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Four body-size and fourteen head-size measurements were taken from each Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) according to the measurements adapted from Verdade. Regression equations between body-size and head-size variables were presented to predict body size from head dimension. The coefficients of determination of captive animals concerning body- and head-size variables can be considered extremely high, which means most of the head-size variables studied can be useful for predicting body length. The result of multivariate allometric analysis indicated that the head elongates as in most other species of crocodilians. The allometric coefficients of snout length (SL) and lower ramus (LM) were greater than those of other variables of head, which was considered to be possibly correlated to fights and prey. On the contrary, allometric coefficients for the variables of obita (OW, OL) and postorbital cranial roof (LCR), were lower than those of other variables.

Ocean anoxia is considered a key driver of the end‐Permian mass extinction (EPME). However, it is much debated whether there was an ocean reoxygenation phase during, and in the aftermath, of the EPME. Evidence for ocean reoxygenation is often inferred from the absence of framboidal pyrite in some boundary marine sediments (termed the "framboid gap"). To reconstruct ocean redox evolution across the EPME, we investigated the carbon isotopic, sedimentological, and redox records of the Ruichang and Ehtan sections in South China. These documents two negative δ13Ccarb excursions and the development of anoxia associated with deepening leading up to the Permian‐Triassic boundary. Above the level at which most siliceous organisms became extinct, pyrite framboid and iron proxies indicate that water column redox conditions were predominantly oxygenated but sporadically anoxic/ferruginous [non‐sulfidic, free Fe(II) in the water] at Ruichang, while ferruginous conditions were more widely developed at Ehtan. These contrasting redox states are characteristic of a dynamic ocean redox landscape in the extinction interval. The "framboid gap" is seen in strata deposited under both oxic and ferruginous conditions, suggesting that the availability of decomposable organic matter for sulfate reduction additionally controlled framboid genesis. Our data confirm that oxygenated conditions were developed in some deep water basins during the EPME. Plain Language Summary: Ocean oxygen levels across the Permian‐Triassic boundary, which saw Earth's greatest mass extinction (the End Permian Mass Extinction; EPME) have long been debated. Oxygen‐poor (anoxic) conditions are widely implicated in the EPME. A gap in the record of pyrite framboids (small aggregates of pyrite that are commonly found in sedimentary rocks that were deposited in oxygen‐poor marine environments) in some settings during the EPME is generally considered to be a function of reoxygenation at that time. We analyzed iron phase partitioning proxies (which can reveal ocean oxygen levels at the time of deposition) from two chert‐bearing sections in South China. Our iron data indicate that the "framboid gap" is manifest in marine sedimentary archives that were not only well oxygenated at the time of deposition but also anoxic and ferruginous (non‐sulfidic, free Fe(II) in the water). This highlights the ambiguity of the "framboid gap" in implying oxygenated conditions as well as the heterogeneous spatial nature of ocean oxygen states during the EPME. Key Points: Water column reoxygenation during the end‐Permian mass extinction (EPME) is controversialRedox proxies reveal large redox heterogeneity, with deep waters experiencing oxygenated conditions during the extinction intervalBoth ocean reoxygenation and the development of ferruginous conditions contributed to the Lower Triassic pyrite framboid gap [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining field experience with use of information technology has the potential to create a problem-based learning environment that engages learners in authentic scientific inquiry. This study, conducted over a 2-yr period, determined differences in attitudes and conceptual knowledge between students in a field lab and students with combined field and geographic information systems (GIS) experience. All students used radio-telemetry equipment to locate fox squirrels, while one group of students was provided an additional data set in a GIS to visualize and quantify squirrel locations. Pre/postsurveys and tests revealed that attitudes improved in year 1 for both groups of students, but differences were minimal between groups. Attitudes generally declined in year 2 due to a change in the authenticity of the field experience; however, attitudes for students that used GIS declined less than those with field experience only. Conceptual knowledge also increased for both groups in both years. The field-based nature of this lab likely had a greater influence on student attitude and conceptual knowledge than did the use of GIS. Although significant differences were limited, GIS did not negatively impact student attitude or conceptual knowledge but potentially provided other benefits to learners. (Contains 6 figures.)

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an invasive malignant tumor with high mortality rate. Long non-coding RNA (IncRNA) MAFG-AS1 has been showed to play an oncogenic role in several malignant tumors. Nonetheless, the exact role of MAFG-AS1 in the progression of HCC has not been fully elucidated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of MAFG-AS1 in HCC tissues and cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell and tubule formation assays were applied to uncover the proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor angiogenesis of HCC cells, respectively. RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and Luciferase reporter gene assay were employed to explore the molecular mechanism. In addition, Xenograft assay was used to investigate the effect of MAFG-AS1 in vivo. RESULTS: MAFG-AS1 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells. Attenuation of MAFG-AS1 evidently suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor angiogenesis of HCC cells, suggesting that MAFG-AS1 played an oncogenic role in HCC. MiR-3196 was sponged by MAFG-AS1, and OTX1 was a downstream target of miR-3196 in HCC. In addition, OTX1 expression was negatively associated with miR-3196 but positively associated with MAFG-AS1 in HCC tissues. Overexpression of OTX1 could abolish the repressive influence of MAFG-AS1 inhibition on the proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor angiogenesis of HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: MAFG-AS1 facilitated the progression of HCC via targeting miR-3196/ OTX1 axis, which might be used as a new insight for HCC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In honeybee (Apis mellifera), odorant receptors (Ors) play a crucial role in special recognition of sex pheromones in honeybee mating activities. Four candidate sex pheromone Ors (AmOr10, AmOr11, AmOr18 and AmOr170) have been identified and found to be preferentially expressed in drone antennae. However, few studies have investigated the regulation of these four drone Ors on drone mating behaviour. This study characterised the expression patterns of these Ors across different sexual developmental stages (immature and sexually mature) and different physiological statuses (flying and crawling), using both the antennae and brains of drones. qRT-PCR results indicated that the expression of four Ors were not significantly different in drone antennae between flying and crawling statuses at immature stage. However, all four Ors expression levels in brains of flying drones were significantly higher than those of crawling drones at mature stage. Moreover, only the expression level of Or170 was significantly higher in antennae of mature flying drones than crawling ones. Therefore, this study demonstrated a link between four candidate sex pheromone Ors transcriptional expression in the brains of honeybee drones and behaviour associated with sexual maturity and mating flight. In addition, Or170 might be involved in the maturation of honeybee drones’ olfactory system, and in the organisation of odour-mediated mating behaviours [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantial internal friction peak associated with the liquid-liquid transition (Tll) has been observed in polystyrene (PS) melts with different molecular weights Mw. The peak is of the relaxation type and suggested to be caused by the cooperative rearrangement of PS chains. The relaxation time follows the Vogel–Fulcher–Tamman equation. With increasing Mw, the PS melt exhibits a higher energy barrier, a smaller concentration of mobile species, and a stronger coupling between mobile species at Tll. In addition, to quantify the strength of the temperature dependence of the relaxation time, a parameter mll is defined for PS melt according to Angell’s fragility concept. The value of mll decreases with increasing Mw, indicating a slower cooperative rearrangement of PS chains toward Tll. Moreover, at Mw<=52.5 kg/mol, mll rapidly drops with Mw, while it more slowly decreases at Mw>52.5 kg/mol. The fact suggests more topological constraints due to the intrachain interactions in very long chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is associated with the development of various tumors. The abnormal miR-142 expression is associated with the onset of lung cancer. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a targeted relationship between miR-142 and XIAP. This report investigated whether miR-142 plays a role in regulating XIAP expression and affecting the biological processes of lung cancer cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The tumor tissues of lung cancer patients were collected, and the adjacent tissues were used as controls. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay validated the targeted regulation between miR-142 and XIAP. Using BEAS-2B cells as control, qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-142 and XIAP in lung cancer cells A549 and H1650. Lung cancer H1650 cells were cultured and divided into miR-NC group and miR-142 mimic group followed by an analysis of cell proliferation by EdU staining. RESULTS: Compared with those in adjacent tissues, miR-142 expression was significantly decreased and XIAP expression was increased in lung cancer tissues. The Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay confirmed a targeted regulation relationship between miR-142 and XIAP. Compared with BEAS-2B cells, miR-142 expression in lung cancer A549 and H1650 cells was significantly decreased, and XIAP expression was significantly increased. Transfection of miR-142 mimic significantly inhibited the expression of XIAP in H1650 cells, promoted apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased miR-142 expression and increased XIAP expression is associated with the onset of lung cancer. MiR-142 can inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis through inhibition of XIAP expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the values of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) level in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer and evaluation of chemotherapeutic effect. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 92 patients with liver cancer treated from June 2015 to May 2016 were selected as liver cancer group; 53 patients with benign liver lesion were selected as benign liver disease group, and 40 healthy subjects receiving physical examination were selected as healthy control group. Fasting venous blood was drawn from objects of study in the early morning at 1 d after admission and at the last day after chemotherapy (liver cancer group), and the serum GDF-15 level was measured. RESULTS: The serum GDF-15 levels in patients in liver cancer group and benign liver disease group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group and benign liver disease group (p<0.05). The serum GDF-15 levels in patients with stage III and IV liver cancer were significantly higher than those in patients with stage I and II liver cancer, and the serum GDF-15 level in patients with stage IV liver cancer was significantly higher than that in patients with stage III liver cancer (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum GDF-15 level among patients with different clinical data (p>0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the threshold value of GDF-15 was 1573.23 ng/L, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 81.23%, 83.99%, and 83.62%, respectively. The serum GDF-15 level in patients with progressive disease was significantly higher than those in patients with partial remission and stable disease, and the serum GDF-15 level in patients with stable disease was significantly higher than that in patients with partial remission (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The serum GDF-15 level has certain clinical values in the diagnosis of primary liver cancer and evaluation of chemotherapeutic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: RNA-seq data of rectal adenocarcinoma (READ) were analyzed with bioinformatics tools to unveil potential biomarkers in the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RNA-seq data of READ were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differential analysis was performed with package edgeR. False discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05 and Ilog2 (fold change)I>1 were set as cut-off values to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene coexpression network was constructed with package Ebcoexpress. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis was performed for the DEGs in the gene coexpression network with DAVID online tool. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis was also performed for the genes with KOBASS 2.0. RESULTS: A total of 620 DEGs, 389 up-regulated genes, and 231 down-regulated genes, were identified from 163 READ samples and 9 normal controls. A gene coexpression network consisting of 71 DEGs and 253 edges were constructed. Genes were associated with ribosome and focal adhesion functions. Three modules were identified, in which genes were involved in muscle contraction, negative regulation of glial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix organization functions, respectively. Several critical hub genes were disclosed, such as RPS2, MMP1, MMP11 and FAM83H. Thirteen relevant small molecule drugs were identified, such as scriptaid and spaglumic acid. A total of 8 TFs and 5 miRNAs were acquired, such as MYC, NFY, STAT5A, miR-29, miR-200 and miR-19. CONCLUSIONS: Several critical genes and relevant drugs, TFs and miRNAs were revealed in READ. These findings could advance the understanding about the disease and benefit therapy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]