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Toward resolving the problems of traditional public transport services in the case of lowdensity passenger flow, including high empty-loading rate, long waiting time, high operation cost, and so forth, in this paper, we propose a flexible public transport system adapted to the spatial-temporal variation of passenger flow, which takes advantage of modern information technology such as the Internet of Things and mobile Internet. This approach adopts a response mode based on requests from passengers and the automatic sensing mode of the Internet of Things to obtain dynamic information of passengers in real time and extracts the characteristics of passenger origination destination and their spatial-temporal distributions, which are used to classify the types of bus stops and formulate a parking strategy. From the aspects of vehicle scheduling, segmented scheduling and priority to unresponsive passengers in the previous vehicle are adopted, and the optimal scheduling model is established from the three aspects of total passenger income, interference loss of existing passengers, and the operation cost of the enterprise. The genetic algorithm is used to find the optimal route, and a simulation experiment based on the No. 214 bus in Guangzhou is performed for verification. The results show that the flexible public transport and scheduling method adapted to the spatial-temporal variation of passenger flow improves the revenue and expenditure ratio in comparison with the conventional flexible and traditional bus system, making it an effective way to solve the problem of public transport services in the case of low-density passenger flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel polysaccharide (AGP-32) from the gonad of Haliotis discus hannai Ino was isolated using a protease-assisted process and successive ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. The backbone of AGP-32 was determined using hydrolysis with trifluoroacetic acid. FTIR, NMR, and methylation analysis, and periodate oxidation and Smith degradation analysis revealed that the AGP-32 backbone mainly consisted of (1→6)-linked mannose, (1→3)-linked galactose, and (1→3)-linked glucose in a proportion of 2:3:1. An in vitro cell assay indicated that AGP-32 promoted mice splenic lymphocyte proliferation by 26% at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. AGP-32 had an effect on immune protection and is a candidate for consideration as a functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) is an important cultured marine fish as well as a promising model fish for the study of sex determination mechanisms. In the present study, a protocol for artificial induction of mitogynogenesis by hydrostatic pressure using heterologous spermwas developed in half-smooth tongue sole in order to assess homozygosity of gynogens and to identify WW super-female. The optimal initiation time for pressure shock of mitogynogenetic embryos was determined to be 21.5 min after insemination when water temperature is at 22–23°C, while the optimal pressure and treatment duration were determined to be 70 MPa for 4 min. About 1,500 mitogynogenetic diploid larvae were obtained. Ten tongue sole microsatellite markers were used for homozygosity analysis of 24 mitogynogenetic larvae. Among the 24 larvae, the percentage of homozygosity ranged from 73.91% to 87.50% with an average homozygosity of 80.54%. Sex-specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, CseF-SSR1, were isolated and used for identifying WW super-female mitogynogens in the tongue sole. The amplification of genomic DNA using the sex-specific SSR marker produced one DNA band of 206 bp in ZZ males, two DNA bands of 206 and 218 bp in ZW females, and one DNA band of 218 bp in WW super-females. Four WW “super-female” gynogens were observed in 39 mitogynogenetic diploids, indicating a ZW sex determination mechanism in the tongue sole. Thus, a protocol for the induction of artificial mitogynogenesis has been developed for the first time in halfsmooth tongue sole, and the WW super-female diploids were identified in the mitogynogens by sex-specific SSR markers. These findings lay the foundation and provide important tool for the elaboration of sex determination mechanism, generation of WW super-females, and development of clone line and breeding of all-female stock in the half-smooth tongue sole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, methodology of gynogenetic induction in spotted halibut were developed and optimized; the sex ratio of putative meiotic gynogenetic diploids was determined using AFLP-based molecular sexing technique; the homozygosity of gynogenetic population was assessed as opposed to cultivated population. The results showed that high percentage of meiotic gynogenetic diploids were generated when the eggs fertilized with irradiated heterologous sea perch frozen sperm (30-50 mJ cm) were cold shocked in sea water of −1°C for 40-75 min at 5 min after fertilization. About 15,200 diploid gynogenetic larvae were achieved and they exhibited normal morphology similar to diploid control. The gynogenetic diploids were 100% female, which first confirmed the female homogamete (XX/XY) sex determination in spotted halibut. The genetic analysis showed that the average H was, respectively, 0.404 and 0.724 in gynogenetic population and cultivated population, indicating an increase of homozygosity in gynogenetic population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oyster is an abundant resource from ocean, which contains high content of protein. In the present study, oyster ( Crassostrea talienwhannensis) meat was digested with three proteases including papain, neutrase and alcalase respectively and the derived hydrolysates were fractionated using a series of ultrafiltration membranes (molecular weight cut-offs of 10, 5, 3 and 1 kDa). The resultant peptide fractions were evaluated for antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and reducing power assay. Results indicated that oyster meat hydrolysates (OMHs) possessed DPPH radical scavenging capacity and reducing power in a dose-dependent manner. The fractions below 1 kDa showed the strongest overall antioxidant activity. The present study demonstrated that the antioxidant potent of OMHs was strongly related to their concentration, size and amino acid composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective methods for induction of gynogenetic diploids in Cynoglossus semilaevis are needed to initiate monosex culture. An effective protocol to induce half-smooth tongue sole gynogenesis using homologous sperm was developed in this study. A UV dose of 50 mJ cm−2 was found to be the most effective for genetic inactivation of tongue sole sperm. Treatment optima for cold shocks were 5 °C for 20–23 min at 5 min after fertilization and the hatching rate of gynogenetic diploids was 10.0%. Microsatellite analysis at locus Csou 6 revealed that there was no genetic contribution from the paternal genome in 24 progenies of a meiotic gynogenetic family. Polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that only four individuals of 24 meiotic gynogenetic diploids produced the female-specific band of about 205 bp. The female/male ratio of gynogenetic diploids was significantly different from the theoretical ratio of 1:1. It is possible that there are some recessive lethal genes in W chromosome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), sea urchin gonad could be used as a potential resource of such type ingredients. In the present study, lipid was extracted from sea urchin ( Strongylocentrotus nudus) gonad, without using organic solvent but using an enzyme-assisted aqueous method and a supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) method. The yield of lipid extracted was calculated in comparison with the soxhlet extraction using ethyl ether as solvent. The results showed that enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction allowed recovering 82.0 ± 2.1, 76.0 ± 2.3, 72.9 ± 3.6, and 61.5 ± 1.6% of sea urchin gonad lipid from the sample hydrolyzed by papain, neutral protease, alkaline protease, and trypsin, respectively. Meanwhile, a lipid yield of 53.7 ± 2.6% was achieved by SC-CO2 extraction. The lipid obtained was divided into unsaponifiable (sterol) and fatty acid, and analyzed by GC–MS. Results demonstrated that the compositions of sterol and fatty acid were very similar for samples extracted by different methods. PUFA was the chief component which accounts for approximately 35% of the total fatty acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A water-soluble polysaccharide, SVP-2, was obtained from Patinopecten yessoensis viscera. Its major structural features were elucidated using composition analysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and Smith degradation, partial acid hydrolysis, and NMR spectroscopy. The results indicated that SVP-2, with an average molecular weight of 170 kDa, was composed of rhamnose, fucose, arabian, xylose, mannose, galactose, and glucose in molar ratios of 1.65:2.54:4.05:5.60:1.48:4.90:1.00. Furthermore, it could deduce that the backbone of SVP-2 consisted of 1,3,4-linked pyran fucose, 1,3,4-linked pyran galactose, and 1,3-linked pyran arabian residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The water-soluble sulphated polysaccharide conjugates were obtained from abalone viscera (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) by alkaline protease extraction followed by ethanol precipitation. Their antioxidant activities were evaluated in vitro by hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and metal chelating activity. Those various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants ascorbic acid and EDTA. The experimental results indicated that the crude extract having notable hydroxyl free radicals scavenging activity and moderate reducing power and chelating potency. The crude sulphated polysaccharide conjugates was enzymatically hydrolyzed by five commercially available proteases (trypsin, vernase, neutrase, pepsin and papain), and the resultant digests were tested for their antioxidant activities. Those proteolytic hydrolysates, although improving the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity in all cases except one, had lower reducing power and 3–15 times lower chelating ability than the native extract. Product derived from pepsin hydrolysate was fractionated by gel-filtration chromatography with sephadex G-100, giving two fractions containing sulphated polysaccharide conjugates termed ACP I and ACP II. The neutral monosaccharide composition of ACP I is rhamnose, fucose, xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose in a molar ratio of 1.00:45.14:4.00:5.36:33.18:2.15, with an average molecular weight of about 271 kDa. The neutral monosaccharide composition of ACP II is rhamnose, fucose, xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose in a molar ratio of 1.00:12.51:1.33:4.98:16.08:1.46, with an average molecular weight of about 6 kDa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black snapper Sebastodes fuscescens (Houttuyn) is an economocally important species. Fourty-five microsatellite loci were isolated from an enriched genomic library of S. fuscescens. Ten of these loci were polymorphic in a test population with alleles per locus ranging from 2 to 5, and observed and expected heterozygosities per locus from 0.21 to 1.00 and from 0.19 to 0.86, respectively. Three loci significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni correction and no significant linkage disequilibrium was found between pairs of loci. These polymorphic microsatellite loci would be useful for investigating genetic diversity of S. fuscescens and other related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena polyactis) is an economically important marine fish species. About 43 microsatellite loci were isolated from two enriched genomic library of Pseudosciaena polyactis. Ten of these loci were polymorphic in a test population with alleles per locus ranging from two to six, and observed and expected heterozygosities per locus from 0.3750 to 0.8750 and from 0.3112 to 0.8121, respectively. No loci significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni correction and no significant linkage disequilibrium was found between pairs of loci. These polymorphic microsatellite loci would be useful for investigating genetic diversity of Pseudosciaena polyactis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pacific abalone (Holiotis discus hannai Ino) viscera, which are normally discarded as byproducts, were hydrolyzed with five commercially available proteases, including alkali protease, papain, neutral protease, pepsin, and trypsin. The hydrolysates obtained were fractionated using ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor system. The resulting hydrolysate fractions were investigated for their antioxidant activities, including the scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, the scavenging effect on hydroxyl radical, and the reducing power. Results showed that the hydrolysate fractions were effective antioxidants, and the antioxidant activity of the hydrolysates was related to the enzyme type employed. As byproducts, abalone viscera can be used as a potential source of antioxidant peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to analyze and construct a novel competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with bone bridge formation, lncRNA. Using RNA sequencing and bioinformatics, we analyzed expression profiles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and mRNAs in whole blood cells from 5 AS patients and 3 healthy individuals. Next, we verified the expression levels of candidate lncRNAs in 97 samples using the ΔΔCt value of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to screen lncRNAs and clinical indicators for use in the prediction model. Both SPSS 24.0 and R software were used for data analysis and prediction model construction. The results showed that compared with the normal controls, 205 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), 961 microRNAs (miRNAs), and 200 mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were differentially expressed in the AS patients. We identified lncRNA 122K13.12 and lncRNA 326C3.7 among 205 lncRNAs differentially expressed between AS patients and healthy humans. Then, we noted that 30 miRNAs and five mRNAs formed a ceRNA network together with these two lncRNAs. These ceRNA networks might regulate the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway in AS development. In addition, the expression level of lncRNA 122K13.12 and lncRNA 326C3.7 correlated with various structural damage indicators in AS. Specifically, the lncRNA 326C3.7 expression level was an independent risk factor in bone bridge formation [area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.739 (0.609-0.870) and p = 0.003], and the best Youden Index was 0.405 (sensitivity = 0.800 and specificity = 0.605). Moreover, we constructed a lncRNA-based nomogram that could effectively predict bone bridge formation [AUC = 0.870 (0.780-0.959) and p < 0.001, and the best Youden Index was 0.637 (sensitivity = 0.900 and specificity = 0.737)]. In conclusion, we uncovered a unique ceRNA signaling network in AS with bone bridge formation and identified novel biomarkers and prediction models with the potential for clinical applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research study was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wang, Jing, Xu, Zong, Chu, Wang, Chen, Tong, Wang and Xu.)

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its onset and development have not yet been fully elucidated. Indeed, an in-depth understanding of the potential molecular mechanisms underlying HNSCC oncogenesis may aid the development of better treatment strategies. Recent epigenetic studies have revealed that the m6A RNA modification plays important roles in HNSCC. In this review, we summarize the role of m6A modification in various types of HNSCC, including thyroid, nasopharyngeal, hypopharyngeal squamous cell, and oral carcinoma. In addition, we discuss the regulatory roles of m6A in immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, as well as the potential molecular mechanisms. Finally, we review the development of potential targets for treating cancer based on the regulatory functions of m6A, with an aim to improving targeted therapies for HNSCC. Together, this review highlights the important roles that m6A modification plays in RNA synthesis, transport, and translation, and demonstrates that the regulation of m6A-related proteins can indirectly affect mRNA and ncRNA function, thus providing a novel strategy for reengineering intrinsic cell activity and developing simpler interventions to treat HNSCC., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Jing, Zhou, Ning, Wang and Zhu.)