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Large hydroelectric dams have become a major driver of habitat loss and fragmentation worldwide. The small-island effect (SIE) and nestedness are two general biogeographical patterns that have important implications for biodiversity conservation in fragmented systems. In this study, we tested for the existence of the SIE and nestedness patterns in medium- and large-bodied mammals (>1 kg) (hereafter mammals) on land-bridge islands created by a large hydroelectric dam in the Thousand Island Lake, China. We used the camera trapping method to determine the distribution of mammals on 32 study islands from May 2011 to March 2014. To evaluate whether an SIE exists in mammals, we used the information-theoretic multimodel inference approach to compare the fit of a simple logarithmic model with two most widely used breakpoint regression models. Model selection based on corrected Akaike's information criterion (AICc) identified the left-horizontal SIE model and the continuous two-slope SIE model as the two best models. Thus, we found strong evidence for the existence of an SIE in our study system. The SIE in mammal assemblages may result from episodic disturbances, stochastic events and nutrient subsidies from the lake. We used the metric NODF to quantify nestedness and found that mammal assemblages were significantly nested. The nestedness of mammal assemblages was significantly correlated with island area and species traits linked to extinction risk (i.e. minimum area requirement). Our results indicate that conservation priorities should be on protecting large islands and species with large area requirement for the effective conservation of mammals in this fragmented reservoir system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new strategy was proposed to improve the efficiency of Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) sensitized solar cell by utilizing thiol reduced graphene oxide (TrGO) to replace conventional linker molecule, mercaptopropionic acid (MPA). TiO 2 -TrGO-CZTS composite structure formed via the remaining carboxyl and exposing thiol groups in TrGO, which guaranteed stable links between TiO 2 and CZTS. Based on the fabrication of TiO 2 -TrGO-CZTS composite electrode, CZTS sensitized solar device was assembled. Besides, TiO 2 -hydrazine hydrate reduced graphene oxide (HrGO)-CZTS and TiO 2 -MPA-CZTS electrodes as well as the devices were also constructed. Upon measuring the photoelectrochemical and photoelectric performance, it was found that the highest power conversion efficiency of 0.133% was obtained in the case of TiO 2 -TrGO-CZTS, which was enhanced by 27% and 28% compared to HrGO and MPA decorated devices, respectively. The improvement of photoelectric performance was mainly attributed to more excited electrons and less recombined charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nuciferine regulated lipid metabolism through PPARα-LXRα-ABCA1 signaling. • Nuciferine ameliorated dyslipidemia by modulating miRNA signaling in serum EVs. • Serum EV miRNAs interacted with the mRNAs of PPARα, ABCA1, and CYP7A1. • Nuciferine improved hyperlipidemia by modulating NPC1L1 and ABCG5. We investigated the effects of nuciferine rich in Lotus leaf on the amelioration of hepatic steatosis and dyslipidemia of hyperlipidemic rats, and explored the underlying mechanism on miRNAs and genes expression. Serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) from rats were prepared and characterized, and interactions between miRNAs and target mRNAs were validated in 293T cell line with the double luciferase reporter gene assay. Results showed that nuciferine significantly induced the expression of PPARα, ABCA1, CYP7A1, LXRα in liver and ABCG5 in intestine, while NPC1L1 expression was markedly reduced. In vitro, double luciferase reporter assays showed that miRNA-764-5p, miRNA-758-3p, and miRNA-126-5p interacted with the target mRNAs of PPARα, ABCA1, and CYP7A1, respectively. And the effect of nuciferine on lipid metabolism in rats was related to regulate intestinal absorption and serum EVs miRNAs. These miRNAs were able to reduce lipid levels by targeting lipid metabolism genes and up-regulating PPARα-LXRα-ABCA1 pathway and CYP7A1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In the present study, we developed a novel simplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of eight animal species, including goat, sheep, deer, buffalo, cattle, yak, pig and camel. A unique pair of universal primers was designed to target mitochondrial DNA variable regions in the eight animal species, generating, 787, 763, 563, 512, 507, 491, 455 and 385 bp long fragments for goat, sheep, deer, buffalo, cattle, yak, pig and camel, respectively. The assay showed no cross-reactivity with other common domestic animals, and was validated by sequencing and enzyme digestion. Detection limit for DNA samples from the eight animal species varied between 6 and 20 pg in a 20 μl PCR mixture. Interestingly, the newly developed method successfully identified 170 commercial meat products, and is simple, fast, sensitive, specific, and cost-effective. Therefore, it could be used for the detection of goat, sheep, deer, buffalo, cattle, yak, pig, and camel species in foodstuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Qinghai-Tibet highway and railway cross desolate habitat at elevations of over 4600m. We assess specie richness and abundance of ground-dwelling birds using strip transects located at a variety of altitudes perpendicular to this transportation corridor. Bird richness, bird abundance, and abundance of rufous-necked snowfinch, were higher adjacent to the roadway than further way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]