Construction of cellulose-degrading microbial consortium and evaluation of their ability to degrade spent mushroom substrate.

Introduction: Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a solid waste in agricultural production that contains abundant lignocellulosic fibers. The indiscriminate disposal of SMS will lead to significant resource waste and pollution of the surrounding environment.The isolation and screening of microorganisms with high cellulase degradation capacity is the key to improving SMS utilization. Methods: The cellulose-degrading microbial consortiums were constructed through antagonism and enzyme activity test. The effect of microbial consortiums on lignocellulose degradation was systematically evaluated by SMS liquid fermentation experiments. Results: In this study, four strains of cellulose-degrading bacteria were screened, and F16, F, and F7 were identified as B. amyloliquefaciens, PX1 identified as B. velezensis. At the same time, two groups of cellulose efficient degrading microbial consortiums (PX1 + F7 and F16 + F) were successfully constructed. When SMS was used as the sole carbon source, their carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activities were 225.16 and 156.63 U/mL, respectively, and the filter paper enzyme (FPase) activities were 1.91 and 1.64 U/mL, respectively. PX1 + F7 had the highest degradation rate of hemicellulose and lignin, reaching 52.96% and 52.13%, respectively, and the degradation rate of F16 + F was as high as 56.30%. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis showed that the surface microstructure of SMS changed significantly after microbial consortiums treatment, and the change of absorption peak in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the increase of crystallinity in X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that the microbial consortiums had an actual degradation effect on SMS. The results showed that PX1 + F7 and F16 + F could effectively secrete cellulase and degrade cellulose, which had practical significance for the degradation of SMS. Discussion: In this study, the constructed PX1 + F7 and F16 + F strains can effectively secrete cellulase and degrade cellulose, which holds practical significance in the degradation of SMS. The results can provide technical support for treating high-cellulose solid waste and for the comprehensive utilization of biomass resources.

Behavioral Intention of Repeated Watching and Personality Traits: Testing Mediation Model of Nostalgia Arousal and Social Connectedness.

Introduction: Classic old movies and TV series (COMTS) can evoke individuals' memories from the past. "Personality traits-motivation-behavior" is a theoretical frame to understand that nostalgia can lead to repeated watching behavior. Methods: We adopted an online survey to investigate the relationship between personality traits, nostalgia, social connectedness and the behavioral intention of repeated watching with those who re-watched movies or TV series (N = 645). Results: Our results showed that open, agreeable and neurotic individuals were more likely to feel nostalgic and then have the behavioral intention of repeated watching. In addition, for agreeable and neurotic individuals, social connectedness plays a mediating role in the relationship between these personality traits and behavioral intention of repeated watching.

Coagulation effect of atmospheric submicron particles on plant leaves: Key functional characteristics and a comparison with dry deposition.

Submicron particles have become a new focus in research on air pollution control. The abilities of urban tree species to retain particles can be used to alleviate urban haze pollution. However, research has focused mostly on plants and environmental conditions rather than on particle itself. Particle migration and transformation at the leaf-air interface are the key to dust retention. Submicron particles coagulate when they are retained by leaves. In this study, NaCl was used to simulate submicron particles. The average sizes of the particles on the leaves of 10 greening tree species in Shanghai in different seasons were measured using the sweep-resuspension method to characterize the coagulation effect. Thereafter, the effects of leaf characteristics were investigated and analyzed in relation to dry deposition velocity. The results indicated that the particles on the leaves of Ginkgo biloba, Osmanthus fragrans, Sabina chinensis (L.) Ant. "Kaizuca," Cinnamomum camphora, and Metasequoia glyptostroboides were large. The seasonal variability of the sizes of the particles on the leaves of different tree species varied. The average particle size was positively correlated with wax content and negatively correlated with single leaf area; however, the other factors correlated with particle size varied by season. For example, in April, the average particle size was positively correlated with tensile strength, wind resistance, adaxial epidermal roughness, and water potential, whereas the effects of stomatal conductance were more complex. Non-significant correlation was identified between coagulation and dry deposition although both were positively correlated with roughness and wax content. This study explored the effects of leaf characteristics on coagulation. The results may serve as a theoretical foundation for explaining the microscopic process underlying dust retention in plants and may provide a clearer scientific basis for the prevention and control of submicron particle pollution and the selection of urban greening tree species.

A high-resolution study of PM2.5 accumulation inside leaves in leaf stomata compared with non-stomatal areas using three-dimensional X-ray microscopy.

Plant leaves retain atmospheric particulate matter (PM) on their surfaces, helping PM removal and risk reduction of respiratory tract infection. Several processes (deposition, resuspension, rainfall removal) can influence the PM accumulation on leaves and different leaf microstructures (e.g., trichomes, epicuticular waxes) can also be involved in retaining PM. However, the accumulation and distribution of PM on leaves, particularly at the stomata, are unclear, and the lack of characterization methods limits our understanding of this process. Thus, in this study, we aimed to explore the pathway through which PM2.5 (aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm) enters plant leaves, and the penetration depth of PM2.5 along the entry route. Here, an indoor experiment using diamond powder as a tracer to simulate PM2.5 deposition on leaves was carried out. Then, the treated and non-treated leaves were scanned by using three-dimensional (3D) X-ray microscopy. Next, the grayscale value of the scanned images was used to compare PM2.5 accumulation in stomatal and non-stomatal areas of the treated and non-treated leaves, respectively. Finally, a total PM2.5 volume from the abaxial epidermis was calculated. The results showed that, first, a large amount of PM2.5 accumulates within leaf stomata, whereas PM2.5 does not accumulate at non-stomatal areas. Then, the penetration depth of PM2.5 in stomata of most tree species was 5-14 µm from the abaxial epidermis. For the first time, 3D X-ray microscope scanning was used to confirm that a pathway by which PM2.5 enters the leaves is through the stomata, which is fundamental for further research on how PM2.5 translocates and interacts with tissues and cells in leaves.

Quantifying the capacity of tree branches for retaining airborne submicron particles.

Human health risks brought by fine atmospheric particles raise scholarly and policy awareness about the role of urban trees as bio-filters of air pollution. While a large number of empirical studies have focused on the characteristics of vegetation leaves and their effects on atmospheric particle retention, the dry deposition of particles on branches, which plays a significant role in capturing and retaining particles during the defoliation period and contributes substantially to total removal of atmospheric particles, is under-investigated. To fill in this knowledge gap, this case study examined the dry deposition velocities (Vd) of submicron particulate matters (PM1) on the branches of six common deciduous species in Shanghai (China) using laboratory experiments. And the association between Vd and key branch anatomical traits (including surface roughness, perimeter, rind width proportion, lenticel density, peeling, and groove/ridge characteristics) was explored. It was found that surface roughness would increase Vd, as a rougher surface significantly increases turbulence, which is conducive to particle diffusion. By contrast, peeling, branch perimeter, and lenticel density would decrease Vd. Peeling represents the exfoliated remains on the branch surfaces which may flutter considerably with airflow, leading to particle resuspension and low Vd. When branch perimeter increases, the boundary layer of branches thickens and a wake area appears, increasing the difficulty of particles to reach branch surface, and reducing Vd. While lenticels can increase the roughness of branch surface, their pointy shape would uplift airflow and cause a leeward wake area, lowering Vd. This finely wrought study contributes to a better understanding of branch dry deposition during leaf-off seasons and potential of deciduous trees serving as nature-based air filters all year round in urban environments.

Allergic rhinitis, allergic contact dermatitis and disease comorbidity belong to separate entities with distinct composition of T-cell subsets, cytokines, immunoglobulins and autoantibodies.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) are prevalent allergic diseases and have significant impacts on patients' daily life. Despite many studies on AR or ACD have been conducted separately, little is known about the immune responses in patients of AR combined with ACD and the interplay between AR and ACD. Our study compared various aspects of immune elements in patients with AR or/and ACD, aiming to characterize the immune responses in AR, ACD, and AR combined with ACD. METHODS: A total of 57 patients diagnosed with AR or/and ACD and 28 healthy volunteers were included. AR patients were further divided into seasonal AR (SAR) and perennial AR (PAR). All subjects' blood samples were taken to assess the concentration of immunoglobulins, complement C3, C4, autoantibodies and cytokines in serum by immunoturbidimetry, ELISA or Luminex200 platform. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were subjected to the analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations by flow cytometry. RESULTS: It indicated that AR disease caused elevated levels of IgE, IgA, IgG, IgG4, as well as IL-4, IL-15, IL-8 and IL-6 in serum. AR patients possessed a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio and an increased proportion of memory CD4 + T-cell subset, with a skewed Th2 response and an enhanced CD8 + T-cell activation. Compared with patients with sole AR or ACD condition, AR + ACD patients presented with a significantly increased proportion of memory CD8 + T-cell subset and were prone to autoimmune disorders as indicated by the increased autoantibodies. The immune elements in patients with ACD only were least affected compared with those in other conditions. Additionally, seasonal or perennial AR patients exhibited different cytokine profiles and proportions of memory T-cell subsets. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we illuminated the respective characteristics of immune responses in AR, ACD, and AR combined with ACD. Meanwhile, we discovered that the PAR and SAR patients possessed different cytokine profiles and T-cell compartments. It suggested that these allergic conditions belong to different disease entities. Characterizing the detailed immune changes in these allergic diseases would help to develop proper treatments targeting particular immune elements in different allergic diseases.

Mid-pregnancy consumption of fruit, vegetable and fruit juice and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A correlation study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the potential association between mid-pregnancy consumption of fruit, vegetable and fruit juice and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: An observational study with 2987 pregnant women was conducted in China from June 2013 to June 2014. Fruit, vegetable and fruit juice consumption during weeks 13-28 of pregnancy was assessed by using 24 h dietary recall method and food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the association between fruit, vegetable and fruit juice consumption (in quartiles) and GDM risks, and One-Way ANOVA was used to compare the incidences of GDM at various levels of fruit, vegetable and fruit juice consumption, adjusted for gestational age, family history of diabetes, physical activity, fiber and meat intake. RESULTS: Among all the 2987 pregnant women, 405 (13.6%) were diagnosed as GDM for the first time. There was no association between total fruit and vegetable consumption and GDM. Quantity of grape, melon, potatoes and fruit juice consumption were positively associated with the incidence of GDM. In contrast, quantity of apple, orange and vegetables other than potatoes were negatively associated with the incidence of GDM. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that appropriate quantity of fruit and vegetable intakes throughout pregnancy may have a beneficial effect on preventing the development of GDM, whereas excess consumption of fruits, potatoes and fruit juices is associated with an increased risk of GDM.

Association of serum uric acid with mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with hypertension: a meta-analysis.

Studies on the association of uric acid with mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with hypertension have produced contradictory results. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the prognostic utility of uric acid in hypertensive patients. We comprehensively searched PubMed and Embase databases (until July 31, 2020) to identify eligible studies that reported the association of uric acid with mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive patients. Outcome measures included cardiovascular or all-cause mortality, coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Eleven eligible studies of 49,800 hypertensive patients were identified. For patients with the highest than those with reference lower group of uric acid level, the pooled hazard ratio (HR) was 1.51 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.02) for all-cause mortality, 1.68 (95% CI 1.28-2.20) for cardiovascular mortality, 1.31 (95% CI 1.10-1.55) for CAD, and 1.48 (95% CI 1.28-1.70) for MACEs. However, there was no significant association between elevated uric acid level and incident stroke in hypertensive patients. This meta-analysis indicates that elevated uric acid level is significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular or all-cause mortality, CAD and MACEs in hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients with highest uric acid level exhibited a tendency for reduced risk of stroke, but the difference is not significant.

Long-term association between urban air ventilation and mortality in Hong Kong.

While associations between population health outcomes and some urban design characteristics, such as green space, urban heat islands (UHI), and walkability, have been well studied, no prior studies have examined the association of urban air ventilation and health outcomes. This study used data from Hong Kong, a densely populated city, to explore the association between urban air ventilation and mortality during 2008-2014. Frontal area density (FAD), was used to measure urban ventilation, with higher FAD indicating poorer ventilation, due to structures blocking wind penetration. Negative binomial regression models were constructed to regress mortality counts for each 5-year age group, gender, and small area group, on small area level variables including green space density, population density and socioeconomic indicators. An interquartile range increase in FAD was significantly associated with a 10% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2%-19%, p = 0.019) increase in all-cause mortality and a 21% (95% CI: 2%-45%, p = 0.030) increase in asthma mortality, and non-significantly associated with a 9% (95% CI: 1%-19%, p = 0.073) in cardio-respiratory mortality. Better urban ventilation can help disperse vehicle-related pollutants and allow moderation of UHIs, and for a coastal city may allow moderation of cold temperatures. Urban planning should take ventilation into account. Further studies on urban ventilation and health outcomes from different settings are needed.

Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis.

The association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and survival outcome after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains controversial. This meta-analysis sought to examine the association of MetS with all-cause mortality among patients with ACS. Two authors independently searched PubMed and Embase databases (from their inception to June 27, 2020) for studies that examined the association of MetS with all-cause mortality among patients with ACS. Outcome measures were in-hospital mortality and all-cause mortality during the follow-up. A total of 10 studies involving 49 896 ACS patients were identified. Meta-analysis indicated that presence of MetS was associated with an increased risk of long-term all-cause mortality [risk ratio (RR) 1.25; 95% CI 1.15-1.36; n=9 studies] and in-hospital mortality (RR 2.35; 95% CI 1.40-3.95; n=2 studies), respectively. Sensitivity and subgroup analysis demonstrated the credibility of the value of MetS in predicting long-term all-cause mortality. MetS is associated with an increased risk of long-term all-cause mortality among patients with ACS. However, additional studies are required to investigate the association of MetS with in-hospital mortality.

A systematic review on lagged associations in climate-health studies.

BACKGROUND: Lagged associations in climate-health studies have already been ubiquitously acknowledged in recent years. Despite extensive time-series models having proposed accounting for lags, few studies have addressed the question of maximum-lag specification, which could induce considerable deviations of effect estimates. METHODS: We searched the PubMed and Scopus electronic databases for existing climate-health literature in the English language with a time-series or case-crossover study design published during 2000-2019 to summarize the statistical methodologies and reported lags of associations between climate variables and 14 common causes of morbidity and mortality. We also aggregated the results of the included studies by country and climate zone. RESULTS: The associations between infectious-disease outcomes and temperatures were found to be lagged for ∼1-2 weeks for influenza, 3-6 weeks for diarrhoea, 7-12 weeks for malaria and 6-16 weeks for dengue fever. Meanwhile, the associations between both cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and hot temperatures lasted for <5 days, whereas the associations between cardiovascular diseases and cold temperatures were observed to be 10-20 days. In addition, rainfall showed a 4- to 10-week lagged association with infectious diarrheal diseases, whereas the association could be further delayed to 8-12 weeks for vector-borne diseases. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated some general patterns for possible lagged associations between some common health outcomes and climatic exposures, and suggested a necessity for a biologically plausible and reasonable definition of the effect lag in the modelling practices for future environmental epidemiological studies.

Individual effects of trichomes and leaf morphology on PM2.5 dry deposition velocity: A variable-control approach using species from the same family or genus.

Urban green infrastructure is closely linked to the alleviation of pollution from atmospheric particulate matter. Although particle deposition has been shown to depend on leaf characteristics, the findings from earlier studies are sometimes ambiguous due to the lack of controlling variables. In this study, we investigated the impact of leaf morphological characteristics on PM2.5 dry deposition velocity by employing a control-variable approach. We focused on four indices: trichome density, petiole length, aspect ratio (width-to-length ratio), and fractal deviation. For each index, tree species were chosen from the same family or genus to minimize the influence of other factors and make a group of treatments for an individual index. The dry deposition velocities of PM2.5 were determined through application of an indirect method. The results revealed that the presence of leaf trichomes had a positive effect on PM2.5 dry deposition velocity, and a higher trichome density also led to a greater particle deposition velocity. Lower leaf aspect ratio, shorter petioles, and higher leaf fractal deviation were associated with greater PM2.5 dry deposition velocity. The control-variable approach allows to investigate the correlation between deposition velocity and a certain leaf characteristic independently while minimizing the effects of others. Thus, our study can clarify how a single leaf characteristic affects particle deposition velocity, and expound its potential mechanism more scientifically than the published studies. Our research points out the importance of controlling variables, and also provides ideas for future researches on related factors to be found. Meanwhile the results would help provide insight into design improvements or adaptive management for the alleviation of air pollution.

Effects of carbon nanotube-mediated Caspase3 gene silencing on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac function during early acute myocardial infarction.

RNA interference (RNAi) technology can achieve efficient and specific silencing of Caspase3 gene expression, thus providing new options for anti-apoptosis treatment. However, delivering siRNA to specific cells and tissues in the body is a significant challenge. Therefore, we aim to construct a functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (F-CNT) bound to siRNA from Caspase3. The obtained gene transfer carrier F-CNT-siCas3 not only demonstrated a good water solubility and biocompatibility, but also had a high transfection efficiency of up to 82%, which significantly downregulated the expression level of the Caspase3 gene miRNA and protein in primary cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, it was verified by in vivo experiments that Caspase3 gene silencing had obvious protective effects on myocardial cell apoptosis, ventricular remodeling, and cardiac function in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after coronary artery ligation. This study may provide an important theoretical basis for the application of F-CNT in vivo siRNA gene therapy to treat cardiovascular diseases.

Association of urban built environment and socioeconomic factors with suicide mortality in high-density cities: A case study of Hong Kong.

Population ageing, climate change and urbanization have been occurring rapidly globally. Evidence-based healthy city development is required to improve living quality and mitigate the adverse impact of city living on both physical and mental health. We took a high-density city as an example to explore the association of built environment and suicide mortality and preferably to offer some implications for better future city development. Poisson generalized linear models with generalized estimation equations were employed to regress suicide mortality rate on four urban built environment variables (frontal area density (FAD), sky view factor (SVF), ground coverage ratio (GCR), and street coverage ratio (SCR)), as well as socioeconomic factors, population density, and greenery. The association for different causes of death and within different subgroups was also investigated. Generally, higher FAD and GCR were associated with higher suicide mortality while higher SVF and SCR were associated with lower suicide mortality. Age was a significant effect modifier. An interquartile range increase in FAD, SVF, and GCR was associated with 0.81 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-0.92), 1.41 (95% CI 1.04-1.91), and 0.70 (95% CI 0.50-0.98) times the risk of suicide among the people aged over 70, respectively. Higher population density and unmarried status were generally associated with higher suicide rate whereas higher education level was associated with a decreased risk. Unfavorable built environment could increase risks for successful suicide attempts. Better urban development with morphological control mitigating intensifying urban heat island and other micro-environment changes are warranted to promote not only physical but psychological health.

Effects of the leaf functional traits of coniferous and broadleaved trees in subtropical monsoon regions on PM2.5 dry deposition velocities.

Plants can intercept airborne particulate matter through deposition. Different types of plants exhibit different functional leaf traits, which can affect the dry deposition velocity (Vd). However, the most crucial leaf traits of coniferous and broadleaved trees remain unidentified. In this study, we selected 18 typical plants from the subtropical monsoon regions, where PM2.5 (fine particulate matter with a diameter of ≤2.5 µm) concentrations are relatively high, and classified them into coniferous and broadleaved categories. Subsequently, we analyzed the relationships between Vd and leaf surface free energy (SFE), single leaf area (LAs), surface roughness (SR), specific leaf area (SLA), epicuticular wax content (EWC), and width-to-length ratio (W/L). The results indicated that most coniferous trees exhibited a high Vd. The correlation analysis revealed that SFE, SR, LAs, and W/L were the key factors that affected the Vd of all the tested species. SFE and SLA had the strongest influence on the Vd of broadleaved trees, whereas LAs and SLA had the strongest effect on that of coniferous trees. Most coniferous trees had a high SLA, which can reduce water loss and hinder particle deposition. However, the stiff leaves of coniferous trees fluttered less, resulting in a larger leaf area that enhanced the capture efficiency. The leaf structure of broadleaved trees is more flexible, resulting in erratic flutter, which may impede deposition and lead to high resuspension. Coniferous and broadleaved trees may have different dominant leaf traits that affect particle deposition.

Coagulation effect of aero submicron particles on plant leaves: Measuring methods and potential mechanisms.

Aero submicron particles (d < 1 µm) have attracted widely attention due to their difficulty in removal from the air and serious threat to human health. Leaves are considered as important organs to purify particulate matter and alleviate air pollution. However, the current research mainly focuses on the removal capacity of particulate matter by urban plants at different scales, there are relatively few studies on the change of particle diameter at the air-leaf interface during this process. This study is one of the first to propose the existence of coagulation effect of aero submicron particles on the leaves, and a sweep-resuspension method and X-ray microscope were used to measure such size changes of two typical subtropical broad-leaf plants. The results showed that the size of submicron particles increased significantly during the migration from atmosphere to leaf surface: the average particle size increased from 0.48 µm at emission to 3.40 µm on the leaf surface, while the proportion of submicron particles decreased from 95% to less than 20%. The sweep-resuspension method was easy to implement, the data was easy to obtain, and the cost was low, therefore it could be widely used in the determination of the coagulation effect. The coagulation effect was also inferred as an important mechanism used by plants to reduce particulate matter. In the process of particulate removal: coagulation effect and dry deposition are actually two steps that occur simultaneously and interact. This finding refined the understanding of particulate removal processing, and laid a foundation for further research on factors affecting coagulation, which can be helpful for optimizing tree species selection and plant arrangement.

Protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''Alpha silencing inhibits tumor cell proliferation in liver cancer.

AIM: To explore the effects of protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B''Alpha (PPP2R3A) on the proliferation and migration of liver cancer cells. METHODS: Expression of PPP2R3A in tumor tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients was detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. In two liver cancer cell lines (HepG2 and HuH7), PPP2R3A expression was silenced and then overexpression with PPP2R3A lentiviral vectors, and the effects of PPP2R3A knockdown or overexpression on the proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and invasion of HCC cells were determined in vitro. In a xenograft cancer model in nude mice, the in vivo effects of PPP2R3A knockdown on tumor growth and cancer cell proliferation were evaluated. RESULTS: PPP2R3A expression was found in tumor foci in six of eight HCC samples, at a level higher than that in the adjacent para-tumor tissues. PPP2R3A expression was observed primarily in the cytoplasm of the cancer cells. Knockdown of PPP2R3A resulted in significant inhibition of hepatoma cell proliferation (P < .05), migration (P < .01), and invasion (P < .01) as well as a significant delay in the G1/S transition in both liver cancer lines (P < .05) and increased p53 expression. Conversely, overexpression of PPP2R3A promoted the proliferation (P < .05) and altered cell cycle progression (P < .05) of both liver cancer cell lines. In vivo, PPP2R3A knockdown in liver cancer cells led to significant reductions in the tumor volume (P < .001) and the expression of Ki-67 in tumor tissues (P < .05). CONCLUSION: PPP2R3A may play a role in liver cancer via the regulation of tumor cell proliferation and invasion.

Impact factor assessment of the uptake and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by plant leaves: Morphological characteristics have the greatest impact.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have toxic, teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on living organisms. Plants can function as pollutant bioindicators and bioaccumulators due to their wide surface distribution and specific responses to atmospheric pollutants. However, various plants exhibit significant differences in their capacities to accumulate PAHs. At present, research has mainly focused on the effects of leaf morphology and physiological characteristics, and few studies have evaluated the effects of the leaf surface on PAH accumulation. We aimed to assess the factors impacting the uptake and accumulation of PAHs by leaves. We selected 8 common tree species in Shanghai, China, and used supercritical fluid extraction technology to determine the content of PAHs in their leaves. Specific measurements of leaf area, width/length, wax content, and stomatal density were applied to index the morphological and physiological characteristics; surface roughness, surface free energy, polar components, and dispersion components were compiled into an adsorption performance index. Principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) were used to assess the effects of different leaf characteristics on PAH accumulation. We found that the mean concentrations of ΣPAHs ranged from 300 to 2000 ng·g-1 and that the proportions of different benzene rings were significantly different among the different tree species. Leaf morphology and physiological characteristics had more significant effects compared to surface adsorption. CCA showed a significant negative correlation between leaf morphological characteristics and wax content, but had no significant correlation with surface adsorption. Low-molecular-weight PAHs were found to be mainly affected by the morphological characteristics, while medium- and high-molecular-weight PAHs were influenced by wax content and adsorption. Our conclusions provide a theoretical basis for the establishment of a reliable plant atmosphere-monitoring system and a method for screening tree species with strong PAH adsorption capacity.

RNA Sequencing Reveals the Suitability of Cardiac Death Livers for Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Organ transplantation is considered the best treatment for end-stage organ failure. However, the lack of available organs for transplantation and the increasing number of patients waiting for transplants are primary issues facing the transplant community. Thus, developing strategies to increase the number of donors, especially for liver transplantation, has become a priority. The use of organs acquired from donors who suffered cardiac related deaths has increased the pool of potential liver donors. However, donation after cardiac death (DCD) livers increases the risk of primary graft dysfunction. METHODS: In the current study, we conducted transcriptome sequencing using livers from a DCD rat to assess the short-term feasibility and functional efficacy of DCD livers. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) data showed that the liver transcriptome varied greatly in rat livers subjected to 15 minutes of cardiac arrest. RESULTS: The livers used in the current study had a significant loss of normal function before transplantation. Functional and network analyses consistently indicated that transcription and translation processes were inhibited after approximately 15 minutes of cardiac arrest. Moreover, the transcriptomic sequencing data provides significant insight for identifying functional genes and testing additional biological questions in DCD liver transplantation in future studies.

Understanding molecular mechanisms of Rhodiola rosea for the treatment of acute mountain sickness through computational approaches (a STROBE-compliant article).

Rhodiola rosea has been used in the treatment of acute mountain sickness (AMS) for a long time, but the mechanism of its action is not still completely clear. In this paper, the therapeutic mechanism of R rosea for AMS was investigated by analysis of the relationship between R rosea compositions and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) degradation pathway.System biology and network biology, computational approaches were used to explore the molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).Our results showed that chemical compositions of R rosea could inhibit the targets of HIF-1 degradation pathway in multi-composition/multi-target ways.We conclude that the 18 components with more than 2 targets and 5 targets (arrest-defective-1 [ARD1], forkhead transcription factor [FOXO4], osteosarcoma-9 [OS-9], prolyl hydroxylase 2 [PHD2], human double minute 2 [Hdm2]) deserve to be noticed, and PHD2, receptor for activated C-kinase1 (RACK1) and spermidine/spermine-N1-acetyltransferase-1 (SSAT1) may be the targets of active ingredients of rhodionin, rhodiosin, and rhodiolatuntoside, respectively.