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To improve the energy density of lithium-ion battery packs, lithium-ion batteries are gradually advancing towards large-size structures, which has become one of the dominant development trends in the battery industry. With large-size blade lithium-ion batteries as the research object, this paper develops a high-precision electro-thermal coupling model based on the relevant parameters obtained through basic performance experiments, explores the mechanism of battery inhomogeneity from a simulation perspective, and further proposes a design management method. First of all, the optimal intervals of capacity and temperature, as well as the characteristics of the inhomogeneity distribution for large-size cells, are determined by essential performance and inhomogeneity tests; subsequently, the electrochemical and thermal characteristics of the large-size battery are described precisely through a 3D thermoelectric coupling mechanism model, and the inhomogeneity of the temperature distribution is obtained through simulation; eventually, the optimized cell connection method and thermal management strategy are proposed based on the validated model. As indicated by the findings, the above solutions effectively ease the inhomogeneity of large-size cells and significantly boost the performance of large-size cells under different operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is one of the most important crops for producing high quality oil and protein. Mineral nutrient deficiencies are frequently observed in soybeans. However, there are few studies to understand the absorption process of mineral nutrients in soybeans. Here, we investigated the functions of soybean (Glycine max L.) IRT1.1 (IRON-REGULATED TRANSPORTER 1.1) in the transportation of mineral elements. Heterologous expression of GmIRT1.1 in yeast mutants revealed that GmIRT1.1 compensated for the growth defects of Δfet3fet4 and Δsmf1 mutants under iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) deficiency conditions, respectively, and enhanced the sensitivity of the Δycf1 mutant to cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Expression analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was only significantly induced by Fe deficiency and was primarily expressed in roots. Furthermore, the GmIRT1.1 overexpression lines enhanced Arabidopsis tolerance to Fe deficiency, leading to increased accumulation of Fe in the roots and shoots. Additionally, the transgenic lines increased the sensitivity to Mn and Cd toxicity. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was localized on the plasma membrane. Moreover, the results obtained from the soybean hairy roots system indicated that the localization of GmIRT1.1 was dependent on the regulation of Fe homeostasis in plant. Consequently, these results suggested that GmIRT1.1 was responsible for the transportation of Fe, Mn and Cd. • Heterologous expression of GmIRT1.1 in yeast mutants revealed that GmIRT1.1 could transport Fe, Mn and Cd. • Subcellular localization analysis indicated that GmIRT1.1 was localized on the plasma membrane. • Expression analysis revealed that GmIRT1.1 was only significantly induced by Fe deficiency and was primarily expressed in roots. • Results obtained from the soybean hairy roots system revealed that the localization of GmIRT1.1 was dependent on the regulation of Fe homeostasis in plant. • Heterologous expression of GmIRT1.1 in Arabidopsis can enhance plant growth in condition of Fe deficiency, and increase plant sensitivity to Mn and Cd toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) are highly phytotoxic heavy metals that are widespread contaminants in soil. Plants are efficient at taking up heavy metals, which adversely impacts human health. Therefore, it is important to decrease the accumulation of Cu/Cd in plants to reduce human exposure from the food web. Here, we determined the function of a rapeseed (Brassica napus) Cu/Cd transporter, plant cadmium resistance protein 2.7 (BnPCR2.7), in enhancing Cu/Cd tolerance in seedlings and decreasing the accumulation of Cu/Cd in seeds. A subcellular localization analysis revealed that BnPCR2.7 is localized at the plasma membrane (PM). CRISPR/Cas9-mediated BnPCR2.7 knockout lines and knockdown lines had increased sensitivity to high Cu/Cd than wild-type (WT) plants. In contrast, overexpression of BnPCR2.7 enhanced the adaptation to high Cu/Cd than in WT. Additionally, the Cu/Cd content in the roots of overexpression lines was significantly lower than those of the WT, while the contents in the stems increased. A non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT) assay showed that overexpression plants promoted the efflux of Cu and Cd from the roots. A field trial of rapeseed grown in soil contaminated with Cu or Cd showed that overexpression plants grew and developed better than the WT with higher yields and less Cu/Cd that accumulated in the seeds, while knockout and knockdown lines were contrary to these results. Additionally, when grown in soils contaminated by both Cu and Cd, the content of these heavy metals decreased by 12–20 % and 20–30 %, respectively, in seeds of overexpression lines. Collectively, BnPCR2.7 may promotes resistance to Cu/Cd by efflux pathways. Significantly, it is a candidate genetic resource to increase the resistance to heavy metals and reduce the accumulation of Cu/Cd in rapeseed. • BnPCR2.7 was localized to the plasma membrane in rapeseed protoplasts and root cells. • Expression of BnPCR2.7 promoted the tolerance to Cu and Cd toxicity in transgenic yeast and rapeseed. • BnPCR2.7 confers Cu and Cd tolerance by efflux pathways in rapeseed roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic loading rate (OLR) is a critical parameter affecting the stability of dry anaerobic digestion (AD) of kitchen waste (KW), and significantly impacting the variations in physicochemical parameters and microbial communities. However, the evolution of quorum sensing (QS) and their role on anaerobic biochemical metabolism during the increase in OLR in dry AD remain unknown. Therefore, this study systematically elucidated the matter through multi-omics analysis based on a pilot-scale dry AD of KW. The results demonstrated that fluctuations in the OLR significantly influenced the microbial QS in dry AD. When the OLR ≤4.0 g·VS/L·d, the system operated stably, and methane production increased. The enrichment of Proteobacteria was crucial for sustaining high levels of functional genes associated with various types of QS, including acyl-homoserine lactones (AI-1), autoinducer-2 (AI-2), autoinducer-3 (AI-3), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This enabled cooperative communication among microbes under low OLR. Furthermore, most genes associated with these QS processes positively affected hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and methanogenesis. When the OLR increased to 6.0 g·VS/L·d, the fatty acids and hydrogen partial pressure increased significantly. The autoinducing peptides (AIP)-type became the predominant QS and was positively correlated with fatty acids abundance. Syntrophaceticus and Syntrophomonas may promote syntrophic oxidation of acetate at high OLR through AIP-type QS. These findings provided new insights into the QS processes of microbes during dry AD of KW and a theoretical foundation for optimizing biochemical metabolic processes in dry AD through QS. [Display omitted] • The changes in OLR obviously affected the QS process of microbes in dry AD. • QS processes were dominated by AI-1, AI-2, AI-3, GABA, PQS, and others, at low OLR. • The AIP-type was the predominant QS system at high OLR. • Syntrophaceticus and Syntrophomonas may promote the SAO via AIP-type QS. • QS led by AI-1, AI-2, GABA, and other peptides enhanced AD biochemical metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 195 countries developed Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement to mitigate CEs (CE). Mongolia commits to a 22.7% reduction in CE by 2030 under the NDC goal. The study assessed the CE impact of local food production on the NDC of ceasing food imports under the Food Revolution Program (FRP). Findings indicated that Mongolia could not sustainably feed the population solely with domestic foods while achieving carbon mitigation goals concurrently. Relying on domestic production, it was projected that there would be a 7% increase in CE within agricultural food production, which constitutes 15% of the total emissions of the agriculture sector. The NDC targets an 18% (5238 Gg CO 2eq) reduction in the agriculture sector by 2030; the study concluded that the mitigation goal would drop to 16.5% if foods are produced domestically under the FRP. This underscores the necessity of a strategic combination of local production (such as carrots, hen eggs, and rapeseed) and imports (like cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes, and chicken from the People's Republic of China) could effectively mitigate the CE. From a national perspective, combining import and local production proves beneficial; however, on the global scale, prioritizing local food production would be valuable to reduce the CE in food transportation and imported food production. [Display omitted] • The Food Revolution Program would have a negative impact on NDC goals. • If domestic foods replace imports, there will be 7% GHG increase by 2030. • 1st paper comparing NDC with the food system of Mongolia. • Raising awareness for policymakers to look at national or global perspectives of GHG. • Further study of carbon footprint must be conducted in food system of Mongolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly prevalent as an effective solution to reduce resource scarcity and greenhouse gas emissions. As the core component of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play a crucial role in energy storage and conversion. When LIBs are used in long-term service, it is essential to carefully consider the impact of modeling methods on both the environmental benefits and burdens associated with their usage. In this study, eight calculation models are chosen, and multiple environmental impacts of battery use-phase are compared based on life cycle assessment. The application of different computational models produced widely varying results, and previous conclusions regarding the environmental impacts of battery usage need to be revisited. Moreover, the different models during the battery use-phase exhibits an outstanding contribution to the life cycle carbon footprint and midpoint indicators. Sensitivity analysis reveals that battery efficiency is the most sensitive parameter to environmental indicators during use. Environmental impacts during the battery use-phase should consider the characteristics of different models to ensure the reliability and comparability of the study. • Midpoint/endpoint indicators and carbon footprint of eight calculation models during battery use-phase are investigated. • Carbon footprint at the national level depends on the source of electricity. • Electricity and models during the use-phase are critical factors influencing life cycle indicators. • Battery efficiency is the most sensitive parameter to environmental indicators during battery use-phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Baiku Yao is a branch of the Yao nationality in China. The unique dying process of traditional clothing employed by these people has distinct national characteristics, a profound impact on the production and life of local people, and important research value. For this reason, it is important to investigate and document the dyeing plants and the traditional knowledge involved in the dyeing of Baku Yao traditional clothing. Methodology: Information on dyeing plants was obtained using the free-list method and interviews with 61 Baiku Yao informants in Guangxi and Guizhou from January 2020 to August 2021. Based on the free-list method, we evaluated and screened out important plants by calculating the cognitive salience value of each plant. Results: The results showed that the people of Baiku Yao have accumulated rich traditional knowledge of dyeing plants and long-term dyeing and other processes. We collected 23 species and recorded the related traditional knowledge, such as the Baiku Yao name, life form, habitat, part(s) used, application type, usage, and area used. The utilization of dyeing plants has a strong relationship with ethnic culture. The Baiku Yao uses unique anti-dyeing material (Ailanthus vilmoriniana) in the cotton dyeing process, they call it "the mother tree". As well as, the results also showed that 15 plants (65.2%) have medicinal value and can be used to treat 18 aliments, and wild plants play a very important role in the life of the Baiku Yao. Conclusion: These plants not only meet the color needs of the Baiku Yao people but also have health care effects, aligning with the trends toward green dyeing and the health contentiousness of modern people. This study provides a reference for the inheritance and development of Baiku Yao traditional clothing dyeing culture, will aid the identification of new natural, safe and healthy textile dyes, and is of positive significance in promoting regional economic development, national cultural inheritance, and biodiversity protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen flows in urban food systems are attracting increasing concern. However, characteristics of nitrogen flow and systematic measures to reduce reactive nitrogen losses in the food systems of consumption-oriented cities in developing countries have not been well understood, especially in a quantitative way. This study empirically investigates the transforming nitrogen flows of an urban food system in a food-sink city in China, with a nitrogen metabolism model. Three types of nitrogen loads transfer are identified: from production to consumption side, between different environmental media, and from areas within to areas beyond the city boundary. By integrating sensitivity analysis into the metabolism model, increases in the sewage treatment rate, the sewage nitrogen removal rate, and the ratio of animal excreta returned to field are found to contribute the most to the water nitrogen load reduction, and reducing food waste at the consumer level is the most influential measure for lowering soil nitrogen loads, under the existing nitrogen flow regime. Additionally, a three-tier template framework is proposed to streamline city strategies (prevention, abatement, recycling, regional cooperation, etc.) for reducing the N loads of urban food systems, providing references for sustainable nutrient management in urban ecosystems. Image 1 • Changing nitrogen flows of a food system in a food-sink city are investigated. • Three types of nitrogen loads transfer are identified. • Transforming management priorities in emerging food-sink cities are suggested. • A three-tier framework is proposed to streamline urban mitigation strategies. • The framework could provide a systematic approach to urban nutrient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated three research questions. Is there any correlation among income level, household size, and energy use among households of a city in a developing country? What gaps exist between energy saving behavior and practices of households? What is the current local awareness and level of use of renewable energy? These questions were addressed though a quantitative and qualitative approach with a survey using a Likert scale and yes/no answers. A random sampling technique was used to survey a total of 1150 household of 46 communities of six districts of Xiamen city of China. This data, in addition to the descriptive statistics, were analyzed through a Chi square test, Mann-Whitney test, and regression analysis. Results revealed that the energy supply mix of all the communities predominantly consisted of electricity (74%). Surprisingly results of this study are contradictory to the sustainable energy goals of China-2020. There was no source of renewable energy in the energy supply mix. Statistical significant relationship was found between income and energy use whereas there was a significant difference between household size and energy use. Households are using mostly non-efficient devices. No energy conservation and renewable energy awareness programs have been initiated by the government. Respondents are very willing to conserve energy and pay for renewable energy sources provided such initiatives have government support and programs that have a reward system. Recommendations include that local-scale policy makers should launch campaigns about energy saving awareness to shrink the gap between awareness and practice. • Quantification of gaps between energy conservation knowledge and behavior among high-income households of Xiamen city. • 1150 households, 46 communities and six districts are analyzed for energy emission and renewable energy adaptation. • A significant correlation was found among income, household size, and energy use. • There is dire need to shrink the gap between energy-saving awareness and action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anthropogenic phosphorus scarcity and phosphorus-induced pollution call for a substantial improvement of phosphorus use efficiency (PUE). Using substance flow analysis, phosphorus flow charts for an agriculture city with fast growing aquaculture, i.e. Zhangzhou in China for the period 1995–2014, were drawn to present phosphorus flow distribution through its food system and identify where PUE can be improved substantially. The results showed that the phosphorus input amount of the system increased 1.73 times, to 7.67 × 104 t P in 2014 since 1995, mainly attributed to the change of agricultural production structure, characterized as the rapidly expanding aquaculture. There was 325% (2.54 × 104 t P) increase of annual phosphorus input to aquaculture, compared with 20% (0.64 × 104 t P) increase for crop farming and 15% (679 t P) for feeding livestock. Accordingly, the amount of annual net phosphorus loss from aquaculture also increased much more than that from other subsystems. Thus, improving PUE in the aquaculture is more urgent than that in others. As for the food consumption subsystems, compared with rural residents, annual food phosphorus consumption of urban residents significantly increased (236%, 559 t P yr−1), resulting in rapid increase of its net environmental phosphorus load. Therefore, urbanization could be another driver on regional phosphorus loss by enhancing regional per capita food phosphorus footprint. However, most of the loss occurred during food production rather than food consumption, although the production loss was mainly driven by the change of food consumption amount and patterns. Reducing and recycling phosphorus loss in production is therefore much more important than recovering phosphorus from food consumption stage. Thus, improving PUE in an agricultural area should rely on optimizing and upgrading production structure and enhancing regional internal recycling/reusing of phosphorus. Image 1 • Phosphorus demand and loss from the city significantly increased since 1995. • Phosphorus demand and loss grew much faster from aquaculture than from others. • Great potential of improving phosphorus use efficiency lied in aquaculture. • Production is more important than consumption in reducing phosphorus loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In order to explain the rising segment of the mercury intrusion curve in the high pressure (60,000 psi) mercury intrusion tests on shales, this study implemented a series of analyses on 7 Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale samples from 4 wells in the Sichuan Basin, China, including helium-based porosity, TOC abundance and X-ray diffraction. Two pressure balance time values, namely 30 s and 60 s, were used in the high pressure mercury intrusion tests. According to the results, the compressibility of shales, instead of the pressure balance time, was identified as the main contributor to the rising segment in the mercury extrusion curve. Further, it was proposed based on the helium-based porosity and mercury intrusion porosity that the pore space could be compressed to about half of the original in the high pressure condition. The pseudo compression ratio was found to be mainly affected by the bulk density, which was further influenced by the contents of quartz and feldspar. Results of this study were expected to provide a better insight into the influence of rock compression and deformation during the mercury intrusion, and subsequently the calibration of the mercury intrusion method. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The influence of pressure balance time on the mercury extrusion curve is limited. • Shales could get compressed during mercury intrusion. • Shale's compressibility is mainly influenced by the bulk density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Phosphorus loss during food production and consumption and the effect of urbanization on cropland loss have been widely studied. However, the effect of urbanization on phosphorus metabolism in agricultural areas has received little attention. Using substance flow analysis, this paper reveals the effect of urbanization on food phosphorus metabolism. By developing comprehensive mass balance models, we quantify P flows in a typical agricultural area after summarizing the critical pathways for the effect of urbanization on P metabolism. Then, based on indicators such as per capita food P demand or loss, we discuss the effect of urbanization on food consumption, food production, food export and food waste management. Urbanization resulted in the growth of urban population, the increase of animal-derived food proportion in diet, the increase of food export and its animal-derived food proportion, more emission and declined recycling rate of urban excreta and food waste. Quantitative analysis of urbanization and P metabolism reveals that the increase of P loss driven by urbanization was mainly due to the expansion of animal-derived food production and the increase of food export. The sum of their contribution reached 99.2% of the cumulative urbanization-related P loss over the 20 years. These factors led to more P demand and losses in the regional food consumption-production system. Opportunities for sustainable phosphorus use in food production and consumption system rely on the improvement of P use efficiency in agricultural production, especially animal-derived foods. In this case, the increase of P loss from animal production accounted for 84.5% of total increase of cumulative urbanization-related P loss during the period, due to much lower P use efficiency in livestock feeding and aquaculture than grain planting. Moreover, it was more useful to recycle food waste P and excreta P (as crop fertilizer) than to enhance P removal in wastewater treatment plants. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • P flows for the food system in Zhangzhou steadily grew from 1995 to 2014. • Urbanization affected diet pattern, population structure, trade and waste and excreta reuse. • Urbanization significantly increased local average per capita food P consumption. • Increasing food P consumption caused greater P input and loss within the production-consumption system. • A closed P loop mainly relied on reusing lost P in agriculture rather than removing P in WWTPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnic minority medicinal plants (EMMPs), an important valuable resource of traditional medicine, are experiencing an unprecedented risk of extinction due to various threat factors, and there is a profound lack of systematic and comprehensive research regarding their geographical distribution and conservation effectiveness. In this study, we investigated the distribution pattern for 1893 EMMPs used by the Miao, Zhuang, and Dai ethnic groups in southwest China based on >400,000 occurrence records and identified four classes of hotspots based on thresholds of top 5 %, top 10 %, top 17 %, and top 30 %, and then assessed the conservation effectiveness of the current protection networks for the hotspots and analyzed the threat factors experienced by endangered EMMPs. Although there were apparent differences in distribution patterns among the EMMPs, the hotspots of all EMMPs were mostly confined to southwest China, particularly the provincial boundary regions, which contained >98.78 % of EMMPs. The combined conservation effectiveness indicated that >68.16 % of hotspots and 98.47 % of EMMPs were protected, and provincial nature reserves played a more important role in hotspot conservation. But >18.18 % of all hotspots were unprotected. Moreover, plants where roots or the complete herbs were used for medicine were at higher risk of extinction. Over-harvesting associated with an increasing population was the key driver causing EMMPs to become endangered. We suggest that optimization of conservation networks, changes in the medical usages of plants or their parts, and promotion of artificial cultivation to ensure extensive resources. [Display omitted] • Distribution patterns of three EMMPs were first presented based on big occurrence data. • Hotspots mainly confined to inter-provincial border areas of southern China. • Conservation gaps continuously emerge in the boundary areas of Yunnan, Guangxi, and Guizhou. • Conservation effectiveness of NNRs will be surpassed by PNRs with increasing of hotspot thresholds. • Over-harvesting is the major threat factors of threatened EMMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting green city development has become a core measure to deliver eco-civilization in China, and China's practice in this regard could provide an insightful reference for the sustainable transformation of cities in other countries. However, multi-city empirical research on green city assessment in China has so far been limited, leaving plenty of room for improvement in the understanding of the issues regarding (1) characterization of disparities in the green development status among cities; (2) identification of key factors leading to the disparities; and (3) exploration of potential approaches to promoting green city development. This study integrates comprehensive index analysis, coordination analysis, difference analysis, and correlation analysis into an analytical toolbox, and investigates the green development of 36 major cities in China in 2015. The overall performance of these cities was not high, and showed clear regional imbalance. Relatively small cities, and the green transformation of consumption, deserve more concern in the near future. Other than a conventional comprehensive index, coordination degree brings a novel perspective to understand the green development status of cities. The key indicators contributing to the performance difference among the cities were generally related to sustainable lifestyles and decoupling consumption from resources and environmental pressures. In the end, increase of economic development quality, stimulation of social innovation, improvement of urban infrastructure, and appropriate urban density are proposed as policy suggestions to facilitate cities' green transition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Exploring the associations between vegetation and abiotic environments might increase our understanding of biodiversity formation mechanisms. Here, we explore variation in plant composition/diversity and their abiotic determinants across six vegetation types in a biodiversity hotspot of Hainan Island, China. Methods: We established twelve 1-ha permanent plots, two in each of the six old-growth forest types. All woody stems (dbh ≥ 1 cm) and six soil and two microclimatic factors were measured. Associations between the abiotic factors and plant composition/diversity were analyzed by a spatial regressive model. Results: Plant diversity/composition changed with forest types. The key factors correlated with species composition in deciduous monsoon forest were canopy openness and soil water content. Soil total nitrogen and pH were the vital determinants of diversity in coniferous forest. Soil water content, phosphorus and canopy openness were associated with higher diversities in lowland- and montane- rain forests. Soil organic matter and pH were the major factors influencing composition in the montane evergreen forest, whereas air temperature and soil total nitrogen were associated with the lowest diversity of the stunting statured montane dwarf forest. Conclusions: Variation patterns of plant composition/diversity across different forest types were closely associated with the changes in the six soil and two microclimatic factors within each forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question We tested whether co-existing tree species in tropical dwarf forests were deterministically assembled along gradients of air temperature, relative humidity and light availability, according to two important functional traits, specific leaf area ( SLA) and maximum species height ( Hmax). Location Tropical montane cloud forest, Bawangling Nature Reserve, Hainan Island, south China. Methods Null model analyses were used in conjunction with trait and species composition data collected to test our hypotheses at four plot sizes (25 m2, 100 m2, 400 m2 and 900 m2), addressing whether the consistent importance of variation in SLA and Hmax extends to these unique forests, as well as theoretical predictions concerning how patterns change with plot size. Results Low SLA species were significantly over-represented within forest communities for the two largest plot sizes, and taller-growing tree species were over-represented across all four plot sizes. Plot-level analyses indicated that low SLA species were associated with lower temperatures. Conclusions Our results show that tropical dwarf forests are deterministically assembled with respect to these two traits, and are consistent with other studies indicating that SLA responds to abiotic filters. Co-existing tree species were not significantly divergent for these two traits, indicating that variation in these two traits among trees does not contribute to niche differences (i.e. limiting similarity) and therefore co-existence within forest plots. Finally, our study demonstrates that patterns of community assembly change with plot size; however, trait convergence did not increase with plot size as previously predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Variations in community-level plant functional traits might indicate the adaptation strategies of vegetations under changing environment. Here, we assess the key factors in controlling functional community compositions across different forest types. Methods: We established 12 1-ha permanent forest dynamics sites, two in each of the six old-growth forests. Each site was divided into 25 plots (20 m × 20 m). We measured five plant traits and eight abiotic factors in each plot. Correlations between environmental factors and plant traits were assessed by step-wise multiple regression. Results: The key abiotic factors controlling community-level plant functional traits in TDMRF were CO, SWC and AN. Those in TCF were CO and AN, in TLRF was AP, in TMRF were CO and TP, in TMEF were pH, SOM and TP, and in TMDF were SWC, pH, TN and TP, respectively. The controlling factors for each of the trait across the vegetations were: SWC, pH,TN,TP and AN for CWM_SLA; CO and AN for CWM_CC;CO, pH, SOM,TN and AN for CWM_LNC;CO,pH,TN and TP for CWM_LPC;and CO,SWC,TN, AN and AP for CWM_WD. Conclusions: Key soil and microclimatic factors controlling plant functional traits change with vegetation types. Each community-level plant functional trait is associated with 3-5 abiotic factors across the vegetations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentilla discolor Bunge (PD) is a traditional Chinese medicine which has been widely used for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases (e.g., diarrhea, fever and furuncle). However, few studies focused on its effect on classical inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and potential mechanism of the ethanol extract of the whole herbs of PD (EPD) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory models. The obtained results showed that EPD decreased supernatant NO, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, its effect on NO was attributed to the suppression of iNOS expression rather than its activity. At the transcriptional level, EPD suppressed iNOS, TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA expressions in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Further study showed that EPD didn't affect the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, but yet impeded the nuclear translocation of p65 to inhibit NF-κB activation. Meanwhile, it also prevented JNK, ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation to dampen the activation of AP-1. In endotoxemia mouse model, EPD not only decreased interleukin-6, TNF-α and MCP-1 levels in serum, but also potently ameliorated diarrhea. These findings provide the theoretical basis for PD to treat inflammatory diseases, especially intestinal inflammation. [Display omitted] • EPD exerted anti-inflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo. • EPD suppressed NF-κB and AP-1 signals in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages. • EPD impeded the nuclear translocation of p65 independent of IκBα phosphorylation. • EPD markedly relieved diarrhea symptom of endotoxemia mice. • EPD may be a promising candidate for preventing and treating inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viburnum taitoense Hayata has been used as folk medicine by the minority people in Southwestern China for a long history, especially in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The minority in Guangxi including Zhuang, Miao and Yao people use the ethanol extract of V. taitoense Hayata to treat the fracture, kill the pain of rheumatism because of its definite therapeutic effects. So far, the scientific investigation of V. taitoense Hayata is done very little. Here, we first prepared the ethyl acetate extract of V. taitoense (EEVt), secondly measured the contents of phenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids in EEVt, and thirdly, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of EEVt were investigated by in vitro model of RAW 264.7 cells and in vivo models of inflammation and pain in rats and mice. The contents of phenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids in EEVt were determined by UV spectrophotometry, respectively. The anti-inflammatory effect of EEVt (5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL) in vitro was tested by determining its inhibitory effect on the nitric oxide production of RAW264.7 cells activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of EEVt in vivo were investigated in the following experimental rats and mice models: carrageenan-induced paw edema, corton-oil-induced ear edema, acetic acid writhing test, and formalin pain test. The contents of total phenolic, total flavonoids, and total triterpenoids in V. taitoense were measured to be 3.46 ± 0.04%, 2.38 ± 0.04%, and 14.96 ± 0.17%, respectively. In vitro test showed that EEVt at different tested dosages (5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL) had no significant toxicity to RAW264.7 macrophages. At dosages of 37.5 and 75 μg/mL of EEVt significant inhibitory (p < 0.001) on the productions of nitric oxide (NO). High dosage (200 μg/mL) of EEVt displayed highly significant inhibitory (p < 0.001) on the productions of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1 β , and TNF- α from the LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. EEVt showed obvious anti-inflammatory activity at different time points after carrageenan injection (p < 0.05) in vivo test, and its anti-inflammatory activity reached the strongest 4 h. Similarly, through the ear swelling test, EEVt (200 mg/kg) showed significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory activity. Besides, formalin and acetic acid writhing experiments also showed that EEVt has significant (p < 0.05) analgesic activity. EEVt was confirmed to be definite anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and the phytochemicals of EEVt was disclosed to be rich in triterpenoids, which was worthy to be further investigated. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elephantopus scaber Linn. (E.scaber) is a widely-used traditional herb whose use has been documented for various inflammatory diseases such as fever, sore throat, dysentery, carbuncle and so on. However, the effect and mechanism of E.scaber in LPS-activated macrophages remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of the ethanol extract of E.scaber (ESE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory models. Griess reagent was used to determine NO production, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-1β were determined by ELISA kits. The molecular mechanism research was performed by RT-PCR, Western blot, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). LPS-induced endotoxemia mouse model was used for evaluating the in vivo anti-inflammatory action of ESE. ESE suppressed LPS-induced iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-1β transcription as well as supernatant NO, TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-1β production in macrophages. Although ESE inhibited NF-κB activation, it did not affect the IκBα phosphorylation and degradation and the NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. The result of EMSA revealed that ESE inhibited the NF-κB p65-DNA binding activity. Additionally, ESE also decreased the proinflammatory cytokines in serum and peritoneal lavage fluid of LPS-induced endotoxemic mice. ESE has a potently anti-inflammatory effect through inhibiting the NF-κB p65-DNA binding activity in LPS-activated macrophages. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although greenspace exposure has physiological health benefits, there is insufficient research on the threshold effect of health benefits in typical urban landscapes. Here we selected five typical urban landscapes (open greenspace, semi-closed greenspace, closed greenspace, bluespace, grey space) in 15 urban parks in Xiamen, China, and applied the physiological health threshold model to calculate the efficiency threshold and benefit threshold of greenspace exposure by continuously monitoring the changes of two physiological indicators-electroencephalography (EEG) and heart rate (HR). (1) The EEG threshold results show that compared with greenspace exposure, bluespace exposure can reach the physiological health efficiency threshold faster (4-5 min) but does not show an advantage in terms of benefit threshold. The more open the greenspace, the faster it can reach the efficiency threshold (5-6 min), but the higher the canopy density of the (closed) greenspace, the shorter the time to reach the efficiency threshold (8-9 min). (2) The HR threshold shows that bluespace and open greenspace are the fastest to reach the efficiency threshold (1 min), with the remaining greenspace reaching it after 6-7 min. The benefit threshold was reached faster in the bluespace (11 min) than in the greenspace (18-21 min), and the degree of openness of the greenspace has no significant effect on the speed of benefit thresholds. (3) Combining the results of EEG and HR thresholds, it can be seen that bluespace is better at reducing stress, while open greenspace can reach efficiency thresholds more quickly. This study confirms the physiological health threshold model, offering a reference for urban greenspace planning to enhance residents' stress management and health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A pair of coumarin-based polycyclic meroterpenoid enantiomers (+)/(-)-gerbeloid A [(+)- 1a and (-)- 1b ] were isolated from the medicinal plant Gerbera piloselloides , which have a unique caged oxatricyclo [4.2.2.0 3,8 ] decene scaffold. Their planar and three-dimensional structures were exhaustively characterized by comprehensive spectroscopic data and X-ray diffraction analysis. Guided by the hypothetical biosynthetic pathway, the biomimetic synthesis of racemic 1 was achieved using 4-hydroxy-5-methylcoumarin and citral as the starting material via oxa-6 π electrocyclization and intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition. Subsequently, the results of the biological activity assay demonstrated that both (+)- 1a and (-)- 1b exhibited potent lipid-lowering effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and the high-fat diet zebrafish model. Notably, the lipid-lowering activity of (+)- 1a is better than that of (-)- 1b at the same concentration, and molecular mechanism study has shown that (+)- 1a and (-)- 1b impairs adipocyte differentiation and stimulate lipolysis by regulating C/EBP α /PPAR γ signaling and Perilipin signaling in vitro and in vivo . Our findings provide a promising drug model molecule for the treatment of obesity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background and Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) age at onset (AAO) is a clinical predictor of long-term disease outcomes, independent of disease duration. Little is known about the genetic and biological mechanisms underlying age of first symptoms. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate associations between individual genetic variation and the MS AAO phenotype., Methods: The study population was comprised participants with MS in 6 clinical trials: ADVANCE (N = 655; relapsing-remitting [RR] MS), ASCEND (N = 555; secondary-progressive [SP] MS), DECIDE (N = 1,017; RRMS), OPERA1 (N = 581; RRMS), OPERA2 (N = 577; RRMS), and ORATORIO (N = 529; primary-progressive [PP] MS). Altogether, 3,905 persons with MS of European ancestry were analyzed. GWAS were conducted for MS AAO in each trial using linear additive models controlling for sex and 10 principal components. Resultant summary statistics across the 6 trials were then meta-analyzed, for a total of 8.3 × 10 -6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across all trials after quality control and filtering for heterogeneity. Gene-based tests of associations, pathway enrichment analyses, and Mendelian randomization analyses for select exposures were also performed., Results: Four lead SNPs within 2 loci were identified ( p < 5 × 10 -8 ), including a) 3 SNPs in the major histocompatibility complex and their effects were independent of HLA-DRB1*15:01 and b) a LOC105375167 variant on chromosome 7. At the gene level, the top association was HLA-C ( p = 1.2 × 10 -7 ), which plays an important role in antiviral immunity. Functional annotation revealed the enrichment of pathways related to T-cell receptor signaling, autoimmunity, and the complement cascade. Mendelian randomization analyses suggested a link between both earlier age at puberty and shorter telomere length and earlier AAO, while there was no evidence for a role for either body mass index or vitamin D levels., Discussion: Two genetic loci associated with MS AAO were identified, and functional annotation demonstrated an enrichment of genes involved in adaptive and complement immunity. There was also evidence supporting a link with age at puberty and telomere length. The findings suggest that AAO in MS is multifactorial, and the factors driving onset of symptoms overlap with those influencing MS risk., Competing Interests: E. Misicka was supported by the Case Western Reserve University Biometric Genetic Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Disease Fellowship (5T32HL007567-35). Y. Huang is an employee of Biogen and may hold stocks/stock options in Biogen. S. Loomis is an employee of Biogen and may hold stocks/stock options in Biogen. N. Sadhu was an employee of Biogen and may hold stocks/stock options in Biogen. E. Fisher was an employee of Biogen and may hold stocks/stock options in Biogen. A. Gafson is an employee of Biogen and may hold stocks/stock options in Biogen. H. Runz was an employee of Biogen and may hold stocks/stock options in Biogen. E. Tsai is an employee of Biogen and may hold stocks/stock options in Biogen. X. Jia is an employee of Genentech (a subsidiary of Roche) and may hold stocks/stock options in F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. A. Herman is an employee of Genentech (a subsidiary of Roche) and may hold stocks/stock options in F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. P.G. Bronson was an employee of Biogen and may hold stocks/stock options in Biogen. T. Bhangale is an employee of Genentech (a subsidiary of Roche) and may hold stocks/stock options in F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. F.B. Briggs was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (PP-1703-27359). Go to Neurology.org/NG for full disclosures., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.)

Background: Traditionally, surgical treatment is recommended for right-sided colonic cancer obstruction (RCCO); however, the literature comparing surgical or non-surgical procedures is lacking., Methods: Patients included in this study were divided into two groups: one group received elective surgery after self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) placement, i.e., the bridge to surgery (BTS) group, and one group received emergency surgery (ES)., Results: Thirty-five patients were included in the BTS group and 60 patients underwent ES. The technical and clinical success rates for SEMS placement were 100% and 88.6%, respectively, while the short-term complication rates were 51.4% and 33.3% for the BTS and ES groups, respectively (p = 0.082). Overall, 2.9% and 3.3% of postoperative deaths occurred in the BTS and ES groups (p = 1.000). The 1-year overall survival (OS) rates were 91.4% and 88.3% (p = 0.840), 3-year OS rates were 85.7% and 81.7% (p = 0.860), and 5-year OS rates were 82.9% and 76.7% (p = 0.620) in the BTS and ES groups, respectively. No tumor recurrence was found in the BTS group but seven recurrences were found in the ES group (11.7%) [p = 0.091]. Laparoscopic surgery was chosen by 42.9% of patients in the BTS group and 26.7% of patients in the ES group (p = 0.104); however, the length of hospital stay (p = 0.001) was longer in the BTS group., Conclusions: In the two groups, no differences were found in terms of postoperative complications and mortality as well as OS. The BTS group preferred to perform laparoscopic surgery and the technical success rate of stenting was high, therefore SEMS for RCCO was considered safe and feasible., (© 2024. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Background: For high-quality colonoscopies, adequate bowel preparation is a prerequisite, closely associated with the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic safety of colonoscopy. Although popular-science short videos can help people quickly access health information, the overall quality of such short videos as a source of health information regarding bowel preparation before colonoscopy is unclear. Therefore, we intend to conduct a cross-sectional study to investigate the quality of bowel preparation information before colonoscopy through short videos taken on TikTok and Bilibili., Methods: The Chinese phrases "colonoscopy" and "bowel preparation" were used as keywords to search for and screen the top 100 videos in the comprehensive rankings on TikTok and Bilibili. The Global Quality Score (GQS) and the modified DISCERN score were used to assess the quality of the information provided in these short videos., Results: A total of 186 short videos were included in this study; 56.5% of them were posted by health professionals, whereas 43.5% of them were posted by nonhealth professionals. The overall quality of these videos was unsatisfactory, with a median DISCERN score of 3 (2-4) and a median GQS of 3 (3-4). The radar maps showed that videos posted by gastroenterologists had higher completeness scores regarding outcomes, management, and risk factors, while nongastroenterologists had higher completeness scores concerning adverse effects, symptoms, and definitions of bowel preparation. Additionally, the median DISCERN score and GQS of the videos posted by gastroenterologists were 3 (3-4) and 3 (3-4), respectively, whereas the quality of the videos posted by patients was the worst, with a median DISCERN score of 2 (1-2) and a median GQS of 2 (1.25-3)., Conclusion: In conclusion, the overall quality of health information-related videos on bowel preparation before colonoscopy posted on specified short video platforms was not satisfactory. Gastroenterologists provide more information on the outcomes, management, and risk factors for bowel preparation before colonoscopy, while nongastroenterologists focus on adverse effects, symptoms, and definitions of bowel preparation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Liao, Huang, Lai and Xie.)

Muscle strength is highly heritable and predictive for multiple adverse health outcomes including mortality. Here, we present a rare protein-coding variant association study in 340,319 individuals for hand grip strength, a proxy measure of muscle strength. We show that the exome-wide burden of rare protein-truncating and damaging missense variants is associated with a reduction in hand grip strength. We identify six significant hand grip strength genes, KDM5B, OBSCN, GIGYF1, TTN, RB1CC1, and EIF3J. In the example of the titin (TTN) locus we demonstrate a convergence of rare with common variant association signals and uncover genetic relationships between reduced hand grip strength and disease. Finally, we identify shared mechanisms between brain and muscle function and uncover additive effects between rare and common genetic variation on muscle strength., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Identification of therapeutic targets from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) requires insights into downstream functional consequences. We harmonized 8,613 RNA-sequencing samples from 14 brain datasets to create the MetaBrain resource and performed cis- and trans-expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) meta-analyses in multiple brain region- and ancestry-specific datasets (n ≤ 2,759). Many of the 16,169 cortex cis-eQTLs were tissue-dependent when compared with blood cis-eQTLs. We inferred brain cell types for 3,549 cis-eQTLs by interaction analysis. We prioritized 186 cis-eQTLs for 31 brain-related traits using Mendelian randomization and co-localization including 40 cis-eQTLs with an inferred cell type, such as a neuron-specific cis-eQTL (CYP24A1) for multiple sclerosis. We further describe 737 trans-eQTLs for 526 unique variants and 108 unique genes. We used brain-specific gene-co-regulation networks to link GWAS loci and prioritize additional genes for five central nervous system diseases. This study represents a valuable resource for post-GWAS research on central nervous system diseases., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Elevated body mass index (BMI) is heritable and associated with many health conditions that impact morbidity and mortality. The study of the genetic association of BMI across a broad range of common disease conditions offers the opportunity to extend current knowledge regarding the breadth and depth of adiposity-related diseases. We identify 906 (364 novel) and 41 (6 novel) genome-wide significant loci for BMI among participants of European (N~1.1 million) and African (N~100,000) ancestry, respectively. Using a BMI genetic risk score including 2446 variants, 316 diagnoses are associated in the Million Veteran Program, with 96.5% showing increased risk. A co-morbidity network analysis reveals seven disease communities containing multiple interconnected diseases associated with BMI as well as extensive connections across communities. Mendelian randomization analysis confirms numerous phenotypes across a breadth of organ systems, including conditions of the circulatory (heart failure, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation), genitourinary (chronic renal failure), respiratory (respiratory failure, asthma), musculoskeletal and dermatologic systems that are deeply interconnected within and across the disease communities. This work shows that the complex genetic architecture of BMI associates with a broad range of major health conditions, supporting the need for comprehensive approaches to prevent and treat obesity., (© 2022. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Infection is the most common complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in treating urinary calculi. However, the risk factors for developing infectious complications after surgery have not been clarified, and the predictive value of some factors is controversial. This study aimed to assess the risk factors for postoperative infectious complications of PCNL. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE to obtain studies reporting risk factors for postoperative infection complications after PCNL. In this review, demographic factors, laboratory test factors, and perioperative factors were evaluated. The odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to assess the risk factors. A total of 18 studies were included, with a total of 7161 study patients with a mean age of 46.4 to 55.5 years and an incidence of infectious complications after PCNL ranging from 2.4% to 40.4%. Twelve factors were identified as independent risk factors for post-PCNL infection complications (P < 0.05), female (OR = 1.60, 95% CI 1.23-2.07), positive urine culture (UC) (OR = 3.16, 95% CI 2.11-4.74), positive renal pelvis urine culture (RPUC) (OR = 5.81, 95% CI 1.75-19.32), positive stone culture (SC) (OR = 5.11, 95% CI 1.46-17.89), positive urine leukocyte (OR = 3.61, 95% CI 2.45-5.34), infected stones (OR = 7.00, 95% CI 1.27-38.55), elevated blood leukocyte (MD = 0.71, 95% CI 0.31-1.10), elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (MD = 0.55, 95% CI 0.43-0.66), preoperative stenting (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.10-2.20), multiple puncture access (OR = 2.58, 95% CI 1.75-3.82), prolonged operative time (MD = 10 20, 95% CI 4.80-15.60), and postoperative residual stone (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.24-1.98). Female, UC positivity, RPUC positivity, SC positivity, urine leukocyte positivity, infected stones, elevated peripheral blood leukocytes, elevated NLR, preoperative stent implantation, multiple puncture channels, prolonged operation time, and postoperative residual stones were identified as independent risk factors for infection complications after PCNL., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The phenomenon of optical superoscillation provides an unprecedented way to solve the problem of optical far-field label-free super-resolution imaging. Numerous optical devices that enable superoscillatory focusing were developed based on scalar and vector diffraction theories in the past several years. However, these reported devices are designed according to the half-wave zone method in spatial coordinates. In this paper, we propose a dielectric metalens for superoscillatory focusing based on the diffraction of angular Bessel functional phase modulated vector field, under the inspiration of the tightly autofocusing property of a radially polarized high-order Bessel beam. Based on this kind of metalens with a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.9, the linearly polarized light is converted into a radially polarized one and then focus into a superoscillating focal spot with the size of 0.32 λ /NA. This angular spectrum modulation theory involved in this paper provides a different way of designing superoscillatory devices.

China is known for its abundant plant resources, but biodiversity conservation faces unprecedented challenges. To provide feasible suggestions for sustainable conservation, we used the species richness algorithm and complementary algorithm to study distribution patterns of 34,082 seed plants based on 1,007,196 county-level distribution records. We reconstructed a phylogenetic tree for 95.35% of species and estimated the spatial phylogenetics, followed by correlation analyses between different distribution patterns. We identified 264 counties concentrated in southern and south-western mountainous areas as hotspots which covered 10% of the land area of China and harbored 85.22% of the Chinese seed plant species. The biodiversity conservation priorities we identified were highly representative as we have considered multiple conservation indicators. We evaluated the conservation effectiveness and gaps in the network of nature reserves and identified 31.44, 32.95, and 9.47%, respectively, of the hotspot counties as gaps in the national nature reserves, provincial nature reserves and both together, with respectively 55.77, 61.53, and 28.94% of the species. Analysis of the species composition showed there were a large number of threatened and endemic species occurring in the nature reserves' gaps. The conservation gaps need to be filled by establishing new nature reserves or national parks, especially in south-western China, and more attentions should be paid to strengthen the conservation of specific plant taxa due to the apparent mismatches between different distribution patterns., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Yang, Zhang, Qin, Yu, Xue, Huang, Xu, Wu, Smets and Yu.)

Potentially traumatic experiences have been associated with chronic diseases. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation (DNAm), have been proposed as an explanation for this association. We examined the association of experiences of trauma with epigenome-wide DNAm among African American mothers ( n = 236) and their children aged 3-5 years ( n = 232; N = 500), using the Life Events Checklist-5 (LEC) and Traumatic Events Screening Inventory-Parent Report Revised (TESI-PRR). We identified no DNAm sites significantly associated with potentially traumatic experience scores in mothers. One CpG site on the ENOX1 gene was methylome-wide-significant in children (FDR-corrected q-value = 0.05) from the TESI-PRR. This protein-coding gene is associated with mental illness, including unipolar depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia. Future research should further examine the associations between childhood trauma, DNAm, and health outcomes among this understudied and high-risk group. Findings from such longitudinal research may inform clinical and translational approaches to prevent adverse health outcomes associated with epigenetic changes.

Zanthoxylumnitidum , known as Liang-Mian-Zhen in China, is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant used to treat traumatic injury, rheumatism, paralysis, toothache, stomach ache, and venomous snake bites. Two varieties of the species have been described and three morphological types have been reported within the original variety. However, taxonomic delimitation and molecular markers for distinguishing these varieties and types within this species remain unknown. Since different populations exhibit varying chemical compositions, easy identification of intraspecific taxa is crucial. We collected 420 individuals from 38 natural populations, 3 samples of standard medicinal material, and 17 folk-medicine samples to perform classification and identification within Zanthoxylumnitidum . Four distinct genetic clusters (A, B, C, and D) were highly supported by the nuclear barcode. Two distinct chloroplast clusters (A1 and A2) were further detected within A, and three others had one-to-one correspondence with the remaining nuclear clusters. Molecular identification showed that the 17 folk samples comprised A1, A2, B, and D, while the 3 standard samples belonged to A2. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and rbc L gene are proposed as barcodes for rapid and accurate identification of the different Liang-Mian-Zhen lineages in China. This study highlights the importance of accurate taxonomic delimitation in combination with rapid and accurate molecular identification of medicinal plants., (Yunrui Qin, Renchuan Hu, Hui Zhao, Guiyuan Wei, Zhiqiang Lu, Yunfeng Huang.)

Background: Medicinal plants have always played an important role in the history of human health. However, the populations and sustainable use of medicinal plants have been severely affected by human activities and climate change. Little is known about the current conservation status and distribution pattern of medicinal plants. In this study, based on accurate geographical distribution information of 9756 medicinal plants, we identified diversity hotspots and conservation gaps, evaluated conservation effectiveness of nature reserves, and predicted suitable habitat areas for medicinal plants in China to provide scientific guidance for their long-term conservation and sustainable use., Results: A total of 150 diversity hotspot grid cells, mainly concentrated in central and southern China, were identified. These only accounted for 5% of the total distribution area but contained 96% of the medicinal plants of the country. The hotspot grid cells included all traditional hotspot areas, but we also detected three new hotspots, namely Mufu-Lushan Mountains, Tianshan-Altai Mountains, and Changbai Mountains. The current national and provincial nature reserves protect 125 hotspot grid cells, which harbor 94% of all medicinal plants. However, 25 hotspot grid cells, distributed in the Tianshan-Altai Mountains and Hengduan Mountains, are located outside the national and provincial nature reserves. An analysis of the predicted effects of climate change indicated that the suitable habitat areas will shift from southern to northern China, and that southern China will face a considerable loss of suitable habitat areas, while the east and west parts of China will encompass remarkably more suitable habitat areas in the future., Conclusions: The current conservation networks have achieved high conservation effectiveness with regard to medicinal plants; however, the conservation gaps we identified should not be neglected, and conservation planning needs to take into account the predicted shifts of some hotspots of medicinal plants due to climate change., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a preeminent cause of death, and smoking is a strong risk factor for CAD. Genetic factors contribute to the development of CAD, but the interplay between genetic predisposition and smoking history in CAD remains unclear. Using data from the UK Biobank, we constructed several genetic risk scores (GRSs) based on known CAD loci and assessed their interactions with smoking for the development of incident CAD in 307,147 participants of European ancestry who were free of CAD. We fitted Cox proportional hazard models and assessed gene-smoking interaction on both multiplicative and additive scales. Overall, we found no multiplicative interactions, but observed a synergistic additive interaction of GRS with both smoking status and pack-years of smoking, finding that the absolute CAD risk due to smoking was higher for those with high genetic risk. Trait-based sub-GRSs suggested smoking status and smoking intensity measured by pack-years might confer gene-smoking interaction effects with different intermediate risk factors for CAD. Our study results suggest that genetics could modify the effects of smoking on CAD and highlight the value of addressing gene-lifestyle interactions on both additive and multiplicative scales., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Food waste (FW) has received increasing attention because of its immense production quantities and significance to resource and environmental impacts related to disposal approaches. We combined life cycle assessment (LCA) with society's willingness to pay (WTP) index to evaluate energy, water, and environmental impacts on three food waste-to-energy (FWTE) options in China. For anaerobic digestion (AD) mode, the results showed that 1140 MJ of energy consumption could be saved by power generation from methane, power transmission, and biodiesel production from per ton of FW; the cost of climate change for treating FW was 137.8 kg CO 2 e t -1 FW, failing to be climate-sound due to the end life of digestate in practice. The total impact to AD mode in the form of monetized value for WTP was 13.3 CNY t -1 FW, of which the collection and transportation, pretreatment, AD reaction, wastewater treatment, biodiesel production, and residue landfilling stages contributed by 10.5%, 6.5%, 19.3%, 27.6%, 4.7%, and 75.7%, respectively, while biogas utilization offset it by 43.9%. Notably, a considerable amount of water used in AD prevented it from showing an advantage compared to incineration (-5.1 CNY t -1 FW), which performed best overall attributing to the generated electricity compensated for primary energy demand, water, and terrestrial acidification to a great extent. Landfilling turned out to be an unappealing FW disposal method due to the low landfill gas capture ratio. Given that AD is touted for its environmental benefits, potential approaches-such as developing a reliable and supportive technology to facilitate digestate recycling into agriculture-were discussed to improve its competitiveness and attractiveness. Our study employed a way to accumulate and compare impact indicators to better interpret FW management impacts and advantages, considering energy recovery, resource recycling, and the environment., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Accumulating evidence indicates that circFOXM1 (Hsa&#95;circ&#95;0025033) is highly expressed in several cancers; however, the function of circFOXM1 in glioma and the molecular mechanism have not been well explored. In the present study, we found that expression of circFOXM1 was upregulated in both glioma tissues and cell lines. In addition, circFOXM1 knockdown suppressed glioma-cell proliferation, activated apoptosis in vitro, and repressed tumour growth in vivo. Moreover, we clarified that circFOXM1 binds with miR-432, which was downregulated in glioma cells. Furthermore, we indicated that Gα12, a direct target of miR-432, was highly expressed in glioma cells, and Gα12 silencing might limit the progression of glioma. Rescue assays indicated that Gα12 reversed the inhibitory effect of circFOXM1 silencing on glioma-cell tumorigenesis. In conclusion, circFOXM1 acts as a sponge of miR-432 to promote the proliferation and aggressiveness of glioma cells through the Gα12 signalling pathway., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Complex traits are characterized by multiple genes and variants acting simultaneously on a phenotype. However, studying the contribution of individual pairs of genes to complex traits has been challenging since human genetics necessitates very large population sizes, while findings from model systems do not always translate to humans. Here, we combine genetics with combinatorial RNAi (coRNAi) to systematically test for pairwise additive effects (AEs) and genetic interactions (GIs) between 30 lipid genome-wide association studies (GWAS) genes. Gene-based burden tests from 240,970 exomes show that in carriers with truncating mutations in both, APOB and either PCSK9 or LPL ("human double knock-outs") plasma lipid levels change additively. Genetics and coRNAi identify overlapping AEs for 12 additional gene pairs. Overlapping GIs are observed for TOMM40/APOE with SORT1 and NCAN. Our study identifies distinct gene pairs that modulate plasma and cellular lipid levels primarily via AEs and nominates putative drug target pairs for improved lipid-lowering combination therapies., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

We conducted an epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis on blood pressure (BP) in 4820 individuals of European and African ancestry aged 14 to 69. Genome-wide DNA methylation data from peripheral leukocytes were obtained using the Infinium Human Methylation 450k BeadChip. The epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis identified 39 BP-related CpG sites with P <1×10 -5 . In silico replication in the CHARGE consortium of 17 010 individuals validated 16 of these CpG sites. Out of the 16 CpG sites, 13 showed novel association with BP. Conversely, out of the 126 CpG sites identified as being associated ( P <1×10 -7 ) with BP in the CHARGE consortium, 21 were replicated in the current study. Methylation levels of all the 34 CpG sites that were cross-validated by the current study and the CHARGE consortium were heritable and 6 showed association with gene expression. Furthermore, 9 CpG sites also showed association with BP with P <0.05 and consistent direction of the effect in the meta-analysis of the Finnish Twin Cohort (199 twin pairs and 4 singletons; 61% monozygous) and the Netherlands Twin Register (266 twin pairs and 62 singletons; 84% monozygous). Bivariate quantitative genetic modeling of the twin data showed that a majority of the phenotypic correlations between methylation levels of these CpG sites and BP could be explained by shared unique environmental rather than genetic factors, with 100% of the correlations of systolic BP with cg19693031 ( TXNIP ) and cg00716257 ( JDP2 ) determined by environmental effects acting on both systolic BP and methylation levels.

Introduction: Experiences of racial discrimination have been associated with poor health outcomes. Little is known, however, about how perceived racial discrimination influences DNA methylation (DNAm) among African Americans (AAs). We examined the association of experiences of discrimination with DNAm among AA women in the Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure (InterGEN) study., Methods: The InterGEN study examines the effects of genetic and psychological factors on blood pressure among AA women and their children. Measures include the Major Life Discrimination (MLD) and the Race-Related Events (RES) scales. In the present analysis, we examined discrimination and DNAm at baseline in the InterGEN study. The 850K EPIC Illumina BeadChip was used for evaluating DNAm in this epigenome-wide association study (EWAS)., Results: One hundred and fifty-two women contributed data for the RES-EWAS analysis and 147 for the MLD-EWAS analysis. Most were 30-39 years old, nonsmokers, had some college education, and had incomes -5 )., Conclusion: We observed significant epigenetic associations between disease-associated genes (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and asthma) and perceived discrimination as measured by the MLD Scale. Future health disparities research should include epigenetics in high-risk populations to elucidate functional consequences induced by the psychosocial environment.

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestation, pathological characteristics, treatment and prognosis of dendritic cell tumor., Method: Four cases of nasal and pharyngeal dendritic cell tumor were described, including two cases of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS), one case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and one case of Langer hans cell sarcoma (LCS). One of the patients with FDCS received multimodality therapy (surgery combined with chemotherapy), and the other patient only received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patients with LCH or LSC were treated by surgery., Result: Of the two FDCS patients, one achieved complete remission after treatment by surgery combined with four cycles of CHOP chemotherapy regimen and concurrent radiotherapy (50 Gy), and the other who only received chemotherapy and radiotherapy survived with tumor for more than seven months of follow up. The patient of LCH was followed up for more than 2 years after surgery without recurrence or metastasis. The patient of LCS did not undergo radiotherapy or chemotherapy after surgery and died after 10 months of follow up., Conclusion: Dendritic cell tumor is a group of very rare tumor and can be easily misdiagnosed in clinic, the confirmed diagnosis of which relies on histopathological features, immunohistochemistry combined with electron microscopy. FDCS, LCH and LCS have different pathological features, immunophenotypes and prognosis.

In order to investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human lower segments of myometrium obtained from women in labor and those not in labor and identify the splicing variant of COX-2, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of COX-2. The primers were designed and synthesized according to the sequence of rat COX-2 splice variant which was discovered firstly by us. Then the splicing variant of COX-2 in human myometrium from woman in labor was identified, cloned into vector and sequenced. The results showed that the expression of COX-2 mRNA was lower in human myometrium obtained from women who were not in labor than that in labor women and a new band of COX-2 was obtained in myometrium from labor woman. The fragment included an unspliced intron, which pitched between exons 7 and 8. It was suggested that COX-2 gene was not only expressed highly in human myometrium from woman in labor, but also produced splicing variant by alternative splicing.

Objective: To observe the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced macrophage cyclo-oxidase-2 (COX-2) gene expression and activity in RAW264.7 mice, and to further investigate the effect and mechanism of TMP on LPS induced apoptosis of cardiac myocytes in suckling mice., Methods: RT-PCR and Western Blot (WB) were used to investigate the macrophage COX-2 gene expression, ELISA was used to measure its activity, fluorescence microscopy was used to determine the apoptosis of murine neonatal cardiac myocyte, and fluorescence spectrophotometry was used to detect the concentration of intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+)., Results: TMP of 10(-6) mol/L could significantly reduce the COX-2 mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.05), in 10(-5) mol/L and 10(-4) mol/L could significantly decrease the COX-2 expression (P < 0.01) stimulated by LPS, but couldn't influence the activity of COX-2 by different TMP concentration. TMP in 10(-5) mol/L could significantly lower the concentration of intracellular Ca2+ in cardiac myocyte, and antagonize the LPS induced apoptosis of cardiac myocyte in suckling mice (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: TMP has the pharmacological effect in inhibiting LPS induced macrophage COX-2 expression and apoptosis of cardiac myocyte in suckling mice.

Studies on the removal and control of red tide algae Phaeoecystis globosa by povidone-iodine and isothiozolone algaecide showed that Phaeoecystis globosa could be killed and controlled by povidone-iodine and isothiozolone. The effective concentration of povidone-iodine was 30 mg.L-1, and that of isothiozolone was 0.30 mg.L-1. Using povidone-iodine and isothiozolone together could improve the effect, and the ideal composite ratio of povidone-iodine and isothiozolone was 1.0:0.15.

The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and plankton in aquatic areas and non-sea-farming areas, which were found in Shantou, Huiyang, Zhuhai, Yangjiang and Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province respectively, were measured in 2000 in the summer with the aim of estimating the environmental problem of marine culture. The concentration of total nitrogen(TN), particle total nitrogen(PTN), total phosphorus(TP), particle total phosphorus(PTP) in aquatic areas, which were 0.506-1.244 mumol/L, 0.367-1.066 mumol/L, 0.112-0.232 mumol/L and 0.054-0.157 mumol/L respectively, were higher than non-sea-farming areas, but marine culture had no effect on the concentration of dissolvable total nitrogen(DTN) and dissolvable total phosphorus(DTP), TN:TP ratios and DTN:DTP ratios. The most phytoplankton in both aquatic areas and non-sea-farming areas was Chaetoceros, and that of zooplankton was Copepoda (including adult and larva). Marine culture affected the diversity of plankton and the population densities of some species, but not to the number of plankton kinds and the total individuals of all phytoplankton or all zooplankton.