Search

Contaminants in food have severely threatened human health, and appropriate antioxidants derived from food could reduce impairment risk. Lactoferrin from milk could control iron concentration in the blood to ameliorate oxidative stress, which is also required for sperm maturation, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study used mice with spermatogenetic dysfunction caused by bisphenol A (BPA) and cadmium (Cd) to evaluate the ameliorative effects of lactoferrin and milk (bioactive substances). BPA (50 mg/kg) and Cd (1.6 mg/kg) caused severe damage to testis, including globally decreased germ cell counts, poor sperm quality, disordered apoptosis, oxidative stress, and autophagy; however bioactive substances comprehensively ameliorated spermatogenetic dysfunction via mitigating the increased levels of BAX/BCL2, LC3II/LC3I, and P62. AMPK was involved in autophagic regulation, while ERK1/2 inhibition attenuated the protective effects of lactoferrin, including restimulating apoptosis, oxidative stress, and arrested autophagic flux. Notably, P62 was consistently stimulated with different ERK1/2 inhibitors, which was ubiquitin-dependent. The study provides evidence for the alleviative effects of lactoferrin and milk in mice with spermatogenetic dysfunction through ERK1/2 mediated the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of P62. The involved signals and molecules could be identified as novel therapeutic targets for male infertility, which contributes to expanding LF's interests in research and application.

CGA

Although bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is widely used for spinal fusion, some concerns cannot be ignored. The combination of growth factor with composite scaffolds represent a promising approach to promote bone regeneration and spinal fusion. Recent studies have demonstrated that the growth differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) variant BB-1, combining the osteogenic activity of BMP-2 with the angiogenic features of GDF-5, enhanced bone regeneration during long-bone healing in lower-order animals. The study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of BB-1 loading on composite scaffolds on spinal fusion in nonhuman primates. Six healthy rhesus monkeys were used to establish a clinically relevant two-segment spinal fusion model. Blank scaffolds or BB-1-loaded scaffolds were implanted into each animal and distributed in a blinded way. Imageological and histological examinations as well as bone histomorphometry were performed after euthanization at 6 months post-operation. BB-1 led to a higher spinal fusion rate (5/6) compared to the negative control (1/6). Mechanically, BB-1 stimulated bone formation and vessel formation. Furthermore, we found that BB-1 increased the density of H-type vessels in the newly formed bone tissues for the first time. Moreover, 500 ​μg BB-1 triggered no local inflammation response in each spine segment and no systematic toxicity in liver and kidney. These results suggest that BB-1 promotes spinal fusion in rhesus monkeys by coupling of angiogenesis and osteogenesis and that local usage of 500 ​μg BB-1 should be effective and safe, facilitating translation of BB-1 from bench to bedside.

Summary: Background: The end plate plays an important role in intervertebral disc degeneration progression. The aim of the study was to examine the compositional and structural changes of the end plate with age and to investigate the correlation between end plate and disc degeneration by T1ρ and T2 map magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: There were 12 young monkeys (6-7 years old), 20 aged monkeys (14-17 years old) and 12 human participants (30-50 years old) in this study. T1ρ or T2 map values of the nucleus pulposus and end plate cartilage were analyzed according to Pfirrmann grades and age. Afterwards, micro computed tomography and histological analysis were used to confirm the end plate changes in monkeys. Pearson’s correlation was performed to investigate the relationship between end plate and disc degeneration. Results: In monkeys, T1ρ (r=-0.794, P

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary lipid-to-carbohydrate ratio on growth and carbohydrate metabolism in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum). Six isonitrogenous diets were prepared to vary in lipid-to-carbohydrate ratio (g/g) as follows: D1, 2.26; D2, 1.31; D3, 0.78; D4, 0.47; D5, 0.34; and D6, 0.23. Cobias were fed to satiety for 8 weeks. The weight gain and protein efficiency ratio in D1 group were significantly lower than those in other groups (P

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) undergo an extensive and coordinated migration in the developing CNS, using the pre-formed scaffold of developed blood vessels as their physical substrate for migration. While OPC association with vasculature is critical for dispersal, equally important for permitting differentiation and proper myelination of target axons is their appropriate and timely detachment, but regulation of this process remains unclear. Here we demonstrate a correlation between the developmental formation of astrocytic endfeet on vessels and the termination of OPC perivascular migration. Ex vivo and in vivo live imaging shows that astrocyte endfeet physically displace OPCs from vasculature, and genetic abrogation of endfoot formation hinders both OPC detachment from vessels and subsequent differentiation. Astrocyte-derived semaphorins 3a and 6a act to repel OPCs from blood vessels at the cessation of their perivascular migration and, in so doing, permit subsequent OPC differentiation by insulating them from a maturation inhibitory endothelial niche.

Ionizing radiation (IR) has found widespread application in modern medicine. As a result, radiotherapy inevitably causes spermatogenic cell injury. Many Chinese herbal prescriptions or natural extracts have the potential to protect against radiation injury.We used GC-2spd cells to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of YQJD decoction on protecting spermatogenic cells from ionizing radiation injury.Firstly, the GC-2spd cells were irradiated withAfter irradiation withTaken together, the protective effects of YQJD decoction on

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreaks occurred on ships during the global pandemic of COVID-19. Investigation of the management and outcomes of these outbreaks will help guide future prevention and control strategies for respiratory infectious diseases on ships.Non-systematic narrative review.PubMed and Embase databases were searched using the keywords "ship", "cargo ship", "fishing boat", "cruise ship", "yacht", "merchant ship", "port", "SARS-COV-2" and "COVID-19", connected by "OR" internally and "AND" between two keywords. After review of the titles and abstracts, and exclusion of irrelevant articles, the infection situation and details of the response measures were recorded. Cases were subsequently selected for this study based on the detailed information and records available on the COVID-19 outbreak prevention and control measures and experiences.Three representative cases were selected; the outbreak timeline and infection situation for these cases were summarised. Infection prevention and control measures and experiences for the three outbreaks were investigated in detail, including analysis of epidemic reports, and isolation, detection, screening, treatment and transportation procedures.This study demonstrates that timely detection and intervention, exposure reduction, control of asymptomatic infections, treatment and transport of patients, preparation for prevention and control in advance, the communication and cooperation of various stakeholders, and the establishment of short-term and long-term response mechanisms are key elements to improve the efficiency of infection prevention and control on ships.

There is a lack of epidemiological studies on the course and clinical characteristics of Parvovirus B19 (B19V) infections in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. This study was undertaken to provide recommendations for clinical B19V infection diagnosis and treatment.Serum samples of KT recipients were regularly collected and tested for B19V-DNA copies, B19V-IgG/IgM levels, as well as hematological parameters and functions of kidney and liver. The course of B19V infection was described according to the results of serology and DNA testing, and the clinical and epidemiological data were combined for analysis.75% B19V infections occurred within 2 weeks after KT(n = 9). The infection rate of B19V in KT recipients was high, namely 10.17% (n = 12). The number of 10 patients IgM antibodies against B19V (IgM+) and theDNA B19V (DNA+), whereas 2 patients were IgM negative (IgM-) but DNA+. The B19V infected KT patients showed several symptoms, including anemia (100%), reduction of platelets (8.33%), and damage to liver (75%) and kidney function (16.67%) Patients with progressive anemia in the first two weeks after KT, which combined with the decrease of reticulocytes, are more likely to have B19V infection. Associations of four main therapeutic risk factors for B19V infections in KT patients have been analyzed. B19V infection was associated with use of basiliximab (OR = 1.19; 95%- CI: 1.08-1.32; P = 0.003) and use of thymoglobulins (OR = 0.84; 95%-CI: 0.76-0.93; P = 0.003).Doctors should be alert to B19V infection, especially in the immunodeficient patients within the first two weeks after transplantation.

The mole fraction solubility of buprofezin in aqueous co-solvent mixtures of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF,1) + water (2), ethanol (1) + water (2), isopropanol (1) + water (2) and acetonitrile (1) + water (2) over the temperature range from (273.15 to 318.15) K was reported. At the same composition of DMF, ethanol, isopropanol or acetonitrile and temperature, the buprofezin solubility was highest in DMF (1) + water (2) mixtures. By using the Jouyban-Acree model, the buprofezin solubility was correlated obtaining RAD lower than 5.86% and RMSD lower than 15.60 × 10−4. Quantitative values for local mole fraction of DMF (ethanol, isopropanol or acetonitrile) and water nearby the buprofezin were calculated through the Inverse Kirkwood–Buff integrals method applied to the solubility. The values of preferential solvation parameters (δx1,3) were negative in water-rich mixtures but positive in co-solvent compositions from 0.19, 0.20 (0.25) or 0.25 to 1 in mole fraction of DMF, isopropanol, ethanol or acetonitrile, respectively. It was conjecturable that in water-rich mixtures, the hydrophobic hydration around the nonpolar methyl groups and aromatic ring group of buprofezin played a relevant important role in the solvation. The preference of buprofezin in water-rich mixtures could be explained in terms of the higher basic behaviour of buprofezin molecules interacting with the proton-donor functional groups of the water. In addition, solute-solvent and solvent-solvent interactions of buprofezin in the DMF (ethanol, isopropanol or acetonitrile) + water mixtures were investigated from the solubility data by using the linear solvation energy relationships concept. The variation of buprofezin solubility depended mainly upon the hydrogen bond acidity and cavity term for ethanol (isopropanol) + water mixtures, and the cavity term for DMF (acetonitrile) + water mixtures.

Defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (DBSFLM) has been shown a promising fish meal (FM) substitute in diets for turbot, rainbow trout, Jian carp, Pacific white shrimp and Atlantic salmon, but it has not been examined as an alternative protein source in Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus) diets. A 56-day feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of partial replacement of dietary FM with DBSFLM on the growth performance, whole body composition, blood metabolites, digestive enzyme activities, hepatic and intestinal histomorphology, and lipid metabolism related genes expression of juvenile L. japonicus. Five isoproteic (39%) and isolipidic (11%) diets were formulated by replacing 0% (FM), 16% (DBSFLM16), 32% (DBSFLM32), 48% (DBSFLM48) and 64% (DBSFLM64) of fish meal. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 30 fish per tank. Fish were fed two times daily to apparent satiation. Results showed that growth performance, somatic indexes, hepatic and intestinal histomorphology, and the intestinal antioxidant and immunity indexes of fish were not affected (P > 0.05) by dietary treatments. Fish consuming DBSFLM48 and DBSFLM64 had higher (P

Stem cell especially mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising therapeutic strategy for myocardial infarction (MI) repair. However, major obstacles remain due to the poor retention and survival rate of transplanted MSCs in the harmful MI microenvironment (e.g., oxidative stress and hypoxia). Here, a novel injectable hydrogel (RCGel) with dual functions of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging and O2-generating was employed to encapsulate MSCs for MI treatment. The RCGel encapsulating exhibited anti-ROS protection through inhibiting JNK/p38 apoptosis signaling pathway to improve the viability of MSCs under oxidative stress conditions in vitro. The survival of cardiomyocytes was also improved both in the oxidative stress and hypoxia environments when being co-cultured with MSCs-encapsulated RCGel (MSC/RCGel). The RCGel encapsulating boosted the engraftment of transplanted MSCs in vivo. More viable MSCs endowed with regenerative abilities in the infarcted rat heart along with the ameliorated MI microenvironment (decreased oxidative stress and hypoxia) by the RCGel substantially inhibited cardiac apoptosis, enhanced cardiomyocyte viability, promoted angiogenesis and reduced fibrosis to improve the cardiac functions. The encapsulation of MSCs in RCGel, which exhibits beneficial effects in resisting harsh environments, provides a new way in MI repair and stem cell delivery, and has great potential in cell-based regenerative medicine.

Two biosafety strains, identified as Pseudomonas mendocina S16 and Enterobacter cloacae DS'5, were isolated from freshwater aquaculture ponds and showed significant heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification abilities. Within 48 h, the inorganic nitrogen removal efficiencies in the two strains were 66.59 %-97.97 % (S16) and 72.27 %-96.44 % (DS'5). The optimal conditions for organic nitrogen removal of the two strains were temperature 20-35 °C and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio 10-20 while using sodium citrate as the carbon source. Sequence amplification demonstrated the presence of the denitrification genes in both the two strains, and quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the coupled expression of nap + nar would improve the nitrate removal rate in S16. The nitrogen removal efficiencies of the two strains in immobilization culture systems were 79.80 %-98.58 % (S16) and 60.80 %-98.40 % (DS'5). This study indicated the great potential application of the two strains in aquaculture tail water treatment.

Condensed tannins (CT) were demonstrated to mitigate oxidative stress and maintain intestinal health of fish, but little information is available to clarify the underlying regulation mechanisms. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of CT supplementation on growth, antioxidant capacity and intestinal barrier function of Lateolabrax maculatus via in vivo oxidized fish oil-induced and in vitro hydrogen peroxide-induced stress models. Results indicated that dietary inclusion of 0.1% CT mitigated oxidative injure and intestinal damage caused by oxidized fish oil as reflected by the recovery of growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, intestinal permeability and tight junction proteins gene expression. Supplementation of 800 μmol/L of CT in the L. maculatus intestinal epithelial cells damage induced by hydrogen peroxide as in vitro model increased (P

Hydrocinnamaldehyde (HCAL) is a crucial intermediate in the manufacture of perfumes and pharmaceuticals, but highly selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde (CALD) to hydrocinnamaldehyde with a good conversion rate is a challenging. We report that the incorporation of Ag into Pd-based catalysts promotes their catalytic activity and HCAL selectivity (HCAL selectivity of 98.6% with >99.9% CALD conversion for Pd-0.3Ag/MCM-41) for CALD hydrogenation compared to those of catalysts with no Ag, e.g., HCAL selectivity of 84.5% for Pd/MCM-41and 77.3% for Pd/AC (activated carbon). The Pd-0.3Ag/MCM-41 catalyst shows an outstanding stability during five cycles of use. The excellent performance of the Pd-0.3Ag/MCM-41 catalyst in CALD hydrogenation is due to the ultra-small size of the Pd nanoparticles (Pd-Ag alloy, a geometric and electronic modification of Pd).

TiO2 composites are ideal pollution control materials. In this paper, Fe2O3/TiO2 film electrodes were prepared by the sol-gel and forced hydrolysis method. The apparent properties and electrochemical properties of the prepared electrodes were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), chronocoulometry and linear sweep voltammetry, and their photoelectrocatalytic properties were investigated under visible light by degradation experiments of Rhodamine B (RhB). The results showed that the particles prepared from 0.1 M Fe(NO3)3 precursor were completely and uniformly distributed on the film surface. During the degradation experiments, the visible-light response current was 23.4 μA, and the decolorized rate for RhB could be up to 92.3%. The semiconductor heterojunction structure comprised of Fe2O3 and TiO2 could effectively separate photo-generated electron hole pairs, inhibit their recombination, accelerate interfacial charge transfer, and enhance photocatalytic properties.

Resume L’industrie paleolithique de Bose, dans le bassin de Bose, dans le Guangxi, en Chine meridionale, est bien connue dans la communaute scientifique internationale pour ses niveaux a bifaces datant de 803 ka. Sept terrasses ont ete identifiees dans le bassin. La terrasse 4 est la plus importante parce que des bifaces et des tectites y ont ete retrouves. Depuis la decouverte du premier site en 1973, d’autres sites du Paleolithique de Bose, dont la plupart sont situes sur la terrasse 4, ont ete etudies et fouilles. Les etudes precedentes ont conclu qu’il n’y a eu qu’une seule phase d’occupation avec cette industrie et que son âge est de 803 ka. Cependant, avant 2013, aucune tentative n’a ete faite pour atteindre les graviers basaux du haut de la terrasse 4 par des fouilles archeologiques. Par consequent, la stratigraphie et les couches a partir desquelles les artefacts lithiques proviennent de la terrasse 4 ne sont pas claires. En 2013–2014, nous avons realise une fouille de 200 m2 sur le site de Gaolingpo qui est l’un des sites paleolithiques les plus importants du bassin de Bose. Nous avons fouille les depots de gravier basal du haut de cette terrasse, exposant une coupe de plus de 7 metres d’epaisseur qui montre clairement la stratigraphie des depots du Pleistocene et de l’Holocene. En outre, plus de 800 artefacts en pierre incluant des choppers, des pics, des racloirs, etc. ont ete exhumes de plusieurs couches stratigraphiques differentes en termes d’âge et d’autres aspects. Base sur la stratigraphie et les artefacts lithiques, trois etapes culturelles d’objets paleolithiques du site de Gaolingpo peuvent etre etablies. La premiere etape est d’un âge d’au moins 803 ka. La deuxieme etape peut etre datee a 15 ka et la troisieme etape a environ 10 ka.

Penicillin G (PG), a frequently detected β-lactam antibiotic in aquatic environment, has attracted extensive concerns because of its extensive application and potential to develop antimicrobial resistance. In this study, gamma radiation was used to degrade PG in water. The main influencing factors, such as initial PG concentration, pH value, absorbed dose, as well as water matrix (inorganic anions and organic matters) were investigated. Results showed that lower initial concentration, acidic condition (pH = 5.57), and higher absorbed dose was conducive to PG degradation. Besides, NO3−, HCO32−, SO42− and HPO42− had negative influence on PG degradation, while Cl− had positive influence. Organic matters had negative influence. Twelve transformation intermediate products (TPs) were identified during PG degradation. Together with the density functional theory (DFT) calculation, four possible pathways of PG degradation were proposed. The results of antibacterial activity test demonstrated that the transformation of PG to TPs eliminated the antibacterial activity. Notably, except some para-modified products of PG, the toxicity of other TPs was reduced PG degradation. Moreover, no potential risk of bacterial mutagenicity during PG degradation was observed. In summary, ionizing radiation has good performance in PG degradation in the real wastewater.

This paper concerns that a non-weighted l 2 / L 2 -gain performance for asynchronously switched systems can be achieved in both discrete-time and continuous-time cases. Based on the constructed Lyapunov-like functions with average dwell time (ADT) method and inequality analysis technique, a non-weighted l 2 / L 2 -gain for asynchronously switched nonlinear systems can be guaranteed, which improves the existing results. Meanwhile, for asynchronously switched linear systems, the piecewise Lyapunov matrices are constructed and linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) conditions are derived to attain a non-weighted l 2 / L 2 -gain performance. Finally, some examples are provided to illustrate the theoretical results.

Cephalosporin antibiotics are ubiquitous emerging pollutants in various aquatic environments due to their extensive production and application. Herein, the radiolytic degradation of antibiotic Cephalosporin C (CEP-C) in different water matrices was comprehensively investigated using gamma radiation at various experimental conditions. The results revealed that CEP-C oxidation obeyed pseudo first-order kinetics, and 100%, 94.9%, 67.0%, 44.6% and 34.5% removal of CEP-C with 10–200 mg/L was achieved at 0.4 kGy, respectively. The degradation was faster at higher absorbed dose and acidic conditions (pH = 3.5). The inorganic anions, including SO42−, NO3−, and HCO3−, had negative influence on the degradation of CEP-C, the corresponding rate constant decreased from 4.603 to 3.667, 1.677 and 2.509 kGy−1 respectively in the presence of SO42−, NO3−, and HCO3−. The analysis of intermediate products indicated that CEP-C was oxidized to generate about 10 intermediate products. Besides, it was inferred that the thioether sulfur oxidation, β-lactam ring opening, acetyl dissociation from dihydrothiazine ring and D-α-aminohexylamide group abscission were the major reaction mechanisms of CEP-C degradation by gamma radiation. Importantly, the antibacterial activity of CEP-C could be completely vanished by gamma radiation alone, while more toxic intermediate products might be formed. Addition of hydrogen peroxide and peroxymonosulfate could significantly improve the CEP-C degradation, and reduce the toxicity of intermediates of CEP-C degradation. Similar degradation behavior was observed in the groundwater and wastewater, implying that ionizing radiation can be used for degradation of Cephalosporin in water and wastewater.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) ion channel serves as the detector for noxious temperature above 42 °C, pungent chemicals like capsaicin, and acidic extracellular pH. This channel has also been shown to function as an ionotropic cannabinoid receptor. Despite the solving of high-resolution three-dimensional structures of TRPV1, how endocannabinoids such as anandamide and N-arachidonoyl dopamine bind to and activate this channel remains largely unknown. Here we employed a combination of patch-clamp recording, site-directed mutagenesis, and molecular docking techniques to investigate how the endocannabinoids structurally bind to and open the TRPV1 ion channel. We found that these endocannabinoid ligands bind to the vanilloid-binding pocket of TRPV1 in the "tail-up, head-down" configuration, similar to capsaicin; however, there is a unique interaction with TRPV1 Y512 residue critical for endocannabinoid activation of TRPV1 channels. These data suggest that a differential structural mechanism is involved in TRPV1 activation by endocannabinoids compared with the classic agonist capsaicin.

The Palaeolithic industry in the Bose Basin, Guangxi, South China is well known in the international scientific community for its handaxes dating to the early Middle Pleistocene. Seven terraces occur in the basin, terrace 4 being best known because handaxes and tektites were recovered. Previous studies have concluded that the single phase within this industry dates to ca. 803 ka. However, before 2013 no attempt was made to excavate to the basal gravels from the top of terrace 4. Therefore, the stratigraphy and the layers from which the stone artifacts derive in terrace 4 are not clear. In 2013–2014, we conducted an excavation of 200 m2 at Gaolingpo, one of the most important Palaeolithic sites in the Bose Basin. We excavated to the basal gravels from the top of this terrace. A section more than 7 m thick was exposed and clearly shows the Pleistocene and Holocene stratigraphic sequence. Furthermore, about 800 stone artifacts including choppers, picks, and scrapers, were documented from a sequence comprising several stratigraphic layers. Based on stratigraphy and the stone artifacts, we have established three stages of Palaeolithic cultural remains from Gaolingpo. The first is probably ca. 803 ka. The second is dated to 15 ka, and the third stage to approximately 10 ka.

The drastic volume change is the major drawback limiting stannic oxide as an anode material for lithium ion batteries. In this work, three-dimensional (3D) EG@SnO 2 @PANI composite is synthesized via solvothermal method followed by in-situ oxidative polymerization. Compare with the bare SnO 2 and EG@SnO 2 samples, the rate performance and cycling stability of the EG@SnO 2 @PANI sample have been enhanced, which can be attributed to the dual conductive networks of polyaniline (PANI) with expanded graphite (EG). As a result, the 3D EG@SnO 2 @PANI composite not only delivers a higher initial columbic efficiency of 77.8%, an excellent initial reversible capacity of 1021 mAh g −1 at a current density of 0.1 A g −1 but also still maintains at 408 mAh g −1 after 100 cycles. And it exhibits enhanced rate performance, which remains at 270 mAh g −1 with 2 A g −1 . Consequently, preparing EG@SnO 2 @PANI is a suitable strategy to develop SnO 2 anode materials for lithium batteries.