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The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of mulberry leaves and other compound powders on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal flora, and serum immune indexes of Lingshan Ma chickens. A total of 200 healthy 56-day-old Lingshan Ma chickens with similar body weight were randomly divided into four groups with five replicates per group and 10 chickens per replicate. The chickens in the control group were fed a basal diet, and the chickens in the group 1, group 2, and group 3 were fed a basal diet supplemented with 2.0%, 1.0%, and 0.5% mulberry leaves and other compound powders, respectively. The experiment lasted for 42 days. The results showed that compared with the control group, the average daily gain in the group 2 increased by 12.65% (P<0.05), and the feed to gain ratio significantly decreased (P<0.05). The number and diarrhea rate of Escherichia coli and Salmonella in the experimental groups significantly decreased (P<0.05), the activity of duodenal trypsin, amylase, lipase, and cecal cellulase significantly increased (P<0.05), and the serum IgG content increased by 40.69%, 49.88%, and 25.72%, respectively (P<0.05). The concentrations of serum TP, ALB, and GLB significantly increased (P<0.05), and the A/G significantly decreased (P<0.05). The study indicates that mulberry leaves and other compound powders can increase the growth performance and digestive enzyme activity, decrease the diarrhea rate, improve the serum biochemical indexes and immune function of Lingshan Ma chickens, and the appropriate amount is 1.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dorsal vertebrae of Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis (SSV12001) from the Late Jurassic Qigu Formation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, are redescribed based on the further exposure and preparation of the holotype. As a mamenchisaurid sauropod dinosaur, Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis displays a unique combination of autapomorphic and plesiomorphic features, such as the presences of both lateral spinopostzygapophyseal laminae (L.SPOL) and medial spinopostzygapophyseal lamina (M.SPOL) in dorsal vertebrae and a shallow intralaminar fossa (SPOL-F) between the L.SPOL and M.SPOL; anterior spinodiapophyseal laminae (A.SPDL), posterior spinodiapophyseal laminae (P.SPDL) and middle spinodiapophyseal lamina (M.SPDL) in dorsals 3–5; bifurcated anterior and middle dorsal neural spines with the median tubercle and the triangular lateral processes. Phylogenetic analysis and morphological comparison show that Xinjiangtitan shanshanesis probably shares a close relationship with Hudiesaurus and Mamenchisaurus and provide new information for future taxonomic revision of the mamenchisaurids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous studies found that Homer 1a, a scaffolding protein localized at the post-synaptic density (PSD) of glutamatergic excitatory synapses, is significantly down-regulated in the brain of spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR), an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Furthermore, a first-line treatment drug for ADHD, methylphenidate, can up-regulate the expression of Homer 1a. To investigate the possible role of Homer 1a in the etiology and pathogenesis of ADHD, a lentiviral vector containing miRNA specific for Homer 1a was constructed in this study. Intracerebroventricular injection of this vector into the brain of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats significantly decreased Homer 1a mRNA and protein expression levels. Compared to their negative controls, these rats displayed a range of abnormal behaviors, including increased locomotor activity and non-selective attention and impaired learning ability. Our results indicated that Homer 1a down-regulation results in deficits in control over behavioral output and learning similar to ADHD.