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Pond aquaculture is an important aquacultural model worldwide in which ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are crucial for the removal of ammonia from water. The influence of light irradiation on AOB in an aquaculture pond was studied using artificial simulation wastewater under dark/light cycles of 24 h/0 h (L0), 12 h/12 h (L12), and 0 h/24 h (L24). The ammonia oxidation rates (AORs) in groups L0, L12, and L24 were 9.88 ± 0.19 mg h−1, 6.01 ± 0.32 mg h−1, and 1.85 ± 0.09 mg h−1, respectively. Long-term exposure to light had a serious impact on the AOR and decreased the abundance of Nitrosomonas spp. and their ammonia monooxygenase genes. To determine the protective effect of microalgae on AOB, different doses of freeze-dried Chlorella spp. powder were added to the nitrifying bacteria community. The photoinhibition rate of chlorophyll a (Chla) in the groups with 300 and 1300 µg L−1 of added Chlorella were 32.85% and 28.77%, respectively, while the Chla in the 2200 µg L−1 Chlorella-added group was only 0.01%, with no significant differences (p > 0.05) in AOR between the dark/light treatment subgroups. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that AOB, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, and algae coexist and grow together without free AOB in the nitrifying bacterial community. It was suggested that microalgae enhance the resistance of AOB to light irradiation in a pond through the shading effect provided by algal chlorophyll and the close symbiotic relationship between microalgae and AOB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of long-term water flooding in the Gaoqian Southern Area with an average porosity of 30% and an average permeability of 1333.5 × 10 − 3 μm2, the fluid-solid interaction among oil, water, and rock has a great influence on the pore structure. It has resulted in changes in reservoir parameters with the extension of time. This paper used electron microscopy scanning, mercury injection, X-ray diffraction, physical properties, and oil-water relative permeability curves to study the variation of clay mineral content, pore throat structure, porosity, permeability, and relative permeability curves of high-permeability sandstone after high-pressure water flooding. The results showed that clay minerals such as montmorillonite and kaolinite were dissolved, hydrated, and migrated after long-term water flooding, which resulted in the decrease of clay mineral content in fine sandstone and medium sandstone, the increase of pore throat radius, and the decrease of displacement pressure, median pressure, and separation coefficient. The saturation of the isotonic point of the oil-water relative permeability curve was obviously shifted to the right, the hydrophilicity was significantly enhanced, and the porosity and permeability were effectively improved, but there was a blockage of the throat less than 2 μm in the fine sandstone. In addition, this paper established the equations of water injection, permeability, irreducible water saturation, residual oil saturation, and oil-water relative permeability curve coefficient and establishes the initial permeability model with the well data before water flooding. The logging interpretation results of development wells in the process of water flooding as verification data were used, and the relative error of permeability far lower than the general requirement of permeability error within an order of magnitude was less than 30%, which verified the rationality of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) show promising potential to be used as therapeutics, disease biomarkers, and drug delivery vehicles. We aimed to modify EVs with miR-155 to modulate macrophage immune response that can be potentially used against infectious diseases. Primarily, we characterized T cells (EL-4) EVs by several standardized techniques and confirmed that the EVs could be used for experimental approaches. The bioactivities of the isolated EVs were confirmed by the uptake assessment, and the results showed that target cells can successfully uptake EVs. To standardize the loading protocol by electroporation for effective biological functionality, we chose fluorescently labelled miR-155 mimics because of its important roles in the immune regulations to upload them into EVs. The loading procedure showed that the dosage of 1 µg of miRNA mimics can be efficiently loaded to the EVs at 100 V, further confirmed by flow cytometry. The functional assay by incubating these modified EVs (mEVs) with in vitro cultured cells led to an increased abundance of miR-155 and decreased the expressions of its target genes such as TSHZ3, Jarid2, ZFP652, and WWC1. Further evaluation indicated that these mEVs induced M1-type macrophage polarization with increased TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and iNOS expression. The bioavailability analysis revealed that mEVs could be detected in tissues of the livers. Overall, our study demonstrated that EVs can be engineered with miR-155 of interest to modulate the immune response that may have implications against infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A layered van der Waals ferromagnet CrGeTe3 has attracted considerable interest due to the great potential for exploring low-power functional spintronic devices. However, research on the incorporation of chemical substitution in CrGeTe3 to tune the lattice vibrations and magnetic interactions is still lacking. In this work, an understanding of the phonon property and magnetic orders in Mn lightly doped Cr1−xMnxGeTe3 single crystals has been reported. It is found that the phonon symmetries are preserved over the studied Mn substitution content, as confirmed by angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. Furthermore, clear signatures of improved ferromagnetic Curie–Weiss temperature and magnetic moment are observed by detailed magnetic measurements. The higher magnetic moment of Mn ions, the variation of Mn–Te–Cr angle, Mn-induced hole doping, and the concomitant strain effect may all contribute to the enhanced ferromagnetism. Overall, our results demonstrate that chemical substitution is an effective pathway to engineering the lattice and magnetism of CrGeTe3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of bacterial and microalgal consortia to remove nitrogen from wastewater has garnered attention as a potential alternative to conventional systems. This approach not only reduces energy consumption but also aids in nutrient recovery. Light is essential for algae photosynthesis; however, nitrifying bacteria are also influenced by light radiation. This mini-review summarizes the current knowledge concerning photoinhibition, the light stimulation of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), resistance to light radiation, the implementation of microalgal–bacterial systems, and the possible mechanisms involved. Nitrosomonadaceae AOB and Nitrospiraceae nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) often coexist in a microalgal–bacterial system. Studies have suggested that AOB can tolerate light radiation at 200 μmol m−2·s−1 in microalgal–bacterial systems, whereas NOB are almost completely suppressed, which can result in partial nitrification in the bioreactor. An appropriate light level can stimulate AOB growth in microalgal–bacterial granular reactors and may improve algae metabolic activity. Granular sludges or artificial "light-shielding hydrogel" could effectively protect nitrifying bacteria from light intensities up to 1600 μmol m−2·s−1 in wastewater treatment reactors. Microalgal–bacterial systems along with the associated "algal shading effect" have been widely used in pond aquaculture. This approach minimizes the need for costly mechanical aeration through photo-oxygenation and facilitates nutrient recovery by filter-feeding fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole tumor cells expressing a wide array of tumor antigens are considered as a highly promising source of antigens for cancer vaccines. However, simultaneously preserving the antigen diversity, improving immunogenicity, and eliminating the potential tumorigenic risk of whole tumor cells are highly challenging. Inspired by the recent progress in sulfate radical‐based environmental technology, herein, an advanced oxidation nanoprocessing (AONP) strategy is developed for boosting the immunogenicity of whole tumor cells. The AONP is based on the activation of peroxymonosulfate by ZIF‐67 nanocatalysts to produce SO4−∙ radicals continuously, leading to sustained oxidative damage to tumor cells and consequently extensive cell death. Importantly, AONP causes immunogenic apoptosis as evidenced by the release of a series of characteristic damage associated molecular patterns and at the same time maintains the integrity of cancer cells, which is critical to preserve the cellular components and thus maximize the diversity of antigens. Finally, the immunogenicity of AONP‐treated whole tumor cells is evaluated in a prophylactic vaccination model, demonstrating significantly delayed tumor growth and increased survival rate of live tumor‐cell‐challenged mice. It is expected that the developed AONP strategy would pave the way to develop effective personalized whole tumor cell vaccines in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For engineering of van der Waals antiferromagnetic material FePSe3 and expanding its potential technological promise in spintronic fields, a detailed knowledge of the underlying physics of vibrational phonon modes and their coupling with the spin degree of freedom are undoubtedly needed. In this work, by angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy in corroboration with first-principles calculation, the Raman modes of bulk FePSe3 have been rationally assigned, which clarify the ambiguity about symmetry identification of some Raman-active modes in previous studies. Moreover, through detailed temperature-dependent Raman scattering experiments, the abnormal shift of the frequency, linewidth, and integrated intensity across the Néel temperature have been identified for phonon modes associating with a non-magnetic [P2Se6]4- cluster. This can be well explained with the assistance of the spin-phonon coupling mechanism that involves the variation of the d electron transfer with lattice vibration in magnetic materials. Our results are helpful for uncovering the rich physics in FePSe3 and also for enriching the further understanding of magnetic van der Waals materials down to the 2D limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the extensive use and improper treatment of antibiotics, antibiotic pollution in aquaculture wastewater has become increasingly severe. Tetracycline antibiotics have become one of the most commonly used fishery antibiotics. In this study, a Z-scheme heterostructure LaMnO3/g-C3N4 was constructed by the sol–gel method as a photocatalyst to degrade tetracycline, and the influence of anions on the degradation effect was investigated. The LaMnO3/g-C3N4 hybrid was successfully constructed by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, and X-ray diffraction. The results of degradation experiments demonstrated that the maximum tetracycline degradation efficiency of LaMnO3/g-C3N4-10 (LMO/CN-10) was 80%, the removal rate of TC decreased from 71% to 48% when the concentration of chloride ions increased from 0 mM to 10 mM, and the removal rate of TC decreased from 75% to 28% when the concentration of carbonate ions increased from 0 mM to 10 mM. This enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the formation of a Z-scheme structure that promoted the separation of photoinduced electron holes while maintaining its own strong redox ability. Finally, the photocatalytic mechanism was designed based on the free radical trapping experiment, electrochemical impedance, and photoluminescence spectra, providing an opportunity for the construction of a new photocatalyst for the treatment of aquaculture tailwater in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Zintl phases are promising thermoelectric materials owning to their features like narrow band gaps, multiband behaviors, ideal charge transport tunnels, and loosely bound cations. Herein we show a new Zintl phase NaCdSb with exceptional intrinsic thermoelectric performance. Pristine NaCdSb exhibits semiconductor behaviors with an experimental hole concentration of 2.9×1018 cm−3 and a calculated band gap of 0.5 eV. As the temperature increases, the hole concentration rises gradually and approaches its optimal one, leading to a high power factor of 11.56 μW cm−1 K−2 at 673 K. The ultralow thermal conductivity is derived from the small phonon group velocity and short phonon lifetime, ascribed to the structural anharmonicity of Cd−Sb bonds. As a consequence, a maximum zT of 1.3 at 673 K has been achieved without any doping optimization or structural modification, demonstrating that NaCdSb is a remarkable thermoelectric compound with great potential for performance improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Zintl phases are promising thermoelectric materials owning to their features like narrow band gaps, multiband behaviors, ideal charge transport tunnels, and loosely bound cations. Herein we show a new Zintl phase NaCdSb with exceptional intrinsic thermoelectric performance. Pristine NaCdSb exhibits semiconductor behaviors with an experimental hole concentration of 2.9×1018 cm−3 and a calculated band gap of 0.5 eV. As the temperature increases, the hole concentration rises gradually and approaches its optimal one, leading to a high power factor of 11.56 μW cm−1 K−2 at 673 K. The ultralow thermal conductivity is derived from the small phonon group velocity and short phonon lifetime, ascribed to the structural anharmonicity of Cd−Sb bonds. As a consequence, a maximum zT of 1.3 at 673 K has been achieved without any doping optimization or structural modification, demonstrating that NaCdSb is a remarkable thermoelectric compound with great potential for performance improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The data show that long-term 150 mT SMF exposure enhanced the motility and alleviated the mental status of adult female mice by modulating glucose metabolism and gut microbiota, increasing the level of beneficial flora and antioxidant capacity. This certificated that moderate intensity long-term SMF exposure has the potential to ameliorate the locomotive and exploratory capacity and negative mood associated with female growth. Because of the high cost and safety of ultra-high magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), its application has certain limitations. Whereas 0.5–3 T MRI has been widely applied in hospitals, static magnetic fields (SMFs) have been shown to improve mice mental health and have anti-tumor potentials. Here, we compared the effects of the upward and downward 150 mT SMF groups with the sham group on C57BL/6J adult female mice. Locomotor and exploratory activity were also measured by behavioral tests, including the open field and elevated plus test. Additionally, physiology, pathology indicators and gut microbiota were examined. We found that 150 mT SMFs long-term exposure enhanced locomotive and exploratory activity of mice, especially the downward 150 mT SMF. Compared with the downward 150 mT SMF group, the movement speed and distance in the center area of the sham group were increased by 65.99% (p < 0.0001) and 68.58% (p = 0.0038), respectively. Moreover, compared to the sham group, downward 150 mT SMF increased the number of entrances to the center area by 67.0% (p = 0.0082) and time in the center area by 77.12% (p = 0.0054). Additionally, we observed that upward 150 mT SMF improved the number of follicles (~2.5 times, p = 0.0325) and uterine glands through increasing the total antioxidant capacity and reducing lipid peroxidation level in mice. Gut microbiome analysis showed that 150 mT SMFs long-term exposure improved the microbiota abundance (Clostridium, Bifidobacterium, Ralstonia and Yaniella) in the genus level, which may affect metabolism, anxiety and behavior in adult female mice. Our results demonstrated that 150 mT SMFs long-term exposure not only had good biosafety, but also improved athletic performance, emotion and the function of ovarian, uterine and gut microbiota abundance in adult female mice, which unraveled the potential of moderate long-term SMF exposure in clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a group of large-scale biofloc shrimp culturing facilities were designed. The bioflocs were domesticated by continuously reducing the ratio of carbon to feed. The bacterial community diversity on the 20th, 40th, 60th, and 80th days was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the biofloc content (0~16.8 ± 4.3) mL/L, TSS concentration (0~247.46 ± 27.3) mL/L, total ammonia nitrogen concentration (0~0.28 ± 0.052) mg/L, nitrite nitrogen concentration (0~4.13 ± 1.42) mg/L, nitrate nitrogen concentration (108.57 ± 19.6) mg/L were all within the safe concentration range of Litopenaeus vannamei. With the progress of reducing carbon input, the Chao1 index, the number of operational taxonomic units, and the Shannon index increased significantly. The number of OTUs of B80 (572.36 ± 13.26) was significantly higher than that of B60 (489.69 ± 12.97), B40 (423.35 ± 18.46) and B20 (407.67 ± 15.65) (p < 0.05). The Chao1 index of B80 (768.58 ± 36.96) was significantly higher than that of B60 (646.8 ± 52.53), B40 (569.7 ± 46.53) and B20 (516.3 ± 21.35) (p < 0.05). The Shannon index of B80 (5.63 ± 0.16) was higher than that of B60 (4.85 ± 0.13), B40 (4.68 ± 0.21) and B20 (3.65 ± 0.22), with significant difference (p < 0.05). At the end of the experiment, the domestication formed a micro-ecosystem with Proteobacteria as the carrier (46.98 ± 15.82%), Chloroflexi as the skeleton (2.2 ± 0.36%), Nitrospirae (1.35 ± 0.26%) as the main water treatment functional bacteria, and other bacteria as auxiliary nitrogen and phosphorus removal; At the genus level, unclassified_f_Rhodobacteracea (22.97 ± 3.82%), Ruegeria (10.35 ± 1.26%), Muricauda (5.73 ± 0.61%), Algoriphagus (3.75% ± 0.85%) and Nitrospira (1.56 ± 0.56%) are the dominant bacteria. Under the synergistic effect of the above bacteria, the biofloc system remains relatively stable. The survival rate and unit yield of shrimp were (65.32 ± 6.85)% and (4.15 ± 1.58) kg/m3, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phonons play a vital role in lattice dynamics, so a better understanding of anharmonic phonon scattering in van der Waals material MnPS3 is of great significance for its potential applications. Here, we employed Raman spectrum, in situ x-ray diffraction, and first-principles calculations for detailed research. The volume thermal expansion coefficient of MnPS3 was reported. Through the symmetric phonon scattering model, it is confirmed that cubic phonon processes play a major role in P2, P3, P4, and P5 peaks, while quartic phonon processes play an indispensable role in most peaks. The covalent bond was found to be more susceptible to anharmonic phonon scattering than ionic bonds, which is reflected in the wavenumber redshift. Moreover, asymmetric phonon scattering channels also play a meaningful role. Different cubic phonon scattering channels greatly influence the fitting results, and various quartic phonon scattering channels are diverse in highly nonlinear linewidth broadening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonclinical safety profile of GS-8873, a hepatitis B virus RNA transcript inhibitor was evaluated in rat and monkey 13-week toxicity studies with 8-week recovery phases. Vehicle or GS-8873 was dosed orally for 13 weeks at 2, 6, 20, and 60 mg/kg/day to Wistar Han rats and at 0.5, 1.5, 3, and 6 mg/kg/day to cynomolgus monkeys. In vitro and in vivo screening results from an analog discovered prior to GS-8873 informed the 13-week toxicology study designs. Neuroelectrophysiology and neurobehavioral evaluations were included at weeks 4 and 13 of the dosing and recovery phases for GS-8873. No adverse neurobehavioral effects were observed. Significant nerve conduction velocity (NCV) decreases and latency increases occurred at the high doses after 4 weeks of dosing. By week 13, dose-responsive NCV reductions and latency increases worsened across all dose groups compared with controls. Some reversal occurred 8 weeks after the last dose administered, but not to vehicle control levels. A minimal, axonal degeneration was observed in rat spinal and peripheral nerves across dose groups compared with controls. No monkey nervous system microscopic findings were observed. No-observed-adverse-effect-levels could not be determined for either species due to the neuroelectrophysiology findings and development was halted in the interest of safety. A retrospective risk assessment approach utilizing benchmark dose (BMD) modeling contributed 13-week NCV BMDL estimates (lower limits of the 95% confidence interval) in lieu of no-observed-adverse-effect-levels. The best-fitted models extrapolated NCV BMDLs for the rat caudal and monkey sural nerve at 0.3 and 0.1 mg/kg/day, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosoma is a genus of parasitic trematodes that undergoes complex migration in final hosts, finally developing into adult worms, which are responsible for egg production and disease dissemination. Recent studies documented the importance of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the regulation of host-parasite interactions. Herein, we investigated the microRNA (miRNA) profiles of EVs isolated from host plasma at different stages of Schistosoma japonicum infection (lung stage: 3 days post-infection (dpi), and liver stages: 14 and 21 dpi) to identify miRNA cargo potentially involved in the pathogenesis and immune regulation of schistosomiasis. Characterization of the isolated plasma EVs revealed their diameter to be approximately 100 nm, containing typical EV markers such as Hsp70 and Tsg101. Deep sequencing analysis indicated the presence of 811 known and 15 novel miRNAs with an increasing number of differential miRNAs from the lung stage (27 miRNAs) to the liver stages (58 and 96 miRNAs at 14 and 21 dpi, respectively) in the plasma EVs of infected mice compared to EVs isolated from the uninfected control. In total, 324 plasma EV miRNAs were shown to be co-detected among different stages of infection and the validation of selected miRNAs showed trends of abundance similar to deep sequencing analysis. For example, miR-1a-3p and miR-122-5p showed higher abundance, whereas miR-150-3p and miR-126a showed lower abundance in the plasma EVs of infected mice at 3, 14, and 21 dpi as compared to those of uninfected mice. In addition, bioinformatic analysis combined with PCR validation of the miRNA targets, particularly those associated with the immune system and parasitic infectious disease, indicated a significant increase in the expression of Gbp7 and Ccr5 in contrast to the decreased expression of Fermt3, Akt1 , and IL-12a. Our results suggested that the abundance of miRNA cargo of the host plasma EVs was related to the stages of Schistosoma japonicum infection. Further studies on the roles of these miRNAs may reveal the regulatory mechanism of the host-parasite interaction. Moreover, the differentially abundant miRNA cargo in host EVs associated with S. japonicum infection may also provide valuable clues for identifying novel biomarkers for schistosomiasis diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of phonon scattering processes is urgent for advancing the thermoelectric material with low thermal conductivity for commercial application. In this work, Raman scattering spectroscopy is utilized to quantify the temperature dependence of vibrational modes in ZrTe5 crystals, which enables the investigation on anharmonic contributions. We mainly focus on the temperature range from 80 up to 400 K due to noticeable surface oxidation at higher temperature. The phonon behaviors can be fully described by the model considering two mechanisms of the lattice thermal expansion effects and intrinsic anharmonicity. The four‐phonon processes are non‐negligible and even stronger than the three‐phonon processes at high temperature. The phonon lifetime is greatly reduced by the enhancement of phonon scattering, contributing to the low thermal conductivity in ZrTe5 single crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite is harmful to aquatic animals in freshwater pond aquaculture environments. Nitrite is oxidized to nitrate mainly by nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). NOB may be promising in the control of nitrite concentration in aquaculture water. To better understand the role of NOB in the nitrogen cycling process of freshwater aquaculture ponds, we describe the characterization of NOB by using a culture derived from a freshwater aquaculture pond. Analysis by 16S rRNA sequence alignment showed that the NOB in the culture belong to the genus Nitrospira, whose generation time and nitrite–oxidizing rate were 9.87 h and 4.63 (± 0.07) pg NO2−–N cell−1·h−1 in the exponential growth phase, respectively. The oxidation of nitrite could be inhibited completely when the concentration of dissolved oxygen was 1.0 ± 0.5 mg/L.−1 The NOB could oxidize nitrite into nitrate at 29.84‰ salinity. However, the nitrification rate decreased significantly with an increase in salinity concentration ranging from 5.72‰ to 29.84‰. The optimal temperature range was 25–37 °C for the growth of NOB, and activity significantly decreased when the temperature was below 20 °C or reached 40 °C. In this study, the initial pH 6 ± 0.1–8 ± 0.1 was not observed to affect the nitrification activity of the NOB culture. Illumination of 410 ± 10 nm can completely inhibit NOB nitrification, and 520 ± 10 nm illumination partially inhibits NOB, whereas 660 ± 10 nm illumination has no effect. These findings indicate that the degree of photoinhibition in NOB increases with decreasing wavelength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive ammonia produced in pond aquaculture processes cannot be ignored. In this review, we present the distribution and diversity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) in the pond environment. Combined with environmental conditions, we analyze the advantages of AOA and AnAOB in aquaculture water treatment and discuss the current situation of pond water treatment engineering involving these microbes. AOA and AnAOB play an important role in the nitrogen removal process of aquaculture pond water, especially in seasonal low temperatures and anoxic sediment layers. Finally, we prospect the application of bioreactors to purify pond aquaculture water using AOA and AnAOB, in autotrophic nitrogen removal, which can reduce the production of greenhouse gases (such as nitrous oxide) and is conducive to the development of environmentally sustainable pond aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐sized Gd3Al2.3Ga2.7O12:Ce single crystals are grown by the Czochralski method. The distribution of Al and Ga at octahedral (oct‐, 6‐oxygen‐coordinated) and tetrahedral (tet‐, 4‐oxygen‐coordinated) sites in the crystal is studied. Rietveld refinement is used to analyze the site occupation of Al and Ga. The results show that Ga ions with a larger radius than Al ions prefer to occupy the more compact tetrahedral sites. Density functional theory calculations show that the energy for a Ga ion at the tetrahedral site is lower than that at the octahedral site in the Gd3Al5O12 crystal, whereas the case for Al occupation in the Gd3Ga5O12 crystal is opposite. Slater rules are used to estimate the effective charge number of different ions, and the distribution of coordination ions around the octahedral and tetrahedral sites is analyzed. Then, the interaction between ions is simplified and the repulsive energy between Al/Ga and the coordination ions is calculated, which could provide reasonable understanding on the abnormal occupation. In addition, the occupation of Sc in Gd/Y garnet systems is also discussed using this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of phonon–phonon anharmonic effect in HfTe5 is essential not only for fundamental scientific interest but also for its potential thermoelectric applications. Here, rectangular ribbon‐shaped HfTe5 single crystals have been grown. Raman spectroscopy is further utilized to investigate the phonon anharmonicity of HfTe5 by quantifying the temperature dependence of the phonon mode softening and broadening. We focus on the temperature range from 80 up to 400 K since obvious surface oxidation occurs at higher temperatures. It is found that four phonon anharmonic effects are non‐negligible. The phonon lifetime is greatly reduced by the enhancement of phonon scattering, resulting in the low thermal conductivity in HfTe5 single crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pond aquaculture undeniably offers the potential for food production worldwide. In China, 45.83% of aquatic production is currently from pond aquaculture. However, with the continuous expansion of this practice, environmental problems such as a high level of water consumption, aquaculture water deterioration, pollution from effluent and aquatic product quality decline seriously restrict the sustainable development of pond aquaculture. In this review, we summarise the (i) the impacts of pond aquaculture on the environment, (ii) research progress in pond aquaculture ecological engineering, (iii) existing technologies regarding pond aquaculture ecological engineering systems, (iv) effects of applying pond aquaculture ecological engineering and (v) summary and prospects. Moreover, we discuss the merits and drawbacks of each method and technology, and future research priorities are reviewed. With this, an understanding of the role played by ecological engineering in pond aquaculture is provided, as well as guidance for precisely managing aquaculture water and effluent, aquaculture practices, and technological developments. In summary, the pond aquaculture ecological engineering can be managed so as to improve animal welfare and the stability of water treatment systems, reducing the adverse effects on the environment and public health, and enabling the sustainable development of pond aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomes are the causative agent of schistosomiasis, which affects more than 200 million people worldwide. Unlike other trematode parasites, schistosomes (along with the Didymozoidae) have evolved separate sexes. Pairing of males and females is a prerequisite for female sexual development and subsequent egg production. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes remain poorly understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been shown to play important roles in many biological processes. In the present study, we characterized EVs isolated from adult male and female Schistosoma japonicum. Proteomic analyses of the isolated EVs revealed that some proteins are significantly enriched in male or female EVs. RNA-sequencing analysis of a small RNA population associated with EVs identified 18 miRNAs enriched in male and female S. japonicum EVs. Among these, miR-750 was specifically enriched in female EVs. Additionally, the inhibition of miR-750 by a miRNA inhibitor led to decreased egg production in female schistosomes cultured in vitro. Collectively, our results suggest that miR-750 within female EV cargo may be involved in regulating ovary development and egg production in S. japonicum females. Author summary: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the genus Schistosoma and affects more than 200 million people worldwide. Previously, we and other groups found that Schistosoma japonicum can secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are taken up by mammalian cells. Here, we characterized EVs isolated from adult male and female S. japonicum and found that some proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) were significantly enriched in male or female EVs. More importantly, the inhibition of miR-750, which is specifically enriched in female EVs, resulted in decreased egg production. Overall, our study suggests that female EV miRNA cargo may play important roles in regulating female ovary development and egg production during male-female pairing in S. japonicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoinhibition of ammonia oxidation occurs widely in aquatic environments and could suppress the nitrification rate, lead to the composition variation of inorganic nitrogen and influence the stability of aquatic ecosystems. Both ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea are sensitive to light. The extent of photoinhibition and the time required for recovery depend on light wavelength, intensity, photon quantity and strains. Strong evidence indicates that photoinhibition in AOB by visible light is mainly caused by irreversible damage to ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) and the degradation of AMO is beneficial to AOB recovery. This review discusses photoinhibition in metabolic pathways used by ammonia oxidizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosoma is the causative agent of schistosomiasis, a common infectious disease distributed worldwide. Our previous phosphoproteomic analysis suggested that glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), a conserved protein kinase in eukaryotes, is likely involved in protein phosphorylation of Schistosoma japonicum. Here, we aimed to identify the interacting partners of S. japonicum GSK3β (SjGSK3β) and to evaluate its role in parasite survival. Toward these ends, we determined the transcription levels of SjGSK3β at different developmental stages and identified its interacting partners of SjGSK3β by screening a yeast two-hybrid S. japonicum cDNA library. We further used RNA interference (RNAi) to inhibit the expression of SjGSK3β in adult worms in vitro and examined the resultant changes in transcription of its putative interacting proteins and in worm viability compared with those of control worms. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain analysis indicated that SjGSK3β is expressed throughout the life cycle of S. japonicum, with higher expression levels detected in the eggs and relatively higher expression level found in male worms than in female worms. By screening the yeast two-hybrid library, eight proteins were identified as potentially interacting with SjGSK3β including cell division cycle 37 homolog (Cdc37), 14-3-3 protein, tegument antigen (I(H)A), V-ATPase proteolipid subunit, myosin alkali light chain 1, and three proteins without recognized functional domains. In addition, SjGSK3β RNAi reduced the SjGSK3β gene transcript level, leading to a significant decrease in kinase activity, cell viability, and worm survival. Collectively, these findings suggested that SjGSK3β may interact with its partner proteins to influence worm survival by regulating kinase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Velpatasvir is a pan‐genotypic hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A inhibitor, which is used with sofosbuvir for treatment of infection with HCV genotypes 1‐6. In vitro resistance studies were performed to characterize NS5A changes that might confer reduced velpatasvir susceptibility in vivo. Resistance selection studies using HCV replicon cells for subtypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a and 6a identified NS5A resistance‐associated substitutions (RASs) at nine positions, most often 28M/S/T, 31F/I/M/P/V and 93D/H/N/S. In subtype 1a, RASs were selected at positions 31 and/or 93, while in subtype 1b, replicons with two or more RASs at positions 31, 54 or 93 were selected. Y93H was selected in subtypes 1a, 1b, 2a, 3a and 4a. In subtype 5a or 6a, L31P or P32L/Q was selected, respectively. Velpatasvir susceptibility of 358 replicons from genotypes 1 to 6 containing one or more NS5A RASs was also evaluated. The majority (63%) of subtypes 1a and 1b single RAS‐containing replicons retained susceptibility to velpatasvir (<2.5‐fold change in EC50). High levels of resistance to velpatasvir were observed for six single mutants in subtype 1a, including M28G, A92K, Y93H/N/R/W and for one mutant, A92K, in subtype 1b. Most single mutants in subtypes 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a and 5a displayed low levels of reduced velpatasvir susceptibility. High‐level resistance was observed for C92T and Y93H/N in subtype 2b, Y93H/S in 3a, and L31V and P32A/L/Q/R in 6a, and several double mutants in these subtypes. Overall, velpatasvir maintained activity against most common RASs that are known to confer resistance to first‐generation NS5A inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosome infection persists for decades. Parasites are in close contact with host peripheral blood immune cells, yet little is known about the regulatory interactions between parasites and these immune cells. Here, we report that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from Schistosoma japonicum are taken up primarily by macrophages and other host peripheral blood immune cells and their miRNA cargo transferred into recipient cells. Uptake of S. japonicum EV miR-125b and bantam miRNAs into host cells increased macrophage proliferation and TNF-α production by regulating the corresponding targets including Pros1, Fam212b, and Clmp. Mice infected with S. japonicum exhibit an increased population of monocytes and elevated levels of TNF-α. Reduction of host monocytes and TNF-α level in S. japonicum infected mice led to a significant reduction in worm and egg burden and pathology. Overall, we demonstrate that S. japonicum EV miRNAs can regulate host macrophages illustrating parasite modulation of the host immune response to facilitate parasite survival. Our findings provide valuable insights into the schistosome-host interaction which may help to develop novel intervention strategies against schistosomiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture ponds are simple and unique ecosystems, which are affected intensively by human activities. In this mini-review, we focus our attention on the distribution and community diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in pond water and sediments, as well as the possible ecological mechanisms involved. Moreover, we discuss the possibility of increasing the activity of ammonia-oxidizing organisms in order to improve the water quality in aquaculture ponds. Compared with eutrophic lakes, the significantly higher ammonia concentration in pond water does not lead to significantly higher AOB levels, and the abundance of AOA is too low to quantify accurately. Similar to eutrophic lakes, high abundances of AOA and AOB are present in the surface sediments at the same time, where the oxidation of ammonia is performed mainly by AOB. AOB and AOA exhibit significant seasonal variations in aquaculture ponds, which are affected by the temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The dominant AOB species are Nitrosomonas and the Nitrosospira lineage in pond environments. Nitrososphaera or members of the Nitrososphaera-like cluster dominate the AOA species in surface sediments, whereas the Nitrosopumilus cluster dominates the deeper sediments. AOB and AOA can be enriched on artificial substrates suspended in the pond water, thereby potentially improving the water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T cell immunity plays a vital role in pathogen infections. MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small, single‐stranded noncoding RNAs that regulate T cell immunity by targeting key transcriptional factors, signaling proteins, and cytokines associated with T cell activation, differentiation, and function. The dysregulation of miRNA expression in T cells may lead to specific immune responses and can provide new therapeutic opportunities against various infectious diseases. Here, we summarize recent studies that focus on the roles of miRNAs in T cell immunity and highlight miRNA functions in prevalent infectious diseases. Additionally, we also provide insights into the functions of extracellular vesicle miRNAs and attempt to delineate the mechanism of miRNA sorting into extracellular vesicles and their immunomodulatory functions. Moreover, methodologies and strategies for miRNA delivery against infectious diseases are summarized. Finally, potential strategies for miRNA‐based therapies are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the serious side effects of chemotherapy drugs against lung cancer, and the antitumor properties and high safety of magnetic fields, the present study combined moderate or ultra-high intensity statics magnetic fields (SMFs) with platycodin D (PD) to explore the antitumor efficiency and biosafety. The antitumor effects of PD with or without moderate and ultra-high SMFs on A549 cells bearing mice were compared. Mouse body weight, food/water intake, hematology routine, blood biochemistry, tumor weight and tissues hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were examined. Behavior was measured using the elevated plus maze, open field and vital signs tests. The combined targets of PD and SMFs were detected using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). The results showed that the antitumor effect of 22 Tesla (T) SMF group was 3.6-fold higher compared with that of the 2 mg/kg PD group (tumor growth inhibition=10.08%), while the antitumor effect of 150 mT SMF was only 1.56-fold higher compared with that of PD. Although PD reduced the food intake, there was no significant difference in body weight, water intake or food consumption among PD and SMF groups. Behavioral results indicated that PD ameliorated dysphoria in mice, but SMFs reduced this effect. However, no significant abnormalities were found in routine blood, blood biochemistry test, H&E staining or organ index, except renal index which was reduced by PD with or without SMFs. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) demonstrated that SMFs and PD synergistically targeted the expression of genes associated with tumor growth, inflammation and neurological disease. The present study showed the antitumor efficacy and biosafety of moderate or ultra-high SMF combined with PD, which exhibited only few side effects in the treatment of lung cancer, thus supporting further research for the clinical application of magnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomes are the causative agents of human schistosomiasis, which is endemic in tropical and subtropical zones. CD63 is a member of the tetraspanin protein family widely expressed among eukaryotes. Previously, we identified a CD63 homolog from extracellular vesicles isolated from Schistosoma japonicum. In this study, we characterized this CD63 homolog using a molecular approach and evaluated the potential of its recombinant protein for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. A sequence alignment indicated that S. japonicum CD63 (SjCD63) has sequence identities of 76 and 28% with S. mansoni and human CD63, respectively. A phylogenetic analysis displayed that S. japonicum CD63 is related to S. mansoni and Opisthorchis viverrini CD63. The cDNA of SjCD63 was 740 bp long with an expected protein size of 23.58 kDa. A RT-qPCR analysis revealed significantly higher expression of SjCD63 mRNA in adult worms on days 21, 28, and 35 than in 7-day schistosomula, cercariae, and eggs. In addition, recombinant SjCD63 protein detected by ELISA revealed significantly higher optical density values compared to that of the negative control in both S. japonicum-infected mouse and rabbit sera, providing preliminary evidence for its diagnostic potential. Overall, these results provide insight into the molecular properties of SjCD63, its expression profiles, and its preliminary diagnostic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epitaxial La 2 / 3 Ca 1 / 3 MnO3 (LCMO) thin films of 60 nm are deposited on (001)-oriented SrTiO3 (STO) and LaAlO3 (LAO) substrate by modified off-axis magnetron sputtering method. The strain state of the films have been studied by high resolution X-ray diffraction. The magneto-transport properties were found to be strongly dependent on the substrate used. Compared with LCMO/LAO film (compressive strain), LCMO/STO film with tensile strain exhibits lower metal-insulator transition temperature, suppressed Curie temperature, higher resistivity and more localization of electron. The evolution of the Raman modes has also been investigated. The vibrational mode of LCMO/LAO is comparable to the bulk, while the signature of vibration mode at about 610 cm − 1 induced by strain-related distortion has been observed only in tensile strained LCMO/STO case. The controversial 660 cm − 1 peak is not observed in our films, which precludes the possible existence of Mn3O4 precipitates in the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomes are causative agents of human schistosomiasis, which is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Adult schistosomes can survive in their final hosts for several decades, and they have evolved various strategies to overcome the host immune response. Consequently, understanding the mechanisms that regulate parasitic cell survival will open avenues for developing novel strategies against schistosomiasis. Our previous study suggested that an inhibitor of apoptosis protein in Schistosoma japonicum (SjIAP) may play important roles in parasitic survival and development. Here, we demonstrated that SjIAP can negatively regulate cellular apoptosis in S. japonicum by suppressing caspase activity. Immunohistochemistry analysis indicated that SjIAP ubiquitously expressed within the worm body including the tegument. Silencing of SjIAP expression via small interfering RNA led to destruction of the tegument integrity in schistosomes. We further used co-immunoprecipitation to identify interaction partners of SjIAP and revealed the tegument protein SjTeg-20 as a putative interacting partner of SjIAP. The interaction between SjIAP and SjTeg-20 was confirmed by a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay. Moreover, results of a TUNEL assay, RNA interference, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, caspase assays, transcript profiling, and protein localization of both interacting molecules provided first evidence for an essential role of SjIAP and SjTeg-20 to maintain the structural integrity of the tegument by negatively regulating apoptosis. Taken together, our findings suggest that the cooperative activities of SjIAP and SjTeg-20 belong to the strategic inventory of S. japonicum ensuring survival in the hostile environment within the vasculature of the final host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by trematode of the genus Schistosoma. Successful reproductive development is critical for the production of eggs, which are responsible for host pathology and disease dissemination. Endogenous small non-coding RNAs play important roles in many biological processes such as protection against foreign pathogens, cell differentiation, and chromosomal stability by regulating target gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In this study, we performed in silico analysis of endogenous small non-coding RNAs in different stages, and sex of S. japonicum focusing on endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs) generated from transposable elements (TEs) and natural antisense transcripts (NATs). Both total and unique siRNA populations show 18-30 nt in length, but the predominant size was 20 nt and the leading first base was adenosine. Sense TE-derived endo-siRNAs reads were higher than antisense reads at different relative positions of TEs, whereas no such difference was observed for NAT-derived endo-siRNAs. TE- and NAT-derived endo-siRNAs were more enriched in the male compared to female worms, with the higher relative expression in early phase of pairing. Putative targets of endo-siRNAs indicated more of them in males (106 and 66) than in females (6 and 23) for TE- and NAT-derived endo-siRNAs, respectively. Our preliminary study revealed vital role of endo-siRNAs during the reproductive development of S. japonicum and provide clues for putative novel targets to suppress worm reproduction and direction for effective anti-schistosomal drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the different biological properties of articular cartilage and subchondral bone, it remains significant challenge to construct a bi-lineage constructive scaffold. In this study, manganese (Mn)-doped β-TCP (Mn-TCP) scaffolds with varied Mn contents are prepared by a 3D-printing technology. The effects of Mn on the physicochemical properties, bioactivity, and corresponding mechanism for stimulating osteochondral regeneration are systematically investigated. The incorporation of Mn into β-TCP lowers the lattices parameters and crystallization temperatures, but improves the scaffold density and compressive strength. The ionic products from Mn-TCP significantly improve the proliferation of both rabbit chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), as well as promote the differentiation of chondrocytes and rBMSCs. The in vivo study shows that Mn-TCP scaffolds distinctly improve the regeneration of subchondral bone and cartilage tissues as compared to TCP scaffolds, upon transplantation in rabbit osteochondral defects for 8 and 12 weeks. The mechanism is closely related to the Mn2+ ions significantly stimulated the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes through activating HIF pathway and protected chondrocytes from the inflammatory osteoarthritis environment by activating autophagy. These findings suggest that 3D-printing of Mn-containing scaffolds with improved physicochemical properties and bilineage bioactivities represents an intelligent strategy for regenerating osteochondral defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the different biological properties of articular cartilage and subchondral bone, it remains significant challenge to construct a bi-lineage constructive scaffold. In this study, manganese (Mn)-doped β-TCP (Mn-TCP) scaffolds with varied Mn contents are prepared by a 3D-printing technology. The effects of Mn on the physicochemical properties, bioactivity, and corresponding mechanism for stimulating osteochondral regeneration are systematically investigated. The incorporation of Mn into β-TCP lowers the lattices parameters and crystallization temperatures, but improves the scaffold density and compressive strength. The ionic products from Mn-TCP significantly improve the proliferation of both rabbit chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), as well as promote the differentiation of chondrocytes and rBMSCs. The in vivo study shows that Mn-TCP scaffolds distinctly improve the regeneration of subchondral bone and cartilage tissues as compared to TCP scaffolds, upon transplantation in rabbit osteochondral defects for 8 and 12 weeks. The mechanism is closely related to the Mn2+ ions significantly stimulated the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes through activating HIF pathway and protected chondrocytes from the inflammatory osteoarthritis environment by activating autophagy. These findings suggest that 3D-printing of Mn-containing scaffolds with improved physicochemical properties and bilineage bioactivities represents an intelligent strategy for regenerating osteochondral defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pluripotent stem cells, called neoblasts, are well known for the regenerative capability and developmental plasticity in flatworms. Impressive advancement has been made in free-living flatworms, while in case of its parasitic counterpart, neoblast-like stem cells have attracted recent attention for its self-renewal and differentiation capacity. Nanos is a key conserved post-transcriptional regulator critical for the formation, development, and/or maintenance of the pluripotent germ line stem cell systems in many metazoans including schistosomes. In the present study, we report the molecular cloning and expression of nanos orthologous genes nanos in Schistosoma japonicum ( Sjnanos). The cDNA of Sjnanos is 826 bp long, containing an open reading frame (ORF) for 223 amino acid long protein. qRT-PCR analysis shown that Sjnanos was differently expressed in several stages of schistosomes with relatively high level in schistosomula. Additionally, Sjnanos was expressed highly in adult females compared to adult males. Transfection of recombinant plasmid for expressing Sjnanos resulted in significant proliferation and increased expression of several stem cell factors in mammalian cells. Overall, our preliminary study provides the molecular basis to further functionally characterize Sjnanos in S. japonicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of a portable solar water quality control machine (PSWM) on water quality and sediment of aquaculture ponds were studied in bream aquaculture ponds in Shanghai, China. PSWM operation reduced the temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) differences between upper and lower water levels. Concentrations of NH -N, NO -N, TN, TP, COD and TSS increased rapidly and reached maximums at 12 h. The density and biomass of phytoplankton and levels of chlorophyll a reached maximums after 40 h of PSWM operation. In a 165-day study, the mean concentrations of NH -N, NO -N and the available phosphorous (AP) in the PSWM ponds were significantly lower than in the control ponds, but the TP was significantly greater than the control ponds. Compared with the test began, the thickness of the sediment in PSWM ponds declined by 12.4 ± 4.3 cm, the control ponds increased by 5.0 ± 2.3 cm and the TN and AP levels in sediment significantly declined. PSWM treatment increased the production of bream and silver carp by 30 and 25%, respectively, and the feed coefficient was reduced by 24.2%. Use of PSWM in bream aquaculture ponds improved water quality, reduced sediment, reduced aquaculture pollution emissions and increased production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural maintenance of chromosome 5/6 complex (Smc5/6) is a restriction factor that represses hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcription. HBV counters this restriction by expressing HBV X protein (HBx), which targets Smc5/6 for degradation. However, the mechanism by which Smc5/6 suppresses HBV transcription and how HBx is initially expressed is not known. In this study we characterized viral kinetics and the host response during HBV infection of primary human hepatocytes (PHH) to address these unresolved questions. We determined that Smc5/6 localizes with Nuclear Domain 10 (ND10) in PHH. Co-localization has functional implications since depletion of ND10 structural components alters the nuclear distribution of Smc6 and induces HBV gene expression in the absence of HBx. We also found that HBV infection and replication does not induce a prominent global host transcriptional response in PHH, either shortly after infection when Smc5/6 is present, or at later times post-infection when Smc5/6 has been degraded. Notably, HBV and an HBx-negative virus establish high level infection in PHH without inducing expression of interferon-stimulated genes or production of interferons or other cytokines. Our study also revealed that Smc5/6 is degraded in the majority of infected PHH by the time cccDNA transcription could be detected and that HBx RNA is present in cell culture-derived virus preparations as well as HBV patient plasma. Collectively, these data indicate that Smc5/6 is an intrinsic antiviral restriction factor that suppresses HBV transcription when localized to ND10 without inducing a detectable innate immune response. Our data also suggest that HBx protein may be initially expressed by delivery of extracellular HBx RNA into HBV-infected cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ is a very promising red phosphor for high color rendering white light-emitting diodes (wLEDs), but a large part of its emission covers wavelengths longer than 700 nm, which is not detectable by the human eye and thus wasted. Optimizing its luminescence properties will allow us to further enhance the overall optical properties of wLEDs. In this contribution, the luminescence spectra of Ce3+ or Eu2+-activated CaAlSiN3 were tuned and tailored by introducing isostructural Si2N2O to form solid solutions of Ca1−xAl1−xSi1+xN3−xOx (x = 0–0.22). The structural evolutions, microstructure, luminescence, thermal quenching and quantum efficiency of Ca1−xAl1−xSi1+xN3−xOx:RE (RE = Ce3+, Eu2+) were investigated and clarified by using various analytic techniques. Upon introducing Si2N2O into CaAlSiN3, the Ce3+-doped CaAl1−xSi1+xN3−xOx shifted its peak emission from 606 to 575 nm and retained the band width of 145 nm, whereas the Eu2+-doped one blue-shifted its emission from 650 to 638 nm and broadened its band width from 90 to 122 nm, owing to the structural distortion and disorder as well as the band gap broadening associated with the solid solution formation. By combining these phosphors with a blue LED, high color rendering (Ra) and luminous efficacy (η) white LEDs were realized (Ra = 82.5 and η = 104 lm W−1 for the Ce3+-doped phosphors, and Ra = 97 and η = 101 lm W−1 for the Eu2+-doped phosphors). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomes, blood flukes, are an important global public health concern. Paired adult female schistosomes produce large numbers of eggs that are primarily responsible for the disease pathology and critical for dissemination. Consequently, understanding schistosome sexual maturation and egg production may open novel perspectives for intervening with these processes to prevent clinical symptoms and to interrupt the life-cycle of these blood-flukes. microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of many biological processes including development, cell proliferation, metabolism, and signal transduction. Here, we report on the identification of Schistosoma japonicum miRNAs using small RNA deep sequencing in the key stages of male-female pairing, gametogenesis, and egg production. We identified 38 miRNAs, including 10 previously unknown miRNAs. Eighteen of the miRNAs were differentially expressed between male and female schistosomes and during different stages of sexual maturation. We identified 30 potential target genes for 16 of the S. japonicum miRNAs using antibody-based pull-down assays and bioinformatic analyses. We further validated some of these target genes using either in vitro luciferase assays or in vivo miRNA suppression experiments. Notably, suppression of the female enriched miRNAs bantam and miR-31 led to morphological alteration of ovaries in female schistosomes. These findings uncover key roles for specific miRNAs in schistosome sexual maturation and egg production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bream pond aquaculture plays a very important role in China’s aquaculture industry and is the main source of aquatic products. To regulate and control pond water quality and sediment, a movable solar pond aquaculture water quality regulation machine (SMWM) was designed and used. This machine is solar-powered and moves on water, and its primary components are a solar power supply device, a sediment lifting device, a mechanism for walking on the water’s surface and a control system. The solar power supply device provides power for the machine, and the water walking mechanism drives the machine’s motion on the water. The sediment lifting device orbits the main section of the machine and affects a large area of the pond. Tests of the machine’s mechanical properties revealed that the minimum illumination necessary for the SMWM to function is 13,000 Lx and that its stable speed on the water is 0.02–0.03 m/s. For an illumination of 13,000–52,500 Lx, the sediment lifting device runs at 0.13–0.35 m/s, and its water delivery capacity is 110–208 m3/h. The sediment lifting device is able to fold away, and the angle of the suction chamber can be adjusted, making the machine work well in ponds at different water depths from 0.5 m to 2 m. The optimal distance from the sediment lifting device to the bottom of the pond is 10–15 cm. In addition, adjusting the length of the connecting rod and the direction of the traction rope allows the SMWM to work in a pond water area greater than 80%. The analysis of water quality in Wuchang bream (Parabramis pekinensis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) culture ponds using the SMWM resulted in decreased NH3+–N and available phosphorus concentrations and increased TP concentrations. The TN content and the amount of available phosphorus in the sediment were reduced. In addition, the fish production showed that the SMWM enhanced the yields of Wuchang bream and silver carp by more than 30% and 24%, respectively. These results indicate that the SMWM may be suitable for Wuchang bream pond aquaculture in China and that it can be used in pond aquaculture for regulating and controlling water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Acheilognathus hypselonotus is firstly described in this article. The total length of the mitogenome is 16,706 bp. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes and 2 ribosomal RNA genes. The overall base composition of the H-strand is 29.03% A, 25.6% C, 28.13% T, and 17.25% G, with an A＋T bias of 57.16%. The phylogenetic analysis result showed that the A. hypselonotus, A. typus and A. macropterus were a close relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depolarization temperature Td determines the upper temperature limit for the application of piezoelectric materials. However, the origin of depolarization behavior for Bi-based materials still remains controversial and the mechanism is intricate for different (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-based systems. In this work, the structure and depolarization behavior of (1-x)(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-xBiAlO3 (BNT-BA, x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.07) ceramics were investigated using a combination of X-ray diffraction and electrical measurements. It was found that as temperature increased, the induced long-range ferroelectric phase irreversibly transformed to the relaxor phase as evidenced by the temperature-dependent ferroelectric and dielectric properties, which corresponded to a gradual structural change from the rhombohedral to the pseudocubic phase. Therefore, the thermal depolarization behavior of BNT-BA ceramics was proposed to be directly related to the rhombohedral–pseudocubic transition. Furthermore, Td (obtained from thermally stimulated depolarization currents curves) was higher than the induced ferroelectric-relaxor phase transition temperature TFR (measured from dielectric curves). The phenomenon was quite different from other reported BNT-based systems, which may suggest the formation of polar nanoregions (PNRs) within macrodomains prior to the detexturation of short-range ferroelectric domains with PNRs or nanodomains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water buffalo are less susceptible to Schistosoma japonicum infection than yellow cattle. The factors that affect such differences in susceptibility remain unknown. A Bos taurus genome-wide gene chip was used to analyze gene expression profiles in the peripheral blood of water buffalo and yellow cattle pre- and post-infection with S. japonicum. This study showed that most of the identified differentially expressed genes(DEGs) between water buffalo and yellow cattle pre- and post-infection were involved in immune-related processes, and the expression level of immune genes was lower in water buffalo. The unique DEGs (390) in yellow cattle were mainly associated with inflammation pathways, while the unique DEGs (2,114) in water buffalo were mainly associated with immune-related factors. The 83 common DEGs may be the essential response genes during S. japonicum infection, the highest two gene ontology (GO) functions were associated with the regulation of fibrinolysis. The pathway enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs constituted similar immune-related pathways pre- and post-infection between the two hosts. This first analysis of the transcriptional profiles of natural hosts has enabled us to gain new insights into the mechanisms that govern their susceptibility or resistance to S. japonicum infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ledipasvir, a direct acting antiviral agent (DAA) targeting the Hepatitis C Virus NS5A protein, exhibits picomolar activity in replicon cells. While its mechanism of action is unclear, mutations that confer resistance to ledipasvir in HCV replicon cells are located in NS5A, suggesting that NS5A is the direct target of ledipasvir. To date co-precipitation and cross-linking experiments in replicon or NS5A transfected cells have not conclusively shown a direct, specific interaction between NS5A and ledipasvir. Using recombinant, full length NS5A, we show that ledipasvir binds directly, with high affinity and specificity, to NS5A. Ledipasvir binding to recombinant NS5A is saturable with a dissociation constant in the low nanomolar range. A mutant form of NS5A (Y93H) that confers resistance to ledipasvir shows diminished binding to ledipasvir. The current study shows that ledipasvir inhibits NS5A through direct binding and that resistance to ledipasvir is the result of a reduction in binding affinity to NS5A mutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) play an important role in the regulation of apoptotic processes and are defined by the presence of baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) domains. Here, we characterized a cDNA fragment (SjBIRP) synthesized from the RNA of Schistosoma japonicum, which was found to contain the BIR domain, suggesting that it could encode a potential IAP. Real-time PCR analyses indicated that SjBIRP transcription was detected at several stages of the schistosome's lifecycle, with increased levels present in schistosomula (7 days). In addition, the SjBIRP was highly expressed in adult females as compared to adult males. A functional assay showed that SjBIRP could inhibit caspase3/7 activity in both HeLa cells and schistosome lysates. Furthermore, SjBIRP expression profiles varied between different hosts of S. japonicum. Taken together, our preliminary studies suggest that SjBIRP may play a functional role in the regulation of apoptosis in schistosomes, and that it could be a potential drug target for schistosomiasis control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]