Morningness–eveningness interferes with perceived health,physical activity,diet and stress levels in working women: A cross-sectional study

Sleep and health are closely interrelated and sleep quality is a well-known contributor to perceived health. However, effects of sleep-timing preference i.e. morningness–eveningness on health has yet to be revealed. In this study, we explored the relationship between morningness–eveningness and perceived health in a sample of female working professionals (N?=?202). Sleep-timing preference was measured using the Composite Scale of Morningness. Perceived health was characterized by Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, WHO Well-Being Scale-5 and Patient Health Questionnaire-15 scores. We also investigated possible mechanisms, including stress and health-impairing behaviours. In accordance with previous data, we found more depressive mood, lower well-being and poorer perceived health among evening types. To assess health-impairing behaviours we collected data on smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity and diet. Among the possible mechanism variables, greater stress, less frequent physical activity and less healthy diet were associated with eveningness. Furthermore, stress diminished the strength of the association between morningness–eveningness and depressed mood. Physical activity attenuated the strength of the association between morningness–eveningness and well-being. No effects of alcohol consumption could be identified. Our data show that evening preference behaves as a health risk in terms of associating with poor perceived health. Our findings also suggest that this effect might be mediated by health behaviours and stress.     

Metal elements associate with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in 195 couples

PurposeEnvironmental factors may affecting reproductive function reduction and embryonic development. Couples who are exposed to heavy metals for a long time may affect the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF). To evaluate the effect of elements on IVF outcomes, a total of 195 couples undergoing IVF were included in this study.MethodsElements including V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Ba, Hg, Tl, Pb were measured in serum and follicular fluid (FF) samples of female and semen samples of male by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Multiple linear regression were applied to evaluate the association between metal elements and semen quality parameters and the number of oocytes in MII stage. Poisson regression and the robust variance estimation of the generalized estimation equation were used to evaluate the association between elements and IVF outcomes.ResultsThe statistical results showed that Cr had a significant negative correlation with total sperm concentration (TSC) and total motile sperm count (TMC), the correlation coefficients were -0.52 (-0.27∼1.43) and -0.4(-1.24, 0.45), respectively. At the same time, Ba was significantly correlated with TSC and TMC, the correlation coefficients were 0.1(-0.15∼0.34) and 0.12(-0.13, 0.36), respectively. Cr, Ba and Pb in follicular fluid (FF) had a significant positive correlation with the number of oocytes in MII stage. The correlation coefficients were 3.15 (0.79, 5.52), 1.54 (-0.27, 3.36), 12.27 (7.49, 17.04). The Tl level of FF was significantly associated with the high probability of blastocyst formation and high-quality blastocysts (RR: 2.83, 95 % CI: 0.92∼7.95; RR: 3.12, 95 % CI: 0.64, 12.84). The Hg level (RR: 3.98, 95 % CI: 0.78∼14.77) and the Ba level in serum (RR: 12.75 95 % CI: 1.31∼89.71) were significantly correlated with high-quality blastocysts. The levels of Ni, Cu, Mo in seminal plasma of men were significantly correlated with blastocyst formation and high-quality blastocysts (RR values were all greater than 1.5). In addition, the level of Ba was significantly correlated with the high probability of blastocyst formation (RR: 1.7, 95 % CI: 1.14∼2.52).ConclusionOur results reveal that Cr, Ba and Pb may affect TSC, TMC and MII oocytes. Moreover, Ba, Cr, As, Hg and Tl in serum and Mo in seminal plasma were related to fertilization results, good embryos, blastocyst formation, high-quality embryos, and pregnancy and live birth rates. Tl in FF may related to the quality of embryonic development, Ba was an important risk factor which closely related to the outcomes of IVF in both male and female. Through our detection and statistical analysis of clinical samples, it is shown that although not all elements will affect the outcome of IVF the key elements we have selected need to arouse our attention, which benifit to the diagnosis and prevention of clinical infertility.     

Neck blast disease influences grain yield and quality traits of aromatic rice

A critical investigation was conducted to find out the effect of neck blast disease on yield-contributing characters, and seed quality traits of aromatic rice in Bangladesh. Both healthy and neck-blast-infected panicles of three aromatic rice cultivars (high-yielding and local) were collected and investigated at Plant Pathology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur, Bangladesh. All of the tested varieties were highly susceptible to neck blast disease under natural conditions, though no leaf blast symptoms appear on leaves. Neck blast disease increased grain sterility percentages, reduced grain size, yield and quality traits of seeds. The degrees of yield and seed quality reduction depended on disease severity and variety's genetic make-up. Unfilled grains were the main source of seed-borne pathogen, especially for blast in the seed lot. Transmission of blast pathogen from neck (panicle base) to seed was very poor. These findings are important, especially concerning the seed certification programme in which seed lots are certified on the basis of field inspection. Finally, controlled experiments are needed to draw more critical conclusions.     

Application of sodium selenate to cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) increases shoot and grain Se partitioning with strong genotypic interactions

BackgorundCowpea is a crop widely used in developing countries due its rusticity. Besides its rich genotypic variability, most breeding programs do not explore its potential to improve elements uptake. Selenium (Se) is a scarce element in most soils, resulting in its deficiency being common in human diets. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction between biofortification with Se and genotypic variation in cowpea, on the concentrations of Se in roots, leaves + stem and grains.MethodsTwenty-nine cowpea genotypes were grown in a greenhouse in the absence (control) and presence of Se (12.5 μg Se kg⁻¹ soil) as sodium selenate, in fully randomized scheme. The plants were cultivated until grains harvest. The following variables were determined: roots dry weight (g), leaves + stems dry weight (g), grains dry weight (g), Se concentration (mg kg⁻¹) in roots, leaves + stems and grains, and Se partitioning to shoots and grains.ResultsSelenium application increased the Se concentration in roots, leaves + stems and grains in all genotypes. At least twofold variation in grain Se concentration was observed among genotypes. Selenium application did not impair biomass accumulation, including grain dry weight. Genotype “BRS Guariba” had the largest Se concentration in grains and leaves + stems. Genotype MNC04-795 F-158 had the largest partitioning of Se to shoots and grain, due to elevated dry weights of leaves + stems and grain, and high Se concentrations in these tissues.ConclusionThis information might be valuable in future breeding programs to select for genotypes with better abilities to accumulate Se in grain to reduce widespread human Se undernutrition.     

Physiological mechanism governing slow and fast development in predatory ladybirds

Aphidophagous and coccidophagous ladybirds, similar to their prey, show marked differences in their pace of life (Dixon, 2000), in particular in their rate of development, with all stages of aphidophagous species developing much faster than those of coccidophagous species. Two hypotheses are proposed to account for the large difference in the pace of life of these two groups. These are that differences in the rate of development are a result of differences in lower temperature thresholds for development or the quality of their respective prey as food (Dixon et al., 2011). Analysis of published results on the rates of development of the eggs of ladybirds indicates that the inverse relationships between the number of day‐degrees required for development (K) and the lower temperature threshold for development (td_min) of these two groups are significantly different. In particular, the respective td_min overlap and K of the aphidophagous and coccidophagous species with a similar td_min are, on average, 38 and 117 day‐degrees (D^o). The relationship between the rate of development (R) and temperature (T) for aphids reared on poor‐ or high‐quality foods indicates that, although the value of td_min of a species depends on food quality, K does not, showing that it is unlikely that K is governed by food quality. Thus, there is little support for differences in either the td_min or food quality governing the difference in the pace of life of these two groups of ladybirds. The results indicate that the physiological mechanism that may govern the difference in the pace of life between these two groups is the number of day‐degrees (K) needed to complete their development. The possible evolutionary reason for this is discussed.     

Impact of seminal and serum zinc on semen quality and hormonal status: A population-based cohort study of Russian young men

BackgroundTrace elements are important factors in human reproductive health. Among them, special attention is paid to zinc, which is an essential trace element and is necessary for the normal functioning of the male reproductive system and the process of spermatogenesis. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between seminal and serum zinc concentrations and semen quality and reproductive hormone levels in population of Russian young men.MethodsThe study population consisted of 626 young Russian men (median age 22.5 years), recruited from the general population, regardless of their fertility status. Each participant provided semen and blood sample, information about his lifestyle and ethnicity. Semen quality (sperm concentration, motility and morphology), reproductive hormone levels (testosterone, estradiol, LH, FSH and inhibin B), and serum and seminal zinc concentrations were evaluated. The semen samples were analyzed according to the WHO laboratory manual (WHO, 2010). Serum hormones were measured by enzyme immunoassay, zinc concentrations were determined using spectrophotometry and direct colorimetry without deproteinization.ResultsZinc was present in the seminal plasma in a significantly higher concentration than in the blood serum (median serum Zn concentration was 23.6 μmol/L vs seminal Zn concentration 1571.8 μmol/L). The seminal zinc concentration was positively related to the total sperm count, sperm concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology (Spearman’s test: 0.221; 0.286; 0.269; 0.183, respectively, p < 0.001), while the serum Zn concentration was negatively related to serum testosterone and estradiol levels (r = −0.249 and r = −0.096, respectively, p < 0.001−0.05). It was found that the seminal Zn content in men with normal semen quality was higher compared to men with lowered semen quality (means: 6.37 and 5.03 μmol/ejaculate, respectively, p < 0.001). Similarly, the semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration, progressive motility, normal morphology and the serum testosterone level in men with the seminal Zn deficiency were lower than in men with the normal seminal Zn content.ConclusionBased on the results of our population-based study, seminal Zn levels were closely associated with semen parameters in young men, so Zn deficiency may be an important risk factor for lowered semen quality. Seminal Zn determinations should be considered as a useful tool in addition to other parameters in assessing male fertility.     

High frequency residues: A new set of signals for detectability studies of an X-ray imaging system

A new set of signals for studying detectability of an X-ray imaging system is presented. The results obtained with these signals are intended to complement the NEQ results.The signals are generated from line spread profiles by progressively removing their lower frequency components and the resulting high frequency residues (HFRs) form the set of signals to be used in detectability studies. Detectability indexes for these HFRs are obtained using a non-prewhitening (NPW) observer and a series of edge images are used to obtain the HFRs, the covariance matrices required by the NPW model and the MTF and NPS used in NEQ calculations. The template used in the model is obtained by simulating the processes of blurring and sampling of the edge images. Comparison between detectability indexes for the HFRs and NEQ are carried out for different acquisition techniques using different beam qualities and doses.The relative sensitivity shown by detectability indexes using HFRs is higher than that of NEQ, especially at lower doses. Also, the different observers produce different results at high doses: while the ideal Bayesian observer used by NEQ distinguishes between beam qualities, the NPW used with the HFRs produces no differences between them.Delta functions used in HFR are the opposite of complex exponential functions in terms of their support in the spatial and frequency domains. Since NEQ can be interpreted as detectability of these complex exponential functions, detectability of HFRs is presented as a natural complement to NEQ in the performance assessment of an imaging system.     

基于环境库兹涅茨曲线的我国大气污染防治重点区域环境空气质量与经济增长关系研究

改革开放以来，中国经济迅猛发展，但大气污染等环境问题日益突出。进入21世纪，我国通过颁布实施多项大气污染防治政策，将京津冀及周边地区、长三角地区、珠三角地区等大气污染较严重的区域划定为重点区域，针对性制定治污措施和实施减排工程，努力推动区域环境空气质量改善。基于2000-2019年我国31个省（自治区、直辖市）（以下简称31个省份）GDP，以及SO₂、PM₁₀、NO₂三项大气污染物浓度数据，利用环境库兹涅茨曲线（EKC，Environmental Kuznets Curve）模型，对31个省份和京津冀及周边地区、长三角地区、珠三角地区的经济增长情况、大气污染物浓度演变以及二者之间的关系进行了系统全面的分析评估。研究结果显示：（1）近年来实施的各项大气污染防治政策，特别是2013年以来颁布实施的《大气污染防治行动计划》《打赢蓝天保卫战三年行动计划》，推动环境空气质量改善的同时，促进了经济发展与环境保护长期关系协调性逐步增强，除NO₂浓度呈U型外，31个省份SO₂浓度、PM₁₀浓度与人均GDP的EKC曲线呈倒U型和倒N型，并处于快速下降阶段。（2）京津冀及周边地区SO₂浓度与人均GDP呈倒U型，且处于快速下降阶段；PM₁₀和NO₂浓度均呈现U型关系，且均处于上升期。（3）长三角地区SO₂、PM₁₀浓度与人均GDP呈现倒U型和U型，但均处于下降阶段；NO₂浓度与人均GDP无相关关系。（4）珠三角地区SO₂、PM₁₀和NO₂浓度与人均GDP均呈现倒U型关系，且均处于下降阶段。为此，建议"十四五"期间我国政府要继续实施新一轮的大气污染防治行动计划，聚焦机动车NO_x污染管控，大力推动NO₂浓度稳步下降，以实现我国环境空气质量持续改善，为统筹经济高质量发展和生态环境高水平保护奠定坚实基础。     

WNK1 is an assembly factor for the human ER membrane protein complex

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