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Background: A wealth of evidence suggests that alcohol consumption is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. This makes it challenging to develop therapeutic strategies in patients with AF attributed to alcohol consumption. Purpose: To investigate the echocardiographic and electrophysiologic changes caused by alcohol consumption in patients with AF. Methods: The study was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration number ChiCTR2000041575). Data on 134 consecutive non‐valvular AF patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation in our center was collected from April 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Patients were divided into no‐alcohol (72) and alcohol groups [categorized into light (34), moderate (11) and heavy (17) alcohol consumption]. All patients underwent echocardiographic and electrophysiologic examinations for the assessment of left atrial (LA) strain, inter‐atrial conduction, intra‐atrial conduction, and atrial effective refractory period (ERP). Results: Overall, the mean age was 61 ± 11 years and 87 (65%) were males. Compared with the no‐alcohol group, impaired peak LA longitudinal strain, obvious inter‐atrial conduction delay and increasing ERP dispersion were observed in the alcohol group. Intra‐atrial conduction delay and ERP dispersion increased with increasing amounts of alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption was associated with substantial abnormal echocardiographic and electrophysiologic changes in AF patients. These changes may contribute to the occurrence and progression of AF attributed to alcohol consumption, which may help in the development of new strategies for the prevention and management of AF. However further investigation is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horse bone is rich in collagen, with a composition similar to that of human collagen. Collagen peptides supply nutrients needed for human growth that act as antioxidants, lower blood pressure. This study explored the extraction of collagen and the preparation of collagen short peptides from Mongolian horse bones. Bones were collected from horses of varying ages, and the collagen content along with calcium salt distribution were observed through staining and imaging analyses. Next, the bones were processed into a powder and then subjected to ultra-high-pressure processing for degreasing. The degreasing conditions were optimised by single-factor and orthogonal tests. Following this, collagen was extracted using an acid-enzymatic method, and its structural characteristics and thermal stability were assessed. The collagen short peptides were extracted from the collagen samples, and the effects of the enzymatic hydrolysis time, temperature, pH, and enzyme amount on the extraction rate were evaluated. Finally, the resulting collagen peptides were analysed for antioxidant activity. In summary, this experiment optimised the extraction conditions for horse bone collagen, demonstrating that the ultra-high-pressure method minimally affects collagen structure, and the extraction rate was high. Hence our method has significant development potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alxa Bactrian camel meat is an organic diet that provides balanced nutrition and is easy to digest and absorb. Despite its potential, it is currently underutilized. To develop a new type of camel jerky, this study utilized a single‐factor design method to optimize the formula and fermentation process parameters of Alxa Bactrian camel jerky. Additionally, the physical and chemical composition, nutritional components, protein degradation, and microbial changes of the camel jerky were analyzed to evaluate the nutritional benefits of the new camel jerky created using modern fermentation technology. The results show that the optimal addition amounts of camel fermented jerky ingredients are 2.2% black pepper, 3% salt, 1.8% white sugar, and 9% cooking wine, whereas the optimal fermentation conditions by compound starter culture are 0.07% starter, 23 h of fermentation time, and a 30°C fermentation temperature. Compared to the single starter, the compound starter significantly increased the protein content, total amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, trace elements, and a*, L*, and e‐values of jerky; however, it also decreased the water activity (aw), thiobarbituric acid, and pH values of jerky during storage. Compound starter strains can compensate for the shortage of single starters and improve the overall quality of meat products. These findings could provide new insights and serve as a reference for the development of camel meat products and hold significant importance for the growth of the camel industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Collagen is an important component of muscle tissue that maintains muscle structure and also contributes to meat quality. However, the characteristics of intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) collagen of Wuzhumuqin sheep are unknown. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of IMCT collagen in Wuzhumuqin sheep at different growth stages and to determine the correlation between them. The results showed that collagen-related genes were highly expressed at 9 and 12 months of age. The amino acid content, solubility, thermal stability, and degree of cross-linking of collagen were altered by collagen type, muscle type, and age. Multiple patterns of correlation between collagen characteristics are essential for the development of IMCT. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between the characteristics of collagen, and also provide a theoretical basis for further studies on the impacts of collagen on meat quality. Intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) collagen is an important factor in meat quality. This study analyzed the characteristics of type I and III collagen in the IMCT of the semitendinosus (SD) and longissimus dorsi (LD) of Wuzhumuqin sheep at different growth stages (6, 9, 12, and 18 months). Utilizing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), collagen types I and III were successfully isolated and shown to contain an intact triple helix structure. Immunofluorescence revealed that these collagens were located in the endomysium and perimysium. Collagen-related genes were significantly expressed in sheep aged 9 and 12 months. The amino acid content increased with age in type I collagen whereas it decreased in type III collagen. Furthermore, type III collagen contained more hydroxyproline (Hyd) than type I collagen. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that the thermal stability of collagen increased with age, accompanied by a decrease in solubility. Semitendinosus muscle had more collagen cross-linkages than LD muscle due to the high pyridinoline (Pyr) content in the endomysium. Finally, a correlation analysis highlighted the multiple correlations between characteristics in different types of collagen during sheep growth. In summary, the collagen characteristics in the IMCT of sheep were impacted by collagen type, muscle type, and age. Furthermore, the various correlations between these characteristics may play an important role in the development of IMCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is usually performed via the guidance of procedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) companied by general anesthesia (GA). Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of LAAO guided by procedural fluoroscopy only. Methods: The patients eligible for LAAO were enrolled into the current study and received implantation of either Watchman device or LAmbre device. The procedure was carried out with procedural fluoroscopy only and no companied GA; the position, shape, and leakage of the device were assessed by contrast angiography. TEE was performed after 3‐month follow‐up to evaluate the thrombosis, and leakage of device. Results: Ninety‐seven patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with either Watchman device (n = 49) or LAmbre device (n = 48) were consecutively enrolled. Watchman device group was of lower CHA2DS2‐VASc and HAS‐BLED scores compared with LAmbre device groups (p <.05); the two groups had similar distributions of other baseline characteristics (p >.05), including procedural success rate (98.0% vs. 97.9%), mean procedure time, mean fluoroscopy time, total radiation dose, contrast medium dose, percentage of peri‐device leakage. Pericardial effusions requiring intervention occurred in two of the Watchman group. TEE follow‐up found no patient with residual leakage ≥5 mm at 3 months and no device related thrombosis (DRT). During the 22.0 ± 11.1 months follow‐up, two patients experienced ischemic stroke. Conclusions: LAAO with the procedural imaging of fluoroscopy only exhibited the promising results of efficacy and safety. A prospective randomized multicenter study would be required to verify the observations in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arid and semiarid areas with frequent dust storms, reasonable planting modes and crop residue measures could prevent dust storms that originate from local farmlands and address key factors for wind erosion control. The considered crop residue modes included all harvesting with no residue in a Cyperus esculentus L. (C.) monoculture setting (AH), retention of 1 ridge and harvesting of 3 ridges in a C. monoculture setting (RH), and all harvesting with retention of Setaria italica (L.) Beauv. var. germanica (Mill.) Schrad (S.) residue in an intercropping setting of 6S. ridges and 9C. ridges (ARS). The aerodynamic roughness z 0 and friction velocity u * were measured with handheld anemometers, and sediment fluxes were measured by combining multichannel sand collectors under different crop residue modes. The results indicated that the total aeolian sediment flux increased with distance away from the final belt of crop residue under both the RH and ARS modes. S. residue reduced the total aeolian sediment flux by more than 50% compared to C. residue at a distance of 4.5 m away from the residue belt during the dust storm. The sand transported height under both the RH and ARS modes was lower than that under the AH mode, and the distance required for sand to be transported to the same flux behind the S. residue belt was more than that behind the C. residue belt. The frontal area index (FAI) is a parameter that can better reflect the wind erosion control ability of C. and S. residues. S. residue attained a higher wind weakening ability than C. residue according to the positive relationship between z 0 , u * and FAI. During the dust storm, the relationship between the total aeolian sediment flux and FAI changed from significant to insignificant as the sand transported height exceeded C. residue height. Using standing crops intercropping with C. can provide both income from C. and wind erosion control from standing crop residues. The results can provide useful guidance for local C. harvest and planting design. • Establish control effects of C. crop residue on wind erosion from dust storms. • The FAI is a valuable indicator for selecting crop residue types in C. planting areas. • The 4.5 m spacing of S. residue belts can better balance income and wind erosion control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Jembrana disease virus (JDV) is a lentivirus highly related to the bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV). It causes an acute disease with high mortality rate within 1–2 weeks. JDV encodes the most potent Tat (JTat) of any of the lentiviruses. JTat can transactivate all LTRs and functionally substitute for HIV Tat in the viral genome and may function as a pivotal regulator in the acute pathogenesis of JDV. The goal of this paper is to study JTat internalization by cells, the mechanisms involved in internalization, and the effect of JTat on neighbouring cells. By quantification and fluorescence microscopy, we found that the internalization of extracellular EGFP-JTat fusion protein was both time and dose-dependent, but endocytosis and energy independent. We identified that arginines which were responsible for the internalization. Internalized JTat was distributed in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, could transactivate JDV LTR and modulate cellular gene expression. Based on our findings, we propose that secretion and internalization of JTat may be a way for JDV to influence neighbouring cells and make the cellular environment more amenable to viral infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]