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Intramuscular fat (IMF) content is an important factor that affects the edible and processing quality of pork. Studying the transcriptional regulation mechanisms of genes affecting intramuscular fat deposition can provide theoretical support for genetic improvement in pigs. Long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthase 3 (ACSL3), as a key enzyme in the process of lipid synthesis in mammals. However, no information about the core promoter of the ACSL3 gene and its transcriptional regulation has been reported so far. In this experiment, we successfully cloned 3112 bp of the porcine ACSL3 gene promoter region. In order to find out the core promoter of the ACSL3 gene. The results indicated that the core promoter region of the ACSL3 gene is located from −111 bp to −59 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site (TSS). To identify the interaction between SP1 and the ACSL3 gene promoter, we mutated the predicted binding sites of ACSL3 gene promoter. The results showed that the activity of the promoter was decreased by site-specific mutagenesis of the SP1 transcription factor binding site, while overexpression of SP1 increased the expression of the ACSL3 gene. In summary, our study identified a core promoter region of the porcine ACSL3 gene, and the SP1 binding site is responsible for the promoter activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal thermal management materials integrated with phase-change materials have significant potential to satisfy human thermal comfort needs and save energy through the efficient storage and utilization of thermal energy. However, conventional organic phase-change materials in a solid state suffer from rigidity, low thermal conductivity, and leakage, making their application challenging. In this work, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was chosen as the phase-change material to provide the energy storage density, polyethylene oxide (PEO) was chosen to provide the backbone structure of the three-dimensional polymer network and cross-linked with the PEG to provide flexibility, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to improve the mechanical and thermal conductivity of the material. The thermal conductivity of the composite fiber membranes was boosted by 77.1% when CNTs were added at 4 wt%. Water-resistant modification of the composite fiber membranes was successfully performed using glutaraldehyde-saturated steam. The resulting composite fiber membranes had a reasonable range of phase transition temperatures, and the CC4PCF-55 membranes had melting and freezing latent heats of 66.71 J/g and 64.74 J/g, respectively. The results of this study prove that the green CC4PCF-55 composite fiber membranes have excellent flexibility, with good thermal energy storage capacity and thermal conductivity and, therefore, high potential in the field of flexible wearable thermal management textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of one-dimensional carbon nanotubes and two-dimensional transition metal carbon/nitride (MXene), using the electrochemical deposition method and the hydrothermal method to deposit manganese dioxide (MnO2) on the surface of the composite fiber. The results indicated that the fiber supercapacitor deposited by electrochemical deposition has a higher volumetric specific capacitance than the fiber supercapacitor deposited by hydrothermal method. The specific capacitance at a current density of 1 A/cm³ is about 97.5 F/cm³. After 2 500 cycles of charging and discharging, its final capacitance retention rate is about 74.5% of the original. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome selection (GS) technology is an important means to improve the genetic improvement of dairy cows, and the mining and application of functional genes and loci for important traits is one of the important bases for accelerating genetic improvement. Our previous study found that the apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) and AKT serine/threonine kinase 3 (AKT3) genes were differentially expressed in the liver tissue of Chinese Holstein cows at different lactation stages and influenced milk component synthesis and metabolism, so we considered these two genes as the candidates affecting milk production traits. In this study, we found in total six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), three in APOA5 and three in AKT3. Subsequent association analysis showed that the six SNPs were significantly associated with milk yield, fat yield, protein yield, or fat percentage (p ≤ 0.05). Three SNPs in APOA5 formed a haplotype block, which was found to be significantly associated with milk yield, fat yield, and protein yield (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, four SNPs were proposed to be functional mutations affecting the milk production phenotype, of which three, 15:g.27446527C>T and 15:g.27447741A>G in APOA5 and 16:g.33367767T>C in AKT3, might change the transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), and one is a missense mutation, 15:g.27445825T>C in APOA5, which could alter the secondary structure and stability of mRNA and protein. In summary, we demonstrated the genetic effects of APOA5 and AKT3 on milk production traits, and the valuable SNPs could be used as available genetic markers for dairy cattle's GS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As interest in smart textiles grows, fiber-based supercapacitors are gaining attention as promising devices for powering wearable electronics. Herein, we have demonstrated a two-step manufactured hybrid fiber with excellent energy storage properties. Anhydrous MXene (Ti3C2Tx) sheets are primarily spun in synergy with liquid crystal carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to produce a continuous fiber as a promising electrode material, which solves the problem of poor rate capability owing to the sheet re-stacking of MXene. MnO2@MXene/CNT fibers are subsequently prepared by electrochemical deposition with controlled time. The optimal content of MXene (10 wt%) and a perfect thickness of the MnO2 layer (4 μm) are testified to achieve an excellent capacitance of 371.1 F cm−3 in three-electrode system, which is about 200% and 1800% higher than that of 10 wt%-MXene/CNT and CNT fiber electrode, respectively. Symmetric fiber supercapacitor is assembled by paralleling two fibers with LiCl/PVA gel electrolyte, manifesting a superior cycling stability of 86.3% after 10000 cycles. Anhydrous MXene nanosheets and CNTs are incorporated by a high yield spinning technique to prepare continuous hybrid fibers as a conductive framework for MnO2 deposition, exhibiting stable and outstanding energy storage properties in supercapacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their good chemical and thermal stability, high heat of melting, and suitability within the desired temperature range, organic phase change materials (PCMs) are widely used for cooling electronic devices, new energy utilization, solar thermal power generation, industrial waste heat recovery processes, and greenhouse construction. However, the flammability of organic PCMs has limited their commercial viability. In recent years, researchers have been striving to improve the flame retardancy of organic PCMs through various strategies, raising the question of which modification strategy best enhances the flame retardancy for different types of composite PCMs. Therefore, a comprehensive and timely review is needed to gain insight into the mechanism of action for flame retardant properties enhancement. This article firstly introduces the types of flame retardants and flame retardant mechanism, and briefly introduces the test methods commonly used in the laboratory for the analysis of flame retardant mechanism. Secondly, the strategies for improving the flame retardancy of organic PCMs are systematically summarized, and some scenarios for the application of organic flame‐retardant PCMs are introduced. Eventually, the challenges and future perspectives of the evolution of organic flame retardant PCMs are presented. This review is expected to provide new insights for the rational design of high flame‐retardant organic PCMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]