Histological and single-nucleus transcriptome analyses reveal the specialized functions of ligular sclerenchyma cells and key regulators of leaf angle in maize.

Leaf angle (LA) is a crucial factor that affects planting density and yield in maize. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying LA formation remain largely unknown. In this study, we performed a comparative histological analysis of the ligular region across various maize inbred lines and revealed that LA is significantly influenced by a two-step regulatory process involving initial cell elongation followed by subsequent lignification in the ligular adaxial sclerenchyma cells (SCs). Subsequently, we performed both bulk and single-nucleus RNA sequencing, generated a comprehensive transcriptomic atlas of the ligular region, and identified numerous genes enriched in the hypodermal cells that may influence their specialization into SCs. Furthermore, we functionally characterized two genes encoding atypical basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, bHLH30 and its homolog bHLH155, which are highly expressed in the elongated adaxial cells. Genetic analyses revealed that bHLH30 and bHLH155 positively regulate LA expansion, and molecular experiments demonstrated their ability to activate the transcription of genes involved in cell elongation and lignification of SCs. These findings highlight the specialized functions of ligular adaxial SCs in LA regulation by restricting further extension of ligular cells and enhancing mechanical strength. The transcriptomic atlas of the ligular region at single-nucleus resolution not only deepens our understanding of LA regulation but also enables identification of numerous potential targets for optimizing plant architecture in modern maize breeding.

Does digital infrastructure improve public Health? A quasi-natural experiment based on China's Broadband policy.

This study proposed a scheme for improving people's health from the perspective of digital infrastructure construction. We used the China Family Panel Studies conducted between 2010 and 2020 and the digital infrastructure construction marked by the Broadband China policy between 2014 and 2016 as a quasi-natural experiment. We adopted the multi-time difference-in-differences method to identify the causal relationship between digital infrastructure and people's health. We found that digital infrastructure construction significantly improved people's health, and the effect was more prominent among young and middle-aged residents and those with less than a university education. Moreover, digital infrastructure construction improved the utilization of medical services, helped residents develop healthy lifestyles, and increased people's health investments. Additionally, digital infrastructure reduced health inequality among people and promoted health equity. The findings could guide future policies to improve people's health and well-being.

Foster care experiences during childhood and health during older age: Evidence from China.

OBJECTIVE: Improving the health of older individuals is the primary approach to dealing with the challenges of an aging population. Experiences during childhood can have a continual influence on individual health conditions. Consequently, understanding whether foster care experiences during childhood influence an individual's health during older age is relevant. METHOD: Data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, 2014, were collected. The influence of foster care experiences during childhood on health during older age was analyzed using the least-squares method. The mediating effects of childhood health status, education opportunities, and nutritional level were analyzed using the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method. RESULTS: Foster care experience during childhood was associated with reduced self-rated health status during older age due to adverse effects on (a) childhood health status, (b) childhood education opportunities, and (c) childhood nutritional level. CONCLUSIONS: The influences of early life factors on the health status of older adults should be analyzed from the perspective of the lifecycle to provide positive interventions for health improvement. The outcomes from such a study could help to improve the health condition of elderly citizens. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).