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BackgroundIt remains unclear whether persistent loneliness is related to brain structures that are associated with cognitive decline and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to investigate the relationships between different loneliness types, cognitive functioning, and regional brain volumes.MethodsLoneliness was measured longitudinally, using the item from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in the Framingham Heart Study, Generation 3, with participants' average age of 46·3 ± 8·6 years. Robust regression models tested the association between different loneliness types with longitudinal neuropsychological performance (n = 2,609) and regional magnetic resonance imaging brain data (n = 1,829) (2002-2019). Results were stratified for sex, depression, and Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4).FindingsPersistent loneliness, but not transient loneliness, was strongly associated with cognitive decline, especially memory and executive function. Persistent loneliness was negatively associated with temporal lobe volume (β = -0.18, 95%CI [-0.32, -0.04], P = 0·01). Among women, persistent loneliness was associated with smaller frontal lobe (β = -0.19, 95%CI [-0.38, -0.01], P = 0·04), temporal lobe (β = -0.20, 95%CI [-0.37, -0.03], P = 0·02), and hippocampus volumes (β = -0.23, 95%CI [-0.40, -0.06], P = 0·007), and larger lateral ventricle volume (β = 0.15, 95%CI [0.02, 0.28], P = 0·03). The higher cumulative loneliness scores across three exams, the smaller parietal, temporal, and hippocampus volumes and larger lateral ventricle were evident, especially in the presence of ApoE4.InterpretationPersistent loneliness in midlife was associated with atrophy in brain regions responsible for memory and executive dysfunction. Interventions to reduce the chronicity of loneliness may mitigate the risk of age-related cognitive decline and AD.FundingUS National Institute on Aging.

As an important surface ecosystem of the earth, the soil records abundant geological and environmental information. During the formation and development of soil, the magnetic minerals it contains will also change. Therefore, soil magnetism is related to the climatic environment information of the soil formation period and can be used to reconstruct the paleoenvironment. Currently, the research on soil magnetism in temperate semi-arid areas and its corresponding climatic and environmental indicators is relatively mature; however, the climatic and environmental indicators of soil magnetism in tropical and subtropical areas remain controversial and need further research. In this study, magnetic and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy were used to analyze the weathering crust of sandstone in different climatic zones in Yunnan. The results show that: (1) the three selected ferrimagnetic minerals in weathering crust profiles are magnetite and maghemite; the antiferromagnetic minerals are goethite and hematite. The main magnetic-bearing minerals in the soil of EF, PF, and F samples are magnetite and maghemite. The soil of PF and F samples contains relatively more antiferromagnetic minerals, goethite, and hematite, and the mean χfd% values in the three sections are 16.01%, 14.58%, and 10.06%, respectively. These results indicate that the three profiles all contain a large number of SP particles, and the ferrimagnetic mineral content in EF samples is much higher than that in PF and F samples. (2) From the perspective of the soil developed on the parent material of sandstone, no obvious correlation between the magnetic susceptibility changes of the three profiles and temperature and precipitation was observed. The magnetic susceptibility applicable to the temperate loess area is difficult to use as a climate proxy index in this region. Temperature and precipitation are not the main factors affecting the changes in magnetic susceptibility of soil, and various factors affect these changes. A large-scale and multi-section comparative study is necessary to evaluate the relationship between soil magnetic characteristics and the environment in tropical and subtropical areas. (3) The levels of Hm and Gt are affected by the difference in magnetic minerals in the parent rock, and characterizing the change in temperature or precipitation is difficult. The ratios Hm/Gt and Hm/ (Hm+Gt) have a good correspondence with temperature and have application potential in indicating temperature.

Birds are excellent indicators of ecosystems and environmental conditions because they are responsive to habitat change and have important ecological functions. When birds are dependent on habitat functioning in specific ways, the population trends of birds can provide insights into ecosystem function. We conducted monthly bird surveys and monitored birds in Maofeng Mountain Forest Park from November 2020 to March 2022 by combining line transect and camera-trapping methods. These results help estimate bird community structure, bird diversity, and habitat influence. The study area was divided into three types of habitat according to vegetation type and human interference. In addition, 6 line-transects and 30 infrared cameras were used in this study. A total of 2,253 independent images were collected with up to 3,561 camera days during the study period. A total of 143 bird species belonging to 16 orders and 46 families were recorded in this study. Among these species, 18 are second-class national protected species, eight are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and 10 are key protected wild animals in Guangdong Province. Pycnonotus jocosus, Pycnonotus aurigaster, Alcippe morrisonia, and Zosterops simplex were the dominant species in forest parks. Accipiter trivirgatus, Pitta nympha, Garrulax canorus, and Lophura nycthemera, which are rare and threatened species, were found in the forest park. Based on the residential habitats of these species, the dominant 80 species (proportion:55.94％) were in the Oriental biogeographical realm. The widespread species and the Palaearctic species had 32 (proportion: 22.38%) and 31 species (proportion: 21.68%), respectively. Ninety species of resident birds were dominant among all types of birds in the forest park. The main ecological type, with 132 species, was forest birds. In terms of eating types, most birds were insectivorous and omnivorous, with 67 species (proportion: 46.85%) and 46 species (proportion: 32.17%), respectively, suggesting that Maofeng Mountain Forest Park is an important site for forest bird communities. In terms of habitats, we also found that the Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, and Margalef index of birds were highest in forest habitats and lowest in road habitats. The Pielou evenness index of birds showed no significant differences among the habitats. In terms of seasons, the Shannon-Wiener and Margalef indices of birds were highest in spring and lowest in summer. Nevertheless, the Pielou evenness and Simpson indices of birds were not significantly different among the four seasons. The Pielou evenness index was similar to the Simpson index. Moreover, a general linear mixed model was used for the analysis, which showed that the richness and abundance index of birds were significantly correlated with changes in habitats and seasons. In summary, there were different kinds of habitats, abundant forest bird resources, stable bird community structures, and high bird diversity in Maofeng Mountain Forest Park. Birds with a more stable structure and higher diversity in the forest habitat imply that decreased human interference promotes bird inhabitation. This study provides basic data for biodiversity monitoring and assessment in Maofeng Mountain Forest Park and its surrounding forests.

Background Previous studies on the benefits of aerobic exercise mainly focus on the impact of aerobic exercise on long-term cardiovascular health and outcomes, namely regular aerobic exercise can improve arterial stiffness, while some studies point out that high blood sugar increases arterial stiffness. Objective To investigate the immediate effect of aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness in people with different blood glucose levels. Methods This study selected individuals who had participated in the 6th follow-up physical examination of the Kailuan Study during 2018—2020 and participated in the 5th national physical fitness surveillance in 2020 and completed their brachial-ankle pulse wave conduction velocity (baPWV) measured before and after the secondary load test of the power vehicle bicycle in four subordinate enterprises of Kailuan Group. Epidemiological survey result were collected: general information (age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, history of antihypertensive drugs, etc.) , anthropometric indicators〔systolic blood pressure (SBP) , diastolic blood pressure (DBP) , etc.〕and biochemical indicators (fasting blood glucose, etc.) . baPWV measured in the secondary load test of the power vehicle bicycle (used as the aerobic exercise) was used as an indicator of upper and lower limb arterial stiffness. baPWV-related indicators〔SBP, DBP, mean arterial pressure (MAP) , heart rate (HR) , baPWV, metabolic equivalent (MET) , maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) , etc.〕before and after the test were expressed using a unified form, for example, pre- and post-test baPWV were recorded as baPWV1 and baPWV2, respectively, and its pre- and post-test difference was denoted as ?baPWV. The epidemiological survey result and BAPWV-related data were compared between fasting blood glucose (FBG) quartile groups〔Q1 (n=220) :

Recent archaeological discoveries suggest that both archaic Denisovans and Homo sapiens occupied the Tibetan Plateau earlier than expected. Genetic studies show that a pulse of Denisovan introgression was involved in the adaptation of Tibetan populations to high-altitude hypoxia. These findings challenge the traditional view that the plateau was one of the last places on earth colonized by H. sapiens and warrant a reappraisal of the population history of this highland. Here, we integrate archaeological and genomic evidence relevant to human dispersal, settlement, and adaptation in the region. We propose two testable models to address the peopling of the plateau in the broader context of H. sapiens dispersal and their encounters with Denisovans in Asia.

This study investigated the quality and microbial flora changes of Lentinu edodes during postharvest cold storage. L. edodes was picked with sterile gloves, treated with ozone and stored for up to 40 days at 2–4 ℃. The changes in the moisture content, color, texture, and volatile flavor substance, free amino acid and flavor nucleotide contents of the mushroom were determine during the storage period, and the changes in the microbial flora on the surface of L. edodes were detected by high-throughput sequencing. Besides, fungi were isolated and identified from the mushroom surface, and the dominant spoilage organisms were determined. The results showed that the moisture content, brightness (L* value) and hardness decreased with storage time, while the elasticity, chewiness, cohesiveness and gumminess increased first and then decreased. The relative contents of alcohols contributing to the clean aroma of L. edodes such as 1-octene-3-ol and 3-octanol increased first and then decreased during storage, and so did the contents of umami, sweet and bitter amino acids. The contents of 5’-cytidine monophosphate (5’-CMP), 5’-uridine monophosphate (5’-UMP) and 5’-guanosine monophosphate (5’-GMP) decreased continuously, while the contents of inosine 5’-monophosphate (5’-IMP) and adenosine 5’-monophosphate (5’-AMP) increased first and then decreased. The richness of the microbial community decreased first and then increased, whereas the diversity increased first and then decreased. Pseudomonas was found to be the dominant spoilage bacteria. The major spoilage fungi were Trichoderma harzianum, Alternaria and Aspergillus flavus. In conclusion, the quality and microbial flora of L. edodes changed obviously during postharvest cold storage, which will provide a theoretical basis for further controlling the spoilage and prolonging the storage period of L. edodes.