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The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) involves chronic inflammation of the submucosal layer and disruption of epithelial barrier function within the gastrointestinal tract. Connexin 43 (Cx43) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation and its associated carcinogenic effects. However, a comprehensive analysis of Cx43’s role in mucosal and peripheral immunity in patients with UC is lacking. In this study, the colon tissues of patients with UC exhibited severe damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier, resulting in a significant impairment of junctional communication as observed by transmission electron microscopy. The mRNA expression of Cx43 was found to be significantly elevated in the UC group compared to the control group, as determined using the Affymetrix expression profile chip and subsequently validated using qRT-PCR. The immunofluorescence analysis revealed a significantly higher mean fluorescence intensity of Cx43 in the UC group compared to the control group. Additionally, Cx43 was observed in both the cell membrane and nucleus, providing clear evidence of nuclear translocation. The proportion of Cx43 in the UC group for CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes was increased in the control group, but only the proportion of Cx43 for CD8+ T lymphocytes showed significant difference by flow cytometry. The involvement of Cx43 in the pathogenesis of UC and its potential role in mucosal immunity warrants further investigation, as it holds promise as a prospective biomarker and therapeutic target for this condition. The proportion of Cx43 in the UC group for CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes was increased in the control group, but only the proportion of Cx43 for CD8+ T lymphocytes showed a significant difference.

This paper studies transverse grain-cooling ventilation technology applied to 24m long-span warehouse in high temperature and humidity area. Application effect of transverse grain-cooling ventilation technology was evaluated by adopting district cooling ventilation mode. The results showed that the transverse grain-cooling ventilation by sub region in large-span warehouse had the advantages of faster cooling rate, better ventilation uniformity, remarkable water retention effect and lower consuming power. The temperature gradient along the cool air direction was less than 0.22 ℃/m. The ventilation water loss rate was 0.1% and consuming power rate was 0.10 kw·h/(t·℃). The consuming power rate is only 20% of the maximum consuming power rate index of 0.5 kw·h/(t·℃) which is defined in the “Grain and oil storage—Technology regulation of application of grain chiller”, (GB/T 29374—2012).

Abstract The endometrium plays a critical role in embryo implantation and pregnancy, and a thin uterus is recognized as a key factor in embryo implantation failure. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) have attracted interest for the repair of intrauterine adhesions. The current study investigated the repair of thin endometrium in rats using the UC-MSCs and the mechanisms involved. Rats were injected with 95% ethanol to establish a model of thin endometrium. The rats were randomly divided into normal, sham, model, and UC-MSCs groups. Endometrial morphological alterations were observed by hematoxylin–eosin staining and Masson staining, and functional restoration was assessed by testing embryo implantation. The interaction between UC-MSCs and rat endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) was evaluated using a transwell 3D model and immunocytochemistry. Microarray mRNA and miRNA platforms were used for miRNA-mRNA expression profiling. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to identify the biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components, and pathways of endometrial injury and UC-MSCs transplantation repair and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to further identify the expression changes of key molecules in the pathways. Endometrium thickness, number of glands, and the embryo implantation numbers were improved, and the degree of fibrosis was significantly alleviated by UC-MSCs treatment in the rat model of thin endometrium. In vitro cell experiments showed that UC-MSCs migrated to injured ESCs and enhanced their proliferation. miRNA microarray chip results showed that expression of 45 miRNAs was downregulated in the injured endometrium and upregulated after UC-MSCs transplantation. Likewise, expression of 39 miRNAs was upregulated in the injured endometrium and downregulated after UC-MSCs transplantation. The miRNA-mRNA interactions showed the changes in the miRNA and mRNA network during the processes of endometrial injury and repair. GO and KEGG analyses showed that the process of endometrial injury was mainly attributed to the decomposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM), protein degradation and absorption, and accompanying inflammation. The process of UC-MSCs transplantation and repair were accompanied by the reconstruction of the ECM, regulation of chemokines and inflammation, and cell proliferation and apoptosis. The key molecules involved in ECM-receptor interaction pathways were further verified by qRT-PCR. Itga1 and Thbs expression decreased in the model group and increased by UC-MSCs transplantation, while Laminin and Collagen expression increased in both the model group and MSCs group, with greater expression observed in the latter. This study showed that UC-MSCs transplantation could promote recovery of thin endometrial morphology and function. Furthermore, it revealed the expression changes of miRNA and mRNA after endometrial injury and UC-MSCs transplantation repair processed, and signaling pathways that may be involved in endometrial injury and repair.

TSZ-6A strain-controlled triaxial apparatus was used to determine bulk density of wheat under different pressures and initial pressure porosity was tested by self-made porosity mete， the porosity values of samples under different varieties， water content and pressure were calculated according to the relationship between bulk density and porosity. The results showed that the porosity of wheat decreased with the increase of pressurewhich satisfied the power function relationship; The porosity of wheat increased with the increase of water content， which satisfied the quadratic function relationship; In a certain size range， varieties had no obvious effect on porosity.

Improving the utilization efficiency of renewable energy sources (RES) is an important task for the development of an integrated energy system (IES). To address this challenge, this paper proposes a novel multi-objective interval optimization framework for the energy hub (EH) planning problem from the perspective of the source load synergy, while considering the impacts of both supply- and demand-side uncertainties. For this aim, based on an in-depth analysis of the adjustable characteristics of various loads in EH and their effect on RES absorption, an interval model is first established to describe the responsiveness of users’ load demand to real-time energy price variations and its associated uncertainties. In view of the natural contradiction between the system’s economic and environmental benefits, a multi-objective interval optimization model for the EH planning problem is developed, wherein the minimization of the system’s economic costs and the maximization of the RES utilization rate are considered as the dual objectives to be optimized simultaneously. Moreover, this study takes into account the uncertainties of RES availability and demand-side behaviors by using interval numbers and properly considering their impacts in the context of long-term planning. According to the features of the proposed model, the interval order relation and possible degree method are jointly used to transform the model into a deterministic optimization problem first, and then an improved non-dominant sorting genetic algorithm is used to derive the optimal solution to the problem. The results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the economy of EH and the utilization efficiency of RES and flexibly meet different planning requirements, giving better engineering practicability.

Strain C was isolated from chicken manure, and its phenotypic characteristics were gram-stain negative, yellow-pigmented, aerobic bacterium, heterotrophic, non-motile, chemoorganotrophic, non-gliding as well as non-spore-forming. A 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain C occupied a distinct lineage within the family of the genus Chryseobacterium, and it shared highest sequence similarity with Chryseobacterium solincola strain 1YB-R12 (80%). The new isolate has been studied for removing ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N) and the optimization of suitable conditions. The strain C was able to degrade over 42.8% of NH4-N during its active growth cycle. Experimental study of the effect of temperature and pH on NH4-N removal showed that the temperature and pH optima for NH4-N removal were 30–35℃ and 4–8, respectively. The results indicated that strain C shows a potential application for wastewater treatment.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a disease that changes the function of microvascular of placenta. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression in placenta may contribute to the pathogenesis of GDM. Here, we evaluate the role and function of miR-29b in the development of GDM. This study discovered that miR-29b expression was lower in placentas derived from patients with GDM than that in control placentas. MiR-29b over-expression inhibited cell growth and migration, and miR-29b knockdown promoted cell migration. Then we predicted and confirmed that HIF3A was a direct target of miR-29b with two specific binding sites at the recognition sequences of miR-29b in 3′-UTR of HIF3A mRNA, which was negatively correlated with miR-29b expression level. The up-regulation of HIF3A partially antagonized the inhibitory effect of miR-29b over-expression on cell growth and migration. The enhancement of cell migration induced by miR-29b knockdown was attenuated by down-regulating HIF3A. These results imply that down-regulation of miR-29b may be related with the development of GDM partially via increasing the expression of HIF3A, which may provide a new insight for the mechanism of GDM.

The goal of this study was to assess the suitability of poultry wastewater for the irrigation of farmland soil as a possible substitute for regular water and fertilizers. The vertical and spatial variability of soil total nitrogen (STN), soil total phosphorus (STP) and soil organic carbon (SOC) was analyzed during the growing season of summer maize in two types of soil: an experimental group (EG) soil, irrigated once only with poultry wastewater, and a control group (CG) soil, irrigated once only with regular water. Results revealed no difference in STP concentration, SOC concentration, nitrogen storage and phosphorus storage between EG and CG soils (all p>0.05); STN concentration in the 5–15 cm layer and carbon storage were higher in EG soil (p

Abstract Background Repair deficiency after endometrial injury is an important reason for intra-uterine adhesions, amenorrhea, and infertility in females. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation is effective in repairing the damaged endometrium. However, the possibility of using umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) to treat endometrial injury is rarely reported. Methods Ethanol (95%) was injected into rat uterus to establish a model of endometrial injury. UC-MSCs were injected through the tail vein, either as a single, twice, or thrice administration. Functional restoration of the uterus was assessed by testing embryo implantation rates. Endometrial morphological alteration was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Endometrial fibrosis, markers of epithelial and stromal cells of endometrium, cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and inflammatory factors were detected using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results Endometrial morphology and embryo implantation rates were significantly improved on day 8 of transplantation among single-, twice-, or thrice-administered rats. Moreover, UC-MSCs could alleviate fibrosis in general, and reduced the expression of fibrosis markers, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. The cell proliferation marker Ki-67 had a positive expression in the injured endometrium after UC-MSC transplantation. The endometrial stromal marker vimentin and epithelial marker cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) expressions were visibly increased. The expression of vascular markers CD31, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)A, and matrix metalloprotein (MMP)9 was generally upregulated. Proinflammatory factors interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-2 were significantly downregulated in the rats administered UC-MSCs twice and thrice. Conclusions UC-MSC transplantation contributed to the repair of endometrial injury and restoration of fertility, likely through the suppression of excessive fibrosis and inflammation, and enhancement of endometrial cell proliferation and vascular remodeling.

TiB2-BN composite ceramics combine excellent electrical conductivity, thermal shock resistance, high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and easy processing of TiB2 and BN. However, in practical applications, their high-temperature oxidation resistance is poor and the resistivity distribution is uneven and changes substantially with temperature. A TiB2-BN-SiC composite ceramic with stable and controllable resistivity was prepared by introducing SiC into the TiB2-BN composite ceramics. In this work, spark plasma sintering (SPS) technology was used to prepare TiB2-BN-SiC composite ceramics with various TiB2-SiC ratios and sintering temperatures. The samples were tested by XRD, SEM, and thermal and mechanical analysis. The results show that as the volume ratio of TiB2-SiC was increased from 3:1 to 12:1, the resistivity of the sample decreased from 8053.3 to 4923.3 μΩ·cm, the thermal conductivity increased from 24.89 to 34.15 W/(m k), and the thermal expansion rate increased from 7.49 (10−6/K) to 10.81 (10−6/K). As the sintering temperature was increased from 1650 to 1950 °C, the density of the sample increased, the mechanical properties were slightly improved, and the resistivity, thermal expansion rate, and thermal conductivity changed substantially. The volume ratio and sintering temperature are the key factors that control the resistivity and thermal characteristics of TiB2-SiC-BN composite ceramics, and the in situ from liquid phases of FeB and FeO also promotes the sintering of the TiB2-BN-SiC ceramics.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a critical molecular mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Hence, strategies for alleviating this stress may be essential for preventing cardiovascular injuries under sepsis. Adiponectin is secreted by adipocytes and its levels are decreased in sepsis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of adiponectin treatment on endothelial cells and its mechanism. Male Wistar rats underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) before being treated with adiponectin (72 and 120 μg/kg). The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma, histological structure, and apoptosis of endothelial cells were evaluated. In vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with adiponectin at 10 and 20 μg/mL for 24 h after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultrastructure, rate of apoptosis, the expression of inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) protein, and its downstream molecules (78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and caspase-12) were detected. The results showed that the levels of MDA and ROS induced by CLP or LPS stimulation were increased. Furthermore, endothelial cell apoptosis was increased under sepsis. The IRE1α pathway was initiated, as evidenced by activated IRE1α, increased GRP78, and up-regulated CHOP and caspase-12 in HUVECs. Following treatment with adiponectin, the number of apoptotic endothelial cells was markedly decreased. These findings demonstrated that treatment with adiponectin decreased apoptosis of endothelial cells caused by sepsis by attenuating the ER stress IRE1α pathway activated by oxidative stress.

Homologs of the vertebrate neuropeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) have been identified in invertebrates, including the insect neuropeptide corazonin (CRZ). Recently, we reported the discovery of GnRH-type and CRZ-type signaling systems in an echinoderm, the starfish Asterias rubens, demonstrating that the evolutionary origin of paralogous GnRH-type and CRZ-type neuropeptides can be traced back to the common ancestor of protostomes and deuterostomes. Here, we have investigated the physiological roles of the GnRH-type (ArGnRH) and the CRZ-type (ArCRZ) neuropeptides in A. rubens, using mRNA in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and in vitro pharmacology. ArGnRH precursor (ArGnRHP)-expressing cells and ArGnRH-immunoreactive cells and/or processes are present in the radial nerve cords, circumoral nerve ring, digestive system (e.g., cardiac stomach and pyloric stomach), body wall-associated muscle (apical muscle), and appendages (tube feet, terminal tentacle). The general distribution of ArCRZ precursor (ArCRZP)-expressing cells is similar to that of ArGnRHP, but with specific local differences. For example, cells expressing ArGnRHP are present in both the ectoneural and hyponeural regions of the radial nerve cords and circumoral nerve ring, whereas cells expressing ArCRZP were only observed in the ectoneural region. In vitro pharmacological experiments revealed that both ArGnRH and ArCRZ cause contraction of cardiac stomach, apical muscle, and tube foot preparations. However, ArGnRH was more potent/effective than ArCRZ as a contractant of the cardiac stomach, whereas ArCRZ was more potent/effective than ArGnRH as a contractant of the apical muscle. These findings demonstrate that both ArGnRH and ArCRZ are myoexcitatory neuropeptides in starfish, but differences in their expression patterns and pharmacological activities are indicative of distinct physiological roles. This is the first study to investigate the physiological roles of both GnRH-type and CRZ-type neuropeptides in a deuterostome, providing new insights into the evolution and comparative physiology of these paralogous neuropeptide signaling systems in the Bilateria.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of interesting games on reducing preoperative anxiety and improving compliance with anaesthesia in children. Methods: Ninety preschool-aged children undergoing elective surgery were randomly assigned to two groups. The children in the control group were admitted to a general preoperative room with one parent for 15–20 min, and were then taken into the anaesthesia room. During anaesthetic induction, the nurse attracted the children's attention using an interesting game with encouragement and attention diversion. The children's anxiety was assessed using the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS) when they entered the operating room, while they were waiting to undergo s0urgery, and during anaesthetic induction. Moreover, the children's compliance with anaesthetic induction was assessed using the Induction Compliance Checklist (ICC). Results: No statistically significant differences in the mYPAS scores were observed between the two groups upon entering the operating room (p > 0.05). The mYPAS scores were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group while waiting for surgery and during anaesthetic induction (p

Neuropeptides are an ancient class of neuronal signaling molecules that regulate a variety of physiological and behavioral processes in animals. The life cycle of many animals includes a larval stage(s) that precedes metamorphic transition to a reproductively active adult stage but, with the exception of Drosophila melanogaster and other insects, research on neuropeptide signaling has hitherto largely focused on adult animals. However, recent advances in genome/transcriptome sequencing have facilitated investigation of neuropeptide expression/function in the larvae of protostomian (e.g. the annelid Platynereis dumerilii) and deuterostomian (e.g. the urochordate Ciona intestinalis) invertebrates. Accordingly, here we report the first multi-gene investigation of larval neuropeptide precursor expression in a species belonging to the phylum Echinodermata - the starfish Asterias rubens. Whole-mount mRNA in situ hybridization was used to visualize in bipinnaria and brachiolaria stage larvae the expression of eight neuropeptide precursors: L-type SALMFamide (S1), F-type SALMFamide (S2), vasopressin/oxytocin-type, NGFFYamide, thyrotropin-releasing hormone-type, gonadotropin-releasing hormone-type, calcitonin-type and corticotropin-releasing hormone-type. Expression of only three of the precursors (S1, S2, NGFFYamide) was observed in bipinnaria larvae but by the brachiolaria stage expression of all eight precursors was detected. An evolutionarily conserved feature of larval nervous systems is the apical organ and in starfish larvae this comprises the bilaterally symmetrical lateral ganglia, but only the S1 and S2 precursors were found to be expressed in these ganglia. A prominent feature of brachiolaria larvae is the attachment complex, comprising the brachia and adhesive disk, which mediates larval attachment to a substratum prior to metamorphosis. Interestingly, all of the neuropeptide precursors examined here are expressed in the attachment complex, with distinctive patterns of expression suggesting potential roles for neuropeptides in the attachment process. Lastly, expression of several neuropeptide precursors is associated with ciliary bands, suggesting potential roles for the neuropeptides derived from these precursors in control of larval locomotion and/or feeding. In conclusion, our findings provide novel perspectives on the evolution and development of neuropeptide signaling systems and neuroanatomical insights into neuropeptide function in echinoderm larvae.