Tropical Cyclones Disrupt the Relationship between Tree Height and Species Diversity: Comment

In a recent report on the patterns of tree species richness in eastern and western North America, Marks et al. (2016) claimed to have identified an operational indicator of environmental harshness (maximum tree height) and concluded that environmental stressors that limit tree height also act as ecological filters on species richness. Marks et al. (2017) attributed the positive association between species richness and maximum tree height to both the direct effects of environmental harshness on species richness and the indirect effects of environmental harshness on species richness as mediated by maximum tree height. This finding overlooked the fact that many environmental stressors such as cyclonic disturbance affect tree height and tree species diversity in different directions. In a study of elevational patterns in Taiwan, Chi et al. (2015) reported sharply contrasting relationships between tree species diversity and canopy tree height in sites that were subject to tropical cyclone disturbance vs. those that were not. In the mountains of southeastern China beyond the reach of tropical cyclones, both tree species richness and canopy tree height decreased with increasing elevation (Zheng et al. 2004, Chi et al. 2015), supporting the harshness hypothesis (Marks et al. 2016, 2017). In contrast, in Taiwan, where tropical cyclones occur annually, tree species richness decreased but maximum tree height increased with increasing elevation, the opposite of the predictions of the harshness hypothesis (Fig. 1). We attributed the contrasting elevational patterns and associations between tree diversity and canopy tree height in Taiwan to topographic mediation of tropical cyclone disturbance. The shorter tree stature in lower elevations was attributed to more severe tropical cyclone damage (Chi et al. 2015). Although tropical cyclones limit tree height, tree mortality is very low, possibly a result of both evolutional and ecological responses of these forest ecosystems through the long-term interaction between cyclones and the forest ecosystems (Lin et al. 2011). As an example, multiple category three tropical cyclones on the Saffir-Simpson scale (Simpson and Riehl 1981) caused \u3c2% tree mortality in low-elevation evergreen broadleaf forest in northeastern Taiwan in 1994, a record year of tropical cyclone frequency and intensity (Lin et al. 2011). However, taller trees were selectively killed and defoliation was severe, both of which contributed to the low stature of the forest even though the mean annual temperature (18°C) and precipitation (3800) mm are high (Lin et al. 2011). Cyclone disturbance limits vertical development of trees but does not lead to their elimination. Thus, more tropical cyclone disturbance at lower elevations overrides climatic controls on elevational patterns of tree height but does not change the elevational pattern of tree species richness. We suggest that there is an important difference between actual maximum tree height and potential maximum tree height in the presence of disturbance (e.g., tropical cyclone)

Arrhythmia and other modifiable risk factors in incident dementia and MCI among elderly individuals with low educational levels in Taiwan

IntroductionThere is increasing evidence that arrhythmia is a risk factor for dementia; however, it appears that arrhythmia affects the cognitive function of individuals differentially across age groups, races, and educational levels. Demographic differences including educational level have also been found to moderate the effects of modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline.MethodsThis study recruited 1,361 individuals including a group of cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals, a group of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and a group of patients with dementia with low education levels. The participants were evaluated in terms of modifiable risk factors for dementia, including arrhythmia and neuropsychiatric symptoms.ResultsCox proportional hazard regression models revealed that among older MCI patients (>75 years), those with arrhythmia faced an elevated risk of dementia. Among younger MCI patients, those taking anti-hypertensive drugs faced a relatively low risk of dementia. Among younger MCI patients, male sex and higher educational level were associated with an elevated risk of dementia. Among CU individuals, those with coronary heart disease and taking anti-lipid compounds faced an elevated risk of MCI and those with symptoms of depression faced an elevated risk of dementia.DiscussionThe risk and protective factors mentioned above could potentially be used as markers in predicting the onset of dementia in clinical settings, especially for individuals with low educational levels

Challenges in Developing Applications for Aging Populations

Elderly individuals can greatly benefit from the use of computer applications, which can assist in monitoring health conditions, staying in contact with friends and family, and even learning new things. However, developing accessible applications for an elderly user can be a daunting task for developers. Since the advent of the personal computer, the benefits and challenges of developing applications for older adults have been a hot topic of discussion. In this chapter, the authors discuss the various challenges developers who wish to create applications for the elderly computer user face, including age-related impairments, generational differences in computer use, and the hardware constraints mobile devices pose for application developers. Although these challenges are concerning, each can be overcome after being properly identified

Developing the Effective Method of Spectral Harmonic Energy Ratio to Analyze the Arterial Pulse Spectrum

In this article, we analyze the arterial pulse in the spectral domain. A parameter, the spectral harmonic energy ratio (SHER), is developed to assess the features of the overly decreased spectral energy in the fourth to sixth harmonic for palpitation patients. Compared with normal subjects, the statistical results reveal that the mean value of SHER in the patient group (57.7 ± 27.9) is significantly higher than that of the normal group (39.7 ± 20.9) (P-value = .0066 < .01). This means that the total energy in the fourth to sixth harmonic of palpitation patients is significantly less than it is in normal subjects. In other words, the spectral distribution of the arterial pulse gradually decreases for normal subjects while it decreases abruptly in higher-order harmonics (the fourth, fifth and sixth harmonics) for palpitation patients. Hence, SHER is an effective method to distinguish the two groups in the spectral domain. Also, we can thus know that a “gradual decrease” might mean a “balanced” state, whereas an “abrupt decrease” might mean an “unbalanced” state in blood circulation and pulse diagnosis. By SHER, we can determine the ratio of energy distribution in different harmonic bands, and this method gives us a novel viewpoint from which to comprehend and quantify the spectral harmonic distribution of circulation information conveyed by the arterial pulse. These concepts can be further applied to improve the clinical diagnosis not only in Western medicine but also in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

Reduced Health-Related Quality of Life in Body Constitutions of Yin-Xu, and Yang-Xu, Stasis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Taichung Diabetic Body Constitution Study

Aim. To evaluate how health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutions of Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis are related in type 2 diabetes patients. Method. Seven hundred and five subjects were recruited in 2010 for this study from a Diabetes Shared Care Network in Taiwan. Generic and disease-specific HRQOL were assessed by the short form 36 (SF-36) and the diabetes impact measurement scale (DIMS). Constitutions of Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis were then assessed by the body constitution questionnaire (BCQ), a questionnaire consisting of 44 items that evaluate the physiological state based on subjective symptoms and signs. Results. Estimated effects of the Ying-Xu and Stasis on all scales of the SF-36 were significantly negative, while estimated effects of the Yang-Xu on all scales (except for SF, RE, MH, and MCS) were significantly negative. For DIMS, the estimated effects of the Ying-Xu and Stasis on all scales were significantly negative except for Stasis on well-being, while Yang-Xu has a significantly negative effect only on symptoms. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that TCM constitutions of Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis are closely related to a reduction in HRQOL. These findings support the need for further research into the impact of intervention for TCM constitutions on HRQOL in patients with type 2 diabetes

Seroepidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae colonizing the intestinal tract of healthy chinese and overseas chinese adults in Asian countries

[[abstract]]BACKGROUND:Capsular serotypes K1 and K2 of Klebsiella pneumoniae are thought to the major virulence determinants responsible for liver abscess. The intestine is one of the major reservoirs of K. pneumoniae, and epidemiological studies have suggested that the majority of K. pneumoniae infections are preceded by colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. The possibility of fecal-oral transmission in liver abscess has been raised on the basis of molecular typing of isolates. Data on the serotype distribution of K. pneumoniae in stool samples from healthy individuals has not been previously reported. This study investigated the seroepidemiology of K. pneumoniae isolates from the intestinal tract of healthy Chinese in Asian countries. Stool specimens from healthy adult Chinese residents of Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam were collected from August 2004 to August 2010 for analysis.RESULTS:Serotypes K1/K2 accounted for 9.8% of all K. pneumoniae isolates from stools in all countries. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of K1/K2 isolates among the countries excluding Thailand and Vietnam. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was nearly the same in K. pneumoniae isolates. The result of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed no major clonal cluster of serotype K1 isolates.CONCLUSIONS:The result showed that Chinese ethnicity itself might be a major factor predisposing to intestinal colonization by serotype K1/K2 K. pneumoniae isolates. The prevalent serotype K1/K2 isolates may partially correspond to the prevalence of K. pneumoniae liver abscess in Asian countries

TREX exposes the RNA binding domain of Nxf1 to enable mRNA export

The metazoan TREX complex is recruited to mRNA during nuclear RNA processing and functions in exporting mRNA to the cytoplasm. Nxf1 is an mRNA export receptor, which binds processed mRNA and transports it through the nuclear pore complex. At present, the relationship between TREX and Nxf1 is not understood. Here we show that Nxf1 uses an intramolecular interaction to inhibit its own RNA binding activity. When the TREX subunits Aly and Thoc5 make contact with Nxf1, Nxf1 is driven into an open conformation, exposing its RNA binding domain, allowing RNA binding. Moreover, the combined knockdown of Aly and Thoc5 drastically reduces the amount of Nxf1 bound to mRNA in vivo and also causes a severe mRNA export block. Together, our data indicate that TREX provides a license for mRNA export by driving Nxf1 into a conformation capable of binding mRNA

Electroacupuncture at the Zusanli (ST-36) Acupoint Induces a Hypoglycemic Effect by Stimulating the Cholinergic Nerve in a Rat Model of Streptozotocine-Induced Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Animal studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST-36) and Zhongwan (CV-12) acupoints reduces plasma glucose concentrations in rats with type II diabetes. However, whether EA reduces plasma glucose levels in type I diabetes is still unknown. In this study, we explore the various non-insulin-dependent pathways involved in EA-induced lowering of plasma glucose. Streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg kg−1, i.v.) was administered via the femoral vein to induce insulin-dependent diabetes in non-adrenalectomized and in adrenalectomomized rats. EA (15 Hz) was applied for 30 min to bilateral ST-36 acupoints after administration of Atropine (0.1 mg kg−1 i.p.), Eserine (0.01 mg kg−1 i.p.), or Hemicholinium-3 (5 μg kg−1 i.p.) in non-adrenalectomized rats. Rats administered acetylcholine (0.01 mg kg−1 i.v.) did not undergo EA. Adrenalectomized rats underwent EA at bilateral ST-36 acupoints without further treatment. Blood samples were drawn from all rats before and after EA to measure changes in plasma glucose levels. Expression of insulin signaling proteins (IRS1, AKT2) in atropine-exposed rats before and after EA was measured by western blot. Atropine and hemicholinium-3 completely blocked the plasma glucose lowering effects of EA, whereas eserine led to a significant hypoglycemic response. In addition, plasma glucose levels after administration of acetylcholine were significantly lower than the fasting glucose levels. In STZ-adrenalectomized rats, EA did not induce a hypoglycemic response. EA stimulated the expression of IRS1 and AKT2 and atropine treatment blocked the EA-induced expression of those insulin signaling proteins. Taken together, EA at the ST-36 acupoint reduces plasma glucose concentrations by stimulating the cholinergic nerves