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Simple Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the expression levels of the CAST gene and the fatty acid (FA) composition in the longissimus thoracis (LL) muscle and to identify novel variants of CAST and perform association analysis with the FA composition in grazing Sonid sheep. The correlation results showed that high expression levels of CAST are correlated with better FA compositions and classes in LL. Four c.646G>C (G216R), c.1210C>T (R404C), c.1437G>A (479T), and c.2097C>T (699G) mutations were identified in the CAST gene of Sonid sheep. The association studies showed that c.1210C>T is associated with C14:0, C18:0, C18:1n9c, C18:3n3, n3, C12:0, n6, and n6/n3; c.646G>C and c.1437G>A in linkage disequilibrium-Mongolia (r2 = 0.964) were associated with C14:0, C18:0, SFA, C18:1n9c, n3, C10:0, C18:1n9t, and n6/n3; and c.2097C>T was associated with C18:3n3, n3, C10:0, and n6/n3 in the LL of Sonid sheep. Thus, the correlation results and associated mutations were expected to be genetic selection markers for the FA composition and meat quality of Sonid sheep muscle and provide new insight into sheep meat quality traits influenced by the ovine CAST gene. Fatty acid (FA) composition has an important impact on the nutrition and flavor of meat, and on consumer health, and is receiving more attention in the sheep industry. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the expression levels of the CAST gene and the FA composition in the longissimus thoracis (LL) muscle, to identify novel variants of CAST, and to perform association analysis with the FA composition in grazing Sonid lambs. The correlation results showed that high expression levels of CAST are correlated with better FA compositions and classes in LL. For association studies, the results showed that c.1210C>T and c.1437G>A in LD-M, and c.2097C>T mutations are associated with some compositions and classes of FA in the LL of grazing Sonid sheep. Two missense c.646G>C (G216R) and c.1210C>T (R404C) mutations were predicted to influence the Calpain_inhib domains of CAST. Thus, the correlation results and associated mutations are expected to be genetic selection markers for the FA composition and meat quality of grazing Sonid lamb muscle and provide new insights into sheep meat quality traits influenced by the ovine CAST gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to apply transcriptomics to determine how Molor-Dabos-4 (MD-4) protects healthy rats against indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric ulcers and to identify the mechanism behind this protective effect. Rats were pretreated with MD-4 (0.3, 1.5, or 3 g/kg per day) for 21 days before inducing gastric ulcers by oral administration with indomethacin (30 mg/kg). Unulcerated and untreated healthy rats were used as controls. Effects of the treatment were assessed based on the ulcer index, histological and pathological examinations, and indicators of inflammation, which were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Transcriptomic analysis was performed for identifying potential pharmacological mechanisms. Eventually, after identifying potential target genes, the latter were validated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). After pretreatment with MD-4, gastric ulcers, along with other histopathological features, were reduced. MD-4 significantly (p < 0.05) increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in ulcers and reduced pepsin, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. RNA-seq analysis identified a number of target genes on which MD-4 could potentially act. Many of these genes were involved in pathways that were linked to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses, and other protective mechanisms for the gastric mucosa. qRT-PCR showed that altered expression of the selected genes, such as Srm, Ryr-1, Eno3, Prkag3, and Eef1a2, was consistent with the transcriptome results. MD-4 exerts protective effects against IND-induced gastric ulcers by reducing inflammatory cytokines and pepsin and increasing the expression of SOD levels. Downregulation of Srm, Ryr-1, Eno3, Prkag3, and Eef1a2 genes involved in regulating arginine and proline metabolism, calcium signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, oxytocin signaling pathway, and legionellosis are possibly involved in MD-4-mediated protection against gastric ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids from Allium mongolicum Regel (AMR) have immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel on sheep peripheral blood lymphocytes is still unknown. In this study, we found that total flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel reduced the apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in sheep, increased the cell cycle progression to the G2/M phase, and promoted mitosis. These molecules inhibited mRNA expression of the apoptosis-related gene STAT1, indicating that the flavonoids alter JAK-STAT signalling and through this classical pathway inhibit cell apoptosis. The bioactive effects are predominantly related to the structure of flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel, and the 55% elution group, which contained rutin, quercetin, and mignonette element -5-0-glucose-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, compounds found in plants, was the most effective. The effects were the strongest at a flavonoid concentration of 100μg/ml. In conclusion, the present study showed that flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel inhibited the expression of STAT1 mRNA, reduced the apoptosis of sheep peripheral blood lymphocytes and promoted cell cycle progression. They also increased the proportion of cells in the G2/M phase. Our findings confirmed a novel role of flavonoids from A. mongolicum Regel in regulating immune function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruda-6 (RD-6), a typical traditional Mongolian medicine formulae consisting of 6 herbs, has been traditionally used in treating gastric disorders. Even though it has been shown to protect against gastric ulcers (GU) in animal models, the gut microbiome and serum metabololite-related mechanisms that prevent GU are not well understood. This study was conducted to evaluate the gastroprotective mechanism of RD-6 associated with the alteration of the gut microbiome and serum metabolic profiles in GU rats. RD-6 (0.27, 1.35 and 2.7 g/kg) or ranitidine (40 mg/kg) were orally administered in rats for three weeks before the induction of gastric ulcer using indomethacin (30 mg/kg, single oral dose). The gastric ulcer index, ulcer area, H&E staining, and the levels of TNF-α, iNOS, MPO and MDA were quantified to evaluate the ulcer inhibitory effects of RD-6. Then, 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with LC-MS metabolic profiling was performed to investigate the effect of RD-6 on the gut microbiota and serum metabolites in rats. Moreover, a spearman analysis was used to calculate the correlation coefficient between the different microbiota and the metabolites. RD-6 inhibited the gastric lesion damage caused by indomethacin in rats, decreased the ulcer index by 50.29% (p < 0.05), reduced the levels of TNF-α, iNOS, MDA and MPO in gastric tissue. Additionally, RD-6 reshaped the diversity and microbial composition, and reversed the reduced bacteria including [ Eubacterium ]_ xylanophilum group , Sellimonas , Desulfovibrio , and UCG-009 , and the increased bacteria Aquamicrobium caused by indomethacin induction. Furthermore, RD-6 regulated the levels of metabolites including amino acids and organic acids, and these affected metabolites were involved in taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and tryptophan metabolism. Spearman analysis revealed that the perturbed gut microbiota were closely related to the changes in differential serum metabolites. In view of the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC-MS metabolic results, the present study suggests the mechanism of RD-6 ameliorating GU via modulating intestinal microbiota and their metabolites. [Display omitted] • RD-6 notably alleviated gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin. • RD-6 ameliorated the levels of inflammatory responses and oxidant stress factors. • RD-6 reshaped the diversity, microbial composition and the abundance of the gut microbiota. • RD-6 regulated the levels of serum metabolites, including amino acids and organic acids, which were involved in regulating taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and tryptophan metabolism. • Gastroprotective mechanisms of RD-6 may be linked to the regulation of the gut microbiome and its associated metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are progressively affecting vineyard longevity and productivity worldwide. To be able to understand and combat these diseases, we need a different concept of the signals exchanged between the grapevine and fungi than the well-studied pathogen-associated molecular pattern and effector concepts. We screened extracts from fungi associated with GTDs for their association with basal defence responses in suspension cells of grapevine. By activity-guided fractionation of the two selected extracts, O -methylmellein was identified as a candidate modulator of grapevine immunity. O -Methylmellein could not induce immune responses by itself (i.e. does not act as an elicitor), but could amplify some of the defence responses triggered by the bacterial elicitor flg22, such as the induction level of defence genes and actin remodelling. These findings show that Eutypa lata , exemplarily selected as an endophytic fungus linked with GTDs, can secrete compounds that act as amplifiers of basal immunity. Thus, in addition to elicitors that can trigger basal immunity, and effectors that down-modulate antibacterial basal immunity, once it had been activated, E. lata seems to secrete a third type of chemical signal that amplifies basal immunity and may play a role in the context of consortia of mutually competing microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data of this paper mainly include statistics, field survey data and MODIS remote sensing image data. This paper estimates the aboveground biomass of grassland and theoretical livestock carrying capacity of natural grassland in Hangjin Banner ad draws a grass - live-stock balance tale in accordance with the actual and theoretical livestock carrying capacity of natural grassland. Studies have shown that the grass and livestock balance is good in Hangin Banner, and the overloading rate is 1.5%; there was no overloading in 2010 and 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• BC/ZnO nanocomposite strengthens paper and improves aging resistance. • The nanocomposite imparts antifungal properties to paper. • The nanocomposite helps in deacidification of paper. Paper, commonly used as an information carrier, can become acidified and brittle over time. In this study, 0.3 % bacterial cellulose (BC) composite with 1.0% zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles was prepared and used to coat brittle book paper for deacidification and consolidation. The BC/ZnO nanocomposite was characterized using zeta potential, micro morphology, elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectra, Fourier transform infrared, and thermogravimetric analyses. The results indicated that the composite exhibited good stability. ZnO nanoparticles were bonded to the hydroxyl groups on BC, enhancing the thermal stability of BC. The composite was uniformly sprayed on the paper surface, and the mechanical properties, color difference, readability, pH, and micromorphology of the paper samples were examined before and after the treatment. The BC/ZnO nanocomposite exhibited good deacidification and consolidation effects on paper samples with low impact on the original paper appearance. Moreover, the BC/ZnO nanocomposite showed a good inhibitory effect on fungi growth on paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nakai (IC) is a folk medicinal herb used in Mongolian medical clinics for the treatment of hepatitis and fatty liver diseases even though its pharmacological mechanism has not been well characterized. This study investigated the hepatoprotective mechanism of IC on mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by integrating gut microbiota and metabolomic analysis. A high-fat diet (HFD) was used to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, after which the mice were treated with oral IC (0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg) for 10 weeks. HFD induced NAFLD and the therapeutic effects were characterized by pathological and histological evaluations, and the serum indicators were analyzed by ELISA. The gut microbial and metabolite profiles were studied by 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomic analysis, respectively. The results showed that the administration of IC resulted in significant decreases in body weight; liver index; serum biomarkers such as ALT, TG, and LDL-C; and the liver inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that administration of IC extract altered both the composition and abundance of the gut microbiota. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of liver samples detected a total of 212 metabolites, of which 128 were differentially expressed between the HFD and IC group. IC was found to significantly alter the levels of metabolites such as L-glutamic acid, pyridoxal, ornithine, L-aspartic acid, D-proline, and N4-acetylaminobutanal, which are involved in the regulation of glutamine and glutamate, Vitamin B6 metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolic pathways. Correlation analysis indicated that the effects of the IC extract on metabolites were associated with alterations in the abundance of Akkermansiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Muribaculaceae. Our study revealed that IC has a potential hepatoprotective effect in NAFLD and that its function might be linked to improvements in the composition of gut microbiota and their metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-base substitution may affect the function of genes. This study identified a single-base substitution of G for A in codon 148 of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A/p16) by sequencing human ovarian cancer cell line UACC-1598. As a tumor suppressor gene, the expression of CDKN2A/p16 should be strictly controlled. In order to control CDKN2A/p16 gene expression, an inducible pTUNE vector system was selected. Using recombinant DNA technology, a CDKN2A/p16-A148T and CDKN2A/p16-wi ld-type gene expression system was successfully constructed to investigate whether this single-base substitution affects the function of CDKN2A/p16. For the wild-type and the mutant, expression of CDKN2A/p16-green fluorescent protein fusion protein increased markedly following isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside induction, and was accompanied by signiicant G1 arrest in the transfected human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cell line. The inducible vectors used in this study, CDKN2A/p16-wild-type and CDKN2A/p16-A148T open reading frame, may be useful for further investigation into whether this somatic mutation could alter the function of CDKN2A/p16 as a tumor suppressor gene. In summary, CDKN2A/p16-A148T was identified in ovarian cancer cells, and this single-base substitution did not affect the ability of CDKN2A/p16 to arrest the cell cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ accurate data sets of leaf area index (LAI), above‐ground biomass (AGB), and fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR) are indispensable to validate and improve ecological products obtained from satellites. In situ data for satellite validation must be created not from a single‐point data but from areal data (such as multiple‐points data) representing a satellite footprint. Using multiple‐points data, the error of in situ data can be calculated statistically. The quantification of the error in the in situ data enables us to evaluate the discrepancy between the satellites' products and the in situ data as the error in the in situ data and the estimation error in the products separately. Besides, the accuracy of the in situ data is required to be much higher than the accuracy of the satellite products which was officially set. To obtain such in situ data, we have established observation sites for typical land cover types in East Asia, from temperate to cool ecosystems: deciduous needle‐leaved forest (DNF), evergreen needle‐leaved forest (ENF), deciduous broad‐leaved forest (DBF), and grassland (GL). We conducted the observations in 500 m × 500 m areas, which is the footprint scale of the Global Change Observation Mission‐Climate satellite. In this paper, the data of LAI, AGB, and fAPAR observed at DNF, DBF, and GL (i.e., except at ENF) are reported. These data are useful even for the validation of other satellite products, especially with higher spatial resolution. Also, the long‐term tree census data from 2005 to 2018 at DNF are reported. The complete data set for this abstract published in the Data Paper section of the journal is available in electronic format in MetaCat in JaLTER at http://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2020-16.1/jalter-en. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To validate and to improve ecological products obtained from satellites, such as a leaf area index (LAI), above‐ground biomass (AGB), and a fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR), in‐situ accurate data are indispensable. They must be not a single point‐data but an areal data representing the satellite footprint. Their accuracy needs to be much higher than the required accuracy for the satellite products. The quantitative assessment of their error is necessary for evaluating the satellite products' error from the discrepancy between the satellite products and the in‐situ data. However, such data had not been available. In particular, there had been few data of LAI in a sparse evergreen needle‐leaved forest, because of difficulty of accuracy control of in‐situ observation in such a forest. To overcome the difficulty and to obtain the representative LAI, we made an allometric equation to estimate the leaf mass of Picea glehnii in northern Hokkaido. We report the allometric equations of leaf mass and AGB of P. glehnii, its leaf mass per area (LMA), its leaf life span, its leaf distribution, its crown shapes, its wood specific gravity, and tree locations. We also report LAI, AGB, and fAPAR within the 500 m × 500 m area, which is the footprint scale of the Global Change Observation Mission‐Climate satellite, in a pure and sparse forest of P. glehnii in northern Hokkaido. These precise data are useful for validation of other satellite data, especially with higher spatial resolution, and forest structure modeling. The complete data set for this abstract published in the Data Paper section of the journal is available in electronic format in MetaCat in JaLTER at http://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2020-06.1/jalter-en. [Correction added on 7 September 2020, after first online publication: JaLTER URL has been updated.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Oat grass supplementation (OS) increased body weight and carcass weight of sheep, and decreased carcass fat. • OS increased the levels of muscle metabolites with favorable taste attributes in high quality mutton. • OS increased muscle levels of amino acids that are contributed to better quality and flavorsome mutton. • OS of Small-tail Han sheep is an effective approach to improve meat quality and taste by increasing the level of beneficial muscle metabolites. Oat supplementation of the ruminant diet can improve growth performance and meat quality traits, but the role of muscle metabolites has not been evaluated. This study aimed to establish whether oat grass supplementation (OS) of Small-tail Han sheep improved growth performance and muscle tissue metabolites that are associated with better meat quality and flavor. After 90-day, OS fed sheep had higher live-weight and carcass-weight, and lower carcass fat. Muscle metabolomics analysis showed that OS fed sheep had higher levels of taurine, l -carnitine, inosine-5′-monophospgate, cholic acid, and taurocholic acid, which are primarily involved in taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, purine metabolism, and bile acid biosynthesis and secretion, decreased fat accumulation and they promote functional or flavor metabolites. OS also increased muscle levels of amino acids that are attributed to better quality and flavorsome mutton. These findings provided further evidence for supplementing sheep with oat grass to improve growth performance and meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, we propose an effective route to obtain large recoverable strain, purely electrostrictive effects and high energy-storage density by inducing defect dipoles into Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT)-based relaxor ferroelectrics. It has been found that pinched and double polarization hysteresis loops with high maximum polarization (Pmax) and negligible remanent polarization (Pr) can be observed due to the presence of acceptor-induced defect dipoles. A large recoverable strain of 0.24% with very little hysteresis and high electrostriction coefficient of 0.022 m4C2 with purely electrostrictive characteristics were acquired when 11 mol. ‰ Mn-doped. Meanwhile, a high recoverable energy density of 1.06 J/cm3 with excellent temperature stability was obtained at the same composition owing to the enlarged value of Pmax-Pr (36.8 µC/cm2) and relatively high electric field (95 kV/cm). Our achievement can open up the exciting opportunities for ferroelectric materials in high-precision positioning devices and high electric power pulse energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Ti films with certain thickness were deposited on a polished AlN ceramic substrates by direct current magnetron sputtering at room temperature (RT) and 400 °C, respectively. After deposition, the samples were annealed at 600 °C for 1 h in the mixture gases of argon and hydrogen atmosphere. The microstructure of the Ti films and interface reaction products between Ti/AlN were investigated using X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of deposition temperature on the microstructure and grain orientation of Ti films were studied. It is found that the decomposition of AlN would mainly take place at the AlN/Ti interface during the heat-treated process. After annealing, Al and N react with Ti to produce AlTi 3 N in the film deposited at 400 °C, while TiN 0.3 be formed if deposited at RT. The subsequent rolling-contact-fatigue test proved that after annealing at 600 °C for 1 h, the adhesion strength of Ti/AlN interface deposited at 400 °C is superior to that deposited at RT. • Ti films with different microstructures were prepared on AlN ceramic substrate. • Ti film deposited at 400 °C react with AlN to produce AlTi 3 N after annealing. • The AlTi 3 N distribution in Ti film has better adhesion strength compared with TiN 0.3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]