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The fishy odor of duck eggs has restricted their consumption and industrial development, a problem that producers need to address. We estimated the effects of cage, floor, and pond rearing systems on duck egg flavor, egg quality, and microbial diversity by evaluating yolk trimethylamine (TMA) content, egg quality, and the differences between duck cecum (cage cecum, CC ; floor cecum, FC ; pond cecum, PC) and the environment (cage environment, CE ; floor environment, FE ; pond environment, PE). The results show that the yolk TMA content of the floor-rearing and pond-rearing systems was significantly higher than that of the cage-rearing system (P < 0.001), with no difference between the floor and pond-rearing systems. No significant differences were detected in egg quality among the rearing systems. Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in the cecum, and in the rearing environment, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla. The results of α and β diversity analyses show that changes in the rearing system affected the composition and diversity of duck cecal microbes. In addition, we screened several genera that may be related to the production of TMA in duck cecum under different rearing systems using LEfSe analysis; for example, Subdoligranulum in the CC group; Romboutsia in the FC group; and Lactobacillus, Clostridium , and Streptococcus in the PC group. In conclusion, the rearing system affects the cecal microbes of ducks, which in turn affect the deposition of TMA in duck eggs but have no adverse effect on egg quality. This study provides a basis for the development of rearing strategies to reduce the fishy odor of egg yolk in the duck industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visualizing the plasma membrane of living mammalian cells both in vitro and in vivo is crucial for tracking their cellular activities. However, due to the complex and dynamic nature of the plasma membrane, most commercial dyes for membrane staining can only realize very limited imaging performance. Thus, precise and stable plasma membrane imaging remains technically challenging. Here, by taking advantage of the small, well-defined, and amine-rich dendrimers, we prepared poly(ethylene glycol)-cholesterol (PEG-Chol)-conjugated and cyanine dye (e.g., cyanine2, cyanine3, and cyanine5)-labeled dendrimer nanoprobes (termed DPC-Cy2, DPC-Cy3, and DPC-Cy5 NPs). It was revealed that these probes enabled universal, wash-free, long-term (at least 8 h), and multicolor (green, yellow, and red) plasma membrane labeling of a variety of live mammalian cells. Further, we confirmed that the nanoprobes (using DPC-Cy5 as a representative) could achieve high-quality, wash-free, and stable cell surface labeling of live zebrafish embryos. More importantly, we demonstrated that our probes could act as biosensors to visualize the toxicity of metal – organic frameworks (MOFs) toward the epidermal cells of zebrafish embryos, and thus they hold great potential for identifying the toxic effect of drugs/materials at the single-cell scale or in live animals. The present work highlights the advantages of utilizing dendrimers for constructing functional imaging materials, and it is also believed that the fluorescent dendrimer nanoprobes developed in this work may find wide applications like cell imaging, drug toxicity evaluation, and cellular state monitoring. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia (PE), presenting with onset hypertension and proteinuria, is a pregnancy-specific disorder that can result in maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Insufficient trophoblast invasion and migration has been considered to be an important cause of this disease. The present study aimed to investigate the role of peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4), whose knockdown has been previously indicated to reduce inflammation and susceptibility to pregnancy loss in mice, in the development of PE in vitro. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to treat a human trophoblast cell line (HTR8/SVneo). After PAD4 silencing via transfection with short hairpin RNA against PAD4, the concentrations of inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-12 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 were measured using ELISA. Cell viability was also measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. HTR8/SVneo cell invasion and migration were detected using Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. Western blotting was used to measure the expression of citrullinated NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO) and nuclear NF-κB p65 protein levels. TNF-α was applied for evaluating the potential regulatory effects of PAD4 on NF-κB in LPS-stimulated HTR8/SVneo cells. LPS increased the levels of IL-6, IL-12 and MCP-1 and reduced the migration and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells. PAD4-knockdown was found to markedly reduce the levels of IL-6, IL-12 and MCP-1 secretion. HTR8/SVneo cell invasion and migration was also significantly elevated after PAD4 silencing following LPS exposure. In addition, LPS stimulation notably upregulated the protein levels of citrullinated NEMO and nuclear NF-κB p65, which was restored by PAD4 knockdown. Furthermore, TNF-α treatment partially counteracted the effects of PAD4 knockdown on the secretion of IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-12, which are markers of inflammation, and invasion and migration in LPS-induced HTR8/SVneo cells. To conclude, these results suggest that PAD4 silencing can suppress inflammation whilst promoting invasion and migration by trophoblast cells through inhibiting the NEMO/NF-κB pathway. These findings furthered the understanding in the complex molecular mechanism that can trigger PE and provide a promising target for the treatment of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eggshell color is the most intuitive external feature that affects consumer acceptance. Different eggshell colors are mainly determined by protoporphyrin IX and biliverdin content. The selection of eggshell color by the human eye with an eggshell color fan can be roughly classified. Although more technologically advanced, a colorimeter or spectrophotometer might be of limited use when observing a variety of shell colors, such as brown, olive, green, and blue. This study aimed to provide a convenient and accurate method for predicting the content of eggshell pigments by measuring eggshell color using the Commission International de L'Eclairage (CIE) L*a*b* system. The results showed the deepening of eggshell color in brown and blue eggs was correlated with increased eggshell pigment deposition, and eggshell color was significantly positively correlated with eggshell pigment content (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the adjusted R2 of the fitted function was in the range of 0.81 to 0.89, and the Spearman rank correlation coefficient between the predicted and true values was in the range of 0.89 to 0.93. In brief, the L*a*b* method of measuring eggshell color to predict the amount of eggshell pigment deposition is convenient, effective, and promising for layer production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Mechanical loading is known to play an important role in bone remodeling. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the effect of direct low-magnitude high-frequency ( LMHF) microvibration on dental implant bone formation and osseointegration. Materials and Methods Titanium implants were installed in rabbit tibiae. The implants in the left legs were loaded with mechanical vibration (15 μm) at 10, 20, 30, and 40 Hz (10, 20, 30, and 40 Hz groups, respectively) for 30 minutes every day. The implants on the right legs were used as a sham control and did not receive a vibration load. Results After 20 days, the 10, 20, and 30 Hz groups showed significantly greater newly formed bone volume, density, ratio of the bone surface area to the trabecular bone surface area, and ratio of the bone surface area in direct contact with osteoclasts versus the total bone surface area in the region of interest compared with the sham control group, especially the 20 Hz group. However, the 40 Hz group did not. Conclusions In conclusion, the application of direct LMHF (10, 20, or 30 Hz) vibration on the implants promoted bone formation and osseointegration, especially at 20 Hz; however, the use of 40 Hz did not result in any significant improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polydactyly is one of the most common hereditary congenital limb malformations in chickens and other vertebrates. The zone of polarizing activity regulatory sequence (ZRS) is critical for the development of polydactyly. The causative mutation of polydactyly in the Silkie chicken has been mapped to the ZRS; however, the causative mutations of other chicken breeds are yet to be established. To understand whether the same mutation decides the polydactyly phenotype in other chicken breeds, we detected the single-nucleotide polymorphism in 26 different chicken breeds, specifically, 24 Chinese indigenous breeds and 2 European breeds. The mutation was found to have fully penetrated chickens with polydactyly in China, indicating that it is causative for polydactyly in Chinese indigenous chickens. In comparison, the mutation showed no association with polydactyly in Houdan chickens, which originate from France, Europe. Based on the different morphology of polydactyly in Chinese and European breeds, we assumed that the trait might be attributable to different genetic foundations. Therefore, we subsequently performed genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) to locate the region associated with polydactyly. As a result, a ~0.39 Mb genomic region on GGA2p was identified. The region contains six candidate genes, with the causative mutation found in Chinese indigenous breeds also being located in this region. Our results demonstrate that polydactyly in chickens from China and Europe is caused by two independent mutation events that are closely located in the chicken genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a fan-out device for multicore fiber (MCF) based on capillary bridge self-assembly fabrication method is proposed. The relation among the coupling errors (including transverse misalignment, longitudinal misalignment, and angle misalignment), refractive-index match and the coupling efficiency is analyzed in theory and simulation, and the transverse misalignment and angle misalignment are found to be the main factors affecting coupling efficiency. Then, a fan-out for a four-cores MCF is fabricated by using capillary-bridge force self-assembly of the UV adhesive, the coupling process of fan-out for four-cores MCF, consisting of transverse alignment, longitudinal alignment and tilt alignment, is demonstrated through the coupling of one core to the coupling of two cores, until the coupling efficiencies of all cores are the maximum. At last, the coupling loss of the packaged fan-out in the 1.55 μm spectral region is measured, and the actual coupling loss of all cores is less than 1.25 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The concept of cultivated land quality (CLQ) was deduced from the concept of "quality". • CLQ emphasizes the satisfaction of cultivated land conditions to human well-being. • The elements, connotations, and dimensions of CLQ were clarified from the perspective of farmland ecosystems. • An CLQ evaluation analysis framework was proposed. Historically, the cognition and management of cultivated land quality (CLQ) have been fragmented, leading to an inability to meet contemporary scenarios and requirements of China's agricultural development and cultivated land protection. This study aimed to systematically recognize the concepts, elements, connotations, and dimensions of CLQ and build a new cultivated land quality evaluation (CQE) system. Initially, we deduced the concept of CLQ through the clear concept of "quality" in line with international standards. Next, we connected CLQ with the framework of farmland ecosystem service cascades and clarified the element structure of CLQ based on the structure of farmland ecosystems. Then, based on the multi-level human well-being that farmland ecosystems can provide, the connotations and dimensions of CLQ was determined. Using Wen County within Henan Province as a case study site, we constructed a CQE system for empirical analysis and comparative verification, showing that the new system was better than the existing one. This study helped to clarify the CLQ and provided a theoretical basis and technical reference for sustainable intensification (SI) and multi-directional protection and supervision of cultivated land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic imprinting is a phenomenon characterized by parent-of-origin-specific gene expression. While widely documented in viviparous mammals and plants, imprinting in oviparous birds remains controversial. Because genomic imprinting is temporal- and tissue-specific, we investigated this phenomenon only in the brain tissues of 1-day-old chickens (Gallus gallus). We used next-generation sequencing technology to compare four transcriptomes pooled from 11 chickens, generated from reciprocally crossed families, to the DNA sequences of their parents. Candidate imprinted genes were then selected from these sequence alignments and subjected to verification experiments that excluded all but one SNP. Subsequent experiments performed with two new sets of reciprocally crossed families resulted in the exclusion of that candidate SNP as well. Attempts to find evidence of genomic imprinting from long non-coding RNAs yielded negative results. We therefore conclude that genomic imprinting is absent in the brains of 1-day-old chickens. However, due to the temporal and tissue specificity of imprinting, our results cannot be extended to all growth stages and tissue types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysiloxane containing tertiary amino group (P(SiO)(SiOTA)) with different molecular weight was synthesized through equilibrium polymerization of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D) and hydrolysis of N, N-diethyl-aminopropyl-methyldimethoxysilane (TAMDESi) in the presence of potassium hydroxide (KOH) as catalyst. After that, polysiloxane quaternary ammonium salt containing epoxy group (P(SiO)(SiOQAEp)) with different molecular weight and cationic concentration was obtained from P(SiO)(SiOTA) and epichlorohydrin by quaternization. It was shown that P(SiO)(SiOQAEp) surfactant exhibited low surface tension ( γ < 30.00 mN/m) at the critical micellization concentration. The thermodynamic parameters of micellization (Δ G, Δ H, Δ S) indicated that the micellization of P(SiO)(SiOQAEp) surfactant was enthalpy-driven. In particular, it was found that the glass transition temperature ( T) of P(SiO)(SiOQAEp) varied in the range of −15 ∼ -70 °C according to the molecular weights, and the thermal decomposition temperature was higher than 220 °C. This type of surfactant had excellent low temperature flexibility as well as good chemical and thermal stability. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Gram-negative ( Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus), respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values against S. aureus and E. coli were below 1.5-2.8 × 10 mol/L, which indicated that P(SiO)(SiOQAEp) had strong antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beijing-you is a Chinese local chicken which is raised for both meat and eggs. In the present study, we detected the effects of different rearing systems on growth, slaughtering performances and meat quality of Beijing-you chickens at 26-40 weeks of age. Six hundred Beijing-you hens were randomly allocated into two groups at 16 weeks of age and raised in free range or battery cage systems. The body weight, slaughtering performance and meat quality were measured for each group at the ages of 26, 30, 35 and 40 weeks. Some of the traits were dramatically influenced by the two systems, although most of them did not show significant changes. For the meat fiber microstructure, we found that the diameter of thigh and breast muscle fiber in the free range group were significantly increased than in the cage group (P < 0.05) at 26 weeks of age. The ratio of fast muscle fiber in thigh muscle samples of the free range group was significantly reduced compared to that of cage group at both 35 (P < 0.01) and 40 (P < 0.01) weeks of age, indicating that the free range system could promote the transforming of fast muscle fiber to slow muscle fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Silky Fowl (SF) is known for its special phenotypes and atypical distribution of melanocytes among internal organs. Although the genes associated with melanocyte migration have been investigated substantially, there is little information on the postnatal distribution of melanocytes in inner organs and the effect of hyperpigmentation on the development of SF. Here, we analyzed melanocyte distribution in 26 tissues or organs on postnatal day 1 and weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, and 23. Except for the liver, pancreas, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland, melanocytes were distributed throughout the body, primarily around blood vessels. Interaction between melanocytes and the tissue cells was observed, and melanin was transported by filopodia delivery through engulfed and internalized membrane-encapsulated melanosomes. SFs less than 10 weeks old have lower indices of spleen, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius than White Leghorns (WLs). The expression levels of interferon-γ and interlukin-4 genes in the spleen, and serum antibody levels against H5N1 and infectious bursal disease virus were lower in SF than in WL. We also found immune organ developmental difference between Black-boned and non-Black- boned chickens from SFs and WLs hybrid F2 population. However, degeneration of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius occurred later in SF than in WL after sexual maturity. Analysis of apoptotic cells and apoptosis-associated Bax and Bcl-2 proteins indicated that apoptosis is involved in degeneration of the thymus and bursa of Fabricius. Therefore, these results suggest that hyperpigmentation in SF may have a close relationship with immune development in SF, which can provide an important animal model to investigate the roles of melanocyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of organosilicon Bola-form bi-quaternary ammonium amphiphiles, [OH 5 C 3 (C 2 H 5 ) 2 N + -(CH 2 ) 3 -Si(CH 2 ) 3 -O-(Si(CH 3 ) 2 O) n -Si(CH 2 ) 3 ⋯(CH 2 ) 3 -N + (C 2 H 5 ) 2 C 3 H 5 O]Cl 2− (Si n N 2 Cl 2 , n = 0, 4, 6, 8), with the same headgroups and different length of hydrophobic linkage has been synthesized. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of each amphiphiles was determined by equilibrium surface tension. With the increased length of hydrophobic siloxane spacer, the CMC values follow the order of Si 8 N 2 Cl 2 < Si 6 N 2 Cl 2 < Si 4 N 2 Cl 2 < Si 0 N 2 Cl 2 . At the same time, thermodynamic parameters ( Δ G m 0 , Δ H m 0 , Δ S m 0 ) of micellization were calculated by Gibbs equation under the mass action model. It indicates that the micellization of the amphiphiles in aqueous solution is entropy-driven. Especially, the surface area ( A min ) of Si 4 N 2 Cl 2 is the largest attributing to the interaction of free-rotated siloxane spacer and its internal oxygen atom, which make the molecular stretch free. The antimicrobial property of Si 4 N 2 Cl 2 is more effective than others below the concentration of CMC, while the antimicrobial property of Si 8 N 2 Cl 2 is more effective above the concentration of CMC, which indicated that both the adsorbability in formation of micellar and the hydrophobicity arising from the different length of siloxane spacer are important to inhibit microbe. Moreover, their wetting ability has been characterized by contact angles on various material surfaces. It shows that the higher weight of lipophilic siloxane spacer leads to lower contact angels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epoxypropyl dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (EPDDMAC) was synthesized withN,N-dimethyl dodecyl amine (DMDA) and epichlorohydrin (EPIC). Diethyl-2,3-epoxypropyl-[3-methyldimethoxyl)] silpropyl ammonium chloride (DEEPSAC) was synthesized withN,N-diethyl-aminopropyl-methyldimethoxysilane (DEAPMDES) and epichlorohydrin (EPIC). The products were characterized by infrared and elemental analysis and1H NMR spectroscopy. The surface tension, conductivity, and antibacterial activities of EPDDMAC and DEEPSAC were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A simple, versatile, and efficient surface modification method by carbene is developed. • It can directly make a variety of polymer surfaces hydrophobic. • It endows natural polymer materials with fast oil/water emulsion separation. In response to frequent oil spills and increasing discharges of oily wastewater, a variety of materials and methods have been developed to treat with oil–water mixtures. In this paper, a simple and versatile method to modify a broad spectrum of natural polymer surfaces (wood aerogel, pulpboard, filter paper, cotton cloth, electrospinning gelatin film, ultrafine polypropylene fiber) was reported. This modification was based on aryl diazo compounds with hydrophobic functional groups as precursors, which were thermally activated to generate highly active carbene intermediates and induce the X-H (X = O, C, ...) insertion reaction on the surface of substrates. The success of surface modification was demonstrated by the irreversible changes of the surface properties and the application on multi-behavior oil/water separation. Moreover, according to the Owens-Wendt-Rabel-Kaelble method, the influence of the dispersion force and the polar force on various material surfaces was given to explore the separation mechanism. This one-step modification provides a facile and efficient strategy to achieve renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly materials and surfaces with low surface energy, which offers considerable potential applications on disposal of oil pollution in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated that emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-anthraquinone), an anthraquinone derivative from the rhizome of Rheum palmatum L., can inhibit the activation of P2X7 receptors (P2X7R) as a potential antagonist. However, the effects of emodin on P2X7R-related inflammatory processes remain unclear. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of emodin on different inflammation responses of macrophages induced by ATP, the natural ligand of P2X7R. Materials and methods: Rat peritoneal macrophages were treated with millimolar ATP and emodin (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 µM) or brilliant blue G (BBG, 0.1, 1, 10 µM). Cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]c) was detected by fluorescent Ca2+ imaging. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) release was measured by rat IL-1β ELISA kits. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was examined by dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescent staining. Phagocytic activity was tested by neutral red uptake assay. Results: We found that the [Ca2+]c increase evoked by ATP (5 mM) was inhibited by emodin, in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 0.5 μM. Furthermore, emodin reduced the IL-1β release induced by ATP (2 mM) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages, with an IC50 of 1.6 μM. Emodin also strongly suppressed the ROS production and phagocytosis attenuation triggered by ATP (1 mM), with IC50 values of 1 μM and 0.7 μM, respectively. Besides, BBG, a specific antagonist of P2X7R, exhibited similar suppressive effects on these inflammation responses. Conclusion: These results showed the inhibitory effects of emodin on ATP-induced [Ca2+]c increase, IL-1β release, ROS production and phagocytosis attenuation in rat peritoneal macrophages, by inhibiting the activation of P2X7R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a complex human retrovirus that causes an aggressive leukemia known as adult T cell leukemia (ATL). The HTLV-1-encoded oncoprotein Tax induces persistent activation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway, which is perceived as the primary cause of ATL. Bcl-3, a member of the NF-κB inhibitor (IκB) family, is highly expressed in many HTLV-1-infected T cell lines and ATL cells. However, the role of Bcl-3 in Tax-induced NF-κB activation has not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that Tax induces Bcl-3 expression, which in turn negatively regulates the Tax-induced NF-κB activation. Interestingly, both Bcl-3 up-regulation and NF-κB inhibition promote the autophagy process in HTLV-1-infected cells. Consistent with this, over-expression of Bcl-3 also results in enhancement of rapamycin-, pifithrin-α- or starvation-induced autophagy in control cells. Together, these data demonstrate that Bcl-3 acts as a negative regulator of NF-κB activation and promotes autophagy in HTLV-1-infected cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple Summary: The lipid deposition and health status of egg-laying hens is crucial to the development of the poultry industry. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of genetic variations in the flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) on the lipid metabolic diseases of laying hens during the late laying period. The results showed that the T329S mutation in FMO3 moderated the lipid parameters and decreased the atherosclerotic lesions and hepatic steatosis in laying hens with homozygous T329S mutation. In conclusion, the T329S mutation in FMO3 is closely associated with the improvement of lipid metabolic diseases in laying hens during the late laying period. The results of this study may contribute to overcoming the challenge of lipid metabolic diseases in laying hens during the late laying period. The T329S mutation in flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) impairs the trimethylamine (TMA) metabolism in laying hens. The TMA metabolic pathway is closely linked to lipid metabolic diseases, such as atherosclerosis and fatty liver disease. We aimed to evaluate the effects of the T329S mutation in FMO3 on lipid metabolism in chickens during the late laying period. We selected 18 FMO3 genotyped individuals (consisting of six AA, six AT, and six TT hens) with similar body weight and production performance. The lipid metabolism and deposition characteristics of the laying hens with different genotypes were compared. The T329S mutation moderated the serum-lipid parameters in TT hens compared to those in AA and AT hens from 49 to 62 weeks. Furthermore, it reduced the serum trimethylamine N-oxide concentrations and increased the serum total bile acid (p < 0.05) and related lipid transporter levels in TT hens. Moreover, it significantly (p < 0.01) decreased atherosclerotic lesions and hepatic steatosis in TT hens compared to those in the AA and AT hens. Our findings may help improve the health status in laying hens during the late laying period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GeTe 4 –n Ge n tetrahedra contributes largely to laser-induced phase switching of GST. • Heating effect of laser can lead to more Te-rich components in GeTe 4 –n Ge n subsystem. • Raman peaks ascribed to Sb m Te 3 subsystem were suppressed in laser-crystallized GST. As one of the most successful nonvolatile phase change materials (PCMs), Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 (GST) can be reversibly switched between amorphous and crystalline phases by nanosecond laser pulses, which enables its applications in optical disks and various emerging reconfigurable photonic devices. Instead of simply inducing temperature rising of GST thin film via light absorption, high-energy laser irradiation leads to modifications of molecular bonds, forming different local structures. We employed a nanosecond pulse laser with different pulse duration, energy and pulse numbers to induce multi-level switching of GST thin films. By employing Raman spectroscopy, we illustrated that GeTe 4 –n Ge n (n = 0, 1, 2) subsystem plays a decisive role in laser-induced crystallization of GST. Different from isothermal annealing, where Sb m Te 3 (m = 1, 2) subsystem contributes as well. This is evidenced by the suppression of Sb m Te 3 structure of an isothermally annealed film treated with additional laser crystallization. In addition, our investigations indicated that in GeTe 4 –n Ge n subsystem, Joule heating promotes the formation of Te-rich tetrahedral components. These findings provide more insights into the structural characteristics of GST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In black-boned chicken, melanocytes are widely distributed in their inner organs. However, the roles of these cells are not fully elucidated. In this study, we used 3-wk-old female Silky Fowl to investigate the functions of melanocytes under infection with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). We found the melanocytes in the bursa of Fabricius involved in IBDV infection shown as abundant melanin were transported into the nodule and lamina propria where obvious apoptotic cells and higher expression of BAX were detected. Genes related to the toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway were highly detected by quantitative PCR, including TLR1, TLR3, TLR4, TLR15 , myeloid differential protein-88, interferon-α, and interferon-β. We then isolated and infected primary melanocytes with IBDV in vitro and found that higher expressions of immune genes were detected at 24 and 48 h after infection; the upregulated innate and adaptive immune genes were involved in the pathogenesis of IBDV infection, including TLR3, TLR7 , interleukin 15 (IL15), IL18, IL1rap, CD7, BG2, ERAP1 , and SLA2. These changes in gene expression were highly associated with microtubule-based movement, antigen processing and presentation, defense against viruses, and innate immune responses. Our results indicated that the widely distributed melanocytes in Silky Fowl could migrate to play important innate immune roles during virus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adenosine 5ʹ-triphosphate (ATP)-gated Ca2+-permeable channel P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is strongly upregulated in many tumors and cancer cells, and has an important role in cancer cell invasion associated with metastases. Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is an anthraquinone derivative originally isolated from Rheum officinale Baill known for decades to possess anticancer properties. In this study, we examined the effects of emodin on P2X7R-dependent Ca2+ signaling, extracellular matrix degradation, and in vitro and in vivo cancer cell invasiveness using highly aggressive human cancer cells. Inclusion of emodin at doses ≤10 µM in cell culture had no or very mild effect on the cell viability. ATP elicited increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration were reduced by 35 and 60% by 1 and 10 µM emodin, respectively. Emodin specifically inhibited P2X7R-mediated currents with an IC50 of 3 µM and did not inhibit the currents mediated by the other human P2X receptors heterologously expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells. ATP-induced increase in gelatinolytic activity, in cancer cell invasiveness in vitro and in cell morphology changes were prevented by 1 µM emodin. Furthermore, such ATP-evoked effects and inhibition by emodin were almost completely ablated in cancer cells transfected with P2X7R-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) but not with scrambled siRNA. Finally, the in vivo invasiveness of the P2X7R-positive MDA-MB-435s breast cancer cells, assessed using a zebrafish model of micrometastases, was suppressed by 40 and 50% by 1 and 10 µM emodin. Taken together, these results provide consistent evidence to indicate that emodin inhibits human cancer cell invasiveness by specifically antagonizing the P2X7R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel class of organosilicon quaternary gemini surfactants alkanediyl-α, ω-bis(methyl-dimethoxy-silopropyl-diethyl ammonium bromide) was synthesized with N,N-diethyl-aminopropyl-methyl-dimethoxysilane and α, ω-dibromoalkane as the raw materials, where the N,N-diethyl-aminopropyl-methyl-dimethoxysilane was synthesized by reacting diethylamine with γ-chloropropylmethyldimethoxysilane. The effects of various solvents on the conversion rate of the reaction and on purification of surfactants were investigated. The structures of the organosilicon quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants were determined by means of 1H NMR and elemental analysis. The properties of aqueous solution were measured with electrical conductivity and viscosity methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capons are male chickens whose testes have been surgically incised. Capons show a significant increase in fat accumulation compared to intact male chickens. However, while caponization leads to a significant reduction in androgen levels in roosters, little is known about the molecular mechanisms through which androgen status affects lipogenesis in avian species. Therefore, investigation of the influence of androgens on fat accumulation in the chicken will provide insights into this process. In this study, Affymetrix microarray technology was used to analyze the gene expression profiles of livers from capons and intact male chickens because the liver is the major site of lipogenesis in avian species. Through gene ontology, we found that genes involved in hepatic lipogenic biosynthesis were the most highly enriched. Interestingly, among the upregulated genes, the cytosolic form of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1) gene showed the greatest fold change. Additionally, in conjunction with quantitative real-time PCR data, our results suggested that androgen status negatively regulated the PCK1 gene in male chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which consists of an N-terminal catalytic domain and a C-terminal binding domain, is a crucial enzyme in the metabolism of lipids. Binding in the presence of cofactors or receptors on the cell surface, LPL catalyses the hydrolysis of triglycerides in the lipoprotein. To investigate the correlation between the LPL gene and adipose traits, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the exons of LPL in two breeds, Tibet chicken and E-white recessive rock (EWRR) chicken were investigated. The two breeds have significantly different levels of obesity. They were screened with single-strand conformation polymorphism and its effect on adipose traits was analysed. The results showed that a missense mutation G-C in the seventh exon of LPL changed alanine 377 to proline at the C-terminal binding domain, which is involved in the binding activity of LPL. Association analysis showed that the intermuscular adipose tissue width of Tibet chicken with the CC genotype decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while abdominal adipose weight of EWRR chicken of the CC genotype increased markedly (P < 0.05) compared with the individuals of other genotypes. Although the mutation correlated with very low-density lipoprotein in Tibet chicken, it did not demonstrate significant association with the lipoprotein in EWRR chicken (P < 0.05). Neither the glucose or triglyceride levels of chickens with different genotypes differed significantly (P < 0.05). As very low-density lipoprotein content and fat mass were upregulated by LPL, we concluded that the A377P mutation may enhance the binding activity of the LPL C-terminal domain to very low-density lipoprotein receptors, which promoted triglyceride metabolism in very low-density lipoprotein. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a crucial enzyme in lipid metabolism and it regulates the deposition of adipose tissue. A mutation in the chicken LPL gene was identified in the present study and it was found that the mutation was associated with adipose traits. The mutation has potential for being used as a genetic marker of adipose traits in chicken breeding activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We previously show the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in primary synoviocytes from collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Capsaicin and lowered extracellular pH from 7.4 to 5.5 induce cell death through TRPV1-mediated Ca2+ entry and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, under the pathological condition in rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial fluid is acidified to a moderate level (about pH 6.8). In the present study, we examined the effects of pH 6.8 on the TRPV1-mediated cell death. Our finding is different or even opposite from what was observed at pH 5.5. We found that the moderate extracellular acidification (from pH 7.4 to 6.8) inhibited the capsaicin-induced Ca2+ entry through attenuating the activity of TRPV1. In the mean time, it triggered a phospholipse C (PLC)-related Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB was found at pH 6.8, and this also depends on PLC activation. Moreover, the capsaicin-evoked massive ROS production and cell death were depressed at pH 6.8, both of which are dependent on the activation of PLC and NF-κB. Taken together, these results suggested that the moderate extracellular acidification inhibited the capsaicin-induced synoviocyte death through regulating Ca2+ mobilization, activating NF-κB nuclear translocation and depressing ROS production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to assess the attitudes of oncology physicians and nurses toward phase I, II, and III cancer clinical trials. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 358 oncology physicians and nurses. Results: The effective response rate was 79.3%. Of the respondents, 67.6%, 95.1%, and 98.6% reported that cancer patients would benefit from phase I, II, and III trials, respectively. Respondents would also recommend that their patients participate in phase I (64.4%), II (88.4%), and III trials (95.1%). When asked to assume the role of cancer patients, the respondents themselves were willing to participate in phase I (48.2%), II (72.9%), and III trials (89.8%). Respondents who admitted having little or no understanding of cancer clinical trials were not willing to recommend participation in phase I clinical trials to their patients (OR 0.187, 95% CI 0.110–0.319, p <0.001). No factor was significantly associated with respondents'' willingness to recommend that their patients participate in phase II or III clinical trials. Conclusion: Most physicians and nurses hold positive attitudes toward clinical trials, especially phases II and III. The number of medical staff who approved of clinical trials was positively associated with the stage of the phase trial. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone), an anthraquinone derivative from Rheum officinale Baill, exhibits anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities, however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study examined the effects of emodin on ATP-evoked responses in rat peritoneal macrophages and in human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK293) heterologously expressing the cloned rat P2X7 receptor. Emodin reduced macrophage death induced by millimolar ATP in a concentration-dependent manner with the half of maximal inhibition values (IC50) of 0.2μM. It also strongly inhibited ATP-induced dye uptake or pore formation, a hallmark property associated with P2X7 receptor activation, and 2′,3′-O-(benzoyl-4-benzoyl)-ATP (BzATP) induced increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in macrophages with an IC50 of 0.5μM. Furthermore, emodin significantly suppressed BzATP-evoked currents in P2X7 receptor expressing HEK293 cells with an IC50 of 3.4μM. Taken together, these results provide compelling evidence for a novel action of emodin as a P2X7 receptor antagonist, which may underlie its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A compact suspended carrier biofilm reactor (SCBR) was operated at three different C/N ratios (C/N=10:1, 5:1 and 3:1) with focus on reactor performance and microbial community composition of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. The process was capable of achieving over 90% removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and over 83.3% of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) efficiency. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis showed that the diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) community decreased with inoculation sludge, C/N ratio 3:1, 10:1 and 5:1 in turn. Phylogenetics analysis indicated that there were three distinct groups of AOB in Betaproteobacteria subdivision, where Nitrosomonas were the dominant members in the biofilm. Fluorescence in situ hybridization-flow cytometry (FISH-FCM) results revealed that Alpha-, Beta- and Gamma-proteobacteria accounted for over 50% of all cells. Additionally, the clusters of Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira, Nitrobacter, Nitrospira and AOB of Betaproteobacteria yielded a similar distribution pattern about 5–12% of all cells. Nested analysis of variance assay (ANOVA) demonstrated that the C/N ratio did not significantly affect the shift of populations in different groups of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria detected by FISH-FCM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Zn phytotoxicity and its possible detoxifying responses in two ecotypes of Sedum alfredii Hance, i.e. hyperaccumulating ecotype (HE) and non-hyperaccumulating ecotype (NHE) were investigated. HE grew better with high Zn concentrations of 29.11gkg−1 DW in shoots when exposed to 500μM Zn2+. Toxicity symptoms caused by Zn in root cells of both ecotypes mainly included plasmolysis, disruption of plasma membranes and increased cell vacuolation. At high supplied Zn concentration, chloroplasts suffered from structural disorganization in both ecotypes. Zn-induced hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide radical productions in leaves were determined by a histochemical method, which revealed that Zn stress may have involved NADPH oxidase, protein phosphatases and intracellular Ca2+ to activate the reactive oxygen species production. Inhibition of glutathione synthesis may have led to increased H2O2 and accumulations in leaves of HE. In response to higher Zn concentrations, ascorbic acid significantly increased in both ecotypes and levels of glutathione increased in both leaves and roots of HE and in roots of NHE without any change in the leaves of NHE. The enzymatic activities like those of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.7), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1), and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) in leaves of HE were all enhanced at supplied Zn concentration of 500μM, which may account for its better growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Patients with FOG exhibited a disrupted topological organization of functional brain networks. • Nodal centralities and functional connectivity increased in widely distributed networks in PD patients with FOG. • The altered nodal centralities in the right hippocampus were positively correlated with FOG severity. Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common and debilitating gait disturbance in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), but the potential mechanisms are still unclear. This study aimed to explore alterations in the topological organization of whole-brain functional networks in PD patients with FOG. We recruited 75 patients with PD, 37 patients with FOG and 38 patients without FOG, to undergo resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The whole-brain functional networks were constructed, and the topological properties at three (global, nodal, and connectional) levels were analyzed using graph theory approaches. Compared with patients without FOG, patients with FOG exhibited altered global topological properties (a significant decrease in the normalized clustering coefficient and small-worldness), implying a shift toward randomization in their functional brain networks. At the node and connectional levels, patients with FOG showed increased nodal centralities and functional connectivity in the sensorimotor network, frontoparietal network, visual network, subcortical and limbic regions, and decreased nodal centralities in the frontoparietal network and the cerebellum. Furthermore, the altered nodal centralities in the right hippocampus (HIP) were positively correlated with FOG severity. This study suggests that FOG in PD is associated with disrupted topological organization of whole-brain functional networks, involving dysfunction of the multiple networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hydroponics experiments were conducted to study the effects of Pb on mined ecotype (ME) and non-mined ecotype (NME) of Elsholtzia argyi from Pb/Cu mining and the non-contaminated agricultural areas, respectively. The results showed that at 200μM Pb treatment, although concentrations of Pb in leaves and stem of the ME were 2.6 and 4.5 times higher than those of the NME, these plants exhibited higher tolerance to excessive levels of Pb in the growth medium. In both the ecotypes, Pb caused inhibition of leaf growth and photosynthesis, and induced the membrane damage which was more obvious in the NME. Pb treatment decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD) while activity of catalase (CAT) and levels of total soluble proteins (TSP), ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) were significantly induced after Pb exposure, however, increase was sharp in the ME plants. Leaf ultrastructural analysis of the spongy mesophyll cells revealed that the excessive Pb concentrations caused adverse effects on chloroplast ultrastructure of both ecotypes whereby internal damage was more severe in NME. The higher tolerance to Pb displayed by ME is mainly attributed to maintenance of its leaf growth and physiology, induction of GSH and integrity of cell organelles especially chloroplast ultrastructure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Ir@N-G-600 was prepared by supporting Ir nanoparticles on N-doped graphene. • It demonstrates enhanced HER/OER activity over its N-doping-free counterpart. • Strong coordination between Ir and N dopants enriches the electron density of Ir. • It achieves stable 10 mA cm−2 water electrolysis at cell voltage below 1.6 V. Heteroatom-doped carbon is a type of promising support for catalytically active metal nanoparticles as it offers abundant anchoring sites to facilitate the nucleation and growth of the nanoparticles, and to strengthen their attachment and more importantly, to enhance their intrinsic catalytic activity via support-metal electronic interaction. In this work, graphene sheets were doped with abundant N atoms via radio-frequency N 2 plasma process and used as unique support to load ultrasmall iridium nanoparticles. As-synthesized Ir@N-G-600 shows excellent activity and stability toward HER and OER in both acidic and alkaline media. At much lower precious metal loading, it is superior to commercial Pt/C, RuO 2 and Ir/C catalysts in terms of HER and OER activity, respectively. As a bifunctional electrocatalyst, Ir@N-G-600 enables efficient overall water splitting in acid and alkaline solutions. The enhanced electrocatalytic activity of Ir@N-G-600 is found to be tightly associated with the strong coordination between Ir atoms and N dopants, which enriches the electron density of Ir atoms to form an optimal electronic configuration for HER and OER processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: With the increased interest in animal welfare, poultry housing systems have been a concern for the last decade, and conventional cages have been replaced by non-cage systems or enriched cages. However, the environmental conditions in non-cage housing systems and their association with hens' production performance and health have not been studied extensively. Therefore, the present study compared the indoor environmental microbial content in two different non-caged systems, namely, a plastic-net housing system and floor-litter housing system, and investigated its effects on the production performance, serum parameters and intestinal morphology of hens during the peak laying period. The results indicated that the NRS resulted in better indoor environmental air quality and ground hygiene than the LRS and enhanced the production performance, antioxidant capacity and intestinal health of hens, represented by positive changes in the laying rate, serum parameters and intestinal morphology. This study investigated the effects of plastic-net housing system (NRS) and floor-litter housing system (LRS) on the production performance, serum parameters and intestinal morphology of Shendan laying hens. A total of 1200 30-week-old hens were randomly allocated to the NRS and LRS groups, each of which included five replicates with 120 chickens in each replicate. The experiment was conducted from 32 to 40 weeks of age. Indoor airborne parameters were measured every 2 weeks, and indoor ground contamination was measured monthly. The laying rate and mortality of hens were recorded daily, and egg quality traits and serum parameters were measured every 2 weeks. At 40 weeks of age, four birds per replicate from each experimental group were selected for intestinal morphological observation. The results showed that the airborne bacteria number in the LRS was significantly higher than that in the NRS (p < 0.05) for most of the experimental period (except at 32 and 38 weeks of age), and the bacterial numbers on the surfaces of the floor and floor eggs in the LRS were approximately 10 times higher than those in the NRS (p < 0.05). Compared with the LRS, the NRS improved the laying rate (p < 0.05), reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05) and corticosterone (CORT) concentrations and increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, indicating favourable effects on antioxidative status. The NRS was significantly associated with an increased villus height (VH), villus height to crypt depth ratio (VCR) in the small intestine (p < 0.05) and increased VCR in the caecum (p < 0.05). Overall, the lower rate of bacterial contamination in the NRS than in the LRS indicated better environmental hygiene. The NRS enhanced the laying performance and antioxidant capacity of hens and was superior to the LRS in improving intestinal health. The current findings support the advantages of the NRS for the health and welfare of Shendan chickens during the peak laying period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A core–shell composite CdS-APS@TiO 2 (APS = 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane) has been prepared by a temperature-programmed hydrothermal method combined with a simple and convenient chemical bath deposition. The form of the product resembles that of a succulent plant. Electrostatic interaction between the water-stable TiO 2 precursor with negative charge and the amino-functionalized petal-like surfaces of CdS is evident. The as-prepared composite adopts the aforementioned succulent morphology with a petal-like structure, surface-coated with TiO 2. Moreover, compared with the CdS precursor, the specific surface area of the as-prepared CdS-APS@TiO 2 composite is increased, and its optical absorption extends into the visible region. The CdS-APS@TiO 2 composite shows high activity in multiple photocatalytic processes, and some activity in photocatalytic hydrogen production (149.2 μmol/g, 8 h). To assess its mode of action, trapping experiments have been carried out by adding various radical scavengers. Possible mechanisms for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes and the photocatalytic splitting of water over the CdS-APS@TiO 2 composite are proposed. A kind of succulent-like core–shell composite CdS-APS@TiO 2 that CdS was coated by ultrathin layer TiO 2 was prepared. The CdS substrate with forked stucture and ultrathin layer TiO 2 can efficiently improve the lifespan and electron transport, leading to the high photocatalytic efficiency. On the basis of the SEM and trapping experiments, the possible formation mechanism and the photocatalytic mechanism of CdS-APS@TiO 2 were proposed. Image 1 • Core–shell composite CdS-APS@TiO 2 , with a structure resembling that of a succulent plant, has been prepared. • The CdS cores with an ultrathin layer of TiO 2 can improve the lifespan of charge carriers and electron transport. • CdS-APS@TiO 2 displays excellent photocatalytic properties under multiple conditions. • Photocatalytic hydrogen production activity over CdS-APS@TiO 2 is greatly increased. • A possible formation mechanism and a photocatalytic mechanism are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Although there is an established understanding of the nutritional requirements for poultry production, the evaluation of the feed form for chickens still needs to be further examined. It is generally believed that a pellet diet has a positive effect on chicken growth, but there are some studies that have reported no difference between pellet and mash on chicken's performance. The present study indicated that pellet diets improved the production performance and nutrition metabolism through positive changes in the laying rate, feed intake, egg albumen quality and apparent digestibility of laying hens. One of the most important factors that determine feed utilization by chickens is the feed form. Although it is generally believed that pellet diets have a positive effect on chicken growth, there are some studies that have indicated no difference between pellet and mash on chickens performance. This study was conducted to assess the effects of feed form on production performance, egg quality, nutrient metabolism and intestinal morphology in two breed laying hens. Two hundred and sixteen 25-week-old Hy-Line brown (n = 108) and Hy-Line grey (n = 108) hens were selected. Each breed was randomly allocated into two treatments with 6 replications (9 birds in each replication), which were fed mash and pellet diets, respectively. Production performances were recorded daily and egg quality traits were measured every two weeks. At 42 weeks of age, one bird per replication from each experimental group was selected for metabolism determination and intestine morphology observation. Compared with mash diets, pellet diets improved laying rate (p < 0.05), ADFI (average daily feed intake, p < 0.05), egg weight, shell strength, yolk proportion and Haugh unit (p < 0.05) in both breeds and reduced the FCR (feed conversion ratio, p < 0.05) in Hy-Line grey. The apparent digestibility of DM% (dry matter) and CP% (crude protein) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in both breed laying hens fed pellet than those fed mash. The apparent digestibility of P% (phosphorus) and Ca% (calcium) was higher in Hy-Line grey fed pellet and was higher in Hy-Line brown fed mash. Compared to mash diets, pellet diets increased the VH (villus height), CD (crypt depth) and VCR (ratio of villus height to crypt depth) of the small intestine of Hy-Line grey, and increased the VH and CD of duodenum and ileum of Hy-Line brown. Overall, pellet diets improved production performance and nutrition metabolism through positive changes in the laying rate, feed intake, egg albumen quality and apparent digestibility of laying hens. The current findings provided support for the advantages of feeding pellets during the peak egg laying period for the two popular laying hen strains, Hy-Line brown and Hy-Line grey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern and has caused traumatic experience for nurses worldwide. However, the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in nurses, and how psychosocial factors influence nurses in this public crisis are unknown. To determine the effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of nurses and the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among nurses in China during the outbreak. A cross-sectional study. A total of 3,228 nurses in Sichuan Province and Wuhan City were selected by convenience sampling. All participants were invited to complete the questionnaire through WeChat from January 27 to February 3, 2020. A self-reported questionnaire combining depression and anxiety scale was used to collect data anonymously. Binary and multivariate logistic regression was applied to measure the odds of psychosocial factors of anxiety and depression and perceived health, respectively. The total incidence of depression (34.3%) and anxiety (18.1%) during the COVID-19 outbreak was lower than that during the SARS outbreak; however, the rate of depression in our study (47.1%) was high and similar in a recent study (50.4%) about the health care workers exposed to COVID-19 in China. The results indicated that COVID-19-related stress, relationship quality with family, and demographic characteristics were associated with depression, anxiety, and perceived health status. Furthermore, the prevalence of depression was similar between nurses working in low-risk COVID-19 wards was as high as working in high-risk COVID-19 wards (OR, 1.078; 95% CI, 0.784–1.481). Our study revealed the high prevalence of depression and anxiety among nurses during the outbreak of COVID-19. COVID-19 factors and psychosocial factors were associated with mental health of nurses. The results suggest that hospitals should implement effective mental health promotion programs focused on occupational safety and family support to improve the well-being of nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) system capable of exhibiting different particle size at different temperature was developed, which depended on the extent of Diels–Alder (DA) reaction of bismaleimide with furan. Thus, Ag NPs were functionalized on the surface by a furyl-substituted carbene through an insertion reaction. Subsequent reversible DA crosslinking achieved a controlled aggregation with different particle size, which gives a series of different antibacterial activity. These Ag NPs were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Nanoparticle Size Analyzer. The aggregation of the Ag NPs could be reliably adjusted by varying the temperature of DA/reverse-DA reaction. The antibacterial activity was assessed using the inhibition zone method against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which decreased first and then increased in agreement with the size evolution of Ag NPs. This approach opens a new horizon for the carbene chemistry to modify silver nanoparticles with variable size and give controlled antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Up-regulation of Rac1 can enhance the sensitivity of human poorly differentiated NPC CNE2 cells to radiation. • Oxidative damage of mitochondria induce by Rac1 may be a key mechanism of radiosensitization. • A new way for promoting the efficiency of radiotherapy by target regulation of Rac1 protein. Radiotherapy has a high cure rate for early nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC). However, the radiation resistance of poorly differentiated NPC cells impacts the effectiveness of treatment of early-stage NPC patients. Here, we explored the relationship between Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1(Rac1) expression and NPC radiosensitivity. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that upregulation of Rac1, when combined with X-ray treatment, increased growth inhibition and induced remarkable morphological changes and apoptosis in CNE2 cells. Furthermore, rupturing of the cell and nuclear membranes, degeneration of the cristae and significant swelling of the mitochondria were observed, which were consistent with the high apoptotic rate. The Rac1(+) cells exhibited approximately 50% more migration compared with that of the NC and Rac1(-) cells. The overexpression of Rac1 can increase the radiation sensitivity of NPC CNE2 cells, and the mechanism may be closely related to the oxidative damage of mitochondria. Rac1 might be a potential target for radiosensitization in poorly differentiated NPC. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) has a more penetrant genetic etiology, the genetic architecture of EOPD remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to assess the genetic and clinical features of EOPD among ethnic Chinese from mainland China. Using whole-exome sequencing, we performed genetic analyses of 240 participants including 193 with sporadic and 47 with familial EOPD (age of onset <50 years). In total, 18 patients (7.5%) harbored pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in known PD genes. Among these variants, biallelic variants in Parkin and PINK1 were responsible for 4.2% of cases, and rare likely pathogenic variants in LRRK2 (1.7%) also appeared to be a relatively common cause of EOPD. Notably, 7.5% of patients carried risk variants in either LRRK2 or GBA , which should also be considered for EOPD. Nevertheless, 41 patients (17.1%) had rare variants of unknown significance. In conclusion, our findings provide a better understanding of the genetic architecture of PD among ethnic Chinese, and the pathogenicity of numerous rare variants should be further investigated. • 18 patients (7.5%) carried pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in known PD genes. • (Likely) pathogenic variants in Parkin and PINK1 were responsible for 4.2% of the patients. • Rare likely pathogenic variants in LRRK2 (1.7%) also appeared to be a relatively common cause of EOPD. • 7.5% of patients carried risk variants in either LRRK2 or GBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gene expression variation is a key underlying factor influencing phenotypic variation, and can occur via cis- or trans-regulation. To understand the role of cis- and trans-regulatory variation on population divergence in chicken, we developed reciprocal crosses of two chicken breeds, White Leghorn and Cornish Game, which exhibit major differences in body size and reproductive traits, and used them to determine the degree of cis versus trans variation in the brain, liver, and muscle tissue of male and female 1-day-old specimens. Results: We provided an overview of how transcriptomes are regulated in hybrid progenies of two contrasting breeds based on allele specific expression analysis. Compared with cis-regulatory divergence, trans-acting genes were more extensive in the chicken genome. In addition, considerable compensatory cis- and trans-regulatory changes exist in the chicken genome. Most importantly, stronger purifying selection was observed on genes regulated by trans-variations than in genes regulated by the cis elements. Conclusions: We present a pipeline to explore allele-specific expression in hybrid progenies of inbred lines without a specific reference genome. Our research is the first study to describe the regulatory divergence between two contrasting breeds. The results suggest that artificial selection associated with domestication in chicken could have acted more on trans-regulatory divergence than on cis-regulatory divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dwarfism is a condition defined by low harvest weight in fish, but also results in strange body figures which may have potential for the selective breeding of new ornamental fish strains. The objectives of this study are to reveal the physiological causes of dwarfism and identify the genetic loci controlling this trait in the white sailfin molly. Skeletons of dwarf and normal sailfin mollies were observed by X-ray radioscopy and skeletal staining. Genome-wide association studies based on genotyping-by-sequencing (n = 184) were used to map candidate genomic regions associated with the dwarfism trait. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to determine the expression level of candidate genes in normal (n = 8) and dwarf (n = 8) sailfin mollies. We found that the dwarf sailfin molly has a short and dysplastic spine in comparison to the normal fish. Two regions, located at NW_015112742.1 and NW_015113621.1, were significantly associated with the dwarfism trait. The expression level of three candidate genes, ADAMTS like 1, Larp7 and PPP3CA, were significantly different between the dwarf and normal sailfin mollies in the hepatopancreas, with PPP3CA also showing significant differences in the vertebrae and Larp7 showing significant differences in the muscle. This study identified genomic regions and candidate genes associated with the dwarfism trait in the white sailfin molly and would provide a reference to determine dwarf-causing variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many phenotypic traits of chickens have been well documented, the genetic patterns of gene expression levels in chickens remain to be determined. In the present study, we crossed two chicken breeds, White Leghorn (WL) and Cornish (Cor), which have been selected for egg and meat production, respectively, for a few hundred years. We evaluated transcriptome abundance in the brain, muscle, and liver from the day-old progenies of pure-bred WL and Cor, and the hybrids of these two breeds, by RNA-Seq in order to determine the inheritance patterns of gene expression. Comparison among expression levels in the different groups revealed that most of the genes showed conserved expression patterns in all three examined tissues and that brain had the highest number of conserved genes, which indicates that conserved genes are predominantly important compared to others. On the basis of allelic expression analysis, in addition to the conserved genes, we identified the extensive presence of additive, dominant (Cor dominant and WL dominant), over-dominant, and under-dominant genes in all three tissues in hybrids. Our study is the first to provide an overview of inheritance patterns of the transcriptome in layers and broilers, and we also provide insights into the genetics of chickens at the gene expression level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperpigmentation in Silky Fowl (SF) results in aberrant immune cell development. However, how melanocytes regulate B-cell proliferation in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) is unclear. To resolve this conundrum, we collected BFs from three-week-old SF and White Leghorn (WL) female chickens for RNA sequencing. The BF development was relatively weaker in SF than in WL. The transcriptome analyses identified 4848 differentially expressed genes, 326 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 67 microRNAs in the BF of SF. The genes associated with melanogenesis was significantly higher, but that of the genes associated with the cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions and JAK-STAT signalling pathway was significantly lower in SF than in WL. Crucial biological processes, such as the receptor activity, cell communication, and cellular responses to stimuli, were clustered in SF. The predicted target lncRNAs genes were mainly associated with cell proliferation pathways such as JAK-STAT, WNT, MAPK, and Notch signalling pathways. Except for the above pathways, the target microRNA genes were related to the metabolism, melanogenesis, autophagy, and NOD-like and Toll-like receptor signalling pathways. The lncRNAs and microRNAs were predicted to regulate the JAK2, STAT3, and IL-15 genes. Thus, B-cell development in the BF of SF might be regulated and affected by noncoding RNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and the role of its key molecular regulators, STIM1 and ORAI1, in the development of cancer are emerging. Here, we report an unexpected dual function of SOCE in prostate cancer progression by revealing a decrease in the expression of STIM1 in human hyperplasia and tumor tissues of high histological grade and by demonstrating that STIM1 and ORAI1 inhibit cell growth by arresting the G0/G1 phase and enhancing cell senescence in human prostate cancer cells. In addition, STIM1 and ORAI1 inhibited NF-κB signaling and remodeled the tumor microenvironment by reducing the formation of M2 phenotype macrophages, possibly creating an unfavorable tumor microenvironment and inhibiting cancer development. However, STIM1 also promoted cell migration and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by activating TGF-β, Snail and Wnt/β-Catenin pathways. Thus, our study revealed novel regulatory effects and the mechanisms by which STIM1 affects cell senescence, tumor migration and the tumor microenvironment, revealing that STIM1 has multiple functions in prostate cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]