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Amphibian skin is acknowledged to contain an antioxidant system composed of various gene-encoded antioxidant peptides, which exert significant effects on host defense. Nevertheless, recognition of such peptides is in its infancy so far. Here, we reported the antioxidant properties and underlying mechanism of a new antioxidant peptide, brevinin-1FL, identified from Fejervarya limnocharis frog skin. The cDNA sequence encoding brevinin-1FL was successfully cloned from the total cDNA of F. limnocharis and showed to contain 222 bp. The deduced mature peptide sequence of brevinin-1FL was FWERCSRWLLN. Functional analysis revealed that brevinin-1FL could concentration-dependently scavenge ABTS+, DPPH, NO, and hydroxyl radicals and alleviate iron oxidation. Besides, brevinin-1FL was found to show neuroprotective activity by reducing contents of MDA and ROS plus mitochondrial membrane potential, increasing endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity, and suppressing H2O2-induced death, apoptosis, and cycle arrest in PC12 cells which were associated with its regulation of AKT/MAPK/NF-κB signal pathways. Moreover, brevinin-1FL relieved paw edema, decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MPO, and malondialdehyde (MDA), and restored catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity plus glutathione (GSH) contents in the mouse injected by carrageenan. Together, these findings indicate that brevinin-1FL as an antioxidant has potent therapeutic potential for the diseases induced by oxidative damage. Meanwhile, this study will help us further comprehend the biological functions of amphibian skin and the mechanism by which antioxidants protect cells from oxidative stress.

Regulation of estrus plays a crucial role in the livestock industry. It is reported that providing better nutrition can induce early estrus in animals. However, little is known about the major endocrine and physiological mechanisms that could enhance estrus in anestrus animals. Hence in the current research two different groups of yaks, non-breeding season (February-June, NBS) estrus yaks as the experiment group and breeding season (July-September, BS) estrus animals as the control group were compared using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technique. Study displayed that cold season supplementation significantly improved growth performance, serum biochemical indicators and reproductive hormone concentrations in yaks. We also identified 25 differentially expressed proteins in yak serum using iTRAQ proteomics. Go and KEGG analysis indicated that calcium signaling pathway and beta-alanine metabolism may be candidate pathways for seasonal estrus induced by nutrition. Differential protein expression was validated using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). The results of this study initially identified A2M, IGF2, A1BG and APOA1 as candidate proteins for seasonal estrus induced by nutrition. Altogether, In conclusion, our results show that providing additional nutrients in the cold season can improve yak productivity and reproductive efficiency, and provide a new reference.

Yak (Bos grunniens) is an important and remarkable livestock species that survives in the challenging environment of the Qinghai&ndash, Tibetan Plateau. However, its growth rate is slower and reproductive potential is generally lower than cattle. Meanwhile, it has been reported that enhanced nutrition improves the reproductive efficiency of animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of concentrate supplementation on the miRNA expression profile in the ovaries of yak during the non-breeding season. The study displayed that non-breeding season supplementation significantly improved growth performance, serum biochemical indicators, and reproductive hormone concentrations in yaks. In this study, we also examined the differential expression analysis of miRNA in the ovaries of yak during non-breeding seasons using Illumina Hiseq sequencing technology. As a result, 51 differentially expressed miRNAs were found in the experimental group (CS) and control group (CON). Gene Ontology (go) and Kyoto Genome Encyclopedia (KEGG) analysis of target genes showed that beta-alanine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and the inositol phosphate metabolism pathway attracted our attention. Based on qRT-PCR, seven miRNAs were assessed to verify the accuracy of the library database. We predicted and identified potential miRNA target genes, including LEP, KLF7, VEGFA, GNAQ, GTAT6, and CCND2. miRNA and corresponding target genes may regulate yaks&rsquo, seasonal reproduction through their nutritional status. This study will provide an experimental basis for improving the reproductive efficiency of yaks by supplementation in the non-breeding season.

Fabricating earth-abundant bifunctional water splitting electrocatalysts with high efficiencies to substitute Pt and IrO2 is in great demand for the development of clean energy conversion technologies. Via a simple one-step hydrothermal procedure, MoS2/Ni3S2 nanorod arrays well-aligned on Ni foam (MoS2/Ni3S2/NF) as a novel three dimensional (3D) hierarchical bifunctional catalytic electrode for overall water splitting has been successfully fabricated in this work. Ni foam (NF) as both 3D substrate and Ni source realized the uniform, dense and nearly vertical in situ self-growth of MoS2/Ni3S2 nanorods on it. Each nanorod had a coated structure with large surface contact regions. Benefiting from the elaborately designed architecture, MoS2/Ni3S2/NF exhibited excellent catalytic activity and good stability for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in an alkaline electrolyte. To reach the catalytic current density of 10, 100, 200, and 300 mA cm−2, it only required 187, 274, 300, and 320 mV overpotential for HER and 217, 275, 313, and 335 mV overpotential for OER respectively. Moreover, by employing MoS2/Ni3S2/NF as both the cathode and anode, the water splitting electrolyzer achieved excellent durability. Besides, it only needed very low cell voltages of 1.467, 1.593, 1.640 and 1.661 V to reach the current density of 10, 100, 200 and 300 mA cm−2, respectively, better than the performance of a benchmark combination. Therefore, MoS2/Ni3S2/NF is a promising non-noble-based bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.

Testis-specific genes play an essential part in the centromere union during meiosis in male germ cells, spermatogenesis, and in fertility. Previously, there was no research report available on the expression pattern of SYCP3 and TSEG2 genes in different ages of yaks. Therefore, the current research compared the expression profiling of SYCP3 and TSEG2 genes in testes of yaks. The expression pattern of SYCP3 and TSEG2 mRNA was investigated using qPCR, semi-quantitative PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and molecular bioinformatics. Our findings displayed that SYCP3 and TSEG2 genes were prominently expressed in the testicles of yaks as compared to other organs. On the other hand, the protein encoded by yak SYCP3 contains Cor1/Xlr/Xmr conserved regions, while the protein encoded by yak TSEG2 contains synaptonemal complex central element protein 3. Additionally, multiple alignments sequences indicated that proteins encoded by Datong yak SYCP3 and TSEG2 were highly conserved among mammals. Moreover, western blot analysis specified that the molecular mass of SYCP3 protein was 34-kDa and TSEG2 protein 90-kDa in the yak. Furthermore, the results of immunohistochemistry also revealed the prominent expression of these proteins in the testis of mature yaks, which indicated that SYCP3 and TSEG2 might be essential for spermatogenesis, induction of central element assembly, and homologous recombination.

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase-2 (DGAT2) plays a key role in the synthesis of animal triglycerides (TGs). This study investigated the relative expression of the DGAT2 gene in tissues, variation in the gene, and its association with carcass and meat quality traits in yaks (Bos grunniens). DGAT2 was found to be expressed in twelve tissues investigated, but the highest expression was detected in subcutaneous fat, and moderate levels were observed in the liver, heart, longissimus dorsi muscle, and abomasum. Three variants (A1 to C1) were found in intron 5 and another three variants (A2 to C2) were found in intron 6, with two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) being identified in each region in 694 Gannan yaks. Variants B1 and C2 were associated with a decrease in Warner&ndash, Bratzler shear force (WBSF) (p = 0.0020 and p = 0.0441, respectively), and variant C1 was associated with an increase in WBSF (p = 0.0434) and a decrease in drip loss rate (p = 0.0271), whereas variant B2 was associated with a decrease in cooking loss rate (p = 0.0142). Haplotypes A1-A2 and B1-A2 were found to be, respectively, associated with an increase and a decrease in WBSF (p = 0.0191 and p = 0.0010, respectively). These results indicate that DGAT2 could be a useful gene marker for improving meat tenderness in yaks.

Through the three city in Zhejiang Province a total of six rural villagers investigation, through various indicators objectively reflected at this stage of the rural residents participation intention and the impact of the new cooperative medical villagers decide whether participation factors. From many factors extracted from the personal economic status, psychological factors, the sense of participation, local hospital of new rural cooperative medical care system of credibility, propaganda, the new rural cooperative medical system and improve the level of six factors. Through multiple linear regression analysis on participation intention for quantitative analysis, explain each factor on participation intention is the influence and its size. The status quo in the new rural cooperative medical insurance people to understand the analysis, and to enhance the public participation will have important significance. To provide the reference for solving the problems in the process of participation and improve the participation willingness.