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Background The symptoms that patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) experience are the dominant contributing factors to its heavy disease burden. This study sought to identify key symptoms leading to disability in patients with MDD. Methods Subjects consisted of patients who had a 12-month MDD diagnosis based on the China Mental Health Survey (CMHS). World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) was used to assess the degree of disability. The associations between depressive symptoms and disability were analyzed using a linear regression and logistic regression with a complex sampling design. Results Of the 32,552 community residents, 655 patients were diagnosed with 12-month MDD. The disability rate due to MDD was 1.06% (95% CI: 0.85%–1.28%) among adults in Chinese community and 50.7% (95% CI: 44.3%–57.1%) among MDD patients. Depression was associated with all functional losses measured by the WHODAS. Feelings of worthlessness in life or inappropriate guilt, and psychomotor agitation or retardation were the key symptoms related to disability. Economic status, co-morbidity of physical diseases or anxiety disorders were correlates of disability scores. Limitations The disability rate might be underestimated due to the exclusion of MDD patients living in hospitals. The effect of treatments on disability was excluded. Conclusions Psychological symptoms, not somatic symptoms, contribute to disability in MDD patients. Disability worsens when physical diseases or anxiety disorders are present. More attention could be paid to psychological symptoms, physical diseases, and anxiety disorders in MDD patients with disabilities.

The family of trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) is distantly related to G protein-coupled biogenic aminergic receptors. TAARs are found in the brain as well as in the olfactory epithelium where they detect biogenic amines. However, the functional relationship of receptors from distinct TAAR subfamilies and in different species is still uncertain. Here, we perform a thorough phylogenetic analysis of 702 TAAR-like (TARL) and TAAR sequences from 48 species. We show that a clade of Tarl genes has greatly expanded in lampreys, whereas the other Tarl clade consists of only one or two orthologs in jawed vertebrates and is lost in amniotes. We also identify two small clades of Taar genes in sharks related to the remaining Taar genes in bony vertebrates, which are divided into four major clades. We further identify ligands for 61 orphan TARLs and TAARs from sea lamprey, shark, ray-finned fishes, and mammals, as well as novel ligands for two 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 orthologs, a serotonin receptor subtype closely related to TAARs. Our results reveal a pattern of functional convergence and segregation: TARLs from sea lamprey and bony vertebrate olfactory TAARs underwent independent expansions to function as chemosensory receptors, whereas TARLs from jawed vertebrates retain ancestral response profiles and may have similar functions to TAAR1 in the brain. Overall, our data provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolution and ligand recognition profiles of TAARs and TARLs.

Biogenic amines activate G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the central nervous system in vertebrate animals. Several biogenic amines, when excreted, stimulate trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs), a group of GPCRs in the main olfactory epithelium, and elicit innate behaviors. How TAARs recognize amines with varying numbers of amino groups is largely unknown. We reasoned that a comparison between lamprey and mammalian olfactory TAARs, which are thought to have evolved independently but show convergent responses to polyamines, may reveal structural determinants of amine recognition. Here, we demonstrate that sea lamprey TAAR365 (sTAAR365) responds strongly to biogenic polyamines cadaverine, putrescine, and spermine, and shares a similar response profile as a mammalian TAAR (mTAAR9). Docking and site-directed mutagenesis analyses show that both sTAAR365 and mTAAR9 recognize the two amino groups of cadaverine with the conserved Asp3.32 and Tyr6.51 residues. sTAAR365, which has remarkable sensitivity for cadaverine (EC50 = 4 nM), uses an extra residue, Thr7.42, to stabilize ligand binding. These cadaverine recognition sites also interact with amines with four and three amino groups (spermine and spermidine, respectively). Glu7.36 of sTAAR365 cooperates with Asp3.32 and Thr7.42 to recognize spermine, whereas mTAAR9 recognizes spermidine through an additional aromatic residue, Tyr7.43. These results suggest a conserved mechanism whereby independently evolved TAAR receptors recognize amines with two, three, or four amino groups using the same recognition sites, at which sTAAR365 and mTAAR9 evolved distinct motifs. These motifs interact directly with the amino groups of the polyamines, a class of potent and ecologically important odorants, mediating olfactory signaling.

Mammalian survival depends on ultrasensitive olfactory detection of volatile sulfur compounds, since these compounds can signal the presence of rancid food, O2 depleted atmospheres, and predators (through carnivore excretions). Skunks exploit this sensitivity with their noxious spray. In commerce, natural and liquefied gases are odorized with t-BuSH and EtSH, respectively, as warnings. The 100-million-fold difference in olfactory perception between structurally similar EtSH and EtOH has long puzzled those studying olfaction. Mammals detect thiols and other odorants using odorant receptors (ORs), members of the family of seven transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Understanding the regulator cofactors and response of ORs is particularly challenging due to the lack of X-ray structural models. Here, we combine computational modeling and site-directed mutagenesis with saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR spectroscopy and measurements of the receptor response profiles. We find that human thiol...

Based on the relationship between climate and vegetation, this study uses the time lag of vegetation response to climate change, simulates the dynamic response process of different vegetation types to climate change, retrieves relevant literature and collates data, and deduces the actual occurrence and geographic distribution of vegetation under the current climate potential and future climate change scenarios. This experiment infer the adaptation relationship between plant geographical distribution and climatic conditions. The results show that the plants in Northeast China are generally more adaptable to climate change. The areas with poor adaptability are mainly at the junction of forest shrubs and grasslands. The geographical distribution of plants has changed, accounting for about 5%. The grassland ecosystem in the bush-grassland transition zone in the Greater Xing’an Mountains is also less adaptable to climate, accounting for about 35%. The vegetation in these areas tends to degenerate. The geographical distribution may change. The adjustment of plants in Northeast China to the future climate change is usually reasonable. 84% of the vegetation changes are positive changes. Especially in the eastern regions, the vegetation deduction conditions will be improved in the future, and the vegetation coverage in these regions may be improved. About 79% of the potential changes in vegetation can adapt to the future climate. Nevertheless, the grassland ecosystems in the Greater Xing’an Mountains and parts of Inner Mongolia are less adaptable to future climate change and tend to degrade. It provides new ideas for assessing vegetation adaptability or ecosystem adaptability. Research on the interaction between climate change and terrestrial ecosystems of different scales needs to be strengthened in the context of global change.

Investigations of meteorological conditions can reveal the dynamics of microclimates in specific forests. Meteorological factors are necessary factors for quantitative observation and research of forest ecosystems. A systematic analysis of the forest boundary and the main meteorological factors outside the forest in Xianweng Mountain National Forest Park can accurately reveal the interaction between the forest and meteorological factors in Xianweng Mountain National Forest Park. Based on the meteorological observation data of the forest of Xianweng Mountain National Forest Park for three consecutive years, and using experimental methods to locate meteorological factors inside and outside the forest, compare meteorological factors such as atmospheric temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and wind speed, and wind direction, and analyze their different characteristics. The results show that the main reason for the difference in temperature and humidity inside and outside the forest is that the canopy absorbs solar radiation and emits long-wave radiation from the ground. The dense canopy also impedes air exchange inside and outside the forest, reducing wind speeds in the woods. Meteorological factors play an important role in guiding the distribution of forests, and have an important impact on the growth of trees in the forest, the development of trees, and the accumulation of tree biomass. A systematic comparative analysis of the main meteorological factors inside and outside the forest of Xianweng Mountain National Forest Park revealed the interaction between the forest and meteorological factors of Xianweng Mountain National Forest Park. According to the meteorological observation data of Xianweng Mountain National Forest Park, in order to make reasonable use of meteorological resources in the future, to develop forests, to protect the balance of natural ecosystems and their healthy development are of great significance.

This paper analyzes the distribution of plant resources in the test plots, and aims to optimize the allocation of plants and improve the follow-up construction plan for the cold land ecological park. We provide basis and reference for plant species selection and diversification in the construction of cold land urban Greenland plant landscape, and further improve the urban environment. Taking Jiamusi City as an example, the plant species, ecological distribution and utilization of plant resources in Jiamusi City Park were investigated and investigated by sample method and field investigation method. The data were analyzed by the analytic hierarchy process, and the ornamental value of the regional plants was analyzed. According to the survey, there are 41 species of plants in the park in Jiamusi City, belonging to 15 families and 35 genera. Their use involves three aspects, such as edible medicinal, and has high application value. As a typical cold city, Jiamusi proposes to consider the concept of ecological balance and sustainable development while considering the ornamental nature of plant resources, to play a role in supporting the image of the city.

There are certain geographical differences in the design process of green areas along the streets of the cold city. The cold climate brings special geographical features to the city. The snow and ice add new vitality and characteristics to the city, and at the same time public demand new challenges for the excavation and creation of cold garden resources. The definition of standards for cold cities and the contribution of cold cities are movements to cold cities. Green space next to the city streets are systematically defined, and the role and influence of public life generated by the concept of greenbelt are inspected. This paper analyzes the design principles and theoretical basis of the green space design along the street in the cold city. An example is given to analyze the problems and optimization suggestions that should be paid attention to during the design process of the green space next to the city. From the solution of the problematic elements in the greening landscape design along the cold city street, the methods and strategies of the greening landscape design along the cold city street are analyzed from the aspects of plant.

The vibrational theory of olfaction assumes that electron transfer occurs across odorants at the active sites of odorant receptors (ORs), serving as a sensitive measure of odorant vibrational frequencies, ultimately leading to olfactory perception. A previous study reported that human subjects differentiated hydrogen/deuterium isotopomers (isomers with isotopic atoms) of the musk compound cyclopentadecanone as evidence supporting the theory. Here, we find no evidence for such differentiation at the molecular level. In fact, we find that the human musk-recognizing receptor, OR5AN1, identified using a heterologous OR expression system and robustly responding to cyclopentadecanone and muscone, fails to distinguish isotopomers of these compounds in vitro. Furthermore, the mouse (methylthio)methanethiol-recognizing receptor, MOR244-3, as well as other selected human and mouse ORs, responded similarly to normal, deuterated, and 13C isotopomers of their respective ligands, paralleling our results with the musk receptor OR5AN1. These findings suggest that the proposed vibration theory does not apply to the human musk receptor OR5AN1, mouse thiol receptor MOR244-3, or other ORs examined. Also, contrary to the vibration theory predictions, muscone-d30 lacks the 1,380- to 1,550-cm−1 IR bands claimed to be essential for musk odor. Furthermore, our theoretical analysis shows that the proposed electron transfer mechanism of the vibrational frequencies of odorants could be easily suppressed by quantum effects of nonodorant molecular vibrational modes. These and other concerns about electron transfer at ORs, together with our extensive experimental data, argue against the plausibility of the vibration theory.