Chronic exposure to gestodene impairs reproductive system in adult female zebrafish (Daniarerio).

Gestodene (GES) is widely used in human therapy and animal husbandry and is frequently detected in aquatic environments. Although GES adversely affects aquatic organisms at trace levels, its effects on the reproductive biology of fish remain inconclusive. In this study, female zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to environmentally relevant levels of GES for the evaluation of the effects of GES on the reproductive system by using endpoints including gene expression, plasma steroid concentrations, histological and morphological analyses, copulatory behavior, and reproductive output. Adult female zebrafish exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of GES (4.0, 40.2, and 372.7 ng/L) for 60 d demonstrated stagnant ovarian oocyte development, evidenced by an increase in the percentage of perinuclear and atretic oocytes and a decrease in the percentage of late vitellogenic oocytes. GES-exposed females were less attractive to males and had lower copulatory intimacy than females in control. Consequently, spawning (44.3-49.2 %) and egg fertilization rates (27.9-32.0 %) were decreased. The decreased survival of fertilized eggs and hatching rates were accompanied by increased malformations. These negative effects were associated with abnormal transcriptional levels of gonadal steroid hormones, which were regulated by genes (Hsd17ß3, Hsd11ß2, Hsd20ß, Cyp19a1a, and Cyp11b). Overall, our findings suggest that GES impairs the reproductive system of zebrafish, which may threaten population stability.

YiQi GuBen capsule alleviates OVA-induced asthma through improving mitochondrial dysfunction.

Objective: This study aims to explore the effect of YiQi GuBen capsule on improving mitochondrial dysfunction in an animal model of asthma.Methods: The mice (n = 8) were divided into four groups including control (NC), ovalbumin (OVA), dexamethasone (OVA + DEX), and YiQi GuBen (OVA + YQGB) groups. Firstly, we established an OVA-induced mouse asthma model except for the NC group, which then were treated with dexamethasone and YiQi GuBen capsule. Subsequently, HE staining and Masson staining were used for pathological analysis of mice lung tissues. Next, we used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to observe the effect of the Yiqi Guben capsule on the ultrastructure of mitochondria. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the ROS level, membrane potential, and the number of mitochondria in lung tissue. Moreover, we analyzed the copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the expression levels of activator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM).Results: The results of the pathological analysis showed that after treatment with the YiQi GuBen capsule, the lung tissue damage was significantly reduced. In addition, we observed that the ultrastructural damage of mitochondria was improved. Flow cytometry proved that after treatment with the YiQi GuBen capsule, the level of ROS in the mitochondria was effectively reduced, while the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased and the number increased significantly. Moreover, we found that the copy number of mtDNA was significantly increased and the expression levels of PGC-1α and TFAM were significantly upgraded.Conclusion: This study suggests YiQi GuBen capsule can effectively improve mitochondrial dysfunction in the OVA-induced mouse model.

FGF21 protects against ischaemia reperfusion injury in normal and fatty livers.

BACKGROUND: Liver ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is an inevitable clinical problem of liver resection, liver transplantation and haemorrhagic shock. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) was intimately coupled with multiple metabolic processes and proved to protect against apoptosis and inflammatory response in hepatocytes during hepatic I/R injury. However, the regulatory mechanisms of FGF21 in hepatic I/R injury remains unknown. Therefore, we hypothesize that FGF21 protects hepatic tissues from I/R injury. METHODS: Blood samples were available from haemangiomas patients undergoing hepatectomy and murine liver I/R model and used to further evaluate the serum levels of FGF21 both in humans and mice. We further explored the regulatory mechanisms of FGF21 in murine liver I/R model by using FGF21-knockout mice (FGF21-KO mice) and FGF21-overexpression transgenic mice (FGF21-OE mice) fed a high-fat or ketogenic diet. RESULTS: Our results show that the circulating levels of FGF21 were robustly decreased after liver I/R in both humans and mice. Silencing FGF21 expression with FGF21-KO mice aggravates liver injury at 6 h after 75 min of partial liver ischaemia, while FGF21-OE mice display alleviated hepatic I/R injury and inflammatory response. Compared with chow diet mice, exogenous FGF21 decreases the levels of aminotransferase, histological changes, apoptosis and inflammatory response in hepatic I/R injury treatment mice with a high-fat diet. Meanwhile, ketogenic diet mice are not sensitive to hepatic I/R injury. CONCLUSIONS: The circulating contents of FGF21 are decreased during liver warm I/R injury and exogenous FGF21 exerts hepatoprotective effects on hepatic I/R injury. Thus, FGF21 regulates hepatic I/R injury and may be a key therapeutic target.

Objectively measured the impact of ambient air pollution on physical activity for older adults.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution poses a significant health risk to the human population, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, potentially discouraging their engagement in physical activity. However, there is a lack of sufficient objective and longitudinal data in current research on how air pollution affects physical activity among older adults. With these gaps, we aimed to explore the relationship between air pollution and objective measurement-based physical activity among older adults by engaging in a longitudinal study design. METHODS: A total of 184 older adults were recruited from three cities with varying levels of air quality. Mean daily minutes of physical activity were measured with 7 consecutive days of accelerometer monitoring (ActiGraph GT3X-BT). Corresponding air pollution data including daily PM2.5 (µg/m3), PM10 (µg/m3) and air quality index (AQI) were sourced from the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre at monitor locations close to older adults' addresses. Associations between air quality and physical activity were estimated using a fixed effect model, adjusting for average daytime temperature, rain, age and weight. RESULTS: AQI and PM2.5 were observed to exhibit significant, inverse, and linear associations with mean daily walk steps, minutes of light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in the single variable models. A one-level increase in AQI corresponded to a decline in 550.04 steps (95% [CI] = -858.97, -241.10; p < 0.001), 10.43 min (95% [CI] = -17.07, -3.79; p < 0.001), 4.03 min (95% [CI] = -7.48, -0.59; p < 0.001) and 4.16 min (95% [CI] = -7.77, -0.56; p < 0.001) in daily walking steps, LPA, MPA, and MVPA, respectively. A one-level increase in PM2.5 correlated with a decline in daily walk steps, LPA, MPA and MVPA by 361.85 steps (95% [CI] = -516.53, -207.16; p < 0.001), 8.97 min (95% [CI] = -12.28, -5.66; p < 0.001), 3.73 min (95% [CI] = -5.46, -2.01; p < 0.001,) and 3.79 min (95% [CI] = -5.59, -1.98; p < 0.001), respectively. However, PM10 displayed a significant negative association exclusively with LPA, with one-level increase in PM10 resulting in a 3.7-minute reduction in LPA (95% [CI] = -6.81, -0.59, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Air pollution demonstrates an inverse association with physical activity levels among older adults, potentially discouraging their engagement in physical activity. Different air quality indicators may exert varying impacts on physical activity. Future studies are warranted to enhance policy interventions aimed at reducing air pollution and promoting physical activity.

Effects of neighborhood built environment on cognitive function in older adults: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: In the background of an aging population, the risk of cognitive impairment in the older population is prominent. Exposure to complex neighborhood built environments may be beneficial to the cognitive health of older adults, and the purpose of this study was to systematically review the scientific evidence on the effects of neighborhood built environments on cognitive function in older adults. METHODS: Keywords and references were searched in Web of Science, Pubmed, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE. Studies examining the relationship between the built environment and cognitive function in older adults were included. The neighborhood built environment as an independent variable was classified according to seven aspects: density, design, diversity, destination accessibility, public transportation distance, blue/green space, and built environment quality. The cognitive function as the dependent variable was classified according to overall cognitive function, domain-specific cognitive function, and incidence of dementia. The quality of the included literature was assessed using the National Institutes of Health's Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Study Quality Assessment Tool. RESULTS: A total of 56 studies were included that met the inclusion criteria, including 31 cross-sectional studies, 23 longitudinal studies, 1 cross-sectional study design combined with a case-control design, and 1 longitudinal study design combined with a case-control design. Most of the studies reviewed indicate that the built environment factors that were positively associated with cognitive function in older adults were population density, street connectivity, walkability, number of public transportation stops around the residence, land use mix, neighborhood resources, green space, and quality of the neighborhood built environment. Built environment factors that were negatively associated with cognitive function in older adults were street integration, distance from residence to main road. The relationship between residential density, destination accessibility, and blue space with cognitive function in older adults needs to be further explored. CONCLUSION: Preliminary evidence suggests an association between the neighborhood built environment and cognitive function in older adults. The causal relationship between the built environment and cognitive function can be further explored in the future using standardized and combined subjective and objective assessment methods, and longitudinal or quasi-experimental study designs. For public health interventions on the cognitive health of older adults, it is recommended that relevant authorities include the neighborhood built environment in their intervention programs.

A phylogenetic approach identifies patterns of beta diversity and floristic subregions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity and their relationships with environmental correlates can help reveal the origin and evolutionary history of regional biota. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) harbors an exceptionally diverse flora, however, a phylogenetic perspective has rarely been used to investigate its beta diversity and floristic regions. In this study, we used a phylogenetic approach to identify patterns of beta diversity and quantitatively delimit floristic regions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We also examined the relationships between multifaceted beta diversity, geographical distance, and climatic difference, and evaluated the relative importance of various factors (i.e., climate, topography and history) in shaping patterns of beta diversity. Sørensen dissimilarity indices indicated that patterns of species turnover among sites dominated the QTP. We also found that patterns of both taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity were significantly related to geographical distance and climatic difference. The environmental factors that contributed most to these patterns of beta diversity include annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, climatic gradients and climatic instability. Hierarchical dendrograms of dissimilarity and non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination based on phylogenetic beta diversity data identified ten floristic subregions in the QTP. Our results suggest that the contemporary environment and historical climate changes have filtered species composition among sites and eventually determined beta diversity patterns of plants in the QTP.

Effect of adaptive sports on quality of life in individuals with disabilities who use wheelchairs: a mixed-methods systematic review.

PURPOSE: Adaptive sports participation has been shown to improve quality of life (QoL) in individual with disabilities. However, inconsistent results in various domains of QoL exist in the literature. The objective of this mixed-methods systematic review is to identify and synthesize evidence from quantitative and qualitative studies on the effect of adaptive sports on QoL in individuals with disabilities who use wheelchairs for mobility. METHODS: A systematic literature review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research on the effect of adaptive sports on QoL was conducted on five databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Medline, and PubMed). Quality appraisal was conducted by two authors by using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: This review identified 4 key findings from 41 studies, including 31 quantitative and 10 qualitative studies. First, individuals with disabilities using wheelchairs for mobility who actively engaged in adaptive sports tend to report higher QoL scores compared with those who were inactive or did not participate. Second, the relationship between the duration of regular participation in adaptive sports and QoL scores exhibited inconsistent results. Third, a multi-component adaptive sports program demonstrates the potential to further improve QoL scores. Last, qualitative investigations reveal that participation in adaptive sports positively influences various domains of well-being in wheelchair users, including encompassing physical and emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, material well-being, personal development, self-determination, and social inclusion. CONCLUSION: This review provides a comprehensive relationship between adaptive sports participation and QoL of wheelchair users. This study identifies the value of multi-component interventions and demonstrates the diverse positive influences of adaptive sports on well-being.

Individuals with disabilities who actively engage in adaptive sports report higher quality of life (QoL) scores compared with those who were inactive or did not participate.The relationship between the duration of regular participation in adaptive sports and QoL scores exhibits inconsistent results.A multi-component adaptive sports program may further improve QoL scores.Qualitative investigations reveal that participation in adaptive sports positively influences various domains of well-being in wheelchair users, including encompassing physical and emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, material well-being, personal development, self-determination, and social inclusion.

Seawater intrusion-triggered high fluoride groundwater development on the eastern coast of China.

High-fluoride groundwater is commonly found in coastal areas worldwide, while its formation mechanism remains elusive. Herein, a comprehensive study was performed to identify the major controlling factor of high-fluoride groundwater occurrence along the eastern coast of China. Hydrogeochemical methods were employed to examine the distribution patterns of seawater intrusion and fluoride concentration and the impact of seawater intrusion on the fluoride concentration. The results indicate that seawater intrusion significantly influences the groundwater evolution process in the study areas. The groundwater in Laizhou Bay was affected by brine, and the groundwater in Tianjin and Jiangsu was affected by seawater with a mixing ratio lower than 40% and 20%, respectively. And the fluoride concentration in groundwater from Tianjin, Laizhou Bay, and Jiangsu generally exceeded 1 mg/L, with the average of 2.3 mg/L, 24.9 mg/L, and 34.6 mg/L, respectively. Both the degree of seawater intrusion and the fluoride concentration exhibit a consistent pattern: Laizhou Bay > Tianjin > Jiangsu. Cl- concentration in groundwater varies positively with the F- concentration (y = 0.66x - 1.31). Moreover, the spatial distribution of areas with high-fluoride groundwater mirrors that of seawater intrusion. The high-fluoride groundwater varies spatially and is related to the degree, stage, and type of seawater intrusion. In other words, when seawater intrusion intensifies more or groundwater in the freshwater renewal phase with higher Na+/Ca2+ or the presence of paleo-seawater intrusion with higher fluoride concentration of brine, the concentration of fluoride in groundwater is higher. As seawater intrusion intensifies, the high-fluoride groundwater in the study areas generally poses a higher health risk to human. These findings enhance our comprehension of the mechanisms underpinning high-fluoride groundwater in coastal regions and the environmental ramifications of seawater intrusion.

Deep learning-based association analysis of root image data and cucumber yield.

The root system is important for the absorption of water and nutrients by plants. Cultivating and selecting a root system architecture (RSA) with good adaptability and ultrahigh productivity have become the primary goals of agricultural improvement. Exploring the correlation between the RSA and crop yield is important for cultivating crop varieties with high-stress resistance and productivity. In this study, 277 cucumber varieties were collected for root system image analysis and yield using germination plates and greenhouse cultivation. Deep learning tools were used to train ResNet50 and U-Net models for image classification and segmentation of seedlings and to perform quality inspection and productivity prediction of cucumber seedling root system images. The results showed that U-Net can automatically extract cucumber root systems with high quality (F1_score ≥ 0.95), and the trained ResNet50 can predict cucumber yield grade through seedling root system image, with the highest F1_score reaching 0.86 using 10-day-old seedlings. The root angle had the strongest correlation with yield, and the shallow- and steep-angle frequencies had significant positive and negative correlations with yield, respectively. RSA and nutrient absorption jointly affected the production capacity of cucumber plants. The germination plate planting method and automated root system segmentation model used in this study are convenient for high-throughput phenotypic (HTP) research on root systems. Moreover, using seedling root system images to predict yield grade provides a new method for rapidly breeding high-yield RSA in crops such as cucumbers.

IRG1 restrains M2 macrophage polarization and suppresses intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression via the CCL18/STAT3 pathway.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly malignant and aggressive cancer whose incidence and mortality continue to increase, whereas its prognosis remains dismal. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote malignant progression and immune microenvironment remodeling through direct contact and secreted mediators. Targeting TAMs has emerged as a promising strategy for ICC treatment. Here, we revealed the potential regulatory function of immune responsive gene 1 (IRG1) in macrophage polarization. We found that IRG1 expression remained at a low level in M2 macrophages. IRG1 overexpression can restrain macrophages from polarizing to the M2 type, which results in inhibition of the proliferation, invasion, and migration of ICC, whereas IRG1 knockdown exerts the opposite effects. Mechanistically, IRG1 inhibited the tumor-promoting chemokine CCL18 and thus suppressed ICC progression by regulating STAT3 phosphorylation. The intervention of IRG1 expression in TAMs may serve as a potential therapeutic target for delaying ICC progression.

Exogenous Sucrose Confers Low Light Tolerance in Tomato Plants by Increasing Carbon Partitioning from Stems to Leaves.

Low light (LL) stress adversely affects plant growth and productivity. The role of exogenous sucrose in enhancing plant LL tolerance was investigated by spraying sucrose on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) leaves. This study employed physiological and molecular approaches to identify the underlying mechanisms. Exogenous sucrose activated sucrose hydrolysis-related enzyme activity and upregulated genes encoding sucrose and hexose transporters in mature leaves, decreasing endogenous sucrose levels and promoting sucrose unloading during LL. Stem-related genes associated with sucrose synthesis and transport were also upregulated, enhancing sucrose phloem loading. Furthermore, sucrose from stems activated sucrose unloading in sink leaves, forming a feed-forward loop to sustain sucrose flow during LL. This led to increased nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs), improved energy metabolism, and enhanced protein synthesis in leaves, ultimately boosting photosynthesis and fruit yield after light recovery. These findings highlight how exogenous sucrose enhances LL tolerance in tomatoes by increasing the transport of NSCs from stems to leaves.

Enhancing lettuce yield via Cu/Fe-layered double hydroxide nanoparticles spraying.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been widely used in the field of plant engineering, such as DNA/RNA transformation and enhancing plant disease resistance. However, few studies have examined the direct effects of LDHs on plants and their potential utility as nanofertilizers. In this study, the retention capacity of Cu/Fe-layered double hydroxide nanoparticles (CuFe-LDHs) was assessed by comparative experiments on vegetables. The results showed that the retention of CuFe-LDHs in leafy vegetables was high, such as lettuce. Phenotypic analysis revealed that the fresh and dry weights of lettuce leaves were both increased by spraying 10-100 µg/mL CuFe-LDHs. Using the optimal concentration of 10 µg/mL, we conducted further experiments to elucidate the mechanism of CuFe-LDHs promoting lettuce growth. It was found that the application of CuFe-LDHs had a significant effect on growth and induced physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic changes, including an increase in the chlorophyll b content, net photosynthetic rate, and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration, as well as modifications in gene expression patterns and metabolite profiles. This work provides compelling evidence that CuFe-LDHs can efficiently adsorb on the surface of lettuce leaves through hydrogen bonding, promote lettuce growth, mitigate the toxicity of heavy metal ions compared to their raw materials at the same concentration and offer a molecular-scale insight into the response of leafy vegetables to CuFe-LDHs.

Effects of norethindrone on the growth, behavior, and thyroid endocrine system of adult female western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis).

Progestins are mainly used in pharmacotherapy and animal husbandry and have received increasing attention as they are widely detected in various aquatic ecosystems. In this study, adult female western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were exposed to different concentrations of norethindrone (NET) (solvent control, 5.0 (L), 50.0 (M), and 500.0 (H) ng/L) for 42 days. Behaviors, morphological parameters, histology of the thyroid, thyroid hormone levels (TSH, T3, and T4), and transcriptional levels of nine genes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were examined. The results showed that NET decreased sociality but increased the anxiety of G. affinis. Sociality makes fish tend to cluster, and anxiety may cause G. affinis to reduce exploration of new environments. Female fish showed hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and glial depletion in their thyroid follicular epithelial cells after NET treatment. The plasma levels of TSH and T4 were significantly reduced, but T3 concentrations were significantly increased in the fish from the H group. In addition, the transcripts of genes (tshb, tshr, tg, dio1, dio2, thrb) in the brains of fish in the M and H treatments were significantly stimulated, while those of trh and pax2a were suppressed. Our results suggest that NET may impact key social behaviors in G. affinis and interfere with the entire thyroid endocrine system, probably via affecting the transcriptional expression of upstream regulators in the HPT axis.

Identification of MIR600HG/hsa-miR-342-3p/ANLN network as a potential prognosis biomarker associated with lmmune infiltrates in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the tumors with the worst prognosis, causing serious harm to human health. The RNA network and immune response play an important role in tumor progression. While a systematic RNA network linked to the tumor immune response remains to be further explored in pancreatic cancer. Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, the MIR600HG/hsa-miR-342-3p/ANLN network was determined. WB and IHC were used to confirm the high expression of ANLN in pancreatic cancer. The prognostic model based on the RNA network could effectively predict the survival prognosis of patients. The analysis of immune infiltration showed that the MIR600HG/hsa-miR-342-3p/ANLN network altered the level of infiltration of T helper 2 (Th2) and effector memory T (Tem) cells. Furthermore, we found that the chemokines chemokine ligand (CCL) 5 and CCL14 may play a key role in immune cell infiltration mediated by the RNA network. In conclusion, this study constructed a prognostic model based on the MIR600HG/hsa-miR-342-3p/ANLN network and found that it may function in tumor immunity.

Effects of green space on physical activity and body weight status among Chinese adults: a systematic review.

Background: Green space may provide many benefits to residents' health behaviors and body weight status, but the evidence is still relatively scattered among Chinese adults. The purpose of this study was to review the scientific evidence on the effects of green space on physical activity (PA) and body weight status among Chinese adults. Methods: A keyword and reference search was conducted in Pubmed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Studies examining the associations between green space and PA, body mass index (BMI) among Chinese adults were included. The quality of the included literature was evaluated using the National Institutes of Health's Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Study Quality Assessment Tool. Results: A total of 31 studies were included that met the inclusion criteria, including 25 studies with a cross-sectional design, 3 studies with a longitudinal design, and 3 studies with an experimental design. Street-level green view index and green space accessibility were found to be positively associated with PA, but negatively associated with BMI. In most studies, there was a correlation between green space ratio in local areas and BMI. In addition, green space interventions were effective in increasing PA and decreasing BMI among Chinese adults. In contrast, further evidence is needed to support the association between the design characteristics of green space and PA and BMI. Conclusion: Preliminary evidence suggests that green space has a positive effect on PA and BMI among Chinese adults. However, there are contradictory findings, and future studies adopting longitudinal and quasi-experimental studies are needed to further explore the causal relationship between green space and PA and BMI to provide a relevant theoretical basis for policymakers.

Meta-analysis of the effects of physical activity on executive function in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: Executive function is a core deficit in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study systematically reviewed the evidence for the effects of physical activity (PA) interventions on executive function in children and adolescents with ADHD and explored the moderating effects of key variables of PA on executive function. METHODS: Relevant literature in four electronic databases, Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase, were systematically searched. Revman 5.4 was used for data analysis, and combined effect sizes, heterogeneity tests, subgroup analyses, and sensitivity analyses were calculated. Egger's test in Stata 15.0 was used for publication bias testing. RESULTS: A total of 24 articles with 914 participants were included. Meta-analysis showed that PA interventions improved inhibitory control (SMD = -0.50, 95%CI [-0.71, -0.29], P < 0.00001), working memory (SMD = -0.50, 95%CI [-0.83, -0.16], P = 0.004) and cognitive flexibility in children and adolescents with ADHD (SMD = -0.45, 95%CI [-0.81, -0.09], P = 0.01). Subgroup analysis revealed a moderating effect of intervention intensity, motor skill type, sessions of PA, and weekly exercise volume on executive function. CONCLUSION: PA interventions had positive effects on improvements in core executive functions in children and adolescents with ADHD and were influenced by intervention intensity, type of motor skill, sessions of PA, and amount of exercise. This has practical implications for the formulation of PA interventions programs.

Girdling promotes tomato fruit enlargement by enhancing fruit sink strength and triggering cytokinin accumulation.

Girdling is a horticultural technique that enhances fruit size by allocating more carbohydrates to fruits, yet its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, girdling was applied to the main stems of tomato plants 14 days after anthesis. Following girdling, there was a significant increase in fruit volume, dry weight, and starch accumulation. Interestingly, although sucrose transport to the fruit increased, the fruit's sucrose concentration decreased. Girdling also led to an increase in the activities of enzymes involved in sucrose hydrolysis and AGPase, and to an upregulation in the expression of key genes related to sugar transport and utilization. Moreover, the assay of carboxyfluorescein (CF) signal in detached fruit indicated that girdled fruits exhibited a greater ability to take up carbohydrates. These results indicate that girdling improves sucrose unloading and sugar utilization in fruit, thereby enhancing fruit sink strength. In addition, girdling induced cytokinin (CK) accumulation, promoted cell division in the fruit, and upregulated the expression of genes related to CK synthesis and activation. Furthermore, the results of a sucrose injection experiment suggested that increased sucrose import induced CK accumulation in the fruit. This study sheds light on the mechanisms by which girdling promotes fruit enlargement and provides novel insights into the interaction between sugar import and CK accumulation.

Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on physical fitness among college women living in China.

PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on physical fitness among college women living in China and to explore how fitness changed with different physical conditions. METHODS: We performed repeated measures of BMI, 800 m running and sit-up performance assessment on college women from one university in China pre and post the COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 3658 (age 19.15 ± 1.08 yr.) college women who completed the same assessment pre and post the COVID-19 lockdown were included in the analysis. We analyzed the data using one way ANOVA and paired-samples t-test. RESULTS: Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the result shows a significant increase in BMI by 2.91% (95% CI =0.33, 0.40) and a significant decline in 800 m running and sit-up by 7.97% (95% CI =0.69, 0.77) and 4.91% (95% CI = -0.27, -0.19), respectively. College women in the highest quartile level of physical condition (Quartile 4) had more decreases than college women in the lowest quartile level (Quartile 1). Their BMI level was increased by 3.69% and 0.98% in college women in Quartile 4 and Quartile 1, respectively. Their performance of 800 m running was decreased by 9.32% and 7.37% in college women in Quartile 4 and Quartile 1, respectively. Their performance of sit-up was decreased by 13.88% in college women in Quartile 4 while it increased by 10.91% in college women in Quartile 1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 lockdown might increase the BMI level and decrease 800 m running and sit-up performance among college women living in China. The decrease for college women in higher quartile level of physical condition (Quartile 4) were more seriously while college women in lower quartile level of physical condition (Quartile 1) were modest.

This study performed repeated tests on a large sample of 3658 college women before and after the COVID-19 lockdown to estimate the impact of COVID-19 on physical fitness.The COVID-19 lockdown decreased physical fitness (BMI, 800 m running and sit-up performance) among college women living in China.College women in higher level of physical condition at baseline were more seriously affected by the COVID-19 lockdown than college women in lower level of physical condition.

Increased Ammonium Enhances Suboptimal-Temperature Tolerance in Cucumber Seedlings.

Nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) is widely used in the cultivation of the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). In fact, in mixed nitrogen forms, partially substituting NO3--N with NH4+-N can promote the absorption and utilization of nitrogen. However, is this still the case when the cucumber seedling is vulnerable to the suboptimal-temperature stress? It remains unclear as to how the uptake and metabolism of ammonium affect the suboptimal-temperature tolerance in cucumber seedlings. In this study, cucumber seedlings were grown under suboptimal temperatures at five ammonium ratios (0NH4+, 25%NH4+, 50%NH4+, 75%NH4+, 100%NH4+) for 14 days. Firstly, increasing ammonium to 50% promoted the growth and root activity and increased protein and proline contents but decreased MDA content in cucumber seedlings. This indicated that increasing ammonium to 50% enhanced the suboptimal-temperature tolerance of cucumber seedlings. Furthermore, increasing ammonium to 50% up-regulated the expression of the nitrogen uptake-transport genes CsNRT1.3, CsNRT1.5 and CsAMT1.1, which promoted the uptake and transport of nitrogen, as well as the up-regulation of the expression of the glutamate cycle genes CsGOGAT-1-2, CsGOGAT-2-1, CsGOGAT-2-2, CsGS-2 and CsGS-3, which promoted the metabolism of nitrogen. Meanwhile, increased ammonium up-regulated the expression of the PM H+-ATP genes CSHA2 and CSHA3 in roots, which maintained nitrogen transport and membranes at a suboptimal temperature. In addition, 13 of 16 genes detected in the study were preferentially expressed in the roots in the increasing ammonium treatments under suboptimal temperatures, which, thus, promoted nitrogen assimilation in roots to the enhance the suboptimal-temperature tolerance of cucumber seedlings.

RNF125 attenuates hepatocellular carcinoma progression by downregulating SRSF1-ERK pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly malignant cancers worldwide. Research into the crucial genes responsible for maintaining the aggressive behaviour of cancer cells is important for the clinical treatment of HCC. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the E3 ubiquitin ligase Ring Finger Protein 125 (RNF125) plays a role in the proliferation and metastasis of HCC. RNF125 expression in human HCC samples and cell lines was investigated using TCGA dataset mining, qRT‒PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry assays. In addition, 80 patients with HCC were studied for the clinical value of RNF125. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism by which RNF125 contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma progression was determined with mass spectrometry (MS), coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP), dual-luciferase reporter assays, and ubiquitin ladder assays. We found that RNF125 was markedly downregulated in HCC tumour tissues, which was associated with a poor prognosis for patients with HCC. Moreover, the overexpression of RNF125 inhibited HCC proliferation and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, whereas the knockdown of RNF125 exerted antithetical effects. Mechanistically, mass spectrometry analysis revealed a protein interaction between RNF125 and SRSF1, and RNF125 accelerated the proteasome-mediated degradation of SRSF1, which impeded HCC progression by inhibiting the ERK signalling pathway. Furthermore, RNF125 was detected to be the downstream target of miR-103a-3p. In this study, we identified that RNF125 is a tumour suppressor in HCC and inhibits HCC progression by inhibiting the SRSF1/ERK pathway. These findings provide a promising treatment target for HCC.