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The effects of different drought stress levels on the plant growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings were investigated using different mass fractions of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 (0, 2.5, 5, 10%) to simulate the drought stress. The results showed that the plant height, root length, leaf dry weight (DW), stem DW, root DW, and plant DW all showed no significant difference under mild (2.5% PEG 6000) drought stress, while they exhibited a decreasing trend with an increasing level of PEG. The changing trend in the photosynthetic efficiency, chlorophyll a, and carotenoid content was consistent with the growth index under drought stress. Besides, the content of chlorophyll b in the cucumber seedlings increased under moderate (5% PEG 6000) drought stress, but decreased under severe (10% PEG 6000) drought stress. However, the antioxidase activities, soluble protein content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, total phenols, and total flavonoid content in the cucumber seedlings increased gradually with the increase in the mass fraction of PEG. The results indicated that higher the level of drought stress, the higher inhibition on the seedling growth or more severe damage on the cell membrane, and higher contents of total phenols and flavonoids were obtained.

Soil erosion is one of the most serious ecological and environmental problems facing southern China. The Changhua River Basin on Hainan Island is affected by soil erosion, which is causing the soil environment to become more fragile. Compared with the Revised Soil Erosion Equation (RUSLE), the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) is based on a large amount of Chinese local data and research results, which more accurately reflect the actual situation of soil erosion in China and therefore have better accuracy and applicability in the Chinese region. By combining GIS and RS technologies, this study establishes the CSLE model of the Changhua River Basin, quantifies the soil erosion data via image elements from 2020 to 2022 using the spatial interpolation method, classifies the erosion intensity, and analyzes the spatial and temporal change characteristics of soil erosion. The statistical results show that, during the period from 2020 to 2022, the area of slight erosion in the Changhua River Basin increased by 553.25 km2, with a rate of change of 15.83 %, and the areas of mild erosion, moderate erosion, intense erosion, very intense erosion, and severe erosion decreased by 446.42 km2, 64.4 km2, 25.73 km2, 11.25 km2, and 5.45 km2, respectively, with rates of change of −31.05 %, −30.08 %, −36.58 %, −18.02 %, and −13.85 %, respectively. Slight erosion is defined as soil erosion less than the permissible soil loss and is not regarded as soil erosion, and the other erosion intensities showed a yearly decreasing trend, indicating that the soil erosion control was effective during this three-year period. In the work of soil and water conservation, it is especially necessary to determine the main factors influencing soil erosion and predict the areas that may be prone to such erosion. Therefore, on the basis of establishing a characteristic model using land use type, slope and soil type, and through superposition analysis, we obtained the spatial and temporal change characteristics of soil erosion. The research results are as follows: (1) slight erosion is mainly concentrated in forested areas, and forested land has a better capacity for soil and water conservation; (2) mild, moderate, and strong erosion mainly occur in cultivated areas and areas with a slope of 0–5°; (3) areas of built land and areas with a slope of 8°–15° are more prone to intense erosion, although they cover a smaller area; (4) when the slope is greater than 15°, the overlap range with the forest area is larger and the slope is no longer the main factor leading to soil erosion. Thus, it can be seen that forest land significantly reduces the impact of soil erosion. (5) among the different soil types, Technosol, Ferralsol and Fluvisol all have less than 55 per cent uneroded area and are generally less erosion-resistant, while Lixisol and Acrisol are relatively more susceptible to a high degree of erosion hazard (Extremely strong erosion, severe erosion).

ObjectivesThe study aimed to estimate the role of liver fibrosis in the association between occupational physical activity (OPA) and blood pressure (BP), which is modified by lifestyle factors.MethodsThe questionnaire survey and physical examination were completed among 992 construction workers in Wuhan, China. Associations between OPA or lifestyle factors and liver fibrosis indices and blood pressure were assessed using generalized additive models. The mediation analysis was used to evaluate the role of liver fibrosis in the association between OPA and lifestyle factors and BP.ResultsModerate/high OPA group workers had an increased risk of liver fibrosis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.69, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.16–2.47, P < 0.05] compared with low OPA group workers. Smoking or drinking alcohol was related to liver fibrosis (aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index: OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.07–4.62 or OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.00–4.15; P < 0.05). Compared with non-drinkers, drinkers were related to a 2.35-mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure (95% CI: 0.09–4.61), and a 1.60-mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure (95% CI: 0.08–3.13; P < 0.05). We found a significant pathway, “OPA → liver fibrosis → blood pressure elevation,” and lifestyle factors played a regulatory role in the pathway.ConclusionOPA or lifestyle factors were associated with liver fibrosis indices or BP in construction workers. Furthermore, the association between OPA and BP may be partially mediated by liver fibrosis; lifestyle factors strengthen the relationship between OPA and BP and the mediation role of liver fibrosis in the relationship.

Abstract Purpose Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex psychiatric disorder. Genetic and broad environmental factors are common risk factors for OCD. The purpose of this study is to explore the molecular mechanism of OCD and to find new molecular targets for the diagnosis and management of OCD. Methods All data were downloaded from public dataset. Key modules and candidate key mRNAs were identified based on weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA). The “limma” R package was used for differential expression analysis of mRNAs. Subsequently, functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) was also carried out. In addition, a diagnostic model was constructed. Finally, the infiltration level of immune cells in OCD and its correlation with multicentric key DEmRNAs were analyzed. Results Green and red modules were selected as the hub modules. A total of 447 mRNAs were considered candidate key mRNAs according to GS > 0.2 and MM > 0.3. A total of 26 DEmRNAs in the same direction were identified in the GSE60190 and GSE78104 datasets. A total of 26 DEmRNAs were intersected with candidate key mRNAs in WGCNA to obtain 10 intersection DEmRNAs (HSPB1, ITPK1, CBX7, PPP1R10, TAOK1, PISD, MKNK2, RWDD1, PPA1, and RELN). However, only four DEmRNAs (HSPB1, TAOK1, MKNK2, and PPA1) predicted related drugs. Subsequently, receiver operating characteristic analysis shows that the diagnostic model has high diagnostic value. Moreover, six multicentric key DEmRNAs (SNRPF, SNRNP70, PRPF8, NOP56, EPRS, and CCT2) were screened by UpSet package. Finally, six multicentric key DEmRNAs were found to be associated with immune cells. Conclusion The key molecules obtained in this study lay a foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of OCD.

Stroke and dementia have been linked to the appearance of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Meanwhile, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) might capture the microstructural change in white matter early. Specific dietary interventions may help to reduce the risk of WMHs. However, research on the relationship between specific nutrients and white matter changes is still lacking. We aimed to investigate the causal effects of essential nutrients (amino acids, fatty acids, mineral elements, and vitamins) on WMHs and DTI measures, including fraction anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), by a Mendelian randomization analysis. We selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with each nutrient as instrumental variables to assess the causal effects of nutrient-related exposures on WMHs, FA, and MD. The outcome was from a recently published large-scale European Genome Wide Association Studies pooled dataset, including WMHs (N = 18,381), FA (N = 17,663), and MD (N = 17,467) data. We used the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method as the primary method, and sensitivity analyses were conducted using the simple median, weighted median, and MR-Egger methods. Genetically predicted serum calcium level was positively associated with WMHs risk, with an 8.1% increase in WMHs risk per standard deviation unit increase in calcium concentration (OR = 1.081, 95% CI = 1.006–1.161, p = 0.035). The plasma linoleic acid level was negatively associated with FA (OR = 0.776, 95% CI = 0.616–0.978, p = 0.032). Our study demonstrated that genetically predicted calcium was a potential risk factor for WMHs, and linoleic acid may be negatively associated with FA, providing evidence for interventions from the perspective of gene-environment interactions.

A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the possible association between maternal alcohol drinking during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. Twelve datasets from five observational studies were included. Results showed that maternal alcohol drinking during pregnancy was not independently associated with ASD (risk ratio: 0.90, 95% confidence interval: 0.78 to 1.04, p = 0.16, I[superscript 2] = 0%). The results were consistent for heavy alcohol drinking versus no alcohol drinking during pregnancy, and for studies evaluating the influence of maternal alcohol consumption during different trimesters. In conclusion, current evidence does not support that maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy is independently associated with ASD in offspring.

TDP-43 aggregation is a hallmark of neurodegeneration. In this issue, Iguchi et al. (https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202302048) report that IκB kinase (IKK), an important mediator of inflammation, phosphorylates cytoplasmic TDP-43 to promote proteasomal degradation, revealing an unexpected link between inflammation and TDP-43 homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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