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The objective of this research was to investigate effects of different additives on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and rumen degradation of mixed silage composed of amaranth and corn straw. The mixture ratio of amaranth to corn straw was 78%: 22%. Three additives were selected in this study and five groups were as follows: control group (CON, without additive), lactic acid bacteria group (LAB, 5 mg/kg, Lactobacillus plantarum ≥ 1.6×1010 CFU/g and L. buchneri ≥ 4.0×109 CFU/g), glucose group (GLU, 30 g/kg), cellulase group (CEL, 2 mg/kg) and lactic acid bacteria, glucose and cellulase group (LGC, added at the same levels as in individual group). The period of ensiling was 60 days. Fermentation quality, chemical composition and aerobic stability of mixed silage were analyzed. Four cows with permanent ruminal fistula were selected as experimental animals. Nylon bag technique was used to study rumen degradation characteristic of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of mixed silage. Compared with CON group, the addition of different silage additives could improve mixed silage quality of amaranth and corn straw to some extent. Combining three additives significantly increased (P < 0.05) the DM, CP and lactic acid contents, whereas decreased (P < 0.05) the ADF and NDF contents as well as pH and ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen. Moreover, the aerobic stability and rumen degradation of DM, CP and NDF were significantly improved (P < 0.05) in LGC group when compared to other groups. In conclusion, the combined addition of lactic acid bacteria, glucose and cellulase increased DM, CP and lactic acid contents as well as lactic acid bacteria count, decreased NDF and ADF contents and aerobic bacteria and mold counts, improved aerobic stability and rumen degradation of amaranth and corn straw mixed silage.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a childhood vasculitis disease that is difficult to diagnose, and there is an urgent need for the identification of accurate and specific biomarkers. Here, we aimed to investigate metabolic alterations in patients with KD to determine novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for KD. To this end, we performed untargeted metabolomics and found that several metabolic pathways were significantly enriched, including amino acid, lipid, and tryptophan metabolism, the latter of which we focused on particularly. Tryptophan-targeted metabolomics was conducted to explore the role of tryptophan metabolism in KD. The results showed that Trp and indole acetic acid (IAA) levels markedly decreased, and that l-kynurenine (Kyn) and kynurenic acid (Kyna) levels were considerably higher in patients with KD than in healthy controls. Changes in Trp, IAA, Kyn, and Kyna levels in a KD coronary arteritis mouse model were consistent with those in patients with KD. We further analyzed public single-cell RNA sequencing data of patients with KD and revealed that their peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed Aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression that was remarkably higher than that of healthy children. These results suggest that the Trp metabolic pathway is significantly altered in KD and that metabolic indicators may serve as novel diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for KD.

IntroductionRimmed vacuolar myopathies (RVMs) are a group of genetically heterogeneous diseases that share histopathological characteristics on muscle biopsy, including the aberrant accumulation of autophagic vacuoles. However, the presence of non-coding sequences and structural mutations, some of which remain undetectable, confound the identification of pathogenic mutations responsible for RVMs. Therefore, we assessed the clinical profiles and muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in 36 Chinese patients with RVMs, emphasizing the role of muscle MRI in disease identification and differential diagnosis to propose a comprehensive literature-based imaging pattern to facilitate improved diagnostic workup.MethodsAll patients presented with rimmed vacuoles with varying degrees of muscular dystrophic changes and underwent a comprehensive evaluation using clinical, morphological, muscle MRI and molecular genetic analysis. We assessed muscle changes in the Chinese RVMs and provided an overview of the RVMs, focusing on the patterns of muscle involvement on MRI.ResultsA total of 36 patients, including 24 with confirmed distal myopathy and 12 with limb-girdle phenotype, had autophagic vacuoles with RVMs. Hierarchical clustering of patients according to the predominant effect of the distal or proximal lower limbs revealed that most patients with RVMs could be distinguished. GNE myopathy was the most prevalent form of RVMs observed in this study. Moreover, MRI helped identify the causative genes in some diseases (e.g., desminopathy and hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure) and confirmed the pathogenicity of a novel mutation (e.g., adult-onset proximal rimmed vacuolar titinopathy) detected using next-generation sequencing.DiscussionCollectively, our findings expand our knowledge of the genetic spectrum of RVMs in China and suggest that muscle imaging should be an integral part of assisting genetic testing and avoiding misdiagnosis in the diagnostic workup of RVM.

Largemouth bass (LMB) production exceeded 0.7 million tons in 2021 and has become one of the most important freshwater aquaculture species in China. The stable and fixed culture cycle led to regular and drastic price fluctuation during the past decade. Strong price fluctuation provides opportunities and challenges for the LMB industry, and out-of-season spawning (OSS) and culture will provide technical support for the opportunities. To induce OSS at a low cost, we established a controllable recirculating system that allows precise thermo-photoperiod manipulation. In the system, four experimental groups were assigned, 18NP (18°C overwintering water temperature, natural photoperiod), 18CP (18°C overwintering water temperature, controlled photoperiod), 16CP (16°C overwintering water temperature, controlled photoperiod), and NTNP (natural water temperature and natural photoperiod), to determine the effects of chilling temperature and photoperiod on spawning performance. OSS was observed in all the experimental groups without significant differences, except NTNP. The manipulated broodstock can re-spawn 3 months later in the next spring in advance. Further analysis of the volume percentage of different stages of oocytes provides a base for excellent regression between the volume percentage of the primary growth stage, cortical alveoli stage, vitellogenesis/maturation stage, and gonadal development/maturation. The results suggest that the volume percentage of oocytes is a better indicator of gonadal development and maturation than the gonadosomatic index. We also found that LMB prefers palm fiber as a spawning nest over gravel. The findings of this work provide important technique guidance for practical OSS of the LMB aquaculture industry and standardization of ovary development and maturation in fish with asynchronous developmental oocytes.

Pakchoi (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis) is an important leafy vegetable. Various light spectra, especially red and blue light, play vital roles in the regulation of nitrate metabolism. Information on the effects of red and blue light on nitrate metabolism at the transcriptome level in pakchoi is still limited, so this study used RNA sequencing technology to explore this molecular mechanism. Through pairwise comparisons with white LED light, 3 939 and 5 534 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under red and blue light, respectively. By Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses, these unigenes were found to be involved in nitrate assimilation, plant–pathogen interaction, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The differential effects of light spectra on the nitrate concentration and metabolism-related enzyme activities were also confirmed at the physiological level. Several signal transduction modules, including Crys/Phys-COP1-HY5/HY5-like, were found to be involved in red and blue light-induced nitrate metabolism, and the transcript levels for this complex were consistent with the observed degree of nitrate assimilation. The expression patterns of 15 randomly selected DEGs were further validated using qPCR. Taken together, the results of this study could help improve our understanding of light spectrum-regulated nitrate metabolism in pakchoi at the transcriptome level.

Construction of coupled composite heterojunctions is an effective strategy for achieving high photocatalytic performance of SrTiO3(STO) perovskite. Herein, we synthesized Ag2O-STO heterostructure piezocatalysts using a simple one-step wet chemical method and evaluated its performance for full-spectrum photocatalytic degradation of toluene. Our findings reveal that the Ag2O-STO heterostructure demonstrates excellent catalytic activity, with a toluene conversion rate of 70%, which is 2.7 times that of STO. Furthermore, it showed good stability in five photocatalytic cycling experiments. The excellent catalytic performance of Ag2O-STO was attributed to the formation of p–n heterostructures, which induced the generation of a strong electrostatic field effect, providing a driving force for the transport of carriers and lowering the recombination or complexation rate, which could be confirmed by the photocurrent response. A possible mechanism of Ag2O-STO heterostructure is proposed. It is expected that this study can provide new understanding for the rational design of highly efficient photocatalysts for potential practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain refinement is a satisfying method to enhance the comprehensive performance of Mg alloys, and using grain refiners to improve the quality of Mg castings has become a common practice in the current casting industry. In this study, the effects of Al-CeO2-Mg grain refiner addition on microstructure, cast fluidity, and mechanical properties of AZ91 alloy were systemically investigated by OM, SEM, DSC, TEM, sand Archimedean spiral mold fluidity test, and tensile test. The results show that the Al-CeO2-Mg grain refiner has a remarkable effect on as-cast AZ91 alloy including notable grain refinement, enhancement of cast fluidity, and improvement of tensile properties. The average grain size of AZ91 alloy is refined by 63% with 1.0wt.% Al-CeO2-Mg grain refiner. Meanwhile, the casting flow length of the as-cast AZ91 alloy is increased from 332 mm to 440 mm. The improvement of cast fluidity is attributed to the decreased liquidus temperature, shortening of solid-liquid two-phase temperature range, and refinement of microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legacy effects of invasive plant species can hinder the recovery of native communities, especially under nitrogen deposition conditions, where invasive species show growth advantages and trigger secondary invasions in controlled areas. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly investigate the effects of nitrogen deposition on the legacy effects of plant invasions and their mechanisms. The hypotheses of this study are as follows: (1) Nitrogen deposition amplifies the legacy effects of plant invasion. This phenomenon was investigated by analysing four potential mechanisms covering community system structure, nitrogen metabolism, geochemical cycles, and microbial mechanisms. The results suggest that microorganisms drive plant–soil feedback processes, even regulating or limiting other factors. (2) The impact of nitrogen deposition on the legacy effects of plant invasions may be intensified primarily through enhanced nitrogen metabolism via microbial anaerobes bacteria. Essential insights into invasion ecology and ecological management have been provided by analysing how nitrogen-fixing bacteria improve nitrogen metabolism and establish sustainable methods for controlling invasive plant species. This in-depth study contributes to our better understanding of the lasting effects of plant invasions on ecosystems and provides valuable guidance for future ecological management.

Natural corrosion of concrete structure due to sulfate poses a serious threat to people's lives and property. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to study the phenomenon of sulfate corrosion on concrete. In order to explore the mechanical properties of a new type of concrete corroded by sulfate, a full immersion accelerated erosion method was used with 5% sulfate solution. Erosion tests were performed on 11 groups of polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete (PC) specimens, 11 groups of polypropylene fiber lithium slag concrete (PLiC) specimens, 8 PC columns with large eccentricity, and 8 PLiC large eccentric columns. The mechanical properties of concrete under different erosion times are obtained. Based on the fractal theory, the fractal characteristics of surface crack distribution of specimens and columns are analyzed. In addition, the relationship between the fractal dimension of surface crack and erosion time, compressive strength, and ultimate bearing capacity is discussed. Results show that the compressive strength of PC and PLiC initially increases and then decreases with increased erosion days, reaching a maximum of 120 days. The distribution of surface cracks is observed to be fractal when they are broken. With increased erosion days, fractal dimension of surface cracks initially increases, then decreases, and finally increases again. On the other hand, a decreasing trend of fractal dimension of surface cracks is observed with increased compressive strength. The ultimate bearing capacity of PC and PLiC columns with large eccentricity increases first and then decreases with erosion days. Addition of lithium slag is observed to improve the sulfate resistance of polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete columns. With broken members, fractal dimension of surface cracks presents a rising trend of shock with sulfate erosion days. Results signify that fractal characteristics of concrete surface cracks can be used as one of the indexes to determine the damage degree of members, which can provide reference for the prediction of bearing capacity and service life of concrete structures in the future.

The ecological water demand (EWD) of natural vegetation is a key issue in regional water resource allocation and ecosystem management. Although the evaluation of the EWD of vegetation has been emphasized in numerous studies, research on the threshold EWD of vegetation, including the minimum and optimum EWD, as well as an effective quantitative analysis framework, are still lacking. Therefore, in this study, the evapotranspiration of natural vegetation in the plain area of the Tarim River Basin over the last22 years was estimated based on remote sensing image data. Additionally, the multi-year dynamics of the EWD of natural vegetation were analyzed. In this study, the concept of “latitude” was adopted from studies of ecosystem resilience, to propose a novel analytical framework to measure the minimum and optimal EWD of natural vegetation in inland arid areas. The results show that the average minimum and optimum EWD of natural vegetation is105.45 and 135.53 mm, respectively. The average minimum EWD of woodland and high- and low-coverage grassland is 129.13, 284.38, and 111.40 mm, respectively, and the mean value of the optimum EWD is 152.96, 382.05, and 141.16 mm, respectively. The novel approach of this study is simple and easy to use, and provides an effective method for quantitative evaluation of the EWD threshold of natural vegetation.

Uterine collision tumor is a rare pathological type composed of two or more malignant tumors. The components of these malignant tumors do not have histological mixing and are separated by the normal mesenchyme. Collision cancer is very rare, with uterine collision tumors being even rarer. Only a few cases have been reported in relation to uterine collision tumors. At present, there is no standard treatment guideline for uterine collision tumors, and a comprehensive treatment composed of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy is suggested. In this study, we report a 54-year-old female patient diagnosed with highly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma with cervical carcinosarcoma. The endometrial adenocarcinoma component invaded the deep myometrium (> 1/2 layer), involving the cervical glands and interstitium. The regional lymph node metastasis from endometrial adenocarcinoma was also detected. The patient underwent “transabdominal tumor cytoreduction (total hysterectomy + right adnexal resection + greater omentectomy + pelvic lymph node dissection + para-aortic lymph node dissection) + pelvic adhesion release.” In addition, she has completed adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After reviewing previous reports of collision tumors in different positions of the uterus, we found that collision tumors between the cervix and uterine body are very uncommon. In addition, we have not found any reports on the metastasis of sarcoid components, no matter what the composition is.

Nutrition and energy are essential for poultry growth and production performance. Fasting and refeeding have been widely used to study the effects of nutrition, energy, and related mechanisms in chicken. Previous studies have shown that geese have a strong capacity for fat synthesis and storage; thus, changes in the goose liver transcriptome may be different from those in chicken assessed with a model of fasting and refeeding. However, the responses of the goose liver transcriptome to fasting and refeeding have not yet been addressed. In this study, 36 70-day-old Si Ji geese with similar body weight were randomly assigned to three groups: control (ad libitum feeding), fasting (fasted for 24 h), and refeeding (fast for 24 h followed by 2-h feeding) groups. After treatment, eight geese per group were sacrificed for sample collection. Liver samples from four geese in each group were subjected to transcriptome analysis, followed by validation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction with the remaining samples. As a result, 155 DEGs (73 up-regulated) were identified between the control and fasting groups, and 651 DEGs (321 up-regulated) were identified between the fasting and refeeding groups. The enrichment analyses of Gene Ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways showed that fasting mainly influenced material metabolism in the liver, especially lipid metabolism; in contrast, refeeding affected not only lipid metabolism but also glucose and amino acid metabolism. In addition, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway may play an important role in lipid metabolism. In conclusion, fasting and refeeding have a strong effect on lipid metabolism in the goose liver; specifically, fasting promotes fatty acid oxidation and inhibits fatty acid synthesis, and refeeding has the opposite effect. The model of fasting and refeeding is suitable for goose nutrition studies.

Communication between tissues and organs plays an important role in the maintenance of normal physiological functions as well as the occurrence and development of diseases. Communication molecules act as a bridge for interactions between tissues and organs, playing not only a local role in the tissues and organs where they are secreted but also in exerting systemic effects on the whole body via circulation. In this study, blood microRNA-omics analysis of overfed vs. normally fed (control) Landes geese revealed that the content of each of the 21 microRNAs (miRNAs) in the blood of overfed geese was significantly higher than that in the blood of control geese. These miRNAs may have systematic effects in the development of goose fatty liver as well as being candidate markers for the diagnosis of goose fatty liver. We determined the expression of miR-143, miR-455-5p, miR-222a-5p, miR-184, miR-1662, and miR-129-5p using quantitative PCR in goose fatty liver vs. that in normal liver. The expression of these miRNAs, except miR-129-5p, in goose fatty liver was also significantly higher than that in normal liver (P