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Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technique has been developed to objectively measure quality attributes for different food products in recent years. However, any change in measurement condition or ...

The Indian Cuckoo, Cuculus micropterus, belongs to the family Cuculidae. In this paper, we sequenced and analysized the complete mitochondrial genome of C. micropterus. The complete mitochondrial genome of C. micropterus is 17,541 bp in length, which was submitted to the NCBI database under the accession number MZ048030. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosome RNA genes, and one non-coding control region. The overall base composition of the mitochondrial DNA is 33.2% for A, 24.2% for T, 29.8% for C, and 12.8% for G, with a GC content of 42.6%. In order to explore the molecular phylogenetics evolution of Cuculidae, the nucleotide sequence data of 13 PCGs of C. micropterus and other 11 Cuculiformes were used for the phylogenetic analysis. The result shows that C. micropterus is closely related to Cuculus canorus bakeri. The study contributes to illuminating the taxonomic status of C. micropterus, and may facilitate further investigation of the evolution of Cuculidae.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the use of three-dimensional visualization for preoperative evaluation of portal vein invasion in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA). Methods This recombination study for preoperative computerized tomography images was completed in 42 patients undergoing radical resection of HCCA combined with hepatectomy. Portal vein invasion with postoperative pathology was used as a gold standard to decide if the diagnosis was correct or not. We compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and total correctness of radiologists and a three-dimensional (3D) visualization model for the assessment of tumor-caused portal vein invasion. Results The findings for the estimation of portal vein invasion by radiologists based on CT images were as follows: sensitivity = 90.9%; specificity = 83.8%; positive predictive value = 66.7%; negative predictive value = 96.3%; and overall accuracy = 85.7%. The findings for estimation by the 3D visualization model were as follows: sensitivity = 90.9%; specificity = 96.8%; positive predictive value = 90.9%; negative predictive value = 96.8%; and overall accuracy = 90.5%. Conclusion The positive predictive value of 3D visualization technology in the diagnosis of portal vein invasion is notably superior to that of subjective assessment by radiologists. This technique can thus play a significant role in preventing unnecessary resectioning of non-invaded portal veins and hepatectomy.

Purpose Over the past decades, quantum dots (QDs) have shown the broad application in diverse fields, especially in intracellular probing and drug delivery, due to their high fluorescence intensity, long fluorescence lifetime, strong light-resistant bleaching ability, and strong light stability. Therefore, we explore a kind of therapeutic potential against cancer with fluorescent imaging. Methods In the current study, a new type of QDs (QDs@L-Cys-TAEA-5-FUA) capped with L-cysteine (L-Cys) and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TAEA) ligands, and conjugated with 5-fluorouracil-1-acetic acid (5-FUA) has been synthesized. Ligands were characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The modified QDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), and fluorescence microscopy. And the biological activity of modified QDs was explored by using MTT assay with HeLa, SMMC-7721 HepG2, and QSG-7701 cells. The fluorescence imaging of modified QDs was obtained by fluorescence microscope. Results The modified QDs are of controllable sizes in the range of 4-5 nm and they possess strong optical emission properties. UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra demonstrated that the L-Cys-TAEA-5-FUA was successfully incorporated into QD nanoparticles. The MTT results demonstrated that L-Cys-TAEA-5-FUA modified QDs could efficiently inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells as compared to the normal cells, illustrating their antitumor efficacy. The mechanistic studies revealed that the effective internalization of modified QDs inside cancer cells could inhibit their proliferation, through excessive production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, leading to apoptosis process. Conclusion The present study suggests that modified QDs can enter cells efficiently and could be employed as therapeutic agents for the treatment of various types of cancers with fluorescent imaging.

Purpose Quantum dots (QDs) are used as fluorescent probes due to their high fluorescence intensity, longevity of fluorescence, strong light-resistant bleaching ability and high light stability. Therefore, we explore a more precise probe that can target an organelle. Methods In the current study, a new class of fluorescence probes were developed using QDs capped with 4 different L-cysteine-polyamine-morpholine linked by mercapto groups. Ligands were characterised by Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Modified QDs were characterized by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), and fluorescence microscopy. And the biological activity of modified QDs was explored by using MTT assay with HeLa, SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells. The fluorescence imaging of modified QDs was obtained by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (CLSM). Results Synthesized QDs ranged between 4 to 5 nm and had strong optical emission properties. UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra demonstrated that the cysteine-polyamine-morpholine were successfully incorporated into QD nanoparticles. The MTT results demonstrated that modified QDs had lesser cytotoxicity when compared to unmodified QDs. In addition, modified QDs had strong fluorescence intensity in HeLa cells and targeted lysosomes of HeLa cells. Conclusion This study demonstrates the modified QDs efficiently entered cells and could be used as a potential lysosome-targeting fluorescent probe.

Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content is an important indicator for evaluation of duck-meat freshness. The accuracy of the existing near-infrared spectrometric model is affected by sample c...

In the present study, visible and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy were applied to predict quality attributes of duck breast meat. The real color (expressed as lightness, redness, and yellowness) and pH of duck samples were recorded using traditional contact methods and then modeled with their corresponding spectral data by partial least square regression. Before the establishment of prediction models, three different spectral preprocessing methods including first derivative, standard normalized variate, and Savitzky–Golay smoothing were used. Compared to the models obtained from original spectral data set, the predictive capabilities of models based on the spectra after preprocessing were improved effectively. As a result, the determination coefficient of calibration set and prediction set of the best models for lightness, redness, yellowness, and pH parameters were 0.96 and 0.85, 0.94 and 0.94, 0.96 and 0.94, 0.81 and 0.76, respectively. Results demonstrated that visible and near-infrared ...

Rotenone has been used as a pesticide for many years, it is an environmental poison reported to cause neurological diseases. However, the effects of rotenone on the rat liver are unclear, as are the mechanisms of toxicity. In the present study, Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were divided into five groups: control, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), rotenone low-dose (1 mg/kg), rotenone mid-dose (2 mg/kg) and rotenone high-dose (4 mg/kg). The treatments were orally administered daily for 28 days, we assessed health status, mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors, protein levels, nitric oxide (NO) content and histological changes. The results showed that body weight was significantly decreased in each rotenone group in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the control group. Rotenone significantly increased the mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in each rotenone group comp...

In this paper, we determined and described the complete mitochondrial genome of Robin Accentor (Prunella rubeculoides), the first complete mitogenome. The complete genome of P. rubeculoides was 16,796 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosome RNA genes, and one non-coding control region. The overall base composition of the mitochondrial DNA was 29.7% for A, 23.7% for T, 15.6% for G, and 31.0% for C, with a GC content of 46.6%. This information of P. rubeculoides mitogenome is significance for phylogenetic studies of the family Prunellidea.

The Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch Carpodacus pulcherrimus, belongs to the family Fringillidae, distributed in central Himalayas from India (Himachal Pradesh) to southwest China and Bhutan. The conservation status of this species is least concern (LC) in IUCN. In this study, the complete mitogenome of C. pulcherrimus was determined. The mitogenome is a circular molecule of 16,797 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosome RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 1 non-coding region. We reconstructed a phylogenetic tree based on Bayesian inference for other 14 Fringillidae species. The new mitogenome data would provide useful information for application in conservation genetics and further clarify phylogenetic evolution of this species.

The Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis (Muscicapidae) belongs to the family Muscicapidae, distributed in central China, Qinghai-Tibet plateau and the Himalayas. The conservation status of this species is Least Concern (LC) in IUCN. In this study, the complete mitogenome of P. frontalis was determined. The mitogenome is a circular molecule of 16,776 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosome RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 1 non-coding region. We reconstructed a phylogenetic tree based on Bayesian inference for 15 Passeriformes species. The new mitogenome data would provide useful information for application in conservation genetics and further clarify the phylogenetic evolution of this species.

In this research, we determined and described the complete mitochondrial genome of Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus dedekeni) which was the first complete mitogenome reported. The comp...

The title compound N-(4-methylphenyl)benzamide was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group Pbca with a = 9.1082(18), b = 9.822(2), c = 26.125(5) A, α = 90, β = 90, γ = 90°, V = 2337.1(8) A3, Z = 8, F(000) = 896, Dc = 1.201 g/cm3, μ = 0.076 mm−1, the final R = 0.0683, and wR = 0.1718. A total of 17,393 reflections were collected, of which 2049 were independent (Rint = 0.0730). In the crystal packing diagram, intermolecular N‒H···O hydrogen bonds stabilize the solid state of the title compound.