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Abstract Introduction and Objectives Voiding dysfunction remains a common side effect postprostate biopsy leading to significant morbidity. Alpha blockers have emerged as a potential therapeutic option to mitigate this risk, with various centres already incorporating its use in practice. Despite this, the literature regarding its efficacy remains inconclusive. Hence, a systematic review was performed to quantify the effect of perioperative alpha blockers on prostate biopsy‐related voiding function. Methods A systematic search in MEDLINE, Embase and PubMed between January 1989 and July 2023 was performed to identify relevant articles. Two independent reviewers independently screened abstracts, full texts and performed data extraction. Data including International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), voiding flow rates (Qmax), postvoid residuals (PVR), rates of acute urinary retention (AUR) and quality of life (QoL) scores were extracted. Results were combined in an inverse variance random effects meta‐analysis. Results A total 808 patients from six randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing alpha blockers to controls were included. All articles excluded patients with pre‐existing voiding dysfunction. Pooled outcomes demonstrated statistically significant differences favouring alpha blocker usage in all objective and subjective measures including IPSS (mean difference 4.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.58–5.84, p

In China’s high-quality development context, the key role of executive teams in corporate innovation is increasingly prominent. However, effectively utilizing the synergistic effect of competencies within these teams to boost innovation performance remains a crucial research issue. A sample of 2,350 companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares from 2010 to 2022 was used to examine the impact of the executive team’s capability-sharing degree on firm innovation performance. The study indicates that the degree of managerial competence sharing, entrepreneurial competence sharing, and technological competence sharing within the executive team positively impacts firm innovation performance. These findings remain robust in the face of variations in dependent variable measures, lagged independent variables, and the propensity score matching method. Environmental dynamism is identified as playing a positive moderating role in the relationship between the influence of managerial, entrepreneurial, and technological capability-sharing degrees and firm innovation performance. Further analysis of heterogeneity reveals that the impact of the executive team’s capability-sharing degree on firms’ innovation performance varies based on the nature of property rights, firm size, and industry competitiveness. This study, grounded in top-level ladder theory, offers a framework for enhancing team capabilities and overcoming growth obstacles through executive team competence sharing.

In industrial vision, the lack of defect samples is one of the key constraints of depth vision quality inspection. This paper mainly studies defect detection under a small training set, trying to reduce the dependence of the model on defect samples by using normal samples. Therefore, we propose a Knowledge-Embedding Relational Network. We propose a Knowledge-Embedding Relational Network (KRN): firstly, unsupervised clustering and convolution features are used to model the knowledge of normal samples; at the same time, based on CNN feature extraction assisted by image segmentation, the conv feature is obtained from the backbone network; then, we build the relationship between knowledge and prediction samples through covariance, embed the knowledge, further mine the correlation using gram operation, normalize the power of the high-order features obtained by covariance, and finally send them to the prediction network. Our KRN has three attractive characteristics: (I) Knowledge Modeling uses the unsupervised clustering algorithm to statistically model the standard samples so as to reduce the dependence of the model on defect data. (II) Covariance-based Knowledge Embedding and the Gram Operation capture the second-order statistics of knowledge features and predicted image features to deeply mine the robust correlation. (III) Power Normalizing suppresses the burstiness of covariance module learning and the complexity of the feature space. KRN outperformed several advanced baselines in small training sets on the DAGM 2007, KSDD, and Steel datasets.

Efficient and eco-friendly disinfection of air-borne human respiratory RNA viruses is pursued in both public environment and portable usage. The AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet (DUV) light-emission diode (LED) has high practical potentials because of its advantages of variable wavelength, rapid sterilization, environmental protection, and miniaturization. Therefore, whether the emission wavelength has effects on the disinfection as well as whether the device is feasible to sterilize various respiratory RNA viruses under portable conditions is crucial. Here, we fabricate AlGaN-based DUV LEDs with different wavelength on high-temperature-annealed (HTA) AlN/Sapphire templates and investigate the inactivation effects for several respiratory RNA viruses. The AlN/AlGaN superlattices are employed between the template and upper n-AlGaN to release the strong compressive stress (SCS), improving the crystal quality and interface roughness. DUV LEDs with the wavelength of 256, 265, and 278 nm, corresponding to the light output power of 6.8, 9.6, and 12.5 mW, are realized, among which the 256 nm-LED shows the most potent inactivation effect in human respiratory RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus (IAV), and human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), at a similar light power density (LPD) of ~0.8 mW/cm2 for 10 s. These results will contribute to the advanced DUV LED application of disinfecting viruses with high potency and broad spectrum in a portable and eco-friendly use.

This study simulated the effects of direct predatory pressure, indirect predatory pressure, and conspecific injury signals on sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) to determine changes in the activity of immune defense enzymes (lysozyme, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase) and antioxidant stress enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde). Samples of sea cucumber juveniles were collected at 3 h, 12 h, 72 h, and 96 h post predatory stress, and six enzymes related to immune defense and antioxidant stress were selected for activity assays, namely, lysozyme (LZM), acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results indicate that under direct predatory pressure, the activity of catalase in sea cucumbers was significantly higher than that of the control group at 3 h (P < 0.05), while the activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase were significantly lower at 72 h (P < 0.05). Under indirect predatory pressure, the activity of malondialdehyde in sea cucumbers was significantly higher than that of the control group at 12 h (P < 0.05), the activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher at 72 and 96 h (P < 0.05), the activity of catalase was significantly lower at 72 h, and the activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly higher at 72 h (P < 0.05). Under the influence of conspecific injury signals, the activity of malondialdehyde in sea cucumbers was significantly higher than that of the control group at 12 h (P < 0.05), and the activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly higher at 96 h (P < 0.05). The sea cucumber enhanced its antioxidant capacity 3 h after facing a predator, while its immune defense mechanism was suppressed at 72 h. When facing indirect predatory pressure, the sea cucumber may have made immune and antioxidant preparations for the arrival of unknown risks. The experimental results show that predatory pressure has a significant impact on the immune and antioxidant functions of sea cucumbers, which may be related to the physiological state and environmental adaptability of the sea cucumber. This study provides a new perspective for understanding how sea cucumbers cope with predatory pressure in the natural environment and offers theoretical support for the cultivation management of sea cucumbers.

Cold stress affects the seed germination and early growth of winter rapeseed, leading to yield losses. We employed transmission electron microscopy, physiological analyses, metabolome profiling, and transcriptome sequencing to understand the effect of cold stress (0 °C, LW) on the cotyledons of cold-tolerant (GX74) and -sensitive (XY15) rapeseeds. The mesophyll cells in cold-treated XY15 were severely damaged compared to slightly damaged cells in GX74. The fructose, glucose, malondialdehyde, and proline contents increased after cold stress in both genotypes; however, GX74 had significantly higher content than XY15. The pyruvic acid content increased after cold stress in GX74, but decreased in XY15. Metabolome analysis detected 590 compounds, of which 32 and 74 were differentially accumulated in GX74 (CK vs. cold stress) and XY15 (CK vs. cold stressed). Arachidonic acid and magnoflorine were the most up-accumulated metabolites in GX74 subjected to cold stress compared to CK. There were 461 and 1481 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specific to XY15 and GX74 rapeseeds, respectively. Generally, the commonly expressed genes had higher expressions in GX74 compared to XY15 in CK and cold stress conditions. The expression changes in DEGs related to photosynthesis-antenna proteins, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and sugar biosynthesis-related pathways were consistent with the fructose and glucose levels in cotyledons. Compared to XY15, GX74 showed upregulation of a higher number of genes/transcripts related to arachidonic acid, pyruvic acid, arginine and proline biosynthesis, cell wall changes, reactive oxygen species scavenging, cold-responsive pathways, and phytohormone-related pathways. Taken together, our results provide a detailed overview of the cold stress responses in rapeseed cotyledons.

Painted cultural relics hold significant historical value and are crucial in transmitting human culture. However, mold is a common issue for paper or silk-based relics, which not only affects their preservation and longevity but also conceals the texture, patterns, and color information, hindering cultural value and heritage. Currently, the virtual restoration of painting relics primarily involves filling in the RGB based on neighborhood information, which might cause color distortion and other problems. Another approach considers mold as noise and employs maximum noise separation for its removal; however, eliminating the mold components and implementing the inverse transformation often leads to more loss of information. To effectively acquire virtual restoration for mold removal from ancient paintings, the spectral characteristics of mold were analyzed. Based on the spectral features of mold and the cultural relic restoration philosophy of maintaining originality, a 3D CNN artifact restoration network was proposed. This network is capable of learning features in the near-infrared spectrum (NIR) and spatial dimensions to reconstruct the reflectance of visible spectrum, achieving the virtual restoration for mold removal of calligraphic and art relics. Using an ancient painting from the Qing Dynasty as a test subject, the proposed method was compared with the Inpainting, Criminisi, and inverse MNF transformation methods across three regions. Visual analysis, quantitative evaluation (the root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute error (MEA), and a classification application were used to assess the restoration accuracy. The visual results and quantitative analyses demonstrated that the proposed 3D CNN method effectively removes or mitigates mold while restoring the artwork to its authentic color in various backgrounds. Furthermore, the color classification results indicated that the images restored with 3D CNN had the highest classification accuracy, with overall accuracies of 89.51%, 92.24%, and 93.63%, and Kappa coefficients of 0.88, 0.91, and 0.93, respectively. This research provides technological support for the digitalization and restoration of cultural artifacts, thereby contributing to the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage.

Starfish are keystone species as predators in benthic ecosystems, but when population outbreaks occur, this can have devastating consequences ecologically. Furthermore, starfish outbreaks and invasions can have adverse impact economically by impacting shellfish aquaculture. For example, an infestation of starfish in Qingdao led to a 50% reduction in sea cucumber production and an 80% reduction in scallop production, resulting in an economic loss of approximately RMB 100 million to oyster and other shellfish industries. Addressing the imperative need to proactively mitigate starfish invasions requires comprehensive research on their behavior and the underlying mechanisms of outbreaks. This review scrutinizes the historical patterns of outbreaks among diverse starfish species across various regions, delineates the factors contributing to the proliferation of Asterias amurensis in Chinese waters, articulates preventive and remedial strategies, and outlines the potential for the sustainable utilization of starfish.

Introduction: Investigating the genetic footprints of historical temperature selection can get insights to the local adaptation and feasible influences of climate change on long-term population dynamics. Object: Chicken is a significative species to study genetic adaptation on account of its similar domestication track related to human activity with the most diversified varieties. Yet, few studies have demonstrated the genetic signatures of its adaptation to naturally tropical and frigid environments. Method: Here, we generated whole genome resequencing of 119 domesticated chickens in China including the following breeds which are in order of breeding environmental temperature from more tropical to more frigid: Wenchang chicken (WCC), green-shell chicken (GSC), Tibetan chicken (TBC), and Lindian chicken (LDC). Results: Our results showed WCC branched off earlier than LDC with an evident genetic admixture between WCC and LDC, suggesting their closer genetic relationship. Further comparative genomic analyses solute carrier family 33 member 1 (SLC33A1) and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) genes exhibited stronger signatures for positive selection in the genome of the more tropical WCC. Furthermore, genotype data from about 3,000 African local ecotypes confirmed that allele frequencies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these 2 genes appeared strongly associated with tropical environment adaptation. In addition, the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit S4 (NDUFS4) gene exhibited a strong signature for positive selection in the LDC genome, and SNPs with marked allele frequency differences indicated a significant relationship with frigid environment adaptation. Conclusion: Our findings partially clarify how selection footprints from environmental temperature stress can lead to advantageous genomic adaptions to tropical and frigid environments in poultry and provide a valuable resource for selective breeding of chickens.

Abstract How does SARS-CoV-2 cause lung microenvironment disturbance and inflammatory storm is still obscure. We here performed the single-cell transcriptome sequencing from lung, blood, and bone marrow of two dead COVID-19 patients and detected the cellular communication among them. Our results demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection increase the frequency of cellular communication between alveolar type I cells (AT1) or alveolar type II cells (AT2) and myeloid cells triggering immune activation and inflammation microenvironment and then induce the disorder of fibroblasts, club, and ciliated cells, which may cause increased pulmonary fibrosis and mucus accumulation. Further study showed that the increase of T cells in the lungs may be mainly recruited by myeloid cells through ligands/receptors (e.g., ANXA1/FPR1, C5AR1/RPS19, and CCL5/CCR1). Interestingly, we also found that certain ligands/receptors (e.g., ANXA1/FPR1, CD74/COPA, CXCLs/CXCRs, ALOX5/ALOX5AP, CCL5/CCR1) are significantly activated and shared among lungs, blood and bone marrow of COVID-19 patients, implying that the dysregulation of ligands/receptors may lead to immune cell’s activation, migration, and the inflammatory storm in different tissues of COVID-19 patients. Collectively, our study revealed a possible mechanism by which the disorder of cell communication caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection results in the lung inflammatory microenvironment and systemic immune responses across tissues in COVID-19 patients.

Abstract. Objective. The aim of the study is to investigate improvements in lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated with prostatic Aquablation. Materials and methods. We performed a literature search of clinical trials using the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases and retrieved published works on Aquablation for the treatment of BPH up to August 2021. Unpublished works, case reports, conference proceedings, editorial comments, and letters were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. Raw means and mean differences were meta-analyzed to produce summary estimates for pre- versus post-International Prostate Symptom Scores, maximum flow rate, and male sexual health questionnaire value changes. An inverse-variance weighted random effects model was used. Results. Seven studies were included in this review (n = 551 patients) that evaluated various urological parameters. At 3 months, the International Prostate Symptom Scores raw mean difference from baseline was −16.475 (95% confidence interval [CI], −15.264 to −17.686; p < 0.001), with improvements sustained for 12 months. Similarly, maximum flow rate improved by +1.96 (95% CI, 10.015 to 11.878; p < 0.001) from pre to 3 months postoperatively. In addition, the male sexual health questionnaire change pooled effect size was −0.55 (95% CI, −1.621 to 0.531; p = 0.321) from preintervention to postintervention at 3 months. Meta-analyses of some outcomes showed large statistical heterogeneity or evidence of publication bias. Conclusions. Aquablation seems to improve lower urinary tract symptoms in men with BPH while providing relatively preserved sexual function. Further research is required to confirm these preliminary results.

The operating environment of large mechanical equipment on ships is extremely harsh. Under such harsh conditions, it is necessary to effectively monitor and assess the health status of machinery and equipment and to take appropriate maintenance measures to ensure the normal operation of the ship and the safety of the lives and property of the crew. However, currently used methods are less effective in detecting non-ferromagnetic abrasive particles and non-metallic contaminants and may not be able to respond to certain emergencies promptly. Therefore, in this paper, a quad-solenoid coil multi-contaminant oil detection sensor is proposed to detect metallic abrasive particles and non-metallic contaminants using the voltage–capacitance dual mode. We provide an analytical expression for the magnetic field strength of the present sensor and develop a corresponding mathematical model. In order to verify its accuracy, we compared the model results with finite element analysis and verified them experimentally. Analysis of the experimental results shows that by switching the detection mode of the sensor, ferromagnetic metal particles, non-ferromagnetic metal particles, and non-metallic contaminants in the oil can be identified according to the different experimental signal curves. The sensor recognizes ferromagnetic particles over 70 μm in diameter, non-ferromagnetic particles over 220 μm in diameter, water droplets over 100–110 μm in diameter, and air bubbles over 180–190 μm in diameter. By comparing the sensor with existing sensors, the sensor can provide accurate information about various pollutants, help maintenance personnel to develop a reasonable maintenance program, and reduce the maintenance cost of ship machinery.

Abstract An ongoing randomized, double-blind, controlled phase 2 trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a mosaic-type recombinant vaccine candidate, named NVSI-06-09, as a booster dose in subjects aged 18 years and older from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who had administered two or three doses of inactivated vaccine BBIBP-CorV at least 6 months prior to enrollment. The participants were randomly assigned with 1:1 to receive a booster dose of NVSI-06-09 or BBIBP-CorV. The primary outcomes were immunogenicity and safety against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, and the exploratory outcome was cross-immunogenicity against other circulating strains. Between May 25 and 30, 2022, 516 adults received booster vaccination with 260 in NVSI-06-09 group and 256 in BBIBP-CorV group. Interim results showed a similar safety profile between two booster groups, with low incidence of adverse reactions of grade 1 or 2. For immunogenicity, by day 14 post-booster, the fold rises in neutralizing antibody geometric mean titers (GMTs) from baseline elicited by NVSI-06-09 were remarkably higher than those by BBIBP-CorV against the prototype strain (19.67 vs 4.47-fold), Omicron BA.1.1 (42.35 vs 3.78-fold), BA.2 (25.09 vs 2.91-fold), BA.4 (22.42 vs 2.69-fold), and BA.5 variants (27.06 vs 4.73-fold). Similarly, the neutralizing GMTs boosted by NVSI-06-09 against Beta and Delta variants were also 6.60-fold and 7.17-fold higher than those by BBIBP-CorV. Our findings indicated that a booster dose of NVSI-06-09 was well-tolerated and elicited broad-spectrum neutralizing responses against divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron and its sub-lineages.

Comparisons of genomic and methylomic changes during the conservation of indigenous chicken breeds in China provide insight into conservation programmes for these breeds and their adaptations to unique environments.

ABSTRACT: Quercetin (Que), widely found in a huge variety of plants, plays important roles in ovarian function. However, to data, there have been no reports about Que regulating granulosa cells (GCs) in prehierarchical follicles in chicken. Herein, GCs from follicles diameter from 4 to 8 mm in chicken were treated by Que in vitro culture to investigate how Que exerts its effect on follicular development. GCs treated by Que in concentrations of 10, 100, and 1,000 ng/mL were tested for cell proliferation and progesterone secretion. Eight cDNA libraries were constructed from GCs (4 samples per group) to explore transcriptome expression changes. The role of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway was validated in this process. Treatment with 100 and 1,000 ng/mL levels of Que significantly promoted cell proliferation and progesterone secretion (P < 0.05). RNA-seq analysis data showed that 402 and 263 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were up- and down-regulated, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis that the pathways related to follicular development included biosynthesis of amino acids, MAPK signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. Notably, the function exerted in GCs of the different levels of Que was associated with the suppression of the MAPK pathway. In conclusion, our results proved that low levels of Que could promote MAPK signaling pathway, but high levels of Que inhibit MAPK signaling pathway in GCs from the prehierarchical follicles, promote cell proliferation and progesterone secretion, and benefit follicle selection.

The effects of dietary supplementation with moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) and mulberry (Morus nigra L.) leaf powder on the clutch trait, reproductive organs, follicles, steroid hormones, and gene expressions of laying chickens were investigated during a 42-day experiment. Two hundred and ten Chinese local strain hens aged 37 weeks were randomly allocated to three groups, each group included five replicates, with 14 hens per replicate. The hens in the control group were fed with the basal diet, whereas those in the test groups were fed with a basal diet supplemented with 2.5% moringa leaf powder and 2.5% mulberry leaf powder (MOLP2.5+MLP2.5), 5% MOLP and 2.5% MLP (MOLP5+MLP2.5). The clutch traits (clutches, clutch length, delay days) were recorded during the trial. At the end of the experiment, the effect of the dietary supplementation with MOLP and MLP on the reproductive organs and tissues was estimated, and the gene expressions of ESR1, ESR2, CYP19A1 and STAR were analysed. Compared with the control group, the clutch performed worse in the treatment groups, however, the laying rate, reproductive organs and tissues in the MOLP2.5+MLP2.5 group showed no significant difference. Though the oestrogen levels did not significantly increase, they were elevated in the MOLP2.5+MLP2.5 group. Furthermore, it was identified that the expression levels of the ESR1 and CYP19A1 mRNA were significantly upregulated in the MOLP2.5+MLP2.5 group compared with those in the control group. In conclusion, a low addition level of MOLP and MLP can be used in laying hens to improve the steroid hormones synthesis-related gene expression which might improve the reproductive performance over the long term.

Abstract Painted enamel holds special significance in the study of the history of Chinese ceramic and glass. Painted enamel also represents interesting evidence of cultural communication between China and European countries. In the past, studies on painted enamel have mainly focused on archival research. Although modern scientific techniques have complemented research on enameled artifacts, the quality of the samples has usually been inferior. This study combines scientific analysis and archival work to explore four similar pots from the Palace Museum collection, along with the specific documentation information attached to them. Raman spectra, XRF and CT scanning were applied to compare the four pots. Results show that one of the pots is made of gold and use cassiterite and Naples yellow as opacifier and pigments, this pot bears the hidden hallmarks of a Parisian goldsmith, providing direct evidence that the pot was made in France in 1783. The other pots are proven to have been made in China, which are made of copper gilded with gold and use lead arsenate and lead tin yellow as opacifier and pigments. This work reveals a previously unnoticed route by which enamel artifacts reached the Chinese court.

Abstract The self-administration (SA) model represents one of the most important and classic methods for drug addiction, and jugular vein catheterization is one of the most critical techniques in this animal model. We aimed to explore an optimized scheme to improve the success rate of rat jugular vein catheterization and SA model. Our experiment provided an optimized scheme which including numerous details, materials, approaches, updated techniques and protocols. Our experimental group consisted of 120 adult male Sprague–Dawley rats, which were divided into the Traditional Operation group (TO group) and the Optimized Operation group (OO group) by the random number table method and then further individually divided into the Saline Training group and the Cocaine Training group for the following SA training. Our results showed that the success rate of the jugular vein catheterization in the OO group was significantly greater than that in the TO group (93.33% vs 46.67%, χ2 = 31.11, P

Scholars in a wide range of disciplines are interested in the casting techniques used to create the extraordinary bronze objects unearthed from the two pits of the Sanxingdui site. Although researchers have carried out a number of studies on this topic, many technical details remain unclear. This paper offers the first examination of bronze objects from the Sanxingdui site using industrial computed tomography (CT) and provides direct evidence for interpretation of the complicated casting process involved. We show that multiple pouring and various joining techniques were widely used during the casting of bronze objects from the Sanxingdui pits. The precast parts were mechanically connected with one another by the later pouring, which was the crucial technique for the casting of complicated objects. Representative features include the cast-on cramp device of the sun-shaped objects and the tenon connection with dowel found inside many branches of the bronze trees. This paper also describes evidence of core rods made of different materials, which is the earliest example of this technique in ancient China.

SARS-CoV-2 variants with immune escape capability highlight the need for the development of cross-neutralising vaccines and regimens. Here, the authors assess the immunogenicity and safety of NVSI-06-08, that integrates antigens from multiple SARS-CoV-2 strains into a single immunogen, as a heterologous booster in adults previously vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine.

Abstract The increased coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) breakthrough cases pose the need of booster vaccination. We conducted a randomised, double-blinded, controlled, phase 2 trial to assess the immunogenicity and safety of the heterologous prime-boost vaccination with an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) followed by a recombinant protein-based vaccine (NVSI-06-07), using homologous boost with BBIBP-CorV as control. Three groups of healthy adults (600 individuals per group) who had completed two-dose BBIBP-CorV vaccinations 1–3 months, 4–6 months and ≥6 months earlier, respectively, were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either NVSI-06-07 or BBIBP-CorV boost. Immunogenicity assays showed that in NVSI-06-07 groups, neutralizing antibody geometric mean titers (GMTs) against the prototype SARS-CoV-2 increased by 21.01–63.85 folds on day 28 after vaccination, whereas only 4.20–16.78 folds of increases were observed in control groups. For Omicron variant, the neutralizing antibody GMT elicited by homologous boost was 37.91 on day 14, however, a significantly higher neutralizing GMT of 292.53 was induced by heterologous booster. Similar results were obtained for other SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns (VOCs), including Alpha, Beta and Delta. Both heterologous and homologous boosters have a good safety profile. Local and systemic adverse reactions were absent, mild or moderate in most participants, and the overall safety was quite similar between two booster schemes. Our findings indicated that NVSI-06-07 is safe and immunogenic as a heterologous booster in BBIBP-CorV recipients and was immunogenically superior to the homologous booster against not only SARS-CoV-2 prototype strain but also VOCs, including Omicron.

The intestine is highly vulnerable to various factors and has been proposed as a promising determinant for poultry health. Phytogenic or plant-derived feed additives can be used to help improve intestinal health. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of DNJ on the antioxidative parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α), in plasma and intestinal tissues using layers supplemented with or without the DNJ extract of mulberry leaves (DNJ-E) via the ELISA method. A total of 192 healthy Hy-Line Brown layers, aged 47 weeks old, were used to conduct a 56-day study. All hens were randomly separated into four groups as follows: a basal diet containing 0 mg/kg DNJ-E(CON), 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 150 mg/kg DNJ-E. Furthermore, the potential mechanism by which DNJ influences intestinal function was also investigated in in vitro cultured intestinal epithelium cells (IEC) with quantification methods including the use of a cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), ELISA, qRT-PCR, and ROS detection. The results showed that CAT in plasma significantly increased following 50 mg/kg DNJ-E supplementation. Moreover, 50 mg/kg DNJ-E supplementation was associated with increases in T-SOD in the jejunum and ileum. However, there was no significant difference in inflammatory cytokines between groups in in vivo experiments. Subsequent in vitro IEC studies revealed that cell viability increased significantly following 5 µM and 10 µM DNJ treatments while decreasing significantly following 20 µM DNJ treatment. Antioxidative parameters improved at 5 µM and 10 µM DNJ concentrations. However, there were no ameliorative effects on antioxidant parameters observed under 20 µM DNJ treatment. The expression levels of Nrf2 mRNA increased significantly under DNJ treatment. DNJ treatment was associated with significant changes in the expression of genes of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, our study revealed that DNJ could improve oxidative stress and inflammation responses in the chicken intestine. These findings provide a theoretical reference for the development of functional feed additives that regulate intestinal health and lay the foundation for systematically revealing the mechanism of DNJ.

Abstract Background The conventional infrapatellar approach to intramedullary nailing of tibial fractures adopts the supine high-flexion knee position. However, this has disadvantages including difficulty in obtaining the proximal tibial anteroposterior view during intraoperative fluoroscopy, prolonged duration of fluoroscopy. Accordingly, the present study investigated the utility of the lateral position in the infrapatellar approach to intramedullary nailing of tibial shaft fractures. Methods The present study was a retrospective analysis of 112 patients who sustained closed tibial shaft fractures and treated with intramedullary nailing via the infrapatellar approach. Patients were divided into two groups according to surgical position: lateral or supine. The demographic and clinical data were collected and analyzed. Results There were 54 patients in the lateral and 58 in the supine position groups. The duration of surgery and fluoroscopy was shorter in the lateral group than the supine group (p 0.05). Conclusions The lateral position was a more convenient choice for intramedullary nailing of tibial shaft fractures via infrapatellar approach.

This study was performed to evaluate dietary Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) inclusion on productive performance, egg quality, internal organ index, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism in hens at late laying stage. The control (CON) group received basal diet, while the MOLP2.5, MOLP5, MOLP7.5, and MOLP10 groups received basal diet MOLP inclusion at 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%, respectively. After six weeks, laying performance, feed intake, egg quality, organ index, antioxidant capacity and lipid indices were analysed. Results showed that low-level dietary of inclusion MOLP (

Based on the social network theory and the institutional theory, this study examines the influence of corporate network position on corporate social responsibility (CSR), and further explores the moderating role of ownership concentration. Given the characteristics of CSR in different aspects, this study explores the relationship between corporate network position and economic CSR, environmental CSR, and social CSR from the two aspects of the centrality and structural holes of interlocking directorate network based on the data of 1,034 Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2019. The results show that the centrality and structural holes of interlocking directorate network have positive effects on the overall level of CSR, and the impacts on economic CSR and environmental CSR are stronger than that on social CSR. In addition, ownership concentration has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between corporate network position and CSR. These findings enrich the depth of research on CSR, clarify the influence of the characteristics of interlocking directorate network on CSR in different dimensions, and supplement the knowledge of existing research.

The development and description of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes has led to an increase in demand for tissue biomarkers. This has implications not only in informing diagnosis, but also in guiding treatment selection and in prognostication. Although historically, many immunohistochemical (IHC) stains have been widely characterized for RCC subtypes, challenges may arise in interpreting these results. These may include variations in tumor classification, specimen collection and processing, and IHC techniques. In light of the reclassification of RCC subtypes in 2016, there remains a requirement for a comprehensive outline of tissue biomarkers that may be used to differentiate between RCC subtypes and distinguish these from other non-renal neoplasms. In this review, concise summaries of the commonest RCC subtypes, including clear cell, papillary, and chromophobe RCC, have been provided. Important differences have been highlighted between chromophobe RCC and renal oncocytomas. An overview of the current landscape of tissue biomarkers in other RCC subtypes has also been explored, revealing the variable staining results reported for some markers, whilst highlighting the essential markers for diagnosis in other subtypes.

Objective Eggshells with a uniform color and intensity are important for egg production because many consumers assess the quality of an egg according to the shell color. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of dominant effects on the variations in eggshell color after 32 weeks in a crossbred population. Methods This study was conducted using 7,878 eggshell records from 2,626 hens. Heritability was estimated using a univariate animal model, which included inbreeding coefficients as a fixed effect and animal additive genetic, dominant genetic, and residuals as random effects. Genetic correlations were obtained using a bivariate animal model. The optimal diagnostic criteria identified in this study were: L* value (lightness) using a dominance model, and a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) value using an additive model. Results The estimated heritabilities were 0.65 for shell lightness, 0.42 for redness, and 0.60 for yellowness. The dominance heritability was 0.23 for lightness. The estimated genetic correlations were 0.61 between lightness and redness, −0.84 between lightness and yellowness, and −0.39 between redness and yellowness. Conclusion These results indicate that dominant genetic effects could help to explain the phenotypic variance in eggshell color, especially based on data from blue-shelled chickens. Considering the dominant genetic variation identified for shell color, this variation should be employed to produce blue eggs for commercial purposes using a planned mating system.

ABSTRACTClassical swine fever virus (CSFV) is a member of the genus Pestivirus in the Flaviviridae family. To date, the host factors required for CSFV entry remain poorly characterized. To identify the functional membrane protein(s) involved in CSFV infection, we analyzed the transcriptomic data from previous studies describing gene expression profiles for CSFV, and found twelve novel candidate proteins. One of these proteins, MERTK, significantly reduced CSFV protein expression by RNA interference screening using a recombinant CSFV that contains a luciferase reporter to measure CSFV protein expression. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that either anti-MERTK antibodies or soluble MERTK ectodomain could reduce CSFV infection in PK-15 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, MERTK interacted with the E2 protein of CSFV and facilitated virus entry. After virus entry, MERTK downregulates of mRNA expression of IFN-β and promotes CSFV infection. Interestingly, the soluble MERTK ectodomain could also reduce the infection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), another pestivirus. Taken together, our results suggested that MERTK is a CSFV entry factor that synergistically dampens innate immune responses in PK-15 cells and is also involved in BVDV infection.

Eggs with the same total weight may have considerable differences in yolk weight. Eggs with a high percentage of yolk have a higher nutritional value, more flavor, and are more desirable to consumers. However, a large yolk proportion means more dry matter in the eggs, which reduces the feed efficiency. The elucidation of the genetic factors of yolk quantity in eggs is of scientific and practical significance. Through RNA sequencing, we explored the transcriptome of ovarian tissue from 12 Wenchang chickens, including 6 chickens that laid eggs with a high yolk percentage (32%) and 6 that laid low yolk percentage eggs (25%). We identified a total of 362 differentially expressed genes (P-value 1), of which 220 were upregulated and 142 were downregulated in high yolk percentage hens. According to the Gene Ontology terms annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, the differentially expressed genes were associated with the regulation of various cell functions, cell differentiation and development, neuroactive ligand–receptor interactions, and calcium and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis signaling pathways. To further filter for genes that were directly involved in yolk accumulation, the chicken quantitative trait loci database, genes within 100 kb upstream and downstream of the yolk weight trait SNP, and intersection genes in protein–protein interaction network diagrams were used to detect genes that overlapped with the differentially expressed genes. We found 7 candidate genes in total, MNR2, AOX1, ANTXRL, GRAMD1C, EEF2, COMP, and JUND, which affect female reproductive performance and the growth and development of follicles, supporting cell transport, cell proliferation, and differentiation. All candidate genes and several randomly selected genes were verified by quantitative real time PCR, and the results were consistent with the RNA sequencing. In conclusion, investigating the molecular mechanisms of high yolk percentage traits will allow breeding strategies to be optimized to alter the percentage of yolk in chicken eggs.

Objective Internal organs indirectly affect economic performance and well-being of animals. Study of internal organs during later layer period will allow full utilization of layer hens. Hence, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify potential quantitative trait loci or genes that potentially contribute to internal organ weight. Methods A total of 1,512 chickens originating from White Leghorn and Dongxiang Blue-Shelled chickens were genotyped using high-density Affymetrix 600 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. We conducted a GWAS, linkage disequilibrium analysis, and heritability estimated based on SNP information by using GEMMA, Haploview and GCTA software. Results Our results displayed that internal organ weights show moderate to high (0.283 to 0.640) heritability. Variance partitioned across chromosomes and chromosome lengths had a linear relationship for liver weight and gizzard weight (R2 = 0.493, 0.753). A total of 23 highly significant SNPs that associated with all internal organ weights were mainly located on Gallus gallus autosome (GGA) 1 and GGA4. Six SNPs on GGA2 affected heart weight. After the final analysis, five top SNPs were in or near genes 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A, general transcription factor IIF polypeptide 2, WD repeat and FYVE domain containing 2, non-SMC condensin I complex subunit G, and sonic hedgehog, which were considered as candidate genes having a pervasive role in internal organ weights. Conclusion Our findings provide an understanding of the underlying genetic architecture of internal organs and are beneficial in the selection of chickens.

To determine the genetic architecture underlying spent hen carcase traits, especially in late laying, we used 1512 hens generated from Dongxiang Blue-Shelled and White Leghorn chickens to implement genome-wide association studies by high-density arrays. A total of 266 loci that mapped to (Gallus gallus chromosome) GGA1, GGA4 and GGA27 were detected. After linkage disequilibrium analysis, five SNPs were considered as candidate markers because they located on or near the genes CKAP2, RB1, CCKAR, NCAPG and IGF2BP1. The heritability of all carcase traits was high, and SNP effects ranged from 3.24% to 8.72%. These findings provide new insights into the genetic architecture of carcase traits in spent layer hens.Highlights Resource population generated from two breeds were used to measure carcass traits in spent hens. A total of 266 loci association with carcass traits located on GGA1, GGA4, and GGA27. Five putative candidate genes CKAP2, RB1, CCKAR, NCAPG and IGFBP1 were obtained after gene annotation.

Co-registration of stereotactic and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images can serve as an alternative for trajectory planning. However, the role of this strategy has not yet been proven by any control studies, and the trajectories of commonly used targets have not been systematically studied. The purpose of this study was to analyze the trajectories for various targets, and to assess the role of trajectories realized on fused images in preventing intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Data from 1019 patients who underwent electrode placement for deep brain stimulation were acquired. Electrode trajectories were not planned for 396 patients, whereas trajectories were planned for 623 patients. Preoperative various MRI sequences and frame-placed MRI images were fused for trajectory planning. The patients’ clinical characteristics, the stereotactic systems, intracranial hemorrhage cases, and trajectory angles were recorded and analyzed. No statistically significant differences in the proportions of male patients, patients receiving local anesthesia, and diseases or target distributions (p > 0.05) were found between the trajectory planning group and the non-trajectory planning group, but statistically significant differences were observed in the numbers of both patients and leads associated with symptomatic ICH (p < 0.05). Regarding the ring and arc angle values, statistically significant differences were found among various target groups (p < 0.05). The anatomic structures through which leads passed were found to be diverse. Trajectory planning based on MRI fusion is a safe technique for lead placement. The electrode for each given target has its own relatively constant trajectory.

To evaluate the potential effect of radiofrequency ablation and deep brain stimulation in patients with treatment-refractory Tourette syndrome (TS), this study enrolled thirteen patients with TS who were admitted to our hospital between August 2002 and September 2018. Four patients received a single- or multi-target radiofrequency ablation after local, potentiated, or general anesthesia; eight patients underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery; and one patient underwent both ablation and DBS surgery. The severity of tics and obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms and the quality of life were evaluated using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), and Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome Quality of Life scale (GTS-QOL), respectively, before surgery, one month after surgery, and at the final follow-up after surgery, which was conducted in December 2018. A paired-sample t test and a multiple linear regression analysis were performed to analyze the data. All patients underwent the operation successfully without any severe complications. Overall, the YGTSS total scores at one month post-surgery (44.1 ± 22.3) and at the final visit (35.1 ± 23.7) were significantly decreased compared with those at baseline (75.1 ± 6.2; both p < 0.05). Additionally, the YBOCS scores at one month post-surgery (16.5 ± 10.1) and at the final visit (12.0 ± 9.5) were significantly decreased compared with those at baseline (22.5 ± 13.1; both p < 0.05). Furthermore, the GTS-QOL scores at one month post-surgery (44.0 ± 12.8) and at the final visit (31.0 ± 17.8) were significantly decreased compared with those at baseline (58.4 ± 14.2; both p < 0.05). Results from a multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the improvement in the YGTSS total score was independently associated with the improvement in the GTS-QOL score at one month post-surgery (standardized β = 0.716, p = 0.023) and at the final visit (standardized β = 1.064, p = 0.000). Conversely, changes in YBOCS scores did not correlate with changes in GTS-QOL scores (p > 0.05). Our results demonstrate that tics, psychiatric symptoms, and the quality of life in patients with intractable TS may be relieved by stereotactic ablation surgery and deep brain stimulation. Furthermore, it appears that the improvement in tics contributes more to the post-operative quality of life of patients than does the improvement in obsessive compulsive symptoms.

Although the genetic foundation of chicken body feather color has been extensively explored, that of tail feather color remains poorly understood. In the present study, we used a synthetic chicken dwarf line (DW), derived from hybrids bred between a black tail chicken breed, Rhode Island Red (RIR), and a white tail breed, dwarf layer (DL), to investigate the genetic rules associated white/black tail color. Even though the body feathers are predominantly red, the DW line still comprises individuals with black or white tails after more than 10 generations of self-crossing and selection for the body feather color. We first performed four crosses using the DW chickens, including black-tailed males to females, reciprocal crosses between the black and white, and white males to females to elucidate the inheritance pattern of the white/black tail. We also performed a genome-wide association (GWA) analysis to determine the candidate genomic regions underlying the tail feather color using black tail chickens from the RIR and DW lines and white individuals from the DW line. In the crossing experiment, we found that (i) the white/black tail feather color is independent of body feather color; (ii) the phenotype is a simple autosomal trait; and (iii) the white is dominant to the black in the DW line. The GWA results showed that seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 24 were significantly correlated with tail feather color. The significant region (3.97–4.26 Mb) comprises nine known genes (NECTIN1, THY1, gga-mir-1466, USP2, C1QTNF5, RNF26, MCAM, CBL, and CCDC153) and five anonymous genes. This study revealed that the white/black tail feather trait is autosome-linked in DW chickens. Fourteen genes were found in the significant ~0.29 Mb genomic region, and some, especially MCAM, are suggested to play critical roles in the determination of white/black tail feather color. Our research is the first study on the genetics underlying tail feather color and could help further the understanding of feather pigmentation in chickens.

Introduction SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has caused an international pandemic of respiratory illness, resulting in significant healthcare and economic turmoil. To date, no robust vaccine or treatment has been identified. Elemental zinc has previously been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on coronaviruses and other viral respiratory infections due to its effect on RNA polymerase. Additionally, zinc has well-demonstrated protective effects against hypoxic injury—a clear mechanism of end-organ injury in respiratory distress syndrome. We aimed to assess the effect of high-dose intravenous zinc (HDIVZn) on SARS-CoV-2 infection. The end of study analyses will evaluate the reduction of impact of oxygen saturations or requirement of oxygen supplementation.Methods and analysis We designed a double-blind randomised controlled trial of daily HDIVZn (0.5 mg/kg) versus placebo. Primary outcome measures are lowest oxygen saturation (or greatest level of supplemental oxygenation) for non-ventilated patients and worst PaO2/FiO2 for ventilated patients. Following power calculations, 60 hospitalised patients and 100 ventilated patients will be recruited to demonstrate a 20% difference. The duration of follow-up is up to the point of discharge.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was obtained through the independent Human Research Ethics Committee. Participant recruitment will commence in May 2020. Results will be published in peer-reviewed medical journals.Trial registration number ACTRN126200000454976.

Small intestine length is an important physiological index that is effected by nutrient intake and thus plays roles in growth and egg-laying in chickens. Although there are some studies about small intestine length, little information is available regarding the genetic architecture of small intestine. The current study was conducted to investigate the genetic architecture of small intestine length. A total of 1435 F2 hens from a White Leghorn and Dongxiang reciprocal cross were phenotyped for the duodenum lengths (DL), jejunum length (JL) and ileum length (IL), and genotyped using a chicken 600 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping array. SNP-based heritability estimation was performed by SAS algorithm and univariate genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed by GEMMA, a genome-wide efficient mixed-model association algorithm. The JL and IL exhibited high SNP-based heritability estimation (0.43 and 0.49, respectively), while the heritability estimation was moderate for the DL (0.36). Three independent univariate genome-wide screens for these small intestine lengths identified 202, 298 and 119 SNPs that were significantly associated with the DL, JL and IL, respectively. The significant genomic regions indicated that ∼170 Mb on GGA1 is an important region for these small intestine lengths. In this region, 78 SNPs were associated with them, of which 4 were involved in cell proliferation and development, corresponding to RB1 (rs313207223), CKAP2 (rs312737959) and SIAH3 (rs312771221, rs15494052) genes. Small intestine length exhibited good SNP-based heritability estimation and the GWAS results indicated that an important genomic region was located on GGA1.

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious hemorrhagic disease in domestic pigs and wild boars with a mortality of up to 100%. The causative agent, African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a member of the Asfarviridae family of the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses. The genome size of ASFV ranges from 170 to 194 kb, encoding more than 50 structural and 100 nonstructural proteins. ASFV virions are 260–300 nm in diameter and composed of complex multilayered structures, leading to an intricate internalization pathway to enter host cells. Currently, no commercial vaccines or antivirals are available, due to the insufficient knowledge of the viral receptor(s), the molecular events of ASFV entry into host cells, and the functions of virulence-associated genes. During the early stage of ASFV infection, the fundamental aspects of virus-host interactions, including virus internalization, intracellular transport through the endolysosomal system, and membrane fusion with endosome, are precisely regulated and orchestrated via a series of molecular events. In this review, we summarize the currently available knowledge on the pathways of ASFV entry into host cells and the functions of viral proteins involved in virus entry. Furthermore, we conclude with future perspectives and highlight areas that require further investigation. This review is expected to provide unique insights for further understanding ASFV entry and facilitate the development of vaccines and antivirals.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of energy-restricted feeding during rearing on the performance, uniformity, and development of layer breeders at the initiation of the laying period. A total of 2400 8-week-old Rugao layer breeders were randomly assigned to one of five groups (480 pullets per group) with eight replicates and were fed one of five diets that were nutritionally equal with the exception of apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn) content (2850, 2750, 2650, 2550, and 2450 kcal AMEn/kg) from 8 to 18 weeks of age. The daily amount of feed was restricted to the absolute quantity of the diet consumed by laying hens fed 2850 kcal AMEn per kg diet ad libitum (control). From 18 to 21 weeks of age, all hens were fed a basal diet ad libitum. The body weight (BW) of the laying pullets decreased linearly with increasing energy restriction (p < 0.001) but recovered within 3 weeks of ad libitum feeding (p = 0.290). A gradual increase in the degree of energy restriction resulted in a gradual decrease in average daily weight gain (ADG) and a gradual increase in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and energy conversion ratio (ECR) from 8 to 18 weeks of age (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.008). In contrast, the ADG and ADFI (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) gradually increased, while the FCR and ECR (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) gradually improved from 18 to 21 weeks of age. From 8 to 21 weeks of age, ECR improved (p = 0.005) with an increasing degree of energy restriction. The energy-restricted feeding for 6 weeks to the end of the trial improved BW uniformity (p < 0.05). The relative length and circumference of tarsus (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), and the relative weights and lengths of the small intestine, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and caeca increased linearly (p < 0.001, p = 0.012, p < 0.007, p = 0.012, p = 0.040; p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p = 0.032, p = 0.029, p = 0.040) with increasing energy restriction at 18 weeks of age. After switching to ad libitum feeding for 3 weeks, the relative weights and lengths of the small intestine, duodenum, and jejunum of laying pullets increased linearly with increasing energy restriction (p < 0.001, p = 0.016, p = 0.011; p = 0.009, p = 0.028, p = 0.032). In conclusion, moderate energy restriction (85.97%, 2450 vs. 2850 kcal AMEn/kg) from 8 to 18 weeks of age and switching to ad libitum feeding from 18 to 21 weeks of age can be used to improve BW uniformity and stimulate the development of the duodenum and jejunum of native layer breeders at the initiation of the laying period without compromising BW.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), were studied in the surface sediments of Qingduizi Bay (Yellow Sea, China). The goal was to identify whether their distribution and levels can be influenced by aquaculture activities in ponds. The total concentration of PCBs in mariculture ponds (MP) and the outer bay (OB) ranged from 0.61 ng g–1 to 2.10 ng g–1 dry weight (dw) and from 0.79 to 2.41 ng g–1 dw, respectively. The concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), ranged from 0.03 to 0.18 ng g–1 dw and from 0.24 to 31.14 ng g–1 dw, respectively. The levels of PCBs were significantly different between MP and OB, whereas no significant differences of DDTs and HCHs were detected between the two areas. Among the PCB congeners, tri-PCB and tetra-PCB were dominant, implying a historical input and atmospheric deposition for PCBs. The isomeric ratios of the compositions implicated mixture sources of new and historical inputs for HCHs. However, DDT-containing feed and pesticides in aquaculture activities could be the primary source of newly inputted DDTs. A parallel ecological risk assessment analysis showed the impact of DDTs on marine organisms. In conclusion, aquaculture in ponds influences the occurrence and distribution of persistent halogenated compounds in coastal areas, causing potential ecological impacts. This result should be a baseline for the management of aquaculture ponds regarding these compounds.

The small GTPases from the Ras superfamily play crucial roles in basic cellular processes during practically the entire process of neurodevelopment, including neurogenesis, differentiation, gene expression, membrane and protein traffic, vesicular trafficking, and synaptic plasticity. Small GTPases are key signal transducing enzymes that link extracellular cues to the neuronal responses required for the construction of neuronal networks, as well as for synaptic function and plasticity. Different subfamilies of small GTPases have been linked to a number of non-neoplastic cerebral diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, drug addiction, Huntington’s disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a large number of idiopathic cerebral diseases. Here, we attempted to make a clearer illustration of the relationship between Ras superfamily GTPases and non-neoplastic cerebral diseases, as well as their roles in the neural system. In future studies, potential treatments for non-neoplastic cerebral diseases which are based on small GTPase related signaling pathways should be explored further. In this paper, we review all the available literature in support of this possibility.

Drug addiction can be viewed as a chronic psychiatric disorder that is related to dysfunction of neural circuits, including reward deficits, stress surfeits, craving changes, and compromised executive function. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a crucial role in regulating craving and relapse, while the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) represents a higher cortex projecting into the NAc that is active in the management of executive function. In this study, we investigated the role of the small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK channels) in NAc and mPFC after morphine withdrawal. Action potential (AP) firing of neurons in the NAc shell was enhanced via the downregulations of the SK channels after morphine withdrawal. Furthermore, the expression of SK2 and SK3 subunits in the NAc was significantly reduced after 3 weeks of morphine withdrawal, but was not altered in the dorsal striatum. In mPFC, the SK channel subunits were differentially expressed. To be specific, the expression of SK3 was upregulated, while the expression of SK2 was unchanged. Furthermore, the AP firing in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the infralimbic (IL) cortex was decreased via the upregulations of the SK channel-related tail current after 3 weeks of morphine withdrawal. These results suggest that the SK channel plays a specific role in reward circuits following morphine exposure and a period of drug withdrawal, making it a potential target for the prevention of relapse.

Selective accessibility mechanisms indicate that anchoring effects are results of selective retrieval of working memory. Neuroimaging studies have revealed that the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is closely related to memory retrieval and performance. However, no research has investigated the effect of changing the cortical excitability in right DLPFC on anchoring effects. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can modulate the excitability of the human cerebral cortex, while anodal and cathodal tDCS are postulated to increase or decrease cortical activity, respectively. In this study, we used tDCS to investigate whether effects of increased or decreased right DLPFC excitability influence anchoring effects in willingness to pay (WTP) experiments. Ninety participants were first randomly assigned to receive either anodal, cathodal, or sham stimulation of 15 min, then they performed a valuation task regarding WTP. The results showed that anchoring effects were negatively related to activities of right DLPFC: the anodal stimulation diminished anchoring effects while the cathodal stimulation increased anchoring effects. These outcomes provide one of the first instances of neural evidence for the role of the right DLPFC in anchoring effects and support psychological explanations of the selective accessibility mechanisms and cognitive sets.

Molecular genetic tools provide a method for improving the breeding selection of chickens (Gallus gallus). Although some studies have identified genes affecting egg quality, little is known about the genes responsible for oviduct development. To address this issue, here we used a genome-wide association (GWA) study to detect genes or genomic regions that are related to oviduct development in a chicken F2 resource population by employing high-density 600 K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. For oviduct length and weight, which exhibited moderate heritability estimates of 0.35 and 0.39, respectively, chromosome 1 (GGA1) explained 9.45% of the genetic variance, while GGA4 to GGA8 and GGA11 explained over 1% of the variance. Independent univariate genome-wide screens for oviduct length and weight detected 69 significant SNPs on GGA1 and 49 suggestive SNPs on GGA1, GGA4, and GGA8. One hundred and fourteen suggestive SNPs were associated with oviduct length, while 73 SNPs were associated with oviduct weight. The significant genomic regions affecting oviduct weight ranged from 167.79-174.29 Mb on GGA1, 73.16-75.70 Mb on GGA4, and 4.88-4.92 Mb on GGA8. The genes CKAP2, CCKAR, NCAPG, IGFBP3, and GORAB were shown to have potential roles in oviduct development. These genes are involved in cell survival, appetite, and growth control. Our results represent the first GWA analysis of genes controlling oviduct weight and length. The identification of genomic loci and potential candidate genes affecting oviduct development greatly increase our understanding of the genetic basis underlying oviduct development, which could have an impact on the selection of egg quality.

Chicken is recognized as an excellent model for studies of genetic mechanism of phenotypic and genomic evolution, with large effective population size and strong human-driven selection. In the present study, we performed Extended Haplotype Homozygosity (EHH) tests to identify significant core regions employing 600K SNP Chicken chip in an F2 population of 1,534 hens, which was derived from reciprocal crosses between White Leghorn and Dongxiang chicken. Results indicated that a total of 49,151 core regions with an average length of 9.79 Kb were identified, which occupied approximately 52.15% of genome across all autosomes, and 806 significant core regions attracted us mostly. Genes in candidate regions may experience positive selection and were considered to have possible influence on beneficial economic traits. A panel of genes including AASDHPPT, GDPD5, PAR3, SOX6, GPC1 and a signal pathway of AKT1 were detected with the most extreme P-values. Further enrichment analyses indicated that these genes were associated with immune function, sensory organ development and neurogenesis, and may have experienced positive selection in chicken. Moreover, some of core regions exactly overlapped with genes excavated in our previous GWAS, suggesting that these genes have undergone positive selection may affect egg production. Findings in our study could draw a comparatively integrate genome-wide map of selection signature in the chicken genome, and would be worthy for explicating the genetic mechanisms of phenotypic diversity in poultry breeding.

The comb, as a secondary sexual character, is an important trait in chicken. Indicators of comb length (CL), comb height (CH), and comb weight (CW) are often selected in production. DNA-based marker-assisted selection could help chicken breeders to accelerate genetic improvement for comb or related economic characters by early selection. Although a number of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and candidate genes have been identified with advances in molecular genetics, candidate genes underlying comb traits are limited. The aim of the study was to use genome-wide association (GWA) studies by 600 K Affymetrix chicken SNP arrays to detect genes that are related to comb, using an F2 resource population. For all comb characters, comb exhibited high SNP-based heritability estimates (0.61-0.69). Chromosome 1 explained 20.80% genetic variance, while chromosome 4 explained 6.89%. Independent univariate genome-wide screens for each character identified 127, 197, and 268 novel significant SNPs with CL, CH, and CW, respectively. Three candidate genes, VPS36, AR, and WNT11B, were determined to have a plausible function in all comb characters. These genes are important to the initiation of follicle development, gonadal growth, and dermal development, respectively. The current study provides the first GWA analysis for comb traits. Identification of the genetic basis as well as promising candidate genes will help us understand the underlying genetic architecture of comb development and has practical significance in breeding programs for the selection of comb as an index for sexual maturity or reproduction.

There are still no highly sensitive and unique biomarkers for measurement of puberty onset. Circulating miRNAs have been shown to be promising biomarkers for diagnosis of various diseases. To identify circulating miRNAs that could be served as biomarkers for measuring chicken (Gallus gallus) puberty onset, the Solexa deep sequencing was performed to analyze the miRNA expression profiles in serum and plasma of hens from two different pubertal stages, before puberty onset (BO) and after puberty onset (AO). 197 conserved and 19 novel miRNAs (reads > 10) were identified as serum/plasma-expressed miRNAs in the chicken. The common miRNA amounts and their expression changes from BO to AO between serum and plasma were very similar, indicating the different treatments to generate serum and plasma had quite small influence on the miRNAs. 130 conserved serum-miRNAs were showed to be differentially expressed (reads > 10, P < 0.05) from BO to AO, with 68 up-regulated and 62 down-regulated. 4829 putative genes were predicted as the targets of the 40 most differentially expressed miRNAs (|log2(fold-change)|>1.0, P < 0.01). Functional analysis revealed several pathways that were associated with puberty onset. Further quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) test found that a seven-miRNA panel, including miR-29c, miR-375, miR-215, miR-217, miR-19b, miR-133a and let-7a, had great potentials to serve as novel biomarkers for measuring puberty onset in chicken. Due to highly conserved nature of miRNAs, the findings could provide cues for measurement of puberty onset in other animals as well as humans.

Egg number (EN), egg laying rate (LR) and age at first egg (AFE) are important production traits related to egg production in poultry industry. To better understand the knowledge of genetic architecture of dynamic EN during the whole laying cycle and provide the precise positions of associated variants for EN, LR and AFE, laying records from 21 to 72 weeks of age were collected individually for 1,534 F2 hens produced by reciprocal crosses between White Leghorn and Dongxiang Blue-shelled chicken, and their genotypes were assayed by chicken 600 K Affymetrix high density genotyping arrays. Subsequently, pedigree and SNP-based genetic parameters were estimated and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted on EN, LR and AFE. The heritability estimates were similar between pedigree and SNP-based estimates varying from 0.17 to 0.36. In the GWA analysis, we identified nine genome-wide significant loci associated with EN of the laying periods from 21 to 26 weeks, 27 to 36 weeks and 37 to 72 weeks. Analysis of GTF2A1 and CLSPN suggested that they influenced the function of ovary and uterus, and may be considered as relevant candidates. The identified SNP rs314448799 for accumulative EN from 21 to 40 weeks on chromosome 5 created phenotypic differences of 6.86 eggs between two homozygous genotypes, which could be potentially applied to the molecular breeding for EN selection. Moreover, our finding showed that LR was a moderate polygenic trait. The suggestive significant region on chromosome 16 for AFE suggested the relationship between sex maturity and immune in the current population. The present study comprehensively evaluates the role of genetic variants in the development of egg laying. The findings will be helpful to investigation of causative genes function and future marker-assisted selection and genomic selection in chickens.

Onset of the rapid gonad growth is a milestone in sexual development that comprises many genes and regulatory factors. The observations in model organisms and mammals including humans have shown a potential link between miRNAs and development timing. To determine whether miRNAs play roles in this process in the chicken (Gallus gallus), the Solexa deep sequencing was performed to analyze the profiles of miRNA expression in the hypothalamus of hens from two different pubertal stages, before onset of the rapid gonad development (BO) and after onset of the rapid gonad development (AO). 374 conserved and 46 novel miRNAs were identified as hypothalamus-expressed miRNAs in the chicken. 144 conserved miRNAs were showed to be differentially expressed (reads > 10, P < 0.05) during the transition from BO to AO. Five differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) method. 2013 putative genes were predicted as the targets of the 15 most differentially expressed miRNAs (fold-change > 4.0, P < 0.01). Of these genes, 7 putative circadian clock genes, Per2, Bmal1/2, Clock, Cry1/2, and Star were found to be targeted multiple times by the miRNAs. qRT-PCR revealed the basic transcription levels of these clock genes were much higher (P < 0.01) in AO than in BO. Further functional analysis suggested that these 15 miRNAs play important roles in transcriptional regulation and signal transduction pathways. The results provide new insights into miRNAs functions in timing the rapid development of chicken gonads. Considering the characteristics of miRNA functional conservation, the results will contribute to the research on puberty onset in humans.

Antibodies are ubiquitous and essential reagents for biomedical research. Uses of antibodies include quantifying proteins, identifying the temporal and spatial pattern of expression in cells and tissue, and determining how proteins function under normal or pathological conditions. Specific antibodies are only available for a small portion of the proteome, limiting study of those proteins for which antibodies do not exist. The technologies to generate target-specific antibodies need to be improved to obtain high quality antibodies to the proteome at reasonable cost. Here we show that renewable, validated, and standardized monoclonal antibodies can be generated at high throughput, without the need for antigen production or animal immunizations. In this study, 60 protein domains from 24 selected secreted proteins were expressed on the surface of yeast and used for selection of phage antibodies, over 400 monoclonal antibodies were identified within 3 weeks. A subset of these antibodies was validated for binding to cancer cells that overexpress the target protein by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry. This approach will be applicable to many of the membrane-bound and the secreted proteins, 20-40% of the proteome, accelerating the timeline for Ab generation while reducing the cost.