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Background Serine/threonine kinase 3 (AKT3) is a protein-coding gene that is associated with several cattle immune diseases including different tumors and cancers. The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in structures and functions of AKT3 of cow and buffalo cattle. Methods The sequence differences of gene-coding sequence (CDS) and core promoter region of AKT3 in cow and buffalo were analyzed by using bioinformatics tools and PCR sequencing. Also, the functional analysis of promoter regulating gene expression by RT-PCR was performed using 500 Holstein cows and buffalos. And, evaluation of AKT3 inflammatory response to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mastitis was performed between both species. Results The results revealed the variation in 6 exons out of 13 exons of the two species of CDS. Also, 4 different regions in 3-kb promoters of the AKT3 gene were significantly different between cow and buffalo species, in which cow’s AKT3 promoter sequence region was started from − 371 to − 1247, while in buffalo, the sequence was started from − 371 to − 969 of the promoter crucial region. Thus, the promoter was overexpressed in cows compared to buffaloes. As a result, significant differences (P < 0.05) between the two species in the AKT3 gene expression level related to the LPS stimulation in their mammary epithelial cell line. Conclusions This study emphasized the great importance of the structural differences of AKT3 between the animal species on their different responses against immune diseases like mastitis.

BackgroundMastitis is one of the major diseases causing economic loss to the dairy industry by reducing the quantity and quality of milk. Thus, the objective of this scientific study was to find new biomarkers based on genes for the early prediction before its severity.MethodsIn the present study, advanced bioinformatics including hierarchical clustering, enrichment analysis, active site prediction, epigenetic analysis, functional domain identification, and protein docking were used to analyze the important genes that could be utilized as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for mastitis.ResultsFour differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in different regions of the mammary gland (teat cistern, gland cistern, lobuloalveolar, and Furstenberg’s rosette) that resulted in 453, 597, 577, and 636 DEG, respectively. Also, 101 overlapped genes were found by comparing 27 different expressed genes. These genes were associated with eight immune response pathways including NOD-like receptor signaling pathway (IL8, IL18, IL1B, PYDC1) and chemokine signaling pathway (PTK2, IL8, NCF1, CCR1, HCK). Meanwhile, 241 protein-protein interaction networks were developed among overlapped genes. Fifty-seven regulatory events were found between miRNAs, expressed genes, and the transcription factors (TFs) through micro-RNA and transcription factors (miRNA-DEG-TF) regulatory network. The 3D structure docking model of the expressed genes proteins identified their active sites and the binding ligands that could help in choosing the appropriate feed or treatment for affected animals.ConclusionsThe novelty of the distinguished DEG and their pathways in this study is that they can precisely improve the detection biomarkers and treatments techniques of cows’Escherichia colimastitis disease due to their high affinity with the target site of the mammary gland before appearing the symptoms.Graphical abstract

As an important member of the dielectric family, ferroelectric materials are known for their various physical properties and have been attracted considerable attention from both scientific respect and technology respect. Piezoelectricity is one of the most important properties of ferroelectrics, which has been widely used in many devices for the conversion between electric energy and mechanical energy. For example, the main piezoelectric elements of underwater acoustic transducers, medical imaging systems, piezoelectric actuators, etc., are all ferroelectrics. In this paper, the history of the piezoelectric effect in lead-based perovskite ferroelectrics is introduced, and the relationship among the microstructure, the state of polarization and the piezoelectricity is discussed. In addition, we introduce some important factors for optimizing the piezoelectricity of ferroelectrics, such as morphotropic phase boundary, soft doping, polarization rotation, local structural heterogeneity, etc. It is expected that this paper could shed light on the future design of ferroelectric materials with various functionalities.

// Faheem Ahmed Khan 1 , Nuruliarizki Shinta Pandupuspitasari 1 , Huang Chun-Jie 1 , Zhou Ao 1 , Muhammad Jamal 2 , Ali Zohaib 3 , Farhan Ahmed Khan 4 , Muthia Raihana Hakim 5 and Zhang ShuJun 1 1 Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China 2 State Key Laboratory of Agriculture Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China 3 Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China 4 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan 5 Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science And Technology, Wuhan, China Correspondence to: Zhang ShuJun, email: // Keywords : CRISPR/Cas9, genetic diseases, cancer, genome editing, next generation sequencing Received : March 12, 2016 Accepted : May 19, 2016 Published : May 26, 2016 Abstract Cancer is caused by a series of alterations in genome and epigenome mostly resulting in activation of oncogenes or inactivation of cancer suppressor genes. Genetic engineering has become pivotal in the treatment of cancer and other genetic diseases, especially the formerly-niche use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) associated with Cas9. In defining its superior use, we have followed the recent advances that have been made in producing CRISPR/Cas9 as a therapy of choice. We also provide important genetic mutations where CRISPRs can be repurposed to create adaptive immunity to fight carcinomas and edit genetic mutations causing it. Meanwhile, challenges to CRISPR technology are also discussed with emphasis on ability of pathogens to evolve against CRISPRs. We follow the recent developments on the function of CRISPRs with different carriers which can efficiently deliver it to target cells; furthermore, analogous technologies are also discussed along CRISPRs, including zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs). Moreover, progress in clinical applications of CRISPR therapeutics is reviewed; in effect, patients can have lower morbidity and/or mortality from the therapeutic method with least possible side-effects.

Piezoelectric functional materials have been extensively studied and employed in numerous devices. With the rapid development of modern industries, such as power plants, aerospace, automotive, renewable energy and material processing industries, the high temperature piezoelectric materials that can work in extreme environments are in great demand. Piezoelectric materials including piezoelectric single crystals, ceramics and films, are at the heart of electromechanical actuation and sensing devices. A variety of applications where piezoelectric actuators and sensors operate at elevated temperatures (T 200℃) would be extremely desired. The actuators need to work efficiently with high strokes, torques, and forces while operating under relatively harsh conditions. These include high-temperature fans and turbines, motors for valves or natural gas industries, kiln automation, and actuators for automotive engines such as fuel injectors and cooling system elements. Yet, the majority of industrial actuator applications are at or below the 250℃ temperature limit. In addition to the increase in operational temperatures of piezoelectric motors and actuators, a future area of interest is high-temperature MEMS research, which can be used for high-temperature valving. On the other hand, the piezoelectric sensors have been widely used for structural health monitoring applications. This is due to their wide bandwidth, versatility, simplicity, high rigidity, high stability, high reproducibility, fast response time, wide operating temperature range, insensitivity to electric and magnetic fields, the capacity for miniaturization and minimal dependence on moving parts and low power consumption, and wide piezoelectric materials and mechanisms selections, which will greatly benefit the sensing applications. In addition to the temperature usage range, the piezoelectric sensors must withstand the harsh environments encountered in space, engine, power plants, and also need to possess high sensitivity, resistivity, reliability, stability and robustness. In order to use the piezoelectric materials for a specific high temperature application, many aspects need to be considered together with piezoelectric properties, such as phase transition, thermal aging, thermal expansion, chemical stability, electrical resistivity, and the stability of properties at elevated temperature. In this paper, ferroelectric materials with high Curie point, including perovskite-type ferroelectrics, bismuth layer structured ferroelectrics, tungsten-bronze structured ferroelectrics, together with non-ferroelectric piezoelectric single crystals, are surveyed. The crystal structure characteristics, high temperature piezoelectric properties, and recent research progress are discussed. A series of high temperature piezoelectric devices and their applications are reviewed, including high temperature piezoelectric detectors, sensors, transducers, actuators, etc. Finally, recent important research topics, the future development of high temperature piezoelectric materials and the potential new applications are summarized.

Oxoborate crystal SmCa 4 O(BO 3 ) 3 (SmCOB) has been grown by the Czochralski (CZ) method for the first time. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) of sintered material and single crystal were performed at room temperature. The DSC experiment showed that SmCOB melts congruently at 1397°C. The data of thermal expansion coefficients along X , Y and Z direction have been measured to be 1.03×10 −5 , 3.8×10 −6 and 8.2×10 −6 K −1 , respectively. The specific heat of the crystal as been measured to be 66 cal/mol K at 300 K. The linear optical properties of SmCOB crystal are reported. The measured transmittance spectra from 400 to 2600 nm showed that the crystal has strong absorption peaks which are anisotropic along different crystallophysic axes in the range of 900–1700 nm.

New nonlinear optical crystals GdCa4O(BO3)3 grown by the Czochralski method in a platinum crucible under air atmosphere are reported in this paper. The growth mechanism is a typical two-dimensional nucleation layer growth. The twin and inclusion defects of this crystal are observed using optical microscopy. The incidence of twinning is in good agreement with Hurle's model. The approaches to reduce and eliminate the defects are presented.

(Na0.52K0.44Li0.04)Nb0.9-xSbxTa0.1O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics are prepared by a solid-state reaction method. With increasing Sb content, the transition temperature from orthorhombic to tetragonal polymorphic phase decreased. A composition (Na0.52K0.44Li0.04)Nb0.863Sb0.037Ta0.1O3 is found to possess excellent piezo-electric and electromechanical performances (d33 = 306 pC/N, kp = 48%, and kt = 50%), and high Curie temperature (TC = 320°C). These results indicate that (Na0.52K0.44Li0.04)Nb0.863Sb0.037Ta0.1O3 is a promising lead-free piezoceramics replacement for lead zirconate titanate.