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Type I collagen carboxyl-terminal peptide β (β-CTX) increases in osteoporosis. The study aimed to explore the relationship between serum β-CTX and the risk of osteoporosis as well as sarcopenia in Chinese elderly inpatients. Around 228 patients whose age >65 years were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Dual-energy X-ray scanning was used to access skeletal muscle and bone mass. Serum concentration of β-CTX as well as the prevalence of osteoporosis were significantly higher in low skeletal muscle index (SMI) group than that in the normal SMI group (P < 0.05). Serum β-CTX levels negatively correlated with SMI and bone mass (P < 0.05). Total muscle mass, appendicular skeletal muscle mass, SMI, total bone mass, and bone mass at various sites including the limbs, spine, and pelvis decreased significantly, and the prevalence of low SMI increased with the increase of the quartiles of β-CTX. Higher serum β-CTX had an increased risk of low SMI and osteoporosis (P < 0.05). Summarily, with increasing serum β-CTX levels, both muscle and bone mass decreased in Chinese elderly inpatients. Serum β-CTX was positively associated with the risk of not only osteoporosis but also skeletal muscle loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcandra glabra is an evergreen and traditional Chinese herb with anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, antiinflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. Light is one of the most influential factor affecting the growth and quality of herbs. In recent times, the introduction of Light Emission Diode (LED) technology has been widely used for plants in greenhouse. However, the impact of such lights on plant growth and the regulatory mechanism of phenylpropanoid-derived compounds in S. glabra remain unclear. Results: The red LED light (RL) substantially increased the plant height and decreased the stem diameter and leaf area relative to the white LED light (WL), while the blue LED light (BL) significantly reduced the height and leaf area of S. glabra. According to transcriptomic profiling, 861, 378, 47, 10,033, 7917, and 6379 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among the groups of leaf tissue under BL (BY) vs. leaf tissue under RL (RY), BY vs. leaf tissue under WL (WY), RY vs. WY, root tissue under WL (WG) vs. WY, stem tissue under WL (WJ) vs. WG, and WJ vs. WY, respectively. We identified 46 genes encoding for almost all known enzymes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, e.g., phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), and flavonol synthase (FLS). We found 53 genes encoding R2R3-MYB proteins and bHLH proteins, respectively, where several were related to flavonoids biosynthesis. A total of 454 metabolites were identified based on metabolomic profiling, of which 44, 87, and 296 compounds were differentially produced in WY vs. RY, WY vs. BY, and WY vs. WG. In BY there was a substantial reduction in the production of esculetin, caffeic acid, isofraxidin, and fraxidin, while the yields of quercitrin and kaempferol were significantly up-regulated. In RY, the contents of cryptochlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid, and kaempferol decreased significantly. Besides, in WG, the production of metabolites (e.g. chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and scopolin) declined, while their yields increased significantly (e.g. esculetin, fraxetin, isofraxidin, and fraxidin). Conclusion: These results provide further insight into the regulatory mechanism of accumulation patterns of phenylpropanoid-derived compounds in S. glabra under various light conditions, allowing optimum breeding conditions to be developed for this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: The mean platelet volume-to-lymphocyte ratio (MPVLR) is a novel and easily available marker of poor short-term prognosis in myocardial infarction patients. The present study was to investigate the association between MPVLR and clinical outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: A total of 494 acute ischemic stroke patients were included in this study and received 3-months follow-up. Blood samples for MPVLR were obtained at admission and at 7 days after acute ischemic stroke. Poor functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 3-6 at 3 months after stroke. Results: Compared with good prognosis group, MPVLR level at admission and at 7 days in poor prognosis group was significantly higher, the difference between these two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, both MPVLR as a continuous (OR 1.13; 95%CI, 1.064-1.190, P=0.001) and categorical variable (OR 3.05; 95%CI, 1.85-5.05, P<0.001) were independently associated with poor outcome at 3 months. ROC analysis revealed the predictive value of MPVLR was better than that of platelet-to lymphocyte ratio (PLR). The nomogram was used for predicting 3-months unfavourable outcome after an acute ischemic stroke. Conclusions: MPVLR at admission and at 7 days after stroke were found to be independently associated with poor functional outcome. MPVLR may serve as an activity marker for poor prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the impact of Rehmannioside D (RD) on ovarian functions of rats with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and its underlying mechanisms of action. A single injection of cyclophosphamide was performed to establish a DOR rat model, and fourteen days after the injection, the rats were intragastrically administrated with RD for two weeks. Rat estrus cycles were tested using vaginal smears. Ovarian tissues were histologically evaluated, the number of primordial, mature, and atretic follicles was calculated, and the apoptotic rate of granulosa cells. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) levels were determined by ELISA assays. Protein levels of Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1), KLOTHO, Bcl-2, and Bax were investigated in ovarian tissues of DOR rats. The binding between FOXO1 and KLOTHO was verified by ChIP assay. High-dose administration of RD into DOR rats improved their estrus cycles, increased ovarian index, enhanced the number of primordial and mature follicles, reduced the number of atretic follicle number, and ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis in addition to inhibiting FSH and LH levels and upregulating E2 expression. FOXO1 and KLOTHO were significantly suppressed in DOR rats. FOXO1 knockdown partially suppressed the protective effects of RD on DOR rats, and KLOTHO overexpression could restore RD-induced blockade of DOR development despite knocking down FOXO1. FOXO1 antibody enriched KLOTHO promoter, and the binding between them was reduced in DOR group compared to that in sham group. RD improved ovarian functions in DOR rats and diminished granulosa cell apoptosis via the FOXO1/KLOTHO axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of Biochar (BC) into the soil is expected to improve soil physicochemical properties and plant growth. However, few studies have verified such an effect on the growth and physiological characteristics of conifers. The current study aims to assess the efficacy of novel physiological parameters as an indicator for assessing the impact of hardwood biochar (BH) on the development of Fokienia hodginsii seedlings to strengthen our understanding of the impacts of the BH on soil to optimize the achievement of BC-based restoration projects. The BH was applied to the soil under four different levels (0, 5, 20, and 80 g Kg-1 of soil) to assess their influence on the leave's photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis (Pn), and biochemical traits of F. hodginsii seedlings in four different seasons, and on biomass and soil physicochemical properties at final harvest under greenhouse conditions for one year. In the first two seasons, BH20 and BH80 amended seedlings responded with an improved photosynthetic rate with more production of photosynthetic pigments and biochemical attributes. However, none of the BC doses increased the Pn of seedlings in the final season. Nonetheless, after one year a rise in soil pH as well as P and K availability resulted in a maximum 25% increase in biomass of F. hodginsii under BH80 amendments. Our findings reveal that the incorporation of BH (20 and 80 g kg-1 of soil) has a substantial positive effect on seedling biomass and soil fertility. However, the application of BH into acidic soils may be effective in restoring degraded soils if initially combined with fertilizers. We recommend a careful approach to the selection of BC because its influence may vary between different soil types, plant species, and BC feedstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the forest's productivity is a global concern and there is a need to develop innovative technologies. The use of biochar (BC) in the restoration of degraded sites is mounting. Therefore, to assess the effects of rice straw biochar (BR) on soil physicochemical properties and physiology of Fokienia hodginsii, a one-year greenhouse pot experiment was conducted. The soil was mixed with BR at four different levels; 0, 5, 20, and 80 g kg−1of soil as B0, BR5, BR20, and BR80, respectively. The light-response curves of photosynthesis were constructed by using the modified model of rectangular hyperbola including photosynthetic pigments and biochemical attributes quarterly. BR treated seedlings responded with a significant increase in the photosynthetic rate at first, second, and fourth season, respectively. Increasing the proportion of BR in the soil significantly influenced the soil pH and P availability. At the final harvest, improved soil and physiology promoted the seedling biomass (36%) under BR80 compared to B0. Therefore, these findings suggest that BR can be used to combat soil acidification and P availability in P deficit soil. Its amendment into the soil can be useful to alleviate the physiological performance of the conifer seedlings, but its effects may vary with soil type and BC feed-stock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonperiodic molybdenum/silicon broadband multilayer polarizers have been designed using numerical optimization algorithm and fabricated using direct current magnetron sputtering. Their performances have been characterized using the high precision eight-axis soft x-ray polarimeter at the BESSY facility. Different multilayers have measured s-polarized reflectivities of 27% at 13.1 nm and higher than 15% over the wavelength range of 13–19 nm. Nearly constant s reflectivity, up to 37%, is observed over the 15–17 nm wavelength range, where the degree of polarization is more than 98%. Furthermore, these multilayer polarizers also show high s reflectivity and polarization over a broad angular range at fixed wavelength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] This study was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity of 20 lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) samples. [Methods] On this optimal ISSR amplification system, 16 primers were screened with good polymorphism. and the DNA was used to amplify the 20 plant samples. [Results] The 16 primers produced 225 loci, of which 170 were polymorphic, and the polymorphic loci percentage was up to 75. 56% . The genetic similarity coefficients between the 20 varieties ranged from 0.5778 to 0.9511. which were calculated by POPGENE32. The 20 varieties by UPMGA analysis could be clustered into 2 groups, the first of which included Baiyangdian red lotus and Donggua lotus, and other varieties was included in the second group. [Conclusions] ISSK molecular markers could be effectively used in genetic diversity and fingerprint analysis for differenly lotus varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental results on aperiodic broadband transmission molybdenum/silicon multilayer phase retarders for the extreme ultraviolet range are presented. The broadband phase retarders were designed using a numerical method and made using direct current magnetron sputtering on silicon nitride membrane. The polarization properties of these aperiodic transmission phase retarders have been investigated using the soft x-ray polarimeter at BESSY-II. The measured phase shift was about 42° in the wavelength range of 13.8–15.5 nm, and the corresponding s-component transmission (Ts) decreased from 6% to 2% with increasing wavelength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional metallodielectric heterostructural photonic band gap (PBG) material is designed to reach high transmittance band in short wavelength, broad and deep forbidden band in long wavelength, especially sharp cutoff edge between the transmission and forbidden bands. The designed PBG material is applied to modify the emission spectrum of a BaF2 scintillator and is proved to be adequate to suppress the slow component of the scintillation light. The suppression ratio of the slow to the fast component reaches 28 dB with a tolerable attenuation of the fast component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmission studies for multiple heterostructures inserted with defects are presented. The results show that the enlargement of the forbidden band and the realization of multiple channeled filtering can be reached simultaneously with these configurations. The frequency, frequency interval, and number of channels can be tuned by adjusting geometric and physical parameters of the defects. Sidebands of the forbidden band can be substantially restricted as compared with that of periodic structures. Experimental fabrication of the designed configurations is carried out with the heterostructures containing TiO[sub 2]/SiO[sub 2] multilayer defects, and the results agree with the calculation very well. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]