomes, including gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational weight gain, preeclampsia, placental weight, gestational age at delivery, small-for-gestational-age, large-for-gestational-age, macrosomia, measures of infant body composition, and scores on two main indices of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development [Mental Development Index (MDI) and the Psychomotor Development Index (PDI)] at 12 months. DESIGN: Our study included 1,437 participants from a mother-infant cohort in Chongqing, China. Maternal diet was assessed using a 96-item food frequency questionnaire at 11-14 weeks gestation. Dietary patterns were constructed using principal component analysis. Multivariate regressions were performed to assess associations between maternal dietary pattern scores and pregnancy and infant outcomes, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Two dietary patterns were derived: a pattern high in pasta, sweetened beverages, and oils and condiments (PSO-based dietary pattern) and a pattern high in fish, poultry, and vegetables (FPV-based dietary pattern). Higher scores on the PSO-based dietary pattern were associated with lower infant standardized scores on the PDI of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, β (95% confidence interval) = -1.276 (-2.392, -0.160); lower placental weight, β (95% CI) = -6.413 (-12.352g, -0.473); and higher infant's tricep skinfold thickness at 6 weeks of age. β (95% CI) = 0.279 (0.033, 0.526). Higher scores on the FPV-based dietary pattern were associated with higher gestational weight gain between visit 1 (11-14 week's gestation) and 3 (32-34 week's gestation). β (95% CI) = 25.612 (13.255, 37.969). No significant associations were observed between dietary pattern scores and the remaining pregnancy/infant outcomes investigated or MDI scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. This was the first study to investigate the association between dietary patterns in early pregnancy and infant neurocognition in a Chinese cohort.
- ItemFactors affecting Chinese short-term international students’ cross-cultural adaptation in psychology, learning, and life(Hindawi, 2022-08-20) Zhang H; Li MAlthough Chinese international students’ cross-cultural adaptation has achieved intense research, factors in developing Chinese SISs’ cross-cultural adaptation remain under-researched. This study examined the factors through a survey of Chinese SISs’ transitional adaptation in psychology, life, and learning. Mixed-method research was conducted: a survey of 155 SISs from a top Chinese university undertaking study across 16 countries and in-depth interviews with 15 SISs. Results indicate that knowledge of the host country and university, language proficiency, sense of participation, and engagement are the crucial factors in developing Chinese SISs’ cross-cultural adaptation. These factors reveal significant correlations with the students’ adaptive performances in psychology, life, and learning. However, the factor of duration indicates no significant correlation with students’ cross-cultural adaptation, which demonstrates an inconsistency with the previous studies. The findings of this study highlight the need for developing Chinese SISs’ sense of engagement, enhancing the language training, and building up the knowledge of the host cultures previous to the study abroad.
- ItemHair and cord blood element levels and their relationship with air pollution, dietary intake, gestational diabetes mellitus, and infant neurodevelopment.(Elsevier B.V., 2023-08-23) Xia Y-Y; de Seymour JV; Yang X-J; Zhou L-W; Liu Y; Yang Y; Beck KL; Conlon CA; Mansell T; Novakovic B; Saffery R; Han T-L; Zhang H; Baker PNBACKGROUND & AIMS: Exposure to a range of elements, air pollution, and specific dietary components in pregnancy has variously been associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk or infant neurodevelopmental problems. We measured a range of pregnancy exposures in maternal hair and/or infant cord serum and tested their relationship to GDM and infant neurodevelopment. METHODS: A total of 843 pregnant women (GDM = 224, Non-GDM = 619) were selected from the Complex Lipids in Mothers and Babies cohort study. Forty-eight elements in hair and cord serum were quantified using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between hair element concentrations and GDM risk, while multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the relationship between hair/cord serum elements and air pollutants, diet exposures, and Bayley Scales of infant neurodevelopment at 12 months of age. RESULTS: After adjusting for maternal age, BMI, and primiparity, we observed that fourteen elements in maternal hair were associated with a significantly increased risk of GDM, particularly Ta (OR = 9.49, 95% CI: 6.71, 13.42), Re (OR = 5.21, 95% CI: 3.84, 7.07), and Se (OR = 5.37, 95% CI: 3.48, 8.28). In the adjusted linear regression model, three elements (Rb, Er, and Tm) in maternal hair and infant cord serum were negatively associated with Mental Development Index scores. For dietary exposures, elements were positively associated with noodles (Nb), sweetened beverages (Rb), poultry (Cs), oils and condiments (Ca), and other seafood (Gd). In addition, air pollutants PM2.5 (LUR) and PM10 were negatively associated with Ta and Re in maternal hair. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the potential influence of maternal element exposure on GDM risk and infant neurodevelopment. We identified links between levels of these elements in both maternal hair and infant cord serum related to air pollutants and dietary factors.
- ItemMolecular Detection of Zoonotic and Veterinary Pathogenic Bacteria in Pet Dogs and Their Parasitizing Ticks in Junggar Basin, North-Western China(Frontiers Media S.A., 2022-07) Guo J; Song S; Cao S; Sun Z; Zhou Q; Deng X; Zhao T; Chai Y; Zhu D; Chen C; Baryshnikov PI; Blair HT; Wang Z; Wang Y; Zhang HDespite the recognized epidemiological importance of ticks as vectors for pathogens that cause numerous zoonotic and veterinary diseases, data regarding the pathogens of pet dogs and their parasitic ticks in the Junggar Basin are scarce. In this study, a total of 178 blood samples and 436 parasitic ticks were collected from pet dogs in Junggar Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), north-western China. All ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus turanicus sensu stricto (s.s.) according to morphological and molecular characteristics. Rh. turanicus s.s. ticks were collected from pet dogs in China for the first time. Seven tick-borne pathogens, such as Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia massiliae, Candidatus R. barbariae, Brucella spp., Rickettsia sibirica, and Anaplasma ovis, were detected from ticks, whereas the first five bacteria were detected from blood samples of dogs. Brucella spp. was the most predominant pathogen in both blood samples and ticks of pet dogs, with the detection rates of 16.29 and 16.74%, respectively. Moreover, 17 ticks and 1 blood sample were co-infected with two pathogens, and 1 tick was co-infected with three pathogens. This study provided molecular evidence for the occurrence of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Brucella spp. circulating in pet dogs and their parasitic ticks in Junggar Basin, north-western China. These findings extend our knowledge of the tick-borne pathogens in pet dogs and their parasitic ticks in Central Asia; therefore, further research on these pathogens and their role in human and animal diseases is required.
- ItemPrediction of seasonal population dynamics of Grapholita molesta (Busck) and Adoxophyes orana (Fischer von Röslerstamm) in peach orchards using sex pheromone trap and degree-days and its implications in pest management(2023-10-04) Ma A; Zhang H; Ran H; Yang X; J Hao J; Zhang J; Li H; Yu Z; Wang X; He X; Li JThe successful management of lepidopteran moths in orchards usually depends on the precise forecast of adult activity. However, the seasonal phenology of moths varies between crop cultivars and years, making it difficult to schedule the control measures. Here, we monitored male flight activity of oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta and summer fruit tortrix moth Adoxophyes orana by using sex pheromone traps in peach orchards of three different cultivars for three successive years. We developed a logistic multiple-peaks model to fit data and then calculated degree-days (DD) required for male activity and neonate emergency. Results show that G. molesta and A. orana males had 4–5 and 3 flight peaks per year, respectively. The seasonal phenology of G. molesta or A. orana was quite stable with an identical timing of each flight peak between cultivars in a year. The flight activity was usually higher in the second and third peaks for both moths, with a higher cumulative number of G. molesta males captured than that of A. orana. Compared to A. orana, G. molesta emerged early in spring and required lower degree-days to reach the subsequent flight peaks and for neonate emergency. Our results suggest that to decline the possibility of outbreaks of moths during the growing seasons, pheromone traps should be scheduled in April with a cumulative DD between 49.6 and 207.1 for G. molesta and in mid-May–early June with a cumulative DD between 450.4 and 866.7 for A. orana, aiming to trap the newly emerged male adults or disrupting female mating success of overwintered moths in orchards. Based on the thermal requirement for egg hatching (i.e., 79.4 DD for G. molesta and 90.0 DD for A. orana), insecticide treatments would be applied in late-April–early May and late May–early June to reduce the field population density of neonates of G. molesta and A. orana, respectively, to reduce fruit damage in orchards. Furthermore, pheromone traps set up in late July–early August (573.8–1025.2 DD) for G. molesta and in mid-September (1539.7–1788.9 DD) for A. orana may suppress overwintering populations and thus decrease pest infestation in next year.
- ItemThe Flagellar Transcriptional Regulator FtcR Controls Brucella melitensis 16M Biofilm Formation via a betI-Mediated Pathway in Response to Hyperosmotic Stress(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-09) Guo J; Deng X; Zhang Y; Song S; Zhao T; Zhu D; Cao S; Baryshnikov PI; Cao G; Blair HT; Chen C; Gu X; Liu L; Zhang HThe expression of flagellar proteins in Brucella species likely evolved through genetic transference from other microorganisms, and contributed to virulence, adaptability, and biofilm formation. Despite significant progress in defining the molecular mechanisms behind flagellar gene expression, the genetic program controlling biofilm formation remains unclear. The flagellar transcriptional factor (FtcR) is a master regulator of the flagellar system’s expression, and is critical for B. melitensis 16M’s flagellar biogenesis and virulence. Here, we demonstrate that FtcR mediates biofilm formation under hyperosmotic stress. Chromatin immunoprecipitation with next-generation sequencing for FtcR and RNA sequencing of ftcR-mutant and wild-type strains revealed a core set of FtcR target genes. We identified a novel FtcR-binding site in the promoter region of the osmotic-stress-response regulator gene betI, which is important for the survival of B. melitensis 16M under hyperosmotic stress. Strikingly, this site autoregulates its expression to benefit biofilm bacteria’s survival under hyperosmotic stress. Moreover, biofilm reduction in ftcR mutants is independent of the flagellar target gene fliF. Collectively, our study provides new insights into the extent and functionality of flagellar-related transcriptional networks in biofilm formation, and presents phenotypic and evolutionary adaptations that alter the regulation of B. melitensis 16M to confer increased tolerance to hyperosmotic stress.