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Abstract: Multivariate negative binomial count models were estimated to examine associations between young adults’ fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption and the prices of FV, other food at home grocery items, and fast food and the availability of restaurants and food stores. This study used the 2002 wave of data collected from US young adults aged 18–23 years in the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth merged by geocode identifiers with food prices and restaurant and food store availability. The results showed that higher levels of FV consumption were associated with lower FV prices (price elasticity of −0.32) and that this own-price effect was robust to the inclusion of other food prices and food outlet availability. Lower income and lower educated young adults and those with lower educated mothers and middle-income parents were found to be most price sensitive. No statistically significant cross-price effects on FV consumption were found with other grocery food (meat, dairy and bread) prices or fast food prices. Fiscal policy instruments such as FV subsidies may help to increase FV intake, particularly among young adults of lower socioeconomic status. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The occurrence of Parkinson's disease is usually accompanied by hypothalamic damage. • Orexin-A is produced by the hypothalamus and the periphery. • Elevated plasma orexin-A levels were observed in early stages of Parkinson's disease. • Plasma orexin-A levels may decrease with the progression of Parkinson's disease. • Orexin-A plays an important role in non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Orexin, a neuropeptide primarily secreted by neurons in the lateral hypothalamus, has been implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). Studies on the relationship between plasma orexin-A levels and PD are rare. This study aimed to assess levels of plasma orexin-A in the progression of PD and to evaluate the correlation between orexin-A levels and non-motor symptoms. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine plasma orexin-A levels in 117 healthy controls and 121 PD patients, including those with early (n = 68), medium (n = 40) and advanced (n = 13) stages of the disease. Evaluation of motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms in PD patients, such as sleep disorders, cognitive dysfunction, neuropsychiatric symptoms, autonomic nervous dysfunction, hyposmia and PD-related pain, were assessed by the associated scales. Plasma orexin-A levels were significantly higher in PD patients compared to healthy controls. Orexin-A levels were elevated in early-stage and medium-stage PD compared to healthy controls, but were decreased in advanced-stage PD. Orexin-A levels were negatively correlated with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III scores, disease duration, and dopamine receptor agonist doses, and were positively correlated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, REM-sleep Behavior Disorder Questionnaire, 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Non-motor Symptom Scale items 22–24 scores. We found for the first time that plasma orexin-A levels were increased in early-stage and medium-stage PD and were decreased in advanced-stage PD. Furthermore, orexin-A levels were correlated with the non-motor symptoms of insomnia, REM-sleep behavior disorder, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, and renal dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Non-pollinated ovary in pumpkin delayed its growth and suffered the aborting process from 2 DPA. • A total of 7536 DEGs were screened during pumpkin fruit set, with 3406 up-regulated and 4130 down-regulated. • Genes related to "cell growth, cell division, cell cycle", "photosynthesis", "glycometabolism", "transcription factors" and "plant hormone signal transduction" might play a crucial role during pumpkin fruit set. • qRT-PCR analysis indicated that RNA-seq data was reliable. Fruit set is a complex biological process, which determines fruit development and production. Little information is available on the fruit set and regulatory mechanism in pumpkin. In an attempt to obtain the candidate genes involved in fruit set and elucidate the regulatory networks, early growth properties of pumpkin fruit were evaluated from anthesis until 4 days post anthesis (DPA) between pollination and non-pollination treatment. The results showed that non-pollinated ovary delayed its growth and suffered the aborting process from 2 DPA, while, pollinated fruit showed an exponential growth from anthesis until 4 DPA, with notable changes in fruit length and diameter. Furthermore, RNA-seq was carried out aimed at identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) responsible for fruit set in pumpkin after pollination. The results revealed that a total of 7536 DEGs were screened during pumpkin fruit set after pollination, including 3406 up-regulated and 4130 down-regulated. Of these DEGs, 5180, 1594 and 762 were differentially expressed in PF_2 vs UF_2, PF_2 vs UF_0 and UF_2 vs UF_0, respectively. 644 DEGs related to cell growth, cell division, cell cycle (28), photosynthesis (15), glycometabolism (71), transcription factors (405) and plant hormone signal transduction (125) were analyzed based on functional annotation, which might play a crucial role during pumpkin fruit set. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of 9 DEGs selected randomly indicated that RNA-seq data was reliable. Taken together, our results will provide useful gene resources for genetic improvement, and lay a theoretical foundation for understanding the molecular mechanism of pumpkin fruit set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]