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Selenium (Se) deficiency causes impaired growth of fish skeletal muscle due to the retarded hypertrophy of muscle fibers. However, the inner mechanisms remain unclear. According to our previous researches, we infer this phenomenon is associated with Se deficiency-induced high concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which could suppress the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) pathway-mediated protein synthesis by inhibiting protein kinase B (Akt), an upstream protein of TORC1. To test this hypothesis, juvenile zebrafish (45 days post fertilization) were fed a basal Se-adequate diet or a basal Se-deficient diet, or them supplemented with an antioxidant (DL-α-tocopherol acetate, designed as VE) or a TOR activator (MHY1485) for 30 days. Zebrafish fed Se-deficient diets exhibited a clear Se-deficient status in skeletal muscle, which was not influenced by dietary VE and MHY1485. Se deficiency significantly elevated ROS concentrations, inhibited Akt activity and TORC1 pathway, suppressed protein synthesis in skeletal muscle, and impaired hypertrophy of skeletal muscle fibers. However, these negative effects of Se deficiency were partly (except that on ROS concentration) alleviated by dietary MHY1485 and completely alleviated by dietary VE. These data strongly support our speculation that Se deficiency-induced high concentration of ROS exerts a clear inhibiting effect on TORC1 pathway-mediated protein synthesis by regulating Akt activity, thereby restricting the hypertrophy of skeletal muscle fibers in fish. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for Se deficiency-caused retardation of fish skeletal muscle growth, contributing to a better understanding of the nutritional necessity and regulatory mechanisms of Se in fish muscle physiology.

Catgut implantation at acupoints (CIA) has been applied as medical treatment for autoimmune diseases. Yet, its effect and mechanism of this therapy on autoimmune uveitis is still unknown. Here we aimed to explore the immunoregulatory effect of CIA in the experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) rat model. Lewis rats were induced with EAU by injecting IRBP1177 – 1191 peptide, and subsequently treated with CIA. In the CIA group, delayed mild inflammation was observed with alleviated infiltration of lymphocytes and ocular damage. Flow cytometry showed significant decrease in Th17 lymphocytes at Day 9, 13, and 18 post-immunizations (P P (P P

The rapid expansion of the aquaculture industry is accompanied by high organic and nutrient loadings from formulated feeds. This leads to water deterioration and pathogenic microorganisms. Natural biota (e.g., bacteria, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and zoobenthos) in ponds form important parts of cultured aquatic animals’ diets. They contain essential proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, and fatty acids and are considered promising supplementary nutrition sources for cultured aquatic animals. Particularly, they are available to aquatic animals throughout the day, and an adequate supply of them as starter foods during the larvae stage ensures high survival. Since formulated feeds constitute more than 50% of aquaculture production costs, optimizing the utilization of natural biota and reducing dietary nutrient input without compromising animals’ growth should be a priority to improve the economic success and sustainability of aquaculture. From this scenario, the present review offers an updated view of the natural biota category in aquaculture systems, their nutritional components, and their contributions to the growth of cultured aquatic animals. Taken together, this review emphasizes the significant roles of natural biota playing in the growth of aquatic animals and encourages maximizing utilization of natural biota to improve feed conversion efficiency and aquaculture sustainability.

In order to calculate the carbon emissions in the construction process to achieve low-carbon buildings and low-carbon construction, the author puts forward the calculation and evaluation of building thermal energy consumption and carbon emissions based on building information modeling (BIM) technology. The author first proposed the important value and application of BIM technology in energy consumption evaluation of green buildings, taking a gymnasium as an example, a carbon emission accounting system for building construction and installation process is established based on BIM technology, and the carbon emissions in building construction and installation process are calculated and analyzed. The results show that the carbon emission during the construction and installation of a gymnasium is 766300 tons, of which the carbon emission caused by building materials is 737200 tons, the carbon emission caused by mechanical equipment is 4500 tons, and that caused by office and living is 34500 tons, accounting for 94.90%, 0.59%, and 4.51%, respectively. In conclusion through data analysis, determine the largest carbon emission source in the construction process, and then propose targeted carbon emission reduction measures in the construction process of the construction industry.

The reduction/precipitation of Cr(vi) could occur simultaneously under alkaline conditions in the presence of thiourea dioxides as reducing agents.

Rare-earth calcium oxyborate crystals (RECa4O(BO3)3, RECOB, RE: rare-earth elements) is a kind of multifunctional crystal materials. In this work, the temperature dependent behaviors of the electro-elastic constants for NdCOB crystal were investigated over the temperature range of –80–200 oC, and their temperature coefficients were evaluated. It is found that NdCOB possesses minimal variation of relative dielectric permittivities (

The interaction between functionalized graphene and metal porphyrins was studied for a better understanding of the influence of the N and O heteroatoms in asphaltene on demetallization efficiency during the solvent deasphalting process. The theoretical simulation indicated a strong inhibitory effect of the aminated/carboxylated side group for chemical adsorption of metal porphyrins. The differences of adsorption behavior for graphene, aminated graphene, and Canadian oil sands bitumen vacuum tower bottom asphaltene (VTB-asp) were also analyzed. It was found that the introduction of aminated side groups to the graphene not only compromised the electron delocalization capacity of the polyaromatic nuclei hydrocarbon skeleton of graphene but also caused a steric hindrance effect on the internal diffusion of metal porphyrins, leading to decreased adsorption active sites and internal diffusion rate, respectively. It was also found that metal porphyrins can be barely adsorbed on carboxylated graphene at 25 °C.