Effects of lianas on forest biogeochemistry during their lives and afterlives.

Climate change and other anthropogenic disturbances are increasing liana abundance and biomass in many tropical and subtropical forests. While the effects of living lianas on species diversity, ecosystem carbon, and nutrient dynamics are receiving increasing attention, the role of dead lianas in forest ecosystems has been little studied and is poorly understood. Trees and lianas coexist as the major woody components of forests worldwide, but they have very different ecological strategies, with lianas relying on trees for mechanical support. Consequently, trees and lianas have evolved highly divergent stem, leaf, and root traits. Here we show that this trait divergence is likely to persist after death, into the afterlives of these organs, leading to divergent effects on forest biogeochemistry. We introduce a conceptual framework combining horizontal, vertical, and time dimensions for the effects of liana proliferation and liana tissue decomposition on ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling. We propose a series of empirical studies comparing traits between lianas and trees to answer questions concerning the influence of trait afterlives on the decomposability of liana and tree organs. Such studies will increase our understanding of the contribution of lianas to terrestrial biogeochemical cycling, and help predict the effects of their increasing abundance.

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells ex vivo generated from autologous naïve CD4+ T cells suppress EAE progression.

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in maintaining immune homeostasis in multiple sclerosis (MS). Hence, we aimed to explore the therapeutic efficacy and safety of adoptive cell therapy (ACT) utilizing induced antigen-specific Tregs in an animal model of MS, that is, in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. B cells from EAE model that were activated with soluble CD40L were used as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to induce the differentiation of antigen-specific Tregs from naïve CD4 precursors, and then, a stepwise isolation of CD4+CD25highCD127low Tregs was performed using a flow sorter. All EAE mice were divided into Treg-treated group (2 × 104 cells in 0.2 mL per mouse, n = 14) and sham-treated group (0.2 mL normal saline (NS), n = 20), which were observed daily for clinical assessment, and for abnormal appearance for 6 weeks. Afterward, histological analysis, immunofluorescence and real-time PCR were performed. Compared to sham-treated mice, Treg-treated mice exhibited a significant decrease in disease severity scores and reduced inflammatory infiltration and demyelination in the spinal cord. Additionally, Tregs-treated mice demonstrated higher CCN3 protein and mRNA levels than sham-treated mice. The results of this preclinical study further support the therapeutic potential of this ACT approach in the treatment of MS.

Drought alters aboveground biomass production efficiency: Insights from two European beech forests.

The fraction of photosynthetically assimilated carbon that trees allocate to long-lasting woody biomass pools (biomass production efficiency - BPE), is a key metric of the forest carbon balance. Its apparent simplicity belies the complex interplay between underlying processes of photosynthesis, respiration, litter and fruit production, and tree growth that respond differently to climate variability. Whereas the magnitude of BPE has been routinely quantified in ecological studies, its temporal dynamics and responses to extreme events such as drought remain less well understood. Here, we combine long-term records of aboveground carbon increment (ACI) obtained from tree rings with stand-level gross primary productivity (GPP) from eddy covariance (EC) records to empirically quantify aboveground BPE (= ACI/GPP) and its interannual variability in two European beech forests (Hainich, DE-Hai, Germany; Sorø, DK-Sor, Denmark). We found significant negative correlations between BPE and a daily-resolved drought index at both sites, indicating that woody growth is de-prioritized under water limitation. During identified extreme years, early-season drought reduced same-year BPE by 29 % (Hainich, 2011), 31 % (Sorø, 2006), and 14 % (Sorø, 2013). By contrast, the 2003 late-summer drought resulted in a 17 % reduction of post-drought year BPE at Hainich. Across the entire EC period, the daily-to-seasonal drought response of BPE resembled that of ACI, rather than that of GPP. This indicates that BPE follows sink dynamics more closely than source dynamics, which appear to be decoupled given the distinctive climate response patterns of GPP and ACI. Based on our observations, we caution against estimating the magnitude and variability of the carbon sink in European beech (and likely other temperate forests) based on carbon fluxes alone. We also encourage comparable studies at other long-term EC measurement sites from different ecosystems to further constrain the BPE response to rare climatic events.

A Pilot Study on Tocilizumab in Very-Late-Onset Myasthenia Gravis.

Objective: This study aimed to initially investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose tocilizumab combined with glucocorticoid for the treatment of very-late-onset myasthenia gravis (VLOMG). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in VLOMG patients who were administered intravenous methylprednisolone therapy and subsequently received low-dose oral corticosteroid, in combination with intravenous injection of tocilizumab given once every month for three months. Results: Five patients (mean age 75.0 ± 4.5 years) were included, and all of them were new-onset, and anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody-positive generalized MG. The Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis Scale (QMGS) and Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scores before treatment were 15.4 ± 4.3 and 9.6 ± 2.3, respectively, and they exhibited a continuously decreasing trend after the first, second, and third injection of tocilizumab until 6 months after treatment. At 6 months post-treatment, the QMGS and MG-ADL scores were 5.0 ± 2.9 and 2.0 ± 1.2, respectively, and the difference between scores at baseline and 6-month follow-up was significant (P = 0.005 and P < 0.0001, respectively). No serious adverse drug reactions were reported in any patient during the study period. Discussions and Conclusion: The therapeutic efficacy of tocilizumab in VLOMG remains uncertain. The results from our study support the efficacy and safety of this combination treatment option for VLOMG, and strongly suggests the therapeutic potential of tocilizumab in VLOMG. However, considering the limitation of retrospective nature and small sample size in this study, prospective randomized controlled studies including a larger sample size of selected patients are needed to validate our results.

Diel and seasonal stem growth responses to climatic variation are consistent across species in a subtropical tree community.

Understanding how intra-annual stem growth responds to atmospheric and soil conditions is essential for assessing the effects of climate extremes on forest productivity. In species-poor forests, such understanding can be obtained by studying stem growth of the dominant species. Yet, in species-rich (sub-)tropical forests, it is unclear whether these responses are consistent among species. We monitored intra-annual stem growth with high-resolution dendrometers for 27 trees belonging to 14 species over 5 yr in a montane subtropical forest. We quantified diel and seasonal stem growth patterns, verified to what extent observed growth patterns coincide across species and analysed their main climatic drivers. We found very consistent intra-annual growth patterns across species. Species varied in the rate but little in the timing of growth. Diel growth patterns revealed that - across species - trees mainly grew before dawn when vapour pressure deficit (VPD) was low. Within the year, trees mainly grew between May and August driven by temperature and VPD, but not by soil moisture. Our study reveals highly consistent stem growth patterns and climatic drivers at community level. Further studies are needed to verify whether these results hold across climates and forests, and whether they can be scaled up to estimate forest productivity.

High vapour pressure deficit enhances turgor limitation of stem growth in an Asian tropical rainforest tree.

Tropical forests are experiencing increases in vapour pressure deficit (D), with possible negative impacts on tree growth. Tree-growth reduction due to rising D is commonly attributed to carbon limitation, thus overlooking the potentially important mechanism of D-induced impairment of wood formation due to an increase in turgor limitation. Here we calibrate a mechanistic tree-growth model to simulate turgor limitation of radial stem growth in mature Toona cilitata trees in an Asian tropical forest. Hourly sap flow and dendrometer measurements were collected to simulate turgor-driven growth during the growing season. Simulated seasonal patterns of radial stem growth matched well with growth observations. Growth mainly occurred at night and its pre-dawn build-up appeared to be limited under higher D. Across seasons, the night-time turgor pressure required for growth was negatively related to previous midday D, possibly due to a relatively high canopy conductance at high D, relative to stem rehydration. These findings provide the first evidence that tropical trees grow at night and that turgor pressure limits tree growth. We suggest including turgor limitation of tree stem growth in models also for tropical forest carbon dynamics, in particular, if these models simulate effects of warming and increased frequency of droughts.

Characterization of antigen-specific CD8+ memory T cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Increasing evidence indicates the importance of CD8+ T cells in autoimmune attack against CNS myelin and axon in multiple sclerosis (MS). Previous research has also discovered that myelin-reactive T cells have memory phenotype functions in MS patients. However, limited evidence is available regarding the role of CD8+ memory T cell subsets in MS. This study aimed to explore potential antigen-specific memory T cell-related biomarkers and their association with disease activity. Methods: The myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-specific CD8+ memory T cell subsets and their related cytokines (perforin, granzyme B, interferon (IFN)-γ) and negative co-stimulatory molecules (programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), T- cell Ig and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3)) were analyzed by flow cytometry and real-time PCR in peripheral blood of patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Results: We found that MS patients had elevated frequency of MOG-specific CD8+ T cells, MOG-specific central memory T cells (TCM), MOG-specific CD8+ effector memory T cells (TEM), and MOG-specific CD8+ terminally differentiated cells (TEMRA); elevated granzyme B expression on MOG-specific CD8+ TCM; and, on MOG-specific CD8+ TEM, elevated granzyme B and reduced PD-1 expression. The Expanded Disability Status Scale score (EDSS) in MS patients was correlated with the frequency of MOG-specific CD8+ TCM, granzyme B expression in CD8+ TCM, and granzyme B and perforin expression on CD8+ TEM, but with reduced PD-1 expression on CD8+ TEM. Conclusion: The dysregulation of antigen-specific CD8+ memory T cell subsets, along with the abnormal expression of their related cytokines and negative co-stimulatory molecules, may reflect an excessive or persistent inflammatory response induced during early stages of the illness. Our findings strongly suggest positive regulatory roles for memory T cell populations in MS pathogenesis, probably via molecular mimicry to trigger or promote abnormal peripheral immune responses. Furthermore, downregulated PD-1 expression may stimulate a positive feedback effect, promoting MS-related inflammatory responses via the interaction of PD-1 ligands. Therefore, these parameters are potential serological biomarkers for predicting disease development in MS.

Risk factors assessment and a Bayesian network model for predicting ischemic stroke in patients with cardiac myxoma.

Objective: This study aims to identify relevant risk factors, assess the interactions between variables, and establish a predictive model for ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with cardiac myxoma (CM) using the Bayesian network (BN) approach. Methods: Data of patients with CM were collected from three tertiary comprehensive hospitals in Beijing from January 2002 to January 2022. Age, sex, medical history, and information related to CM were extracted from the electronic medical record system. The BN model was constructed using the tabu search algorithm, and the conditional probability of each node was calculated using the maximum likelihood estimation method. The probability of each node of the network and the interrelationship between IS and its related factors were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was also plotted. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated and compared between the BN and logistic regression models to evaluate the efficiency of the predictive model. Results: A total of 416 patients with CM were enrolled in this study, including 61 with and 355 without IS. The BN model found that cardiac symptoms, systemic embolic symptoms, platelet counts, and tumor with high mobility were directly associated with the occurrence of IS in patients with CM. The BN model for predicting CM-IS achieved higher scores on AUC {0.706 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.639-0.773]} vs. [0.697 (95% CI, 0.629-0.766)] and sensitivity (99.44% vs. 98.87%), but lower scores on accuracies (85.82% vs. 86.06%) and specificity (6.56% vs. 11.48%) than the logistic regression model. Conclusion: Cardiac symptoms, systemic embolic symptoms, platelet counts, and tumor with high mobility are candidate predictors of IS in patients with CM. The BN model was superior or at least non-inferior to the traditional logistic regression model, and hence is potentially useful for early IS detection, diagnosis, and prevention in clinical practice.

Age-related differences in physiological and metabolic responses of Pleione aurita (Orchidaceae) pseudobulbs to drought stress and recovery.

The pseudobulb is a storage organ for water and nutrients that plays a crucial role in the growth and survival of epiphytic orchids. However, the role of water and metabolites in pseudobulb during adaptation to environmental stress are rarely detected through control experiments. In the present study, water-related physiological traits and metabolite changes in the pseudobulbs at the flowering stage and full leaf expansion stage for Pleione aurita were investigated after drought stress and recovery treatments. We found that the composition of non-structural carbohydrates (starch vs. soluble sugar) varied over the lifetime of pseudobulbs, and older pseudobulbs stored more water, whereas younger pseudobulbs stored more dry matter. When plants were subjected to drought stress and subsequent recovery, multiple metabolites in the pseudobulbs including non-structural carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolic acids, as well as amino acids and their derivatives responded positively to these water level fluctuations. For those metabolites that differently accumulated in both stress and recovery processes, old pseudobulbs contained a higher number of these key metabolites than did the connected younger pseudobulbs. In addition, young and old pseudobulbs use different metabolic pathways to both respond and recover to drought. These results indicate that orchid pseudobulbs cope with water level fluctuations by mobilizing metabolite reserves and that pseudobulbs of different ages exhibit different physiological and metabolic responses to drought stress. These findings broadens our understanding of the role pseudobulbs play in the survival of orchids growing in epiphytic habitats.

Development and refinement of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for managing patients with cardiogenic stroke: An arduous journey.

Cardioembolic stroke, referred to as cardiogenic stroke, is a clinical syndrome in which emboli from the heart pass through the circulatory system and cause cerebral artery embolism and corresponding brain dysfunction. Compared to other subtypes of ischemic stroke, cardiogenic stroke presents with more etiologies, greater severity, worse prognosis, and a higher recurrence rate. In this minireview, we provide new insights into the etiological classification, diagnostic methods, and interventions of cardiogenic stroke.

Clinical features, risk factors and survival in cardiac myxoma-related ischemic stroke: A multicenter case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac myxoma (CM) is an important etiology of stroke in young adults, but studies on CM-related ischemic stroke (CM-IS) are limited and conflicting. Hence, we investigated clinical characterizations, risk factors of CM-IS, and short-term survival after surgical resection. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from all CM patients at three referral management centers and conducted follow-up examination. RESULTS: Among 414 CM patients, 402 were recruited for further analysis, including 54 patients with CM-IS and 348 patients with CM without stroke (Non-stroke). In the acute phase, patients presented with NIHSS 3 (interquartile range: 0-10) and clinical presentation comprising neurological, cardiac and constitutional symptoms. Multivariate analysis showed that the factors associated with an increased risk of CM-IS were tumor width < 30 mm [OR = 2.652, 95% CI: 1.061-6.627, P = 0.037], tumors with high-mobility (OR = 2.700, 95% CI: 1.357-5.371, P = 0.005), thrombus on the tumor surface (OR = 1.856, 95% CI: 1.003-3.434, P = 0.049), and lower B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (OR = 0.995, 95% CI: 0.989-0.999, P = 0.047). The overall three-year survival rate was 95.7% (95% CI: 94.9-96.5) in CM-IS patients who underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: CM-IS patients had mild or moderate neurologic deficits with various presentations at disease onset. Narrower tumor width, tumors with high-mobility, thrombus on the tumor surface, and lower BNP levels are potential predictors of CM-IS development. Surgical removal of CM is safe and efficacious in patients with CM-IS.

Experimental study on the effects of different factors on the crystallization rate and products of Mn-Ca co-crystallization.

Calcium and manganese are common ions that pollute drinking water and, therefore, ingestion may seriously harm human health. However, despite its importance, few studies into the synergistic removal of calcium and manganese have been reported. Calcium and manganese have similar chemical properties and, consequently, can be removed by co-crystallization, as the exact crystalline phase formed by this process and the process rate depend on the pH, the dissolved oxygen (DO) content, and the concentrations of the component ions. In this work, we experimentally studied the co-crystallization of Mn and Ca using an automatic potentiometric titrator. We found that the concentration of Mn2+ can be reduced from 3.0 to <0.1 mg/L by the co-crystallization of Mn and Ca at pH 10.5 and a DO content of 8.5 mg/L. In addition, the crystallizations of Ca and Mn are mutually inhibitory; the crystallization process of Mn is obviously divided into two stages: crystal nucleation and crystal growth. Increasing the pH, decreasing the DO content, and decreasing the Mn ion concentration increase the rate of CaCO3 crystallization, whereas the opposite changes increase the rate of Mn crystallization. Furthermore, Mn-Ca co-crystallization leads to the formation of various substances, including single crystals (CaCO3/MnCO3), mixed crystals (CaMnCO3), and Mn oxides (MnxOy/Mn(OH)O). Our findings regarding the effects, precipitation rates, and precipitation mechanisms of Mn-Ca co-crystallization serve as an important guide for the optimization and control of Mn-Ca co-crystallization processes.

A Bayesian network-based approach for identifying risk factors and predicting ischemic stroke in infective endocarditis patients.

Objective: This study aimed to seek the risk factors and develop a predictive model for ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) utilizing a Bayesian network (BN) approach. Methods: Data were obtained from the electronic medical records of all adult patients at three hospitals between 1 January 2018, and 31 December 2022. Two predictive models, logistic regression and BN, were used. Patients were randomly assigned to the training and test sets in a 7:3 ratio. We established a BN model with the training dataset and validated it with the testing dataset. The Bayesian network model was built by using the Tabu search algorithm. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs), calibration curve, and decision curve were used to evaluate the prediction performance between the BN and logistic models. Results: A total of 542 patients [mean (SD) age, 49.6 (15.3) years; 137 (25.3%) female] were enrolled, including 151 (27.9%) with IS and 391 (72.1%) without IS. Hyperlipidemia, hypertension, age, vegetation size (>10 mm), S. aureus infection, and early prosthetic valve IE were closely correlated with IS. The BN models outperformed the logistic regression in training and testing sets, with accuracies of 76.06% and 74.1%, AUC of 0.744 and 0.703, sensitivities of 25.93% and 20.93%, and specificities of 96.27% and 90.24%, respectively. Conclusion: The BN model is more efficient than the logistic regression model. Therefore, BN models may be suitable for the early diagnosis and prevention of IS in IE patients.

Risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy complicated by ischemic stroke: A single-center retrospective study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore risk factors, clinical features, and prognosis of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) complicated by ischemic stroke (IS). Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all HCM patient data and a 1-year follow-up study. Results: Totally, 506 patients with HCM, including 71 with IS, were enrolled. Older age (≥63 years) was associated with an increased risk of IS in HCM patients (OR = 1.045, 95% CI: 1.018-1.072, p = 0.001). Among 37 patients complicated by IS, 22 (59.5%, 22/37) manifested as cardioembolism (CE) subtype, and 13 (35.1%, 3/37) small artery occlusion (SAO) subtype, according to TOAST classification. In the acute phase, the IS patients presented with NIHSS 4 (interquartile range: 1, 10). Multi-infarction was more common than single infarction (72.7 vs. 27.3%), while cortical + subcortical infarction (CE group: 50%) or subcortical infarction (SAO group: 53.8%) constituted most IS cases. Additionally, the blood supply areas of anterior circulation (CE group: 45.5%; SAO group: 92.3%) or anterior + posterior circulation (CE group: 50%) were mainly involved. The 1-year survival rate of HCM patients with concomitant IS was 81.8%, and IS was associated with 1-year all-cause death in HCM patients (HR = 5.689, 95% CI: 1.784-18.144, p = 0.003). Conclusion: Older age is a risk factor for IS occurrence in HCM patients. Patients with HCM complicated by IS had mild or moderate neurologic deficits at disease onset. CE and SAO subtypes predominate in patients with concomitant IS, especially the former. Multiple cortical and subcortical infarctions are their neuroimaging characteristics, mainly involving the anterior circulation or anterior + posterior circulation. Is is a risk factor for all-cause death in HCM patients within 1 year.

[Intra-annual radial growth of Abies georgei and Larix potaninii and its responses to environmental factors in the Baima Snow Mountain, Northwest Yunnan, China.] / æ»‡è¥¿åŒ—ç™½é©¬é›ªå±±é•¿è‹žå†·æ‰å’Œå¤§æžœçº¢æ‰å¹´å† å¾„å‘ç”Ÿé•¿åŠ¨æ€åŠå ¶å¯¹çŽ¯å¢ƒå› å­çš„å“åº”.

Using high-resolution dendrometers, we monitored the intra-annual stem radial variations of Abies georgei and Larix potaninii in the subalpine coniferous forest in Baima Snow Mountain, Northwest Yunnan Province. The seasonal dynamics of stem radial growth of both species and their responses to environmental factors were analyzed. The results showed that the stem radial growth of A. georgei and L. potaninii mainly occurred during April to August, with the maximum growth rate in June. Compared with A. georgei, L. potaninii showed an earlier start but later cessation of stem radial growth, resulting in longer growth duration. Annual radial growth and maximum radial growth rates of L. potaninii were slightly higher than those of A. georgei. Daily growth rate of A. georgei was positively correlated with precipitation, but negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit and air temperature. Daily growth rate of L. potaninii was positively correlated with precipitation, but negatively correlated with soil volume water content and vapor pressure deficit. Radial growth of A. georgei and L. potaninii was limited by water availability, with L. potaninii being more sensitive to moisture. Under the background of global warming, the increase of plant transpiration and soil evaporation might further aggravate soil water loss and reduce water availability for plants, which would make A. georgei and L. potaninii more vulnerable to drought stress.

Risk factors and a Bayesian network model to predict ischemic stroke in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: This study aimed to identify risk factors and create a predictive model for ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) using the Bayesian network (BN) approach. Materials and methods: We collected clinical data of 634 patients with DCM treated at three referral management centers in Beijing between 2016 and 2021, including 127 with and 507 without IS. The patients were randomly divided into training (441 cases) and test (193 cases) sets at a ratio of 7:3. A BN model was established using the Tabu search algorithm with the training set data and verified with the test set data. The BN and logistic regression models were compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation/flutter, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and intracardiac thrombosis were associated with IS. The BN model found that hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter, eGFR, and intracardiac thrombosis were closely associated with IS. Compared to the logistic regression model, the BN model for IS performed better or equally well in the training and test sets, with respective accuracies of 83.7 and 85.5%, AUC of 0.763 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.708-0.818] and 0.822 (95% CI, 0.748-0.896), sensitivities of 20.2 and 44.2%, and specificities of 98.3 and 97.3%. Conclusion: Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, AF or atrial flutter, low eGFR, and intracardiac thrombosis were good predictors of IS in patients with DCM. The BN model was superior to the traditional logistic regression model in predicting IS in patients with DCM and is, therefore, more suitable for early IS detection and diagnosis, and could help prevent the occurrence and recurrence of IS in this patient cohort.

Leaf gas exchange and water relations of the woody desiccation-tolerant Paraboea rufescens during dehydration and rehydration.

Desiccation-tolerant (DT) plants can withstand dehydration to less than 0.1 g H2O g-1 dry weight. The mechanism for whole-plant recovery from severe dehydration is still not clear, especially for woody DT plants. In the present study, we evaluated the desiccation tolerance and mechanism of recovery for a potentially new woody resurrection plant Paraboea rufescens (Gesneriaceae). We monitored the leaf water status, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and root pressure of potted P. rufescens during dehydration and rehydration, and we investigated the water content and chlorophyll fluorescence of P. rufescens leaves in the field during the dry season. After re-watering from a severely dehydrated state, leaf maximum quantum yield of photosystem II of P. rufescens quickly recovered to well-watered levels. Leaf water status and leaf hydraulic conductance quickly recovered to well-watered levels after re-watering, while leaf gas exchange traits also trended to recovery, but at a slower rate. The maximum root pressure in rehydrated P. rufescens was more than twice in well-watered plants. Our study identified P. rufescens as a new DT woody plant. The whole-plant recovery of P. rufescens from extreme dehydration is potentially associated with an increase of root pressure after rehydration. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms of recovery of DT plants from dehydration.

Preliminary study on the differentiation of vulnerable carotid plaques via analysis of calcium content and spectral curve slope by using gemstone spectral imaging.

Growing evidence indicates that vulnerable carotid plaque rupture is an important cause of stroke. However, the role of novel gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) in the assessment of vulnerable carotid plaques has remained to be sufficiently explored. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of carotid atherosclerotic plaques using both GSI imaging biomarkers and serological biomarkers, and further explore their possible roles in the atherogenic process. The present study analyzed GSI data, including calcium content of carotid atherosclerotic plaques and spectral curve slope, as well as serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) levels in patients with a carotid atherosclerotic plaque using GSI-computed tomographic angiography and immunoturbidimetry. Patients with unstable plaque exhibited a significantly lower calcium content and higher spectral curve slope than those of the stable plaque group. In addition, patients with unstable plaque exhibited an increase in Hs-CRP and MCP-1 levels compared with those of the stable plaque and normal control groups. The alteration in GSI calcium content and spectral curve slope reflects a close link between calcification and plaque instability, while aberrant Hs-CRP and MCP-1 expression are involved in the formation or development of vulnerable plaques. Taken together, the present results strongly support the feasibility of using these serological and newly identified imaging parameters as multiple potential biomarkers relevant to plaque vulnerability or stroke progression.

Thermal safety margins of plant leaves across biomes under a heatwave.

Climate change has great impacts on forest ecosystems, especially with the increasing frequency of heatwaves. Thermal safety margin (TSM) calculated by the difference between body temperature and thermotolerance threshold is useful to predict thermal safety of organisms. It has been widely used for animals, whereas has rarely been reported for plants. Besides, most of the previous studies used only thermotolerance to estimate thermal safety or used thermotolerance and air temperature (Ta) to calculate TSM. However, leaf temperature (Tl) is the real "body" temperature of plant leaves. Tl decoupling from Ta might induce large error in TSM. Here, we investigated TSM of photosystem II (thermotolerance of PSII - the maximum Tl) of dominant canopy plants in four forests from tropical to temperate biomes during a heatwave, and compared the TSMs calculated by Tl (TSM.Tl) and Ta (TSM.Ta) respectively. Also, thermal related leaf traits were investigated. The results showed that both TSM. Tl and TSM.Ta decreased from the cool forests to the hot forests. TSM.Tl was highly correlated with the maximum leaf temperature (Tlmax), while had an opposite trend with thermotolerance across biomes. Thus, Tlmax instead of thermotolerance can be used to evaluate TSM. The maximum Ta (Tamax), Tlmax and leaf traits explained 68% of the variance of thermotolerance in a random forest model, where Tamax and Tlmax explained 62%. TSM.Ta could not distinguish thermal safety differences between co-occurring species. The overestimation of TSM by TSM.Ta increased from the tropical to the temperate forest, and increased with Tl within biome. Therefore, it is not recommended to use TSM.Ta in cold forests. The present study enriches the dataset of photosynthetic TSMs across biomes, proposes using Tlmax to estimate TSMs of leaves, and highlights the risk of hot dry forest during heatwaves.