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Background: The composition and content of fatty acids in the breast muscle are important factors influencing meat quality. In this study, we investigated the fatty acid composition and content in the breast muscle of Gushi chickens at different developmental stages (14 weeks, 22 weeks, and 30 weeks). Additionally, we utilized transcriptomic data from the same tissue and employed WGCNA and module identification methods to identify key genes associated with the fatty acid composition in Gushi chicken breast muscle and elucidate their regulatory networks. Results: Among them, six modules (blue, brown, green, light yellow, purple, and red modules) showed significant correlations with fatty acid content and metabolic characteristics. Enrichment analysis revealed that these modules were involved in multiple signaling pathways related to fatty acid metabolism, including fatty acid metabolism, PPAR signaling pathway, and fatty acid biosynthesis. Through analysis of key genes, we identified 136 genes significantly associated with fatty acid phenotypic traits. Protein–protein interaction network analysis revealed that nine of these genes were closely related to fatty acid metabolism. Additionally, through correlation analysis of transcriptome data, we identified 51 key ceRNA regulatory networks, including six central genes, 7 miRNAs, and 28 lncRNAs. Conclusion: This study successfully identified key genes closely associated with the fatty acid composition in Gushi chicken breast muscle, as well as their post-transcriptional regulatory networks. These findings provide new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the flavor characteristics of chicken meat and the composition of fatty acids in the breast muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development of abdominal fat and meat quality are closely related and can impact economic efficiency. In this study, we conducted transcriptome sequencing of the abdominal fat tissue of Gushi chickens at 6, 14, 22, and 30 weeks, and selected key miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks related to abdominal fat development through correlation analysis. Results: A total of 1893 differentially expressed genes were identified. Time series analysis indicated that at around 6 weeks, the development of chicken abdominal fat was extensively regulated by the TGF-β signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and PPAR signaling pathway. However, at 30 weeks of age, the apoptosis signaling pathway was the most significant, and correlation analysis revealed several genes highly correlated with abdominal fat development, including Fatty Acid Binding Protein 5 (FABP5). Based on miRNA transcriptome data, it was discovered that miR-122-5p is a potential target miRNA for FABP5. Cell experiments showed that miR-122-5p can directly target FABP5 to promote the differentiation of preadipocytes. Conclusion: The present study confirms that the key gene FABP5 and its target gene miR-122-5p are critical regulatory factors in the development of chicken abdominal fat. These results provide new insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms associated with the development of abdomen-al fat in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The diatom assemblages are closely correlated with the environmental variables. • Three assemblages are distinguished with different hydrological characteristics. • Important for palaeoceanographic studies in the northern and middle Okinawa Trough. Determining the relationship between diatoms in surface sediments and the local sedimentary environment is important for paleoenvironmental reconstruction, including in marine settings. In this study, we used canonical correspondence analysis of 41 surface sediment samples from the northern and middle Okinawa Trough to analyze the relationship between diatom species and environmental variables. The principal results are as follows. (i) The diatom assemblages are closely correlated with the environmental variables, specifically, July sea surface salinity (SSS-Jul), February sea surface temperature (SST-Feb), and June sea surface temperature (SST-Jun). (ii) Three diatom assemblages are distinguished, representing environments with different hydrological characteristics. The high-temperature diatom assemblage may indicate a warm-water mass (the Kuroshio Current), and the polyhaline diatom assemblage can be used as an indicator of a high salinity water mass. The mixed diatom assemblage is associated with the warm-water masses of the Kuroshio Current, and shelf water masses with a low salinity and low temperature. (iii) The high-temperature and mixed diatom assemblages occur on the boundary of the continental shelf and Okinawa Trough, and are temperature sensitive; the high-temperature assemblage is located further upstream of the Kuroshio Current, indicating higher temperatures. Changes in the distribution of the polyhaline diatom assemblage within sediment cores can be regarded as an indicator of changes in water masses, and of possible salinity variations, in this area. These three assemblages are potentially important for future palaeoceanographic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite capable of infecting a large number of warm-blooded animals and causes serious health complications in immunocompromised patients. T. gondii infection of the feline small intestine is critical for the completion of the life cycle and transmission of T. gondii. Protein acetylation is an important posttranslational modification, which plays roles in the regulation of various cellular processes. Therefore, understanding of how T. gondii reprograms the protein acetylation status of feline definitive host can help to thwart the production and spread of T. gondii. Here, we used affinity enrichment and high-resolution liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to profile the alterations of the acetylome in cat small intestine 10 days after infection by T. gondii Prugniuad (Pru) strain. Our analysis showed that T. gondii induced significant changes in the acetylation of proteins in the cat intestine. We identified 2606 unique lysine acetylation sites in 1357 acetylated proteins. The levels of 334 acetylated peptides were downregulated, while the levels of 82 acetylated peptides were increased in the infected small intestine. The proteins with differentially acetylated peptides were particularly enriched in the bioenergetics-related processes, such as tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and oxidation-reduction. These results provide the first baseline of the global acetylome of feline small intestine following T. gondii infection and should facilitate further analysis of the role of acetylated protein in the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection in its definitive host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new metal–organic frameworks [Mn 3 (MMA) 2 (INA) 2 ] n ( 1 ) and [Cu 2 (FA)(INA) 3 (H 2 O)] n ( 2 , FA = formate) were prepared solvothermally by using mixed methylmalonic acid (H 2 MMA) and isonicotinic acid (HINA) as the initial reactants. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that complex 1 has a 3D framework structure consisting of 2D [Mn 3 ] layer units and INA connector, and 2 owns a 2D pillar-layered structure constituted of mononuclear-Cu(II)-based 2D layer unit and paddle-wheel dinuclear Cu(II) cluster-based pillared linker, which further interspersed with each other to form a 3-fold interpenetrated framework with a (4 8 .6 2 )- SP topology. The magnetic studies show that 1 displays antiferromagnetic ordering at low temperature, and a strong antiferromagnetic interaction exists in 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-noise pavements, particularly polyurethane pavements with sound absorption and vibration reduction characteristics, are an effective way to reduce traffic noise. However, the noise reduction performance of polyurethane porous elastic mixtures (PPEM) gradually deteriorates owing to void clogging and thermal-oxidative aging. This study investigates and characterizes the noise reduction performance of PPEM influenced by these factors. The tire noise reduction performance of a prepared PPEM was measured based on void-clogging, thermal-oxidative aging, and tire noise tests. The results indicate that the pavement performance of the PPEM meets the Chinese specification requirements, and its dynamic stability can be up to 120,000 times/mm. The void ratio was found to be the most important factor affecting the noise reduction performance of the mixture, and, at a constant void ratio, the PPEM outperformed a porous asphalt concrete mixture. With increased thermal-oxidative aging time, the noise reduction performance of the PPEM first increases and then decreases and is likely to gradually decrease owing to the aging of polyurethane and crumb rubber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent breathable polyurethane (PU) that is easily allowable for vapor transmission at critical temperature would have significant implication for numerous applications; however, fabrication of such materials has proven to be tremendously challenging. Herein, we reported novel breathable polyurethane material covalently modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). When an optimal amount of CNTs (0.5 wt%) was added, the resultant PU film presented high waterproofness with hydrostatic pressure up to 10.9 kPa, as well as enhanced mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 22.2 kPa and elongation at break of 990%. This smart PU film has a significant increase in water vapor transmission rate between 18°C (1400 g/(m2·d)) and 38°C (3440 g/(m2·d)). The type of intelligent polyurethane material is a promising candidate for applications in areas such as protective clothing, separator media, and wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this work, a versatile multi-dentate 1,2-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)hydrazine (L) ligand has been employed to construct three novel iron(II) coordination complexes, [Fe(L) 2 (NCS) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·2H 2 O ( 1 ), [Fe(L)(NCS) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] ( 2 ) and {[Fe(L) 2 (NCS) 2 ]·2CH 3 OH} n ( 3 ) (NH 4 NCS = ammonium thiocyanate), which can be isolated under similar synthetic conditions, only different molar ratio of metal/ligand or different solvent systems are used. 1 is a mono-nuclear iron(II) coordination complex, and 2 is a one-dimensional (1D) iron(II) coordination complex, while 3 is a 2D micro-porous iron(II) framework with the channel dimensionality of 13.936(3) Å × 13.936(3) Å. PXRD patterns also confirm the purity of the bulky samples of 1 – 3 . For 1 – 3 , it represents the first example of solvent-induced drastic reversible dynamic conformation between different dimensional iron(II) coordination complexes 1 (0D), 2 (1D) and 3 (2D) (for 1 : water; for 2 : benzene; for 3 : methanol/acetone/acetonitrile), which are unambiguously confirmed by PXRD characterizations. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data of 2 – 3 have been recorded in the 2–300 K temperature range, indicating weak antiferromagnetic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel three-dimensional europium metal-organic framework (Eu-MOF), [Eu(L)(OAc)(DMA)] n ( 1 ), has been successfully obtained based on a newly designed ligand 4′-(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)-4,2′:6′,4″-terpyridine (H 2 L). The structure of 1 was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique, and structure analysis shows that two Eu 3 + in 1 are 4-fold bridged by two η 1 :η 1 :μ 2 carboxylates from L 2 − and the other two η 1 :η 2 :μ 2 carboxylates from acetic acid, respectively. The binuclear [Eu 2 ] were further linked by L 2 − to form a 3D framework. The investigations on luminescent properties reveal that 1 can detect Al 3 + quickly with relatively high sensitivity and selectivity. More importantly, it displays high thermal and solvent stability. Additionally, a self-made fluorescence test paper fabricated based on 1 was used to detect Al 3 + in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnitude, direction and cause of precipitation changes across the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP) during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) remain elusive. In particular, it is still inconclusive whether tropical or extra-tropical factors controlled such precipitation changes. Determining the spatio-temporal distribution of precipitation in the IPWP during the LGM is a valid strategy to address this issue, but the existing precipitation records are dominantly from maritime continents and marginal seas, with few data from pelagic oceans. In order to fill this gap, we analyzed the oxygen isotopic compositions of single Ethmodiscus rex diatom frustules (δ18O E. rex) from a sediment core (WPD-03) consisting of laminated diatom mats (LDMs) in the eastern Philippine Sea (EPS). δ18O E. rex was controlled mainly by sea-surface salinity variation and, thus, can reflect open-ocean precipitation changes across the IPWP. Our precipitation proxy records, in combination with existing published data, reveal spatial patterns of precipitation change that indicate overall drying across the IPWP during the LGM. Based on a comparison of paleoclimatic records with modeling results, we propose that extra-tropical factors (ice-sheet size) controlled precipitation variability in the IPWP during the LGM through a combination of zonal shifts of ENSO and meridional migration of the ITCZ. Strong aridity during the LGM prevented formation of a subsurface barrier layer and, hence, allowed accessing of sufficient nutrients to surface waters, stimulating blooms of E. rex and subsequent formation of LDMs in the IPWP. These findings suggest an important role for high-latitude climate in the tropical hydrological cycle during the LGM. • Proxy records for precipitation in the IPWP during the LGM were compiled. • First δ18O records of individual diatom species E. rex from IPWP were generated. • E. rex δ18O indicates reduced precipitation in Eastern Philippine Sea during LGM. • Spatial distribution patterns suggest overall drying over IPWP during LGM. • Increased ice-sheet size ultimate cause of intensified aridity over IPWP during LGM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two nickel(II) complexes were synthesized and structurally as well as magnetically characterized by using two positional isomeric nitronyl nitroxide radical ligands and H3cda as co-ligand: [Ni(NIToPy)(cda)]H2O ·CH3OH ( 1) and [Ni(IM4Py)2(cda)H2O] ( 2) [NIToPy = 2-(3′-pyridinyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazolyl-1-oxyl-3-oxide; IM4Py = 2-(4′-pyridinyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-l-oxyl; H3cda = 4-hydroxypyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid]. Single-crystal structures analyses show that both complexes have similar mononuclear structures, in which the central NiII ions are hexacoordinated with a distorted octahedral arrangement. The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 were studied, and antiferromagnetic interactions between NiII ion and radicals are observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three multi-dentate 1, 2,4-triazole derivative ligands containing different 4-substituted groups, namely N-1, 2,4-triazol-4-yl(pyridin-3-yl)methylenimine (L1), N-1, 2,4-triazol- 4-yl(pyridin-4-yl)methylenimine (L2), and 4-(2-pyridine)-1, 2,4-triazole (L3) were used to isolate five iron(II) and zinc(II) coordination frameworks, [Zn(μ2-L1)Cl2] ( 1), [Zn(μ2-L2)Br2] ( 2), [Fe(L1)2(NCS)2(H2O)2] ( 3), [Fe(L3)2(dca)2(H2O)2] ( 4), and [Fe(L3)2(μ2-dca)] ( 5) (dca = dicyanamide anion). When different zinc(II) salts were used to react with L1 and L2 under solvothermal conditions, two one-dimensional (1D) zinc(II) coordination frameworks 1 and 2 containing four-coordinate central zinc(II) atoms were isolated. 1 is a 3D achiral supra-molecular framework, whereas 2 is a 3D chiral supra-molecular framework containing helical chains on a 21 axis. 3 is a mono-nuclear iron(II) coordination framework containing six-coordinate central FeII atoms. When L3 was employed, mono-nuclear iron(II) framework 4 and 1D iron(II) chain 5 could be isolated when different amounts of Nadca were introduced into the reaction system. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data of 3- 5 were recorded in the 2-300 K temperature range indicating weak anti-ferromagnetic interactions. The solid-state luminescent properties of coordination polymers 1 and 2 were also investigated at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three Ln–Na heterometallic 3D polymers based on sulfate anion, [LnNa(SO 4 ) 2 (H 2 O)] (Ln = Gd ( 1 ); Tb ( 2 ); Dy ( 3 )), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, which are the first examples of Ln–Na sulfates. These compounds crystallize in the trigonal P3 1 21 space group, and display a 6-connected sma topological structure with a Schäfli symbol of (4 10 ·6 5 ). The characteristic analyses reveal that compounds 1 – 3 display excellent thermal stability, and all exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions between the metal centers. The luminescent properties of 2 and 3 show the characteristic terbium and dysprosium luminescence. The strong luminescence in the green light ( 5 D 4 → 7 F 5 ) region for 2 and blue light ( 4 F 9/2 → 6 H 15/2 ) region for 3 indicate that they may be excellent candidates for green or blue fluorescent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several recent studies investigated the role of the miR-29 family in muscle development. However, only a few studies focused on chicken skeletal muscle. In the present study, cell cycle, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and other assays indicated that miR-29b-1-5p can inhibit the proliferation of chicken primary myoblasts (CPMs); the western blot assay and immunofluorescence detection of MYHC demonstrated that miR-29b-1-5p can promote the differentiation of myoblasts. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that the target genes of miR-29b-1-5p may be involved in muscle tissue development, muscle organ development, and striated muscle tissue development, which are biological processes related to muscle development. The correlation analysis showed that these 6 genes, that is, ankyrin repeat domain 9 ( ANKRD9 ), lactate dehydrogenase A ( LDHA ), transcription factor 12 ( TCF12 ), FAT atypical cadherin 1 ( FAT1 ), lin-9 homolog ( LIN9 ), and integrin beta 3 binding protein ( ITGB3BP ), can be used as effective candidate target genes of miR-29b-1-5p. Moreover, miR-29b-1-5p inhibits the expression of ANKRD9 by directly binding the 3′UTR of ANKRD9. Overall, these data indicate that miR-29b-1-5p inhibits the proliferation of primary chicken myoblasts, stimulates their differentiation, and is involved in the process of muscle development and that its effective target gene is ANKRD9. This study identified the molecular mechanism of miR-29b-1-5p in chicken muscle development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Multi-channel visible and near-infrared (NIR) emission transitions originating from 4G5/2 emitting state of Sm3+ in cadmium-aluminum-silicate (CAS) glasses with maximum-phonon-energy of ∼980cm−1 have been investigated. Based on the measured absorption spectrum, the Judd–Ofelt parameters Ω t (t=2, 4, 6) are derived to be 2.87×10−20, 3.34×10−20 and 1.86×10−20 cm2, respectively. From the evaluated Judd–Ofelt parameters, the radiative parameters such as spontaneous emission probabilities (A rad), branching ratios (β), and radiative lifetime (τ rad) are obtained from the 4G5/2 excited level to different lower energy levels. The efficient visible and NIR transition emissions have been observed in the Sm3+ doped CAS glasses, and the maximum stimulated emission cross-sections (σ e-max) corresponding to emission peaks are calculated and demonstrated to lay in the same order of magnitude. The quantum efficiency of 4G5/2 level of Sm3+ has been derived to be 60%. Investigations on multi-channel radiative transition emissions originated from 4G5/2 level of Sm3+ in CAS glasses expose its potential applications in tunable laser, medical light source and NIR optoelectronic devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Increasing evidence has shown that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules play fundamental roles in cells, and many are stable in body fluids as circulating RNAs. Study on these ncRNAs will provide insights into toxoplasmosis pathophysiology and/or help reveal diagnostic biomarkers. Methods: We performed a high-throughput RNA-Seq study to comprehensively profile the microRNAs (miRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in rabbit serum and urine after infection with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts during the whole infection process. Results: Total RNA extracted from serum and urine samples of acutely infected [8 days post-infection (DPI)], chronically infected (70 DPI) and uninfected rabbits were subjected to genome-wide small RNA sequencing. We identified 2089 miRNAs and 2224 novel piRNAs from the rabbit sera associated with T. gondii infection. Meanwhile, a total of 518 miRNAs and 4182 novel piRNAs were identified in the rabbit urine associated with T. gondii infection. Of these identified small ncRNAs, 1178 and 1317 serum miRNAs and 311 and 294 urine miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs in the acute and chronic stages of infections, respectively. A total of 1748 and 1814 serum piRNAs and 597 and 708 urine piRNAs were found in the acute and chronic infection stages, respectively. Of these dysregulated ncRNAs, a total of 88 common DE miRNAs and 120 DE novel piRNAs were found in both serum and urine samples of infected rabbits. Conclusions: These findings provide valuable data for revealing the physiology of herbivore toxoplasmosis caused by oocyst infection. Circulating ncRNAs identified in this study are potential novel diagnostic biomarkers for the detection/diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in herbivorous animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Three new nickel(II) complexes [Ni2(btec)(azopy)2(H2O)8]·2H2O (1), {[Ni(H2btec)(azopy)(H2O)2]·(azopy)} n (2) and {[Ni4(btec)2(azopy)3(H2O)10]·8H2O} n (3) (H4btec=1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid; azopy=4,4′-azobispyridine) have been synthesized by tuning the reaction temperature and the metal–ligand ratio. They were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. 1 shows a binuclear structure, 2 exhibits a 2D grid, and 3 features an interesting 3D framework with (63)(4.62)(42.62.82) topology formed by two types of interlocked 2D layers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The scatter of the variable load spectra is considered separately from the scatter of the aircraft structure to assess the safe-life of a fleet. Suppose the fatigue life under the specified load spectrum follows the log-normal distribution with a constant coefficient of variation, and the load spectra damage follows the log-normal distribution with a constant standard deviation, the theoretical distribution function of fatigue life of the fleet that accounts for the variability of the structure and the load spectrum is derived with the conditional probability model. Monte-Carlo simulation shows that the distribution of the fleet fatigue life can be described approximately by a log-normal distribution function, and the log expectation is the log mean life under variable load spectra and the variation equals the sum of the structural variation and the load spectra variation. The scatter factor method is then adopted to assess the safe-life. The scatter factor of the individual aircraft with definite load spectrum, as well as the scatter factor of the in-service fleet that takes the actual load scatter into consideration are listed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Under hydrothermal conditions using cis-butenedioic acid (H2L) and corresponding lead(II) salts, a three-dimensional (3D) lead(II) complex {[Pb2(L)(μ2-Cl)(μ3-Cl)]} n (1) containing 3D Pb–X–Pb (X=O and Cl) linkage has been isolated. 1 also represents a truly 3D hybrid luminescent lead(II) framework with I 3 O 0 type connectivity. Further analysis reveals that cis- and trans-conformations of butenedioic acid ligand greatly affect the lead(II) framework structure. Solid-state fluorescence spectrum of 1 exhibits the maximum emission peak at 379nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Diatoms are one of the predominant contributors to global carbon fixation by accounting for over 40% of total oceanic primary production and dominate export production. They play a significant role in marine biogeochemistry cycle. The diatom mat deposits are results of vast diatoms bloom. By analysis of diatom mats in 136°00′-140°00'E,15°00'?21°00'N, Eastern Philippines Sea, we identified the species of the diatoms as giant Ethmodiscus rex (Wallich) Hendey. AMS 14C dating shows that the sediments rich in diatom mats occurred during 16000-28600 a B.P., which means the bloom mainly occurred during the last glacial period, while there are no diatom mat deposits in other layers. Preliminary analysis indicates that Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) expanded northward and brought silicate-rich water into the area, namely, silicon leakage processes caused the bloom of diatoms. In addition, the increase of iron input is one of the main reasons for the diatom bloom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of the decadentate ligand tpmen (H4tpmen = N,N,N'N'-tetrakis[(6-carboxypyridin-2-yl)methyl]ethylenediamine) with MnCl2·4H2O in aqueous solution gives a homodinuclear complex [Mn2(H2O)2(tpmen)]·16H2O, which has been characterized by elemental analysis, thermal gravimetric and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The complex crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Cmca, a = 28.786(5) Å, b = 11.5033(19) Å, c = 14.437(2) Å, Z = 8, R1 = 0.0432, wR2 = 0.0786. The tpmen ligand contains four picolinate groups, two of which bind each Mn(II) to form a dinuclear complex. The geometry around the Mn(II) is distorted octahedral with two nitrogen and two oxygen atoms from the picolinate groups and two oxygen atoms from coordinated water. The variable-temperature (2-300 K) magnetic susceptibilities shows an antiferromagnetic interaction between Mn(II) ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two copper(II)–poly(pyrazolyl)methane complexes [Cu2(bpm)4(ta)](ClO4) 2 ·2H2O 1 and {[Cu2(tpm)2(ta)2]·H2O} n 2 (bpm=bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane, tpm=tris(pyrazolyl)methane, H2ta=terephthalic acid) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and UV–vis spectra. 1 is a binuclear complex, while 2 exhibits as a 1D zigzag coordination polymer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Corticosteroid-releasing hormone (CRH) is a crucial neuroendocrine-immune factor regulating the immune response of Scylla paramamosain. To understand the regulatory mechanisms of CRH in S. paramamosain , the hemolymph of S. paramamosain with injection of CRH (1.5 ng/crab) at 24 h were chosen to perform proteomic analysis in this study. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) method was used to validate the accuracy of proteomic data at 24 h after CRH injection. The proteomic data showed that 255 DEPs were identified, in which 231 and 24 were up- or down-regulated, respectively. Besides, the results of enriched pathways showed that the DEPs were involved in signaling pathways, cellular immunity, humoral immunity and the response of immune related processes. These results revealed that CRH promoted the activation of signal transduction, regulated immune systems and antioxidation, and enhanced the immune related processes (such as protein synthesis, protein transport, carbohydrate mobilization and energy redistribution). These findings will benefit to foster the understanding on the effects of glucocorticoids on neuroendocrine-immune (NEI) networks of crustacean, and supply a substantial material and foundation for further researching of the NEI response. Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a 41-amino acid neuropeptide and has been preliminarily studied in aquatic animals. CRH can regulate many important physiological activities comprising protein synthesis, energy metabolism, growth, breeding and behavior in fish, which play an important roles in neuroendocrine-immune (NEI) regulatory network of fish. The neuroendocrine system of crustacean has a primary research, that inspired by fish NEI network. Despite the research on the neuroendocrine system in crustacean has rapidly increased in recent years, our understanding of the regulation between neuroendocrine system and immune system in crustacean is still limited. The research on the strategy of NEI network in crustaceans becomes a significant issue. In the present study, the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology approach were applied to examine the NEI network of Scylla Paramamosain. control group and treatment group (CRH: 1.5 ng/crab) were settled for the iTRAQ experiment, and sampled at 24 h after CRH injection. The study aimed to gain knowledge on the immune response in Scylla Paramamosain after CRH injection and identify related differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of the crab. The results of this study provide a preliminary resource for analysis the immune mechanism for crustaceans. In general, our work represents the first report of the utilization of the iTRAQ proteomics method for the study of NEI regulatory network in Scylla Paramamosain after CRH injection. We identified a number of DEPs involved in diverse pathways including immune signaling pathways, cellular immunity, humoral immunity, immune related process. These results demonstrated a very complex network involving immune and multiple related metabolic pathways in hemocytes of Scylla Paramamosain and will be of great value in understanding the crab neuroendocrine-immune immune mechanism. [Display omitted] • iTRAQ profiling in hemocytes of Scylla paramamosain after CRH injection. • 255 high quality proteins were differentially expressed after CRH injection. • Proteins related to immune response have a significant up or down regulation. • Some important differentially expressed proteins were verified via QPCR. • For a better understanding of immune mechanism of S. paramamosain after CRH injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better prepare and analyze bacterial cellulose-based composite hydrogels, an experimental method based on scanning electron microscopy was proposed. The specific content of the method is to observe the hydrogel through scanning electron microscope, to observe the space between molecules through experiments, and to improve the effect of bacterial cellulose preparation of hydrogel. The experimental results show that the gel preparation effect is best when PEG concentration is not more than observed by scanning electron microscope. It is better to prepare bacterial cellulose complex hydrogel by scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of H‐bonded arylamide foldamers bearing benzoselenadiazole ends with solvent‐responsive properties have been synthesized. In dichloromethane or dimethyl sulfoxide solvents, the molecules exhibit meniscus or linear structures, respectively, which can be attributed to the unique intramolecular hydrogen bonding behavior evidenced by 1D 1H NMR and 2D NOESY spectra. UV‐vis spectroscopy experiments show that the absorption wavelength of H‐bonded arylamide foldamers are significantly red‐shifted due to the presence of benzoselenadiazole group. In addition, the crystal structures reveal that effective intermolecular dual Se ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ N interactions between benzoselenadiazole groups induce further assembly of the monomers. Remarkably, supramolecular linear and double helices structures are constructed under the synergistic induction of intramolecular hydrogen bonding and intermolecular chalcogen bonding. Additionally, 2D DOSY diffusion spectra and theoretical modelling based on density functional theory (DFT) are performed to explore the persistence of intermolecular Se ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ N interactions beyond the crystalline state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a benzoselenadiazole- and pyridine-bifunctionalized hydrogen-bonded arylamide foldamer was synthesized. A co-crystallization experiment with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene showed that a new type of supramolecular double helices, which were induced by three orthogonal interactions, namely, three-center hydrogen bonding (O⋯H⋯O), I⋯N halogen bonding and Se⋯N chalcogen bonding, have been constructed in the solid state. This work presents a novel instance of multiple non-covalent interactions that work together to construct supramolecular architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Increasing confining pressure inhibits the rate of permanent strain (ε p) of UGMs. • The ε p of stable specimens initially rapidly increases and then gradually stabilizes. • The model parameter that implies the rate of ε p is strongly correlated with η and w. • A probabilistic method was proposed to predict the development range of ε p. In this study, a series of large-scale cyclic triaxial tests with different water contents (w), confining pressures (σ 3), and dynamic deviatoric stresses (σ d) is performed to investigate the accumulative permanent strain (ε p) behavior of an unbound granular material (UGM) used in the construction of railway subgrade beds. Results indicate that an increase in confining pressure effectively inhibits the development rate of ε p , and the ε p behavior of stable specimens can be categorized into an initial rapidly increasing stage and a subsequent gradual stabilization stage, with different causes of material strain at each stage. The permanent strain accumulated from the first loading cycle, i.e., the model parameter a , demonstrates a power function relationship with the dynamic-static deviatoric stress ratio (η), and the model parameter b , which implies the increasing rate of ε p , is strongly correlated with η and w. A probabilistic method based on a semi-logarithmic prediction model and probabilistic failure theory is proposed to evaluate the development range of ε p of UGMs while considering the effects of the confining pressure, dynamic deviatoric stress, static failure deviatoric stress, and water content. Applications of the proposed method indicate that the developed probabilistic model can yield acceptable ε p predictions of UGMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in adipogenesis. However, studies on circRNA expression profiles associated with the development of abdominal adipose tissue are lacking in chickens. In this study, 12 cDNA libraries were constructed from the abdominal adipose tissue of Chinese domestic Gushi chickens at 6, 14, 22, and 30 weeks. A total of 1,766 circRNAs were identified by Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing. These circRNAs were primarily distributed on chr1 through chr10 and sex chromosomes, and 84.95% of the circRNAs were from gene exons. Bioinformatic analysis showed that each circRNA has 35 miRNA binding sites on average, and 62.71% have internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements. Meanwhile, these circRNAs were primarily concentrated in TPM < 0.1 and TPM > 60, and their numbers accounted for 18.90% and 80.51%, respectively, exhibiting specific expression patterns in chicken abdominal adipose tissue. In addition, 275 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs were identified by comparison analysis. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the parental genes of DE circRNAs were primarily involved in biological processes and pathways related to lipid metabolism, such as regulation of fat cell differentiation, fatty acid homeostasis, and triglyceride homeostasis, as well as fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and glycerolipid metabolism. Furthermore, ceRNA regulatory networks related to abdominal adipose development were constructed. The results of this study indicated that circRNAs can regulate lipid metabolism, adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, and cell junctions during abdominal adipose tissue development in chickens through complex ceRNA networks between circRNAs, miRNAs, genes, and pathways. The results of this study may help to expand the number of known circRNAs in abdominal adipose tissue and provide a valuable resource for further research on the function of circRNAs in chicken abdominal adipose tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azide compounds are widely used and especially, polymers bearing pendant azide groups are highly desired in numerous fields. However, harsh reaction conditions are always mandatory to achieve full azidation, causing severe side reactions and degradation of the polymers. Herein, we report the design and preparation of two azide ionic liquids (AILs) with azide anion and triethylene glycol (E3)‐containing cation, [P444E3][N3] and [MIME3][N3]. Compared with the traditional sodium azide (NaN3) approach, both AILs showed much higher reaction rates and functional‐group tolerance. More importantly, they could act as both reagents and solvents for the quantitative azidation of various polymeric precursors under mild conditions. Theoretical simulations suggested that the outstanding performance of AILs originated from the existence of ion pairs during the reaction, and the E3 moieties played a crucial role. Lastly, after the reaction, the AILs could be easily regenerated, presenting a safer, greener, and highly efficient synthesis route for azide polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azide compounds are widely used and especially, polymers bearing pendant azide groups are highly desired in numerous fields. However, harsh reaction conditions are always mandatory to achieve full azidation, causing severe side reactions and degradation of the polymers. Herein, we report the design and preparation of two azide ionic liquids (AILs) with azide anion and triethylene glycol (E3)‐containing cation, [P444E3][N3] and [MIME3][N3]. Compared with the traditional sodium azide (NaN3) approach, both AILs showed much higher reaction rates and functional‐group tolerance. More importantly, they could act as both reagents and solvents for the quantitative azidation of various polymeric precursors under mild conditions. Theoretical simulations suggested that the outstanding performance of AILs originated from the existence of ion pairs during the reaction, and the E3 moieties played a crucial role. Lastly, after the reaction, the AILs could be easily regenerated, presenting a safer, greener, and highly efficient synthesis route for azide polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cobalt(II) complex and manganese(II) coordination polymer, formulated as [Co2(H2btca)(mbpy)4][H2btca]·4H2O (1) and {Mn2(btca)(mbpy)2(H2O)2}n (2) (H4btca = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid; mbpy = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyl), constructed by mixed bipyridine-tetracarboxylic ligands were synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal structural analyses reveal that compound 1 is a discrete neutral binuclear molecule, while compound 2 is a two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymer. The metal ions in these compounds are well isolated, with an intramolecular Co2+⋯Co2+ distance of 9.170 Å for 1 and Mn2+⋯Mn2+ separation of 10.984 and 11.164 Å for 2 due to the bulk tetracarboxylic linker. This isolation gives rise to a single-ion magnetism origin of the compounds. Magnetic studies reveal a large zero-field splitting parameter D of 82.6 cm−1 for 1, while a very small D of 0.42 cm−1 was observed for 2. Interestingly, dynamic ac magnetic measurements exhibited slow magnetic relaxation under the external dc field of the two compounds, revealing the field-supported single-ion magnet (SIM) of 1 and 2. The detailed theoretical calculations were further applied to understand the electronic structures, magnetic anisotropy, and relaxation dynamics in 1 and 2. Combined with our recently reported compound (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem., 2022, e202200354), the foregoing results provide not only a rare binuclear cobalt(II) SIM and the first 2D manganese(II) SIM coordination polymer but also a bipyridine-tetracarboxylic ligand approach toward novel SIMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chicken skeletal muscle is an important economic product. The late stages of chicken development constitute the main period that affects meat production. LncRNAs play important roles in controlling the epigenetic process of growth and development. However, studies on the role of lncRNAs in the late stages of chicken breast muscle development are still lacking. In this study, to investigate the expression characteristics of lncRNAs during chicken muscle development, 12 cDNA libraries were constructed from Gushi chicken breast muscle samples from 6-, 14-, 22-, and 30-week-old chickens. Results: A total of 1252 new lncRNAs and 1376 annotated lncRNAs were identified. Furthermore, 53, 61, 50, 153, 117, and 78 DE-lncRNAs were found in the W14 vs. W6, W22 vs. W14, W22 vs. W6, W30 vs. W6, W30 vs. W14, and W30 vs. W22 comparison groups, respectively. After GO enrichment analysis of the DE-lncRNAs, several muscle development-related GO terms were found in the W22 vs. W14 comparison group. Moreover, it was found that the MAPK signaling pathway was one of the most frequently enriched pathways in the different comparison groups. In addition, 12 common target DE-miRNAs of DE-lncRNAs were found in different comparison groups, some of which were muscle-specific miRNAs, such as gga-miR-206, gga-miR-1a-3p, and miR-133a-3p. Interestingly, the precursors of four newly identified miRNAs were found to be homologous to lncRNAs. Additionally, we found some ceRNA networks associated with muscle development-related GO terms. For example, the ceRNA networks contained the DYNLL2 gene with 12 lncRNAs that targeted 2 miRNAs. We also constructed PPI networks, such as IGF-I-EGF and FZD6-WNT11. Conclusions: This study revealed, for the first time, the dynamic changes in lncRNA expression in Gushi chicken breast muscle at different periods and revealed that the MAPK signaling pathway plays a vital role in muscle development. Furthermore, MEF2C and its target lncRNA may be involved in muscle regulation through the MAPK signaling pathway. This research provided valuable resources for elucidating posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms to promote the development of chicken breast muscles after hatching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fatty acids composition in poultry muscle is directly related to its tenderness, flavour, and juiciness, whereas its genetic mechanisms have not been elucidated. In this study, the genetic structure and key regulatory genes of the breast muscle fatty acid composition of local Chinese chicken, Gushi-Anka F2 resource population by integrating genome-wide association study (GWAS) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) strategies. GWAS was performed based on 323,306 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained by genotyping by sequencing (GBS) method and 721 chickens from the Gushi-Anka F2 resource population with highly variable fatty acid composition traits in the breast muscle. And then, according to the transcriptome data of the candidate genes that were obtained and phenotypic data of fatty acid composition traits in breast muscle of Gushi chickens at 14, 22, and 30 weeks of age, we conducted a WGCNA. Results: A total of 128 suggestive significantly associated SNPs for 11 fatty acid composition traits were identified and mapped on chromosomes (Chr) 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 17, 21, and 27. Of these, the two most significant SNPs were Chr13:5,100,140 (P = 4.56423e-10) and Chr13:5,100,173 (P = 4.56423e-10), which explained 5.6% of the phenotypic variation in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). In addition, six fatty acid composition traits, including C20:1, C22:6, saturated fatty acid (SFA), unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), PUFA, and average chain length (ACL), were located in the same QTL intervals on Chr13. We obtained 505 genes by scanning the linkage disequilibrium (LD) regions of all significant SNPs and performed a WGCNA based on the transcriptome data of the above 505 genes. Combining two strategies, 9 hub genes (ENO1, ADH1, ASAH1, ADH1C, PIK3CD, WISP1, AKT1, PANK3, and C1QTNF2) were finally identified, which could be the potential candidate genes regulating fatty acid composition traits in chicken breast muscle. Conclusion: The results of this study deepen our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the regulation of fatty acid composition traits, which is helpful in the design of breeding strategies for the subsequent improvement of fatty acid composition in poultry muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotypic compounds (III) crystallize in the trigonal space group P3121 with Z = 3 (single crystal XRD) and feature a three-dimensional network which is formed by 6-connected sulfate, Ln3+, and Na+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air gun arrays are designed to generate strong energy pulses of less than 100 Hz for offshore oil and gas exploration. In shallow seas, due to the directivity of air gun arrays, the complex propagation conditions and the limitations of acquisition methods, it is difficult to accurately evaluate the spatial time and frequency transmission characteristics of airguns. To alleviate the existing lack of knowledge about the transmission characteristics of air gun pulses in the shallow waters of the Bohai Sea, we analysed three‐dimensional ocean bottom cable seismic data collected during a seismic survey in the Bohai Sea, China, in June 2017, which were used to evaluate the reception level, frequency domain characteristics and spatial distribution characteristics within a 5.55 × 5.575 km area. The results showed that in shallow water, multipath propagation causes downfrequency chirplike sounds and an increased sound field. Within 0.3 km, the transmission model follows a cylindrical diffusion, and the sound loss rate decreases as the transmission distance increases until reaching 8 km. Signal capture by the sound channel results in a high transmission loss frequency band, whereas multimode interference weakens the transmission loss. The gun array directivity and the transmission channel are the two main factors affecting the acoustic field. This research provides an improved understanding of the acoustic field of airguns in the Bohai Sea, which can benefit the acoustic modelling of air gun arrays, the design of future seismic exploration projects and the conservation of marine life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe), sulfur (S), and molybdenum (Mo) geochemistry in marine sediments impacted by hydrothermal plumes and/or cold seeps is complex and has not been systematically documented. Here we characterize Fe, S, and Mo diagenesis in sediments between the Minami‐Ensei Knoll hydrothermal field and a cold‐seep site of the middle Okinawa Trough. Results show that distances away from the hydrothermal field and the steep trough slope may significantly affect the transport of hydrothermal Fe. The transformation of hydrothermal reactive Fe to poorly reactive or unreactive Fe‐bearing phyllosilicates decreased the relative fractions of highly reactive Fe (FeHR) in total Fe (FeHR/FeT). Despite this, the standing stocks of Fe oxides in the methane‐free sediments have not been dampened, indicating no net impacts of hydrothermal Fe inputs on the size of Fe oxides. In the methane‐free sediments, low ratios of total reduced inorganic sulfide (TRIS) to total organic carbon (TOC) (TRIS/TOC), highly 34S‐depleted pyrite, and low Mo contents suggest that organoclastic sulfate reduction is at low rates and plays a limited role in carbon cycle. In the cold‐seep sediments, however, intense sulfate reduction coupled to anaerobic methane oxidation significantly elevate TRIS/TOC ratios, Mo enrichment, and isotope compositions of Mo and pyrite‐S. This pathway is expected to be important in carbon cycle in the basin due to the wide occurrence of cold seeps. Our results highlight the important controls of the local extreme depositional/diagenetic conditions on sedimentary S and Mo records, with implications for the reconstruction of paleoredox states of the past earth's surface. Plain Language Summary: Submarine methane‐rich cold seeps and hydrothermal venting exert important influences on the geochemistry of iron, sulfur, and molybdenum. However, the influences of the two extreme environments on the three interlinked elements in seafloor have not been well documented. Here, we used solid‐phase chemistry of four sediment cores located between a hydrothermal field and a cold‐seep site in the middle Okinawa Trough to document the impacts of the two extreme environments on the geochemistry of iron, sulfur, and molybdenum. Results show that hydrothermal Fe signature in the sediments is largely controlled by the distances away from the hydrothermal field and the steep slope of the trough; the hydrothermal Fe inputs have no net impacts on sedimentary iron oxide contents due to simultaneous inactivation of reactive Fe. In the methane‐free sediments, sulfate reduction (SR) is coupled mainly to oxidation of sedimentary organic carbon. In the cold‐seep site, however, SR coupled to anaerobic methane oxidation is the main pathway of carbon cycle, leading to significant enrichments of molybdenum and isotopically heavy pyrite. The differences highlight the important control of local extreme depositional/diagenetic conditions on geochemical records of iron, sulfur, and molybdenum, with implications for the reconstruction of paleoredox states in the past. Key Points: Distances away from the vent, steep basin slope and Fe inactivation control the signature of hydrothermal Fe in the basin sedimentsLow lability of organics limits sulfate reduction (SR) in CH4‐free sediments, while CH4 largely facilitates SR in cold‐seep sedimentsLocal extreme conditions exert key controls on S‐Fe‐Mo diagenesis in the basin [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum biochemical indicators are often regarded as direct reflections of animal metabolism and health. The molecular mechanisms underlying serum biochemical indicators metabolism of chicken (Gallus Gallus) have not been elucidated. Herein, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify the variation associated with serum biochemical indicators. The aim of this research was to broaden the understanding of the serum biochemical indicators in chickens. Results: A GWAS of serum biochemical indicators was carried out on 734 samples from an F2 Gushi× Anka chicken population. All chickens were genotyped by sequencing, 734 chickens and 321,314 variants were obtained after quality control. Based on these variants, a total of 236 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 9 chicken chromosomes (GGAs) were identified to be significantly (-log10(P) > 5.72) associated with eight of seventeen serum biochemical indicators. Ten novel quantitative trait locis (QTLs) were identified for the 8 serum biochemical indicator traits of the F2 population. Literature mining revealed that the ALPL, BCHE, GGT2/GGT5 genes at loci GGA24, GGA9 and GGA15 might affect the alkaline phosphatase (AKP), cholinesterase (CHE) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) traits, respectively. Conclusion: The findings of the present study may contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of chicken serum biochemical indicator regulation and provide a theoretical basis for chicken breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metabolic disorder of the wound microenvironment can lead to a series of serious symptoms, especially chronic wounds, which result in significant pain in patients. At present, there is no effective and widely used wound dressing. Therefore, it is important to develop new multifunctional wound dressings. Hydrogel is an ideal wound dressing for medical nursing because of its abilities to absorb exudate and maintain wound wetting, its excellent biocompatibility, and its ability to provide a moist environment for wound repair. Because of these features, hydrogel overcomes the shortcomings of traditional dressings. Therefore, hydrogel has high medical value and is widely studied. In this study, a biodegradable hydrogel based on polysaccharide was synthesized and used as a wound dressing. The swelling degree and degradability of hydrogel were characterized as the characteristics of the wound dressing. The results showed that the prepared hydrogel was degraded with trypsin and in the soil environment. Furthermore, the wound dressing can effectively inhibit the bacterial environment, promote the deposition of the collagen structure of the wound tissue, and accelerate the healing of the wound. The proposed hydrogel has value in practical medical nursing application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four two-dimensional heterometallic Cu–Ln coordination polymers based on the 2-methylenesuccinic acid (H2MSA) ligand, {[Ln2Cu(MSA)4(H2O)6]·2H2O}n(Ln = La (1); Gd (2); Tb (3); Dy (4)), have been obtained under hydrothermal conditions. Complexes 1–4 bear a feature of one-dimensional [Ln2Cu] chains linked by 2-methylenesuccinate (MSA2−) bridges to form a 2D layer structure. Magnetic studies suggest the presence of weak antiferromagnetic Gd…Gd coupling and weak ferromagnetic Cu…Gd coupling in the 1D [Gd2Cu] chain unit of 2. The magnetic entropy change (−ΔSm) reached 36.05(1) J K−1 kg−1 for 2, making it an attractive refrigerant for low-temperature applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 hollow microspheres assembled by nanoparticles are successfully prepared via a process employing hydrothermal method and subsquent calcination. The washing times, which can significantly influence the adsorbed amount of Li + in the intermediate products, play an important role in the composition of the final hollow microspheres. The obtained hollow microspheres present a very stable reversible capacity of 173 mAh g −1 at 1 C. Furthermore, the Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 hollow microspheres could remain relatively high reversible capacities even at higher charge/discharge rates. The reversible capacities of approximately 168.3, 163.0, 156.6 and 152.4 mAh g −1 are obtained after 10 cycles at 2 C, 5 C, 10 C and 15 C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glomerular mesangial cell (GMC) dysfunction plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) has been demonstrated to be involved in the development of DKD. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study investigated the role of TRPC6 in GMC dysfunction and the related mechanism. Diabetic rats and cultured GMCs were used in the experiment. The diabetic rat model was created by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Protein and mRNA levels were assessed by Western blotting and quantitative RT–PCR, respectively. Histological changes in the kidneys were observed by immunochemistry and hematoxylin and eosin. TRPC6 knockdown was achieved by adenovirus-mediated TRPC6 shRNA delivery in vivo and TRPC6 siRNA transfection in vitro. TRPC6 expression was increased in diabetic rat kidneys. Knockdown of TRPC6 attenuated diabetes-induced kidney functional deterioration. In addition, the increases in extracellular matrix components, including collagen IV, collagen I, and fibronectin production, as well as NFAT2 expression were also suppressed. In cultured GMCs, high glucose (25 mM, HG) treatment increased the expression of TRPC6. Knockdown of TRPC6 alleviated HG-induced increases in collagen IV, fibronectin, and NFAT2 expression. Knockdown of NFAT2 also inhibited the upregulation of proteins, including collagen IV and fibronectin, in HG-treated GMCs. These results demonstrate that inhibition of TRPC6/NFAT2 signaling attenuates GMC dysfunction and the development of DKD and suggest that pharmacological targeting of TRPC6/NFAT2 in GMCs may provide beneficial effects for DKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a significant regulatory role during skeletal muscle development. To identify circRNAs during postnatal skeletal muscle development in chickens, we constructed 12 cDNA libraries from breast muscle tissues of Chinese Gushi chickens at 6, 14, 22, and 30 weeks and performed RNA sequencing. In total, 2112 circRNAs were identified, and among them 79.92% were derived from exons. CircRNAs are distributed on all chromosomes of chickens, especially chromosomes 1–9 and Z. Bioinformatics analysis showed that each circRNA had an average of 38 miRNA binding sites, 61.32% of which have internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) elements. Furthermore, in total 543 differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) were identified. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that DE-circRNAs source genes are engaged in biological processes and muscle development-related pathways; for example, cell differentiation, sarcomere, and myofibril formation, mTOR signaling pathway, and TGF-β signaling pathway, etc. We also established a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network associated with skeletal muscle development. The results in this report indicate that circRNAs can mediate the development of chicken skeletal muscle by means of a complex ceRNA network among circRNAs, miRNAs, genes, and pathways. The findings of this study might help increase the number of known circRNAs in skeletal muscle tissue and offer a worthwhile resource to further investigate the function of circRNAs in chicken skeletal muscle development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have manually constructed several single-walled carbon nanotube supported single metal atom (Al, Zn, Fe) catalysts (Al-SWCNTs, Zn-SWCNTs, Fe-SWCNTs) and employed them to catalyse the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide with the aid of density functional theory calculations, in which several water and oxygen molecules are included as reactants. Specifically, three different possible reaction pathways are studied in detail and relevant reactants, transition states, and products are optimized. Their activation energies are compared with each other, based on which the optimal reaction path is selected and the possible side products are also discussed. In addition, we have also calculated the relevant electron densities and densities of states of these three catalysts to help reveal the different effects after introducing different metal atoms. These physical properties are possibly related to their catalytic performances. Our results are not only consistent with previous experiments investigating the catalyzing reaction using Zn-SWCNTs, but also predict the catalytic properties of Al-SWCNTs and Fe-SWCNTs in comparison with Zn-SWCNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new dinuclear holmium(III) complex was synthesized. • The Ho(III) complex exhibit highly hydrogen-bonded supramolecular structure. • The Ho(III) complex display slow magnetic relaxation and proton-conducting behavior. Multifunctional magnetic-electrical materials are highly interesting, such as proton-conductive lanthanide single-ion magnets (SIMs). Herein, we reported the synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic and electrical properties of a bifunctional binuclear holmium(III) complex, [Ho 2 (H 2 dobdc)(H 2 O) 14 ]·(H 2 dobdc) 2 ·8H 2 O (Ho 2 , H 4 dobdc = 2,5-dioxodo-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), which was constructed by a hydroxy‑functionalizd dicarboxybenzene and holmium(III) ions. Interestingly, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals a highly hydrogen-bonded supramolecular structure and highly oxygenated site were formed within the complex. Magnetic measurements indicate the complex exhibits filed-induced slow magnetic relaxation property. Additionally, the impedance spectroscopy measurements show the complex also exhibits humidity- and temperature-dependent proton conduction behaviour via the Grotthus mechanism. These results support a proton-conductive holmium(III) single-ion magnet of Ho 2. This work not only provides the first bifunctional HoIII complexes showing slow magnetic relaxation and proton-conducting behaviour but also a supramolecular way for advanced magnetic-electrical systems linking slow magnetic relaxation with unique proton conducting behaviour exploiting a possible cooperative behaviour. A dinuclear holmium(III) complex with a highly hydrogen-bonded supramolecular structure was reported to show field-induced slow magnetic relaxation and proton-conducting behavior. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deciphering sedimentary provenance in the Okinawa Trough (OT) is vital for understanding the dispersal system from source to sink and the paleoenvironmental evolution in the East China Sea (ECS). Sources include the Huanghe, Changjiang, and Taiwan rivers, as well as the ECS shelf; however, there is controversy over which source has dominated sediment supply since the last deglaciation, and how the tidal currents, shelf circulation, and Kuroshio Current (KC) has controlled the sediment transport. Here, we present a high-resolution record of grain size and clay minerals over the last 14.3 kyrs in an AMS 14C dated piston core from the middle OT. We use these data to reconstruct changes in the KC, identify the provenance of fine-grained sediment, and unravel the impact of paleoenvironmental factors on these provenance changes. A grain size component of 15.6–31.3 μm was extracted to reconstruct the KC changes. These data show that the KC strengthened sharply until 10.2 ka, then kept strong and stable during the Holocene. Clay mineral assemblages indicate that the sediment was mainly derived from the ECS shelf between 14.3 and 8.6 ka, then from the Taiwan rivers after 8.6 ka. The shelf sediment was eroded and transported by intense tidal currents. Taiwan river sediment became the dominant source due to the development of Taiwan Warm Current rather than the strengthening of KC. The ratio of smectite and kaolinite to illite and chlorite content indicates that the sediment contribution from the Huanghe (old Huanghe delta) and Changjiang rivers increased from 7.6 to 5.0 ka and from 3.2 ka to the present. This increase is attributed to the strengthening of East Asian winter monsoon and the consequent intensification of cross-shelf circulation. • Sediment source changed from East China Sea shelf to Taiwan rivers at 8.6 ka. • Tidal reworking controls shelf sediment supply during the last deglaciation. • Taiwan Warm Current induces early Holocene provenance change rather than Kuroshio. • Winter monsoon enhances Huanghe and Changjiang supply at 7.6–5.0 ka and 3.2–0 ka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) observations have recently revealed seep dolomite deposits covering the seafloor on Middle Dongsha of the South China Sea (SCS). Spurred by these findings, we studied the mineralogical and geochemical properties to examine the seep dolomite's origin, precipitation mechanism, and formation environment. These carbonates mainly comprise dolomite (from 64 to 84 wt%), followed by small amounts of calcite (from 1 to 3 wt%), locally containing magnesite (∼4 wt%), and goethite (∼14 wt%). Extensively developed mineralized cells containing high Mg and Ca contents found in chimneys imply that microbially-mediated processes probably participated in the reactivation of dolomite precipitation. The moderate and concentrated δ13C values (from −36.64 to −39.16‰, V-PDB) indicated that the carbon in carbonates was mainly derived from thermogenic methane. The methane fluids most likely ascended beneath the volcaniclastic unit and inherited enriched positive Eu anomalies due to fluid–rock interactions during their seepage along tectonic faults to the seafloor. The δ18O values (4.2–4.8‰, V-PDB) of carbonate suggested that an 18O-depleted fluid was involved in carbonate precipitation. The high total Rare-Earth Element contents (ΣREE) of seep carbonates varied from 61 ppm to 92 ppm, reflecting the chemical composition of surrounding pore waters at the time of carbonate precipitation, exhibiting less mixing with seawater. It may also indicate higher alkalinity and pH of the pore water. Although the sea-like REE patterns (HREE-enriched, negative Ce anomalies) are not caused by seawater, they may be due to the complexation competition between humic acid (HA) and carbonate for REE at high pore-water alkalinity and high CO 3 2− concentrations. This is consistent with the dolomite chimney pointing toward a formation environment in relatively deep sediments, in particular, close to the sulfate-methane interface in sediments, where the bicarbonate concentration reaches its maximum due to AOM. Moderate Mo and no U enrichments appeared in the carbonates, suggesting a relatively lower intensity of methane seepages with relatively reduced AOM rates. The wide range of (Mo/U) EF values and U–Mo covariation indicates the very dynamic AOM rate (slow to moderate) and redox conditions (mostly suboxic–anoxic, occasionally sulfidic conditions) during carbonate formation due to episodically changing seepage activity. [Display omitted] • Ancient cold seep chimneys in the M-Dongsha area contain dolomite as a dominant carbonate phase. • REE patterns reflect a higher alkalinity and pH of pore waters. • Mo-U element compositions indicates lower intensity seepages, dynamic AOM rate and environment. • Formed in a semi-closed microbially-mediated sediments environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noble-metal-derived functional materials have played indispensable roles in the reduction of dye under aqueous conditions; however, their cost and separation are great limitations on their wider practical applications. Therefore, an alternative preparation of comparable materials with low cost and good ease of separation is required. Herein magnetic microspheres (i.e., Fe3O4/Cu) were synthesized through a green single-step solvothermal method for the first time with ethylene glycol serving as reductant and reaction media. The prepared materials were characterized by means of powder Xray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy- dispersive X-ray spectrometry, a vibrating sample magnetometer, and so forth. Additionally, by employing the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol as a model reaction, the effects of preparation time and the initial dosage of Cu(NO3)2 on the rate constant of the catalytic reduction reaction were systematically investigated. Moreover, the obtained hybrid nanocatalysts were also applied to reduce and degrade common organic dyes (rhodamine B and methylene blue) in the presence of NaBH4. Quite significantly, it was shown that it could catalytically degrade different organic dyes with excellent catalytic performance and high stability in recycled reactions up to five times. More interestingly, the material can be easily separated from the catalytic system for further use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu(III)–Sr(II)–K(I) and Tb(III)–Sr(II)–K(I) heterotrimetallic metal-organic frameworks with 2,4,6-pyridinetricarboxylic acid have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The complexes are isomorphic and both in triclinic space groupP-1. The ligands bond with three metal ions with two coordination modes. One connects seven metal ions and the other connects eight metal ions. IR spectra, thermal analysis, and photoluminescent properties have been studied. The results display strong characteristic emissions of Eu(III) or Tb(III) ions with excitation of ultraviolet radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Novel protocol towards multifunctional magnetic organic–inorganic core–shell nanostructured catalysts of Fe3O4@SN/HPW@CG–Ag with tailored properties are presented in this work. Such nanocomposites congregate the properties and functions of a single component into a whole. For instance, Fe3O4 cores protected by amino-functionalized SiO2 shell endowed the composites with superparamagnetism (28.6 emu g−1) and thereby facilitate the process of separation and recovery. Phosphotungstic acid, as a bridging agent, provided a strong interaction for the anchoring of glutaraldehyde cross-linked chitosan onto the surface of Fe3O4@SN. More interestingly, chitosan could simultaneously behave as a stabilizer and reductant for the in situ synthesis of “green” Ag NPs without addition of any other reducing agent or organic solvent, and Ag NPs provided the compounds with a catalytic performance. Further the size, loading of Ag NPs and the thickness of the chitosan layer were all controllable. Meaningfully, the as-synthesized catalyst Fe3O4@SN/HPW@CG–Ag exhibited an exceptional catalytic performance for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride (the reaction was accomplished within 7 min) and could be reused at least 10 times with good stability by means of convenient magnetic separation. Thence, the design philosophy of the multifunctional robust Ag-based nanocatalysts may pave the way for the synthesis of other catalyst systems with long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deep-sea mussels living in the cold seeps with enormous biomass act as the primary consumers. They are well adapted to the extreme environment where light is absent, and hydrogen sulfide, methane, and other hydrocarbon-rich fluid seepage occur. Despite previous studies on diversity, role, evolution, and symbiosis, the changing adaptation patterns during different developmental stages of the deep-sea mussels remain largely unknown. Results: The deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus platifrons) of two developmental stages were collected from the cold seep during the ocean voyage. The gills, mantles, and adductor muscles of these mussels were used for the Illumina sequencing. A total of 135 Gb data were obtained, and subsequently, 46,376 unigenes were generated using de-novo assembly strategy. According to the gene expression analysis, amounts of genes were most actively expressed in the gills, especially genes involved in environmental information processing. Genes encoding Toll-like receptors and sulfate transporters were up-regulated in gills, indicating that the gill acts as both intermedium and protective screen in the deep-sea mussel. Lysosomal enzymes and solute carrier responsible for nutrients absorption were up-regulated in the older mussel, while genes related to toxin resistance and autophagy were up-regulated in the younger one, suggesting that the older mussel might be in a vigorous stage while the younger mussel was still paying efforts in survival and adaptation. Conclusions: In general, our study suggested that the adaptation capacity might be formed gradually during the development of deep-sea mussels, in which the gill and the symbionts play essential roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]