Diversity of Endophytic Microbes in Taxus yunnanensis and Their Potential for Plant Growth Promotion and Taxane Accumulation.

Taxus spp. are ancient tree species that have survived from the Quaternary glacier period, and their metabolites, such as taxol, have been used as anticancer drugs globally. Plant-endophytic microbial interaction plays a crucial role in exerting a profound impact on host growth and secondary metabolite synthesis. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was employed to explore endophytic microbial diversity in the roots, stems, and leaves of the Taxus yunnanensis (T. yunnanensis). The analysis revealed some dominant genera of endophytic bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, Neorhizobium, Acidovorax, and Flavobacterium, with Cladosporium, Phyllosticta, Fusarium, and Codinaeopsis as prominent endophytic fungi genera. We isolated 108 endophytic bacteria and 27 endophytic fungi from roots, stems, and leaves. In vitro assays were utilized to screen for endophytic bacteria with growth-promoting capabilities, including IAA production, cellulase, siderophore production, protease and ACC deaminase activity, inorganic phosphate solubilization, and nitrogen fixation. Three promising strains, Kocuria sp. TRI2-1, Micromonospora sp. TSI4-1, and Sphingomonas sp. MG-2, were selected based on their superior growth-promotion characteristics. These strains exhibited preferable plant growth promotion when applied to Arabidopsis thaliana growth. Fermentation broths of these three strains were also found to significantly promote the accumulation of taxanes in T. yunnanensis stem cells, among which strain TSI4-1 demonstrated outstanding increase potentials, with an effective induction of taxol, baccatin III, and 10-DAB contents. After six days of treatment, the contents of these metabolites were 3.28 times, 2.23 times, and 2.17 times the initial amounts, reaching 8720, 331, and 371 ng/g of dry weight of stem cells, respectively. These findings present new insight into the industrialization of taxol production through Taxus stem cell fermentation, thereby promoting the conservation of wild Taxus resources by maximizing their potential economic benefits.

Association between long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter and blood pressure, hypertension: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Evidence of more recent studies should be updated to evaluate the effect of long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) on blood pressure and hypertension.        Studies of long-term effects of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 on blood pressure (SBP, DBP, MAP), hypertension were searched in Pubmed, Web of Science and Embase before May, 2021. Meta-analysis of 41 studies showed that exposure to PM1, PM2.5 was associated with SBP (1.76 mmHg (95%CI:0.71, 2.80) and 0.63 mmHg (95%CI:0.40, 0.85), per 10 µg/m3 increase in PM), all three air pollutants (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) was associated with DBP (1.16 mmHg (95%CI:0.34, 1.99), 0.31 mmHg (95%CI:0.16, 0.47), 1.17 mmHg (95%CI:0.24, 2.09), respectively. As for hypertension, PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 were all significantly associated with higher risk of hypertension (OR=1.27 (95%CI:1.06, 1.52), 1.15 (95%CI:1.10, 1.20) and 1.11 (95%CI:1.07, 1.16). In conclusion, our study indicated a positive association between long-term exposure to particulate matter and increased blood pressure, hypertension.

Association between air quality satisfaction, family relationships, and depression symptoms among middle-aged and elderly chinese people: the mediation role of perceived health status.

BACKGROUND: Population aging has led to depression becoming a serious public health problem both in China and worldwide. Marital relationships, relationships with their children, and air pollution might play an important role in the process of depressive disorders. In this study, we aimed to reveal the mechanism of the effects of these factors on depression. METHODS: Participants were recruited from The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) (wave 4) from July 2018 to March 2019. Depression symptoms were evaluated using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies depression scale (CESD-10). Marital relationships, relationships with their children, air quality satisfaction, and perceived health status were analyzed using Likert 5-point evaluation methods. Structural equation modeling-path (SEM) models were used to explore these variables' mediation effects on depression symptoms. RESULTS: Marital relationships, relationships with their children, air quality satisfaction, perceived health status, and depression symptoms were significantly associated with each other (P < 0.001). Mediation analysis showed that family relationships (standardized beta = -0.28 [-0.31, -0.26]) and quality satisfaction (standardized beta = -0.03 [-0.05, -0.01]) had negative effects on depression symptoms. The total indirect effects of family relationships and air quality satisfaction on depression symptoms were -0.06 (95% confidence interval (CI) = [-0.07, -0.05]) and -0.016 (95% CI = [-0.02, -0.01]), respectively. CONCLUSION: Family relationships, air quality satisfaction, and perceived health status influenced depression symptoms. The effects of family relationships and air quality satisfaction on depression symptoms were significantly mediated by perceived health status. Therefore, perceived health status aspects should be considered when conducting targeted intervention toward depression symptoms among middle-aged and elderly adults.

Systemic inflammation accelerates the adverse effects of air pollution on metabolic syndrome: Findings from the China health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Long-term exposure to air pollution and systemic inflammation are associated with increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, their joint effects in Chinese middle-aged and older adults is unknown. In this cross-sectional study, 11,838 residents aged 45 years and older from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) Wave 3 in 2015 were included. MetS was diagnosed using the Joint Interim Societies' definition. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) was assessed to reflect systemic inflammation. Individual exposure to air pollutants (particulate matter with a diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) or ≤ 10 µm (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO)) was evaluated using satellite-based spatiotemporal models according to participant residence at county-level. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were applied to examine the association between air pollution and MetS, and the modification effects of CRP between air pollution and MetS were estimated using interaction terms of CRP and air pollutants in the GLM models. The prevalence of MetS was 32.37%. The adjusted odd ratio (OR) of MetS was 1.192 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.116, 1.272), 1.177 (95% CI: 1.103, 1.255), 1.158 (95% CI: 1.072, 1.252), 1.303 (95% CI: 1.211,1.403), 1.107 (95% CI: 1.046, 1.171) and 1.156 (95% CI:1.083, 1.234), per inter-quartile range increase in PM2.5 (24.04 µg/m3), PM10 (39.00 µg/m3), SO2 (19.05 µg/m3), NO2 (11.28 µg/m3), O3 (9.51 µg/m3) and CO (0.46 mg/m3), respectively. CRP was also associated with increased prevalence of MetS (OR = 1.049, 95% CI: 1.035, 1.064; per 1.90 mg/L increase in CRP). Interaction analysis suggested that high CRP levels enhanced the association between air pollution exposure and MetS. Long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with increased prevalence of MetS, which might be enhanced by systemic inflammation. Given the rapidly aging society and heavy burden of MetS, measures should be taken to improve air quality and reduce systemic inflammation.

Feedback loop promotes sucrose accumulation in cotyledons to facilitate sugar-ethylene signaling-mediated, etiolated-seedling greening.

De-etiolation is indispensable for seedling survival and development. However, how sugars regulate de-etiolation and how sugars induce ethylene (ET) for seedlings to grow out of soil remain elusive. Here, we reveal how a sucrose (Suc) feedback loop promotes de-etiolation by inducing ET biosynthesis. Under darkness, Suc in germinating seeds preferentially induces 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS7; encoding a key ET biosynthesis enzyme) and associated ET biosynthesis, thereby activating ET core component ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE3 (EIN3). Activated EIN3 directly inhibits the function of Suc transporter 2 (SUC2; a major Suc transporter) to block Suc export from cotyledons and thereby elevate Suc accumulation of cotyledons to induce ET. Under light, ET-activated EIN3 directly inhibits the function of phytochrome A (phyA; a de-etiolation inhibitor) to promote de-etiolation. We therefore propose that under darkness, the Suc feedback loop (Suc-ACS7-EIN3-|SUC2-Suc) promotes Suc accumulation in cotyledons to guarantee ET biosynthesis, facilitate de-etiolation, and enable seedlings to grow out of soil.

Challenges and Resilience-Building: A Narrative Inquiry Study on a Mid-Career Chinese EFL Teacher.

With a high rate of attrition and burnout of teachers as a global concern, teacher resilience has become a trendy topic in the research of their professional development as one of the pillars of positive psychology (positive character traits). However, the literature reveals that little research has been done on the mid-career teachers in the Chinese context, especially on how resilience may be nurtured, sustained, or eroded over time. Focusing on a mid-career EFL female teacher (the author) in China as a case study, this longitudinal self-reflective study employs a narrative inquiry to investigate the challenges that the experienced teacher was encountered with and to depict her trajectories of resilience-building by fleshing out the interaction between challenges, resources, and coping strategies in her three different scenarios. "Hard data," such as teaching journals, reflective field notes, and messages with students were collected and analyzed inductively by using thematic analysis, and "soft data," like memory was also referred to. The findings unfolded challenges confronting the experienced teacher peculiar to the Chinese context and charted a detailed bumpy journey of resilience building in three phases, accompanied by her growing emotional, intellectual, and psychological capacities. Implications are drawn out for teacher resilience building, school leaders, and policymakers.

Glucose- and sucrose-signaling modules regulate the Arabidopsis juvenile-to-adult phase transition.

CINV1, converting sucrose into glucose and fructose, is a key entry of carbon into cellular metabolism, and HXK1 functions as a pivotal sensor for glucose. Exogenous sugars trigger the Arabidopsis juvenile-to-adult phase transition via a miR156A/SPL module. However, the endogenous factors that regulate this process remain unclear. In this study, we show that sucrose specifically induced the PAP1 transcription factor directly and positively controls CINV1 activity. Furthermore, we identify a glucose feed-forward loop (sucrose-CINV1-glucose-HXK1-miR156-SPL9-PAP1-CINV1-glucose) that controls CINV1 activity to convert sucrose into glucose signaling to dynamically control the juvenile-to-adult phase transition. Moreover, PAP1 directly binds to the SPL9 promoter, activating SPL9 expression and triggering the sucrose-signaling-mediated juvenile-to-adult phase transition. Therefore, a glucose-signaling feed-forward loop and a sucrose-signaling pathway synergistically regulate the Arabidopsis juvenile-to-adult phase transition. Collectively, we identify a molecular link between the major photosynthate sucrose, the entry point of carbon into cellular metabolism, and the plant juvenile-to-adult phase transition.

Cooperative Catalysis toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction under Dual Coordination Environments on Intrinsic AMnO3 -Type Perovskites via Regulating Stacking Configurations of Coordination Units.

It remains challenging for pure-phase catalysts to achieve high performance during the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction to overcome the sluggish kinetics without the assistance of extrinsic conditions. Herein, a series of pristine perovskites, i.e., AMnO3 (A = Ca, Sr, and Ba), are proposed with various octahedron stacking configurations to demonstrate the cooperative catalysis over SrMnO3 jointly explored by experiments and first-principles calculations. Comparing with the unitary stacking of coordination units in CaMnO3 or BaMnO3 , the intrinsic SrMnO3 with a mixture of corner-sharing and face-sharing octahedron stacking configurations demonstrates superior activity (Ehalf-wave  = 0.81 V), and charge-discharge stability over 400 h without the voltage gap (≈0.8 V) increasing in zinc-air batteries. The theoretical study reveals that, on the SrMnO3 (110) surface, the active sites switch from coordinatively unsaturated atop Mn (*OO, *OOH) to Mn-Mn bridge (*O, *OH). Therefore, the intrinsic dual coordination environments of Mn-Ocorner and Mn-Oface enable cooperative modulation of the interaction strength of the oxygen intermediates with the surface, inducing the decrease of the *OH desorption energy (rate-limiting step) unrestricted by scaling relationships with the overpotential of ≈0.28 V. This finding provides insights into catalyst design through screening intrinsic structures with multiple coordination unit stacking configurations.

Socioeconomic status, social capital, health risk behaviors, and health-related quality of life among Chinese older adults.

BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge on the mediating role of different health risk behavior on the relationship between social capital, socioeconomic status (SES), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Chinese older adults. We conducted this study to (a) investigate the condition of health risk behaviors of the Chinese elderly, and (b) assess the relationship between SES, social capital, health risk behaviors, and HRQoL. METHODS: A sample of 4868 adults aged 60 years and older were included in this study, from the China's Health-related Quality of Life Survey for Older Adults 2018. Participants' demographic characteristics, SES (education level, family income), health risk behaviors (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary behavior, unhealthy weight, and sleep disorder) were collected. Social capital and HRQoL were assessed by the 16-item Personal Social Capital Scale (PSCS-16) and WHOQOL-Old, respectively. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to examine the associations between variables. RESULTS: The proportion of smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary behavior, unhealthy weight, and sleep disorder were 32.1, 36.3, 62.5, 45.7, 31.8, and 45.5%, respectively. Significant differences were observed in education level, family income, and social capital between elderly individuals with and without each of the six health risk behavior (all p-values < 0.05). Elderly individuals who reported smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary behavior, and sleep disorder had significantly lower HRQoL than those without these unhealthy behaviors (all p-values < 0.05). SEM analysis showed that SES and social capital positively associated with alcohol consumption. Social capital negatively associated with smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary behavior, and sleep disorder. SES negatively associated with smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary behavior, unhealthy weight, and sleep disorder. Smoking, physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary behavior, and sleep disorder correlated with poorer HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese older adults demonstrated a high incidence of health risk behaviors, especially for physical inactivity (62.5%) and unhealthy dietary behavior (45.7%). Social capital and SES were correlated with the elderly's HRQoL, as well as with the health risk behaviors. Health risk behaviors played potential mediating role on the relationship between social capital, SES, and HRQoL in Chinese older adults.

Night-time blood pressure and pulse wave velocity in dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) provide important cardiovascular risk information for dialysis patients. This study aims to evaluate the risk factors of cfPWV and the associations between ambulatory blood pressure, especially night-time blood pressure and cfPWV. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. ABP and cfPWV were measured on a midweek interdialytic day. Associations were determined using Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression model. RESULTS: Systolic BPs and pulse pressures, but not diastolic BPs, were significantly and positively associated with cfPWV. In a stepwise regression model, age, diabetes mellitus and all-period systolic BP were independently associated with cfPWV. When day-time and night-time BPs were included in the analysis, respectively, only night-time systolic BP and age remained as independently associated with cfPWV. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory BPs are potent associates of cfPWV and night-time systolic BP, rather than day-time BPs, is an independently predictor of cfPWV. Our results support the view that controlling of nocturnal hypertension provides a unique cardiovascular protection effect.

Defining interdisciplinary competencies for audiological rehabilitation: findings from a modified Delphi study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to derive a consensus on an interdisciplinary competency framework regarding a holistic approach for audiological rehabilitation (AR), which includes disciplines from medicine, engineering, social sciences and humanities. DESIGN: We employed a modified Delphi method. In the first round survey, experts were asked to rate an initial list of 28 generic interdisciplinary competencies and to propose specific knowledge areas for AR. In the second round, experts were asked to reconsider their answers in light of the group answers of the first round. STUDY SAMPLE: An international panel of 27 experts from different disciplines in AR completed the first round. Twenty-two of them completed the second round. RESULTS: We developed a competency framework consisting of 21 generic interdisciplinary competencies grouped in five domains and nine specific competencies (knowledge areas) in three clusters. Suggestions for the implementation of the generic competencies in interdisciplinary programmes were identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals insights into the interdisciplinary competencies that are unique for AR. The framework will be useful for educators in developing interdisciplinary programmes as well as for professionals in considering their lifelong training needs in AR.

Treatment with PPARα Agonist Clofibrate Inhibits the Transcription and Activation of SREBPs and Reduces Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels in Liver of Broiler Chickens.

PPARα agonist clofibrate reduces cholesterol and fatty acid concentrations in rodent liver by an inhibition of SREBP-dependent gene expression. In present study we investigated the regulation mechanisms of the triglyceride- and cholesterol-lowering effect of the PPARα agonist clofibrate in broiler chickens. We observed that PPARα agonist clofibrate decreases the mRNA and protein levels of LXRα and the mRNA and both precursor and nuclear protein levels of SREBP1 and SREBP2 as well as the mRNA levels of the SREBP1 (FASN and GPAM) and SREBP2 (HMGCR and LDLR) target genes in the liver of treated broiler chickens compared to control group, whereas the mRNA level of INSIG2, which inhibits SREBP activation, was increased in the liver of treated broiler chickens compared to control group. Taken together, the effects of PPARα agonist clofibrate on lipid metabolism in liver of broiler chickens involve inhibiting transcription and activation of SREBPs and SREBP-dependent lipogenic and cholesterologenic gene expression, thereby resulting in a reduction of the triglyceride and cholesterol levels in liver of broiler chickens.

Effects of three blood purification methods on serum fibroblast growth factor-23 clearance in patients with hyperphosphatemia undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of three blood purification methods on fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) clearance in patients with hyperphosphatemia undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). In addition, the correlation between serum FGF-23 and phosphorus (Pi) levels and the clinical implications were identified. Sixty-five MHD patients with hyperphosphatemia were randomly divided into three groups: Hemodialysis, HD (n=23); hemodiafiltration, HDF (n=21); and hemodialysis+hemoperfusion, HD+HP (n=21) groups. Serum Pi, FGF-23, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and associated bio-marker levels were measured prior to and following treatment. The expression level of serum FGF-23 was observed to be positively correlated with Pi (r=0.45, P<0.01). The three blood purification methods that were adopted for the present study exhibited significant and effective clearance of serum Pi (P<0.05). The post-treatment serum FGF-23 levels were significantly decreased in the HDF and HD+HP groups (P<0.05). Therefore, HDF may be an effective method for clearing serum FGF-23 in MHD patients exhibiting hyperphosphatemia.

Protection of Tanshinone IIA to human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) through delaying cellular senescence induced by high glucose.

BACKGROUND: Long-term peritoneal exposure to high glucose in the peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution may potentiate the development of peritoneal fibrosis in PD patients. The most important factor leading to peritoneal fibrosis may be injury of human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC). Little is known about senescence of HPMC. It has been reported that Tanshinone IIA can ameliorate fibrosis. Whether Tanshinone IIA may delay senescence and protect HPMC against high glucose is not clear. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective role of Tanshinone IIA in senescence of HPMC induced by high glucose. METHODS: HPMC were isolated and cultured with Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 medium containing high glucose concentrations (2.5%) and Tanshinone IIA (50 µmol/L and 100 µmol/L). The effects of high glucose and Tanshinone IIA on cellular senescence of HPMC were examined by observing cell generation, growth rate, cell cycle, positive rate of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) staining, telomere length, and expression of p16 and p21. RESULTS: Compared with the control cells, HPMC cultured in high glucose showed decreased cell generations by four to five and suppression of growth rate, and the cell cycle was stopped at G1 phase. The positive rate of SA-ß-gal staining was increased; the telomere length was shortened; and the expressions of p16 and p21 were increased. The characteristics in morphology of senescent cells appeared earlier. Tanshinone IIA may delay the process of senescence of HPMC induced by high glucose by increasing cell generations and growth rate, decreasing the rate of G1 phase and the positive rate of SA-ß-gal staining, lengthening the telomere, and decreasing the expression of p16 and p21. CONCLUSIONS: Tanshinone IIA may protect HPMC through delaying cellular senescence induced by high glucose.

Carboxylate-modified squaraine dye doped silica fluorescent pH nanosensors.

Novel carboxylate-modified fluorescent silica pH nanosensors were synthesized using a reverse microemulsion method with a pH sensitive squaraine dye used as pH indicator. This pH sensitive squaraine dye was simply doped inside SiNPs without any complicated procedures. To avoid aggregation among the particles and to increase the water solubility of the pH nanosensors, the SiNPs were surface modified with a carboxyl group. This pH probe exhibits a good linear dynamic response between pH 3.01 and 5.72. Many alkali, alkaline earth, and transitional metal ions including Li( + ), Na( + ), K( + ), Rb( + ), Cs( + ), Mg(2 + ), Ca(2 + ), Sr(2 + ), Al(3 + ), V(5 + ), Cr(3 + ), Cr(6 + ), Mn(2 + ), Fe(2 + ), Fe(3 + ), Co(2 + ), Ni(3 + ), Cu(2 + ), Zn(2 + ), As(3 + ), Se(4 + ), Mo(6 + ), Ag( + ), Cd(2 + ), La(3 + ), Er(3 + ), Ir(3 + ), Hg( + ), Hg(2 + ), and Pb(2 + ) had no significant interference on pH value determination. Artificial sample determination showed that the pH nanosensors developed in this work possess a very promising applicability in biological and biomedical fields.