Defoliation in Flue-cured Tobacco and Its Reasons

The flue-cured tobacco G80 is not only one of the characteristic varieties in Changsha, but also indispensable raw materials for the series of Baisha ciga- rette. Defoliation during the late stage of growth seriously reduces the yield and quality of tobacco, and limits the popularization and application of G80. In this pa- per, in order to investigate the reasons for the defoliation of G80, the transverse section structure, cellulose content and differential proteins of leaf major veins were analyzed. The results revealed that the autolysis and collapse of parenchyma cells is the main cause of defoliation, and fimgal infection is a factor inducing the au- tolysis of parenchyma cells. Application of bud suppression agent is one of the main ways to prevent fungal infection. The low cellulose content, low synthetic ability of xylan and pectin, the low removal ability of abnormal protein and low immune responsiveness are the inner reason for defoliation of flue-cured tobacco G80.

抑郁情绪对阿尔茨海默病患者认知功能的影响

目的:探讨抑郁情绪对阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease, AD)患者各认知领域功能的影响。方法:对2021年6月至2023年6月就诊于日照市人民医院神经内科门诊及记忆门诊的62例AD轻、中度患者进行详细的神经心理量表评估,采用简易智能状态检查量表(MMSE)、蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)评价AD轻、中度患者的整体认知功能,并分别对记忆、语言、注意力、视空间、执行功能等5个不同维度的单认知领域功能进行评估,采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)评价患者抑郁状况,HAMD≤7分为AD不伴发抑郁组,HAMD> 7分为AD伴发抑郁组,比较两组总体认知功能及各认知领域功能的情况。结果:62例AD患者中,有28例合并抑郁状态,占比45.16%,AD患者HAMD评分与DST-顺背呈负相关,与TMT-B和Stroop色词测验-时间呈正相关(P <0.05)。合并抑郁的AD患者与不合并抑郁的AD患者DST-顺背、TMT-B和Stroop色词测验-时间得分差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。结论:抑郁会影响AD患者的注意力、执行功能等认知功能。

More tree growth reduction due to consecutive drought and its legacy effect for a semiarid larch plantation in Northwest China

Extreme climate has increasingly led to negative impacts on forest ecosystems globally,especially in semiarid areas where forest ecosystems are more vulnerable.However,it is poorly understood how tree growth is affected by different drought events.In 2006–2009,the larch plantations in the semiarid areas of Northwest China were negatively affected by four consecutive dry years,which was a very rare phenomenon that may occur frequently under future climate warming.In this study,we analyzed the effect of these consecutive dry years on tree growth based on the data of the tree rings in the dominant layer of the forest canopy on a larch plantation.We found that the tree-ring width index(RWI)in dry years was lower than that in normal years,and it experienced a rapidly decreasing trend from 2006 to 2009(slope=-0.139 year^(-1),r=-0.94)due to water supply deficits in those dry years.Drought induced legacy effects of tree growth reduction,and consecutive dry years corresponded with greater growth reductions and legacy effects.Growth reductions and legacy effects were significantly stronger in the third and fourth consecutive dry years than that of single dry year(p<0.05),which might have been due to the cumulative stress caused by consecutive dry years.Our results showed that larch trees experienced greater tree growth reduction due to consecutive dry years and their legacy effect,and the trees had lower recovery rates after consecutive dry years.Our results highlight that consecutive dry years pose a new threat to plantations under climate warming,and thus,the effect of climate extremes on tree growth should be considered in growth models in semiarid areas.

Experimental constraints on the formation of oxychlorine species by UV irradiation and mechanical pulverization on the lunar surface

Perchlorate and chlorate are present in various extraterrestrial celestial bodies throughout the solar system,such as Mars,the moon,and asteroids.To date,the origin mechanisms of perchlorate and chlorate on the Martian surface have been well-established;however,relatively little attention has been cast to airless bodies.Here,we experimentally investigated the potential oxidation mechanisms of chloride to chlorate and perchlorate,such as ultraviolet irradiation under H_(2)O-and O_(2)-free conditions and mechanical pulverization processes.Individual minerals,olivine,pyroxene,ilmenite,magnetite,TiO_(2)and anhydrous ferric sulfate,and lunar regolith simulants(low Ti,CLRS-1;high-Ti,CLRS-2)and their metallic iron(Fe^( 0))bearing counterparts were examined.We found that pulverization of dry matrix material-halite mixtures,even in the presence of O_(2),does not necessarily lead to perchlorate and chlorate formation without involving water.Under photocatalytic and H_(2)O and O_(2)-free conditions,olivine and pyroxene can produce oxychlorine(ClO_(x)^(−))species,although the yields were orders of magnitude lower than those under Martian-relevant conditions.Nanophase-Fe^(0)particles in the lunar regolith and the common photocatalyst TiO_(2)can facilitate the ClO_(x)^(−)formation,but their yields were lower than those with olivine.The oxides ilmenite and magnetite did not efficiently contribute to ClO_(x)^(−)production.Our results highlight the critical role of H_(2)O in the oxidation chloride to chlorate and perchlorate,and provide essential insights into the environmental influence on the formation of oxychlorine species on different celestial bodies.

Fault location of distribution networks based on multi-source information

In order to promote the development of the Internet of Things(IoT),there has been an increase in the coverage of the customer electric information acquisition system(CEIAS).The traditional fault location method for the distribution network only considers the information reported by the Feeder Terminal Unit(FTU)and the fault tolerance rate is low when the information is omitted or misreported.Therefore,this study considers the influence of the distributed generations(DGs)for the distribution network.This takes the CEIAS as a redundant information source and solves the model by applying a binary particle swarm optimization algorithm(BPSO).The improved Dempster/S-hafer evidence theory(D-S evidence theory)is used for evidence fusion to achieve the fault section location for the distribution network.An example is provided to verify that the proposed method can achieve single or multiple fault locations with a higher fault tolerance.

LncRNAs are involved in regulating ageing and age-related disease through the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase signalling pathway

A long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)is longer than 200 bp.It regulates various biological processes mainly by interacting with DNA,RNA,or protein in multiple kinds of biological processes.Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)is activated during nutrient starvation,especially glucose starvation and oxygen deficiency(hypoxia),and exposure to toxins that inhibit mitochondrial respiratory chain complex function.AMPK is an energy switch in organisms that controls cell growth and multiple cellular processes,including lipid and glucose metabolism,thereby maintaining intracellular energy homeostasis by activating catabolism and inhibiting anabolism.The AMPK signalling pathway consists of AMPK and its upstream and downstream targets.AMPK upstream targets include proteins such as the transforming growth factor b-activated kinase 1(TAK1),liver kinase B1(LKB1),and calcium/calmodulindependent protein kinase b(CaMKKb),and its downstream targets include proteins such as the mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)complex 1(mTORC1),hepatocyte nuclear factor 4a(HNF4a),and silencing information regulatory 1(SIRT1).In general,proteins function relatively independently and cooperate.In this article,a review of the currently known lncRNAs involved in the AMPK signalling pathway is presented and insights into the regulatory mechanisms involved in human ageing and age-related diseases are provided.

Co-delivery of photosensitizer and diclofenac through sequentially responsive bilirubin nanocarriers for combating hypoxic tumors

Considering that photodynamic therapy(PDT)-induced oxygen consumption and microvascular damage could exacerbate hypoxia to drive more glycolysis and angiogenesis, a novel approach to potentiate PDT and overcome the resistances of hypoxia is avidly needed. Herein, morpholine-modified PEGylated bilirubin was proposed to co-deliver chlorin e6, a photosensitizer, and diclofenac(Dc). In acidic milieu, the presence of morpholine could enable the nanocarriers to selectively accumulate in tumor cells, while PDT-generated reactive oxidative species(ROS) resulted in the collapse of bilirubin nanoparticles and rapid release of Dc. Combining with Dc showed a higher rate of apoptosis over PDT alone and simultaneously triggered a domino effect, including blocking the activity and expression of lactate dehydrogenase A(LDHA), interfering with lactate secretion, suppressing the activation of various angiogenic factors and thus obviating hypoxia-induced resistance-glycolysis and angiogenesis. In addition, inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a(HIF-1a) by Dc alleviated hypoxia-induced resistance. This study offered a sequentially responsive platform to achieve sufficient tumor enrichment, on-demand drug release and superior anti-tumor outcomes in vitro and in vivo.

Combination losartan with hyaluronic acid modified diethyldithiocarbamate loaded hollow copper sulfide nanoparticles for the treatment of breast cancer and metastasis

The application of photothermal therapy(PTT)is greatly limited by the low accumulation of photothermal agents,uneven photothermal distribution,and heat endurance of cancer cells.Worse still,despite PTT enhances immunogenicity,the anti-tumor immune efficacy is still unsatisfactory due to the inefficient immunogenic cell death(ICD)induction and poor infiltration of immune cells.To solve the above problems of PTT,we developed hyaluronic acid(HA)modified hollow copper sulfide nanoparticles encapsulating diethyldithiocarbamate(DDTC)to construct a breast tumor targeting and near infrared(NIR)photo-responsive drug delivery system(D-HCuS@HA),which further combined with losartan to improve the accumulation and penetration in the tumor site.Upon irradiation,D-HCuS@HA realized enhanced PTT and released cytotoxic Cu(DDTC)_(2)to eliminate heat endurance tumor cells,thereby enhancing antitumor effect and inducing effective ICD.Moreover,the combination with losartan could remodel the tumor microenvironment,allowing more T cells to infiltrate into the tumor,and significantly inhibiting the occurrence and development of metastatic tumors.In vitro/vivo results revealed the great potential of D-HCuS@HA combined with losartan,which provides a new paradigm for anti-tumor and anti-metastases.

Targeting autophagy using small-molecule compounds to improve potential therapy of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease(PD),known as one of the most universal neurodegenerative diseases,is a serious threat to the health of the elderly.The current treatment has been demonstrated to relieve symptoms,and the discovery of new small-molecule compounds has been regarded as a promising strategy.Of note,the homeostasis of the autolysosome pathway(ALP)is closely associated with PD,and impaired autophagy may cause the death of neurons and thereby accelerating the progress of PD.Thus,pharmacological targeting autophagy with small-molecule compounds has been drawn a rising attention so far.In this review,we focus on summarizing several autophagy-associated targets,such as AMPK,m TORC1,ULK1,IMPase,LRRK2,beclin-1,TFEB,GCase,ERRα,C-Abelson,and as well as their relevant small-molecule compounds in PD models,which will shed light on a clue on exploiting more potential targeted small-molecule drugs tracking PD treatment in the near future.