The TOR-EIN2 axis mediates nuclear signalling to modulate plant growth.

The evolutionarily conserved target of rapamycin (TOR) kinase acts as a master regulator that coordinates cell proliferation and growth by integrating nutrient, energy, hormone and stress signals in all eukaryotes1,2. Research has focused mainly on TOR-regulated translation, but how TOR orchestrates the global transcriptional network remains unclear. Here we identify ethylene-insensitive protein 2 (EIN2), a central integrator3-5 that shuttles between the cytoplasm and the nucleus, as a direct substrate of TOR in Arabidopsis thaliana. Glucose-activated TOR kinase directly phosphorylates EIN2 to prevent its nuclear localization. Notably, the rapid global transcriptional reprogramming that is directed by glucose-TOR signalling is largely compromised in the ein2-5 mutant, and EIN2 negatively regulates the expression of a wide range of target genes of glucose-activated TOR that are involved in DNA replication, cell wall and lipid synthesis and various secondary metabolic pathways. Chemical, cellular and genetic analyses reveal that cell elongation and proliferation processes that are controlled by the glucose-TOR-EIN2 axis are decoupled from canonical ethylene-CTR1-EIN2 signalling, and mediated by different phosphorylation sites. Our findings reveal a molecular mechanism by which a central signalling hub is shared but differentially modulated by diverse signalling pathways using distinct phosphorylation codes that can be specified by upstream protein kinases.

ATM, BLM, and CDH1 gene co-mutations in a high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma patient with multiple abdominal cavity metastases: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: High-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (HG-ESS) is a rare malignant tumor with poor prognosis. To overcome the limitations of current treatment for advanced patients, the intervention of targeted drug therapy is urgently needed. CASE PRESENTATION: A 74-year-old married woman who presented with abdominal distension and lower abdominal pain was admitted to Hebei General Hospital. After surgery, immunohistochemical staining revealed a malignant tumor which was consistent with HG-ESS. Tumor recurrence occurred 2 months after surgery. Then the patient underwent chemotherapy with two courses but responded poorly. Subsequently we observed ATM, BLM, and CDH1 co-mutations by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Then the patient received pamiparib, which resulted in a 10-month progression-free survival (PFS) and is now stable with the administration of sintilimab in combination with pamiparib and anlotinib. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the successful use of poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) on HG-ESS, we suggest that the selection of effective targeted drugs combined with anti- programmed death-1 (PD-1) drug therapy based on genetic testing may become a new option for the treatment of homologous repair deficient (HR-deficient) HG-ESS.

Influence of moderate-to-high intensity physical activity on depression levels: a study based on a health survey of Chinese university students.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to examine how moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) affects the severity of depression symptoms among Chinese college students. Additionally, it seeks to analyze the mediating mechanisms involving self-rated health and general self-efficacy. METHODS: The study utilized data from the 2023 Chinese College Health Tracking Survey and employed multiple linear regression and structural equation modeling techniques to investigate the impacts of MVPA on depression levels and its underlying mediating mechanisms among college students. The primary cohort comprised 49,717 enrolled college students from 106 universities in China. RESULTS: A total of 41,620 valid questionnaires were collected (response rate: 83.7%), with females accounting for 58.6%. In the past month, approximately 30.2% of college students engaged in MVPA. Self-rated health (B = - 0.282, P < 0.001) and general self-efficacy (B = - 0.133, P < 0.001) significantly influenced college students' depression scores. Even after controlling for other variables, participating in MVPA remained significantly associated with reduced depression scores (B = - 0.062, P = 0.002). The results of the structural equation model showed that MVPA not only directly decreased college students' depression scores but also indirectly reduced the likelihood of depression occurrence by improving their physical health status and general self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: The lack of physical activity among Chinese college students is evident. Engaging in MVPA can reduce the likelihood of depression among college students. MVPA achieves this reduction by enhancing college students' general self-efficacy and improving their physical health. The factors influencing depression levels among college students are multifaceted. For future interventions targeting college students' mental health, comprehensive approaches that incorporate behavioral and psychological factors should be emphasized.

Drought induces epitranscriptome and proteome changes in stem-differentiating xylem of Populus trichocarpa.

Understanding gene expression and regulation requires insights into RNA transcription, processing, modification, and translation. However, the relationship between the epitranscriptome and the proteome under drought stress remains undetermined in poplar (Populus trichocarpa). In this study, we used Nanopore direct RNA sequencing and tandem mass tag-based proteomic analysis to examine epitranscriptomic and proteomic regulation induced by drought treatment in stem-differentiating xylem (SDX). Our results revealed a decreased full-length read ratio under drought treatment and, especially, a decreased association between transcriptome and proteome changes in response to drought. Epitranscriptome analysis of cellulose- and lignin-related genes revealed an increased N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) ratio, which was accompanied by decreased RNA abundance and translation, under drought stress. Interestingly, usage of the distal poly(A) site increased during drought stress. Finally, we found that transcripts of highly expressed genes tend to have shorter poly(A) tail length (PAL), and drought stress increased the percentage of transcripts with long PAL. These findings provide insights into the interplay among m6A, polyadenylation, PAL, and translation under drought stress in P. trichocarpa SDX.

Evaporating droplets on oil-wetted surfaces: Suppression of the coffee-stain effect.

The evaporation of suspension droplets is the underlying mechanism in many surface-coating and surface-patterning applications. However, the uniformity of the final deposit suffers from the coffee-stain effect caused by contact line pinning. Here, we show that control over particle deposition can be achieved through droplet evaporation on oil-wetted hydrophilic surfaces. We demonstrate by flow visualization, theory, and numerics that the final deposit of the particles is governed by the coupling of the flow field in the evaporating droplet, the movement of its contact line, and the wetting state of the thin film surrounding the droplet. We show that the dynamics of the contact line can be tuned through the addition of a surfactant, thereby controlling the surface energies, which then leads to control over the final particle deposit. We also obtain an analytical expression for the radial velocity profile which reflects the hindering of the evaporation at the rim of the droplet by the nonvolatile oil meniscus, preventing flow toward the contact line, thus suppressing the coffee-stain effect. Finally, we confirm our physical interpretation by numerical simulations that are in qualitative agreement with the experiment.

Staged Ilizarov distraction histogenesis and corrective reconstruction for severe malunited calcaneal fractures.

PURPOSE: Severe calcaneal malunion is a clinical conundrum for the difficulty of calcaneal reconstruction without soft tissue complications. The aim of this study is to introduce the treatment strategy and preliminary results of staged Illizarov distraction histogenesis and corrective reconstruction for severe malunion of calcaneal fractures. METHODS: From June 2014 to May 2020, 14 patients with severe calcaneal malunion treated with the staged strategy were retrospectively analyzed. At the first stage, calcaneal osteotomy and external fixation with Ilizarov frame were performed. The restoration of the approximate configuration of calcaneus and the expansion of contractural soft tissue were achieved by gradual calcaneal distraction. At the second stage, corrective reconstruction was performed and autogenous iliac crest bone graft was used. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were evaluated at final follow-up. RESULTS: The average time of Ilizarov distraction and total fixation was 21.4 days and 41.0 days at first-stage treatment. At a mean follow-up of 33.1 months, the average American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score increased significantly from 24.0 to 72.4 (p < 0.01). And the mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score had improved remarkably from 8.2 to 2.4 (p < 0.01). Radiographs showed that talocalcaneal height, calcaneal width, calcaneal tuberosity height, hindfoot alignment angle, and talar declination angle were improved to a great extent (p < 0.01). Only one patient had minor pin site infection at first-stage treatment and one got superficial wound infection after second-stage surgery. No wound dehiscence, skin necrosis, or deep infection occurred. CONCLUSION: Staged Ilizarov distraction histogenesis and corrective reconstruction is a safe and effective treatment strategy for reducing soft tissue complications and improving reconstruction results in surgical correction of severe calcaneal malunion.

Is Kidner procedure necessary during subtalar arthroereisis for pediatric flexible flatfoot that combined with symptomatic type 2 accessory navicular? A retrospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Kidner procedure is thought to be able to eliminate the medial foot pain and contribute to restoring the medial longitudinal foot arch, making it particularly suitable for surgical treatment of pes planus that combined with symptomatic type 2 accessory navicular (AN). However, controversy remains, and the clinical evidence is still lacking. The aim of the current study is to verify the necessity of Kidner procedure during subtalar arthroereisis (STA) for pediatric flexible flatfoot (PFF) that combined with symptomatic type 2 AN. METHODS: Forty pediatric patients (72 feet) who had undergone STA for flexible flatfoot and were also diagnosed with symptomatic type 2 AN concomitantly were reviewed retrospectively and divided into two groups (STA + Kidner vs STA alone). The visual analog scale (VAS), the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, the Oxford ankle foot questionnaire for children (OAFQC), and the radiographic parameters that quantifying pes planus were evaluated as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of complications. RESULTS: There were 35 feet in the STA + Kidner group and 37 feet in the STA alone group, with mean follow-up periods of 2.7 years and 2.1 years, respectively. The VAS, AOFAS, OAFQC scores and radiographic parameters presented no significant difference between the two groups both preoperatively and at final follow-up (P > 0.05 for each). The complications of STA surgery occurred equally in both groups, and Kidner procedure could lead to more incision problems (22.9% vs. 2.7%) and a longer time to return to activity. CONCLUSION: Kidner procedure may be unnecessary during surgical treatment of PFF that combined with painful type 2 AN. Correcting the PFF while leaving the AN alone has a high possibility of relieving the pain in the AN region, and tibialis posterior tendon (TPT) rerouting hardly aids in reconstruction of the medial foot arch. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Evaporation of a Sessile Colloidal Water-Glycerol Droplet: Marangoni Ring Formation.

The transport and aggregation of particles in suspensions is an important process in many physicochemical and industrial processes. In this work, we study the transport of particles in an evaporating binary droplet. Surprisingly, the accumulation of particles occurs not only at the contact line (due to the coffee-stain effect) or at the solid substrate (due to sedimentation) but also at a particular radial position near the liquid-air interface, forming a "ring", which we term as the Marangoni ring. The formation of this ring is primarily attributed to the solutal Marangoni flow triggered by the evaporation dynamics of the water-glycerol droplet. Experiments and simulations show fair agreement in the volume evolution and the general structure of the solutal Marangoni flow, that is, the Marangoni vortex. Experiments show that the location of the Marangoni ring is strongly correlated with the Marangoni vortex. However, finite element numerical simulations fail to describe the particle distribution seen in the experiments. Interestingly, the particles not only accumulate to form the Marangoni ring but also assemble as colloidal crystals close to the liquid-air interface, yielding iridescence. The formation of the colloidal crystals in the experiments is strong evidence that non-hydrodynamic interactions, which are not represented in the simulations, also play a significant role in our system.

Ankle joint salvage and reconstruction by limited ORIF combined with an Ilizarov external fixator for complex open tibial pilon fractures (AO 43-C3.3) with segmental bone defects.

BACKGROUND: Open pilon fractures combined with sizeable segmental bone defects are rare, difficult to treat, and often result in the loss of ankle joint function. The purpose of this study was to determine clinical outcomes in patients with open pilon fractures and sizeable segmental bone defects treated by limited ORIF combined with an Ilizarov external fixator. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of open pilon fractures with sizeable segmental bone defects treated by limited ORIF combined with the Ilizarov external fixator strategy between July 2014 and August 2019. All patients were included for assessments of fracture healing and infection rates. Ankle functional outcomes were assessed in all patients according to the Paley criteria and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS) at least 24 months post-injury. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for a mean of 41.09 months. The mean bone defect size was 5.64 ± 1.21 cm. The average EFI and BTI were 1.56 ± 0.28 months/cm and 11.12 ± 0.74 days/cm, respectively. According to the Paley evaluation system, the success rate of ankle joint reconstruction was 64% (7/11). The mean score based on the AOFAS functional assessment was 77.73 ± 8.87. Five patients showed posttraumatic arthritis, one of whom required ankle arthrodesis. Three patients developed pin site infections, and one patient developed a deep infection after bone grafting. CONCLUSION: The strategy of limited ORIF combined with an Ilizarov external fixator can restore ankle function in most patients with complex open tibial pilon fractures. Ankle stiffness, pin tract infection, and traumatic arthritis were the most common complications associated with this therapy.

PP2A interacts with KATANIN to promote microtubule organization and conical cell morphogenesis.

The organization of the microtubule cytoskeleton is critical for cell and organ morphogenesis. The evolutionarily conserved microtubule-severing enzyme KATANIN plays critical roles in microtubule organization in the plant and animal kingdoms. We previously used conical cell of Arabidopsis thaliana petals as a model system to investigate cortical microtubule organization and cell morphogenesis and determined that KATANIN promotes the formation of circumferential cortical microtubule arrays in conical cells. Here, we demonstrate that the conserved protein phosphatase PP2A interacts with and dephosphorylates KATANIN to promote the formation of circumferential cortical microtubule arrays in conical cells. KATANIN undergoes cycles of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Using co-immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry, we identified PP2A subunits as KATANIN-interacting proteins. Further biochemical studies showed that PP2A interacts with and dephosphorylates KATANIN to stabilize its cellular abundance. Similar to the katanin mutant, mutants for genes encoding PP2A subunits showed disordered cortical microtubule arrays and defective conical cell shape. Taken together, these findings identify PP2A as a regulator of conical cell shape and suggest that PP2A mediates KATANIN phospho-regulation during plant cell morphogenesis.

Blue light-induced phosphorylation of Arabidopsis cryptochrome 1 is essential for its photosensitivity.

Plants possess two cryptochrome photoreceptors, cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) and cryptochrome 2 (CRY2), that mediate overlapping and distinct physiological responses. Both CRY1 and CRY2 undergo blue light-induced phosphorylation, but the molecular details of CRY1 phosphorylation remain unclear. Here we identify 19 in vivo phosphorylation sites in CRY1 using mass spectrometry and systematically analyze the physiological and photobiochemical activities of CRY1 variants with phosphosite substitutions. We demonstrate that nonphosphorylatable CRY1 variants have impaired phosphorylation, degradation, and physiological functions, whereas phosphomimetic variants mimic the physiological functions of phosphorylated CRY1 to constitutively inhibit hypocotyl elongation. We further demonstrate that phosphomimetic CRY1 variants exhibit enhanced interaction with the E3 ubiquitin ligase COP1 (CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1). This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that phosphorylation of CRY1 is required for COP1-dependent signaling and regulation of CRY1. We also determine that PHOTOREGULATORY PROTEIN KINASEs (PPKs) phosphorylate CRY1 in a blue light-dependent manner and that this phosphorylation is critical for CRY1 signaling and regulation. These results indicate that, similar to CRY2, blue light-dependent phosphorylation of CRY1 determines its photosensitivity.

[Comparative Analysis of Clinical Efficacy of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Plus Lavage System in the Treatment of Wagner Grade 3-5 Diabetic Foot Ulcers Combined with Infection].

Objective: To compare and analyze the clinical efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) combined with lavage system in the treatment of Wagner grade 3-5 diabetic foot ulcers combined with infections. Methods: The clinical data of 100 patients with Wagner grade 3-5 diabetic foot ulcers combined with infections admitted to our department between January 2016 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the methods of surgical wound management, they were divided into two groups, a combination treatment group treated by NPWT plus a lavage system and a single treatment group receiving NPWT only. Patients were studied for the types of bacterial infection found in the wounds, the amount of time it took for the wound bacterial culture to turn negative, and the status of blood inflammatory indicators, including white blood cell count and C-reactive protein (CRP). Data concerning hospitalization were collected, including the waiting time before the first operation, the number of operations, length of hospital stay, NPWT usage time, and wound closure time. In addition, data concerning patient condition after discharge were also collected, including the duration of out-of-hospital antibiotic use, the final wound healing rate, the final wound healing time, and long-term wound complications, which include wound dehiscence, new ulcer, infection recurrence, readmission, reoperation, and amputation. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, course of disease, lesion side, lesion size and combined diseases between the two groups. Likewise, there was no significant difference in the species and genus, or the composition of bacteria found in the wounds ( P>0.05). However, the combination treatment group showed better results than the single treatment group did in the amount of time it took for wound bacterial culture to turn negative ( P<0.05). As for the blood inflammatory indicators, there was no significant difference between the two groups except that the CRP of the combination group decreased more significantly than that of the single treatment group did at one week postop. The number of surgeries, length of hospital stay, NPWT use time, and wound closure time were lower in the combination treatment group than those in the single treatment group ( P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in long-term wound complications between the two groups. Conclusion: When applying NPWT plus lavage system in the treatment of Wagner grade 3-5 diabetic foot ulcers combined with infection, wound infection can be controlled effectively at an early stage and the amount of time needed for wound bacterial culture to turn negative can also be reduced. In addition, the combination treatment stimulates granulation growth of the wounds to effectively cover the wound at an early stage.

A hidden human proteome encoded by 'non-coding' genes.

It has been a long debate whether the 98% 'non-coding' fraction of human genome can encode functional proteins besides short peptides. With full-length translating mRNA sequencing and ribosome profiling, we found that up to 3330 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were bound to ribosomes with active translation elongation. With shotgun proteomics, 308 lncRNA-encoded new proteins were detected. A total of 207 unique peptides of these new proteins were verified by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and/or parallel reaction monitoring (PRM); and 10 new proteins were verified by immunoblotting. We found that these new proteins deviated from the canonical proteins with various physical and chemical properties, and emerged mostly in primates during evolution. We further deduced the protein functions by the assays of translation efficiency, RNA folding and intracellular localizations. As the new protein UBAP1-AST6 is localized in the nucleoli and is preferentially expressed by lung cancer cell lines, we biologically verified that it has a function associated with cell proliferation. In sum, we experimentally evidenced a hidden human functional proteome encoded by purported lncRNAs, suggesting a resource for annotating new human proteins.

An alternative therapeutic strategy for infected large bone defect and massive soft-tissue loss of leg-is free flap reconstruction inevitable?

PURPOSE: This study aims to report the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a non-flap therapeutic strategy for the limb salvage of infected composite bone and soft-tissue defects of a leg, attempting to describe some new techniques regards the docking of bone ends. METHODS: Twelve patients with infected large tibial bone defect (mean size 12.1 ± 2.8 cm) and massive soft-tissue loss (mean size 254.5 ± 60.2 cm2) who were treated with the non-flap therapeutic strategy between 2014 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and radiographic results were evaluated and analyzed. The results of bone and function were assessed by the Paley criteria. The exercise capacity of patients was evaluated based on the following four aspects: walking, running, jumping, squatting, and going up/down the stairs. RESULTS: During the treatment, shortening and re-lengthening technique was applied in six patients, bone transport technique in 12, submarine technique (SMT) in six, balloon dilatation technique (BDT) in seven, and soft-tissue incarceration creating technique (SICT) in seven. The mean external fixation time (EFT) and external fixation index (EFI) were 675.6 ± 179.2 days (range, 366-1040 days) and 60.1 ± 13.9 days/cm (range, 47.0-95.5 days/cm), respectively. Soft-tissue defect was successfully repaired for all patients. After a mean follow-up of 43.5 ± 23.2 months (range, 13-103 months), bone result was classified as "excellent" in ten patients, as "good" in one and "poor" in one, while functional result was graded as "excellent" in four patients and "good" in eight. CONCLUSIONS: The non-flap therapeutic strategy could be cautiously considered as an alternative treatment for the large lower limb composite defects.

Arabidopsis LSH8 Positively Regulates ABA Signaling by Changing the Expression Pattern of ABA-Responsive Proteins.

Phytohormone ABA regulates the expression of numerous genes to significantly affect seed dormancy, seed germination and early seedling responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the function of many ABA-responsive genes remains largely unknown. In order to improve the ABA-related signaling network, we conducted a large-scale ABA phenotype screening. LSH, an important transcription factor family, extensively participates in seedling development and floral organogenesis in plants, but whether its family genes are involved in the ABA signaling pathway has not been reported. Here we describe a new function of the transcription factor LSH8 in an ABA signaling pathway. In this study, we found that LSH8 was localized in the nucleus, and the expression level of LSH8 was significantly induced by exogenous ABA at the transcription level and protein level. Meanwhile, seed germination and root length measurements revealed that lsh8 mutant lines were ABA insensitive, whereas LSH8 overexpression lines showed an ABA-hypersensitive phenotype. With further TMT labeling quantitative proteomic analysis, we found that under ABA treatment, ABA-responsive proteins (ARPs) in the lsh8 mutant presented different changing patterns with those in wild-type Col4. Additionally, the number of ARPs contained in the lsh8 mutant was 397, six times the number in wild-type Col4. In addition, qPCR analysis found that under ABA treatment, LSH8 positively mediated the expression of downstream ABA-related genes of ABI3, ABI5, RD29B and RAB18. These results indicate that in Arabidopsis, LSH8 is a novel ABA regulator that could specifically change the expression pattern of APRs to positively mediate ABA responses.

The Arabidopsis HY2 Gene Acts as a Positive Regulator of NaCl Signaling during Seed Germination.

Phytochromobilin (PΦB) participates in the regulation of plant growth and development as an important synthetase of photoreceptor phytochromes (phy). In addition, Arabidopsis long hypocotyl 2 (HY2) appropriately works as a key PΦB synthetase. However, whether HY2 takes part in the plant stress response signal network remains unknown. Here, we described the function of HY2 in NaCl signaling. The hy2 mutant was NaCl-insensitive, whereas HY2-overexpressing lines showed NaCl-hypersensitive phenotypes during seed germination. The exogenous NaCl induced the transcription and the protein level of HY2, which positively mediated the expression of downstream stress-related genes of RD29A, RD29B, and DREB2A. Further quantitative proteomics showed the patterns of 7391 proteins under salt stress. HY2 was then found to specifically mediate 215 differentially regulated proteins (DRPs), which, according to GO enrichment analysis, were mainly involved in ion homeostasis, flavonoid biosynthetic and metabolic pathways, hormone response (SA, JA, ABA, ethylene), the reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolic pathway, photosynthesis, and detoxification pathways to respond to salt stress. More importantly, ANNAT1-ANNAT2-ANNAT3-ANNAT4 and GSTU19-GSTF10-RPL5A-RPL5B-AT2G32060, two protein interaction networks specifically regulated by HY2, jointly participated in the salt stress response. These results direct the pathway of HY2 participating in salt stress, and provide new insights for the plant to resist salt stress.

Application of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Total Ankle Replacement.

The efficacy and safety of incisional negative pressure wound therapy (iNPWT) was evaluated following total ankle replacement. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients who underwent total ankle replacement between January 2010 and June 2018. Following joint replacement, the patients received iNPWT (iNPWT group) or sterile dressings (Control group). Infection rate, wound complication incidence, length of stay, visual analogue scale, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, and short-form 36 scales, and ankle range of motion were assessed 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. Thirty-four patients (n = 13 iNPWT and n = 21 Control) were included. No significant differences were found in baseline data. During follow-up, one Control patient developed a superficial infection at the incision. Wound complications developed in 4 Control patients and 1 iNPWT patient; although this was not statistically significant. Length of stay was similar between the 2 groups. Two weeks after surgery, the range of visual analogue scale (2.1 vs 1.4), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (13.7 vs 9.7), and short-form 36 scale (9.0 vs 6.5) improvement, and increase of ankle range of motion (9.2 vs 6.1) was significantly larger in the study group than in the control group (p < .05). Three months to 1 year after the surgery, this difference was no longer statistically significant. The application of iNPWT following total ankle arthroplasty helped reduce postoperative pain, improve ankle function, and improve patient quality of life. However, these benefits were no longer statistically significant 3 months to 1 year after surgery.

The role of social support in the association between dependency and important risk factors among the elderly.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the association between social resources and dependency, and explored the effect of social support in modifying important risk factors for dependency among the elderly. METHODS: This was a population-based cross-sectional study. A total of 950 participants aged ≥60 years were selected using a complex multistage sampling design from 22 locations in China. All data were collected using questionnaires by face-to-face interviews. Dependency was assessed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-II, and social resource status with the Chinese version of the Older American Resources and Services (OARS) questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between dependency and social resources. Analysis of covariance was performed to evaluate the effect of social support on modifications of important risk factors for dependency. RESULTS: A total of 913 participants were included in the analysis, and 10.3% of the males and 14.4% of the females were identified as in dependency. The results of logistic regression analysis showed a significant negative association between the levels of social resources and dependency. The odds ratio was 0.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.84) after adjusting for important confounding factors. The results of analysis of covariance showed differences in the mean dependency scores between different groups defined by chronic disease status and social support level. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of social resources were negatively associated with dependency. Our results suggest that social support has both a direct effect on dependency and an indirect effect through modifying chronic disease status and individual income.

Evaporation-Induced Crystallization of Surfactants in Sessile Multicomponent Droplets.

Surfactants have been widely studied and used in controlling droplet evaporation. In this work, we observe and study the crystallization of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) within an evaporating glycerol-water mixture droplet. The crystallization is induced by the preferential evaporation of water, which decreases the solubility of SDS in the mixture. As a consequence, the crystals shield the droplet surface and cease the evaporation. The universality of the evaporation characteristics for a range of droplet sizes is revealed by applying a diffusion model, extended by Raoult's law. To describe the nucleation and growth of the crystals, we employ the 2-dimensional crystallization model of Weinberg [J. Non-Cryst. Solids 1991, 134, 116]. The results of this model compare favorably to our experimental results. Our findings may inspire the community to reconsider the role of high concentration of surfactants in a multicomponent evaporation system.

First Report of Phytophthora pini Causing Foliage Blight and Shoot Dieback of Rhododendron pulchrum in China.

During a 2019-2020 survey for plant pathogenic oomycetes in Nanjing, China, severe foliage blight and dieback were observed on approximately 20 Rhododendron pulchrum plants at three public parks and gardens. Approximately 25% of leaves and shoots were affected. Symptoms included brown to black lesions on leaves and stems, dieback of shoot tips, and wilting. Diseased tissues were collected from a five-year-old shrub with typical disease symptoms at Xuanwuhu Park. They were cut into 10×10 mm2 squares, immersed in 70% ethanol for 30 sec, and placed onto fresh clarified V8 juice agar (cV8A) containing pimaricin, ampicillin, rifampicin, and pentachloronitrobenzene. Phytophthora-like hypae were transferred to new cV8A plates daily. A total of five isolates were obtained after five days of incubation at 25°C. After approximately 20 days, all isolates were identical in morphological traits including semi-papillate sporangia and gametangia (homothallic). Thirty sporangia of a representative isolate Ppi were randomly selected and examined. They were mostly ovoid and sometimes obpyriform, averaging 41.0 ± 3.9 × 24.8 ± 3.2 µm. Antheridia of 30 randomly selected gametangia were paragynous, averaging 16.7 ± 0.7 × 12.4 ± 1.5 µm. Average diameters of oogonia and plerotic oospores were 29.2 ± 0.3 µm and 26.4 ± 1.6 µm, respectively. Chlamydospores were not observed. The above morphological traits suggested the causal agent belonging to the "P. citricola-complex". Isolate Ppi was subjected to sequencing of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the ras-related GTP-binding protein 1 (Ypt1) gene. ITS sequence of Ppi (GenBank ACN. MT672594) has 100% identity to that of P. pini (MG865565). It has a 3-nt difference from the ITS sequences of P. acerina (MG518642) and P. citricola (MG865475) and a 4-nt difference from that of P. plurivora (FJ665225). Ypt1 sequence of Ppi (MT680000) has 100% identity to that of P. pini (MK058416). Pathogenicity of Ppi on R. pulchrum was tested using both detached-leaf and whole-plant assays. In the former assay, each of six asymptomatic leaves was symmetrically wounded at both sides using a sterile inoculation needle. A 5×5 mm2 Ppi-colonized cV8A plug was placed on each wound of five leaves. Sterile agar plugs were used for a control leaf. All six leaves were placed on a wet filter paper in a closed container at 25°C. This assay was repeated twice. On the fifth day, all inoculated leaves had necrotic tissues around the wounds, while the control leaves remained asymptomatic. In the whole-plant assay, 20-inch-tall plants were used. Five attached leaves and the twig base of each plant were wounded. A control plant was inoculated in the same manner above, while sterile agar plugs were used. Each plant was covered with a plastic bag and maintained at 25°C. Wet cotton balls were placed in the bags to maintain humidity. After two days, the bag containing cotton balls was removed. This assay was repeated three times. After two weeks, all three inoculated plants in the three replicated trials had severe foliage blight and dieback, whereas control plants remained healthy. Phytophthora isolates recovered from artificially inoculated tissues were identical to isolate Ppi in morphological characters. Rhododendron diseases caused by P. pini were reported in the USA and Finland . This is the first report of P. pini causing foliage blight and dieback on R. pulchrum, an important nursery and landscape plant in China. Additional surveys are ongoing to determine the distribution of this pathogen in Nanjing. Management programs are under development to contain the spread of P. pini and treat diseased plants.