Search

The complex pathogenesis of lung ischemia–reperfusion injury (LIRI) was examined in a murine model, focusing on the role of pyroptosis and its exacerbation of lung injury. We specifically examined the levels and cellular localization of pyroptosis within the lung, which revealed alveolar macrophages as the primary site. The inhibition of pyroptosis by VX‐765 reduced the severity of lung injury, underscoring its significant role in LIRI. Furthermore, the therapeutic potential of β‐hydroxybutyrate (β‐OHB) in ameliorating LIRI was examined. Modulation of β‐OHB levels was evaluated by ketone ester supplementation and 3‐hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase 1 (BDH‐1) gene knockout, along with the manipulation of the SIRT1‐FOXO3 signaling pathway using EX‐527 and pCMV‐SIRT1 plasmid transfection. This revealed that β‐OHB exerts lung‐protective and anti‐pyroptotic effects, which were mediated through the upregulation of SIRT1 and the enhancement of FOXO3 deacetylation, leading to decreased pyroptosis markers and lung injury. In addition, β‐OHB treatment of MH‐S cells in vitro showed a concentration‐dependent improvement in pyroptosis, linking its therapeutic benefits to specific cell mechanisms. Overall, this study highlights the significance of alveolar macrophage pyroptosis in the exacerbation of LIRI and indicates the potential of β‐OHB in mitigating injury by modulating the SIRT1‐FOXO3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the risk factors for uterine clear‐cell carcinoma (UCCC) and construct nomograms predicting 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year overall survival rates of patients with UCCC. Methods: The demographic and clinical information of 1674 patients diagnosed with UCCC between 2004 and 2015, including age, race, marital status, tumor size, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, and details of surgery and radiotherapy/chemotherapy, was collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. After excluding patients with unknown AJCC stage, race, marital status, or lymph node information, 1469 patients remained. Risk factors were determined using univariate and multivariate analyses, and nomograms were developed to predict 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year overall survival of UCCC. Various indicators were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram, such as the C‐index, net classification improvement (NRI) and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: Age, log odds of positive lymph nodes, AJCC stage, surgery status, and chemotherapy status were independent risk factors for UCCC. The C‐indexes of the training group and AJCC stage groups were 0.771 and 0.697, respectively. The results for the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve, NRI, and calibration curves indicated that the nomogram had good predictive ability. DCA revealed that the nomogram had greater clinical applicability than AJCC stage alone. Internal validation using the validation cohort also demonstrated that this nomogram had good predictive performance. Conclusion: A new nomogram comprising a combination of demographic and clinical characteristics provided better survival predictions than the AJCC staging system alone, which will facilitate prognostic assessments and clinical decision‐making. Synopsis: We identified factors influencing the prognosis of UCCC and constructed a nomogram for predicting the overall survival rate of UCCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying the mechanical properties of the cornea can provide valuable insights into the occurrence and progression of keratoconus, as well as the effectiveness of corneal crosslinking surgery. This study presents a non‐contact and non‐invasive wave‐based optical coherence elastography system that utilizes air‐pulse stimulation to create a two‐dimensional map of corneal elasticity. Homogeneous and dual concentration phantoms were measured with the sampling of 25 × 25 points over a 6.6 × 6.6 mm2 area, to verify the measurement capability for elastic mapping and the spatial resolution (0.91 mm). The velocity of elastic waves distribution of porcine corneas before and after corneal crosslinking surgery were further mapped, showing a significant change in biomechanics in crosslinked region. This system features non‐invasiveness and high resolution, holding great potential for application in ophthalmic clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actual evapotranspiration constitutes a vital component of the exchange of energy and water vapour between the soil‐vegetation and atmospheric systems on terrestrial terrain. Nevertheless, the Tibetan Plateau, owing to its austere environmental conditions, harbours a scarcity of terrestrial monitoring stations. This circumstance presents a formidable challenge in attaining precise estimations of actual evapotranspiration. The complementary relationship method is a potential approach because it requires only routine meteorological data to estimate actual evapotranspiration on a regional or global scale. However, the suitability of the complementary relationship model across diverse ecosystems on the Tibetan Plateau necessitates further investigation. In this study, we scrutinized the simulation of daily and monthly actual evapotranspiration across 18 observation sites spanning eight distinct land use categories on the Tibetan Plateau. We employed the polynomial generalized complementary function introduced by Brutsaert (B2015), alongside its enhanced rendition proposed by Szilagyi (S2017) and Crago (C2018). The outcomes reveal that all three models adeptly replicate the fluctuations in actual evapotranspiration, irrespective of land use category or temporal scale—whether daily or monthly. This is true regardless of whether original or calibrated parameter values are applied. However, there exist significant variations in the performance of these models. In general, the C2018 model demonstrates superior performance across most ecosystems when original parameters are employed. Following parameter calibration, the simulation efficacy of the models experienced marked enhancement. Post parameter calibration, the B2015 model outperforms the other two models notably in desert and wetland environments. Furthermore, the simulation outputs from all three models display heightened sensitivity to parameter α, particularly in the context of the C2018 and S2017 models. These findings suggest that accurate estimation of parameter values is critical to improving the accuracy of estimating actual evapotranspiration. Calibrated parameter values, contingent on a fusion of vegetation, meteorology and surface roughness, exhibit variability across diverse ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PDL1 blockade therapy holds great promise in cancer immunotherapy. Ultrasound imaging of PDL1 expression in the tumor is of great importance in predicting the therapeutic efficacy. As a proof‐of‐concept study, a novel ultrasound contrast agent has been innovated here to image and block PDL1 in the tumor tissue. Briefly, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are engineered to display truncated PD1 (tPD1) on the surface to bind PDL1 with high affinity by fusion to EV‐abundant transmembrane protein PTGFRN. The engineered EVs are then encapsulated with Ca(HCO3)2 via electroporation and designated as Gp‐EVtPD1, which would recognize PDL1 highly expressed cells and produce gas in the endosomes and lysosomes. On the one hand, the echogenic signal intensity correlates well with the PDL1 expression and immune response inhibition in the tumor. On the other hand, during the trajectory of Gp‐EVtPD1 in the recipient cells, tPD1 on the EV binds PDL1 and triggers the PDL1 endocytosis and degradation in endosomes/lysosomes in a sequential manner, and thus boosts the anti‐tumor immunity of cytotoxic T cells. In summary, Gp‐EVtPD1 serves as a novel ultrasound contrast agent and blocker of PDL1, which might be of great advantage in imaging PDL1 expression and conquering immune checkpoint blocker resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Spaceborne broadband circularly polarized conformal antenna for ultra high frequency band is presented. The antenna mounted on the outer surface of the circular arc spherical cone satellite works in 390–450 MHz frequency band, and has the characteristics of broadband, light miniature. The measured results for the antenna demonstrate an impedance bandwidth of 32.5% from 360 to 500 MHz, an axial ratio bandwidth of 27.2% from 380 to 500 MHz, and a peak gain of 6.7 dBic. The antenna form can be applied to the field of broadband circularly polarized conformal antenna on satellite and missile, and has a wide application prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an X‐band dual‐band dual‐polarized medium‐gain antenna (MGA) is designed for deep‐space satellite applications. The MGA has isoflux radiation patterns in the 7.145–7.19 and 8.40–8.45 GHz frequency bands. The concentric ring horn qualification model named MGA is developed for TIAN WEN‐2 (TW‐2) mission. MGA is fabricated and the measurements are conducted on it and its installation on the deck of the TW‐2 Radiation Mockup (RM). The performance evaluation of MGA and its corresponding RM measurements indicate an axial ratio lower than 4.0 dB and a gain higher than 5.8 dBic on the operational bandwidth at the coverage limit of 40° for all azimuth angles (φ). The calculated and measured data align exceedingly well, confirming that MGA satisfactorily meets the requirements for the forthcoming TW‐2 deep‐space spacecraft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, a Ka‐band, broadband, omnidirectional, with a top metal disk antenna is proposed. The antenna is fed by an air waveguide. The TE10 mode of the waveguide can efficiently be converted into an air coaxial TEM mode by a compact waveguide air coaxial transition. After matching and adjusting, the dielectric substrate is loaded and then transited to the metal radiation structure loaded with a top metal disc to obtain omnidirectional electromagnetic waves efficiently converted to free space. By optimizing the sizes of waveguide to air‐coaxial transition structure and disk, and so on, a good broadband omnidirectional antenna performance is finally achieved. The measured fractional impedance bandwidth is larger than 30% with the reference of S11⩽−10 $\leqslant -10$ dB, which fully verifies the rationality of the design. In addition, measured patterns at the plane of different azimuth angles almost coincide with each other, which shows an excellent omnidirectional pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, silicone polymer (PSOL)/carbon fiber (CF)/epoxy (EP) composites were prepared by introducing PSOL as interfacial modifiers into CF/EP composites. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the composites were investigated, and the optimum content of the PSOL modification was obtained. The impact of EP on the wettability of CF was compared before and after adding PSOL. The micromorphology of CF/EP composites was also observed. The consequences demonstrate that the interfacial bonding ability between CF and matrix was improved after adding PSOL. The interlaminar shear strength, tensile strength, elongation at break and flexural strength of PSOL/CF/EP composites were increased by 23.28%, 18.49%, 38.45% and 11.23%, respectively. Furthermore, the original thermal stability of the composite was preserved after the modification of PSOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity of evaluating satellite‐ and reanalysis‐based precipitation products as optional proxies of precipitation observations is widely understood. Four typical satellite‐ or reanalysis‐based precipitation products from TRMM, CPC, CMFD and ERA5‐Land datasets were evaluated at temporal and spatial scales using a new error‐index system method across the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP) from 1979 to 2018. The error‐index system consisted of 10 indices, which were classified into two categories, that is, the comprehensive error indices and error component indices. A local error decomposition scheme suitable for the QTP was built according to the simulation test. Results showed the datasets except ERA5‐Land performed better at monthly scale than that at daily scale generally, though significant differences were found among the products. Particularly, CMFD achieved the highest accuracy in estimating monthly and daily precipitation, followed by CPC, while TRMM performed similarly to ERA5‐Land. It was estimated that over one fifth of the precipitation were falsely recorded in the four products. Approximately over 15% of daily precipitation were overestimated or underestimated with an accumulated extent reaching up to 60 mm per month in summer. Spatial results indicated that large deviations were found in the southeast QTP, which were derived from a significant underestimation. Besides, a large proportion of false and missing estimation of precipitation events were witnessed in the northeast river basins. Through the comparison, CMFD and CPC had reduced all error components except HNB in both magnitude and the ratio. And the datasets tended to overestimate the slight precipitation and underestimate the heavy rainfall. And the products did not eliminate the large deviations in the southeast and north QTP. The assessment results reported here will provide some valuable feedbacks for the improvement of these products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religious individuals often prefer future rewards more in intertemporal decision‐making than nonreligious individuals, but the reasons behind this preference remain under‐investigated. Focusing on decision‐making in Buddhist culture, the current study aimed to examine three potential mechanisms: Buddhist practices, self‐control and belief in future‐oriented concepts. In five studies, we consistently found that nonbelievers' preference ratings for Larger and Later (LL) options increased after visiting a temple (Study 1, n = 99) or participating in Buddha name chanting (Studies 2–5, n = 314). We also found in Studies 3 and 4 that this effect was mediated by the individual's level of self‐control, but no evidence was found to support the mediation of belief in future‐oriented concepts. These results contribute to the work attesting to the effect of religious practices on individuals (especially nonbelievers). They also provide a mechanism (self‐control) for the positive correlation between individuals' religiousness and preference for future rewards in intertemporal decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Loxoprofen tromethamine is a novel structural compound related to loxoprofen. It has been used for the treatment of pain and inflammation. However, the embryo‐fetal developmental toxicity (EFDT) of loxoprofen tromethamine has not been evaluated in detail in vivo. This study investigated the EFDT and toxicokinetics of loxoprofen tromethamine in rats. Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential reproductive toxicity on embryo‐fetal development of loxoprofen tromethamine (0, 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg/day) and sodium cyclophosphamide (CP) (2.8 mg/kg/day) administered by intravenous injection to pregnant rats during gestation days (GDs) 6–15. Pregnant rats were euthanized on GD20. The numbers of live/dead fetuses, resorptions, implantations, and corpora lutea, gravid uterus mass, placenta mass, fetal gender ratios, body weight, and skeletal development were evaluated. In a concomitant toxicokinetic (TK) study (10 pregnant rats per group), plasma TK parameters and the tissue distribution of loxoprofen tromethamine were tested. Results: On GD20, rats were anesthetized and dissected by caesarean section. The appearance, internal organs, gravid uterus weight, embryo implantation number, and implantation loss rate in maternal rats of each group did not reveal any lesions. In fetuses, there were no significant differences in the fetus weight, embryo resorption number, stillbirth number, or fetal visceral examination in all test groups compared to the negative control group. However, in the high‐dose group, the fetuses showed significant differences in the anomalies of the bones compared to the negative control group. The TK study showed that in the dose range of 1–10 mg/kg, the Cmax and AUC(0–t) of loxoprofen tromethamine in animals after the first administration increased proportionally to the dose, showing linear kinetic characteristics; after the last administration, the Cmax and AUC(0–t) increased disproportionately to the dose, showing nonlinear kinetic characteristics. The results of tissue distribution show that loxoprofen tromethamine was mainly distributed in the placenta and lung after the intravenous administration to pregnant rats; the content in the liver was lower and increased sharply in the heart with increasing doses; the content in all tissues was lower than that in the plasma. Loxoprofen tromethamine in fetal tissues and organs was mainly distributed in fetal lungs, liver and heart, and the lowest content was in amniotic fluid. Conclusions: In conclusion, the no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level (NOAEL) and lowest‐observed‐adverse‐effect level (LOAEL) of loxoprofen tromethamine were considered to be 1 and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An almost all‐metal L band multi‐frequency high‐gain GNSS array antenna for an asteroid sampling return mission has been developed for orbit determination. The proposed antenna is designed for reception and is compatible with Beidou and GPS at L‐band (i.e. GPS‐L1: 1575.42 MHz; BDS‐B1I: 1561.098 MHz; BDS‐B2a: 1176.45 MHz). The radiation element is an almost all‐metal dipole with structure improvement, and thereby strong enough to handle vibrations and loads. The array antenna is composed of the 7‐radiation element and a low loss air suspended stripline beam‐forming network. The six elements around the center element have uniform distribution, while the center one is excited twice amplitude than outer ones for appropriate gain and beamwidth. A prototype of the proposed GNSS array antenna is designed in a simulation and measured in an experiment. The simulated and measured results agree very well, showing that the reflection coefficient <−17.5 dB over 32.8% bandwidth from 1.1 to 1.7 GHz is achieved with rotationally symmetric radiation patterns and gains >13.4 dBic, 15.2 dBic, 15.2 dBic at BDS‐B2a, GPS‐L1, BDS‐B1I, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the association between cigarette smoking and retinal capillary plexus (RCP) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to examine whether potential vascular risk factors could impact their association. Methods: This is a cross‐sectional, community‐based study. The Jidong Eye Cohort Study included participants aged ≥18 years in the Jidong community (Tangshan city, northern China) from August 2019 to January 2020. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination and completed detailed smoking questionnaires. Retinal vessel density in the superficial and deep RCP was automatically measured using OCTA. Results: Of the 2598 participants included in the study, 2026 (78.0%) never smoked and 572 (22.0%) had a history of smoking (494 [19.0%] current smokers and 78 [3.0%] former smokers). The median (interquartile range) age was 41 (34–52) years for the non‐smoking group and 45 (35–54.5) years for the smoking group. Multivariable analysis showed that smoking history is associated with a low deep RCP vessel density in the parafovea (β, −0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.82 to −0.24) and four quadrants. Increased smoking pack‐years were associated with reduced deep RCP vessel density in the parafovea (p for trend <0.001) and four quadrants. The significant interaction between diabetes and smoking only was found for superficial RCP vessel density in the parafovea (p for interaction = 0.014) and four quadrants except for the temporal quadrants. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for reduced deep RCP vessel density. Our findings imply the potential detrimental effect of smoking on the occurrence of ocular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex environments of plants force them to prioritize their immune responses to stimuli occurring simultaneously, including colonization by microbes or nutrient availability. Little is known about how the interplay between endophytes and nutrient status affects the immune responses of both plants and fungi. We primarily monitored immune responses in rice following inoculation with the endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris under different nitrogen (N) conditions. Ph. liquidambaris promoted plant growth under low N (LN) conditions, concomitant with higher root colonization. Plant production of oxidative signals, including hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide, was activated by Ph. liquidambaris colonization under LN conditions, while salicylic acid (SA) was maintained at high levels and was involved in controlling rice‐fungal interactions. High N (HN) conditions enhanced the ability of Ph. liquidambaris in suppressing plant cell death and the ability of roots to degrade Ph. liquidambaris cell walls. Furthermore, under both LN and HN conditions, the activity of plant defence‐associated enzymes and fungal antioxidases was not affected in the interactive association. Our data reveal the alteration of plant immunity, including oxidative signalling and plant cell death, by fungal colonization in response to external N conditions and identify SA signalling as a potential controller for rice‐Ph. liquidambaris interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the soil, plant roots associated with fungi often encounter uneven distribution of nitrate (NO3−)/ammonium (NH4+) patches, but the mechanism underlying N form‐influenced plant–fungal interactions remains limited. We inoculated Arabidopsis with a root endophyte Phomopsis liquidambaris, and evaluated the effects of P. liquidambaris on plant performance under NO3− or NH4+ nutrition. Under NO3− nutrition, P. liquidambaris inoculation promoted seedling growth, whereas under NH4+ nutrition, P. liquidambaris suppressed seedling growth. Under high NH4+ conditions, fungus‐colonized roots displayed increased NH4+ accumulation and NH4+ efflux, similar to the effect of ammonium stress caused by elevated NH4+ levels. Notably, this fungus excluded NH4+ during interactions with host roots, thereby leading to increased NH4+ levels at the plant–fungal interface under high NH4+ conditions. A nitrite reductase‐deficient strain that excludes NO3− but absorbs NH4+, decreased NH4+ levels in Arabidopsis shoots and rescued plant growth and nitrogen metabolism under high NH4+ levels. Transcriptomic analysis highlighted that P. liquidambaris had altered transcriptional responses associated with plant response to inorganic N forms. Our results demonstrate that fungus‐regulated NO3−/NH4+ dynamics at the plant–fungal interface alters plant response to NO3−/NH4+ nutrition. This study highlights the essential functions of root endophytes in plant adaptation to soil nitrogen nutrients. Brief Summary: We determined how to root endophyte affects plant response to different forms of N. Our results suggest that root endophyte differentially regulates plant response to NO3− and NH4+ nutrition through modulating N fluxes at the plant–fungal interface rather than through regulating defense responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Satellite‐ground‐link high‐rate high‐efficiency data transmission technique is one of the key supports for the development of high‐resolution low‐earth‐orbit (LEO) earth observation satellite systems. Ka‐band, frequency ranging from 24.6 to 40 GHz, shares a wide available bandwidth, high frequency reuse rate, and strong ability of anti‐jamming. Satellite operators have utilized the Ka‐band for satellite‐earth data transmission, which requires higher traffic capacity, and even have planned to launch new satellites with Ka‐band capacity. In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a 5‐Gbps uncoded data rate (corresponding to the channel rate of 6 Gbps) of Ka‐band data‐transmission system with dual‐circular polarization and frequency reuse for satellite‐earth applications. The objective of the experiment is gathering experimental data to validate the performance of the proposed four channel systems, including bit error ratio (BER) and link budget. Our work could support future satellite communication applications and meet the imperative demands of high rate transmission to earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To comprehensively compare visual quality between small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (tPRK). Methods: Sixty‐four eyes in the SMILE group and 42 eyes in the tPRK group were enrolled in this study. In both groups, visual acuity, manifest refraction, higher‐order aberrations (HOAs), contrast sensitivity (CS) at four spatial frequencies (3, 6, 12, 18 c/d) under three conditions (photopic, low glare, high glare), the cut‐off value of the modulation transfer function (MTFcut‐off), the objective scatter index (OSI) and the Strehl ratio (SR) were measured preoperatively and 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Results: At 6 months postoperatively, the SMILE and tPRK groups showed similar safety, efficacy and predictability. Additionally, MTFcut‐off, SR and OSI exhibited comparable results. In contrast, the photopic area under the logarithm of the CS function (AULCSF) showed better outcomes in the tPRK group than in the SMILE group (SMILE versus tPRK: 1.21 ± 0.10 versus 1.25 ± 0.09, p = 0.014). Furthermore, the induced coma aberrations were larger in the SMILE group (SMILE versus tPRK: 0.10 ± 0.16 versus 0.06 ± 0.12, 95% CI [0.08, 0.31], p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Both SMILE and tPRK obtained comparable visual quality at 6 months postoperatively, accompanied by better photopic CS and smaller induced coma aberrations with tPRK. Paying more attention to alignment or developing a centration technique would be beneficial for visual quality when performing SMILE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying the mechanical properties of the iris can offer valuable insights into the pathophysiology of primary angle closure glaucoma. However, current techniques for iris elastography remain ex vivo with limited clinical applications. This article describes a proposition for a non‐contact and non‐invasive air‐puff optical coherence elastography (OCE) system that can evaluate iris elasticity in vivo. Ten eyes recruited from seven subjects underwent OCE imaging acquisition under three different illumination conditions. The Young's modulus of each eye was detected and shown to be inversely proportional to the iris length, indicating a relationship between mechanical properties and morphology of the iris. With its noninvasive and high‐resolution features, this air‐puff system shows great potential for applications in clinical ophthalmology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study aimed to examine changes to optic disc characteristics and macular choroidal microvasculature, and their relationships in young patients with high myopia (HM). Methods: A total of 90 patients were enrolled in this cross‐sectional study. Based on their refractive power, the patients were divided into three groups: 27 in the control group, 34 in the HM group and 29 in the extremely high myopia group. Images of each patient's macula and optic disc were taken by ocular coherence tomography angiography. The macular choroidal and retinal thickness, capillary vessel density and capillary flow area were measured using Matlab software. Parapapillary atrophy (PPA) and the ovality index (OI) obtained from the scanning laser ophthalmoscopy images and the degree of optic disc tilt obtained from the optic nerve head ocular coherence tomography B‐scans were analysed by Image J and Matlab software. Results: The PPA area, OI and degree of optic disc tilt were significantly different among the three groups (all p ≤ 0.001). The macular choroidal thickness and microvasculature were significantly different among the three groups (all p < 0.05). Macular choroidal thickness was significantly correlated with PPA area and the degree of optic disc tilt (r = −0.331, p = 0.003; r = −0.394, p = 0.001, respectively). Macular choroidal capillary vessel density and choriocapillaris flow area were associated with PPA area (r = −0.251, p = 0.047; r = −0.326, p = 0.009, respectively). Conclusions: PPA area, OI and the degree of optic disc tilt were increased in patients with HM, and these changes were correlated with macular choroidal thickness and choroidal microvasculature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Rice spikelet rot disease (RSRD) is an emerging disease that significantly reduces rice yield and quality. In this study, we evaluated the potential use of the broad‐spectrum endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris B3 as a biocontrol agent against RSRD. We also compared the control effects of different treatments, including chemical fungicides and treatment with multiple strains and single strains in combination or individually, against RSRD. The objective of this study was to find an effective and environmentally friendly control strategy to reduce the occurrence of RSRD and improve the rice yield. RESULTS: In pot experiments, the effect of B3 alone was better than that of fungicide or combined measures. The results showed that root colonization by B3 significantly reduced the incidence and disease index of RSRD by 41.0% and 53.8%, respectively. This was related to enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, and to significantly upregulated expression levels of OsAOX, OsLOX, OsPAL, and OsPR10 in rice. Moreover, B3 improved the diversity of the bacterial community rather than the fungal community in the rice rhizosphere. It also led to a decrease in Fusarium proliferatum colonization and fumonisin content in the grain. Finally, root development was markedly promoted after B3 inoculation, and the yield improved by 48.60%. The result of field experiments showed that the incidence of RSRD and the fumonisin content were observably reduced in rice receiving B3, by 24.41% and 37.87%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris B3 may become an effective tool to relieve rice spikelet rot disease. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the disruption of intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT), diurnal variation in normal young human corneal elasticity is not clear. Using the custom‐built air‐puff optical coherence elastography, one eye of 21 normal subjects is enrolled randomly to measure the central corneal elasticity, IOP, and CCT in different time points within a day. Based on the multi‐level model, the corneal elastic modulus is found to have a linear positive relation with IOP (P <.01) but not CCT (P =.175) and time point (P =.174–.686). A new indicator, corneal elasticity change rate, is proposed to present the magnitude of corneal elasticity change caused by 1 mmHg IOP, which can correct the interference effect of IOP. The results show that the corneal elasticity in the normal young human does not have the characteristics of diurnal variation under IOP control. Furthermore, IOP plays an important role in the corneal elasticity, and corneal elasticity change rate can increase the comparability of results between individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Ribosome assembly factors guide the complex process by which ribosomal proteins and the ribosomal RNAs form a functional ribosome. However, the assembly of plant plastid ribosomes is poorly understood. In the present study, we discovered a maize (Zea mays) plastid ribosome assembly factor based on our characterization of the embryo defective 15 (emb15) mutant. Loss of function of Emb15 retards embryo development at an early stage, but does not substantially affect the endosperm, and causes an albino phenotype in other genetic backgrounds. EMB15 localizes to plastids and possesses a ribosome maturation factor M (RimM) domain in the N‐terminus and a predicted UDP‐GlcNAc pyrophosphorylase domain in the C‐terminus. The EMB15 RimM domain originated in bacteria and the UDP‐GlcNAc pyrophosphorylase domain originated in fungi; these two domains came together in the ancestor of land plants during evolution. The N‐terminus of EMB15 complemented the growth defect of an Escherichia coli strain with a RimM deletion and rescued the albino phenotype of emb15 homozygous mutants. The RimM domain mediates the interaction between EMB15 and the plastid ribosomal protein PRPS19. Plastid 16S rRNA maturation is also significantly impaired in emb15. These observations suggest that EMB15 functions in maize seed development as a plastid ribosome assembly factor, and the C‐terminal domain is not important under normal conditions. Significance Statement: Ribosome assembly is guided by many assembly factors. Plastid ribosome assembly is important to embryogenesis or plant development, but little is known about this process. This study identifies a protein that is essential for the assembly of maize plastid ribosomes, discovers the major function of an evolutionary conserved protein that has not been studied in plants before, and expands our understanding of plastid ribosome assembly and maize kernel development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This article investigates whether gains in ethnic identity reduce pan‐ethnic identity among Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Methods: Ordered logit regression using data from the 2016 National Asian American Survey (NAAS). Results: Gains in ethnic identity do not reduce pan‐ethnic identity among AAPI. As importance of ethnic identity moves from "not at all" to "extremely," log odds of reporting higher levels of pan‐Asian identity are about three to four times higher. Furthermore, AAPI who value both ethnic and pan‐Asian identities show similar support for AAPI political candidates as those who identify in only ethnic or only pan‐Asian terms. Conclusion: Identity politics and disaggregated AAPI data are not inherently divisive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the relationships among retinal/choroidal thickness, retinal microvascular network and visual field in high myopia. Methods: This cross‐sectional study included a total of 62 subjects, comprising 31 eyes with high myopia and 31 eyes with emmetropia or low myopia. Optical coherence tomography was used to quantify the thickness of ganglion cell complex (GCC), inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer (INOPL), outer retinal layer (ORL) and choroid layer (ChL). Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to quantify the superficial vessel density (SVD) and deep vessel density (DVD). Retinal light sensitivity (RLS) was measured by microperimetry‐1 (MP1). The inner ring (1–1.75 mm), the outer ring (1.75–2.5 mm) and the whole ring (1–2.5 mm) around the macula were analysed and compared between the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to analyse the relationship among them. Results: In the highly myopic group, the thinning of retinal/choroidal thickness and the decrease in retinal vessel density and RLS were found when compared to the emmetropia or low myopia (p < 0.05). Decreased RLS was correlated with decreased ORL thickness (r = −0.469, p = 0.008) and choroid thickness (r = 0.398, p = 0.030). There was no correlation between retinal microvascular network parameters and RLS (p > 0.05), but DVD showed a negative correlation with ORL (r = −0.474, p = 0.007). Conclusion: Early visual field defects in highly myopic eyes may be influenced by the ORL loss and defect of choroidal circulation. The deep retinal microvascular network may have a compensatory action in the hypoxic setting of high myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The self‐splicing of group II introns during RNA processing depends on their catalytic structure and is influenced by numerous factors that promote the formation of that structure through direct binding. Here we report that C‐to‐U editing at a specific position in two nad7 introns is essential to splicing, which also implies that the catalytic activity of non‐functional group II introns could be restored by editing. We characterized a maize (Zea mays) mutant, dek46, with a defective kernel phenotype; Dek46 encodes a pentatricopeptide repeat DYW protein exclusively localized in mitochondria. Analyses of the coding regions of mitochondrial transcripts did not uncover differences in RNA editing between dek46 mutant and wild‐type maize, but showed that splicing of nad7 introns 3 and 4 is severely reduced in the mutant. Furthermore, editing at nucleotide 22 of domain 5 (D5‐C22) of both introns is abolished in dek46. We constructed chimeric introns by swapping D5 of P.li.LSUI2 with D5 of nad7 intron 3. In vitro splicing assays indicated that the chimeric intron containing D5‐U22 can be self‐spliced, but the one containing D5‐C22 cannot. These results indicate that DEK46 functions in the C‐to‐U editing of D5‐C22 of both introns, and the U base at this position is critical to intron splicing. Significance Statement: How mitochondrial introns are spliced is a fundamental question in plant biology. Through characterization of a dek46 mutant and in vitro splicing analyses, this study demonstrates that a single C‐to‐U editing event in the nad7 introns 3 and 4 domain 5 is critical to the intron splicing and kernel development of maize, possibly through maintaining the intron in a catalytic configuration. This study suggests the important role of intron editing to mitochondrial intron splicing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current elastography techniques are limited in application to accurately assess spatially resolved corneal elasticity in vivo for human eyes. The air‐puff optical coherence elastography (OCE) with an eye motion artifacts correction algorithm is developed to distinguish the in vivo cornea vibration from the eye motion and visualize the Lamb wave propagation clearly in healthy subjects. Based on the Lamb wave model, the phase velocity dispersion curve in the high‐frequency is calculated to obtain spatially resolved corneal elasticity accurately with high repeatability. It is found that the corneal elasticity has regional variations and is correlated with intraocular pressure, which suggests that the method has the potential to provide noninvasive measurement of spatially resolved corneal elasticity in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)‐ribosylation factor‐like 2 (ARL2) protein participates in a broad range of cellular processes and acts as a mediator for mutant ARL2BP in cilium‐associated retinitis pigmentosa and for mutant HRG4 in mitochondria‐related photoreceptor degeneration. However, mutant ARL2 has not been linked to any human disease so far. Here, we identified a de novo variant in ARL2 (c.44G > T, p.R15L) in a Chinese pedigree with MRCS (microcornea, rod‐cone dystrophy, cataract, and posterior staphyloma) syndrome through whole‐exome sequencing and co‐segregation analysis. Co‐immunoprecipitation assay and immunoblotting confirmed that the mutant ARL2 protein showed a 62% lower binding affinity for HRG4 while a merely 18% lower binding affinity for ARL2BP. Immunofluorescence images of ARL2 and HRG4 co‐localizing with cytochrome c in HeLa cells described their relationship with mitochondria. Further analyses of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and adenosine triphosphate production showed significant abnormalities under an ARL2‐mutant condition. Finally, we generated transgenic mice to test the pathogenicity of this variant and observed retinal degeneration complicated with microcornea and cataract that were similar to those in our patients. In conclusion, we uncover ARL2 as a novel candidate gene for MRCS syndrome and suggest a mitochondria‐related mechanism of the first ARL2 variant through site‐directed mutagenesis studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While most studies focus on pro‐allergic cytokines, the protective role of immunosuppressive cytokines in allergic inflammation is not well elucidated. This study was to explore a novel anti‐inflammatory role and cellular/molecular mechanism of IL‐27 in allergic inflammation. Methods: A murine model of experimental allergic conjunctivitis (EAC) was induced in BALB/c, C57BL/6 or IL‐27Rα‐deficient (WSX‐1−/−) mice by short ragweed pollen, with untreated or PBS‐treated mice as controls. The serum, eyeballs, conjunctiva, cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) were used for study. Gene expression was determined by RT‐qPCR, and protein production and activation were evaluated by immunostaining, ELISA and Western blotting. Results: Typical allergic manifestations and stimulated thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) signaling and Th2 responses were observed in ocular surface of EAC models in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. The decrease of IL‐27 at mRNA (IL‐27/EBI3) and protein levels were detected in serum, conjunctiva and CLN, as evaluated by RT‐qPCR, immunofluorescent staining, ELISA and Western blotting. EAC induced in WSX‐1−/− mice showed aggravated allergic signs with higher TSLP‐driven Th2‐dominant inflammation, accompanied by stimulated Th17 responses, including IL‐17A, IL‐17F, and transcription factor RORγt. In contrast, Th1 cytokine IFNγ and Treg marker IL‐10, with their respective transcription factors T‐bet and foxp3, were largely suppressed. Interestingly, imbalanced activation between reduced phosphor (P)‐STAT1 and stimulated P‐STAT6 were revealed in EAC, especially WSX‐1−/−‐EAC mice. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated a natural protective mechanism by IL‐27, of which signaling deficiency develops a Th17‐type hyperresponse that further aggravates Th2‐dominant allergic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is an important factor for agricultural activity and water management. Its estimation methods have significant regional differences. The Penman–Monteith (P‐M) method, which is recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has been widely accepted, but it requires a large amount of data. This study analysed the performance of 12 ET0 estimation methods in different sub‐regions and periods by comparing them with the FAO P‐M method. Northeastern China was divided into eight sub‐regions according to their terrains and climates. Meteorological data obtained from 126 stations in these sub‐regions between the 1950s and 2014 were used to calculate the ET0 values. The performances were identified via four indices: root mean squared error, mean absolute error, average ratio and Spearman's correlation co‐efficient. The optimal method for agricultural areas was then modified by using linear regression analysis. The results are as follows: the Valiantzas2, Romanenko2 and H‐Makkink methods are recommended as alternative methods during the crop‐growing period, whereas the Turc and Hargreaves–Samani methods can generate significant biases. The Valiantzas2 and H‐Makkink methods are the optimal ones for estimating ET0 values in agricultural areas. Based on the outputs from the FAO P‐M method, ET0 values are most sensitive to temperature, accounting for 59.5%. Other methods that provide similar results can be considered as alternatives. Finally, the modified equation can provide the most accurate results, but drought events also affect the accuracy of the modified method. In northeast China, the H‐Makkink method is the best method for a plain in a semi‐humid climate and for a mountainous area in semi‐arid climate; the Makkink method is favourable for hilly areas in a semi‐humid climate; and the Valiantzas2 method can be selected as an alternative for other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the fenhexamid sensitivity of 143 Botrytis cinerea isolates collected from greenhouse strawberries in five regions of China between 2012 and 2013, and identified four isolates with moderate levels of resistance: two from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and two from Hebei Province. The baseline fenhexamid sensitivity of B. cinerea exhibited a unimodal distribution with a mean EC50 value of 0.20 ± 0.10 μg/ml ( SD). The EC50 values of the fenhexamid-resistant isolates ranged from 0.05 to 0.40 μg/ml. Molecular analysis of the fenhexamid target gene erg27 revealed that the resistant isolates collected from Xinjiang (163-6 and 163-22) contained three mutations that led to amino acid changes (V365A, E368D and A378T) known to be associated with fenhexamid resistance, but that the isolates from Hebei lacked any mutations, indicating that an alternative mechanism could be responsible for their resistance. Most of the biological characteristics of the fenhexamid-resistant isolates, such as mycelial growth, sclerotia production and pathogenicity, did not significantly differ from those of the sensitive ones ( p ≤ .05), but it was noted that some of the resistant isolates exhibited reduced rates of sporulation and spore germination. In addition, the resistant isolates exhibited lower osmotic sensitivity than the sensitive ones. The study found no evidence of cross-resistance with other fungicides, but that there was negative cross-resistance with procymidone, iprodione, carbendazim and pyraclostrobin, which indicates that the inclusion of these fungicides within an integrated pest management ( IPM) programme could help to minimize the risk of fenhexamid resistance developing in B. cinerea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives This study investigated the prevalence, etiology, assessment, treatment of pain in patients with cancer as well as their quality of life ( QOL). Methods Patients at the West China Hospital Cancer Center were invited to complete a questionnaire under the guidance of pain specialists. The questionnaire included general information, cancer pain status, its assessment, use of analgesics, and the effects of pain on QOL. Results In total, 1,050 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, valid data were collected from 919 patients, among whom 454 (49.4%) suffered from pain, including 333 (36.2%) patients who had neuropathic pain symptoms. On average, the visual analog scale ( VAS) score of patients with cancer pain was 3.30 ± 1.68. Significant differences in the VAS score and pain frequency between patients with nociceptive and neuropathic pain were observed (both P < 0.05). Dull pain ranked first (64, 52.9%) among the patients with nociceptive pain, whereas pins and needles pain (97, 64.7%) was the most common type of pain in patients with neuropathic pain. There was a significant difference in QOL between the nociceptive and neuropathic pain groups ( P < 0.05). Only 183 of 454 patients with cancer pain used analgesics. Compared with the patients with pain not using any analgesics, those receiving analgesics had a significantly lower average pain relief rate ( P = 0.027). Adjuvant analgesics were inadequately used (9.3%) in patients with neuropathic cancer pain. Conclusion This study revealed the prevalence of neuropathic cancer pain in Chinese patients with cancer. Malignant neuropathic pain significantly impaired the patients' QOL. Insufficient assessment and inadequate analgesia still exist. These require more awareness and attention from both doctors and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined effects of elevated CO2 and cadmium (Cd) on photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence and Cd accumulation in hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance were investigated to predict plant growth under Cd stress with rising atmospheric CO2 concentration. Both pot and hydroponic experiments were conducted and the plants were grown under ambient (350 μL L-1) or elevated (800 μL L-1) CO2. Elevated CO2 significantly (P<0.05) increased Pn (105%- 149%), Pnmax (38.8%-63.0%) and AQY (20.0%-34.8%) of S. alfredii in all the Cd treatments, but reduced chlorophyll concentration, dark respiration and photorespiration. After 10 days growth in medium with 50 μM Cd under elevated CO2, PSII activities were significantly enhanced (P<0.05) with Pm, Fv/ Fm, Φ(II) and qP increased by 66.1%, 7.5%, 19.5% and 16.4%, respectively, as compared with ambient-grown plants. Total Cd uptake in shoot of S. alfredii grown under elevated CO2 was increased by 44.1%-48.5%, which was positively correlated with the increase in Pn. These results indicate that elevated CO2 promoted the growth of S. alfredii due to increased photosynthetic carbon uptake rate and photosynthetic lightuse efficiency, and showed great potential to improve the phytoextraction of Cd by S. alfredii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence suggests that spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have great clinical potential to give rise to a variety of cell types besides all spermatogenic lineage cells. The development of an efficient method for long-term culture of highly-pure SSCs is essential for further studies related to SSC biological events. Here, we describe an in vitro culture system obtaining mouse SSC cultures of high purity, viability, and proliferation. For establishing long-term cultures of SSCs, we mainly focused on isolation procedures and culture conditions. These included co-coating of extracellular substrates, that is, poly- L-lysine (PLL) and laminin, as well as combinatiorial use of three milder enzymes and simultaneously less trypsin to minimize enzyme-mediated degradation of SSCs. Furthermore, a unique purification procedure was performed to effectively eliminate contaminating non-SSCs. Finally, a critical step is to ensure SSC maintenance and expansion by utilizing optimal culture medium. Obtained data suggest that applying our optimally modified method, SSCs can be cultured for over 90 days with high purity (around 93.5%). Moreover, SSCs isolated and expanded using our protocol fulfills all criteria of SSCs without losing their stemness-characterized by SSC-phenotypic gene expression and long-term self-renewal. This study describes for the first time a protocol allowing isolation and expansion of SSCs suitable for numerous studies related to SSC-based clinical therapies of various diseases. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 1365-1375, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have potential applications in industry and medicine, but they also have the potential to cause many chronic pulmonary diseases. Mechanisms for their cytotoxicity, glucose and energy metabolism responses need to be fully explained in lung epithelial cells after treatment with metallic nanoparticles. In our study, two different metallic nanoparticles (Fe2O3 and ZnO) and two cell-based assays (BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines) were used. Our findings demonstrate that ZnO nanoparticles, but not Fe2O3 nanoparticles, induce cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial dysfunction and glucose metabolism perturbation, which are responsible for cytotoxicity. These results also suggest that the glucose metabolism and bioenergetics had a great potential in evaluating the cytotoxicity and thus were very helpful in understanding their underlying molecular mechanisms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By combining two experiments, we evaluated to what extent short-term evaluation of discomfort glare is a good prediction for long-term exposure to the same lighting condition. The results indicated that glare reported after long time exposure was equal or slightly lower than what was assessed after short-term exposure, reducing the need for longer-term experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic contact dermatitis is a common skin disease associated with inflammation and persistent pruritus. Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels in skin-innervating sensory neurons mediate acute inflammatory and pruritic responses following exogenous stimulation and may contribute to allergic responses. Genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of TRPA1, but not TRPV1, inhibited skin edema, keratinocyte hyperplasia, nerve growth, leukocyte infiltration, and antihistamine-resistant scratching behavior in mice exposed to the haptens, oxazolone and urushiol, the contact allergen of poison ivy. Hapten-challenged skin of TRPA1-deficient mice contained diminished levels of inflammatory cytokines, nerve growth factor, and endogenous pruritogens, such as substance P (SP) and serotonin. TRPAl-deficient sensory neurons were defective in SP signaling, and SP-induced scratching behavior was abolished in Trpa1-/- mice. SP receptor antagonists, such as aprepitant inhibited both hapten-induced cutaneous inflammation and scratching behavior. These findings support a central role for TRPA1 and SP in the integration of immune and neuronal mechanisms leading to chronic inflammatory responses and pruritus associated with contact dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Aldo-ketoreductases have been implicated in the metabolism of doxorubicin. We sought to assess the influence of AKR1C3 genetic variants on doxorubicin metabolism. Methods We sequenced AKR1C3 exon 5 and genotyped seven functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in CBR3, ABCB1 and SLC22A16 involved in doxorubicin pharmacology in 151 Asian breast cancer patients treated with doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy, and correlated these genotypes with doxorubicin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Results Two previously reported AKR1C3 intronic variants, IVS4-212 C> G and IVS4+218 G> A, were detected. The AKR1C3 IVS4-212 GG genotype was associated with significantly lower cycle 1 day 15 leucocyte (mean leucocytes 2.49 ± 1.57 × 109 vs. 3.85 ± 3.42 × 109 l−1, P = 0.007) and neutrophil counts (mean neutrophils 0.70 ± 1.01 × 109 vs. 1.56 ± 2.80 × 109 l−1, P = 0.008) and significant improvement of progression-free survival [PFS, mean PFS 49.0 (95% confidence interval 42.2-55.8) vs. 31.0 (95% confidence interval 20.7-41.2) months, P = 0.017] and overall survival [ OS; mean OS 64.4 (95% confidence interval 58.3-70.5) vs. 46.3 (95% confidence interval 35.1-57.5) months, P = 0.006] compared with those carrying at least one C allele. There was no significant association between AKR1C3 IVS4-212 C>G and doxorubicin pharmacokinetics. Of the other seven single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyped, CBR3 G11A correlated with doxorubicinol area under the concentration-time curve and OS, ABCB1 G2677T/ A correlated with doxorubicin clearance and platelet toxicity, while ABCB1 IVS26+59 T> G correlated with OS. The AKR1C3 IVS4-212 C< G genotype remained significantly correlated with both PFS and OS on multivariate analysis with clinical prognosticators. Conclusions The AKR1C3 IVS4-212 GG genotype was associated with greater haematological toxicity and longer progression-free survival and overall survival after doxorubicin-based therapy, suggesting potential interaction of this variant with doxorubicin metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnolol is the main constituent identified in the barks of Magnolia officinalis, which has been used for the treatment of mental disorders including depression in China. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant-like effect of magnolol, and its possible mechanisms in rats subjected to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). High performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) and immunohistochemical staining analysis were applied to explore the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like effect of magnolol. Magnolol (20, 40 mg/kg) significantly reversed UCMS-induced reduction in sucrose consumption and deficiency in locomotor activity. In addition, it was observed that administration of magnolol (20, 40 mg/kg) restored brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, and normalized the serotonergic system changes in the UCMS-treated rats. These results confirmed the antidepressant-like effect of magnolol, which might be based primarily on its ability to increase the BDNF expression and enhance the activity of the serotonergic system in rat brains. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citation information: Xu J, Bao J, Lu F & He JC. An indirect method to compare the reference centres for corneal measurements. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2012, 32, 125-132. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2011.00880.x Abstract Purpose: Corneal measurements are commonly presented with respect to a specific reference centre, but the location of the reference centre on the corneal surface could vary from one diagnostic modality to another. This study aimed to develop a method for comparing reference centres used by corneal measurement systems. Methods: An indirect method was developed to compare reference centres by making use of the pupil centre and its offset from the reference centre. Reference centres in a Scheimpflug imaging system, the Pentacam HR, and a Placido-ring corneal topography system, the ATLAS Corneal Topography System, were compared for the right and left eyes of 30 subjects. The subjects all had similar pupil sizes when measured by the two systems. Differences and correlations of the pupil centre offsets between the two systems were statistically tested and compared by Bland-Altman analyses. Results: There were no significant differences in mean pupil offsets between the two systems for either the right or left eyes ( p > 0.05). There were strong correlations of the pupil centre offsets between the two systems for each eye (right eye x-axis: r = 0.95, p < 0.0001; right eye y-axis: r = 0.98, p < 0.0001; left eye x-axis: r = 0.96, p < 0.0001, left eye y-axis: r = 0.93, p < 0.0001). Bland-Altman analyses revealed no significant differences in pupil centre offsets between the two systems. Conclusions: The Pentacam HR system and the ATLAS system have very similar reference centres. Thus it is possible to directly analyze data from the Pentacam HR and other instruments using the corneal vertex or the pupil centre as the reference centres due to the similarity in the reference centre settings between the two systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) dramatically changed the topography and climate of Asia and affected the biodiversity of the plateau and its adjacent areas. However, the effects of the uplift on the dispersal, differentiation and adaptation of plants remain a puzzle when the date and processes of the uplift cannot be determined with certainty and the impacts of the Quaternary glaciations on plants on the QTP are unknown. To clarify the relationships among plants on the QTP with the plateau uplift and the Quaternary glaciations, the cpDNA trnT- trnF regions of 891 individuals from 37 populations of Hippophae tibetana, endemic to the QTP, were sequenced in the present study. A total of 50 haplotypes were found and a strong phylogeographic structure was revealed ( NST = 0.854, GST = 0.611, NST > GST, P < 0.01). The results show that three main lineages of the present populations of H. tibetana occupy the western, the middle, and the eastern geographical range, respectively, and their divergence time dates back to 3.15 Ma before present. Of 50 haplotypes, 33 (66%) are private haplotypes, which are restricted to single populations. These private haplotypes are scattered throughout the present geographical range of H. tibetana and originated from multiple differentiations in many lineages during more than 1.0 Ma period, strongly suggesting that multiple microrefugia of H. tibetana existed throughout the present geographical range during the last glacial maximum (LGM) and even earlier glaciations. Additionally, the average elevation of present populations is over 4500 m in the west and the equilibrium-line of glaciers in the LGM was 500–300 m lower than present in the major interior part of the plateau suggesting that at most sites in the west, LGM microrefugia of H. tibetana may have been above 4000 m above sea level, the highest of all known refugia. Moreover, the divergence times among and within the three lineages and their distinct distributions as well as dispersal barriers support the theory of the recent and rapid uplift of the QTP. The rapid uplift of the plateau within the last 3.4 Ma and the associated environmental changes may have affected the dispersal and differentiation of H .tibetana and shaped its phylogeographic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article on microphthalmia-associated transcription factor that regulates skin melanoblast migration by repressing the melanoma cell adhesion molecule.

Highlights In this work, silicone polymer (PSOL)/glass fiber (GF)/epoxy (EP) composites were prepared by employing PSOL as interfacial modifier into GF/EP composites. The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the composites were investigated to determine the optimal PSOL content. The effect of PSOL on the wettability of EP on GF was investigated. The micromorphology of the GF/EP composites was also examined by scanning electron microscope. The results demonstrate that the interfacial bonding between GF and epoxy resin was improved significantly by the addition of PSOL. Specifically, the interlaminar shear strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, and blending strength of the PSOL/GF/EP composites increased by 9.28%, 13.61%, 12.66%, and 19.22%, respectively. Moreover, the original thermal stability of the composites was improved by the incorporation of PSOL. This study highlights the effectiveness of PSOL as an interfacial modifier, enhancing the overall performance of GF/EP composites while improving their thermal stability. Silicone polymer (PSOL)/glass fiber (GF)/epoxy (EP) composite material is made of glass fiber and epoxy resin by hand paste molding. Silicon polymers as interface modifiers can improve the interface between glass fiber and epoxy resin. PSOL/GF/EP composites have good mechanical properties. The glass transition temperature of GF/EP composites was increased by silicon polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corneal viscoelasticity have great clinical significance, such as the early diagnosis of keratoconus. In this work, an analysis method which utilized the elastic wave velocity, frequency and energy attenuation to assess the corneal viscoelasticity is presented. Using phase‐resolved optical coherence tomography, the spatial‐temporal displacement map is derived. The phase velocity dispersion curve and center frequency are obtained by transforming the displacement map into the wavenumber‐frequency domain through the 2D fast Fourier transform (FFT). The shear modulus is calculated through Rayleigh wave equation using the phase velocity in the high frequency. The normalized energy distribution is plotted by transforming the displacement map into the spatial‐frequency domain through the 1D FFT. The energy attenuation coefficient is derived by exponential fitting to calculate the viscous modulus. Different concentrations of tissue‐mimicking phantoms and porcine corneas are imaged to validate this method, which demonstrates that the method has the capability to assess the corneal viscoelasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]