Guard cell and subsidiary cell sizes are key determinants for stomatal kinetics and drought adaptation in cereal crops.

Climate change-induced drought is a major threat to agriculture. C4 crops have a higher water use efficiency (WUE) and better adaptability to drought than C3 crops due to their smaller stomatal morphology and faster response. However, our understanding of stomatal behaviours in both C3 and C4 Poaceae crops is limited by knowledge gaps in physical traits of guard cell (GC) and subsidiary cell (SC). We employed infrared gas exchange analysis and a stomatal assay to explore the relationship between GC/SC sizes and stomatal kinetics across diverse drought conditions in two C3 (wheat and barley) and three C4 (maize, sorghum and foxtail millet) upland Poaceae crops. Through statistical analyses, we proposed a GCSC-τ model to demonstrate how morphological differences affect stomatal kinetics in C4 Poaceae crops. Our findings reveal that morphological variations specifically correlate with stomatal kinetics in C4 Poaceae crops, but not in C3 ones. Subsequent modelling and experimental validation provide further evidence that GC/SC sizes significantly impact stomatal kinetics, which affects stomatal responses to different drought conditions and thereby WUE in C4 Poaceae crops. These findings emphasize the crucial advantage of GC/SC morphological characteristics and stomatal kinetics for the drought adaptability of C4 Poaceae crops, highlighting their potential as future climate-resilient crops.

Corporate social responsibility initiatives and their role in firms' reputation and green economic recovery through organizational trust.

Maintaining operations in the face of crises like COVID-19 is difficult. Using the stakeholder theory, this study examines the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs targeting company employees. Their social position and the likelihood of a green economic rebound (GER) are evaluated. Evidence shows that employee-focused CSR activities implemented by tourism boost organizational GER by fostering a more trusting work environment for their staff. Management and non-management staff at Chinese Tourism were polled using a non-probabilistic convenience sample and a 5-point Likert scale. Structured equation modeling was used to conduct structural analyses. Employee-focused CSR is a significant predictor of a firm reputation in the Chinese tourism industry. In addition, it is found that trust inside the organization acts as a go-between. The evidence also supports the hypothesis that a company's rising profile triggers GER. This research delves deeply into the connection between employees' perceptions of a company's employee-focused CSR initiatives, that company's reputation in the community, and employees' general enthusiasm for their job, a group that has been understudied until now. The findings are helpful for tourism management because they show them how to employ employee-focused CSR activities to strengthen connections with internal stakeholders while also using that reputation to shift to a greener way of doing business.

Serum Lipidomic Fingerprints Encode Early Diagnosis and Staging of Lung Cancer on a Novel PbS/Au-Layered Substrate.

Lung cancer (LC) is a major cause of mortality among malignant tumors. Early diagnosis through lipidomic profiling can improve prognostic outcomes. In this study, a uniform PbS/Au-layered substrate that enhances the laser desorption/ionization process, an interfacial process triggered on the substrate surface upon laser excitation, was designed to efficiently characterize the lipidomic profiles of LC patient serum. By controlling the stacking arrangement and particle sizes of PbS QDs and AuNPs, the optimized substrate promotes the generation of excited electrons and creates an enhanced electric field that polarizes analyte molecules, facilitating ion adduction formation ([M + Na]+ and [M + K]+) and enhancing detection sensitivity down to the femtomole level. Combining multivariate statistics and machine learning, a distinct lipidomic biomarker panel is successfully identified for the early diagnosis and staging of LC, with an accurate prediction validated by an area under the curve of 0.9479 and 0.9034, respectively. We also found that 18 biomarkers were significantly correlated with six metabolic pathways associated with LC. These results demonstrate the potential of this innovative PbS/Au-layered substrate as a sensitive platform for accurate diagnosis of LC and facilitate the development of lipidomic-based diagnostic tools for other cancers.

Stomatal Responses of Two Drought-Tolerant Barley Varieties with Different ROS Regulation Strategies under Drought Conditions.

Drought stress is a major obstacle to agricultural production. Stomata are central to efforts to improve photosynthesis and water use. They are targets for manipulation to improve both processes and the balance between them. An in-depth understanding of stomatal behavior and kinetics is important for improving photosynthesis and the WUE of crops. In this study, a drought stress pot experiment was performed, and a transcriptome analysis of the leaves of three contrasting, cultivated barley genotypes Lumley (Lum, drought-tolerant), Golden Promise (GP, drought-sensitive), and Tadmor (Tad, drought-tolerant), generated by high-throughput sequencing, were compared. Lum exhibited a different WUE at the leaf and whole-plant levels and had greater CO2 assimilation, with a higher gs under drought stress. Interestingly, Lum showed a slower stomatal closure in response to a light-dark transition and significant differences compared to Tad in stomatal response to the exogenous application of ABA, H2O2, and CaCl2. A transcriptome analysis revealed that 24 ROS-related genes were indeed involved in drought response regulation, and impaired ABA-induced ROS accumulation in Lum was identified using ROS and antioxidant capacity measurements. We conclude that different stomatal ROS responses affect stomatal closure in barley, demonstrating different drought regulation strategies. These results provide valuable insight into the physiological and molecular basis of stomatal behavior and drought tolerance in barley.

A study assessing the impact of income relative deprivation and cooperative membership on rural residents' health: A pathway towards improving the health status of rural residents.

Rural residents' health status is related to their happiness, socioeconomic status, personal development, and the ideals of living, but individual income relative deprivation has a negative impact on their health. Hence, this study aimed to examine that how to alleviate the negative impact of income relative deprivation on rural residents' health. Based on a literature review, it is the first study to propose that cooperative membership could help alleviate the adverse effects of income relative deprivation on rural residents' health. It survey data from 466 farm households in Shandong Province in China and employs an endogenous switching probit model to solve the endogenous problems. The results show that relative deprivation positively affects farmers' membership in a cooperative but negatively impacts their health. More importantly, the results indicate that membership in a cooperative improves farmers' health and alleviates the adverse effects of relative deprivation. These findings not only expand the empirical research on the positive impact of relative deprivation but also provide a new pathway towards improving the negative impact of income relative deprivation on rural residents' health. That is, the government should guide smallholder farmers to join professional cooperatives and encourage the development of 'multi-functional' cooperatives to play a greater role in improving rural residents' health.

A20 inactivation in ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma.

Recent studies showed A20 inactivation by deletion, mutation and promoter methylation in ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. However, the incidences of A20 abnormalities and their clinical impact remain for the most part unknown. It is also unknown whether ABIN-1 and ABIN-2, the components of the A20 NF-κB inhibitor complex, are inactivated by genetic changes in ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. A total of 105 cases were investigated for A20 mutation/deletion, ABIN-1/2 mutation, MALT1 and IGH involved translocation. Somatic mutation was seen frequently in A20 (28.6%) but rarely in ABIN-1 (1%) and ABIN-2 (1%). A20 mutations were significantly associated with A20 heterozygous deletion, and both were mutually exclusive from the MALT1 or IGH involved translocations. A20 mutation/deletion was also significantly associated with increased expression of the NF-κB target genes CCR2, TLR6 and BCL2. The cases with A20 mutation/deletion required significantly higher radiation dosages to achieve complete remission than those without these abnormalities.

Clinicopathological features of a suspected case of hereditary benign intraepithelial dyskeratosis with bilateral corneas involved: a case report and mini review.

PURPOSE: To report a suspected case of hereditary benign intraepithelial dyskeratosis (HBID) in China. METHODS: Case report and review of the related literature. RESULTS: A 43-year-old woman developed bilateral, elevated, white-to-grayish, gelatinous plaques on the perilimbal region and buccal mucosa. Her daughter had similar lesions on the buccal and pharyngeal mucosa. In vivo confocal microscopy demonstrated the loss of limbal palisades of Vogt in the patient's left eye. An incisional biopsy of her conjunctiva and buccal mucosa was performed, which indicated that the histopathological characteristics were quite similar to those of HBID. The patient underwent removal of the plaques and limbal allograft transplantation in the left eye. Postsurgery treatments included systemic cyclosporin A and topical artificial tears for both eyes. Ocular symptoms were alleviated, and no relapse was observed during the 1.5-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In a suspected case of HBID in China, limbal stem cell transplantation was effective.

[Fundus fluorescein angiography in metastatic choroidal carcinomas and differentiating metastatic choroidal carcinomas from primary choroidal melanomas].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) in metastatic choroidal carcinomas and determine the value of FFA in differentiating metastatic choroidal carcinomas from primary choroidal melanomas. METHODS: It was a retrospective case series. The retrospective analysis of clinical data and FFA findings was performed in 23 eyes of 22 patients with metastatic choroidal carcinomas and 31 eyes of 31 patients with primary choroidal melanomas as the control. RESULTS: Ocular fundus findings of metastatic choroidal carcinomas were divided into three types: solitary flat (tumor thickness less than 3 mm), solitary elevated (tumor thickness more than 3 mm) or diffuse type. FFA of the three types showed hypofluorescence during the arterial phase and progressive hyperfluorescence during the subsequent phases. The border of the lesions revealed retinal capillary dilation during the arteriovenous phase and persistent pinpoint leakage throughout the angiogram. Retinal capillary dilation and pinpoint leakage were more frequently presented in the solitary flat type. Simultaneous visualization of retinal and tumor circulation (the so called double circulation) was more frequently presented in the solitary elevated type. Pinpoint leakage could be detected in 17 (73.91%) eyes of metastatic choroidal carcinomas and in 5 (16.13%) eyes of primary choroidal melanomas. The difference between the visibility of pinpoint leakage in metastatic choroidal carcinomas and primary choroidal melanomas was statistically significant (P = 0.0000). When pinpoint leakage of FFA was used to differentiate metastatic choroidal carcinomas from primary choroidal melanomas, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values were 73.91%, 83.87%, 79.63%, 77.27%, 81.25% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: FFA is helpful for the diagnosis of metastatic choroidal carcinomas. Pinpoint leakage on the border of lesions has some value in differentiating metastatic choroidal carcinomas from primary choroidal melanomas.

[Histopathological study of epiretinal membranes in retinopathy of prematurity].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pathological characteristics of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and to discuss the pathogenesis of ROP. METHODS: It was a retrospective case series. Thirty-four ERMs obtained from twenty-four patients with stage 5 ROP during open-sky vitrectomy were examined by light microscopy (HE staining). Fifteen ERMs of them were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Glial fibrillary acidic protein staining (GFAP) of two ERMs were observed. Spearman rank correlation analysis of SPSS 11.0 software and random-effects model of STATA 7.0 software were used to make statistical analysis. RESULTS: Collagen was the main component of the ERMs. The amount of neovascularization was highly correlated with the age and postconceptual age (r = - 0.469, -0.482; P <0.05, respectively), but no statistically significant correlation with the gestational age and birth weight (r = - 0.179, - 0.272; P > 0.05). The amount of the fibroblasts varied in different specimens. It was related to the gestational age, age and postconceptual age (Z = -1.99, -3.45, -3.64; P <0.05). No obvious relationship was found between the amount of the fibroblasts and the birth weight (Z = 0.21, P > 0.05). Electron microscopy showed a wide variety of cell types, which scattered in the ERMs, including fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, macrophages and other inflammatory cells. GFAP staining of the ERMs was positive, and staining positive cells were mostly distributed on the retinal side of the ERMs. CONCLUSIONS: Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts were the main cells of the ERM of ROP. The regression of the ERM of ROP was correlated to the actual age and postconceptual age, and it had no relationship with the birth weight. The glial cells played an important role in the progression of ROP.

[Clinical and pathological analysis of 2734 cases of eyelid neoplasms].

OBJECTIVE: To study the histopathological classification and changes of eyelid neoplasms. METHOD: In this retrospective case series, the pathological specimens of 2734 cases with eyelid neoplasms examined between 1993-2005 were claimed and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 1248 eyelid tumors (45.65%) in 2734 cases with eyelid neoplasms, including 875 benign neoplasms (71.11%) and 960 malignant cases (29.89%). The three leading malignant eyelid tumors were basal cell carcinoma, meibomian gland carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma The mean ages of the occurrence of these three tumors were 64.16, 63.30 and 60.38 years old, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pathologic classification of eyelid neoplasms is helpful for the pathological diagnosis and provides information for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.

[Orbital solitary fibrous tumor: a clinicopathologic analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To study clinicopathologic features, histologic characteristics, differential diagnosis and the treatment of orbital solitary fibrous tumor (SFT). METHODS: Clinical, radiographic and pathologic findings of 6 cases of SFT were retrospectively analyzed. Immunohistochemistry were performed on selected samples. RESULTS: Four patients were males and 2 were females. Patients age ranged from 19- to 57-years-old. The location of the tumor was in the muscle cone (case 1 and case 5), medial (case 3), lateral (case 4), superior (case 2) and inferolateral (case 6) portion of the orbit, respectively. The presenting symptom was proptosis in 3 cases and was mass of subconjunctival or orbit margin in other 3 cases. Image examination: SFT appeared as a round (case 6 showed irregular) and well-circumscribed parenchymatous mass that could be homogenously enhanced by contrast. Histologically, SFT displayed as a mass of spindle cells in an irregular arrangement Sometime, tumor cells could be storiform or sarciniform. Mitotic figures were infrequent and usually there were 0 to 3 mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields. Hyalinization and staghornform blood vessels were frequently observed. SFT was immunoreactive for markers such as Vim, CD34 and CD99. Two cases were recurred. CONCLUSIONS: SFT is a rare orbital tumor and could be confused with other types of orbital tumors. This tumor can be diagnosed by pathological and immunocytochemical studies, these characteristics can be used to differentiate it from other types of orbital tumors.

Histology of corneal wound healing after deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty.

Deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) has become an alternative procedure for bullous keratopathy. Herein, the histopathological characteristics of corneal wound healing after DLEK were reported. A 71-year-old man suffering from left psuedophakia bullous keratopathy received small incision DLEK. Twenty months later, another penetrating keratoplasty (PK) was performed because of the graft failure. The histopathology of the corneal button removed during PK demonstrated the regularity of stromal fiber alignment at the graft interface. Fibrotic repair was limited to the peripheral margins.

[Clinical and pathological analysis of primary lacrimal sac tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and pathological classification of primary lacrimal sac tumors. METHODS: A retrospective study of 96 cases of primary lacrimal sac tumors in past 50 years from EENT Hospital (Jan. 1956 to Dec. 2005) was performed to investigate the clinical features, radiological manifestation, histopathological classification and treatment. RESULTS: Primary lacrimal sac tumors were more common in men than in women (1.8:1.0) and the median age at presentation was 46 years (ranged 11 - 80 years). The most common sign and symptom were epiphora and lacrimal sac mass, respectively. Among these primary lacrimal sac tumors, 94.8% were malignant tumors (91/95). All epithelial lacrimal sac tumors (83 cases, 86.5%) were malignant and squamous cell carcinoma was the most common tumor (64 cases, 66.7%), followed by undifferentiated carcinoma (10 cases, 10.4%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (4 cases, 4.2%), adenocarcinoma (4 cases, 4.2%) and transitional cell carcinoma (1 case, 1.0%). The nonepithelial tumors consisted of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (5 cases, 5.2%), melanoma (3 cases, 3.1%), neurilemoma (2 cases, 2.1%), hemangiopericytoma (2 cases, 2.1%) and cavernous hemangioma (1 case, 1.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Primary lacrimal sac tumors are extremely rare, but most of them are malignant tumors and are often misdiagnosed as dacryocystitis and lacrimal sac obstruction. Therefore, ophthalmologists should pay more attention to the diagnosis of lacrimal sac tumors.

[Analysis of the relationship between pathology and recurrence of primary lacrimal epithelial tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between pathology and recurrence of primary lacrimal epithelial tumors. METHODS: 128 cases of primary lacrimal epithelial tumors including benign mixed tumor (74 cases, 57.8%), adenoid cystic carcinoma (22 cases, 17.2%) and malignant mixed tumor (18 cases, 14.1%) were subjected in the study. Pathological features were analyzed and compared with their recurrence. RESULTS: The recurrent rate of benign mixed tumor, adenoid cystic carcinoma and malignant mixed tumor was 23.0%, 18.2% and 27.8%, respectively. The recurrence of benign mixed tumor was statistically related to pathological classification and encapsulates. CONCLUSIONS: Primary lacrimal epithelial tumors show variant types and high recurrent rate. The pathological features were decisive in diagnosis, selection of treatment and the time of follow-up.

[Histopathological study of corneal wound healing in guinea pigs after deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty with small incision].

OBJECTIVE: To study the histopathological characteristics of corneal wound healing after deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) with small incision. METHODS: Forty-five guinea pigs were divided into the donor and recipient groups, which consisted of 15 and 30 guinea pigs respectively. DLEK was performed in the right eye, and the left eye was used as histopathological control. Two guinea pigs with clear right corneas under biomicroscopy examination were killed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 4 months postoperatively, separately. Bilateral corneal buttons were harvested for the evaluation of endothelial cells (alizarin red stain) and for the light microscopy study (HE or PAS staining). RESULTS: Clear cornea could be obtained in 22 recipient eyes postoperatively. In these corneas, the endothelial cells either in the donor disc or recipient's bed were normal in shape and size. However, there was a band area between the donor disc and recipient's bed, where the endothelial cells were abnormal. In the early postoperative period, histopathological study disclosed increase of number of cells in the corneal stroma along the pathway of lamellar separation. The tissue connecting the gap between the donor and recipient lacked lamellar structure. The new descemet's membrane appeared beneath the endothelium 1 month postoperatively. Three to four months after the operation, the continuity of the descemet's membrane and the posterior lamella was rehabilitated. CONCLUSIONS: The corneal wound healing process after the DLEK with small incision is related with the type of trauma. Collagen is arranged well at the surface of the lamellar. Fibrotic repair is seen in the marginal area connecting the donor disc and recipient's bed.

Differential diagnosis of anterior chamber cysts with ultrasound biomicroscopy: ciliary body medulloepithelioma.

PURPOSE: To describe a case with motile cyst in the anterior chamber in the right eye of a 7-year-old boy. METHODS: The right eye's visual acuity was 20/50. Intraocular pressure was 59 mmHg. Slit-lamp examination showed prominent rubeosis iridis and a grey-white mass floating freely in the anterior chamber. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a cystic mass in the anterior chamber. A diagnostic cyclectomy with removal of the anterior chamber cyst was performed. Histopathology of the anterior chamber lesion showed an intact cyst composed of medullary epithelial cells. Medulloepithelioma with malignant criteria was diagnosed and the eye was enucleated. RESULTS: Pathology demonstrated an medulloepithelioma with a few mitotic figures and nuclear pleomorphisms within the ciliary body. The patient was followed for 8 months without any metastasis in the orbit or elsewhere. CONCLUSION: Intraocular medulloepithelioma is a rare embryonic benign or malignant neoplasm typically diagnosed in the first decade of life as a ciliary body mass. A dislodged, free-floating anterior chamber cyst associated with neovascular glaucoma is typical of medulloepithelioma in children. This unique presentation should be differentiated from congenital iris epithelial, post-traumatic, epithelial, parasitic and neoplastic cysts. Ultrasound biomicroscopy is useful for analysing the structure of the anterior segment mass. Ciliary body medulloepithelioma is characterized by echogenic mass heterogeneity and an irregular surface containing multiple cystic cavities. Lack of glial differentiation may predict a better clinical outcome in primary neuroectodermal brain tumours.

[Clinical and pathological analysis of 151 cases of tumors in lacrimal fossa].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and pathological classification of tumors in lacrimal fossa. METHODS: A retrospective study of 151 cases of tumors in lacrimal fossa in recent 8 years from EENT hospital was performed to investigated the clinical features, histopathological classification and prognoses. RESULTS: In 69 cases of benign lacrimal epithelial tumors, pleomorphic adenoma was the most common tumor (63 cases, 41.7%), followed by myoepithelioma (3 cases, 1.2%), lacrimal duct cyst (2 cases, 1.3%). In 34 cases of malignant lacrimal epithelial tumors, adenoid cystic carcinoma was the most common tumor (15 cases, 9.9%), followed by pleomorphic adenocarcinoma (14 cases, 9.3%), adenocarcinoma (4 cases, 2.6%). There were 48 cases of lacrimal non-epithelial lesions. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma was the most common tumor (17 cases, 11.3%), followed by pseudotumor (12 cases, 7.9%), benign lymphoepithelial lesion (7 cases, 4.0%). CONCLUSIONS: There are a variety of tumors in lacrimal fossa. The treatment of pleomorphic adenoma and the diagnosis of MALT lymphoma are the most difficult tasks in present clinical work.

[Neuroprotection of nerve growth factor in experiment retinal detachment].

OBJECTIVE: To study the neuroprotection by nerve growth factor (NGF) in retina in experimental retinal detachment (RD). METHODS: Thirty one Sprague-Dawley rats were used as RD animal model by injected 0.1% sodium hyaluronate into the sub-neuroretina space. Those rats were divided into NGF experimental group, placebo group, normal control groups and pathologic control group. NGF 1 g/L/eye was injected into vitreous every 4 days in NGF experimental group and 5 micro l of PBS intravitreal injection was used as control after RD. On postoperative time 1/2 d, 1 d, 2 d, 4 d, 8 d, 16 d, 32 d, rats were sacrificed and eyes were enucleated. The effect of NGF on retina was assessed by electron, light microscopy and cell counters. RESULTS: Histology studies showed markedly changes in photoreceptor cells, bipolar cells and ganglion cells after RD, included depletion and shorten of inner and outer segments, disturbance and thinness of inner and outer nuclear layer and swelling of ganglion cells in NGF treated group and control. Changes in the microscopic examination in NGF group showed significantly less than that in control groups, especially in inner and outer segments of photoreceptor cells. In reattached retina, the tissue structure and cell morphology showed more close to normal in NGF group than that in RD control groups. Cell counters showed the cell numbers decreased both in NGF groups and RD control groups. When retina reattached, the cell number in experimental groups showed significantly lower than that in normal control group (P < 0.05). Nuclear number of outernuclear layer and ganglion cell layer in NGF groups was greater than that in RD control groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection exogenous NGF partly protects retinal cells from degeneration in experimental RD and help recovery of retinal cells after retina reattached.

[A new model of choroidal neovascularization in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of inducing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice by diode laser. METHODS: Two hours, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after photocoagulation, the effect of diode laser for inducing CNV by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Two hours and 3 days after laser treatment, there were no CNV and fluorescent leakage observed in mice. The first signs of leakage in FFA associated with CNV appeared 1 week after the postphotocoagulation, (48/90 lesions, or 53.3%). Four weeks after laser treatment, there were still 33 lesions appearing leakage (36.67%). Histological sections proved the existence of CNV, but the rate of CNV was not in accord with that of fluorescence leakage. CONCLUSIONS: This animal model is very useful for in vivo studies of angiogenesis and its modulation via various therapy.