Association of physical activity and air pollution exposure with the risk of type 2 diabetes: a large population-based prospective cohort study.

Background: The interplay between physical activity (PA) and air pollution in relation to type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains largely unknown. Based on a large population-based cohort study, this study aimed to examine whether the benefits of PA with respect to the risk of T2D are moderated by exposure to air pollution.

Methods: UK Biobank participants (n = 359,153) without diabetes at baseline were included.

Associations Between High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and All-Cause Mortality Among Oldest-Old in Chinese Longevity Areas: A Community-Based Cohort Study.

Background: The association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels and all-cause mortality for the oldest-old (aged 80 years or older) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations between hsCRP concentrations and the risks of all-cause mortality, and further identify the potential modifying factors affecting these associations among the oldest-old.

Methods: This prospective, community-based cohort study included 2,206 participants aged 80 years or older (median age 93.

Healthy Sleep Associated With Lower Risk of Hypertension Regardless of Genetic Risk: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Hypertension is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease and to mortality. The combined effects of sleep factors on the risk of hypertension are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of combined sleep factors on the risk of hypertension and to explore whether this association is independent of genetic risk.

Tooth Loss, Denture Use, and Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Older Adults: A Community Cohort Study.

Background: Evidence regarding the associations of tooth loss and denture use with incident cognitive impairment is inconclusive in older adults, and few prospective studies have examined the potential interaction between tooth loss and denture use in these specific populations.

Methods: Data were assessed from 17 079 cognitively normal older adults aged ≥65 years, participating in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. The outcome of interest was cognitive impairment (assessed by the Chinese version of Mini-Mental State Examination).

Diabetes duration and glycaemic control as predictors of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Aims: To assess the associations of diabetes duration and glycaemic control (defined by plasma glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] level) with the risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality and to determine whether the addition of either or both to the established CVD risk factors can improve predictions.

Materials And Methods: A total of 435 679 participants from the UK Biobank without CVD at baseline were included. Cox models adjusting for classic risk factors (sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, lipid profiles and medication use) were used, and predictive utility was determined by the C-index and net reclassification improvement (NRI).

Association Between Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Incident Activities of Daily Living Disability: A Longitudinal Community-Based Cohort Study.

Objectives: A few studies of Western populations have found inconsistent results regarding the associations between vitamin D status and physical function. We explored the association between circulating vitamin D status [plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D] and incident activities of daily living (ADL) disability among Chinese older adults.

Design: Community-based longitudinal cohort study.

MAPK-like protein 1 positively regulates maize seedling drought sensitivity by suppressing ABA biosynthesis.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play vital roles in regulating plant growth, development, and stress responses. MAPK-like (MPKL) proteins are a group of kinases containing the MAPK signature TxY motif and showing sequence similarity to MAPKs. However, the functions of plant MPKL proteins are currently unknown.

Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Loaded Aligned Carbon Nanotube Layer Used as Counter Electrode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

A novel bilayer counter electrodes for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) made of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and aligned carbon nanotube (ACNT) was developed. The underlayer ACNT severs as a transition layer for RGO. The overlayer of RGO plays the role of catalytic layer.

The RAF-like mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases RAF22 and RAF28 are required for the regulation of embryogenesis in Arabidopsis.

In Arabidopsis, embryonic development follows a stereotypical pattern of cell division. Although many factors have been reported to participate in establishment of the proper embryonic pattern, the molecular mechanisms underlying pattern formation are unclear. In this study we showed that RAF22 and RAF28, two RAF-like mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKKs) in Arabidopsis, are involved in the regulation of embryogenesis.

One-step synthesis of SnO hierarchical architectures under room temperature and their photocatalytic properties.

Three-dimensional (3D) SnO hierarchical architectures were synthesized via a one-step dissolution-precipitation route under room temperature using SnCl · 2HO and NaCO as the initial reagents. The morphology and size of the prepared SnO structures could be easily tailored by alternating the solvent from deionized water with absolute ethanol. The SEM observation showed that the prepared 3D SnO hierarchical architectures consisted of nanosheets.

Arabidopsis MKK10-MPK6 mediates red-light-regulated opening of seedling cotyledons through phosphorylation of PIF3.

Photomorphogenesis is an important process in which seedlings emerge from soil and begin autotrophic growth. Mechanisms of photomorphogenesis include light signal perception, signal transduction, and the modulation of expression of light-responsive genes, ultimately leading to cellular and developmental changes. Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs) play negative regulatory roles in photomorphogenesis.

Activation of ZmMKK10, a maize mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, induces ethylene-dependent cell death.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play important roles in regulating plant growth, development and stress responses. Here, we report that ZmMKK10, a maize MAP kinase kinase, positively regulates cell death. Sequence comparison to Arabidopsis MKKs has led to ZmMKK10 being classified as a group D MKK.

A re-evaluation of the final step of vanillin biosynthesis in the orchid Vanilla planifolia.

A recent publication describes an enzyme from the vanilla orchid Vanilla planifolia with the ability to convert ferulic acid directly to vanillin. The authors propose that this represents the final step in the biosynthesis of vanillin, which is then converted to its storage form, glucovanillin, by glycosylation. The existence of such a "vanillin synthase" could enable biotechnological production of vanillin from ferulic acid using a "natural" vanilla enzyme.

Arabidopsis phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C 4 negatively regulates seedling salt tolerance.

Previous physiological and pharmacological studies have suggested that the activity of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) plays an important role in regulating plant salt stress responses by altering the intracellular Ca concentration. However, the individual members of plant PLCs involved in this process need to be identified. Here, the function of AtPLC4 in the salt stress response of Arabidopsis seedlings was analysed.

Analysis of crystal structure of Arabidopsis MPK6 and generation of its mutants with higher activity.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, which are the highly conserved signalling modules in eukaryotic organisms, have been shown to play important roles in regulating growth, development, and stress responses. The structures of various MAPKs from yeast and animal have been solved, and structure-based mutants were generated for their function analyses, however, the structures of plant MAPKs remain unsolved. Here, we report the crystal structure of Arabidopsis MPK6 at a 3.

Expression of the inactive ZmMEK1 induces salicylic acid accumulation and salicylic acid-dependent leaf senescence.

Leaf senescence is the final leaf developmental process that is regulated by both intracellular factors and environmental conditions. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades have been shown to play important roles in regulating leaf senescence; however, the component(s) downstream of the MAPK cascades in regulating leaf senescence are not fully understood. Here we showed that the transcriptions of ZmMEK1, ZmSIMK1, and ZmMPK3 were induced during dark-induced maize leaf senescence.

Activation of MKK9-MPK3/MPK6 enhances phosphate acquisition in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Despite the abundance of phosphorus in soil, very little is available as phosphate (Pi) for plants. Plants often experience low Pi (LP) stress. Intensive studies have been conducted to reveal the mechanism used by plants to deal with LP; however, Pi sensing and signal transduction pathways are not fully understood.

Positive association between lymphotoxin-alpha variation rs909253 and cancer risk: a meta-analysis based on 36 case-control studies.

Lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) polymorphism rs909253 has been reported to be a risk factor for cancers, but some results are inconsistent. To establish a more conclusive association, we performed a meta-analysis of this variant with cancers. A systematic search was performed for informative case-control studies of rs909253 with cancers among literature databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Chinese Periodical Database.

Sucrose induces rapid activation of CfSAPK, a mitogen-activated protein kinase, in Cephalostachyum fuchsianum Gamble cells.

Sucrose was recently demonstrated to function as a molecular signal. However, sucrose-specific sensing and signalling pathways remain largely undefined. Here, we show that Cephalostachyum fuchsianum sucrose-activated protein kinase (CfSAPK) is transiently and specifically activated by sucrose in C.