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Abstract Background Eimeria tenella is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan that invades the chicken cecum and causes coccidiosis, which induces acute lesions and weight loss. Elucidating the anticoccidial mechanism of action of green tea polyphenols could aid the development of anticoccidial drugs and resolve the problem of drug resistance in E. tenella. Methods We constructed a model of E. tenella infection in Wuliangshan black-boned chickens, an indigenous breed of Yunnan Province, China, to study the efficacy of green tea polyphenols against the infection. Alterations in gene expression and in the microbial flora in the cecum were analyzed by ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to verify the host gene expression data obtained by RNA sequencing. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to clarify the interactions between the component green tea polyphenols and the targeted proteins; potential anticoccidial herbs were also analyzed. Results Treatment with the green tea polyphenols led to a reduction in the lesion score and weight loss of the chickens induced by E. tenella infection. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7), MMP1, nitric oxide synthase 2 and ephrin type-A receptor 2 was significantly altered in the E. tenella infection plus green tea polyphenol-treated group and in the E. tenella infection group compared with the control group; these genes were also predicted targets of tea polyphenols. Furthermore, the tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate acted on most of the targets, and the molecular docking analysis showed that it has good affinity with interferon induced with helicase C domain 1 protein. 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing showed that the green tea polyphenols had a regulatory effect on changes in the fecal microbiota induced by E. tenella infection. In total, 171 herbs were predicted to act on two or three targets in MMP7, MMP1, nitric oxide synthase 2 and ephrin type-A receptor 2. Conclusions Green tea polyphenols can directly or indirectly regulate host gene expression and alter the growth of microbiota. The results presented here shed light on the mechanism of action of green tea polyphenols against E. tenella infection in chickens, and have implications for the development of novel anticoccidial products. Graphical Abstract

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a fungus-like protist parasite that can cause diarrhea and enteric diseases. The infection of E. bieneusi has been reported in many host species, including cattle and humans. However, information on prevalence and genotype distribution of E. bieneusi in dairy cattle in Yunnan province in China is still absent. In this study, 490 Holstein Cows and 351 dairy buffalo fecal samples were collected from three regions in Yunnan province, China. By using nest-PCR that targets the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), we found that the prevalence of E. bieneusi was 0.59% (5/841). DNA sequence analysis showed that five E. bieneusi genotypes were identified in this study, including two novel genotypes, YNDCEB-90 and YNDCEB-174, and three known genotypes (I, J, BEB4). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two novel genotypes, YNDCEB-90 and YNDCEB-174, were clustered into Group 1, representing the zoonotic potential. The remaining genotypes I, J, and BEB4, which are the most frequent genotypes of E. bieneusi infection in cattle and lead to E. bieneusi infection in humans, belonged to Group 2. Although the lower prevalence of E. bieneusi was detected in dairy cattle in Yunnan province, it indicates that dairy cattle should be considered to be one of the potential hosts for transmitting E. bieneusi to humans. These findings are important for the development of effective prevention strategies for microsporidiosis.

To gain insights into differences in the virulence among T. gondii strains at the post-translational level, we conducted a quantitative analysis of the phosphoproteome profile of T. gondii strains belonging to three different genotypes. Phosphopeptides from three strains, type I (RH strain), type II (PRU strain) and ToxoDB#9 (PYS strain), were enriched by titanium dioxide (TiO2) affinity chromatography and quantified using iTRAQ technology. A total of 1,441 phosphopeptides, 1,250 phosphorylation sites and 759 phosphoproteins were detected. In addition, 392, 298, and 436 differentially expressed phosphoproteins (DEPs) were identified in RH strain when comparing RH/PRU strains, in PRU strain when comparing PRU/PYS strains, and in PYS strain when comparing PYS/RH strains, respectively. Functional characterization of the DEPs using GO, KEGG, and STRING analyses revealed marked differences between the three strains. In silico kinase substrate motif analysis of the DEPs revealed three (RxxS, SxxE, and SxxxE), three (RxxS, SxxE, and SP), and five (SxxE, SP, SxE, LxRxxS, and RxxS) motifs in RH strain when comparing RH/PRU strains, in PRU strain when comparing PRU/PYS, and in PYS strain when comparing PYS/RH strains, respectively. This suggests that multiple overrepresented protein kinases including PKA, PKG, CKII, IKK, and MAPK could be involved in such a difference between T. gondii strains. Kinase associated network analysis showed that ROP5, ROP16, and cell-cycle-associated protein kinase CDK were the most connected kinase peptides. Our data reveal significant changes in the abundance of phosphoproteins between T. gondii genotypes, which explain some of the mechanisms that contribute to the virulence heterogeneity of this parasite.

In this paper, three kinds of coefficient matrixes (channel matrix, measurement matrix, collapsed matrix) associated with the pure state for teleportation are presented, the general relation among channel matrix, measurement matrix and collapsed matrix is obtained. In addition, a criterion for judging whether a state can be teleported successfully is given, depending on the relation between the number of parameter of an unknown state and the rank of the collapsed matrix. Keywords: Channel matrix, Measurement matrix, Collapsed matrix, Teleportation

The oxidation behavior of a novel Ni-based single-crystal 4774DD1 superalloy for industrial gas turbine applications was investigated by the isothermal oxidation at 980 ºC and discontinuous oxidation weight gain methods. The phase constitution and morphology of surface oxides and the characteristics of the crosssection oxide film were analyzed by XRD, SEM and EDS. Results show that the oxidation kinetics of the 4774DD1 superalloy follows the cubic law, indicating its weak oxidation resistance at this temperature. As the oxidation time increases, the composition of the oxide film evolves as following: One layer consisting of a bottom Al2O3 sublayer and an upper (Al2O3+NiO) mixture sublayer after oxidized for 25 h. Then, two layers composed of an outermost small NiO discontinuous grain layer and an internal layer for 75 h. This internal layer is consisted of the bottom Al2O3 sublayer, an intermediate narrow CrTaO4 sublayer, and an upper (Al2O3+NiO) mixture sublayer. Also two layers comprising an outermost relative continuous NiO layer with large grain size and an internal layer as the oxidation time increases to 125 h. This internal layer is composed of the upper (Al2O3+NiO) mixture sublayer, an intermediate continuous (CrTaO4+NiWO4) mixture sublayer, and a bottom Al2O3 sublayer. Finally, three layers consisting of an outermost (NiAl2O4+NiCr2O4) mixture layer, an intermediate (CrTaO4+NiWO4) mixture layer, and a bottom Al2O3 layer for 200 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LncRNAs exert comprehensive effects in regulating the initiation and deterioration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the specific expression profiles and functional mechanisms of LINC00536 in HCC need to be disclosed. The study is intended to clarify the leverage of LINC00536 in HCC and investigate the potential mechanisms for the regulatory role of LINC00536 in the progression of HCC. In our study, LINC00536 was overexpressed in tumor samples of HCC patients and was related to poor prognosis. LINC00536 knockdown impaired cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion. LINC00536 can directly bind with miR-203b-5p, trimming the miR-203b-5p expression levels. VEGFA designates as a target of miR-203b-5p. Rescue research indicated that the miR-203b-5p inhibition or VEGFA overexpression could reverse the impaired cell phenotypes induced by LINC00536 knockdown. The in vivo experiments upheld the LINC00536/miR-203b-5p/VEGFA axis in HCC. Conclusively, LINC00536 could promote HCC deterioration via tuning the miR-203b-5p/VEGFA axis. This research may provide theoretical evidence for LINC00536 to get a gratifying therapeutic target for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to determine the characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in cats, rats, and chickens in the border areas of Yunnan Province. A total of 259 samples was collected from 10 border areas in Yunnan Province including 94 cats, 58 rats, and 107 chickens. Samples were screened by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and the positive products were analyzed by multilocus PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to determine the genotypes. Toxoplasma gondii deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was detected from 15.96% of 94 cats, 15.52% of 58 rats, and 6.54% of 107 chickens, respectively, and the average infection rate is 11.97%. Using the multilocus PCR-RFLP, we found that the genotype of T. gondii in cats and rats was ToxoDB#9. Because of low DNA concentration, no genotype was determined from chickens. These results fill the gaps of knowledge in the prevalence and genotype of T. gondii in the border areas of Yunnan Province and have implications for the better control of T. gondii infection in humans and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By a transformation operator, we find that the transformation operator is not related to the unknown N-particle state. Here, we propose a multi-scheme for the teleportation of an arbitrary and unknown N-particle state by using the method of transformation operator. The proper transformation operator depends on the quantum channel and the measurement basis. The theoretical explanations of some quantum channels are given by transformation operators. Furthermore, we give the analysis for teleporting an arbitrary and unknown N-particle state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report molecular dynamics studies of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) as a bandage to connect separated SWCNTs for getting structures of random length. The mechanical properties of the connected SWCNT strands with different joint length under axial loads are investigated using the classical molecular dynamics simulations method. The interaction between atoms is modeled using the second-generation of reactive empirical bond-order (REBO) potential coupled with the Lennard–Jones (L–J) potential. The mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus, tensile strength, critical buckling strains and critical buckling loads are determined and presented for SWCNT and connected SWCNT strands. The results indicates that the joints made in this way have relatively high mechanical properties corresponding to that of the ideal SWCNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Atomistic simulations are performed to investigate the torsional behavior of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) with and without some interwall sp3 bonds subject to torsion motion. The interaction between atoms is modeled using the second-generation reactive empirical bond-order potential coupled with the Lennard–Jones potential. These results show that the critical buckling moment is increased to 97% for the DWCNT in comparison with the SWCNT. They also indicate that the critical torsional moment and critical torsion angle of DWCNT can be obviously increased by addition of interwall sp3 coupling to provide an effective channel for load transfer of constituent outer and inner tubes. The influences of the distribution density and location of sp3 bonds on the torsional behavior of DWCNTs are also studied. For three types of distribution density, i.e., , and , the increased magnitude of the critical torsional moments [respectively the critical torsional angles] of DWCNTs are 25.5%, 36.7% and 85.2% [respectively 32.7%, 51.9% and 103.8%]. The results also show that the torsional behavior depend strongly on the location of sp3 bonds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We discuss the generation and evolution of a macroscopic entanglement light with a subthreshold non-degenerate parametric oscillator, coupled to a vacuum reservoir. The four-level atoms driven by two classical fields interact with the parametric oscillator. The master equation for the cavity modes of the scheme is derived and analyzed, the entanglement properties of the two-mode light generated by this scheme inside and outside the cavity is studied. We show that the light produced by this system is strongly entangled with time evolution inside and outside a cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of amorphous lamella on the crack propagation behavior in crystalline/amorphous (C/A) Mg/Mg–Al nanocomposites under tensile loading are investigated using the molecular dynamics simulation method. The sample with an initial crack of orientation [0001] is considered here. For the nano-monocrystal Mg, the crack growth exhibits brittle cleavage. However, for the C/A Mg/Mg–Al nanocomposites, the ‘double hump’ behavior can be observed in all the stress–strain curves regardless of the amorphous lamella thickness. The results indicate that the amorphous lamella plays a critical role in the crack deformation, and it can effectively resist the crack propagation. The above mentioned crack deformation behaviors are also disclosed and analyzed in the present work. The results here provide a strategy for designing the high-performance hexagonal-close-packed metal and alloy materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]