Thiol-based redox-regulation is vital to coordinate chloroplast functions depending on illumination and is well investigated for thioredoxin-dependent processes. In parallel, glutathione reductase (GR) maintains a highly reduced glutathione pool, enabling glutathione-mediated redox buffering. Yet, how the redox-cascades of the thioredoxin and glutathione redox machineries integrate metabolic regulation and detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) remains largely unresolved, as null mutants of plastid/mitochondrial GR are embryo-lethal in Arabidopsis thaliana. To investigate if maintaining a highly reducing stromal glutathione redox potential (EGSH ) via glutathione reductase (GR) is necessary for functional photosynthesis and plant growth, we created knock-out lines of the homologous enzyme in the model moss Physcomitrella patens. In these viable mutant lines, we find decreasing photosynthetic performance and plant growth with increasing light intensities, while ascorbate and zeaxanthin/antheraxanthin levels are elevated. By in vivo monitoring stromal EGSH dynamics, we show that stromal EGSH is highly reducing in wildtype and clearly responsive to light while absence of GR leads to a partial glutathione oxidation, which is not rescued by light. By metabolic labelling, we reveal changing protein abundances in the GR knock-out plants, pinpointing the adjustment of chloroplast proteostasis and induction of plastid protein repair and degradation machineries. Our results indicate that the plastid thioredoxin system is not a functional backup for the plastid glutathione redox systems, while GR plays a critical role in maintaining efficient photosynthesis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Nitro compounds are known to change reaction rates and kinetic concentration dependence of Brønsted-acid-catalyzed reactions. Yet, no mechanistic model exists to account for these observations. Herein we present an atomistic model for the catalytically active form for an alcohol dehydroazidation reaction, generated by DFT calculations. which consists of an H-bonded aggregate of two molecules of Brønsted acid and two molecules of nitro compound. The computed O-H stretching frequencies for the aggregate indicate they are stronger acids than the individual acid molecules and serve as excellent predictors for experimental reaction rates. Applying the model to a chemically diverse set of potential promoters, we predicted and verified experimentally that sulfate esters induce a similar co-catalytic effect. The important implication is that Brønsted-acid catalysis must be viewed from a supramolecular perspective that accounts for not only the pKa of the acid and the bulk properties of a solvent, but also the weak interactions between all molecules in solution. © 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.BACKGROUND Treatment response for psoriasis is typically evaluated using clinical scores. However, patients can relapse after clinical clearance, suggesting persistent inflammation. Dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) can non-invasively improve treatment response assessment. OBJECTIVES To compare the clinical and non-invasive microscopic features in a psoriatic target lesion treated with clobetasol cream or calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate foam (Cal/BD-foam) METHODS Prospective, unicentric, open, randomized clinical trial comparing clinical data (total clinical score [TCS]) and microscopic data (dermoscopy, RCM, OCT) in psoriasis patients treated with clobetasol or Cal/BD-foam. RESULTS We included 36 adult patients (22 men). At week 4, more patients treated with Cal/BD foam achieved TCS≤1 than with clobetasol (63.2% vs 18.8%, p=0.016). Treatment satisfaction was higher with Cal/BD-foam (p less then 0.03). Microscopically, Cal/BD-foam induced more reduction of epidermal thickness at week 4 (p less then 0.049). Dilated horizontal blood vessels were more common with clobetasol than with Cal/BD-foam at week 8 (69.2% vs 31.2%, p=0.159). If epidermal hyperplasia was noted at baseline, the response was poorer with clobetasol (p=0.029). LIMITATIONS Small sample size, open study, imaging sampling bias. CONCLUSION Cal/BD-foam is more effective than clobetasol, has better patient satisfaction and induces greater reduction of the hyperkeratosis/acanthosis, regardless of baseline epidermal hyperplasia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Many forests in dry mountain regions are characterized by a lower elevational treeline. Understanding the controls on the position of lower treeline is important for predicting future forest distributional shifts in response to global environmental change. Lower treelines currently at their climate limit are expected to be more sensitive to changing climate, whereas lower treelines constrained by non-climatic factors are less likely to respond directly to climate change but may be sensitive to other global change agents. In this study, we used existing vegetation classifications to map lower treelines for our 1.7 million km2 study region in the Intermountain West, USA. We modeled topoclimatic drivers of lower treeline position for each of three dominant forest types to identify topoclimatically-limited treelines. We then used spatial data of edaphic properties, recent fire, and land use to identify lower treelines potentially constrained above their ecophysiological limits by non-climatic processes. We found e provides a framework for identifying the drivers of lower treeline formation and allows for more robust projections of future treeline dynamics, which are needed to anticipate shifting global distributions of the forest biome. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.The use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is associated with arisk of renal dysfunction. We investigated whether TDF is associated with the deterioration of renal function in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) requiringfrequent computed tomography (CT) evaluations and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) sessions, when compared to entecavir (ETV).Between 2007and 2017, 493 patients withHBV-related HCC wereenrolled. click here The number of CT evaluations and TACE sessions were collected through3-years of follow-up.The median age of the study population (373 men and 120 women; 325 with ETV and 168 with TDF)was 56.5 years. TDFwas significantly associated with a serum creatinine increase(≥25% from the baseline; unadjusted hazard ratio [uHR]=1.620) and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)reduction(0.05). After adjustment, TDF use was independently associated with the increased risk of eGFR reduction (adjusted HR [aHR]=1.945; P=0.023), whereas CT evaluation ≥4 times/year was independently associated with the increased risk of serum creatinineincrease (aHR=2.