High altitude air pollution and respiratory disease: Evaluating compounded exposure events and interactions.

Today, air pollution remains a significant issue, particularly in high-altitude areas where its impact on respiratory disease remains incompletely explored. This study aims to investigate the association between various air pollutants and outpatient visits for respiratory disease in such regions, specifically focussing on Xining from 2016 to 2021. By analysing over 570,000 outpatient visits using a time-stratified case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression, we assessed the independent effects of pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO, as well as their interactions. The evaluation of interactions employed measures such as relative excess odds due to interaction (REOI), attributable proportion due to interaction (AP), and synergy index (S). We also conducted a stratified analysis to identify potentially vulnerable populations. Our findings indicated that exposure to PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, and CO significantly increased outpatient visits for respiratory disease, with odds ratios (ORs) of 2.40 % (95 % CI: 2.05 %, 2.74 %), 1.07 % (0.98 %, 1.16 %), 3.86 % (3.23 %, 4.49 %), 4.45 % (4.14 %, 4.77 %), and 6.37 % (5.70 %, 7.04 %), respectively. However, exposure to O3 did not show a significant association. We found significant interactions among PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and CO, where combined exposure further exacerbated the risk of respiratory diseases. For example, in the combination of PM2.5 and SO2, the REOI, AP, and S were 0.07 (95 % CI: 0.06, 0.09), 0.07 (0.06, 0.07), and 1.07 (1.05, 1.09), respectively. Additionally, elderly individuals and females were more sensitive to these pollutants, but no statistically significant interaction effects were observed between different age and gender groups. In conclusion, our study highlights the strong link between air pollution and respiratory disease in high-altitude areas, with combined pollutant exposure posing an even greater risk. It underscores the need for enhanced air quality monitoring and public awareness campaigns, particularly to protect vulnerable populations like the elderly and females.

Effects of combined exposure to fine particulate matter and cold waves and on IHD hospitalizations at low and high altitudes.

Climate change and air pollution are major challenges facing the world today. Cold waves and air pollution significantly impact ischemic heart disease (IHD), but the extent of these effects at different altitudes remains unclear, especially their interactions. We collected daily meteorological, pollutant, and IHD hospitalization data from Xining and Xinxiang from 2016 to 2021. Using a time-stratified case-crossover approach, we fitted conditional Poisson regression models to assess the association between cold waves, PM2.5, and IHD hospitalizations and quantified their interactions. Additionally, we calculated the attributable fraction (AF) and attributable number (AN) of hospitalizations due to exposure to cold waves and medium to high-level PM2.5. We also performed stratified analyses by altitude, gender, and age. Both cold waves and PM2.5 were positively associated with IHD hospitalization rates in Xining and Xinxiang, but the differences between the two regions were not significant. The relative risk of cold waves was 1.15 (1.07, 1.24) in Xining and 1.16 (1.11, 1.21) in Xinxiang. In Xining, there was an interaction between cold waves and different levels of PM2.5. We estimated the attributable fraction due to the joint exposure of cold waves and PM2.5 to be 0.14-0.49 in Xining and 0.26-0.36 in Xinxiang. Older adults and males faced higher risks. This study highlights the importance of reducing PM2.5 exposure and optimizing extreme weather warning systems and suggests further exploration of the impacts of individual behaviors and regional characteristics on IHD.

Study on the antidepressant activity of (2R,6R; 2S,6S)-Hydroxynorketamine (HNK) and its derivatives.

OBJECTIVE: This study mainly explores (2R,6R; 2S,6S)-HNK and its compounds whether there are antidepressant effects. METHODS: Four HNK compounds were obtained from 2-(Chlorophenyl) Cyclopentylmethanone. Forced swimming test, locomotor sensitization test, and conditioned location preference test were used to screen the antidepressant activity of the synthesized target compounds. RESULTS: In the case of 10 mg HNK treatment, compared with saline, the immobile time of mice in the HNK group, I5 group and I6 group at 1 h and 7 days had statistical significance. In the case of 10 mg HNK treatment, compared with saline, the immobile time of compound C and D groups in the glass cylinder area was significantly different. In the locomotor sensitization test, the movement distance of compound C and D groups on day 15 and day 7 mice increased significantly compared with the first day. In the conditioned place preference experiment, compound C and compound D induced conditioned place preference in mice compared with the Veh group. CONCLUSION: The results of the forced swimming test, locomotor sensitization test, and conditioned location preference test showed that compounds C and D may have certain anti-depressant activity. However, HNK exerts a rapid and significant antidepressant effect within 1 week, but the duration is short.

SDWPF: A Dataset for Spatial Dynamic Wind Power Forecasting over a Large Turbine Array.

Wind power is a clean and renewable energy, yet it poses integration challenges to the grid due to its variable nature. Thus, Wind Power Forecasting (WPF) is crucial for its successful integration. However, existing WPF datasets often cover only a limited number of turbines and lack detailed information. To bridge this gap and advance WPF research, we introduce the Spatial Dynamic Wind Power Forecasting dataset (SDWPF). The SDWPF dataset not only provides information on power generation and wind speed but also details the spatial distribution of the wind turbines and dynamic contextual factors specific to each turbine. These factors include weather information and the internal status of each wind turbine, thereby enriching the dataset and improving its applicability for predictive analysis. Further leveraging the potential of SDWPF, we initiated the ACM KDD Cup 2022, a competition distinguished as the foremost annual event in data mining, renowned for presenting cutting-edge challenges and attracting top talent from academia and industry. Our event successfully draws registrations from over 2400 teams around the globe.

Effects of the interaction between cold spells and fine particulate matter on mortality risk in Xining: a case-crossover study at high altitude.

Background: With global climate change, the health impacts of cold spells and air pollution caused by PM2.5 are increasingly aggravated, especially in high-altitude areas, which are particularly sensitive. Exploring their interactions is crucial for public health. Methods: We collected time-series data on meteorology, air pollution, and various causes of death in Xining. This study employed a time-stratified case-crossover design and conditional logistic regression models to explore the association between cold spells, PM2.5 exposure, and various causes of death, and to assess their interaction. We quantitatively analyzed the interaction using the relative excess odds due to interaction (REOI), attributable proportion due to interaction (AP), and synergy index (S). Moreover, we conducted stratified analyses by average altitude, sex, age, and educational level to identify potential vulnerable groups. Results: We found significant associations between cold spells, PM2.5, and various causes of death, with noticeable effects on respiratory disease mortality and COPD mortality. We identified significant synergistic effects (REOI>0, AP > 0, S > 1) between cold spells and PM2.5 on various causes of death, which generally weakened with a stricter definition of cold spells and longer duration. It was estimated that up to 9.56% of non-accidental deaths could be attributed to concurrent exposure to cold spells and high-level PM2.5. High-altitude areas, males, the older adults, and individuals with lower educational levels were more sensitive. The interaction mainly varied among age groups, indicating significant impacts and a synergistic action that increased mortality risk. Conclusion: Our study found that in high-altitude areas, exposure to cold spells and PM2.5 significantly increased the mortality risk from specific diseases among the older adults, males, and those with lower educational levels, and there was an interaction between cold spells and PM2.5. The results underscore the importance of reducing these exposures to protect public health.

Identification of Mycoviruses in the Pathogens of Fragrant Pear Valsa Canker from Xinjiang in China.

As a common disease, canker seriously affects the yield and quality of fragrant pear due to the lack of effective control measures. Some fungi have been reported to harbor rich reservoirs of viral resources, and some mycoviruses can be used as biocontrol agents against plant diseases. In this study, 199 isolates were obtained from diseased branches of fragrant pear in the main production areas of Xinjiang. Among them, 134 belonged to Valsa spp., identified using morphological and molecular biological techniques, in which V. mali was the dominant species. The mycoviruses in Valsa spp. were further identified using metatranscriptomic sequencing and RT-PCR. The results revealed that a total of seven mycoviruses were identified, belonging to Botourmiaviridae, Endornaviridae, Fusariviridae, Hypoviridae, Mitoviridae, and Narnaviridae, among which Phomopsis longicolla hypovirus (PlHV) was dominant in all the sample collection regions. The Cryphonectria hypovirus 3-XJ1 (CHV3-XJ1), Botourmiaviridae sp.-XJ1 (BVsp-XJ1), and Fusariviridae sp.-XJ1 (Fvsp-XJ1) were new mycoviruses discovered within the Valsa spp. More importantly, compared with those in the virus-free Valsa spp. strain, the growth rate and virulence of the VN-5 strain co-infected with PlHV and CHV3-XJ1 were reduced by 59% and 75%, respectively, and the growth rate and virulence of the VN-34 strain infected with PlHV were reduced by 42% and 55%, respectively. On the other hand, the horizontal transmission efficiency of PlHV decreased when PlHV was co-infected with CHV3-XJ1, indicating that PlHV and CHV3-XJ1 were antagonistic. In summary, the mycoviruses in Valsa spp. were identified in Xinjiang for the first time, and three of them were newly discovered mycoviruses, with two strains yielding good results. These results will offer potential biocontrol resources for managing pear canker disease and provide a theoretical basis for the control of fruit tree Valsa canker disease.

Color components determination and full-length comparative transcriptomic analyses reveal the potential mechanism of carotenoid synthesis during Paphiopedilum armeniacum flowering.

Background: Paphiopedilum armeniacum (P. armeniacum), an ornamental plant native to China, is known for its distinctive yellow blossoms. However, the mechanisms underlying P. armeniacum flower coloration remain unclear. Methods: We selected P. armeniacum samples from different flowering stages and conducted rigorous physicochemical analyses. The specimens were differentiated based on their chemical properties, specifically their solubilities in polar solvents. This key step enabled us to identify the main metabolite of flower color development of P. armeniacum, and to complete the identification by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) based on the results. Additionally, we employed a combined approach, integrating both third-generation full-length transcriptome sequencing and second-generation high-throughput transcriptome sequencing, to comprehensively explore the molecular components involved. Results: We combined physical and chemical analysis with transcriptome sequencing to reveal that carotenoid is the main pigment of P. armeniacum flower color. Extraction colorimetric method and HPLC were used to explore the characteristics of carotenoid accumulation during flowering. We identified 28 differentially expressed carotenoid biosynthesis genes throughout the flowering process, validated their expression through fluorescence quantification, and discovered 19 potential positive regulators involved in carotenoid synthesis. Among these candidates, three RCP2 genes showed a strong potential for governing the PDS and ZDS gene families. In summary, our study elucidates the fundamental mechanisms governing carotenoid synthesis during P. armeniacum flowering, enhancing our understanding of this process and providing a foundation for future research on the molecular mechanisms driving P. armeniacum flowering.

[Prediction of Soil Bacterial Community Structure and Function in Minqin Desert-oasis Ecotone Artificial Haloxylon ammodendron Forest].

Exploring the effects of artificial Haloxylon ammodendron forest planting on the structure and function of a desert soil bacterial community provides data reference for soil micro-ecological restoration and land quality improvement in desert oasis transition zones. Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology and PICRUSt2 functional prediction analysis were used to identify and analyze the structure and function of soil bacterial communities, and the Mantel correlation test and RDA analysis were used to explain the physicochemical factors affecting the structure and function of soil bacterial communities. The results showed that:① the soil bacterial OTU number, Chao1 index, and Shannon index were significantly higher in the H. ammodendron forest than in the mobile dune soil, and the PCoA analysis and Adonis test showed significant differences in the soil bacterial community structure between H. ammodendron and mobile dune soil (P=0.001). ② A total of 34 phyla, 89 classes, 174 orders, 262 families, and 432 genera of bacteria were detected in all samples, and the phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Chloroflexi accounted for 76.05% of the relative abundance of soil bacteria, which belonged to the dominant soil bacteria, among which the relative abundance of Actinobacteria in H. ammodendron forest soil was extremely significantly higher than that in mobile dune soil (P < 0.01). ③PICRUSt2 function prediction revealed that the soil bacterial community of H. ammodendron forest included six categories of primary functions and 28 categories of secondary functions, among which the metabolism of carbohydrates, metabolism of amino acids, and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins were all greater than 10% in relative abundance and were the main metabolic functions of H. ammodendron forest soil bacteria. ④ The planting of H. ammodendron forest significantly improved the nutrient content of soil organic matter and other nutrients. Soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, and fast-acting phosphorus were the main physicochemical factors affecting the bacterial community, with soil organic matter significantly affecting the soil bacterial community structure (P < 0.05) and metabolic function (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the artificial H. ammodendron forest helped to increase desert soil microbial diversity, increase the relative abundance of soil bacterial metabolic function genes, and improve the desert soil microenvironment.

Microvesicle-Embedded Solid-liquid Composite Coating for the Tribological Behavior Regulation and Long-Acting Lubrication.

Friction interfaces in liquid-embedded composite lubrication coatings commonly comprise a combination of discontinuous fluid films and rough solid contact surfaces, which together ensure easy shearing and a prolonged wear life. However, achieving high efficacy in mixed lubrication poses a challenge due to the conflicting nature of enhanced migration freedom for the liquid lubricant and increased mechanical strength of the solid matrix. Recent efforts have focused on incorporating reinforcing fillers to develop multicomponent, multiphase composites that can address this paradox. Here, we describe a modified attapulgite (APT) with strong biphasic wettability via the oil decompressive osmosis treatment on APT nanocontainers grafted with long nonpolar alkyl chains. This modified APT enables control over the size, distribution, and mobility of lubricant droplets by constructing a Pickering emulsion and toughens the solid-phase matrix through dispersion strengthening. Additionally, the introduction of APT induces the formation of a solid tribofilm during friction, which possesses a higher oil adsorption capacity, as verified through first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). Consequently, the fluid films can be replenished by the fracture of nanocontainers and adsorption from the bulk phase; further comprehensive and effective regulation of the friction interface leads to low friction and wear.

Mechanism of Antidepressant Action of (2R,6R)-6-Hydroxynorketamine (HNK) and Its Compounds: Insights from Proteomic Analysis.

The effects of HNK, I5, and I6 on the expression of protein in hippocampus of depressed mice were studied by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) to explore the mechanism of their antidepressant action. HNK, I5, and I6 were administered intragastric administration once a day in the morning for 7 days. The drug was subsequently discontinued for 7 days (without any treatment). On the 15th day, mice in each group were given the drug (1.0, 10.0, 30.0 mg/kg) intragastric stimulation and mouse hippocampal tissues were taken to perform iTRAQ to identify differentially expressed proteins, and bioinformatics was used to analyze the functional enrichment of the differentially expressed proteins. Compared with Ctr group, the number of differentially expressed proteins in HNK, I5, and I6 treatment groups was 158, 88, and 105, respectively. The three groups shared 29 differentially expressed proteins. In addition, compared with HNK group, the number of differentially expressed proteins in I5 and I6 groups was 201 and 203, respectively. A total of 47 and 56 differentially expressed proteins were co-expressed in I5 and I6 groups. Bioinformatics analysis showed that these differentially expressed proteins mainly had the functions of binding, biocatalysis, and transport, and mainly participated in cellular process, biological regulation process, biological metabolism process, and stress reaction process. GO and KEGG pathway analysis found that these differentially expressed proteins were involved long-term potentiation, G13 pathway, platelet activation pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. HNK, I5, and I6 antidepressants are closely related to sudden stress sensitivity, stress resistance, neurotransmitter, and metabolic pathways. This study provides a scientific basis to further elucidate the mechanism and clinical application of HNK, I5, and I6 antidepressants.

Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism in Epitaxial Bilayer FeSb/SrTiO3(001) Terminated with a Kagome Lattice.

Two-dimensional (2D) magnets exhibit unique physical properties for potential applications in spintronics. To date, most 2D ferromagnets are obtained by mechanical exfoliation of bulk materials with van der Waals interlayer interactions, and the synthesis of single- or few-layer 2D ferromagnets with strong interlayer coupling remains experimentally challenging. Here, we report the epitaxial growth of 2D non-van der Waals ferromagnetic bilayer FeSb on SrTiO3(001) substrates stabilized by strong coupling to the substrate, which exhibits in-plane magnetic anisotropy and a Curie temperature above 390 K. In situ low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and density-functional theory calculations further reveal that an Fe Kagome layer terminates the bilayer FeSb. Our results open a new avenue for further exploring emergent quantum phenomena from the interplay of ferromagnetism and topology for application in spintronics.

Study on the antidepressant activity of (2R,6R; 2S,6S)-Hydroxynorketamine (HNK) and its derivatives

Abstract Objective: This study mainly explores (2R,6R; 2S,6S)-HNK and its compounds whether there are antidepressant effects. Methods: Four HNK compounds were obtained from 2-(Chlorophenyl) Cyclopentylmethanone. Forced swimming test, locomotor sensitization test, and conditioned location preference test were used to screen the antidepressant activity of the synthesized target compounds. Results: In the case of 10 mg HNK treatment, compared with saline, the immobile time of mice in the HNK group, I5 group and I6 group at 1 h and 7 days had statistical significance. In the case of 10 mg HNK treatment, compared with saline, the immobile time of compound C and D groups in the glass cylinder area was significantly different. In the locomotor sensitization test, the movement distance of compound C and D groups on day 15 and day 7 mice increased significantly compared with the first day. In the conditioned place preference experiment, compound C and compound D induced conditioned place preference in mice compared with the Veh group. Conclusion: The results of the forced swimming test, locomotor sensitization test, and conditioned location preference test showed that compounds C and D may have certain anti-depressant activity. However, HNK exerts a rapid and significant antidepressant effect within 1 week, but the duration is short.

Single-cell transcriptome analyses reveal cellular and molecular responses to low nitrogen in burley tobacco leaves.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is cultivated and consumed worldwide. It requires great amounts of nitrogen (N) to achieve the best yield and quality. With a view to sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture, developing new genotypes with high productivity under low N conditions is an important approach. It is unclear how genes in tobacco are expressed at the cellular level and the precise mechanisms by which cells respond to environmental stress, especially in the case of low N. Here, we characterized the transcriptomes in tobacco leaves grown in normal and low-N conditions by performing scRNA-seq. We identified 10 cell types with 17 transcriptionally distinct cell clusters with the assistance of marker genes and constructed the first single-cell atlas of tobacco leaves. Distinct gene expression patterns of cell clusters were observed under low-N conditions, and the mesophyll cells were the most important responsive cell type and displayed heterogene responses among its three subtypes. Pseudo-time trajectory analysis revealed low-N stress decelerates the differentiation towards mesophyll cells. In combination with scRNA-seq, WGCNA, and bulk RNA-seq results, we found that genes involved in porphyrin metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, carbon fixation, photosynthesis, and photosynthesis-antenna pathway play an essential role in response to low N. Moreover, we identified COL16, GATA24, MYB73, and GLK1 as key TFs in the regulation of N-responsive genes. Collectively, our findings are the first observation of the cellular and molecular responses of tobacco leaves under low N stress and lay the cornerstone for future tobacco scRNA-seq investigations.

Epstein-Barr virus infection with non-tumor-associated Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor encephalitis: a case report and review of literature.

To study a case of a middle-aged male with a non-tumor-associated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection associated with Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (NMDARE), to explore the role of EBV in the pathogenesis of anti-NMDARE. The patient was diagnosed with "Anti-NMDARE, EBV infection" by using Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) autoimmune encephalitis profile, and Metagenomics Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) pathogenic microbial assays, we discuss the relationship between EBV and NMDARE by reviewed literature. EBV infection may trigger and enhance anti-NMDARE, and the higher the titer of NMDAR antibody, the more severe the clinical presentation.

Proline Metabolism Process and Antioxidant Potential of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. in Response to NaCl Treatments.

Salinity influences the level of antioxidants and proline content, which are both involved in the regulation of stress responses in plants. To examine the interplay between the antioxidant system and proline metabolism in plant stress acclimation, explants of Lycium ruthenicum were subjected to NaCl treatments, and the growth characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activities, proline accumulation, and metabolic enzyme content were analyzed. The results revealed that NaCl concentrations between 50 to 150 mM have a positive effect on the growth of L. ruthenicum explants. Increasing NaCl concentrations elevated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), while hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content was inhibited, suggesting that the elevated antioxidants play a central protective role in superoxide anion (O2•-) and H2O2 scavenging processes in response to NaCl treatments. Also, high proline levels also protect antioxidant enzyme machinery, thus protecting the plants from oxidative damage and enhancing osmotic adjustment. Increasing levels of pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR), and ornithine-δ-aminotransferase (δ-OAT) were observed, resulting in elevated level of proline. In addition, the expression levels of LrP5CS1, -2, -3, LrOAT-1, and -2 were promoted in NaCl treatments. According to the combined analysis of metabolic enzyme activities and their relative expression, it is confirmed that the glutamate (Glu) pathway is activated in L. ruthenicum faced with different levels of NaCl concentrations. However, Glu supplied by δ-OAT is fed back into the main pathway for proline metabolism.

Modeling Impacts of Urbanization on Winter Boundary Layer Meteorology and Aerosol Pollution in the Central Liaoning City Cluster, China.

The influence of urbanization on the frequent winter aerosol pollution events in Northeast China is not fully understood. The Weather Research and Forecasting Model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) coupled with urban canopy (UC) models was used to simulate the impact of urbanization on an aerosol pollution process in the Central Liaoning city cluster (CLCC), China. To investigate the main mechanisms of urban expansion and UC on the winter atmospheric environment and the atmospheric diffusion capacity (ADC) in the CLCC, three simulation cases were designed using land-use datasets from different periods and different UC schemes. A comparative analysis of the simulation results showed that the land-use change (LU) and both LU and UC (LUUC) effects lead to higher surface temperature and lower relative humidity and wind speed in the CLCC by decreasing surface albedo, increasing sensible heat flux, and increasing surface roughness, with a spatial distribution similar to the distribution of LU. The thermal effect leads to an increase in atmospheric instability, an increase in boundary layer height and diffusion coefficient, and an increase in the ADC. The LU and LUUC effects lead to a significant decrease in near-surface PM2.5 concentrations in the CLCC due to changes in meteorological conditions and ADC within the boundary layer. The reduction in surface PM2.5 concentrations due to the LU effect is stronger at night than during daytime, while the LUUC effect leads to a greater reduction in surface PM2.5 concentrations during the day, mainly due to stronger diffusion and dilution caused by the effect of urban turbulence within different levels caused by the more complex UC scheme. In this study, the LU and LUUC effects result in greater thermal than dynamic effects, and both have a negative impact on surface PM2.5 concentrations, but redistribute pollutants from the lower urban troposphere to higher altitudes.

Identification and transcriptome data analysis of ARF family genes in five Orchidaceae species.

The Orchidaceae is a large family of perennial herbs especially noted for the exceptional diversity of specialized flowers. Elucidating the genetic regulation of flowering and seed development of orchids is an important research goal with potential utility in orchid breeding programs. Auxin Response Factor (ARF) genes encode auxin-responsive transcription factors, which are involved in the regulation of diverse morphogenetic processes, including flowering and seed development. However, limited information on the ARF gene family in the Orchidaceae is available. In this study, 112 ARF genes were identified in the genomes of 5 orchid species (Apostasia shenzhenica, Dendrobium catenatum, Phalaenopsis aphrodite, Phalaenopsis equestris and Vanilla planifolia,). These genes were grouped into 7 subfamilies based on their phylogenetic relationships. Compared with the ARF family in model plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, one group of ARF genes involved in pollen wall synthesis has been lost during evolution of the Orchidaceae. This loss corresponds with absence of the exine in the pollinia. Through mining of the published genomic and transcriptomic data for the 5 orchid species: the ARF genes of subfamily 4 may play an important role in flower formation and plant growth, whereas those of subfamily 3 are potentially involved in pollen wall development. the study results provide novel insights into the genetic regulation of unique morphogenetic phenomena of orchids, which lay a foundation for further analysis of the regulatory mechanisms and functions of sexual reproduction-related genes in orchids.

Emergence of Corona Is Independent of the Four Whorls of Floral Organs in Narcissus tazetta.

Plants of the genus Narcissus are well-known for their characteristic corona morphology, which structural origins have been a bone of contention among scholars. With "Jinzhanyintai" (JZ) and "Yulinglong" (YLL)-two major close-originated cultivars of Chinese narcissus (Narcissus tazetta L. var. chinensis Roem)-as materials, anatomic observation was made on floral organs during corona morphogenesis by dissection with hands under a stereomicroscope, paraffin section, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution X-ray tomography. It was uncovered that corona primordia of both cultivars appeared following the end of the differentiation of other floral organs, with differentiation sites located at the inner wall of the juncture of the base of tepals and the upper margin of the hypanthium. Affected by staminal filaments, the corona primordia of JZ experienced a three-stage differentiation process, namely blockage from the second whorl of stamens, blockage from the first whorl of stamens, and healing of corona primordia. However, the expanded spatial structure of the first whorl of petal-like stamens blocked the path of differentiation of YLL corona primordia, giving rise to slow differentiation of the corona primordia at the base of the first whorl of petal-like stamens and malformed differentiation of the corona primordia in the interval between the two whorls of petal-like stamens. Thus, a fragmented structure consisting of typical and fragmented coronas was formed. Furthermore, petal-like stamens of YLL in the lower part had a corona-like morphology. The spatio-temporal specificity of corona differentiation convincingly demonstrates that the corona is a structure independent of and different from the typical four whorls of floral organs, but also highly correlated with stamen.

Association Between Serum Cystatin C and Cognitive Decline Independently from Creatinine: Evidence from Two Nationally Representative Aging Cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the association between cystatin C based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcys) and cognitive outcomes yielded inconsistent results. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the potential association of eGFRcys with subsequent cognitive decline rate. METHODS: A total of 11,503 community-based participants were involved in our analyses, including 5,837 (aged 72.9±6.3; 58.6% women) in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from the US and 5,666 (aged 58.1±9.2; 49.0% women) in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The association of eGFRcys with subsequent cognitive decline rate was evaluated by linear mixed models. RESULTS: During 85,266 person-years of follow-up, both baseline elevated serum cystatin C (-0.048 standard deviation [SD]/year per mg/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.060 to -0.036; p < 0.001) and decreased eGFRcys (0.026 SD/year per 30 mL/min/1.73m2; 95% CI, 0.020 to 0.032; p < 0.001) were associated with faster cognitive decline rate after full adjustment. Compared with those had eGFRcys ≥90 mL/min/1.73m2, participants with eGFRcys between 60 to 90 mL/min/1.73m2 (-0.012 SD/year; 95% CI, -0.020 to -0.004; p = 0.004) and those with eGFRcys <60 mL/min/1.73m2 (-0.048 SD/year; 95% CI, -0.058 to -0.039; p < 0.001) experienced statistically significantly faster cognitive decline after adjustment. The associations were independent from serum creatinine/eGFRcre (eGFR that was calculated from serum creatinine). CONCLUSION: Decreased eGFRcys are significantly associated with faster cognitive decline after full adjustment, independently from serum creatinine/eGFRcre. Serum cystatin C might be a risk factor or a prodromal biomarker of cognitive decline.

Associations of cumulative depressive symptoms with subsequent cognitive decline and adverse health events: Two prospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: The course of depression is variable; however, few studies examined the relationship between long-term cumulative depressive symptoms and adverse health outcomes in the elderly. METHODS: In this cohort study, we used data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) over 24 years and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) over 16 years. Cumulative depressive symptoms were estimated by calculating the areas under the curve based on the Center for Epidemiological Research Depression scale assessed at four examinations. Outcomes include cognitive decline, incident dementia, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 8284 American (mean age: 60.1 years; male: 35.4 %) and 4314 British (60.1 years; 42.4 %) were included in the analysis. The median follow-up was 16.1 years in the HRS and 9.9 years in the ELSA. Similar results were observed in two cohorts. Comparing with the first tertile of cumulative depressive symptoms, the third tertile experienced faster cognitive decline (p = 0.013 in the ELSA and p < 0.001 in the HRS), increased risk of dementia (both p < 0.001), CVD (both p < 0.001) and all-cause mortality (p = 0.002 in the HRS). Strong dose-response relationships were observed. We did not found clearly association between cumulative depressive symptoms and incident cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that long-term cumulative depressive symptoms were associated with subsequent faster cognitive decline and greater risks for dementia, CVD and all-cause mortality, but not cancer. These findings provide insights on potential effective strategy that may improve health in the elderly, future clinical trials are needed to determine causality.