Biochar addition and reduced irrigation modulates leaf morpho-physiology and biological nitrogen fixation in faba bean-ryegrass intercropping.

Intercropping legume with grass has potential to increase biomass and protein yield via biological N2-fixation (BNF) benefits, whereas the joint effects of biochar (BC) coupled with deficit irrigation on intercropping systems remain elusive. A 15N isotope-labelled experiment was implemented to investigate morpho-physiological responses of faba bean-ryegrass intercrops on low- (550 °C, LTBC) or high-temperature BC (800 °C, HTBC) amended sandy-loam soil under full (FI), deficit (DI) and partial root-zone drying irrigation (PRD). LTBC and HTBC significantly reduced intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE) by 12 and 14 %, and instantaneous WUE by 8 and 16 %, respectively, in faba bean leaves, despite improved photosynthetic (An) and transpiration rate (Tr), and stomatal conductance (gs). Compared to FI, DI and PRD lowered faba bean An, gs and Tr, but enhanced leaf-scale and time-integrated WUE as proxied by the diminished shoots Δ13C. PRD enhanced WUE as lower gs, Tr and guard cell length than DI-plants. Despite higher carbon ([C]) and N concentration ([N]) in faba bean shoots amended by BC, the aboveground C- and N-pool of faba bean were reduced, while these pools increased for ryegrass. The N-use efficiency (NUE) in faba bean shoots was reduced by 9 and 14 % for LTBC and HTBC, respectively, but not for ryegrass. Interestingly, ryegrass shoots had 52 % higher NUE than faba bean shoots. The N derived from atmosphere (% Ndfa) was increased by 2 and 9 % under LTBC and HTBC, respectively, while it decreased slightly by reduced irrigation. Quantity of BNF in faba bean aboveground biomass decreased with HTBC coupled with reduced irrigation, mainly towards decreased biomass and soil N uptake by faba bean. Therefore, HTBC might not be a feasible option to improve WUE and BNF in faba bean-ryegrass intercropping, but PRD is permissible as the clear trade-off between BC and PRD.

Rapid and low-cost screening for single and combined effects of drought and heat stress on the morpho-physiological traits of African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum) germplasm.

Drought and heat are two stresses that often occur together and may pose significant risks to crops in future climates. However, the combined effects of these two stressors have received less attention than single-stressor investigations. This study used a rapid and straightforward phenotyping method to quantify the variation in 128 African eggplant genotype responses to drought, heat, and the combined effects of heat and drought at the seedling stage. The study found that the morphophysiological traits varied significantly among the 128 eggplants, highlighting variation in response to abiotic stresses. Broad-sense heritability was high (> 0.60) for chlorophyll content, plant biomass and performance index, electrolyte leakage, and total leaf area. Positive and significant relationships existed between biomass and photosynthetic parameters, but a negative association existed between electrolyte leakage and morpho-physiological traits. The plants underwent more significant stress when drought and heat stress were imposed concurrently than under single stresses, with the impact of drought on the plants being more detrimental than heat. There were antagonistic effects on the morphophysiology of the eggplants when heat and drought stress were applied together. Resilient genotypes such as RV100503, RV100501, JAMBA, LOC3, RV100164, RV100169, LOC 3, RV100483, GH5155, RV100430, GH1087, GH1087*, RV100388, RV100387, RV100391 maintained high relative water content, low electrolyte leakage, high Fv/Fm ratio and performance index, and increased biomass production under abiotic stress conditions. The antagonistic interactions between heat and drought observed here may be retained or enhanced during several stress combinations typical of plants' environments and must be factored into efforts to develop climate change-resilient crops. This paper demonstrates improvised climate chambers for high throughput, reliable, rapid, and cost-effective screening for heat and drought and combined stress tolerance in plants.

Copy number variations and their effect on the plasma proteome.

Structural variations, including copy number variations (CNVs), affect around 20 million bases in the human genome and are common causes of rare conditions. CNVs are rarely investigated in complex disease research because most CNVs are not targeted on the genotyping arrays or the reference panels for genetic imputation. In this study, we characterize CNVs in a Swedish cohort (N = 1,021) using short-read whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and use long-read WGS for validation in a subcohort (N = 15), and explore their effect on 438 plasma proteins. We detected 184,182 polymorphic CNVs and identified 15 CNVs to be associated with 16 proteins (P < 8.22×10-10). Of these, 5 CNVs could be perfectly validated using long-read sequencing, including a CNV which was associated with measurements of the osteoclast-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor (OSCAR) and located upstream of OSCAR, a gene important for bone health. Two other CNVs were identified to be clusters of many short repetitive elements and another represented a complex rearrangement including an inversion. Our findings provide insights into the structure of common CNVs and their effects on the plasma proteome, and highlights the importance of investigating common CNVs, also in relation to complex diseases.

The psychology and policy of overcoming economic inequality.

Recent arguments claim that behavioral science has focused - to its detriment - on the individual over the system when construing behavioral interventions. In this commentary, we argue that tackling economic inequality using both framings in tandem is invaluable. By studying individuals who have overcome inequality, "positive deviants," and the system limitations they navigate, we offer potentially greater policy solutions.

Well-being spectrum traits are associated with polygenic scores for autism.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to experience lower well-being as demonstrated mostly for children and adolescents in epidemiological studies. A further investigation of inclusive well-being, in terms of five well-being spectrum (5-WBS) traits including neuroticism, depression, loneliness, life satisfaction, and positive affect, among adults with ASD may deepen our understanding of their well-being, and lead to the possibility to further modify societal supportive mechanisms for individuals with ASD. This study aims to investigate if a genetic predisposition for ASD is associated with 5-WBS traits using polygenic risk score (PRS) analysis. PRS for ASD were calculated based on the latest genome-wide association study of ASD by the Psychiatric Genetics Consortium (18,381 cases, 27,969 controls) and were created in the independent cohort UK Biobank. Regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between ASD PRS and 5-WBS traits in the UK Biobank population including 337,423 individuals. ASD PRS were significantly associated with all 5-WBS traits, showing a positive association with the negative WBS traits, neuroticism (max R2 = 0.04%, p < 1 × 10-4 ), depression (max R2 = 0.06%, p < 1 × 10-4 ), loneliness (max R2 = 0.04%, p < 1 × 10-4 ), and a negative association with the positive WBS traits, life satisfaction (max R2 = 0.08%, p < 1 × 10-4 ), positive affect (max R2 = 0.10%, p < 1 × 10-4 ). The findings suggest that adults carrying a high load of risk single nucleotide peptides (SNPs) for ASD are more likely to report decreased well-being. The study demonstrates a considerable connection between susceptibility to ASD, its underlying genetic etiology and well-being.

Adiposity and sex-specific cancer risk.

Obesity is associated with several types of cancer and fat distribution, which differs dramatically between sexes, has been suggested to be an independent risk factor. However, sex-specific effects on cancer risk have rarely been studied. Here we estimate the effects of fat accumulation and distribution on cancer risk in females and males. We performed a prospective study in 442,519 UK Biobank participants, for 19 cancer types and additional histological subtypes, with a mean follow-up time of 13.4 years. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the effect of 14 different adiposity phenotypes on cancer rates, and a 5% false discovery rate was considered statistically significant. Adiposity-related traits are associated with all but three cancer types, and fat accumulation is associated with a larger number of cancers compared to fat distribution. In addition, fat accumulation or distribution exhibit differential effects between sexes on colorectal, esophageal, and liver cancer.

The persistence of cognitive biases in financial decisions across economic groups.

While economic inequality continues to rise within countries, efforts to address it have been largely ineffective, particularly those involving behavioral approaches. It is often implied but not tested that choice patterns among low-income individuals may be a factor impeding behavioral interventions aimed at improving upward economic mobility. To test this, we assessed rates of ten cognitive biases across nearly 5000 participants from 27 countries. Our analyses were primarily focused on 1458 individuals that were either low-income adults or individuals who grew up in disadvantaged households but had above-average financial well-being as adults, known as positive deviants. Using discrete and complex models, we find evidence of no differences within or between groups or countries. We therefore conclude that choices impeded by cognitive biases alone cannot explain why some individuals do not experience upward economic mobility. Policies must combine both behavioral and structural interventions to improve financial well-being across populations.

Body Mass Index and the Risk of Rheumatic Disease: Linear and Nonlinear Mendelian Randomization Analyses.

OBJECTIVE: Although the association between obesity and risk of rheumatic disease is well established, the precise causal relation has not been conclusively proven. Here, we estimate the causal effect of body mass index (BMI) on the risk of developing 5 different rheumatic diseases. METHODS: Linear and nonlinear mendelian randomization (MR) were used to estimate the effect of BMI on risk of rheumatic disease, and sex-specific effects were identified. Analyses were performed in 361,952 participants from the UK Biobank cohort for 5 rheumatic diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (n = 8,381 cases), osteoarthritis (n = 87,430), psoriatic arthropathy (n = 933), gout (n = 13,638), and inflammatory spondylitis (n = 4,328). RESULTS: Using linear MR, we found that 1 SD increase in BMI increases the incidence rate for rheumatoid arthritis (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.52 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.36-1.69]), osteoarthritis (IRR 1.49 [95% CI 1.43-1.55]), psoriatic arthropathy (IRR 1.80 [95% CI 1.31-2.48]), gout (IRR 1.73 [95% CI 1.56-1.92]), and inflammatory spondylitis (IRR 1.34 [95% CI 1.14-1.57]) in all individuals. BMI was found to be a stronger risk factor in women compared to men for psoriatic arthropathy (P for sex interaction = 3.3 × 10-4 ) and gout (P for sex interaction = 4.3 × 10-3 ), and the effect on osteoarthritis was stronger in premenopausal compared to postmenopausal women (P = 1.8 × 10-3 ). Nonlinear effects of BMI were identified for osteoarthritis and gout in men, and for gout in women. The nonlinearity for gout was also more extreme in men compared to women (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Higher BMI causes an increased risk for rheumatic disease, an effect that is more pronounced in women for both gout and psoriatic arthropathy. The novel sex- and BMI-specific causal effects identified here provide further insight into rheumatic disease etiology and mark an important step toward personalized medicine.

Regional clozapine, ECT and lithium usage inversely associated with excess suicide rates in male adolescents.

Advanced psychiatric treatments remain uncertain in preventing suicide among adolescents. Across the 21 Swedish regions, using nationwide registers between 2016-2020, we found negative correlation between adolescent excess suicide mortality (AESM) and regional frequencies of clozapine, ECT, and lithium (CEL) usage among adolescents (ß = -0.613, p = 0.0003, 95% CI: -0.338, -0.889) and males (ß = -0.404, p = 0.009, 95% CI: -0.130, -0.678). No correlation was found among females (p = 0.197). Highest CEL usage among male adolescents was seen in regions with lowest quartile (Q1) AESM (W = 74, p = 0.012). Regional CEL treatment frequency in 15-19-year-olds was related to lower AESM in males, reflecting potential treatment efficacy, treatment compliance or better-quality mental health care. Suicide prevention may benefit from early recognition and CEL treatment for severe mental illness in male adolescents. The results indicate association but further research, using independent samples and both prospective and observational methodologies, is needed to confirm causality.

Trade-offs in carbon-degrading enzyme activities limit long-term soil carbon sequestration with biochar addition.

Biochar amendment is one of the most promising agricultural approaches to tackle climate change by enhancing soil carbon (C) sequestration. Microbial-mediated decomposition processes are fundamental for the fate and persistence of sequestered C in soil, but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. Here, we synthesise 923 observations regarding the effects of biochar addition (over periods ranging from several weeks to several years) on soil C-degrading enzyme activities from 130 articles across five continents worldwide. Our results showed that biochar addition increased soil ligninase activity targeting complex phenolic macromolecules by 7.1%, but suppressed cellulase activity degrading simpler polysaccharides by 8.3%. These shifts in enzyme activities explained the most variation of changes in soil C sequestration across a wide range of climatic, edaphic and experimental conditions, with biochar-induced shift in ligninase:cellulase ratio correlating negatively with soil C sequestration. Specifically, short-term (<1 year) biochar addition significantly reduced cellulase activity by 4.6% and enhanced soil organic C sequestration by 87.5%, whereas no significant responses were observed for ligninase activity and ligninase:cellulase ratio. However, long-term (≥1 year) biochar addition significantly enhanced ligninase activity by 5.2% and ligninase:cellulase ratio by 36.1%, leading to a smaller increase in soil organic C sequestration (25.1%). These results suggest that shifts in enzyme activities increased ligninase:cellulase ratio with time after biochar addition, limiting long-term soil C sequestration with biochar addition. Our work provides novel evidence to explain the diminished soil C sequestration with long-term biochar addition and suggests that earlier studies may have overestimated soil C sequestration with biochar addition by failing to consider the physiological acclimation of soil microorganisms over time.

Spatiotemporal Winter Wheat Water Status Assessment Improvement Using a Water Deficit Index Derived from an Unmanned Aerial System in the North China Plain.

Agricultural droughts cause a great reduction in winter wheat productivity; therefore, timely and precise irrigation recommendations are needed to alleviate the impact. This study aims to assess drought stress in winter wheat with the use of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) with multispectral and thermal sensors. High-resolution Water Deficit Index (WDI) maps were derived to assess crop drought stress and evaluate winter wheat actual evapotranspiration rate (ETa). However, the estimation of WDI needs to be improved by using more appropriate vegetation indices as a proximate of the fraction of vegetation cover. The experiments involved six irrigation levels of winter wheat in the harvest years 2019 and 2020 at Luancheng, North China Plain on seasonal and diurnal timescales. Additionally, WDI derived from several vegetation indices (VIs) were compared: near-infrared-, red edge-, and RGB-based. The WDIs derived from different VIs were highly correlated with each other and had similar performances. The WDI had a consistently high correlation to stomatal conductance during the whole season (R2 between 0.63-0.99) and the correlation was the highest in the middle of the growing season. On the contrary, the correlation between WDI and leaf water potential increased as the season progressed with R2 up to 0.99. Additionally, WDI and ETa had a strong connection to soil water status with R2 up to 0.93 to the fraction of transpirable soil water and 0.94 to the soil water change at 2 m depth at the hourly rate. The results indicated that WDI derived from multispectral and thermal sensors was a reliable factor in assessing the water status of the crop for irrigation scheduling.

Accelerated epigenetic aging in women with emotionally unstable personality disorder and a history of suicide attempts.

Emotional unstable personality disorder (EUPD; previously borderline personality disorder, BPD) is associated with excess natural-cause mortality, comorbid medical conditions, poor health habits and stress related epigenomic alterations. Previous studies demonstrated that GrimAge - a state-of-the-art epigenetic age (EA) estimator - strongly predicts mortality risk and physiological dysregulation. Herein, we utilize the GrimAge algorithm to investigate whether women with EUPD and a history of recent suicide attempts exhibit EA acceleration (EAA) in comparison to healthy controls. Genome-wide methylation patterns were measured using the Illumina Infinum Methylation Epic BeadChip in whole blood from 97 EUPD patients and 32 healthy controls. The control group was significantly older (p < 0.0001) and reported lesser exposure to violent behavior in both youth and adulthood (p < 0.0001). Groups were otherwise comparable regarding gender, BMI, or tobacco usage (p > 0.05). EA estimator DNAmGrimAge exceeded chronological age by 8.8 and 2.3 years in the EUPD and control group, respectively. Similarly, EAA marker AgeAccelGrim was substantially higher in EUPD subjects when compared to controls, in both univariate and multivariate analyzes (p < 0.00001). Tobacco usage conferred substantial within-group effects on the EA-chronological age difference, i.e., 10.74 years (SD = 4.19) compared to 6.00 years (SD = 3.10) in the non-user EUPD group (p < 0.00001). Notably, past alcohol and substance abuse, use of psychotropic medications, global assessment of functioning, self-reported exposure to violent behavior in youth and adulthood, later completed suicide (N = 8) and age at first suicide attempt did not predict EAA in the EUPD group (p > 0.05). These results underscore the importance of addressing medical health conditions along with low-cost preventative interventions aimed at improving somatic health outcomes in EUPD, such as efforts to support cessation of tobacco use. The independency of GrimAge to other EA algorithms in this group of severely impaired EUPD patients, suggest it may have unique characteristics to evaluate risk of adverse health outcomes in context of psychiatric disorders.

Migraine, inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease: A Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether migraine may be genetically and/or causally associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or celiac disease. BACKGROUND: Migraine has been linked to IBD and celiac disease in observational studies, but whether this link may be explained by a shared genetic basis or could be causal has not been established. The presence of a causal association could be clinically relevant, as treating one of these medical conditions might mitigate the symptoms of a causally linked condition. METHODS: Linkage disequilibrium score regression and two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization analyses were performed using summary statistics from cohort-based genome-wide association studies of migraine (59,674 cases; 316,078 controls), IBD (25,042 cases; 34,915 controls) and celiac disease (11,812 or 4533 cases; 11,837 or 10,750 controls). Migraine with and without aura were analyzed separately, as were the two IBD subtypes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Positive control analyses and conventional Mendelian randomization sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: Migraine was not genetically correlated with IBD or celiac disease. No evidence was observed for IBD (odds ratio [OR] 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99-1.02, p = 0.703) or celiac disease (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99-1.02, p = 0.912) causing migraine or migraine causing either IBD (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.96-1.22, p = 0.181) or celiac disease (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.79-1.48, p = 0.614) when all participants with migraine were analyzed jointly. There was some indication of a causal association between celiac disease and migraine with aura (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.08, p = 0.045), between celiac disease and migraine without aura (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.99, p = 0.006), as well as between migraine without aura and ulcerative colitis (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.29, p = 0.025). However, the results were not significant after multiple testing correction. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of a shared genetic basis or of a causal association between migraine and either IBD or celiac disease, although we obtained some indications of causal associations with migraine subtypes.

Nickel toxicity pretreatment attenuates salt stress by activating antioxidative system and ion homeostasis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.): an interplay from mild to severe stress.

Plants antioxidative system is the first line of defense against oxidative stress caused secondarily by toxic ions under salinity. Plants with pre-activated antioxidative system can better adapt to salinity and can result in higher growth and yield. The current experiment was conducted to assess the adaptation of two tomato genotypes (Riogrande and Green Gold) with pre-activated antioxidative enzymes against salt stress. Tomato seedlings were exposed to mild stress (Ni: 0, 15 and 30 mg L-1) for three weeks to activate the antioxidative enzymes. The seedlings with pre-activated antioxidative enzymes were then grown under severe stress in hydroponics (0, 75 and 150 mM NaCl) and soil (control, 7.5 and 15 dS m-1) to check the adaptation, growth and yield. The results showed that Ni toxicity significantly enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX and POX) in both the genotypes and reduced growth with higher values in genotype Riogrande than Green Gold. The seedlings with pre-activated antioxidant enzymes showed better growth, low Na+ and high K+ uptake and maintained higher antioxidative enzymes activity than non-treated seedlings after four weeks of salt stress treatment in hydroponics. Similarly, the results in soil salinity treatment of the Ni pretreated seedlings showed higher yield characteristics (fruit yield per plant, average fruit weight and fruit diameter) than non-treated seedlings. However, Ni pretreatment had nonsignificant effect on tomato fruit quality characteristics like fruit dry matter percentage, total soluble solids, fruit juice pH and titratable acidity. The genotype Riogrande showed better growth, yield and fruit quality than Green Gold due to higher activity of antioxidant enzymes and better ion homeostasis as a result of Ni pretreatment. The results suggest that pre-activation antioxidant enzymes by Ni treatment proved to be an effective strategy to attenuate salt stress for better growth and yield of tomato plants.

Indoor environmental quality in schools: NOTECH solution vs. standard solution.

Background: In many Danish schools, the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is challenged and studies document a poor IEQ in a majority of existing schools. Municipalities cannot afford comprehensive renovations and expensive mechanical ventilation solutions, hence public schools often suffer from poor indoor environment conditions. This study tests a new façade based, demand-controlled ventilation solution called NOTECH in the renovation of school. The study tests NOTECH vs. existing mechanical ventilation solution, comparing performance of both solutions at Skovbrynet Skole in Denmark. Methods: The project investigates the effect of the NOTECH solution in a primary school classroom, comparing it to a similar classroom with conventional, mechanical ventilation. Methodically, indoor environmental quality and energy performance is monitored in the two identical classrooms during one school year 2018 - 2019. Results: The results show that both systems keep the conditions within acceptable limits and CO2 levels below 1000 ppm, which is the requirement according to the Danish Building Regulations. In terms of costs, the NOTECH system has a lower overall cost than the mechanical ventilation system, with total estimated costs for installation, heating, electricity and maintenance amounting to approximately 35% of the mechanical system's costs. Finally, the results show that the NOTECH solution has a smaller embedded CO2 footprint for building materials, reducing the estimated carbon load by 95% compared to the mechanical ventilation solution. Conclusions: While the performance of the both systems complies to the Danish Building Regulations, the indoor environmental quality between systems differs significantly. Results showing a higher air-temperature and lower relative air-humidity in the classroom with mechanical ventilation during winter and lower CO 2 levels in the mechanically ventilated classroom during winter and summer. Costs for implementation, energy consumption for heating and CO 2 footprint for building materials are significantly lower for the NOTECH solution, compared to the mechanical solution.

Statins Induce Locomotion and Muscular Phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster That Are Reminiscent of Human Myopathy: Evidence for the Role of the Chloride Channel Inhibition in the Muscular Phenotypes.

The underlying mechanisms for statin-induced myopathy (SIM) are still equivocal. In this study, we employ Drosophila melanogaster to dissect possible underlying mechanisms for SIM. We observe that chronic fluvastatin treatment causes reduced general locomotion activity and climbing ability. In addition, transmission microscopy of dissected skeletal muscles of fluvastatin-treated flies reveals strong myofibrillar damage, including increased sarcomere lengths and Z-line streaming, which are reminiscent of myopathy, along with fragmented mitochondria of larger sizes, most of which are round-like shapes. Furthermore, chronic fluvastatin treatment is associated with impaired lipid metabolism and insulin signalling. Mechanistically, knockdown of the statin-target Hmgcr in the skeletal muscles recapitulates fluvastatin-induced mitochondrial phenotypes and lowered general locomotion activity; however, it was not sufficient to alter sarcomere length or elicit myofibrillar damage compared to controls or fluvastatin treatment. Moreover, we found that fluvastatin treatment was associated with reduced expression of the skeletal muscle chloride channel, ClC-a (Drosophila homolog of CLCN1), while selective knockdown of skeletal muscle ClC-a also recapitulated fluvastatin-induced myofibril damage and increased sarcomere lengths. Surprisingly, exercising fluvastatin-treated flies restored ClC-a expression and normalized sarcomere lengths, suggesting that fluvastatin-induced myofibrillar phenotypes could be linked to lowered ClC-a expression. Taken together, these results may indicate the potential role of ClC-a inhibition in statin-associated muscular phenotypes. This study underlines the importance of Drosophila melanogaster as a powerful model system for elucidating the locomotion and muscular phenotypes, promoting a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying SIM.

Regeneration in the Auditory Organ in Cuban and African Dwarf Crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer and Osteolaemus tetraspis) Can We Learn From the Crocodile How to Restore Our Hearing?

Background: In several non-mammalian species, auditory receptors undergo cell renewal after damage. This has raised hope of finding new options to treat human sensorineural deafness. Uncertainty remains as to the triggering mechanisms and whether hair cells are regenerated even under normal conditions. In the present investigation, we explored the auditory organ in the crocodile to validate possible ongoing natural hair cell regeneration. Materials and Methods: Two male Cuban crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer) and an adult male African Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry using confocal microscopy. The crocodile ears were fixed in formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde and underwent micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and 3D reconstruction. The temporal bones were drilled out and decalcified. Results: The crocodile papilla basilaris contained tall (inner) and short (outer) hair cells surrounded by a mosaic of tightly connected supporting cells coupled with gap junctions. Afferent neurons with and without ribbon synapses innervated both hair cell types. Supporting cells occasionally showed signs of trans-differentiation into hair cells. They expressed the MAFA and SOX2 transcription factors. Supporting cells contained organelles that may transfer genetic information between cells, including the efferent nerve fibers during the regeneration process. The tectorial membrane showed signs of being replenished and its architecture being sculpted by extracellular exosome-like proteolysis. Discussion: Crocodilians seem to produce new hair cells during their life span from a range of supporting cells. Imposing efferent nerve fibers may play a role in regeneration and re-innervation of the auditory receptors, possibly triggered by apoptotic signals from wasted hair cells. Intercellular signaling may be accomplished by elaborate gap junction and organelle systems, including neural emperipolesis. Crocodilians seem to restore and sculpt their tectorial membranes throughout their lives.

Accelerated epigenetic aging in suicide attempters uninfluenced by high intent-to-die and choice of lethal methods.

Suicide attempts (SA) are associated with excess non-suicidal mortality, putatively mediated in part by premature cellular senescence. Epigenetic age (EA) estimators of biological age have been previously demonstrated to strongly predict physiological dysregulation and mortality risk. Herein, we investigate if violent SA with high intent-to-die is predictive of epigenetics-derived estimates of biological aging. The genome-wide methylation pattern was measured using the Illumina Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip in whole blood of 88 suicide attempters. Subjects were stratified into two groups based on the putative risk of later committed suicide (low- [n = 58] and high-risk [n = 30]) in dependency of SA method (violent or non-violent) and/or intent-to-die (high/low). Estimators of intrinsic and extrinsic EA acceleration, one marker optimized to predict physiological dysregulation (DNAmPhenoAge/AgeAccelPheno) and one optimized to predict lifespan (DNAmGrimAge/AgeAccelGrim) were investigated for associations to severity of SA, by univariate and multivariate analyses. The study was adequately powered to detect differences of 2.2 years in AgeAccelGrim in relation to SA severity. Baseline DNAmGrimAge exceeded chronological age by 7.3 years on average across all samples, conferring a mean 24.6% increase in relation to actual age. No individual EA acceleration marker was differentiated by suicidal risk group (p > 0.1). Thus, SA per se but not severity of SA is related to EA, implicating that excess non-suicidal mortality in SA is unrelated to risk of committed suicide. Preventative healthcare efforts aimed at curtailing excess mortality after SA may benefit from acting equally powerful to recognize somatic comorbidities irrespective of the severity inherent in the act itself.

Elevational shifts in foliar-soil δ15 N in the Hengduan Mountains and different potential mechanisms.

The natural abundance of stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15 N) provides insights into the N dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems, the determination of which is considered an effective approach for gaining a better understanding ecosystem N cycling. However, there is currently little information available regarding the patterns and mechanisms underlying the variation in foliar-soil δ15 N among mountain ecosystems. In this study, we examined the determinants of foliar-soil δ15 N in association with N transportation rates along an elevational gradient in the Hengduan Mountains. Despite the relatively high levels of available N produced from high N fixation and mineralization, we detected the lowest levels of foliar δ15 N at 3500 m a.s.l., reflecting the stronger vegetation N limitation at medium high elevations. The enhanced vegetation N limitation was driven by the combined effects of higher microbial immobilization and inherent plant dynamic (the shifts of δ15 N in vegetation preference, including vegetation community) with changing climate along the elevational gradient. Unexpectedly, we established that soil δ15 N was characterized by an undulating rise and uncoupled correlation with foliar δ15 N with increasing elevation, thereby indicating that litter input might not be a prominent driver of soil δ15 N. Conversely, soil nitrification and denitrification were found to make a more pronounced contribution to the pattern of soil δ15 N along the elevational gradient. Collectively, our results serve to highlight the importance of microbial immobilization in soil N dynamics and provide novel insights that will contribute to enhancing our understanding of N cycling as indicated by foliar-soil δ15 N along elevational gradients.