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Photoperiodism is a vital environmental factor that regulates the growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction of aquatic organisms. Here, we examined how different photoperiods (0L: 24D, 8L: 16D, 12L: 12D, 16L: 8D, 24L: 0D) with a full spectrum LED, influence growth, feeding, digestive enzymes, and antioxidant enzymes in juvenile European Sea Bass (Dicentrachus labrax L.). Specifically, a total of 300 fishes (body length: 13.5 ± 0.54 cm, bodyweight: 45 ± 5.3 g) were randomly divided into 5 different light treatment groups. Sampling and analysis were conducted after 60 days of the experiment. Results revealed significantly higher weight gain, specific growth rate, and daily growth index in the 8L: 16D group, relative to 0L: 24D and 24L: 0D. Conversely, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower in 8L: 16D, 12L: 12D, and 16L: 8D treatments than in 24L: 0D and 0L: 24D. Additionally, activities of intestinal amylase (AMS) lipase (LPS) pepsin (PPS) and trypsin (TPS) in the stomach were significantly higher in the 8L: 16D, relative to the other treatment groups. Gills of juveniles exposed to 0L: 24D recorded significantly higher catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, compared to those in the other groups. Regarding the dorsal muscle, a significantly higher CAT activity was recorded under 0L: 24D light than the other light photoperiods. Moreover, kidneys of juveniles exposed to 24L: 0D recorded the highest CAT and SOD activity. In summary, 8L: 16D, 12L: 12D, and 16L: 8D light photoperiods increased the digestive enzyme activity, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced growth in fish, despite long-term exposure to light or darkness being unsuitable. These findings indicate that light and dark combinations are more conducive for culturing sea bass, with the 8L: 16D regime being the optimal photoperiod for the growth of juveniles.

Kandelia obovata (Ko) and Aegiceras corniculatum (Ac) are common and dominant plant species in mangrove wetlands in South China, which are distributed in similar tidal zones along the coastline. The present study aimed to determine the allelopathic effects of leaf litter leachates (LLLs) from Ko and their purified condensed tannins (PCTs) on the germination and growth of Ac by mangrove microcosms. Replicate pots containing five different levels of LLLs and PCTs were separately prepared and propagules of Ac were placed in each treatment. Both LLLs and PCTs significantly inhibited the germination and growth of Ac, especially at high concentrations. The final germination rates of the roots and stems and the numbers of fine roots declined continuously, while other growth indicators, including the lengths of fine roots and nutritive roots and the biomasses of roots, stems, and leaves first increased and then decreased with increasing levels. These results indicate that LLLs from the leaf litter of Ko, in particular their PCTs, exerted an inhibition effect on propagule germination and seedling growth of Ac, and the inhibitory effects were concentration dependent. This study suggested that condensed tannins from leaf litter, acting as allelochemicals, could regulate the natural regeneration of a mangrove forest.

Aims Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is considered a highly fatal tumor. Importantly, angiogenesis is critical for tumor progression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are untranslatable, control cell functions through different pathways. lncRNA EPIC1 has been reported to promote cell viability, cell cycle progression, and invasion. However, the relationship between EPIC1 and tumor angiogenesis remains an enigma. We explored the role of EPIC1 in tumor angiogenesis in NSCLC. Materials and methods First, EPIC1 expression was analyzed using the GEPIA database and was further verified using qPCR in tumor tissues from patients with NSCLC and NSCLC cell lines. Next, EPIC1 function was detected using loss-of-function and gain-of-function assays. Moreover, EdU staining, flow cytometry, and channel formation assays were performed to assess HUVEC proliferation and channel the formation in the NSCLC-HUVEC transwell co-culture system. Key findings EPIC1 expression was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, the overexpression of EPIC1 in NSCLC cells stimulated HUVEC channel formation and proliferation by activating Ang2/Tie2 signaling, and the opposite results were obtained when EPIC1 was silenced in NSCLC cells. The density of new blood vessels was simultaneously increased by EPIC1 overexpression in vivo, using CAM angiogenesis model and a nude mouse tumor model. Finally, all these experimental findings could be established in the samples from patients with NSCLC. We postulate that EPIC1 promotes tumor angiogenesis by activating the Ang2/Tie2 axis in NSCLC. Significance Elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of EPIC1 in tumor angiogenesis provides a novel perspective on NSCLC clinical therapy.

Mangrove has been destroyed and reforestation is often undertaken, but whether a regenerated forest could restore its ecological function is not clear. This study compares microbial community structure and function in sediment of the 17-years old natural regenerated mangrove forest (Y17) with the original forest (Y74). No significant differences in phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles and microbial metabolism of most carbon substrates were found between these two forests. However, activities of dehydrogenase, protease, cellulase and phosphatase were lower in Y17 than Y74, and some specific microbial functions were also different. Both forests exhibited significant seasonal differences in enzyme activities and microbial characteristics, but such difference was larger in Y17 than Y74, indicating the regenerated forest was more sensitive to season. Correspondence analysis based on PLFA profiles and enzyme activities revealed the microbial community in Y17 was comparable to Y74, suggesting sediment microbial characteristics in natural regenerated mangroves could be restored.

The analysis of cancer-associated genetic copy number variations (CNVs) has been employed for cancer diagnostics, treatment, and prognostic assessments. The use of liquid biopsies to identify mutated gene biomarkers is of clinical significance to cancer diagnostics, but the methodology of the procedure remains challenging. In this study, we establish ligation-mediated droplet digital PCR for the highly sensitive and precise quantification of CNVs which enables precise copy number assessments in various biosamples at the single-molecule level. In virtue of its excellent performances, circulating-free target DNA in cell or plasma samples can be assessed, permitting a more detailed analysis of cancer-related genetic alterations. The proposed assay provides a useful tool to reveal how CNVs influence the occurrence of cancer in liquid biopsy samples, which is of clinical significance to cancer diagnostics and treatment.

In this study, the impacts of various illumination intensities on growth, digestion and metabolism as well as antioxidant enzyme dynamics of Takifugu rubripes (0.03 ± 0.01 g) were investigated. Activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), pepsin (PPS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were measured. Juveniles were reared under four degrees of illumination intensities: 50 mW/m2, 250 mW/m2, 500 mW/m2 and 750 mW/m2, at a constant photoperiod (12D:12 L). Samples were collected at days 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. After 35 days, the 750 mW/m2 light intensity was found to have significantly increased the final body weight, which was 1.1 ± 0.005 g. On day 35, PPS activities of T. rubripes juveniles in the 750 mW/m2 sample group were significantly low when compared to those of the 250 mW/m2 group while AKP activities in the 750 mW/m2 group were significantly higher than those of the 50 and 500 mW/m2 groups (p 0.05). Even though they were relatively lower, there were no significant differences in SOD activities in the 250 mW/m2 group relative to the 500 and 750 mW/m2 groups. On day 35, high light intensity (750 mW/m2) resulted in stress responses that were characterized by T-AOC activities, and activity values were significantly lower than those of other groups (p

Photoperiod is one of the important environmental factors, which have important effects on the early growth and development, survival, metabolism and immune system of larvae. In the present study, Takifugu rubripes larvae were exposed to four different LED photoperiods: 8 L:16 D, 16 L:8 D, 20 L:4 D and 24 L:0 D from −1 to 30 days post hatching (DPH). We measured growth, activity of pepsin (PPS), lipase (LPS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and non-specific immune enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and acid phosphate (ACP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxide (GSH-PX), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 DPH. The results showed that there was no difference in the effects of photoperiod on the growth within 18 DHP, while 20 L:4 D had a positive effect on the growth of the larvae after 19 DPH. The effect of photoperiod on digestive enzymes did not show obvious regularity. Compared with photoperiod, the changes of some digestive and metabolic enzymes were mainly affected by exogenous food (LPS, ALT, AST changed obviously after feeding Artemia). On the 30 DPH, the AKP of 8 L: 16 D and 24 L: 0 D groups was significantly higher than that of the other two groups, which indicated that 8 L: 16 D and 24 L: 0 D lighting might cause stress to fish body and lead to the increase of AKP. GSH-PX in newly hatched fish at 24 L:0 D was significantly higher than that in other groups. Photoperiod had no significant effect on the enzyme activity of PPS, LDH, ACP, CAT and no obvious pattern was found. Overall, our results suggested that 20 L:4 D promoted larval growth after 19 DPH and shorter photoperiods can be used to save electricity before 18 DPH of Takifugu rubripes larva.

Screening of strains for improvement in the yields of the desired steroid as well as production of novel steroid is highly demanded. In this study, a filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae capable of transforming steroid efficiently was screened from the collection of fresh bark of south China. A novel transformation product was purified, crystallized, and determined as [13, 17β-]furan-17-hydroxyl-4-gonene-3one by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. At the end of the transformation, the yields of the product reached to 95 %, which indicated A. oryzae can be efficiently applied in the field of steroid biotransformation with the novel biocatalytic ability.