Search

Heat wave events have frequently occurred worldwide in recent years, and continuous high temperatures have severely impacted human life and ecosystems. Given this problem, the government and the public must cooperate closely to participate in global environmental governance. Among them, pro-environmental behavior is the most significant form for citizens to participate in environmental protection and fulfill social responsibilities. It plays an essential role in mitigating extremely high temperatures worldwide and achieving ''carbon neutrality'' and sustainable development of the world environment. Based on this, the study utilized the field survey data of 554 respondents from 14 villages in Xi'an and applied a structural equation model that integrates the theory of planned behavior and protection motivation theory to identify the main determinants of the pro-environmental behavior of rural dwellers. The research reported that: 1) The integrated model of the theory of planned behavior and protection motivation theory is suitable for studying people's pro-environmental behavior in the context of heat waves. 2) Heat risk perception, response efficacy, self-efficacy, and subjective norms significantly improved rural residents' pro-environmental behavior. In contrast, response cost had an opposite negative impact on rural residents' pro-environmental behavior. Among them, subjective norms had the most considerable effect. Based on these, we recommend that local governments promote public participation in environmental governance through the following methods: 1) Strengthen the publicity and education of heat wave knowledge and improve public awareness of heat wave risks. 2) Increase investment in environmental protection facilities and reward the public for environmental protection behavior to reduce the cost of the public's pro-environmental behavior. 3) Give full play to the leading role of government cadres and improve the public's awareness of environmental protection through the impact of the social environment.

Abstract Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease linked to iodine intake. Emerging evidence highlights the gut microbiota’s role in HT pathogenesis via the microbiota-gut-thyroid axis. However, the process through which iodine intake modifies the microbiota and triggers HT remains unclear. This study examines how iodine affects gut dysbiosis and HT, recruiting 23 patients with HT and 25 healthy individuals to assess gut microbiota composition and metabolic features. Furthermore, we establish a spontaneously developed thyroiditis mouse model using NOD.H-2h4 mice highlighting the influence of iodine intake on HT progression. The butanoate metabolism significantly differs between these two groups according to the enrichment results, and butyric acid is significantly decreased in patients with HT compared with those in healthy individuals. Gut dysbiosis, driven by excessive iodine intake, disrupts TH17/Treg balance by reducing butyric acid. In summary, iodine intake alters intestinal microbiota composition and metabolic changes influencing the microbiota-gut-thyroid axis.

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is an inducible disease resistance phenomenon in plant species, providing plants with broad-spectrum resistance to secondary pathogen infections beyond the initial infection site. In Arabidopsis, SAR can be triggered by direct pathogen infection or treatment with the phytohormone salicylic acid (SA), as well as its analogues 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA) and benzothiadiazole (BTH). The SA receptor non-expressor of pathogenesis-related protein gene 1 (NPR1) protein serves as a key regulator in controlling SAR signaling transduction. Similarly, in common wheat (Triticum aestivum), pathogen infection or treatment with the SA analogue BTH can induce broad-spectrum resistance to powdery mildew, leaf rust, Fusarium head blight, and other diseases. However, unlike SAR in the model plant Arabidopsis or rice, SAR-like responses in wheat exhibit unique features and regulatory pathways. The acquired resistance (AR) induced by the model pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 is regulated by NPR1, but its effects are limited to the adjacent region of the same leaf and not systemic. On the other hand, the systemic immunity (SI) triggered by Xanthomonas translucens pv. cerealis (Xtc) or Pseudomonas syringae pv. japonica (Psj) is not controlled by NPR1 or SA, but rather closely associated with jasmonate (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), and several transcription factors. Furthermore, the BTH-induced resistance (BIR) partially depends on NPR1 activation, leading to a broader and stronger plant defense response. This paper provides a systematic review of the research progress on SAR in wheat, emphasizes the key regulatory role of NPR1 in wheat SAR, and summarizes the potential of pathogenesis-related protein (PR) genes in genetically modifying wheat to enhance broad-spectrum disease resistance. This review lays an important foundation for further analyzing the molecular mechanism of SAR and genetically improving broad-spectrum disease resistance in wheat.

ObjectiveIodine is essential in thyroid hormone production. Iodine deficiency is associated with serious complications (i.e miscarriage and stillbirth), whereas excess can cause thyroid dysfunction (i.e hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid autoimmunity). We conducted this scientometric study to visualize hot spots and trends in iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction over past two decades. The aim of this paper was to help scholars quickly understand the development and potential trend in this field, and guide future research directions.MethodsArticles on iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction from 2000 to 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) using the following search terms: (((((TS=(hypothyroid*)) OR TS=(hyperthyroid*)) OR TS= (“TSH deficiency”)) OR TS= (“thyroid stimulating hormone deficiency”)) AND TS=(Iodine)) NOT TS=(radioiodine). Only publications in English were selected. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Tableau, Carrot2, and R software were used to analyze the contribution and co-occurrence relationships of different countries, institutes, keywords, references, and journals.ResultsA total of 2986 publications from 115 countries and 3412 research institutions were included. From 2000 to 2022, research on iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction progressed over a three-stage development period: initial development (2000-2009), stable development (2010-2016), and rapid development (2016-2022) period. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism had the most co-citations followed and China Medical University (n=76) had the most publications. The top three clusters of co-citation references were isolated maternal hypothyroxinemia, subclinical hyperthyroidism, and brain development. Various scientific methods were applied to reveal acknowledge structure, development trend and research hotspots in iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction.ConclusionOur scientometric analysis shows that investigations related to pregnant women, epidemiology surveys, and iodine deficiency are promising topics for future iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction research and highlights the important role of iodine on thyroid function.

Fusarium crown rot (FCR), primarily caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum, has emerged as a new threat to wheat production and quality in North China. Genetic enhancement of wheat resistance to FCR remains the most effective approach for disease control. In this study, we phenotyped 435 Chinese wheat cultivars through FCR inoculation at the seedling stage in a greenhouse. Our findings revealed that only approximately 10.8% of the wheat germplasms displayed moderate or high resistance to FCR. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) using high-density 660K SNP led to the discovery of a novel quantitative trait locus on the long arm of chromosome 3B, designated as Qfcr.hebau-3BL. A total of 12 significantly associated SNPs were closely clustered within a 1.05 Mb physical interval. SNP-based molecular markers were developed to facilitate the practical application of Qfcr.hebau-3BL. Among the five candidate FCR resistance genes within the Qfcr.hebau-3BL, we focused on TraesCS3B02G307700, which encodes a protein kinase, due to its expression pattern. Functional validation revealed two transcripts, TaSTK1.1 and TaSTK1.2, with opposing roles in plant resistance to fungal disease. These findings provide insights into the genetic basis of FCR resistance in wheat and offer valuable resources for breeding resistant varieties.

The extraction of ship behavior patterns from Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and the subsequent prediction of travel routes play crucial roles in mitigating the risk of ship accidents. This study focuses on the Wuhan section of the dendritic river system in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the partial reticulated river system in the northern part of the Zhejiang Province as its primary investigation areas. Considering the structure and attributes of AIS data, we introduce a novel algorithm known as the Combination of DBSCAN and DTW (CDDTW) to identify regional navigation characteristics of ships. Subsequently, we develop a real-time ship trajectory prediction model (RSTPM) to facilitate real-time ship trajectory predictions. Experimental tests on two distinct types of river sections are conducted to assess the model’s reliability. The results indicate that the RSTPM exhibits superior prediction accuracy when compared to conventional trajectory prediction models, achieving an approximate 20 m prediction accuracy for ship trajectories on inland waterways. This showcases the advancements made by this model.

BackgroundBoth dyslipidemia and thyroid dysfunction have a high prevalence rate and are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between blood lipids and thyroid dysfunction is still controversial. This study aims to analyze the blood lipids in people with different thyroid functions.MethodsA total of 80937 adults were included in this population-based cross-sectional TIDE survey, which collected demographic and clinical data on thyroid function, blood lipid levels and other metabolic indicators. After screening, the final analysis included 10,747 participants, who were divided into hypothyroidism (n=311), subclinical hypothyroidism (n=5015), hyperthyroidism (n=203), subclinical hyperthyroidism (n=118) and control (n=5100) groups. The risk of dyslipidemia was analyzed by a logistic regression model and divided into groups of female menopausal.ResultsAfter full adjustment, significant associations were found between hypothyroidism and hypertriglyceridemia. Subclinical hypothyroidism was associated with a significantly higher risk of hypertriglyceridemia and hyper-low density lipoprotein cholesterolemia. Hyperthyroidism was significantly correlated with a reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia and hyper-low density lipoprotein cholesterolemia but positively correlated with the risk of low-high density lipoprotein cholesterolemia. There was no significant association between subclinical hyperthyroidism and blood lipids. Hypothyroidism increased the risk of hypertriglyceridemia in both premenopausal and postmenopausal females. Subclinical hypothyroidism was significantly associated with increased hypertriglyceridemia and low-high density lipoprotein cholesterolemia in premenopausal females. Hyperthyroidism was significantly associated with a reduced risk of hypercholesterolemia and hyper-low density lipoprotein cholesterolemia in premenopausal females and an increased risk of low-high density lipoprotein cholesterolemia in postmenopausal female.ConclusionAbnormal thyroid function has an important effect on blood lipids and is closely related to female menopause.

BackgroundAutoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is characterized by thyroid dysfunction and deficits in the autoimmune system. Growing attention has been paid toward the field of gut microbiota over the last few decades. Several recent studies have found that gut microbiota composition in patients with AITD has altered, but no studies have conducted systematic reviews on the association between gut microbiota and ATID.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases without language restrictions and conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies, including 196 patients with AITD.ResultsThe meta-analysis showed that the alpha diversity and abundance of certain gut microbiota were changed in patients with AITD compared to the controls. Chao1,the index of the microflora richness, was increased in the Hashimoto’s thyroiditis group compared to controls (SMD, 0.68, 95%CI: 0.16 to 1.20), while it was decreased in the Graves’ disease group (SMD, -0.87, 95%CI: -1.46 to -0.28). In addition, we found that some beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were decreased in the AITD group, and harmful microbiota like Bacteroides fragilis was significantly increased compared with the controls. Furthermore, the percentage of relevant abundance of other commensal bacteria such as Bacteroidetes, Bacteroides, and Lachnospiraceae was increased compared with the controls.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis indicates an association between AITD and alteration of microbiota composition at the family, genus, and species levels.Systematic Review RegistrationPROSPERO, identifier CRD42021251557.

BackgroundUniversal salt iodization (USI) was implemented in mainland China in 1996. The prevalence of hyperthyroidism and its risk factors now require examination.MethodsData were acquired from a nationwide Thyroid, Iodine, and Diabetes Epidemiological survey (TIDE 2015–2017) of 78,470 subjects from 31 provinces. Iodine status, and thyroid hormones and antibodies were measured. ResultsAfter two decades of USI, the prevalence of overt hyperthyroidism (OH), Graves’ disease (GD), severe subclinical hyperthyroidism (severe SCH), and mild subclinical hyperthyroidism (mild SCH) in mainland China was 0.78%, 0.53%, 0.22%, and 0.22%, respectively. OH and GD prevalence were higher in women than in men (OH: 1.16% vs. 0.64%, P

Automatic subcortical brain segmentation in a magnetic resonance image (MRI) is crucial to disease diagnosis and various clinical applications. In this paper, we proposed an efficient segmentation method based on atlas registration (AR) and linearized kernel sparse representative classifier (SRC) to segment thalamus, putamen, caudate, pallidum, hippocampus, and amygdala. Many multi-atlas-based segmentation methods (MAS) have been proposed with success. However, the optimization problems in MAS for each voxel cause heavy computational burden. Besides, brain structures in the MR image have the characteristics of small volume, large morphological difference, and blur edge, which make the precise segmentation more difficult. To address these challenges, in the first step of our proposed method, we used AR to estimate subcortical locations in MRI. We constructed a probabilistic atlas for deep structures by AR and then obtained coarse results with initial shapes of structures. Candidate boundary regions were obtained in this stage. Then, in the second step, the kernel SRC was linearized and was applied to refine results around boundaries. The labels of voxels in candidate boundary regions were predicted in this stage, and this refinement was utilized to smooth the boundary. Finally, combining initial shapes and refined boundaries, we obtained a final segmentation of the subcortical brain. The experiments were conducted on IBSR, LPBA40, and SATA MICCAI 2013 challenge datasets. The results showed that our method outperformed other methods including AR, linearized SRC, and deep learning models with mean DSC of 0.843, 0.83, and 0.827, respectively. The time-consumption was relatively lower than the comparison methods. The proposed method has great potential for other segmentation tasks.

Water supplies are projected to become increasingly scarce, driving farmers, energy producers, and urban dwellers towards an urgent and emerging need to improve the effectiveness and the efficiency of water use. Given that agricultural water use is the largest water consumer throughout the U.S. Southwest, this study sought to answer two specific research questions: (1) How does water consumption vary by crop type on a metropolitan spatial scale? (2) What is the impact of drought on agricultural water consumption? To answer the above research questions, 92 Landsat images were acquired to generate fine-resolution daily evapotranspiration (ET) maps at 30 m spatial resolution for both dry and wet years (a total of 1095 ET maps), and major crop types were identified for the Phoenix Active Management Area. The study area has a subtropical desert climate and relies almost completely on irrigation for farming. Results suggest that there are some factors that farmers and water managers can control. During dry years, crops of all types use more water. Practices that can offset this higher water use include double or multiple cropping practice, drought tolerant crop selection, and optimizing the total farmed area. Double and multiple cropping practices result in water savings because soil moisture is retained from one planting to another. Further water savings occur when drought tolerant crop types are selected, especially in dry years. Finally, disproportionately large area coverage of high water consuming crops can be balanced and/or reduced or replaced with more water efficient crops. This study provides strong evidence that water savings can be achieved through policies that create incentives for adopting smart cropping strategies, thus providing important guidelines for sustainable agriculture management and climate adaptation to improve future food security.

ObjectiveAutoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is an organ-specific disorder due to the interplay between environmental and genetic factors. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors expressed abundantly on monocytes. There is a paucity of data on TLR expression in AITD. The aim of this study was to examine TLR expression, activation, ligands, and downstream signaling adaptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) extracted from untreated AITD patients and healthy controls.MethodWe isolated PBMC of 30 healthy controls, 36 patients with untreated Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and 30 patients with newly onset Graves’ disease. TLR mRNA, protein expression, TLR ligands, and TLR adaptor molecules were measured using real-time PCR, Western blot, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). PBMC was simulated with TLR agonists. The effects of TLR agonists on the viability of human PBMC were evaluated using the MTT assay. The supernatants of cell cultures were measured for the pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-10 by ELISA.ResultsTLR2, TLR3, TLR9, and TLR10 mRNA were significantly increased in AITD patients compared with controls. TLR2, TLR3, TLR9, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and RAGE expression on monocytes was higher in patients than control at baseline and TLR agonists’ stimulation. The release of TNF-α and IL-6 was significantly increased in PBMCs from AITD patients with TLR agonists, while IL-10 was significantly decreased. Downstream targets of TLR, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), and myeloid toll/IL-1 receptor-domain containing adaptor-inducing interferon-β were significantly elevated in AITD patients. Levels of TLR2 ligands, HMGB1, and heat shock protein 60 were significantly elevated in AITD patients compared with those in controls and positively correlated with TgAb and TPOAb, while sRAGE concentration was significantly decreased in AITD patients.ConclusionThis work is the first to show that TLR2, TLR3, and TLR9 expression and activation are elevated in the PBMCs of patients with AITD and TLRs may participate in the pathogenesis of AITD.

Deforestation in Myanmar has recently attracted much attention worldwide. This study examined spatio-temporal patterns of deforestation and forest carbon flux in Myanmar from 2001 to 2010 and environmental impacts at the regional scale using land products of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The results suggest that the total deforestation area in Myanmar was 21,178.8 km2, with an annual deforestation rate of 0.81%, and that the total forest carbon release was 20.06 million tons, with an annual rate of 0.37%. Mangrove forests had the highest deforestation and carbon release rates, and deciduous forests had both the largest deforestation area and largest amount of carbon release. During the study period, the south and southwestern regions of Myanmar, especially Ayeyarwady and Rakhine, were deforestation hotspots (i.e., the highest deforestation and carbon release rates occurred in these regions). Deforestation caused significant carbon release, reduced evapotranspiration (ET), and increased land surface temperatures (LSTs) in deforested areas in Myanmar during the study period. Constructive policy recommendations are put forward based on these research results.