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Background Change in asthma burden attributed to specific environmental risk factor has not been evaluated. Objective We aimed to explore the age, period, and cohort effects on asthma burden attributable to smoking and occupational asthmagens in different socio-demographic index (SDI) regions and the region and sex disparities. Methods Risk factor-specific asthma deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates were extracted from Global Burden of Disease study 2019, estimated by standard Combined Cause of Death Model and DisMod-MR 2.1 modeling tool. Age-period-cohort analysis was conducted to decompose age, period, and cohort effects on asthma burden. Results Smoking- and occupational asthmagens-related asthma deaths and DALYs rates dropped by > 45% during 1990–2019. In 2019, Africa, South and Southeast Asia had higher asthma burden than other regions. Male had higher asthma burden than female. Among nearly all age groups, low-middle SDI region had the highest smoking-related asthma burden, and low SDI region had the highest occupational asthmagens-related asthma burden. Inverse “V” shaped trend was observed in the above regions with increasing age. For smoking-related asthma deaths and DALYs rates, the most significant improvement of period rate ratio (RR) occurred in high SDI region, decreased from 1.67 (1.61, 1.74) to 0.34 (0.33, 0.36) and 1.61 (1.57, 1.66) to 0.59 (0.57, 0.61), respectively, as well as the cohort effect on smoking-related asthma burden. For occupational asthmagens-related asthma deaths and DALYs rates, the most sharply decrease of period and cohort RR appeared in the high and high-middle SDI regions. Low SDI region showed least progress in period and cohort RR of smoking- and occupational asthmagens-linked asthma burden. Conclusion Smoking- and occupational asthmagens-related asthma burden sharply decreases, but region and sex disparities exist. Policy makers from low SDI region should reinforce tobacco control and prioritize workplace protection.

Speech recognition involves the ability to learn the audios which are closely related to event sequence. Although speech recognition has been widely implemented in software neural networks, a hardware implementation based on energy efficient computing architecture is still missing. Herein, W/MgO/SiO2/Mo memristor arrays with multilevel resistance states are fabricated, where the weights of the artificial synapses in the memristor array can be tuned precisely by voltage pulses. Based on the array, speech recognition in memristive spiking neural networks (SNNs) with improved supervised tempotron algorithm on Texas Instruments digit sequences (TIDIGITS) dataset is conducted, demonstrating software‐comparable accuracy for speech recognition in the memristive SNN. It is envisioned that such memristive SNNs can pave the way to building a bioinspired spike‐based neuromorphic system for audio learning. Herein, a W/MgO/SiO2/Mo memristor array with multilevel resistance states, where the weights of the memristor array can be tuned precisely by voltage pulses, is reported. Based on the array, speech recognition in memristive spiking neural network with improved supervised tempotron algorithm on TIDIGITS dataset is conducted, demonstrating software‐comparable accuracy for speech recognition in the memristive spiking neural network.

Computing‐in‐memory (CIM) is a promising technique for solving the ‘memory wall’ and ‘power consumption wall’ problems. However, calculations in the analog domain are limited in terms of accuracy and sensitivity to process, voltage, and temperature changes. In this study, the authors proposed a CIM multiply‐and‐accumulate (MAC) circuit in which the MAC result was reflected by the pulse edge and converted into the final digital output using a dual‐edge counter quantization circuit, thereby improving the accuracy of the MAC operation and reducing the difficulty of quantization. The performance of the proposed CIM circuit was evaluated using a 28‐nm process. It could achieve 4‐bit multiplication without errors, with an energy efficiency of 24.38 to 670.86 TOPS/W. In this study, the authors proposed a computing‐in‐memory multiply‐and‐accumulate (CIM MAC) circuit that could generate pulses spontaneously. The MAC result was reflected by the pulse edge and converted into the final digital output using a quantization circuit, improving the accuracy of the MAC operation and reducing the difficulty of quantization.

Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) emerged as a biomarker of chronic inflammation and an independent prognostic factor for many cancers. We aimed to investigate the associations of SII level with total and cause-specific mortality risks in the general populations, and the potential modification effects of lifestyle-related factors on the above associations. In this study, we included 30,521 subjects from the Dongfeng-Tongji (DFTJ) cohort and 25,761 subjects from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2014. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the associations of SII with mortality from all-cause, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer and other causes. In the DFTJ cohort, compared to subjects in the low SII subgroup, those within the middle and high SII subgroups had increased risks of total mortality [hazard ratio, HR (95% confidence interval, CI) = 1.12 (1.03–1.22) and 1.26 (1.16–1.36), respectively) and CVD mortality [HR (95%CI) = 1.36 (1.19–1.55) and 1.50 (1.32–1.71), respectively]; those within the high SII subgroup had a higher risk of other causes mortality [HR (95%CI) = 1.28 (1.09–1.49)]. In the NHANES 1999–2014, subjects in the high SII subgroup had higher risks of total, CVD, cancer and other causes mortality [HR (95%CI) = 1.38 (1.27–1.49), 1.33 (1.11–1.59), 1.22 (1.04–1.45) and 1.47 (1.32–1.63), respectively]. For subjects with a high level of SII, physical activity could attenuate a separate 30% and 32% risk of total and CVD mortality in the DFTJ cohort, and a separate 41% and 59% risk of total and CVD mortality in the NHANES 1999–2014. Our study suggested high SII level may increase total and CVD mortality in the general populations and physical activity exerted a beneficial effect on the above associations.

In‐memory computing (IMC) is a novel computing architecture that presents considerable potential in solving the data transmission and energy consumption problems faced by the von Neumann architecture. The compound Boolean logic operation (CBLO) is a crucial component of most advanced computing platforms. This study presents a static random‐access memory array structure comprising configurable embedded arithmetic logic units (ALUs), which can realize four types of CBLOs within a single cycle. The proposed structure can also form the ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) for ternary searching by configuring signal lines and sense amplifiers. The authors performed 5000 trials of the Monte Carlo simulation for four types of CBLOs. The results of all four types were observed to be accurate, and the delay of the TCAM was observed to be as low as 141 ps, which improves the parallelism of IMC, reduces power consumption, and significantly reduces calculation delay. This study presents an array structure comprising configurable embedded ALUs and SRAM 6T memory cells. The four types of CBLOs and TCAM data search operations are realized in a single cycle by multiplexing the ground and power terminals of the computing units. We believe that our study makes a contribution to the literature because the proposed scheme consumes low reading energy, has relatively high parallelism of IMC, and can achieve a relatively fast reading speed.

Background Forced vital capacity (FVC) reflects respiratory health, but the long-term trend and heterogeneity in FVC of Chinese students were understudied. Methods Data were from Chinese National Survey on Students’ Constitution and Health 1985–2019. Super Imposition by Translation and Rotation model was used to draw FVC growth curves. Sex-, region-, and nationality-heterogeneity in FVC was evaluated. Spearman correlation and generalized additive model was used to reveal influencing factors for FVC. Results Compared to 1985, age at peak FVC velocity was 1.09, 3.17, 0.74, and 1.87 years earlier for urban male, urban female, rural male, and rural female in 2019, respectively. Peak FVC velocity first decreased and then increased during 1985–2019, only male rebounded to larger than 1985 level. FVC declined from 1985 to 2005 and then raised. Males consistently had higher FVC than females, with disparities increasing in the 13–15 age group. Urban students also had higher FVC than rural students. In 2019, FVC difference between 30 Chinese provinces and the national average showed four scenarios: consistently above national average; less than national average until age 18, then above; greater than national average until age 18, then this advantage reversed; less than national average in almost all the age. Most Chinese ethnic minority students had lower FVC levels compared to Han students. Spearman correlation and generalized additive model showed that age, sex, and height were the leading influencing factors of FVC, followed by socioeconomic and environmental factors. Conclusions Chinese students experienced advanced FVC spurt, and there was sex-, region- and nationality-heterogeneity in FVC. Routine measurement of FVC is necessary in less developed areas of China.

Background Changes in inequality in the total and risk factor-specific incidence, prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of asthma have not been evaluated. Methods Asthma incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs, and risk factors-related deaths and DALYs rates were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease study 2021. We employed decomposition analysis, encompassing aging, population growth, and epidemiologic changes, to investigate factors influencing incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs of asthma. Besides, the slope inequality index (SII) and relative concentration index (RCI) were used to assess the inequality in the total and risk factor-specific incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs of asthma. Results Global rates of asthma incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs declined from 1990 to 2021. People aged < 5 years exhibited the highest asthma incidence, and those aged ≥ 70 years old had the highest prevalence, death, and DALYs rates of asthma. Leading drivers of increased number of asthma deaths were aging (127.48%) and population growth (138.99%), but epidemiological change contributed mostly to decreased numbers of asthma incidence, prevalence, and DALYs. Asthma incidence decreased with raising socio-demographic index (SDI), but asthma prevalence increased with increasing SDI. Inequality in asthma incidence and prevalence decreased as indicated by SII and RCI. Besides, asthma deaths and DALYs rates were concentrated in lower SDI regions. Inequality in high body mass index-related asthma death increased and concentrated in lower SDI regions, but inequality in risk factor-specific asthma DALYs all decreased. Conclusion Our findings imply that rates of asthma incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs decreased, but age-specific distribution was not essentially changed. Inequality in asthma incidence and prevalence narrowed, but high body mass index-related asthma death concentrated in lower SDI regions and inequality widened. Healthcare system reforms should focus on primary risk factor and lower SDI regions.

Background Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals were associated with decreased lung function, but co-exposure effects and underlying mechanism remained unknown. Methods Among 1,123 adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012, 10 urinary PAHs, 11 urinary metals, and peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count were determined, and 5 lung function indices were measured. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, Bayesian kernel machine regression, and quantile-based g-computation were used to estimate co-exposure effects on lung function. Mediation analysis was used to explore mediating role of WBC. Results These models demonstrated that PAHs and metals were significantly associated with lung function impairment. Bayesian kernel machine regression models showed that comparing to all chemicals fixed at median level, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 )/forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% decreased by 1.31% (95% CI : 0.72%, 1.91%), 231.62 (43.45, 419.78) mL/s, and 131.64 (37.54, 225.74) mL/s respectively, when all chemicals were at 75th percentile. In the quantile-based g-computation, each quartile increase in mixture was associated with 104.35 (95% CI : 40.67, 168.02) mL, 1.16% (2.11%, 22.40%), 294.90 (78.37, 511.43) mL/s, 168.44 (41.66, 295.22) mL/s decrease in the FEV 1 , FEV 1 /forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75%, respectively. 2-Hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-Hydroxyfluorene, and cadmium were leading contributors to the above associations. WBC mediated 8.22%-23.90% of association between PAHs and lung function. Conclusions Co-exposure of PAHs and metals impairs lung function, and WBC could partially mediate this relationship. Our findings elucidate co-exposure effects of environmental mixtures on respiratory health and underlying mechanisms, suggesting that focusing on highly prioritized toxicants would effectively attenuate adverse effects.

The charge pump phase‐locked loop (CP‐PLL) is a critical component in modern mixed‐signal electronics, widely used for clock generation, synchronization, and frequency synthesis in digital and wireless applications. However, its performance is significantly impacted by nonideal effects, particularly the current mismatch of the charge pump (CP) and the frequency variation of oscillator, both of which are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. To address these challenges, this work leverages the positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of the drain‐source on‐state resistance in CMOS and the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) of the magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). Using 28 nm CMOS technology, we analyze and simulate the current mismatch of the CP across a wide temperature range, achieving a current mismatch of less than 0.3%. Furthermore, the proposed approach significantly improves the frequency stability of the ring oscillator. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of our design, demonstrating that the MTJ compensates for 90% of the output frequency drift over a temperature range from −80 to 125°C.

Bi-layer structure has been widely adopted to improve the reliability of the conductive bridge random access memory (CBRAM). In this work, we proposed a convenient and economical solution to achieve a Ta 2 O 5 /TaO x bi-layer structure by using a low-temperature annealing process. The addition of a TaO x layer acted as an external resistance suppressing the overflow current during set programming, thus achieving the self-compliance switching. As a result, the distributions of high-resistance states and low-resistance states are improved due to the suppression of the overset phenomenon. In addition, the LRS retention of the CBRAM is obviously enhanced due to the recovery of defects in the switching film. This work provides a simple and economical method to improve the reliability of CBRAM.