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The intracellular lipids in muscle cells of farm animals play a crucial role in determining the overall intramuscular fat (IMF) content, which has a positive impact on meat quality. However, the mechanisms underlying the deposition of lipids in muscle cells of farm animals are not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the roles of carbohydrate-response element binding protein (ChREBP) and fructose in IMF deposition of chickens. For virus-mediated ChREBP overexpression in tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of chickens, seven 5-d-old male yellow-feather chickens were used. At 10 d after virus injection, the chickens were slaughtered to obtain TA muscles for analysis. For fructose administration trial, sixty 9-wk-old male yellow-feather chickens were randomly divided into 2 groups, with 6 replicates per group and 5 chickens per replicate. The chickens were fed either a basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 10% fructose (purity ≥ 99%). At 4 wk later, the chickens were slaughtered, and breast and thigh muscles were collected for analysis. The results showed that the skeletal ChREBPmRNA levels were positively associated with IMF content in multiple species, including the chickens, pigs, and mice (P < 0.05). ChREBP overexpression increased lipid accumulation in both muscle cells in vitro and the TA muscles of mice and chickens in vivo (P < 0.05), by activation of the de novo lipogenesis (DNL) pathway. Moreover, activation of ChREBP by dietary fructose administration also resulted in increased IMF content in mice and notably chickens (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the lipidomics analysis revealed that ChREBP activation altered the lipid composition of chicken IMF and tented to improve the flavor profile of the meat. In conclusion, this study found that ChREBP plays a pivotal role in mediating the deposition of fat in chicken muscles in response to fructose-rich diets, which provides a novel strategy for improving meat quality in the livestock industry.

Purpose: Based on the weak seismic performance and low ductility of coupled shear walls, engineered cementitious composites (ECC) is utilized to strengthen it to solve the deformation problem in tall buildings more effectively and study its mechanical properties more deeply. Design/methodology/approach: The properties of reinforced concrete coupled shear wall (RCCSW) and reinforced ECC coupled shear wall (RECSW) have been studied by numerical simulation, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The reliability of the finite element model is verified. On this basis, a detailed parameter study is carried out, including the strength and reinforcement ratio of longitudinal rebar, the placement height of ECC in the wall limb and the position of ECC connecting beams. The study indexes include failure mode and the skeleton curve. Findings: The results suggest that the bearing capacity of RECSW is significantly affected by the ratio of longitudinal rebar. When the ratio of longitudinal rebar increases from 0.47% to 3.35%, the bearing capacity of RECSW increases from 250 kN to 303 kN, an increase of 21%. The strength of longitudinal rebar has little influence on the bearing capacity of RECSW. When the strength of the longitudinal rebar increases, the bearing capacity of RECSW increases little. The failure mode of RECSW can be improved by lowering the casting height of the ECC beam in a certain range. Originality/value: In this paper, ECC is used to strengthen the coupled shear wall, and the accuracy of the finite element model is verified from the failure mode and skeleton curve. On this basis, the casting height of the ECC casting wall limb, the strength and reinforcement ratio of longitudinal rebar and the position of the ECC beam are studied in detail.

The objective of the study was to compare the effects of assisted reproductive technology (ART) and spontaneous pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes in women with endometrial carcinoma (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) following fertility-sparing treatments.

Zinc deficiency is a risk factor for the development of obesity and diabetes. Studies have shown lower serum zinc levels in obese individuals and those with diabetes. We speculate that zinc supplementation can alleviate obesity and diabetes and, to some extent, their complications. To test our hypothesis, we investigated the effects of zinc supplementation on mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis in vivoand in vitroby adding zinc to the diet of mice and the medium of HepG2 cells. Both results showed that high levels of zinc could alleviate the glucose and lipid metabolic disorders induced by a HFD. High zinc can reduce glucose production, promote glucose absorption, reduce lipid deposition, improve HFD-induced liver injury, and regulate energy metabolism. This study provides novel insight into the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and glucose metabolic disorder.

This paper assesses the performance of 20 CMIP6 models in simulating the relationship between spring Arctic Oscillation (AO) and summer precipitation in the Yangtze River valley (YRP) over the period 1980–2014. Their relationship during 2015–2100 under SSP2-4.5 is also projected. The assessment indicates that four models (ACCESS-ESM1-5, CMC-CM2-SR5, MRI-ESM2-0, and NorESM2-LM) can reasonably simulate the observed interdecadal weakening of the AO–YRP connection in the late 1990s. During 1980–1998, corresponding to the positive phase of spring AO, the East Asian jet (EAJ) shifts northward in summer, favoring descending anomalies over the Yangtze River valley. Meanwhile, the western Pacific subtropical high is weaker than normal and anomalous northeasterlies prevail in the lower troposphere of the Yangtze River valley, reducing the water vapor transport to the target region. These situations are unfavorable for the occurrence of precipitation, consequently resulting in a decrease in summer YRP. During 1999–2014, however, the association of the above atmospheric circulations with spring AO becomes insignificant, thus diluting the AO–YRP connection. The ensemble of the four models projects that the significant out-of-phase relationship between spring AO and summer YRP will recover in the near term (2015–2040) and weaken again afterwards. Such projected relationships are supported by the changes in the linkage of summer atmospheric circulations to spring AO.

The aim of this paper is to study the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams reinforced by engineered cementitious composite (ECC). The reinforcement effect of ECC on RC beam is studied by experiments, numerical simulation and theoretical analysis, considering the secondary load. Five beams were tested under static load, including two beams with ECC layers at the top and bottom (TBEB), two beams with ECC layers at the bottom (BEB) and one unreinforced beam. Different parameters in the test include reinforcement ratio, whether the top is equipped with ECC layer, and the thickness of the top ECC layer. The test data were used to validate the finite element model developed to simulate the bending response of the ECC layer reinforced beam. Then, a series of parameter studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of ECC layer thickness, reinforcement ratio and ECC elastic modulus on the reinforced beam. The experimental and numerical simulation results show that compared with other reinforced beams, TBEB equipped with 50mm ECC layer at the top and bottom has better performance. Compared with the control beams, the ultimate bearing capacity is increased by 82.6%, ductility and deformation capacity are increased by 2.38 times and 2.11 times, respectively. Finally, a calculation model for predicting the flexural capacity of TBEB is presented. The predicted flexural capacity is in good agreement with the experimental results.

The broiler industry frequently encounters two common problems: excessive deposition of abdominal fat and poor quality of meat. However, there are limited nutritional manipulation strategies to address these issues. While Anoectochilus roxburghii, a traditional Chinese herb, has been shown to have multiple beneficial effects in humans, its potential roles in broiler chickens remain unexplored. In this study, the effects of dietary supplementation with Anoectochilus roxburghiiextract (ARE) on growth performance, abdominal fat deposition, meat quality, blood indices, and gut microbiota were investigated in broiler chickens. A total of 90 twenty-one-day-old yellow broilers were randomly divided into 3 treatments, and each treatment included 5 replicates with 6 birds per replicate. Birds were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.15% or 0.30% ARE for 6 weeks. The results showed that the inclusion of ARE in the diet did not have any significant effect on meat yield (P> 0.05). However, it did lead to a reduction in abdominal fat deposition and an improvement in meat quality (P< 0.05). Mechanistically, the addition of ARE inhibited lipid biosynthesis and enhanced lipid breakdown in both the liver and adipose tissue of the broilers. Furthermore, ARE supplementation increased the antioxidase activities in the muscle and serum of the broilers (P< 0.05). In addition, the supplementation of ARE optimized the diversity and composition of the cecal microbiota, particularly by lowering the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (P< 0.05). Moreover, the abundance of some bacteria that were positively correlated with abdominal fat deposition was reduced by ARE, and vice versa (P< 0.05). Collectively, the results suggest that ARE is a promising candidate as a feed additive for reducing abdominal fat deposition and improving meat quality in the broiler industry.

Karst holes and caves are well developed due to karstification in carbonate reservoirs. Stress distribution and fracture development around karst caves are of great significance to evaluate the storage and migration of hydrocarbons in carbonate reservoirs. In this study, the stress distribution and fracture development of Ordovician buried hills in Jizhong depression in northern China were investigated. The rock mechanical parameters of the target area were determined based on logging data and the boundary loads of the target region were also determined. Next, a numerical stress-analysis model was developed to investigate stress around the karst caves in Jizhong depression. Fracture development in the surrounding rocks of the karst caves was also analyzed. Results show that the principle vertical, maximum horizontal, and minimum horizontal stresses of studied area are all compressive with an approximate value of 100 MPa, indicating that the caves are under a stress environment in which mainly the top and lateral sides of caves bear pressure. The stress in the surrounding areas of the caves are quite homogeneous, and the fracture development index in these areas is low, making it difficult to form pathways for oil and gas migration. However, the stress near the top of the caves is relatively larger and the fracture development index is relatively higher, so that the rocks in this area tend to fracture and form migration pathways. This study is expected to provide scientific basis for the exploitation and development of oil and gas from the carbonate reservoirs in Jizhong depression.

Karst holes and caves are well developed due to karstification in carbonate reservoirs. Stress distribution and fracture development around karst caves are of great significance to evaluate the storage and migration of hydrocarbons in carbonate reservoirs. In this study, the stress distribution and fracture development of Ordovician buried hills in Jizhong depression in northern China were investigated. The rock mechanical parameters of the target area were determined based on logging data and the boundary loads of the target region were also determined. Next, a numerical stress-analysis model was developed to investigate stress around the karst caves in Jizhong depression. Fracture development in the surrounding rocks of the karst caves was also analyzed. Results show that the principle vertical, maximum horizontal, and minimum horizontal stresses of studied area are all compressive with an approximate value of 100 MPa, indicating that the caves are under a stress environment in which mainly the top and lateral sides of caves bear pressure. The stress in the surrounding areas of the caves are quite homogeneous, and the fracture development index in these areas is low, making it difficult to form pathways for oil and gas migration. However, the stress near the top of the caves is relatively larger and the fracture development index is relatively higher, so that the rocks in this area tend to fracture and form migration pathways. This study is expected to provide scientific basis for the exploitation and development of oil and gas from the carbonate reservoirs in Jizhong depression.