Causal role of immune cells in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome: Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Despite being one of the most prevalent sleep disorders, obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome (OSAHS) has limited information on its immunologic foundation. The immunological underpinnings of certain major psychiatric diseases have been uncovered in recent years thanks to the extensive use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genotyping techniques using high-density genetic markers (e.g., SNP or CNVs). But this tactic hasn't yet been applied to OSAHS. Using a Mendelian randomization analysis, we analyzed the causal link between immune cells and the illness in order to comprehend the immunological bases of OSAHS. AIM: To investigate the immune cells' association with OSAHS via genetic methods, guiding future clinical research. METHODS: A comprehensive two-sample mendelian randomization study was conducted to investigate the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and OSAHS. Summary statistics for each immune cell feature were obtained from the GWAS catalog. Information on 731 immune cell properties, such as morphologic parameters, median fluorescence intensity, absolute cellular, and relative cellular, was compiled using publicly available genetic databases. The results' robustness, heterogeneity, and horizontal pleiotropy were confirmed using extensive sensitivity examination. RESULTS: Following false discovery rate (FDR) correction, no statistically significant effect of OSAHS on immunophenotypes was observed. However, two lymphocyte subsets were found to have a significant association with the risk of OSAHS: Basophil %CD33dim HLA DR- CD66b- (OR = 1.03, 95%CI = 1.01-1.03, P < 0.001); CD38 on IgD+ CD24- B cell (OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.02-1.04, P = 0.019). CONCLUSION: This study shows a strong link between immune cells and OSAHS through a gene approach, thus offering direction for potential future medical research.

[Effects of vegetation cover and normalized difference moisture index on thermal landscape pattern: a case study of Guangzhou, South China].

By using Landsat-5 TM images, the land surface temperature (LST), vegetation cover, and normalized difference moisture index (NDMI) in different areas of Guangzhou were extracted, and the effects of vegetation cover and NDMI on the land surface temperature of the City were studied, based on the landscape ecological methodologies. There existed good linear correlations among the vegetation cover, land surface temperature, and NDMI, but the correlation coefficients for any two of the three items differed obviously with different areas. If the vegetation cover in different areas of Guangzhou was improved to the same level, urban center had the best cooling effect, followed by the suburbs in the north edge of urban center. The forest parks in different areas of the City also had different cooling effect on the surrounding environment. The difference of the average temperature between the 960-1080 m buffer zone and the inner park were 4.69 degrees C in Baiyun Mountain, 1.27 degrees C in Mazaishan, and 0.41 degrees C in Liuxihe. High vegetation cover could increase the thermal landscape heterogeneity and the aggregation among different landscapes, and promote the energy exchange between the lower temperature patches and higher temperature patches, playing an important role in controlling hot island effect. NDMI and vegetation cover had the same effects on the formation of thermal landscape pattern.

Comparison of the rate capability of nanostructured amorphous and anatase TiO2 for lithium insertion using anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays.

Nanostructured amorphous and anatase TiO2 are both considered as high rate Li-insertion/extraction electrode materials. To clarify which phase is more desirable for lithium ion batteries with both high power and high density, we compare the electrochemical properties of anatase and amorphous TiO2 by using anodic TiO2 nanotube arrays (ATNTAs) as electrodes. With the same morphological features, the rate capacity of nanostructured amorphous TiO2 is higher than that of nanostructured anatase TiO2 due to the higher Li-diffusion coefficient of amorphous TiO2 as proved by the electrochemical impedance spectra of an amorphous and an anatase ATNTA electrode. The electrochemical impedance spectra also prove that the electronic conductivity of amorphous TiO2 is lower than that of anatase TiO2. These results are helpful in the structural and componential design of all TiO2 mesoporous structures as anode material in lithium ion batteries. Moreover, all the advantages of the amorphous ATNTA electrode including high rate capacity, desirable cycling performance and the simplicity of its fabrication process indicate that amorphous ATNTA is potentially useful as the anode for lithium ion batteries with both high power and high energy density.

[Application of five atmospheric correction models for Landsat TM data in vegetation remote sensing].

Based on the Landsat TM image of northeast Guangzhou City and north Huizhou City on July 18, 2005, and compared with apparent reflectance model, five atmospheric correction models including four dark object subtraction models and 6S model were evaluated from the aspects of vegetation reflectance, surface reflectance, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The results showed that the dark object subtraction model DOS4 produced the highest accurate vegetation reflectance, and had the largest information loads for surface reflectance and NDVI, being the best for the atmospheric correction in the study areas. It was necessary to analyze and to compare different models to find out an appropriate model for atmospheric correction in the study of other areas.

[Forest biomass and its dynamics in Pearl River Delta].

Based on the observation data obtained from 69 sampling sites of different age class forests, and by using biomass expansion factor function, the regression equations of stand biomass and volume of the main forest types in Pearl River Delta were built, and the regional forest biomass and its dynamics were estimated on the basis of forest inventory data. The results showed that most of the forests in Pearl River Delta were of young-medium age, which occupied 80% or more of the total forest area, and their undergrowth biomass accounted for about 33% of the total forest biomass, indicating that the regional forest biomass could be estimated more exactly if undergrowth biomass was fully concerned. In the periods of 1989-1993, 1994-1998 and 1999-2003, the forest biomass in Pearl River Delta increased by 14. 67 x 10(6) t in total, among which, Pinus massoniana forest, evergreen broadleaf forest, and conifer and deciduous mixed forest contributed about 80%. Young-medium age forest biomass accounted for 90% of the total, but the proportion was decreased gradually. The forest area in the Delta almost kept unvaried, and the forest biomass was increasing year after year, with an annual increment of about 1.2%. Better fostering and managing the existing forests is very important to have more forest biomass and better environmental effect that regional forests offered.

Heavy metal concentrations in plants and soils at roadside locations and parks of urban Guangzhou.

Levels of Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr were measured in soils and trees in urban Guangzhou, China. Tree and soil samples were collected from the roadside, urban parks and a university campus. Mean concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr in tree leaves were 28.3, 7.7, 142.1, 23.4, and 195.1 mg/kg respectively. In a comparison of heavy metal concentrations in tree leaves between roads and park locations, only Pb concentrations were significantly higher in the former. Heavy metal concentrations were lower in the roots compared to leaves. It indicated that heavy metal pollution of trees is mainly from air pollution. For all top soil samples the mean concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr were 24.3, 17.3, 121.5, 63.9 and 88.7 mg/kg, respectively. Heavy metal concentrations in roadside soils were higher and their coefficient of variation was higher than those in urban parks. Comparing heavy metal concentrations in trees and soil between urban Guangzhou and Hainan Island, China, Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb and Cr levels in soils and plants in urban Guangzhou were evidently affected by the human impact. However the heavy metal content in the soil compared to some international standards do not give cause for concern. Some observations on the implications of the data for environmental monitoring are made.

Observations on carbon and nitrogen content of suspended matter in a headwater stream in Hong Kong.

The total carbon(C) and total nitrogen(N) content of suspended matter in a small undisturbed headwater drainage basin in the New Territories of Hong Kong has been monitored. Mean C and N contents were 12.85% and 0.99% respectively for 132 samples. Samples collected under stableflow conditions had mean C and N contents of 12.81% and 1.06% respectively. Stormflow samples had mean C and N values of 12.86% and 0.97% respectively, which were very similar to the levels observed under stableflow conditions. The mean C:N ratios of 12.47 and 13.39 for stableflow and stormflow also reveal little difference according to hydrologic conditions. When all the data is considered little difference is observed in C and N according to the season. However, in winter there is a significant difference in C and N content between stable and stormflow samples. When C and N are plotted against water level the scattergraphs suggested that as stage increases the percentage of C and N in the suspended matter declines. Scattergraphs of C and N against suspended sediment concentration reveal a negative association. Comparison has been made between fresh leaf C, N and C/N ratio for trees and shrubs and the suspended matter. Fresh leaves do not appear to contribute significantly to suspended matter. The C/N ratio of suspended matter would also seem to exclude woody material and algae as sources of suspended matter.

Roles of urban vegetation on balance of carbon and oxygen in Guangzhou, China.

The plant biomass and net primary production (NPP) of urban vegetation in Guangzhou were estimated by dimension analysis, tree truck volume, and harvest methods as well as relationship between biomass and NPP and so on. The biomass and NPP were respectively 2875150t and 1058122 t/a. They were respectively 392495t and 64948 t/a in the built-up area and 2482655t and 993147 t/a in the unbuilt-up area. It would make plant biomass, especially NPP decline obviously, if the unbuilt-up area were changed to the built-up area. The carbon content of plant was 1328649 for the total and 13.78 t/hm2 for the mean, and amounts of carbon fixed and oxygen made by urban vegetation were respectively 4.80 t/(hm2 x a) and 12.79 t/(hm2 x a) for the mean and 462624 t/a and 1232430 t/a for the total, which were equal to 1.45 times and 1.04 times of those by human breathing. However, they were only equal to 7.61% and 4.97% of amount of carbon released and oxygen consumption in urban Guangzhou. The biomass and NPP of urban vegetation in Guangzhou only corresponded to 7.8% and 47.3% of those of southern subtropical evergreen broad-leaf forest in Dinghu Mountain. Therefore, the roles of Guangzhou urban vegetation in balance of carbon and oxygen would be increased greatly if it could be conserved and improved in some way.