Journal impact factor (JIF) and journal ranking play essential roles in scholarly publishing and research assessment, but the overuse of these metrics has recently drawn criticism. One topic of major ...debate is that certain objective measurable and controlled variables, including publication delay, journal size and article size, could impact JIF; in addition, journal identity is increasingly becoming a matter of concern. In this study, we focus mainly on the links between publication delays, number of published articles per year, average paper length and JIF and explore the mechanisms of journal ranking levels according to these variables. After a thorough survey of 53 forestry journals, we find that (1) compared to other fields, forestry research has a humble publishing culture with a lower JIF, smaller journal size, longer articles and rather substantial time to accept and publish the original articles in their final form. (2) More published articles per year could help a forestry journal rank in the top 50%. In addition, for non open access journals, a shorter period between manuscript acceptance and the final published version, a longer time between online available and final publication, and more time from articles receiving to online posting positively impact journal ranking; while for open access journals, longer paper length and faster article acceptance has a positive influence on ranking. (3) There is statistical evidence that publication practice preferences exist between different ranking levels. This research provides an objective view for rethinking the overdependence on JIF and journal ranking in research assessment.
•ES was greater near the crown and the root than at the middle stem positions.•Nitrogen was the primary nutrient element affecting ES.•Sapwood width was the primary wood structure affecting ES.•C ...emissions from older tree was underestimated without the vertical variation in ES.•A model of ES for each stem position was established.
Stem CO2 efflux (ES) plays an essential role in the carbon balance of forest ecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to study the vertical and seasonal variations in ES in forests with different ages, especially in response to factors associated with temperature, nutrients and wood structure. In this study, we investigated ES and its association with temperature factors using a carbon flux system (Li-8100A) at monthly intervals during the growing season (May to September) and the non-growing season (October) from 2013 to 2015. In addition, we collected data on nutrients and wood structure in August 2016 from 16- (young), 25- (immature), and 41-year-old (mature) Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr stands in North China. Our analysis showed that the ES values at stem positions near the crown and the root system were generally higher than those in the middle and that the minimum ES values in July occurred at 2.0 m (3.61 μmol m−2 s−1), 3.0 m (2.42 μmol m−2 s−1), and 5.0 m (4.03 μmol m−2 s−1) in the young, immature, and mature forests, respectively. Air temperature and wood temperature influenced the vertical variation in ES, as did stem nitrogen concentration and sapwood width. Compared to the method that uses the vertical ES gradient to determine tree-scale CO2 effluxes for 16-, 25- and 41-year-old L. principis-rupprechtii forests, the method that uses the ES value at the 1.3-m stem position underestimated the CO2 effluxes by 5%, 6%, and 24%, respectively. The ES and Q10 models for each stem position for the three forest ages in this study can be used to accurately estimate tree-scale CO2 effluxes. These results not only clarified the relationships between the vertical variation in ES and temperature, nutrient content and wood structure, but also revealed the likely response mechanisms of ES to these factors. Methodologically, incorporating the vertical variation in ES and the associated drivers into conventional models would improve the accuracy of annual ES estimates.
The DNA damage response (DDR) is a highly orchestrated process but how double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) are initially recognized is unclear. Here, we show that polymerized SIRT6 deacetylase recognizes ...DSBs and potentiates the DDR in human and mouse cells. First, SIRT1 deacetylates SIRT6 at residue K33, which is important for SIRT6 polymerization and mobilization toward DSBs. Then, K33-deacetylated SIRT6 anchors to γH2AX, allowing its retention on and subsequent remodeling of local chromatin. We show that a K33R mutation that mimics hypoacetylated SIRT6 can rescue defective DNA repair as a result of
deficiency in cultured cells. These data highlight the synergistic action between SIRTs in the spatiotemporal regulation of the DDR and DNA repair in humans and mice.
This is the first report on the detailed characteristics of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and epileptic seizures.
This report estimated the proportion of severe/critical patients and mortality ...in patients with epilepsy.
Individuals with epilepsy seizures were not likely to have recurrent seizures if antiepileptic drugs treatment continue before and after admission.
This study aims to present the clinical characteristics of 30 hospitalized cases with epileptic seizures and coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).
This is a retrospective observational research study. Clinical data were extracted from electronic medical records in 1550 patients with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, who were hospitalized in Wuhan Central Hospital, China, from 1 January to 31 April 2020. 30 COVID-19 patients with the diagnosis of epilepsy were enrolled. The clinical characteristics, complications, treatments, and clinical outcomes of 30 cases were collected and analyzed.
Of 30 patients with a diagnosis of epilepsy and COVID-19, 13 patients (43.4%) had new-onset epileptic seizures without an epilepsy history(new-onset seizure group, NS group), ten patients(33.3%) had an epilepsy history with a recurrent epileptic seizure (recurrent seizure group, RS group) and seven patients(23.3%) had an epilepsy history but no seizure during the course of COVID-19 (epilepsy history group, EH group). Patients in the RS group had a larger number of other-neurological-disease histories than those in the NS and EH groups (7/1070% VS 1/13 7.7% VS 1/714.3%); the difference between the RS group and NS group is significant (P < 0.05). Patients in the NE and RS groups suffered more severe/critical COVID-19 infection than patients in the EH group (10/1376.9% VS 6/1060% VS 1/714.3%); the difference between the NS group and EH group is significant (P < 0.05). 36.7% of patients had one to five neurological complications, and 46.4% of patients had 6–10 neurological complications. The complications in patients with seizures (in the RS and NS groups) seem to be more than those without seizures (in the EH group), but it did not reach statistical significance. The proportion of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) treatment before admission was higher in the EH group than in the RE group(7/7 100% VS 2/10 20%, P < 0.05). The mortality of 30 patients with epilepsy and COVID-19 was 36.67%. The mortality of the NS group(38.5%) and the RS group(50%) were a little higher than in the EH group(14.3%). None of the convalescent patients had a recurrent seizure, and there were no more deaths in the 3-month follow-up after discharge.
COVID-19 patients with recurrent epileptic seizures had more underlying neurological diseases than patients who had an epilepsy history but without a seizure. Patients with new-onset and recurrent epileptic seizures suffered more severe/critical COVID-19, which may lead to a worse prognosis. If patients with epilepsy history continue using AEDs during COVID-19 pandemics, the risk of recurrent seizure may be reduced, and a good prognosis for patients with epilepsy history could be expected.
The deciduous tree Idesia polycarpa can provide premium edible oil with high polyunsaturated fatty acid contents. Here, we generate its high-quality reference genome, which is ∼1.21 Gb, comprising 21 ...pseudochromosomes and 42,086 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic and genomic synteny analyses show that it diverged with Populus trichocarpa about 16.28 million years ago. Notably, most fatty acid biosynthesis genes are not only increased in number in its genome but are also highly expressed in the fruits. Moreover, we identify, through genome-wide association analysis and RNA sequencing, the I. polycarpa SUGAR TRANSPORTER 5 (IpSTP5) gene as a positive regulator of high oil accumulation in the fruits. Silencing of IpSTP5 by virus-induced gene silencing causes a significant reduction of oil content in the fruits, suggesting it has the potential to be used as a molecular marker to breed the high-oil-content cultivars. Our results collectively lay the foundation for breeding the elite cultivars of I. polycarpa.
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•A chromosome-level genome of Idesia polycarpa is presented•I. polycarpa and P. trichocarpa share a common ancestor in Salicaceae family•A potential oil-content-related gene, SUGAR TRANSPORTER 5 (IpSTP5), is identified
Zuo et al. report a chromosome-level genome of Idesia polycarpa, a Chinese native deciduous tree, whose fruits can be used for extracting high-quality edible oil. Further, they identify a potential oil-content-related gene, SUGAR TRANSPORTER 5 (IpSTP5), by population analysis of 42 wild accessions.
In order to explore the adaptation of sympatric invasive lianas Dolichandra unguis-cati and Anredera cordifolia to light intensity, and to study the effects of different levels of light intensity on ...their seedling growth and photosynthetic physiology, field shading experiments were conducted. We also selected the sympatric native lianas Hedera nepalensis var. Sinensis as a control. The results showed that, under light shade and strong light, the growth of D. unguis-cati was the best. The growth parameters, net photosynthetic rate, and water use efficiency of D. unguis-cati were the highest, and the contents of photosynthetic pigments were the highest under different light conditions. These results indicated that sufficient light could significantly promote the biomass accumulation and gas exchange of D. unguis-cati, and that D. unguis-cati could maintain efficient light trapping and light protection abilities under different light environments. Under heavy shade, the growth rate of A. cordifolia was the best. The growth parameters of A. cordifolia were significantly greater than those of D. unguis-cati and H. nepalensis var. Sinensis, and the gas exchange parameters were significantly greater than those of H. nepalensis var. Sinensis. However, the growth of the shoot system of A. cordifolia was almost halted under strong light, and the growth indexes were weaker than those of H. nepalensis var. Sinensis. In conclusion, the seedlings of D. unguis-cati had a strong ability to withstand strong light stress, and the seedlings of A. cordifolia had a strong shade tolerance but not strong light stress.
We aimed to explore the biomarkers for disease progression or the risk of nonsurvivors.
This study included 134 hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. The outcome of moderate versus ...severe versus critically ill patients and survivors versus nonsurvivors were compared.
An increase in the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia was positively associated with lower levels of platelets and albumin (all p < 0.05). In the critical group, the plasma levels of albumin continued to have a significant association for the risk of nonsurvivors (p < 0.05), even after adjusting for confounding factors.
Albumin levels could be used as an independent predictor of the risk of nonsurvivors in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
This article presents a rapid preparation method of phenolic aerogels using thermoplastic phenolic resin as a raw material under atmospheric pressure, a low temperature and mass fraction of the resin ...varying from 10 to 30%. The results showed that the initial stage of the aging time of the aerogel with resin mass fraction of 10% (PF-10) was at least 34 h to ensure no neck shrinkage during drying, while that with 30% phenolic content (PF-30) was only 1h. The prepared aerogels had a minimum density of 0.129 g/cm
3
and a minimum shrinkage of 0.391%. With the increase of mass fraction of resin, the thermal conductivity of the aerogels decreased first and then increased, and PF-20 had the lowest thermal conductivity, being 0.037 W/(m·K). The effects of resin content on the microstructure were reflected in the pore size of aerogels which decreased from 773 nm for PF-10 to 43.328 nm for PF-30 and the particle size of the phenolic resin which decreased from 194 to 28 nm. The specific surface area increased from 37.707 to 177.231 m
2
/g, and the number of micropores increased. In terms of mechanical properties, the aerogel with 10% resin mass fraction had a minimum compressive strength of 0.342 MPa and a compressive modulus of 12.811 MPa, showing good elasticity. When the resin content was 30%, the strength and modulus increased to 8.309 and 348.060 MPa respectively. Its specific strength and specific modulus were 16.553 and 693.346 N·m/g, respectively, and the rigidity was greatly increased.
Pingtan Island is the largest island in Fujian Province and the fifth largest island in China. The invasion of a large number of alien plants has had a profound impact on the local ecological ...environment. Because the harm caused by alien invasive plants varies greatly between different ecosystems and even in different habitats, the risk assessment index system suitable for one region may not be suitable for other regions. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a risk assessment index system for invasive alien plants on Pingtan Island. Alien plant communities in different habitats were studied by means of quadrat investigation and professional literature review. Some invasive alien species were selected and compiled into a list of invasive alien plants on Pingtan Island, and their species composition, origin, flora, life forms, and habitats were statistically grouped. There were 104 species in 80 genera and 37 families of alien invasive plants. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Amaranthaceae, and Poaceae were the main families, accounting for 26.7%, 6.7%, 6.7% and 5.8% of the total species, respectively. The geographical components of families and genera have obvious tropical properties, accounting for 51.3% and 66.6% of the total species, respectively. These originated mainly from South America and North America, accounting for 45.5% and 30.1% of the total frequency, respectively. Annual herbs, biennial herbs, and perennial herbs accounted for 84.6% of the total species. Based on a DPSIR conceptual model and an AHP method, an invasion risk assessment of 104 invasive alien plants was conducted. The ecological adaptability, habitat distribution and landscape impact of species were considered in the selection of indicators and the formulation of standards. A total of 23 high-risk invasive species were identified at level I, 37 medium-risk invasive species at level II, and 44 low-risk invasive species at level III. Lantana camara L. had the highest risk score (49), followed by Cenchrus echinatus L. (45), Spartina alterniflora Loisel. (45), and Panicum repens L. (43.5). Suggestions are put forward to prevent the invasion of alien plants on Pingtan Island and to provide a theoretical basis for promoting the healthy and stable development of the ecological environment on the island.
Key Clinical Message
Maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) is often caused by the m.3243A > G mutation in mitochondrial DNA. Unfortunately, the characteristics of MIDD, especially ...long‐term outcomes and heteroplasmic changes, have not been well described previously. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and genetic features of a family with MIDD after 10 years of follow‐up.A 33‐year‐old male patient with typical characteristics of MIDD, including early‐onset diabetes, deafness, and low body mass index, was admitted to our department. Further investigation revealed that the vast majority of his maternal relatives suffered from diabetes with or without deafness. A detailed family history was then requested from the patient and a pedigree was constructed. The patient suspected of MIDD was screened for mutations using whole mitochondrial DNA sequencing. Candidate pathogenic variants were then validated in other family members through Sanger sequencing. The patient was diagnosed with MIDD, with inherited m.3243A > G mutation in the mitochondrially encoded tRNA leucine 1 (MT‐TL1) gene, after 10 years of symptom onset. The patient was then treated with insulin and coenzyme Q10 to improve mitochondrial function. During the follow‐up period, his fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels were improved and the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis was significantly reduced. Our findings indicate that whole mitochondrial DNA sequencing should be considered for patients suspected of MIDD to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and prognosis.
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