Epidemiology, pathogenesis, immune evasion mechanism and vaccine development of porcine Deltacoronavirus

Coronaviruses have been identified as pathogens of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in humans and various animal species. In recent years, the global spread of new coronaviruses has had profound influences for global public health and economies worldwide. As highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses, coronaviruses have become the focus of current research. Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), an enterovirus belonging to the family of coronaviruses, has emerged on a global scale in the past decade and significantly influenced the swine industry. Moreover, PDCoV infects not only pigs but also other species, including humans, chickens and cattles, exhibiting a broad host tropism. This emphasizes the need for in-depth studies on coronaviruses to mitigate their potential threats. In this review, we provided a comprehensive summary of the current studies on PDCoV. We first reviewed the epidemiological investigations on the global prevalence and distribution of PDCoV. Then, we delved into the studies on the pathogenesis of PDCoV to understand the mechanisms how the virus impacts its hosts. Furthermore, we also presented some exploration studies on the immune evasion mechanisms of the virus to enhance the understanding of host-virus interactions. Despite current limitations in vaccine development for PDCoV, we highlighted the inhibitory effects observed with certain substances, which offers a potential direction for future research endeavors. In conclusion, this review summarized the scientific findings in epidemiology, pathogenesis, immune evasion mechanisms and vaccine development of PDCoV. The ongoing exploration of potential vaccine candidates and the insights gained from inhibitory substances have provided a solid foundation for future vaccine development to prevent and control diseases associated with PDCoV.

Deswelling Mechanisms of PNIPAM Grafted in Nanochannels: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

Porous thermosensitive hydrogels exhibit a more flexible strategy for freshwater capture compared to conventional hydrogels. This study employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to investigate the deswelling behavior of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) grafted within the nanochannel, aiming to elucidate the deswelling elimination process at various temperatures. Notably, a distinct phase separation is observed at specific temperatures above the lower solution temperature (LCST). Furthermore, this study takes the effect of heat flux into account, wherein distinct heat fluxes lead to varying levels of phase separation between water and the polymer. Specifically, the number of hydrogen bonds, volume of polymer chains, and density distribution of water molecules are statistically analyzed to reveal the mechanism of phase separation in a thermosensitive hydrogel. These findings provide insight into the accelerated deswelling kinetics of the PNIPAM polymer chain, which has guiding significance for the field of water harvesting by the enhancement of the water release capacity in thermosensitive hydrogels.

The relationship between antidepressants and breast cancer: evidence from Mendelian randomization

BACKGROUND

The use of antidepressants has increased over the years, but the relationship between antidepressant use and the risk of breast cancer is not uniform because of confounding factors. We aimed to assess the effect of antidepressants on breast cancer risk using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.stet METHODS: Secondary data analysis was performed on pooled data from genome-wide association studies based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms that were highly correlated with antidepressants, SSRI drugs, and serotonin and prolactin levels were selected as instrumental variables to evaluate the association between antidepressants and SSRI drugs and prolactin levels with breast cancer and ER+/ER- breast cancer. We then performed a test of the hypothesis that SSRI drugs elevate prolactin concentrations. We performed two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses using inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median methods, respectively.

RESULTS

There was no significant risk association between antidepressant and SSRI use and the development of breast cancer, ER-positive or ER-negative breast cancer (P > 0.05), and serotonin concentration was not associated with breast cancer risk (P > 0.05). There was a positive causal relationship between prolactin levels and breast cancer (IVW, P = 0.02, OR = 1.058) and ER-positive breast cancer (Weighted median, P = 0.043, OR = 1.141; IVW, P = 0.009, OR = 1.125). Results in SSRI medication and prolactin levels showed no association between SSRI analogs and prolactin levels (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Large MR analysis showed that antidepressants as well as SSRI drugs were not associated with breast cancer risk and the SSRI-prolactin-breast cancer hypothesis did not hold in our analysis.

Adjunctive effect of compound Kushen injection for cancer: An overview of systematic reviews

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Compound Kushen (Sophora flavescens Aiton) Injection (CKI) is a Chinese herbal injection made from extracts of Kushen and Baituling (Heterosmilax japonica Kunth), containing matrine (MAT), oxymatrine (OMT) and other alkaloids with significant anti-tumor activity, and is widely used as an adjuvant treatment for cancer in China.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The existing systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) were re-evaluated to provide a reference for the clinical application of CKI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

SRs/MAs of CKI adjuvant therapy for cancer-related diseases were searched in four English language databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, all from the time of database construction to October 2022. 5 researchers independently conducted literature search and identification according to the inclusion criteria, and the data of the final literature were independently extracted, and finally the AMSTAR 2 tool, PRISMA statement and GRADE classification were used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included SRs/MAs, the degree of completeness of reporting and the quality of evidence for outcome indicators. Database registration: PROSPERO ID：CRD42022361349.

RESULTS

Eighteen SRs/MAs were finally included, with studies covering non-small cell lung cancer, primary liver cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, head and neck tumors, and cancer-related bone pain. The evaluation showed that the methodological quality of the included literature was extremely low, but most of the literature reported relatively complete entries; nine clinical effectiveness indicators for non-small cell lung cancer and digestive system tumors were rated as moderate in the GRADE quality of evidence, and the quality of other outcomes was low to very low.

CONCLUSION

CKI is a potentially effective drug for the adjuvant treatment of neoplastic diseases and may be more convincing for the adjuvant treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and digestive system tumors; however, due to the low methodological and evidentiary quality of the current SRs, their effectiveness needs to be confirmed by more high-quality evidence-based medical evidence.

Does cannabis elevate cancer risk? : Evidence from Mendelian randomization

BACKGROUND

Cannabis use is increasing annually but the relationship between cannabis use and cancer incidence is not uniform because of confounding factors. We aimed to assess the effect of cannabis use on cancer risk using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

METHODS

Secondary data analyses were performed on pooled data based on Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS), selecting data from the ICC and UK-Biobank and 23andMeInc lifetime cannabis use and cannabis use disorder related to the substance use disorders working group from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, then selecting highly correlated SNPs as instrumental variables. The substance use disorders working group, iPSYCH, and deCODE GWAS data, and then highly correlated SNPs were selected as instrumental variables for two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses using inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median, respectively, to evaluate the relationship between lifetime cannabis use and nine tumors, and subsequently analyzed these results in the same way using cannabis use disorders.

RESULTS

The risk of all cancers except breast cancer was not associated with lifetime cannabis use. Our inverse variance weighting method found that lifetime marijuana use reduced the breast cancer risk (P = 0.016, odds ratio [OR] = 0.981), and we subsequently conducted analyses of cannabis use disorders and cancer risk, which showed that cannabis use disorders elevated the risk of breast cancer (P = 0.007, OR = 1.007) as well as the risk of lung cancer (P = 0.014, OR = 1.122).

CONCLUSION

Large MR analyses suggest that lifetime cannabis use may reduce breast cancer risk, but cannabis use disorder exacerbates the risk of breast and lung cancer. The mechanisms responsible for this outcome remain to be investigated.

Evaluation of the oral bioaccessibility of legacy and emerging brominated flame retardants in indoor dust

Indoor dust is the main source of human exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs). In this study, in vitro colon-extended physiologically-based extraction test (CE-PBET) with Tenax as a sorptive sink was applied to evaluate the oral bioaccessibility of twenty-two polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and seven novel BFRs (NBFRs) via indoor dust ingestion. The mean bioaccessibilities of two NBFRs pentabromotoluene (PBT) and 1,2-Bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE) were first proposed, reaching 36.0% and 26.7%, respectively. In order to maintain homeostasis of the gastrointestinal tract, 0.4 g Tenax was added in CE-PEBT, which increased BFRs bioaccessibility by up to a factor of 1.4-1.9. The highest bioaccessibility of legacy PBDEs was tri-BDEs (73.3%), while 2-ethylhexyl-tetrabromo-benzoate (EHTBB), one of penta-BDE alternatives, showed the highest (62.2%) among NBFRs. The influence of food nutrients, liquid to solid (L/S) ratio, and octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) on bioaccessibility was assessed. The oral bioaccessibility of BFRs increased with existence of protein or carbohydrate while lipid did the opposite. The bioaccessibilities of PBDEs and NBFRs were relatively higher with 200:1 L/S ratio. PBDEs bioaccessibility generally decreased with increasing LogKow. No significant correlation was observed between NBFRs bioaccessibility and LogKow. This study comprehensively evaluated the bioaccessibilities of legacy and emerging BFRs via dust ingestion using Tenax-assisted CE-PBET, and highlighted the significance to fully consider potential influencing factors on BFRs bioaccessibility in further human exposure estimation.

Zinc deficiency compromises the maturational competence of porcine oocyte by inducing mitophagy and apoptosis

Zinc, an essential trace mineral, plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation, maintenance of redox homeostasis, apoptosis, and aging. Serum zinc concentrations are reduced in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the underlying mechanism of the effects of zinc deficiency on the female reproductive system, especially oocyte quality, has not been fully elucidated. Thus, we established an in vitro experimental model by adding N,N,N',N'-Tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN) into the culture medium, and to determine the potential regulatory function of zinc during porcine oocytes maturation. In the present study, we found that zinc deficiency caused aberrant meiotic progress, accompanied by the disrupted cytoskeleton structure in porcine oocytes. Zinc deficiency impaired mitochondrial function and dynamics, leading to the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and acetylation level of the antioxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), eventually induced the occurrence of oxidative stress and early apoptosis. Moreover, zinc deficiency perturbed cytosolic Ca²⁺ homeostasis, lipid droplets formation, demonstrating the aberrant mitochondrial function in porcine oocytes. Importantly, we found that zinc deficiency in porcine oocytes induced the occurrence of mitophagy by activating the PTEN-induced kinase 1/Parkin signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that zinc was a critical trace mineral for maintaining oocyte quality by regulating mitochondrial function and autophagy in porcine oocytes.

Quercetin alleviates Mycoplasma gallisepticum-induced inflammatory damage and oxidative stress through inhibition of TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in vivo and in vitro

Chronic respiratory disease (CRD) caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in chickens leads to enormous economic damage to the poultry industry yearly. The active components and mechanism of action of the traditional herbal remedy Ephedra houttuynia powder (EHP), which had been approved for clinical treatment against MG infection in China, remain unknown. In this study, the active components of EHP against MG were screened using a network pharmacological method, additionally, we studied the mechanism of action of the screened results (quercetin (QUE)). The findings demonstrated that QUE was an essential element of EHP against MG infection, effectively attenuating MG-induced oxidative stress and activation of the TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. Following QUE therapy, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α content and expression were downregulated, whereas IL-4 and IL-10 expression were upregulated, eventually suppressing the inflammatory response both in vitro and in vivo. Together, this study presents a strong rationale for using QUE as a therapeutic strategy to inhibit MG infection-induced inflammatory damage and oxidative stress.

Porcine endogenous retrovirus: classification, molecular structure, regulation, function, and potential risk in xenotransplantation

Xenotransplantation with porcine organs has been recognized as a promising solution to alleviate the shortage of organs for human transplantation. Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV), whose proviral DNAs are integrated in the genome of all pig breeds, is a main microbiological risk for xenotransplantation. Over the last decades, some advances on PERVs' studies have been achieved. Here, we reviewed the current progress of PERVs including the classification, molecular structure, regulation, function in immune system, and potential risk in xenotransplantation. We also discussed the problem of insufficient study on PERVs as well as the questions need to be answered in the future work.

Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine Injections for Anthracyclines-induced Cardiotoxicity: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

INTRODUCTION

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injections, as a relatively safe and low-cost treatment, have been widely used in the prevention and treatment of anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity in China. However, the quality of the relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in recent years is uneven, so that the effectiveness and safety of TCM injections in preventing and treating anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity remain to be discussed. A systematic overview is therefore needed to provide a more advanced evidentiary reference for clinical practice.

METHODS

Eight Chinese and English databases were searched by computer to screen the meta-analyses/systematic reviews on the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine injections for the prevention and treatment of anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity from the database establishment to October 2022. The methodological quality and evidence quality of outcome indicators included in the study were evaluated by AMSTAR 2 tool, PRISMA statement and GRADE classification.

RESULTS

A total of 7 articles were included in the study. The quality evaluation of AMSTAR 2 showed that 7 studies were extremely low-level; PRISMA stated that the evaluation results showed that the reports of 7 studies were of intermediate quality; The GRADE rating indicated that most of the evidence was of low quality.

CONCLUSION

The methodological quality and evidence quality of meta-analysis/system evaluation concerning the prevention and treatment of anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity by Chinese medicine are currently low, and the effectiveness of Chinese medicine in the treatment of anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity needs more high-quality evidence-based evidence.

Mechanobiology Platform Realized Using Photomechanical Mxene Nanocomposites: Bilayer Photoactuator Design and In Vitro Mechanical Forces Stimulation

Mechanotransduction is the process by which cells convert external forces and physical constraints into biochemical signals that control several aspects of cellular behavior. A number of approaches have been proposed to investigate the mechanisms of mechanotransduction; however, it remains a great challenge to develop a platform for dynamic multivariate mechanical stimulation of single cells and small colonies of cells. In this study, we combined polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and PDMS/Mxene nanoplatelets (MNPs) to construct a soft bilayer nanocomposite for extracellular mechanical stimulation. Fast backlash actuation of the bilayer as a result of near-infrared irradiation caused mechanical force stimulation of cells in a controllable manner. The excellent controllability of the light intensity and frequency allowed backlash bending acceleration and frequency to be manipulated. As gastric gland carcinoma cell line MKN-45 was the research subject, mechanical force loading conditions could trigger apoptosis of the cells in a stimulation duration time-dependent manner. Cell apoptotic rates were positively related to the duration time. In the case of 6 min mechanical force loading, apoptotic cell percentage rose to 34.46% from 5.5% of the control. This approach helps apply extracellular mechanical forces, even with predesigned loading cycles, and provides a solution to study cell mechanotransduction in complex force conditions. It is also a promising therapeutic technique for combining physical therapy and biomechanics.

Polypharmacology-based approach for screening TCM against coinfection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Escherichia coli

Natural products and their unique polypharmacology offer significant advantages for finding novel therapeutics particularly for the treatment of complex diseases. Meanwhile, Traditional Chinese Medicine exerts overall clinical benefits through a multi-component and multi-target approach. In this study, we used the previously established co-infection model of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Escherichia coli as a representative of complex diseases. A new combination consisting of 6 herbs were obtained by using network pharmacology combined with transcriptomic analysis to reverse screen TCMs from the Chinese medicine database, containing Isatdis Radix, Forsythia Fructus, Ginkgo Folium, Mori Cortex, Licorice, and Radix Salviae. The results of therapeutic trials showed that the Chinese herbal compounds screened by the target network played a good therapeutic effect in the case of co-infection. In summary, these data suggested a new method to validate target combinations of natural products that can be used to optimize their multiple structure-activity relationships to obtain drug-like natural product derivatives.

Exposure to phenanthrene affects oocyte meiosis by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress

OBJECTIVES

Phenanthrene (PHE) is one of the most abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which is a widespread environmental contaminant. Various studies showed that PHE has adverse impacts on animals and human health. It has been shown that PHE exposure induced follicular atresia and endocrine dyscrasia in female mice. However, the potential mechanism regarding how PHE affects female reproductive system especially the oocyte quality has not been elucidated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, we set up PHE exposure model and found that PHE exposure compromised oocytes maturation competence by inhibiting spindle assembly and chromosomes alignment. Moreover, PHE exposure induced mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and aberrant calcium levels in cytoplasm, eventually induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in oocytes. Furthermore, we found that oral administration of PHE caused the occurrence of oxidative stress and apoptosis in female ovary. In addition, the oocyte exhibited aberrant spindle morphology and failure of actin cap formation in metaphase II oocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our study demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage are the major cause of poor oocyte quality after PHE exposure.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposure affects early embryonic development and offspring oocyte quality via inducing mitochondrial dysfunction

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic perfluorinated compound that is extensively used as an integral surfactant in commercial production. Owing to its hydrophilicity and persistence, PFOA can accumulate in living organisms and induce severe disease in animals and humans. It has been reported that PFOA exposure can affect ovarian function and induce reproductive toxicity; however, the effects and potential mechanism of PFOA exposure during gestation on early embryonic development and offspring remain unclear. This study found that PFOA exposure in vitro disrupted spindle assembly and chromosome alignment during the first cleavage of early mouse embryos, which impacted early embryonic cleavage and blastocyst formation. Moreover, PFOA exposure caused mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress by inducing aberrant Ca²⁺ levels, liquid drops(LDs), and mitochondrial membrane potential in the 2-cell stage. Furthermore, we found that PFOA exposure resulted in DNA damage, autophagy, and apoptosis in 2-cell stage by inhibiting SOD2 function. Gestational exposure to PFOA significantly increased ovarian apoptosis and disrupted follicle development in F1 offspring. In addition, oocyte maturation competence was decreased in F1 offspring. Finally, single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed that PFOA-induced oocyte deterioration was caused by mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in the F1 offspring. In summary, our results indicated that gestational exposure to PFOA had potential toxic effects on ovarian function and led to a higher incidence of meiotic defects in F1 female offspring.

Melatonin protects against maternal diabetes-associated meiotic defects by maintaining mitochondrial function

Maternal diabetes has been widely reported to adversely affect oocyte quality. Although various molecules and pathways may be involved in this process, strategies to prevent maternal diabetes-induced deterioration of oocyte quality remain unexplored. Melatonin is synthesized by the pineal gland and has been shown to have beneficial effects on oocyte quality owing to its antioxidative function. In the present study, we found that the exposure of oocytes of diabetic mice to melatonin, in vitro, alleviated aberrant oocyte maturation competence. Notably, melatonin supplementation attenuated defects in spindle organization and chromosome alignment by mediating the expression of TPX2 and pericentrin localization. Importantly, melatonin eliminated the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and increased the cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels in diabetic oocytes by maintaining mitochondrial function. Moreover, the occurrence of autophagy and apoptosis was reversed in diabetic oocytes after melatonin exposure via decreased LC3β expression. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that melatonin supplementation can protect oocytes from maternal diabetes-related meiotic defects and poor egg quality, providing a potential strategy for improving oocyte quality in assisted reproductive technologies.

Organophosphate flame retardants induce oxidative stress and Chop/Caspase 3-related apoptosis via Sod1/p53/Map3k6/Fkbp5 in NCI-1975 cells

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) have been ubiquitously detected in dust and air which could cause damage to human health through inhalation. Currently the understanding of their adverse effects and potential mechanisms on the lung are still limited. In this study, human non-small cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H1975 was used to investigate the cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis of 9 typical OPFRs with concentrations varied from 0 to 200 μM, and their toxic mechanism associated with molecular structure was compared. After 72 h, tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) displayed the highest cytotoxicity, followed by 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) and tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), while tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) exhibited the least suppression on cell viability. These results indicated that the variation of cytotoxicity on OPFRs could only be partially explained by their ester linkage. Moreover, the overexpression of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), free Ca²⁺ and cellular apoptosis suggested that exposure to OPFRs can lead to apoptosis related to oxidative stress. Six genes associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis were upregulated dramatically compared with the control, demonstrating OPFRs induced Chop/Caspase 3-related apoptosis by activating Sod1/p53/Map3k6/Fkbp5 expression in NCI-H1975 cells. This is the first study to investigate cytotoxicity and related mechanism on commonly-used OPFRs in NCI-H1975 cells.

Validation of reliable safe harbor locus for efficient porcine transgenesis

Transgenic technology is now widely used in biomedical and agricultural fields. Transgenesis is commonly achieved through random integration which might cause some uncertain consequences. The site-specific integration could avoid this disadvantage. This study aimed to screen and validate the best safe harbor (SH) locus for efficient porcine transgenesis. First, the cells carrying the EGFP reporter construct at four different SH loci (ROSA26, AAVS1, H11 and COL1A1) were achieved through CRSIPR/Cas9-mediated HDR. At the COL1A1 and ROSA26 loci, a higher mRNA and protein expression of EGFP was detected, and it was correlated with a lower level of DNA methylation of the EGFP promoter, hEF1α. A decreased H3K27me3 modification of the hEF1α promoter at the COL1A1 locus was also detected. For the safety of transgenesis at different SH locus, we found that transgenesis could relatively alter the expression of the adjacent endogenous genes, but the influence was limited. We also did not observe any off-target cleavage for the selected sgRNAs of the COL1A1 and ROSA26 loci. In conclusion, the COL1A1 and ROSA26 were confirmed to be the best two SH loci with the COL1A1 being more competitive for porcine transgenesis. This work would greatly facilitate porcine genome engineering and transgenic pig production.

Simazine perturbs the maturational competency of mouse oocyte through inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage

Simazine is a triazine pesticides that typically detected in ground water and soil, and can reportedly affect reproductive health in humans and animals. However, the effect of simazine on female germ cell development remains unclear. In the present study, we observed that simazine exposure decreased oocyte maturation competence and embryonic developmental capacity. Importantly, simazine exposure disrupted microtubule stability and actin polymerization, resulting in failure of spindle assembly and migration. In addition, simazine exposure impaired mitochondrial function and cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis in both oocyte and 2-cell embryos, thus increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, simazine exposure induced DNA damage and early apoptosis during oocyte maturation. Collectively, our results demonstrate that simazine exposure-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis are major causes of poor oocytes quality.

Methylsulfonylmethane ameliorates inflammation via NF-κB and ERK/JNK-MAPK signaling pathway in chicken trachea and HD11 cells during Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is an avian pathogen that commonly causes respiratory diseases in poultry. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a sulfur-containing natural compound that could alleviate inflammatory injury through its excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, it is still unclear whether MSM prevents MG infection. The purpose of this study is to determine whether MSM has mitigative effects on MG-induced inflammatory injury in chicken and chicken like macrophages (HD11 cells). In this research, White Leghorn chickens and HD11 cells were used to build the MG-infection model. Besides, the protective effects of MSM against MG infection were evaluated by detecting MG colonization, histopathological changes, oxidative stress and inflammatory injury of trachea, and HD11 cells. The results revealed that MG infection induced inflammatory injury and oxidative stress in trachea and HD11 cells. However, MSM treatment significantly ameliorated oxidative stress, partially alleviated the abnormal morphological changes and reduced MG colonization under MG infection. Moreover, MSM reduced the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines-related genes and decreased the number of death cells under MG infection. Importantly, the protective effects of MSM were associated with suppression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK)/Jun amino terminal kinases (JNK)-mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway in trachea and HD11 cells. These results proved that MSM has protective effects on MG-induced inflammation in chicken, and supplied a better strategy for the protective intervention of this disease.

Plant functional traits shape growth rate for xerophytic shrubs

Trade-offs exist for xerophytic shrubs between functional traits, involving in water loss and assimilate accumulation, can contribute to its survival and growth rate regulation in arid environments. However, growth analysis based on plant functional traits has been focused on the study of herbs and woody species. It is still unclear how the functional traits of xerophytic shrubs regulate their growth rate. In this study, we selectedeight xerophytic shrubs as samples to analyze the regulation process of the functional traits of shrubs on growth rate. Plants were cultivated for three years, and three harvests (every one year) were carried out. Factors explaining between-species differences in relative growth rate (RGR) varied, depending on whether different ages were considered. The results showed that RGR was positively correlated with net assimilation rate, but there was a significant negative correlation with leaf area ration (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf biomass ratio in the age 1. However, in the age 2, RGR showed a significant positive correlation with the morphological traits (i.e., leaf area ration and specific leaf area), but not with physiological traits (i.e., net assimilation rate) and leaf biomass allocation. Our results suggested that the fluctuation of environmental factors affects the regulation path of the plant functional traits on RGR of xerophytic shrubs. However, the analysis of causality model showed that no matter in which age, net assimilation rate and leaf area ration principally drive the variation in RGR among xerophytic shrubs.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum induced inflammation-mediated Th1/Th2 immune imbalance via JAK/STAT signaling pathway in chicken trachea: Involvement of respiratory microbiota

The respiratory microbiota plays a significant role in the host defense against Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection. The results showed that MG infection changed respiratory microbiota composition, which lead to the tracheal inflammation injury and oxidative stress. MG infection significantly induced immunosuppression in chickens at day 3 and 5 post-infection. In addition, MG infection increased the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines in tracheal tissues and activated TLR4 mediated JAK/STAT signaling pathway at day 3 post-infection compared to the control group. Meanwhile, the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines were decreased and the expressions of JAK/STAT signaling pathway were decreased at day 5 and day 7 post-infection. On the contrary, the expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased at day 3 post-infection and were increased at day 5 and day 7 post-infection in the MG infection group. The antibiotic cocktail group received the respiratory microbiota from the MG infection group, which induced inflammatory injury and oxidative stress, induced mucosal barrier damage by down regulating tight junction-related genes and altered the expressions of mucin, which could be the possible causes of dysregulated immune responses. Importantly, the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased and TLR4 mediated JAK/STAT signaling pathway was downregulated at day 1 and 3 post-transplantation. While, respiratory microbiota transplanted from MG infection significantly increased the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activated JAK/STAT signaling at day 7 post-transplantation. These results highlighted the role of respiratory microbiota in MG-induced tracheal inflammation injury, and offered a new strategy for the preventive intervention of this disease.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles of baicalin against Mycoplasma gallisepticum in an in vivo infection model

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (M. gallisepticum), a devastating avian pathogen that commonly causes chronic respiratory disease in chicken, is responsible for tremendous economic losses to the poultry industry. Baicalin is the main constituent of Scutellaria baicalensis that shows potential therapeutic effects against M. gallisepticum. However, the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) profiles of baicalin against M. gallisepticum are not well understood. The main objective of the present study was to determine the relationship between the PK/PD index and efficacy of baicalin in the M. gallisepticum infection model in chickens. The experiments were carried out on 10-day-old chickens that were challenged with M. gallisepticum in the bilateral air sacs. While, baicalin was orally administrated once in a day for 3 consecutive days, started from d 3 postinfection. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to evaluate the PK parameters of baicalin at doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg in M. gallisepticum-infected chickens. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used for the quantitative detection of M. gallisepticum in lungs. The PK and PD data were fitted to WinNonlin software to evaluate the PK/PD profiles of baicalin against M. gallisepticum. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of baicalin against M. gallisepticum strain R_low was 31.25 µg/mL. The in vivo data suggested that baicalin concentration in the lung tissues was higher than plasma (1.21–1.73 times higher). The ratios of AUC_24h/MIC of baicalin against bacteriostatic, bactericidal, and eradication were 0.62, 1.33, and 1.49 h, respectively. In conclusion, these results provided potential reference for future clinical dose selection of baicalin and evaluation of susceptibility breakpoints.

Droplet Nucleation and Growth in the Presence of Noncondensable Gas: A Molecular Dynamics Study

The presence of noncondensable gas (NCG) followed by undesirable heat transfer deterioration cannot be avoided in some situations. In this work, droplet nucleation and growth for the Ar-Ne mixed system are investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. Different droplet state transition modes corresponding to the subcooling degree or NCG content are obtained. The interaction between NCG and a droplet caused by gas enrichment near the solid surface is considered to explain the droplet wetting state during the condensation process. Finally, the disappearance mechanism of the flooding mode on the nanostructured surface under a large amount of NCG is clarified from the nanoscale, which could encourage a clear understanding of the NCG effect on dropwise condensation heat transfer on nanostructured superhydrophobic surfaces.

Hexestrol Deteriorates Oocyte Quality via Perturbation of Mitochondrial Dynamics and Function

Hexestrol (HES) is a synthetic non-steroidal estrogen that was widely used illegally to boost the growth rate in livestock production and aquaculture. HES can also be transferred to humans from treated animals and the environment. HES has been shown to have an adverse effect on ovarian function and oogenesis, but the potential mechanism has not been clearly defined. To understand the potential mechanisms regarding how HES affect female ovarian function, we assessed oocyte quality by examining the critical events during oocyte maturation. We found that HES has an adverse effect on oocyte quality, indicated by the decreased capacity of oocyte maturation and early embryo development competency. Specifically, HES-exposed oocytes exhibited aberrant microtubule nucleation and spindle assembly, resulting in meiotic arrest. In addition, HES exposure disrupted mitochondrial distribution and the balance of mitochondrial fission and fusion, leading to aberrant mitochondrial membrane potential and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Lastly, we found that HES exposure can increase cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels and induce DNA damage and early apoptosis. In summary, these results demonstrate that mitochondrial dysfunction and perturbation of normal mitochondrial fission and fusion dynamics could be major causes of reduced oocyte quality after HES exposure.

Knockdown of long non-coding RNA VIM-AS1 inhibits glioma cell proliferation and migration, and increases the cell apoptosis via modulation of WEE1 targeted by miR-105-5p

OBJECTIVE

Glioma including glioblastoma is the main type of primary brain tumors worldwide. LncRNAs have participated in glioma formation. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism for VIM-AS1/miR-105-5p/WEE1 signaling in glioma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The clinical tumors and adjacent tissues were collected from 24 patients with glioma in the Shang Luo Central Hospital. Then, the clinical samples were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E). VIM-AS1, miR-105-5p, and WEE1 levels were measured using real-time PCR. The protein levels of WEE1, Cyclin A1, PCNA, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Bcl-2, E-cadherin, and Bax were analyzed using Western blot. The overall survival of glioma patients was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. The interaction between VIM-AS1 and miR-105-5p was determined using RIP assay and Dual-Luciferase reporter assay, and the binding between miR-105-5p and WEE1 was also detected by Dual-Luciferase reporter assay. Cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and migration were confirmed using CCK-8, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay, respectively.

RESULTS

VIM-AS1 was elevated in cancer tissues, and high level of VIM-AS1 was positively correlated with poor overall survival. Then, VIM-AS1 could bind to and downregulate miR-105-5p. Furthermore, the knockdown of VIM-AS1 significantly suppressed tumor growth in vivo. The knockdown of VIM-AS1/overexpression of miR-105-5p inhibited glioma cell growth, colony formation, and migration, and enhanced the cell apoptosis by inhibiting expression of Cyclin A1, PCNA, Vimentin, N-cadherin, and Bcl-2, and by increasing the expression of Bax and E-cadherin. Interestingly, the overexpression of VIM-AS1 reversed the tumor-suppressing role of miR-105-5p in glioma cells. Besides, the expression of WEE1 was synergistically regulated by VIM-AS1 and miR-105-5p. Consequently, VIM-AS1 promoted glioma progression via upregulating WEE1 or downregulating miR-105-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

VIM-AS1/miR-105-5p/WEE1 signaling may be a promising target for glioma treatment.

[The reference intervals of thyroid functional indicators in pregnant population in Xi'an]

To establish reference intervals for thyroid functional indicators in early (T1), mid-term (T2), and late stage (T3) pregnancy in a population of women in Northwestern China. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 620 pregnant women. Subjects were recruited through a questionnaire where apparently healthy women were selected. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH3), total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroid hormone (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroid hormone (FT4) were detected using the Beckman Unicel DXI 800 automatic chemiluminescence analyzer (the third-generation TSH detection reagent for TSH3),and the reference intervals of different gestation periods were established. The results showed that the reference intervals of TSH3 in T1, T2, and T3 were 0.05-4.59, 0.61-6.01, and 0.63-4.78 mIU/L, respectively; TT3 were 1.62-2.97 nmol/L, 1.59-2.95 nmol/L, and 1.45-2.70 nmol/L, respectively; TT4 were 95.49-185.00 nmol/L, 92.70-181.54 nmol/L, and 77.93-155.09 nmol/L, respectively; FT3 were 3.18-5.22 pmol/L, 2.78-4.67 pmol/L, and 2.51-4.18 pmol/L, respectively; and FT4 were 7.72-12.97 pmol/L, 6.90-1.09 pmol/L, and 5.63-9.85 pmol/L, respectively. All thyroid function indexes had statistically significant differences between the three stages of pregnancy (TSH:H=30.879,P<0.01;FT3:H =153.827,P<0.01;FT4:H =229.967,P<0.01;TT3:H =36.484,P<0.01;TT4:H =58.531,P<0.01). 20 independent samples were collected to verify the reference intervals of TSH, FT3, FT4, TT3 and TT4 for three trimesters of pregnancy, and all of them passed.

[Radial artery thrombosis in optical coherence tomography guided transradial coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndrome patients and its risk factors analysis]

Objective: To observe the radial artery thrombosis (RAT) during transradial coronary angiography (CAG) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to investigate the risk factors of RAT during the CAG and/or PCI. Methods: In this retrospective study, we consecutively reviewed the radial artery OCT examination results of the patients who underwent OCT guided transradial CAG and/or PCI for acute coronary syndrome in heart center of Beijing Luhe hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2017 to July 2018. The incidence of RAT was observed. The patients were divided into the RAT group and non-RAT group, clinical data were collected and compared. Moreover, the types and distributions of thrombus in radial artery as well as the acute radial artery injuries under OCT were observed. Univariate analysis followed by multivariate analysis were performed to identify potential risk factors. The radial artery patency and ischemic symptoms of the involved limb were followed up at the 24-hour and the 1-month after procedure. Results: A total of 107 patients were included, the age was (58.1±12.5), and 78.5% were male (n=84). The incidence of RAT was 26.2% (n=28, 95%CI 17.9%-34.5%), and the main type of thrombus was white thrombus (n=15, 53.6%). The commonest position of RAT was the proximal portion of radial artery (n=17, 60.7%). The median thrombus volume was 0.05(0.03, 0.38) mm3, and the median thrombus score was 6.5 (3.3, 13.8). In univariate analysis, the frequency of acute radial artery injury and use of bivalirudin were significantly higher and the procedure time was significantly longer in RAT group than those in non-RAT group (all P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the radial artery acute injury (OR=5.82, 95%CI: 2.09-16.20, P=0.001) and the procedure time (OR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.01-1.06, P=0.006) were independent risk factors of RAT. Rate of radial artery occlusion at 24 hours follow-up was similar between RAT and non-RAT group (7.14%(2/28), vs. 10.13%(8/79), P=1.000). None of the patients complicated severe ischemic symptom of the operative limb. Conclusions: RAT is a high frequency access complication during transradial coronary intervention. This phenomenon can be accurately observed by OCT. Acute radial artery injury and prolonged procedure time are risk factors of RAT during transradial coronary intervention.

Porcine genome engineering for xenotransplantation

The extreme shortage of human donor organs for treatment of patients with end-stage organ failures is well known. Xenotransplantation, which might provide unlimited organ supply, is a most promising strategy to solve this problem. Domestic pigs are regarded as ideal organ-source animals owing to similarity in anatomy, physiology and organ size to humans as well as high reproductive capacity and low maintenance cost. However, several barriers, which include immune rejection, inflammation and coagulative dysfunctions, as well as the cross-species transmission risk of porcine endogenous retrovirus, blocked the pig-to-human xenotransplantation. With the rapid development of genome engineering technologies and the potent immunosuppressive medications in recent years, these barriers could be eliminated through genetic modification of pig genome together with the administration of effective immunosuppressants. A number of candidate genes involved in the regulation of immune response, inflammation and coagulation have been explored to optimize porcine xenograft survival in non-human primate recipients. PERV inactivation in pigs has also been accomplished to firmly address the safety issue in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. Many encouraging preclinical milestones have been achieved with some organs surviving for years. Therefore, the clinical trials of some promising organs, such as islet, kidney and heart, are aimed to be launched in the near future.

Enhancements of Loading Capacity and Moving Ability by Microstructures for Wireless Soft Robot Boats

Because of its promising applications in various fields such as in vivo drug treatment, in-pipe inspection, and so forth, there is an increasing interest on wireless soft robot boats taking advantages of their shape adaptability. The loading capacity and mobility, however, are always fundamental challenges to restrict their applications. In this study, a graphene-based soft robot boat, which could be programmable-driven by a remote near-infrared light, is proposed. Different microstructures underneath the boat are carefully designed and employed to improve both the loading capacity and the moving ability. It reveals that, compared to that without microstructures, the soft robot boat with square pillar arrays (120-160 μm of period, duty cycle, and aspect ratio at active Wenzel/Cassie transition point) could enhance the loading capacity by 12.75% and the moving velocity by 16.70%. For the robot boat with grating structures, a strong driving anisotropy is revealed, with an enhancement of 2.24% for the loading capacity and 34.65% for the driving response along the grating lines. A boat prototype with a self-weight of 6.05 g is finally developed and can achieve continuous navigation in a closed narrow space for in situ monitoring, which may find applications in the inspection of other narrow terrains (e.g., blood vessels).

Failure and Recovery of Droplet Nucleation and Growth on Damaged Nanostructures: A Molecular Dynamics Study

The condensate flooding during dropwise condensation causes serious deterioration in heat transfer performance. In this study, the three-dimensional large-scale molecular dynamics simulation is carried out to investigate the droplet state transition from local flooding mode to Wenzel or from Wenzel to Cassie due to the droplet coalescence under the effect of nanostructure size. In particular, the effect of nanostructure breakage on droplet nucleation and growth is discussed to reveal the mechanism of dropwise condensation heat transfer deterioration. As a potential solution, the lubricant-impregnated surface is proposed to recover the preferred Cassie state by regulating the dynamic wetting characteristics of droplets, and thus the detrimental effect of nanostructure breakage could be effectively avoided.

Seasonal differences in the transcriptome profile of the Zhedong white goose (Anser cygnoides) pituitary gland

In animals, the adaptation to breed at the time of greatest survival of the young is known as seasonal reproduction. This is mainly controlled by the photoperiod, which stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and starts the breeding season. Herein, we have determined the seasonal changes in gene expression patterns of Zhedong white geese pituitary glands under a natural photoperiodism, conducted at autumn equinox (AE), winter solstice (WS), spring equinox (SE), and summer solstice (SS). Pairwise comparisons of WS vs. AE, SE vs. WS, SS vs. SE, and AE vs. SS resulted in 1,139, 33, 704, and 3,503 differently expressed genes, respectively. When compared with SS, AE showed downregulation of genes, such as vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor, prolactin receptor, and thyroid hormone receptor beta, whereas gonadotropin-releasing hormone II receptor was upregulated, indicating that these genes may be responsible for the transition from cessation to egg laying. In addition, the expression levels of 5 transcription factors (POU1F1, Pitx2, NR5A1, NR4A2, and SREBF2) and 6 circadian clock-associated genes (Clock, Per2, ARNTL2, Eya3, Dio2, and NPAS2) also changed seasonally. Gene Ontology term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed that “response to oxidative stress” and steroid biosynthesis pathway also participate in regulating the reproduction seasonality of geese. Overall, these results contribute to the identification of genes involved in seasonal reproduction, enabling a better understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying seasonal reproduction of geese.

Effect of phosphorus efficiency on elemental stoichiometry of two shrubs

Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient that can restrict plant growth. However, the influence of P deficiency on elemental homeostasis and application of the growth rate hypothesis in higher plants remain to be assessed. Two shrubs, Zygophyllum xanthoxylum and Nitraria tangutorum, were used as experiment material and subjected to five P addition treatments: 0, 17.5, 35.0, 52.5 and 70.0 mg P·kg^-1 soil. The biomass and relative growth rate of Z. xanthoxylum did not change with altered P supply. There was no significant difference in P concentration among the treatments for Z. xanthoxylum, but N. tangutorum showed an upward trend. The P stoichiometric homeostasis of Z. xanthoxylum was higher than that of N. tangutorum. For Z. xanthoxylum, available P in the rhizosphere improved significantly under extreme P deficiency conditions, and P concentrations in all treatments were lower than in N. tangutorum, showing that Z. xanthoxylum had stronger P absorption and P utilization capacity. No relationships between growth rate and C:N:P ratios were found in Z. xanthoxylum. The strong P efficiency, and high and stable dry matter accumulation, are likely contributors in maintaining stoichiometric homeostasis. In addition, the relatively high biomass accumulation and high P utilization efficiency for Z. xanthoxylum does not support the growth rate hypothesis for this species.

Sensitivity of resonance properties of all-dielectric multilayers driven by statistical fluctuations

In photonics and emerging fields of quantum and topological materials, increasing demands are placed upon the state and control of electromagnetic fields. Dielectric multilayer materials may be designed and optimized to possess extremely sharp spectral and angular photonic resonances allowing for the creation of fields orders of magnitude larger than the exciting field. With enhancements of 10⁴ and higher, the extreme nature of these resonances places high constraints on the statistical properties of the physical and optical characteristics of the materials. To what extent the spectral and angular shifts occur as a result of fluctuations in the refractive indices and morphologies of the involved low-loss subdomains have not been considered previously. Here, we present how parameter variations such as those caused by fluctuations in deposition rate, yielding bias, random and compensated errors, may affect the resonance properties of low-loss all-dielectric stacks.

Correction to: Occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in floor and elevated surface house dust from Shanghai, China

The article Occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in floor and elevated surface house dust from Shanghai, China, written by Dong Niu, Yanling Qiu, Li Li, Yihui Zhou, Xinyu Du, Zhiliang Zhu, Ling Chen and Zhifen Lin, was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal.

Exploration of the temporal-spatial expression pattern and DNA methylation-related regulation of the duck telomerase reverse transcriptase gene

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a catalytic subunit of telomerase that adds TTAGGG repeats to the 3'-overhang of telomeres. In the present study, we detected that the duck TERT (dTERT) gene was highly expressed in small intestine and kidney, followed by heart, leg muscle, spleen, pancreas, gonad, and liver at neonatal stage. From embryonic to neonatal stage, the highest dTERT mRNA in liver appeared at stage E19 (19 days at embryonic stage), while for the leg muscle the maximum expression occurred at E26. We also measured the relative telomerase activity (RTA) and relative telomere length (RTL) in the examined tissues and found that the changed tendency of RTA and RTL was not very consistent with that of TERT. In silico analysis revealed that there were three CpG islands (S1, S2, and S3) within the 5' regulatory region of the dTERT gene. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) assay showed that liver (D7, 7 days after birth) which expressed significantly lower dTERT mRNA had an obviously higher methylation level of S1 compared with small intestine (D7) or liver (E19). Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the expression of DNA methyltransferase DNMT1 in liver (D7) was significantly higher than that in small intestine (D7) or in liver (E19). In vitro, dTERT expression was upregulated and the methylation status of S1 decreased in both duck embryonic fibroblasts and small intestinal epithelial cells following treatment with the demethylation reagent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), further suggesting that dTERT is epigenetically regulated by DNA methylation. This work lays a solid foundation for further study of TERT function and regulation in avian species.

Dexamethasone-induced Krüppel-like factor 9 expression promotes hepatic gluconeogenesis and hyperglycemia

Chronic glucocorticoid therapy has serious side effects, including diabetes and fatty liver. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for steroid-induced diabetes remain largely enigmatic. Here, we show that hepatic Krüppel-like factor 9 (Klf9) gene expression is induced by dexamethasone and fasting. The overexpression of Klf9 in primary hepatocytes strongly stimulated Pgc1a gene expression through direct binding to its promoter, thereby activating the gluconeogenic program. However, Klf9 mutation abolished the stimulatory effect of dexamethasone on cellular glucose output. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of KLF9 in the mouse liver markedly increased blood glucose levels and impaired glucose tolerance. Conversely, both global Klf9-mutant mice and liver-specific Klf9-deleted mice displayed fasting hypoglycemia. Moreover, the knockdown of Klf9 in the liver in diabetic mouse models, including ob/ob and db/db mice, markedly lowered fasting blood glucose levels. Notably, hepatic Klf9 deficiency in mice alleviated hyperglycemia induced by chronic dexamethasone treatment. These results suggest a critical role for KLF9 in the regulation of hepatic glucose metabolism and identify hepatic induction of KLF9 as a mechanism underlying glucocorticoid therapy-induced diabetes.

Responses of leaf C:N:P stoichiometry to water supply in the desert shrub Zygophyllum xanthoxylum

Based on the elemental composition of major biochemical molecules associated with different biological functions, the 'growth rate hypothesis' proposed that organisms with a higher growth rate would be coupled to lower C:N, especially lower C:P and N:P ratios. However, the applicability of the growth rate hypothesis for plants is unclear, especially for shrubs growing under different water supply. We performed an experiment with eight soil moisture levels (soil water content: 4%, 6%, 8%, 13%, 18%, 23%, 26% and 28%) to evaluate the effects of water availability on leaf C:N:P stoichiometry in the shrub Zygophyllum xanthoxylum. We found that leaves grew slowly and favored accumulation of P over C and N under both high and low water supply. Thus, leaf C:P and N:P ratios were unimodally related to soil water content, in parallel with individual leaf area and mass. As a result, there were significant positive correlations between leaf C:P and N:P with leaf growth (u). Our result that slower-growing leaves had lower C:P and N:P ratios does not support the growth rate hypothesis, which predicted a negative association of N:P ratio with growth rate, but it is consistent with recent theoretical derivations of growth-stoichiometry relations in plants, where N:P ratio is predicted to increase with increasing growth for very low growth rates, suggesting leaf growth limitation by C and N rather than P for drought and water saturation.

Effects of dietary fats on egg quality and lipid parameters in serum and yolks of Shan Partridge Duck

The effects of different dietary fats with variable levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on egg quality of Shan Partridge Duck, serum, and yolk lipid parameters were examined in this study. A flock of 585 optimal produced ducks were selected and diets enriched with 0.5%, 1%, or 2% fish oil (F)/flaxseed oil (FL)/rapeseed oil (R)/tallow (T) plus basal diet were supplied through a 28-d period. Supplemental fat source and fat level had no effects on egg qualities. Proportions of yolk total cholesterol (TC), saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were reduced (P < 0.001), while polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFAs), ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) were increased by fish oil, flaxseed oil, or rapeseed oil. Effects of supplementation increasing DHA and EPA were detected in F, FL, and R. Compared with C, fish oil significantly increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in serum, flaxseed oil significantly reduced TC and increased very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), rapeseed oil significantly reduced TC and LDL-C in serum and increased VLDL-C, tallow significantly increased LDL-C. It is concluded that unsaturated fatty acids rich diets (fish oil, flaxseed oil, and rapeseed oil) might increase yolk PUFAs, reduce yolk cholesterol, and change serum lipid parameters without evident effect on egg qualities.

Paranemic Crossover DNA: There and Back Again

Over the past 35 years, DNA has been used to produce various nanometer-scale constructs, nanomechanical devices, and walkers. Construction of complex DNA nanostructures relies on the creation of rigid DNA motifs. Paranemic crossover (PX) DNA is one such motif that has played many roles in DNA nanotechnology. Specifically, PX cohesion has been used to connect topologically closed molecules, to assemble a three-dimensional object, and to create two-dimensional DNA crystals. Additionally, a sequence-dependent nanodevice based on conformational change between PX and its topoisomer, JX₂, has been used in robust nanoscale assembly lines, as a key component in a DNA transducer, and to dictate polymer assembly. Furthermore, the PX motif has recently found a new role directly in basic biology, by possibly serving as the molecular structure for double-stranded DNA homology recognition, a prominent feature of molecular biology and essential for many crucial biological processes. This review discusses the many attributes and usages of PX-DNA-its design, characteristics, applications, and potential biological relevance-and aims to accelerate the understanding of PX-DNA motif in its many roles and manifestations.

Occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in floor and elevated surface house dust from Shanghai, China

House dust is the main source of human exposure to flame retardants by ingestion. This study investigated the occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in indoor dust from 22 houses in Shanghai, China. House dust was separately collected from the floor and elevated furnishings surface (mostly between 0.5 and 2 m height) for comparison. The concentrations of ∑₂₂ PBDEs ranged from 19.4 to 3280 ng/g (with a geometric mean of 203 ng/g) and from 55.1 to 792 ng/g (with a geometric mean of 166 ng/g) in floor dust (FD) and elevated surface dust (ESD), respectively. BDE-209 was the predominant congener, accounting for about 73.1% of total PBDE burdens. In terms of congener profiles, the comparison of FD and ESD revealed no significant differences except for the ratio of BDE-47/BDE-99. ESD samples displayed a ratio of BDE-47/BDE-99 very similar to commercial penta-BDE products DE-71 while the ratio in FD was exceptionally higher. Significant correlation was found between concentrations of commercial penta-BDE compositions in FD and ESD (p < 0.05). Except for some occasional values, PBDE levels in house dust exhibited temporal stability. Human exposure to PBDEs via dust ingestion was estimated. The highest daily intake of PBDEs was for toddlers by using 95th percentile concentrations of PBDEs via high dust ingestion in FD (23.07 ng/kg bw/day). About 20-fold difference in exposure estimates between toddlers and adults supports that toddlers are facing greater risk from indoor floor dust. Expectedly, this study highlighted the point that residents in Shanghai were exposed to low doses of PBDEs in house dust.

Construction of a DNA Origami Based Molecular Electro-optical Modulator

An electro-optical modulator was constructed using a DNA nanostructure scaffold with oligomers of poly(phenylenevinylene) and polyaniline. A molecular device containing one each of the functional molecules was assembled in a DNA origami. The constructs formed an "X" shape and were visualized by atomic force microscopy. In response to redox reconfiguration, the device reversibly altered fluorescence signal output. This molecular self-assembly strategy provides opportunities to make unique material composites that are difficult to achieve by blending. The strategy offers a "plug and play" format that may lead to many new functions.

Laminated pyroelectric generator with spin coated transparent poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) electrodes for a flexible self-powered stimulator

A laminated pyroelectric generator with spray coated transparent PEDOT:PSS electrodes has been designed for use as a flexible self-powered stimulator.