The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge facing the world. Meteorological parameters are reportedly crucial factors ...affecting respiratory infectious disease epidemics; however, the effect of meteorological parameters on COVID-19 remains controversial. This study investigated the effects of temperature and relative humidity on daily new cases and daily new deaths of COVID-19, which has useful implications for policymakers and the public. Daily data on meteorological conditions, new cases and new deaths of COVID-19 were collected for 166 countries (excluding China) as of March 27, 2020. Log-linear generalized additive model was used to analyze the effects of temperature and relative humidity on daily new cases and daily new deaths of COVID-19, with potential confounders controlled for, including wind speed, median age of the national population, Global Health Security Index, Human Development Index and population density. Our findings revealed that temperature and relative humidity were both negatively related to daily new cases and deaths. A 1 °C increase in temperature was associated with a 3.08% (95% CI: 1.53%, 4.63%) reduction in daily new cases and a 1.19% (95% CI: 0.44%, 1.95%) reduction in daily new deaths, whereas a 1% increase in relative humidity was associated with a 0.85% (95% CI: 0.51%, 1.19%) reduction in daily new cases and a 0.51% (95% CI: 0.34%, 0.67%) reduction in daily new deaths. The results remained robust when different lag structures and the sensitivity analysis were used. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic may be partially suppressed with temperature and humidity increases. However, active measures must be taken to control the source of infection, block transmission and prevent further spread of COVID-19.
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•First study to explore the effects of temperature and humidity on the daily new cases and deaths of COVID-19 worldwide.•We used log-linear GAM to analyze the effects.•We considered the lag effects and the cumulative effects of weather conditions.•Temperature and relative humidity were both negatively related to the daily new cases and daily new deaths of COVID-19
Abstract
Background
Hiatal hernias negatively damage patients’ health and life quality. Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair is currently the gold standard for the treatment of hiatal hernia (LHHR). ...Numerous clinical trials on laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair have been done, but the published findings are highly variable due to the lack of unique outcome sets. Basic outcome sets have ever been established over the previous decade for a few procedures, but not for hiatal hernia repair yet. This protocol outlines the procedure to develop a core outcome set for laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair COS-LHHR). COS-LHHR will provide a unique criteria for clinical investigations.
Methods
This study will be conducted in four phases: (1) scoping reviews of existing qualitative studies and outcome reporting in randomized controlled trials to develop a list of potential outcome domains; (2) qualitative interviews with patients to explore the impact of laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair and the outcomes that they care most; (3) a multi-round e-Delphi study to achieve preliminary consensus on the core outcome set; and (4) an evidence-based consensus on a core outcome set will be achieved through a structured group consensus meeting, recommending best assessment outcome sets.
Discussion
The development the COS-LHHR will guide clinical research of laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair with unique outcome assessment. This would improve comparative analyses among studies.
To further optimize birth policy, China implemented a new three-child policy to allow per couple to have up to three children on May 31, 2021.
A national cross-sectional survey was conducted among 18 ...to 49-year-old Chinese parents who had at least one child in June 2021. We calculated the prevalence of self-reported childrearing barriers and used univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression to analyze associated factors.
94.7% of the respondents self-reported barriers to rearing children aged 0-3 years, and the biggest barrier included high time cost (39.3%), high parenting cost (36.5%) and high education cost (13.5%). Women (aOR 1.49, 95%CI 1.13,1.96) and people with college degree or above (aOR 3.46, 95%CI 2.08, 5.75) were associated with higher prevalence of childrearing barriers, and people who intended to have a second child (aOR 0.58, 95%CI 0.40, 0.83) and people who intended to have a third child (aOR 0.51,95%CI 0.37, 0.71) were less likely to report childrearing barriers. The biggest barrier was more likely to be high time cost for parents one of whom is only child (aOR1.21, 95%CI 1.03, 1.42) and physical factors for parents both of whom are only child (aOR 1.56,95%CI 1.08, 2.26).
The prevalence of barriers to rearing children aged 0-3 years was high among Chinese people of childbearing age who had children. Full consideration should be given to the barriers of people with different sociodemographic characteristics and people with fertility intention, thus making targeted childrearing policies and supporting measures to reduce the burden on people of childbearing age, encourage suitable couples to have a second or third child and then cope with China's aging population.
TCP transcription factors are important regulators of plant growth and proliferation processes, such as leaf morphogenesis, petal growth and development, and shoot branching. Here, an RNA-seq ...analysis revealed that an
Acer palmatum
class II TCP transcription factor was differentially expressed in ‘Jinlinghuangfeng’ and the mutant ‘Jinlinghuangyu,’ which exhibit different expression level of microRNA 319 (miR319). We isolated and functionally characterized this gene, which is named
ApTCP2
.
ApTCP2
expression was detected in the root, stem, and leaf and was strongest in the leaf.
ApTCP2
is deposited in the nucleus and exhibits no transcriptional activation ability in yeast. The overexpression of
ApTCP2
and
ApmTCP2
(an mRNA sequence with synonymous changes from
ApTCP2
that exhibits reduced sequence complementarity to miR319) in Arabidopsis
jaw-D
plants (which overexpress miR319) rescued the leaf defects in these plants. In Arabidopsis,
ApTCP2
and
ApmTCP2
affected the flowering period, and leaf senescence was accelerated by high expression of
ApTCP2
and
ApmTCP2
. The transcript levels of key jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis genes (
LIPOXYGENASE
AtLOXs
;
AtLOX2
,
AtLOX3
, and
AtLOX4
) were increased in the transgenic lines. Our results reveal that
ApTCP2
plays multiple roles, including modulating leaf morphogenesis, affecting flowering and positively regulating leaf senescence, via miR319, and these effects are at least partially achieved by influencing JA biosynthesis.
Acer truncatum (purpleblow maple) is a woody tree species that produces seeds with high levels of valuable fatty acids (especially nervonic acid). The species is admired as a landscape plant with ...high developmental prospects and scientific research value. The A. truncatum chloroplast genome has recently been reported; however, the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) is still unexplored.
We characterized the A. truncatum mitogenome, which was assembled using reads from PacBio and Illumina sequencing platforms, performed a comparative analysis against different species of Acer. The circular mitogenome of A. truncatum has a length of 791,052 bp, with a base composition of 27.11% A, 27.21% T, 22.79% G, and 22.89% C. The A. truncatum mitogenome contains 62 genes, including 35 protein-coding genes, 23 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes. We also examined codon usage, sequence repeats, RNA editing and selective pressure in the A. truncatum mitogenome. To determine the evolutionary and taxonomic status of A. truncatum, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on the mitogenomes of A. truncatum and 25 other taxa. In addition, the gene migration from chloroplast and nuclear genomes to the mitogenome were analyzed. Finally, we developed a novel NAD1 intron indel marker for distinguishing several Acer species.
In this study, we assembled and annotated the mitogenome of A. truncatum, a woody oil-tree species producing nervonic acid. The results of our analyses provide comprehensive information on the A. truncatum mitogenome, which would facilitate evolutionary research and molecular barcoding in Acer.
Purpose
The aim of this study was to examine the association between periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation and risk of preterm birth.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study in ...women aged 18–49 who participated in the NFPHEP from 2010 to 2018, and had a singleton livebirth in 129 counties in southwest China. Participants were divided into four groups according to the time period starting FA use: no use, after the last menstrual period, at least 1–2 months before the last menstrual period, at least 3 months before the last menstrual period. The outcomes were preterm birth (gestation < 37 weeks) and early preterm birth (gestation < 34 weeks).
Results
201,477 women were included and 191,809 (95.2%) had taken FA during periconception. Compared with women who did not take FA, women who started taking FA 1–2 months before their last menstrual period had a 15% lower risk of preterm birth (aOR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.79–0.92), and women who started taking FA at least 3 months before their last menstrual period had a 20% lower risk of preterm birth (aOR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.75–0.87), but women who started taking FA after their last menstrual period did not appear to reduce the risk of preterm birth.
Conclusions
In this study of 200,000 Chinese women, periconceptional supplementation with FA was associated with a lower risk of preterm birth. Women who started taking FA at least 3 months before their last menstrual period were more likely to reduce the risk of preterm birth.
Abstract
Background
Globally, the prevalence of anemia among women of reproductive age is about 29.4%, and anemia impacts about 40% of pregnant women and more than 20% of non-pregnant women. We ...conducted a longitudinal observational study of anemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women, and analyzed the association between the prevalence of anemia and sociodemographic characteristics of women in southwest China.
Methods
This study was a longitudinal observational study which involved 640,672 women aged 18–49 years from 129 counties in southwest China. Data were from databases of National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP) and electronic medical records of local hospitals. We adjusted the diagnostic thresholds of anemia for altitude. The prevalence of anemia was expressed in percentages and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The association between the prevalence of anemia and sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant and non-pregnant women were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression method, expressed in crude odds ratio (cOR), adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95%CI.
Results
Of the 640,672 participants, 121,254 women suffered from anemia, with the prevalence of 18.9% (95%CI: 18.8–19.0%). From 2014 to 2018, the prevalence of anemia declines from 23.0–16.4%.The prevalence was 21.6% in the first trimester, higher than women in non-pregnancy (17.4%) and women in the third trimester (10.5%). Results from the multivariable logistic regression showed that women aged 18–20 (aOR = 1.28) or over 35 years old (aOR = 1.07), being farmers (aOR = 1.42), being ethnic minorities (aOR: 1.19 ~ 1.73), during the first trimester (aOR = 1.32) were more likely to be anemic.
Conclusions
Although the anemia prevalence of women of reproductive age has been decreasing in recent years, the prevalence of anemia is still high in pregnant and non-pregnant women in southwest China, especially during the first trimester. Women who were older or younger, being farmers, being ethnic minorities were at high risk of anemia. Anemia in women of reproductive age cannot be neglected.
Intronless genes are a significant characteristic of prokaryotes. Systematic identification and annotation are primary and crucial steps for determining the functions of intronless genes and ...understanding their occurrence in eukaryotes.
In this paper, we describe the construction of the Intronless Genes Database in Dicots (IGDD; available at http://bio.njfu.edu.cn/igdd/ ), which contains data for five well-annotated plants including Arabidopsis thaliana, Carica papaya, Populus trichocarpa, Salix suchowensis and Vitis vinifera. Using highly visual settings, IGDD displays the structural and functional annotations, the homolog groups, the syntenic relationships, the expression patterns, and the statistical characteristics of intronless genes. In addition, useful tools such as an advanced search and local BLAST are available through a user-friendly and intuitive web interface.
In conclusion, the IGDD provides a comprehensive and up-to-date platform for researchers to assist the exploration of intronless genes in dicot plants.
Abstract
Background
Water uptake is essential for seed germination. However,
Gleditsia sinensis
seeds have a water-impermeable seed coat, which is beneficial for its adaption to the environment, but ...prohibits its germination without treatment. This feature may be associated with the structure of the seed coat. Thus, the aim of this research was to identify and describe the initial water uptake site and water movement and to determine the relationship between seed coat structure and water absorption.
Results
A water temperature of 80 °C was optimal to break the hardseededness of
G. sinensis
seeds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the seed coat consisted of a palisade layer and light line that can hinder water entry into the seed. Also, a structure of vascular bundles existed in the hilar region. Hot water treatment caused the tightly closed micropyle to open and the cavity beneath it expanded; the layer of palisade cells in the lens was raised. The embryo dye-tracking tests showed that the radicle tip was the initial region to be stained red. After staining for 24 h, the red-stained area on the vascular bundle side of cotyledon was more extensive than that on the other side. Further studies by MRI maps indicated that the micropyle was the initial site for water imbibition. Some water then migrated along the space between the seed coat and the endosperm to the chalazal; simultaneously, the rest of the water reached the embryonic axis and spread into cotyledons. The maps of 20–24 h showed that water was unevenly distributed within the cotyledons in a way that the edge parts were more hydrated than the center. Blocking tests showed that the hilar region was the initial and an important region during seed imbibition. The medial region and chalazal portion were capable of imbibing water when the hilar region was blocked, but water absorption was later and slower than that through the hilar region.
Conclusion
MRI technology provides a promising and non-invasive technique to identify the water gap and the path of water movement in the seed. Combined with the results of SEM, the relation between seed coat and its imbibition can be inferred.
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