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Acute liver injury is a life-threatening syndrome that often results from the actions of viruses, drugs and toxins. Herein, the protective effect and potential mechanism of krill oil (KO), a novel natural product rich in long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids bound to phospholipids and astaxanthin, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-evoked acute liver injury in mice were investigated. Male C57BL/6J mice were administered intragastrically with 400 mg kg

Three placodioid lichen species, Lecanora valesiaca, Protoparmeliopsis sierrae, and Rhizoplaca phaedrophthalma, are reported for the first time from China. Detailed taxonomic descriptions with high resolution photographs, chemistry, remarks, and distribution are provided.

An energy harvesting system with a three-phase rotating and $5\times $ time-interleaving switched capacitor (SC) is proposed to be embedded in a wireline I/O interface. By a 50- $\Omega $ ( ${Z} _{0}$ ) mimicking at the termination to harvest the energy from the wireline received signal, the harvesting system can extract 300- $\mu \text{W}$ net power. The proposed energy harvester is fabricated in a 40-nm CMOS technology.

Microalgae is a potential producer of functional lipids such as n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and fucoxanthin. In the present study, lipids from ten microalgae species were analyzed especially focusing on the fucoxanthin, lipid and fatty acid compositions. The study revealed a remarkable variation in total lipids content, fucoxanthin content, lipid class composition and n-3 PUFA content in individual species, although they belong to the same genus. Among microalgae examined, Pavlova lutheri contained the highest total lipids content (313.59 mg g-1 dry weight) and considerable amount of fucoxanthin (3.13 mg g-1 dry weight). It also had the highest level (28.01%) of total n-3 PUFA with high level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (17.76%) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (7.61%). The highest fucoxanthin content (5.19 mg g-1 dry weight) was observed in Chaetoceros gracilis. C. gracilis also contained relatively high level of total lipids (228.87 mg g-1 dry weight) and 10.67% EPA. The results also demonstrated that Nannochloropsis oculata contained the greatest amount of EPA (26.21%), while Isochrysis galbana had the highest level of DHA (8.76%). And both microalgae contained 1.71 and 4.44 mg g-1 dry weight fucoxanthin, respectively. Microalgal lipids containing abundant fucoxanthin and n-3 PUFA such as EPA and DHA in the present study will be used as nutraceutical lipids with great commercial potential.

It is known that methanogens play a critical role in the carbon cycle in soil, while methanogen community characteristics and their environmental influencing factors in the soil planted with salt-tolerant rice remain unclear. In this study, methanogen abundance, community composition, and relationships with environmental factors in soils planted with the salt-tolerant rice (YC1703) and ordinary rice (Lindao 10) were evaluated in the rice improvement demonstration base of Qingdao Wisdom Agricultural Industry using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Illumina high-throughput sequencing. The results indicated that the abundance and community richness of methanogens in Lindao 10 soil were significantly higher than those in YC1703 soil, and methanogens in YC1703 soil exhibited higher diversity. The combined effects of rice varieties, rice growth period, and environmental factors had impacts on the methanogen community. The hydrogenotrophic methanogens were dominant in the YC1703 and Lindao 10 soils; thus, we speculated that the dominant pathway of methane production in these soils was hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis.

Some chronic diseases such as cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) and obesity are associated with the overproduction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) that stimulates excess lipolysis in adipocytes. Our previous studies have shown that docosahexaenoic acid-enriched phospholipids (DHA-PL) and eicosapentaenoic acid-enriched phospholipids (EPA-PL) ameliorated CAC and obesity-related metabolic disorders. To identify the molecular mechanisms involved, we examined the impact and the associated signaling pathways of DHA-PL and EPA-PL on TNF-α-induced lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The present results revealed that DHA-PL and EPA-PL inhibited the TNF-α-induced increase of glycerol release and protected lipid droplets. In addition, DHA-PL and EPA-PL increased DHA and EPA contents in the phospholipid fraction of adipocytes, respectively. Moreover, DHA-PL and EPA-PL enhanced sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) deacetylase activity and its protein expression. By activating SIRT1, DHA-PL and EPA-PL upregulated the G0/G1 switch gene 2 protein level to inhibit adipose triglyceride lipase activity, activate AMP-activated protein kinase to reverse the downregulation of perilipin expression and phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) at Ser565 and prevent the phosphorylation of HSL at Ser660. Furthermore, DHA-PL and EPA-PL improved glucose uptake and glucose transporter type 4 translocation to the plasma membrane in TNF-α-treated adipocytes. Thus, it was concluded that DHA-PL and EPA-PL inhibit TNF-α-induced lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by activating the SIRT1 pathways.

Root-knot nematodes (

Chemical pesticides have been used for pest control for many decades, but they cause serious problems, including insecticide resistance, secondary pest resurgence, and negative environmental impacts. Therefore, sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides are necessary for pest control. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are natural epizootic pathogens of insects, and some of them have been used as microbial biocontrol agents. Herein, we attempted to construct an entomopathogenic fungal library (EFLib) via the “Tenebrio molitor pathogenicity-based fungal collection method (TmPC)” to select EPF for control of the serious agricultural pest Spodoptera litura. A total of 172 soil samples were collected in northern and central Taiwan for the EFLib construction. The isolation efficiency of TmPC was 64.02%. The EFLib consisted of 101 isolates and was designated as the National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) EFLib. Among these isolates, 26 showed high virulence (mortality = 100%) to T. molitor larvae. Based on the results of molecular identification, the highly virulent isolates belonged to seven genera, including Beauveria, Clonostachys, Fusarium, Cordyceps, Penicillium, Purpureocillium, and Metarhizium. To evaluate the potential of these isolates for Spodoptera litura control, 12 isolates were selected for pathogenicity screening against S. litura larvae. A total of six EPF isolates belonging to the genera Beauveria and Metarhizium showed rapid eradication of the S. litura larvae. To rank the potential of these fungal strains for pest management, the six isolates were subjected to thermotolerance and conidial production assays, and a novel effective conidia number (ECN) formula was applied. The results indicated that the ECN index of Beauveria australis (NCHU-113) was much higher than that of Metarhizium isolates. However, among the Metarhizium isolates, NCHU-95 showed the highest ECN index. Altogether, NCHU-69 and NCHU-113 should be further tested in field trials. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to integrate pathogenicity or virulence and ECN data into EPF screening and ranking, providing a baseline for mass selection of potential EPF strains for further applications.

Additional file 2: Figure S1. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree of COG4337 proteins. The tree was contracted with 214 of COG4337 domain sequences extracted from 30 prokaryotic and 102 eukaryotic proteins. Sequences of multiple repeated domains are labelled by the ordinal number. Numbers at nodes indicate bootstrap supports (BS) that are shown only when they are higher than 50%. Black dots correspond to ≥95% BS. The scale bar represents the expected number of amino acid substitutions per site. Figure S2. Sequence alignment of COG4337 and COG4875 domains. The alignment includes COG4337 domains extracted from Bn86287 (JGI Bigna1: 86287), Bn50950 (JGI Bigna1: 50950), and all2909 (GenBank: BAB74608), and COG4875 domains of LCIP63 (JGI Thaps3: 9854) and 3H51 (GenBank: AAM40142). Numbers next to protein names represent the position of repeated domains. Asterisks show conserved amino acids, and the C-terminal motif “His-His-Ser-Ser” is highlighted by a yellow box. Figure S3. Esterase activity. Esterase activity was measured with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate. Absorption at 348 nm was monitored for 5 min after the addition of each protein at the time point 60 sec. Values of esterase activity are summarized in the table (mean ± SD of three independent experiments). BSA, bovine serum albumin. Figure S4. SEC-MALS analysis of recombinant COG4337 proteins. (A, B) Light scattering (LS, red line), differential reflective index (dRI, blue line), and the molecular weight of the protein (black line) are plotted against the elution volume. Theoretical molar mass of the Bn82787 and all2909 monomer being 55.3 kDa and 19.3 kDa, respectively. Bn86287 and all2909 were estimated to exist as dimers and tetramers in solution, respectively. (C) Analysis with the PISA (Protein Interfaces, Surfaces and Assemblies) software estimated that a tetramer of all2909 was assembled by a head-to-head interaction of two dimeric units. Figure S5. Structural comparison of COG4337 domains. (A) Structural alignment of the all2909 (dark pink) and an uncharacterized protein of Xanthomonas campestris (PDB ID: 3H51) (dark pink). (B) Cavities of all2909 and 3H51 are constructed by almost identical residues. (C, D) Active sites of the 1st and 2nd COG4337 domain in Bn86287. Simulated annealing Fo-Fc omit maps (green) for bicarbonate (BCT) are displayed at a contour level of 3.0 σ. Relevant distances between bicarbonate oxygen atoms/iodide (IOD) and neighbor residues are indicated by dashed lines with numbers. All images were prepared with PyMOL v. 2.3.3 (Schrödinger). Figure S6. Uncropped immunoblotting images. (A) Western blots against total proteins and the recombinant Bn86287 protein. The square shows the cropped region for Fig 4a. (B) Brightfield image of the membrane.

Additional file 3: Table S2. ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy) analysis of six metals. Table S3. Primer sequences for plastid construction.

A 32.768-kHz self-charged crystal oscillator (SCXO) using a proposed pulse regulator is presented. The general equation for pulse injection also provides a different insight for evaluating energy injected in crystal (XTAL). A robust oscillation with low power consumption is possible for a 1-V power supply. The proposed pulsed-regulated SCXO is designed in a 40-nm CMOS technology and the simulation shows 65.6% power reduction with process corner variation. In addition, the analytical locked amplitude of the proposed circuit is simulated and verified.

Microorganisms in marine sediments play crucial roles in biogeochemical processes. Currently, 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing is popular for studying bacterial communities; however, the DNA used in analysis can include not only that from active microorganisms but also that from inactive microorganisms, while the RNA can represent active microorganisms and more recent activity in the environment; therefore, a study of the difference between the total bacterial community based on the 16S rRNA gene and the active bacterial community based on 16S rRNA will support a better understanding of bacterial community structure and function in marine sediments. In this study, the total and active bacterial community structures in surface sediments from the Bohai Sea and South Yellow Sea were investigated at DNA and RNA level using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Illumina high-throughput sequencing, respectively. The results show that the 16S rRNA gene abundances of bacterial communities are 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than the transcript abundances. The total bacterial community is more diverse compared to the active bacterial community, and there are distinct differences between them. The bacteria in the sediments take part in active chemoheterotrophy, sulfate reduction, and nitrification. Moreover, 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing misestimates some important functional microbiota when exploring bacterial community functions. The 'rare biosphere' in the total bacterial communities consists of actively transcriptional players, which could play key roles in biogeochemistry cycles. Overall, in the analysis of bacterial communities in marine sediments from a stable sedimentary environment, it is beneficial to use the 16S rRNA sequencing to reflect the true ecological status.

High-fat and high-sucrose diet (HFHSD)-induced obesity leads to oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory status. However, little is known about the beneficial effects of total lipids extracted from Spirulina. Hence, in the present study, Spirulina lipids were extracted with chloroform/methanol (SLC) or ethanol (SLE) and then their effects on oxidative stress and inflammation in the mice fed a HFHSD were investigated. The results show that the major lipid classes and fatty acid profiles of SLC and SLE were almost similar, but the gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and carotenoid contents in SLE was a little higher than that in SLC. Dietary 4% SLC or SLE for 12 weeks effectively decreased the hepatic lipid hydroperoxide levels as well as increased the activities and mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes in the mice fed a HFHSD. In addition, supplementation with SLC and SLE also markedly decreased the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver and epididymal white adipose tissue of mice fed a HFHSD, and the effects of SLC and SLE were comparable. These findings confirm for the first time that dietary Spirulina lipids could alleviate HFHSD-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.

Class-A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known to homo-dimerize in the membrane. Yet, methods to characterize the structure of GPCR dimer in the native environment are lacking. Accordingly, the molecular basis and functional relevance of the class-A GPCR dimerization remain unclear. Here, we present the dimeric structural model of GPR17 in the cell membrane. The dimer mainly involves transmembrane helix 5 (TM5) at the interface, with F229 in TM5, a critical residue. An F229A mutation makes GPR17 monomeric regardless of the expression level of the receptor. Monomeric mutants of GPR17 display impaired ERK1/2 activation and cannot be properly internalized upon agonist treatment. Conversely, the F229C mutant is cross-linked as a dimer and behaves like wild-type. Importantly, the GPR17 dimer structure has been modeled using sparse inter-protomer FRET distance restraints obtained from fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. The same approach can be applied to characterizing the interactions of other important membrane proteins in the cell.

Background the supine position is the most frequently offered for birth delivery in China and many other countries, but the hands-and-knees position is now gaining prominence with doctors in China. This study aims to examine the differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes among low-risk women who gave birth either in the hands-and-knees position or the supine position. Methods a randomised controlled trial was conducted in 11 hospitals in China from May to December in 2012. In total, 1400 women were recruited and randomly allocated to either the experimental group ( n =700, 446 completed the protocol) who delivered in hands-and-knees position and the control group ( n =700, 440 completed the protocol) who delivered in supine position. Women who could not maintain the randomised position during the second stage of labour were allowed to withdraw from the study. The primary maternal outcome measured was rate of episiotomy. Secondary outcomes included degree of perineum laceration, rate of emergency caesarean section, rate of shoulder dystocia, and duration of labour, postpartum bleeding, neonatal Apgar score, and the rate of neonatal asphyxia. Because outcome data were only collected for women who gave birth in the randomised position, per-protocol analyses were used to compare groups. The primary outcome, episiotomy, was also compared between groups using logistic regression adjusting for maternal age，gestational age at birth, whether the woman was primiparous, the process of second stage of labour and birthweight. Findings as compared with the control group, the experimental group had lower rates of episiotomy and second-degree perineum laceration (including episiotomy), and higher rates of intact perineum and first-degree perineum laceration, with a longer duration of second stage of labour. No significant differences were found in the amount of postpartum bleeding, shoulder dystocia, neonatal asphyxia and neonatal Apgar scores at 1minute and 5minutes. Adjusted for maternal age, gestational age, parity, duration of second stage of labour and birth weight, the hands-and-knees position reduced the need for episiotomy (OR=0.024, p Conclusions this study provided evidence that women who could maintain the hands-and-knees position during the second stage of labour had lower rates of episiotomy and second-degree perineum laceration (including episiotomy). Both midwives and obstetricians are suggested to learn the skills to assist women with delivery in this position.