Translocation and Distribution of Carbon-Nitrogen in Relation to Rice Yield and Grain Quality as Affected by High Temperature at Early Panicle Initiation Stage

Due to climate change, extreme heat stress events have become more frequent, adversely affecting rice yield and grain quality. The accumulation and translocation of dry matter and nitrogen substances are essential for rice yield and grain quality. To assess the impact of high temperature stress(HTS) at the early panicle initiation(EPI) stage on the accumulation, transportation, and distribution of dry matter and nitrogen substances in various organs of rice, as well as the resulting effects on rice yield and grain quality, pot experiments were conducted using an indica rice cultivar Yangdao 6(YD6) and a japonica rice cultivar Jinxiangyu 1(JXY1) under both normal temperature(32 ℃/26 ℃) and high temperature(38 ℃/29 ℃) conditions. The results indicated that exposure to HTS at the EPI stage significantly decreased rice yield by reducing spikelet number per panicle, grain-filling rate, and grain weight. However, it improved the nutritional quality of rice grains by increasing protein and amylose contents. The reduction in nitrogen and dry matter accumulation accounted for the changes in spikelet number per panicle, grain-filling rate, and grain size. Under HTS, the decrease in nitrogen accumulation accompanied by the reduction in dry matter may be due to the down-regulation of leaf net photosynthesis and senescence, as evidenced by the decrease in nitrogen content. Furthermore, the decrease in sink size limited the translocation of dry matter and nitrogen substances to grains, which was closely related to the reduction in grain weight and the deterioration of grain quality. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of HTS on grain yield and quality formation from the perspective of dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and translocation. Further efforts are needed to improve the adaptability of rice varieties to climate change in the near future.

Tentative New Terminology: Initial Comedonal Phase Preceding Acute Inflammatory Phase of Acne Vulgaris—Importance of Early Treatment

We report a case of a 12-year-old female with closed and open comedo without inflammatory lesions at the first visit. She had been treated with topical adapalene once daily, and closed and open comedo subsided without inflammatory lesions one month after the treatment without any side effects induced by adapalen. The recurrence of comedo had not been observed afterwards. In the Japanese Dermatological Association (JDA) guidelines for the treatment of acne vulgaris, comedonal phase has not been stated. Then we propose the tentative new terminology of a comedonal phase and emphasize its importance in the early initial treatment for comedo to prevent the development of the acute inflammatory phase such as red papules and pustules and formation of acne scars.

Trends and Factors Associated with Changes in Early Initiation of Breastfeeding: Analysis of the Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys 2004-2016

Background: Despite WHO recommendations on the benefits of early initiation of breastfeeding for both the mother and child, only 53.5% of newborns in Tanzania are breastfed within the first hour of life. The trend for early initiation of breastfeeding shows little progress and Tanzania is still far behind reaching the global recommended rate of 70% of early initiation of breastfeeding. This study aims to determine trends and factors associated with changes in the early initiation of breastfeeding in Tanzania from 2004-2016. Methodology: This was an analytical cross-sectional study utilizing secondary data from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHS) for the years 2004-2005, 2010, and 2015-2016. Data analysis was performed using Stata 15. Frequencies and proportions were used to summarize categorical variables. A Modified Poisson regression model was used to determine factors associated with the early initiation of breastfeeding. Multivariable Poisson decomposition analysis was used to assess factors associated with changes in the early initiation of breastfeeding across surveys. Results: Trends in early initiation of breastfeeding decreased from 59.53% in 2004/2005 to 46.72% in 2010, and then increased to 51.94% in 2015/2016. Only 5.9% of the overall change in early initiation of breastfeeding was contributed by the difference in characteristics such as mode of delivery and working status. The difference in coefficients contributed to a 94% decrease in early initiation of breastfeeding mostly due to a decrease in early initiation of breastfeeding among caesarean section delivery patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding in Tanzania decreased between 2004 and 2016, then increased from 2010-2016. Interventions and health policies need to target factors that had significant effects on the early initiation of breastfeeding such as increasing health facility delivery and promoting the initiation of breastfeeding soon after caesarean section delivery.

Early initiation of ARBs without blood pressure risk via neutrophil membrane-fused pH-sensitive liposomes to reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis after acute myocardial infarction

Activation of the local renin-angiotensin system(RAS)promotes cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac remodeling after acute myocardial infarction(AMI).As an anti-RAS drug,the effect of Valsartan in the early stage of acute MI is limited by its low drug concentration in the heart and low dosage.Here,by exploiting the inherent nature of neutrophils migrating to the injured myocardium and the local low-pH microenvironment caused by ischemia and hypoxia after myocardial infarction,we designed nanocarrier(NSLP)-hybridized neutrophil membranes and pH-sensitive liposomes(SLPs)for the delivery of Valsartan(NSLPVal).These functional nanocarriers could mimic neutrophils and are homed to the injured heart;they were also found to respond to a low-pH microenvironment.In the mouse model of MI,we found that NSLP-Val could target the infarct marginal zone and release Valsartan locally in the low-pH microenvironment without affecting hemodynamic stability.Further,locally released angiotensin receptor inhibitors reduced the infarct size and inflammatory response by inhibiting cardiomyocytes.Ultimately,NSLP-Val improved cardiac function and inhibited cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.

Early aggressive versus initially conservative treatment in elderly patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromeaTitle and subTitle Breakaaaaaaaa randomized controlled trial

Abstract Objectives The authors sought to describe the association between post-procedural bleeding and long-term recurrent bleeding, major adverse cardiac events （MACE）, and mortality among older patients undergoing per-cutaneous coronary intervention （PCI）.

Challenges in initiating antiretroviral therapy for all HIV-infected people regardless of CD4 cell count

Introduction:Recently published large randomized controlled trials,START,TEMPRANO and HPTN 052 show the clinical benefit of early initiation of antiretroviral treatment(ART)in HIV-infected persons and in reducing HIV transmission.The trials influenced the World Health Organization(WHO)decision to issue updated recommendations to prescribe ART to all individuals living with HIV,irrespective of age and CD4 cell count.Discussion:It is clear that the new 2015 WHO recommendations if followed,will change the face of the HIV epidemic and probably curb its burden over time.Implementation however,requires that health systems,especially those in low and middle-income settings,be ready to face this challenge on a large scale.HIV prevention and treatment are easy in theory yet hard in practice.The new WHO guidelines for initiation of ART regardless of CD4 cell count will lead to upfront increases in the costs of healthcare delivery as the goal is to treat all those now newly eligible for ART.Around 22 million people living with HIV qualify and will therefore require ART.Related challenges immediately follow:firstly,that everyone must be tested for HIV;secondly,that anyone who has had an HIV test should know their result and understand its significance;and,thirdly,that every person identified as HIV-positive should receive and remain on ART.The emergence of HIV drug resistant strains when treatment is started at higher CD4 cell count thresholds is a further concern as persons on HIV treatment for longer periods of time are at increased risk of intermittent medication adherence.Conclusions:The new WHO recommendations for ART are welcome,but lacking as they fail to consider meaningful solutions to the challenges inherent to implementation.They fail to incorporate actual strategies on how to disseminate and adopt these far-reaching guidelines,especially in sub-Saharan Africa,an area with weak healthcare infrastructures.Well-designed,high-quality research is needed to assess the feasibility,safety,acceptability,impact,and cost of innovations such as the universal voluntary testing and immediate treatment approaches,and broad consultation must address community,human rights,ethical,and political concerns.

Ovule initiation:the essential step controlling offspring number in Arabidopsis

Seed is the offspring of angiosperms.Plants produce large numbers of seeds to ensure effective reproduction and survival in varying environments.Ovule is a fundamentally important organ and is the precursor of the seed.In Arabidopsis and other plants characterized by multi-ovulate ovaries,ovule initiation determines the maximal ovule number,thus greatly affecting seed number per fruit and seed yield.Investigating the regulatory mechanism of ovule initiation has both scientific and economic significance.However,the genetic and molecular basis underlying ovule initiation remains unclear due to technological limitations.Very recently,rules governing the multiple ovules initiation from one placenta have been identified,the individual functions and crosstalk of phytohormones in regulating ovule initiation have been further characterized,and new regulators of ovule boundary are reported,therefore expanding the understanding of this field.In this review,we present an overview of current knowledge in ovule initiation and summarize the significance of ovule initiation in regulating the number of plant offspring,as well as raise insights for the future study in this field that provide potential routes for the improvement of crop yield.