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Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world, and early diagnosis can effectively improve patient survival. Here, differentially expressed circIARS genes are screened from the sequencing results, and their molecular characteristics are examined by Sanger sequencing, RNase R assay, agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is performed to detect the expression level of circIARS. The diagnostic value of the signature is analyzed using a subject operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Moreover, plasma is collected from postsurgical, chemotherapy, and relapse patients to investigate the prognostic value of circIARS in NSCLC. The expression of circIARS is greater in both the plasma and tissues of NSCLC patients than in those of healthy individuals, and could be used to distinguish NSCLC patients from patients with benign pulmonary disease (BPD), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, and healthy individuals. The expression level of circIARS relatively decreases after antitumor therapy, such as chemotherapy, and relatively increases after recurrence. ROC analysis reveals that circIARS has better detection efficiency than traditional markers. In addition, circIARS expression level is strongly correlated with several clinicopathological parameters. Finally, we tentatively predict the downstream miRNAs or RBP that might bind to circIARS. Plasma circIARS is significantly greater in NSCLC patients and has good stability and specificity as a diagnostic marker, which could aid in the adjuvant diagnosis and dynamic monitoring of NSCLC.

Auti-follower jamming becomes a hot and difficult topic in frequency hopping (FH) communications. In order to solve the difficult problem of FH communications in achieving anti-follower jamming, this paper uses the digital cancellation method to mitigate follower jamming. According to the characteristics of follower jamming signals and tactics background, a method to estimate follower jamming signals is proposed to extract reference signals in digital cancellation. And then, a further cancellation about jamming signal and mixed signals is conducted to mitigate follower jamming signals. Finally, a hardware-in-the-loop simulation platform is built by using field programmable gate array (FPGA). Experiment results show that the proposed method is effective to mitigate follower jamming. Signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) promotion degrees are different with different jamming frequencies, and the jamming mitigation performance is affected by the interference intensity. The SIR promotion average can reach 10 dB when the variance of jamming signals varies from 0.75 to 1.5. When the variance is 0.25 or 2, the SIR promotion average is less than 8 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid metabolism is considered one of the important factors affecting residual feed intake (RFI). However, the relationship between RFI and expression of lipid metabolism-related genes is unknown in meat-type ducks. To address this issue, a total of 1,000 male meat-type ducks with similar body weight were randomly selected to measure body weight gain and feed intake from 21 to 42 d of age to estimate RFI. The 8 greatest- (high RFI [ HRFI ]) and lowest- (low RFI [LRFI]) ranking birds were then selected for the present study. Relative expressions of key genes, namely sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), forkhead box O1 (Foxo1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1c (SREBP - 1c), fas cell surface death receptor (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha (ACC), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), and acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1), were then determined in the HRFI and LRFI ducks by quantitative PCR. The results showed that RFI, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in LRFI ducks than in HRFI ducks. In addition, expression of Sirt1 , Foxo1 , CPT1A , and ACOX1 were significantly higher in LRFI ducks than in HRFI ducks (P < 0.05), whereas PPARγ and FAS expression levels were significantly lower in LRFI ducks than in HRFI ducks (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that Sirt1 , CPT1A , and ACOX1 expressions were significantly negatively correlated with FCR (r = −0.81 to −0.93; P < 0.01), whereas PPARγ and FAS expressions were significantly positively correlated with FCR (r = 0.74 to 0.87; P < 0.01). PPARγ expression was significantly positively correlated with RFI (r = 0.83; P < 0.01), whereas CPT1A and ACOX1 expressions were significantly negatively correlated with RFI (r = −0.84 to −0.89; P < 0.01). Sirt1 mRNA expression was positively correlated with Foxo1 , CPT1A , and ACOX1 mRNA expression (r = 0.78 to 0.92; P < 0.01). Association of Foxo1 with CPT1A and ACOX1 was positive (r = 0.88 to 0.96; P < 0.01). These results suggest that genes related to fatty acid oxidation are upregulated in the liver of ducks with high feed efficiency, while genes associated with lipid synthesis are downregulated. Furthermore, the inclusion of lipid metabolism-related genes in future breeding programs might be beneficial for selecting ducks with greater feed efficiency phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of free‐range system (FRS) and conventional cage‐rearing system (CRS) on growth performance, carcass yield, meat quality, lymphoid organ indices, and serum biochemistry of Wannan Yellow chickens. At 56 days of age, a total of 640 male chickens were randomly allocated to FRS and CRS groups, each of which included 4 replicates with 80 chickens in each replicate. The experiment lasted from 56 to 112 days of age. The results showed that CRS chickens exhibited better final body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio, whereas FRS chickens showed better breast and leg yields, shear force, meat color, lower drip loss, and decreased abdominal fat deposition. Moreover, the absolute thymus weight and thymus to body weight ratio of FRS birds were significantly higher than those of CRS birds (p < 0.05). Additionally, FRS chickens had significantly reduced glucose, total protein, triglyceride, and cholesterol contents, but enhanced levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the FRS has advantages in breast and leg yields, meat quality, and some serum biochemical parameters of Wannan Yellow chickens, whereas it has negative effects on growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of an oleanolic acid derivative, a novel antitumor drug, on the growth of SMMC‑7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the underlying mechanism. An MTT assay was performed to determine the cytotoxicity of the oleanolic acid derivative. Cell membrane integrity was assessed using fluorescence microscopy to assess the uptake of annexin V‑FITC/propidium iodide (PI). Western blotting was used to detect the apoptosis‑associated proteins B cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2), Bax, caspase‑9 and caspase‑3. A spectrophotometer was used to analyze the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) expression level. The loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by performing the JC‑1 assay. ELISA was used to evaluate the content of cytochrome c (Cyt‑C). The oleanolic acid derivative reduced the cell viability of SMMC‑7721 cells in a dose‑ and time‑dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentration values of the oleanolic acid derivative in SMMC‑7721 cells at 24, 48 and 72 h were 26.80, 11.85, and 6.66 μM, respectively. The antiapoptotic‑protein Bcl‑2 was downregulated, and the proapoptotic protein Bax was upregulated following treatment with the oleanolic acid derivative for 48 h. The oleanolic acid derivative induced the cleavage of caspase‑9 and caspase‑3 as well as promoted annexin V‑FITC/PI uptake in SMMC‑7721 cells. Furthermore, treatment of SMMC‑7721 cells with the oleanolic acid derivative induced a reduction of the intracellular ATP expression level, loss of ΔΨm and Cyt‑C release from the mitochondria. The oleanolic acid derivative induced apoptosis in SMMC‑7721 human cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction was involved in the anticancer effects of this derivative on SMMC‑7721 human cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid metabolism is considered one of the important factors affecting residual feed intake (RFI). However, the relationship between RFI and expression of lipid metabolism-related genes is unknown in meat-type ducks. To address this issue, a total of 1,000 male meat-type ducks with similar body weight were randomly selected to measure body weight gain and feed intake from 21 to 42 d of age to estimate RFI. The 8 greatest- (high RFI [ HRFI ]) and lowest- (low RFI [LRFI]) ranking birds were then selected for the present study. Relative expressions of key genes, namely sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), forkhead box O1 (Foxo1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1c (SREBP - 1c), fas cell surface death receptor (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha (ACC), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), and acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1), were then determined in the HRFI and LRFI ducks by quantitative PCR. The results showed that RFI, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in LRFI ducks than in HRFI ducks. In addition, expression of Sirt1 , Foxo1 , CPT1A , and ACOX1 were significantly higher in LRFI ducks than in HRFI ducks (P < 0.05), whereas PPARγ and FAS expression levels were significantly lower in LRFI ducks than in HRFI ducks (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that Sirt1 , CPT1A , and ACOX1 expressions were significantly negatively correlated with FCR (r = −0.81 to −0.93; P < 0.01), whereas PPARγ and FAS expressions were significantly positively correlated with FCR (r = 0.74 to 0.87; P < 0.01). PPARγ expression was significantly positively correlated with RFI (r = 0.83; P < 0.01), whereas CPT1A and ACOX1 expressions were significantly negatively correlated with RFI (r = −0.84 to −0.89; P < 0.01). Sirt1 mRNA expression was positively correlated with Foxo1 , CPT1A , and ACOX1 mRNA expression (r = 0.78 to 0.92; P < 0.01). Association of Foxo1 with CPT1A and ACOX1 was positive (r = 0.88 to 0.96; P < 0.01). These results suggest that genes related to fatty acid oxidation are upregulated in the liver of ducks with high feed efficiency, while genes associated with lipid synthesis are downregulated. Furthermore, the inclusion of lipid metabolism-related genes in future breeding programs might be beneficial for selecting ducks with greater feed efficiency phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]