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A phenomenological Landau-Devonshire theory is applied to construct the thermodynamic potential of (110) oriented Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 thin film and investigate the phase transition, ferroelectric, dielectric and piezoelectric properties. Three ferroelectric phases, such as tetragonal a1 phase, orthorhombic a2c and triclinic γ phase are stable in “misfit strain-temperature” phase diagram. Two triple points are found in the phase diagram and 90° polarization switching can occur directly between tetragonal a1 phase and orthorhombic a2c phase. Complicated phase transitions are induced by the electric field in triclinic γ phase due to the nonlinear coupling terms appeared in the thermodynamic potential. The longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient of (110) oriented Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 thin film is smaller than that of (001) oriented film. Moreover, negative longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient can be obtained in triclinic γ phase.

The phenomenological Landau-Devonshire theory is applied to investigate the electrocaloric effects of bulk and thin film Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 single crystals. The electrocaloric coefficient of 1.36 × 10−3 C/m2K and adiabatic temperature change of 1.0 °C are obtained in tetragonal T phase for bulk Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 single crystal with the electric field of 50 kV/cm and field change of 200 kV/cm, respectively. Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 thin film with tensile misfit strain has the larger electrocaloric effect in monoclinic M2 phase than that of tetragonal T phase which exists in compressive misfit strain. The compressive misfit strain does not change the maximum of electrocaloric coefficient, but enlarges the maximum of adiabatic temperature change. However, the tensile misfit strain improves the maxima of electrocaloric coefficient and adiabatic temperature change. In addition, the effects of electric field and temperature on electrocaloric effect are studied in tetragonal T phase and monoclinic M2 phase with different compressive and tensile misfit strains respectively. The large electrocaloric coefficient and adiabatic temperature change at the misfit strain of 0.4% are 7.4 × 10−3 C/m2K and 20 °C for Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 thin film with the electric field of 50 kV/cm and the field change of 200 kV/cm, respectively. The giant electrocaloric effect in Ba(Zr0.08Ti0.92)O3 thin film may provide the potential for practical cooling device applications.

This study investigated the effects of supplemented l-arginine (l-Arg) in broiler breeder hens' diets on the embryonic development and physiological changes of offspring during the hatching period. A total of 480 35-wk-old healthy female Arbor Acres broiler breeders were randomly divided into 6 groups and fed a corn and soybean meal diet with 6 digestible Arg levels (0.96%, 1.16%, 1.35%, 1.55%, 1.74%, and 1.93%). After a 10-wk experiment, eggs were collected for incubation. At embryonic day (E) 11 to E21, eggs, embryos, and organs (liver, breast muscle, and thigh muscle) were weighed. Total protein, urea nitrogen, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglyceride in plasma, were measured. Plasma level of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were measured at E13, E17, and E21. Messenger RNA expression of carbamoyl phosphate synthase I (CPS1), ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), and argininosuccinate synthase (ASS) in liver and breast muscle tissues was assessed at E13, E17, and E21. The results showed that 1.16% Arg in maternal diet increased egg weight (P < 0.05). The level of Arg in maternal diet has a significant effect on organ index and embryo weight of multiple embryonic days (P < 0.05). Embryonic plasma total protein concentration was significantly affected by maternal dietary Arg level (P < 0.05) and exhibited quadratic responses at E11, E15, E17, and E21 (P < 0.01). Plasma urea nitrogen, creatinine, triglyceride, and cholesterol level were also significantly affected by the level of maternal Arg at different embryonic ages (P < 0.05). Dietary digestible Arg levels quadratically influenced plasma urea nitrogen level at E21 (P < 0.05) and cholesterol concentration at E17 and E19 (P < 0.01). L-Arg supplementation in maternal diet significantly improved the IgG level at E17 and E21 (1.16%, 1.35%, 1.55%, and 1.74%; P < 0.05), the IgM level at E13 (1.35%, 1.55%, 1.74%, and 1.93%) and E17 (P < 0.05) and the NOS level at E13, E17, and E21 (P < 0.05). Maternal dietary L-Arg supplementation significantly improved the expression of CPS1 gene, OTC gene (1.16%, 1.35%, and 1.55%), and ASS gene (1.35% and 1.55%) in the liver (P < 0.05), and also enhanced the CPS1 gene (except 1.35%) and OTC gene (1.55% and 1.74%) expression in the breast muscle (P < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal Arg level affected the embryonic development of offspring and regulated the apparent metabolic programming and immunity state of the embryo. Arginine level of 1.55% in hens' diet was beneficial to the protein synthesis and immunity of the offspring in the embryonic period, and it was recommended to obtain healthy offspring.

A phenomenological Landau-Devonshire theory is used to investigate the “misfit strain-temperature” phase diagram and physical properties of (001) oriented KNbO3 film. Three ferroelectric phases, such as c phase, aa phase, and γ phase, occur in the phase diagram. In-plane compressive misfit strain is beneficial to form c phase and tensile strain makes aa phase stable. Physical properties of KNbO3 film largely depend on misfit strain and electric field. At room temperature, γ phase of KNbO3 film with the tensile misfit strain has larger piezoelectric and pyroelectric coefficients than that of c phase with the compressive strain. Large piezoelectric and pyroelectric coefficients are 180 pm/V and 8.5 × 10−4 C/m2K respectively at the electric field of 100 KV/cm and misfit strain of 6.7 × 10−3, which are comparable with the experimental results of Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3 film. Therefore, choosing the appropriate substrates can be used to improve the physical properties of KNbO3 film. In addition, the applied electric field decreases the dielectric, piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of (001) oriented KNbO3 film.

Based on the phenomenological Landau-Devonshire theory, the phase diagram and physical properties of (110) oriented KNbO3 film are investigated. The “misfit strain-misfit strain” phase diagram at room temperature is constructed in the frame of eighth-order thermodynamic potential. Three tetragonal phases and two orthorhombic phases are stable in phase diagram due to the strain anisotropy. The large in-plane compressive or tensile misfit strains favor the tetragonal phases. Moreover, both the tensile misfit strain u1 (or u2) and compressive strain u2 (or u1) induce the orthorhombic phases. Large piezoelectric coefficient is obtained in orthorhombic phases which have the small in-plane tensile misfit strains. It makes (110) oriented KNbO3 film suitable for applications in electromechanical devices.

Orientation dependence of phase diagrams and physical properties of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 films are investigated by using a phenomenological Landau-Devonshire theory. New ferroelectric phases, such as the tetragonal a 1 phase and the orthorhombic a 2 c phase in (110) oriented film and the monoclinic M A phase in (111) oriented film, appear in the “misfit strain-temperature” phase diagrams as compared with (001) oriented film. Moreover, the phase diagrams of (110) and (111) oriented films are more complex than that of (001) oriented film due to the nonlinear coupling terms appeared in the thermodynamic potential. The dielectric and piezoelectric properties largely depend on the misfit strain and orientation. (111) oriented film has the better piezoelectric property than (110) oriented film. Furthermore, the compressive misfit strain is prone to induce the larger piezoelectric property than tensile misfit strain.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) supplementation into diets with different non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC)/neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratios on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and microbiome in Chinese domesticated Lezhi black goats. Treatments were 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of diets using low vs. high NFC/NDF ratios (1.06 or 1.66) and with or without EFE supplementation (0 or 0.4 g cellulase and xylanase/kg dry matter of diet). Sixty four Lezhi black goats (11 ± 0.8 kg of live weight) were randomly assigned to the four treatments. High NFC/NDF ratio and EFE supplementation achieved greater average daily gain and improve feed conversion ratio (P

In this work, IGZO ink was prepared by dissolving gallium chloride, indium chloride, zinc acetate dihydrate and monoethanolamine (MEA) in 2-methoxyethanol. Five types of IGZO ink were prepared with different molar ratios of In:Ga:Zn: A(10:1:10), B(10:3:10), C(10:5:10), D(10:7:10), E(10:9:10). Based on the above-prepared ink, IGZO films were printed by a FujiFilm Dimatix printer (DMP-2831) on the glass, and then annealed with differenYut temperatures. The film samples with different Ga concentrations and annealing temperatures were investigated to study the uniformity, optical transmittance and electron mobility.

A phenomenological Landau-Devonshire theory is applied to investigate the phase diagrams and physical properties of (110) oriented Ba x Sr 1 − x TiO 3 films. New ferroelectric phases, such as the tetragonal a 1 phase and the orthorhombic a 2 c phase, appear in the “misfit strain-temperature” phase diagrams for (110) oriented films compared with that of (001) oriented films. Moreover, the orthorhombic a 2 c phase, and the tetragonal c phase and the triclinic γ phase are stable at low temperature for x = 0.5 and x = 0.7 , respectively. The ferroelectric, dielectric, and piezoelectric properties strongly depend on the misfit strain and electric field. (110) oriented Ba 0.7 Sr 0.3 TiO 3 film has the larger ferroelectric polarization and piezoelectric coefficient than that of Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 film. The giant piezoelectric coefficient of 340 pm / V is obtained at the electric field of 50 KV / cm in (110) oriented Ba 0.7 Sr 0.3 TiO 3 film, which is comparable with the values of Pb ( Zr 1 − x Ti x ) O 3 and ( 1 − x ) Pb ( Mg 1 / 3 Nb 2 / 3 ) O 3 − xPbTiO 3 films. It makes (110) oriented Ba x Sr 1 − x TiO 3 films suitable for applications in electromechanical devices.

The toughening mechanisms of a SiC fiber reinforced sol-gel fabricated mullite matrix composites were studied by combining the microstructure, the micro-mechanical properties (especially the interface) and the macro fracture resistance by a bottom-to-up mechanical characterization method (transmission electron microscopy, nanoindentation, fiber push-in, digital image correction, etc.). The results show a chemical-reaction controlled fiber/matrix interface in the as-fabricated composite, leading to pretty strong interfacial shear strength (~537 MPa), measured by the fiber push-in tests. Interfacial engineering by chemical vapor deposited pyrocarbon interphase can effectively hinder the interfacial reactions and weaken the interfacial interactions. The low shear strength of the tailored fiber/matrix interface (~155 MPa) could trigger the toughening mechanisms like interface debonding, fiber pull-out, etc., when the composite was subjected to external bending stresses. Finally, the fracture toughness of the novel composite was found significantly enhanced from ~0.8 MPa√m to ~8.3 MPa√m, after the interfacial engineering with pyrocarbon interphase. Keywords: Mechanical properties, Interfaces, Crack/cracking, Chemical vapor deposition, Composites

The phase diagram and pyroelectric effect of (110) oriented Pb ( Zr 1 − x Ti x ) O 3 thin films with different Ti composition are investigated by a phenomenological Landau–Dovenshire theory. The tetragonal ( a 1 ) phase, the orthorhombic ( a 2 c ) phase, and the triclinic (γ) phase are stable. The compressive misfit strain favors the orthorhombic ( a 2 c ) phase, whereas the tensile misfit strain makes the triclinic (γ) phase and the tetragonal ( a 1 ) phase stable. At room temperature, the misfit strain induces the first order phase transition from the orthorhombic a 2 c phase to the triclinic γ phase in the Pb ( Zr 1 − x Ti x ) O 3 (x=0.4, 0.5, 0.6) thin films. Moreover, even in the γ phase of Pb ( Zr 1 − x Ti x ) O 3 (x=0.4, 0.5) thin films, the first order γ1–γ2 phase transition may happen with increasing the tensile misfit strain. The Pb ( Zr 0.5 Ti 0.5 ) O 3 thin film with the Ti composition around the morphotropic phase boundary has the largest dielectric and pyroelectric properties, which is in agreement with the experimental result. A critical electric field exists and results in the non-monotonic variation of dielectric and pyroelectric properties with the misfit strain in Pb ( Zr 0.5 Ti 0.5 ) O 3 thin film. The positive pyroelectric coefficient is obtained in the γ2 phase of Pb ( Zr 1 − x Ti x ) O 3 (x=0.4, 0.5, 0.6) thin films.

BACKGROUND Analysis using publicly available algorithms has found that high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2), a key transcriptional regulatory factor, is a potential target of microRNA-204 (miR-204). Some studies have shown that both miR-204 and HMGA2 are associated with cancer development. OBJECTIVE We examined the possible relationship between miR-204 and HMGA2 in the development of thyroid cancer. METHODS We assessed miR-204 expression in thyroid cancer specimens and cell lines using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the target associations. The effect of miR-204 on cell proliferation was confirmed with tetrazolium and colony formation assays. Gene and protein expression were examined using real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS MiR-204 was downregulated in the thyroid cancer specimens and cell lines, and targeted the 3^\prime untranslated region of HMGA2 directly. MiR-204 overexpression decreased cyclin D1 and Ki67 expression and increased P21 expression, which subsequently inhibited thyroid cancer cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that miR-204 plays a protective role by inhibiting thyroid cancer cell proliferation, and may identify new targets for anti-cancer treatment.

The DNA sequence containing four contiguous GG runs (G2NxG2NyG2NzG2, G2 sequence) has the potential to form a two-quartet G-quadruplex. However, the prevalence, structure, and function of G2 sequences have not been well-studied. Here, bioinformatics analysis reveals the abundance of G2 sequences in the human genome and their enrichment in promoter regions. The density of G2 sequences in the genome and promoters is much higher than that of the G3 sequence (G3NxG3NyG3NzG3). Experiments show that the conformations and thermal stabilities of the two-quartet G-quadruplexes of G2 sequences are highly sensitive to the length and composition of the loops. Among the two-quartet G-quadruplexes, the parallel G-quadruplex with a loop length of 1 and the antiparallel G-quadruplex with a loop length of 3 show high thermal stabilities. Additionally, the stable parallel G-quadruplexes are stacked into intermolecular higher-order structures. This work determines the prevalence of G2 sequences in the human genome and demonstrates that the G-quadruplex structures for certain loop lengths and compositions may be stable in vivo. Thus, more attention should be paid to the structure and function of the two-quartet G-quadruplex.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is an important member of phase II metabolic enzymes; GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 belong to three subfamilies of the GST enzyme. Polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 could affect detoxification processes, and increase individuals' susceptibility to cancers. We aimed to investigate the association between GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms and the risk of gastric cancer in a Chinese population. In addition, we also examined the effect of gene-environmental interactions, and their effect on risk of this cancer. Between July 2013 and June 2015, we recruited 242 gastric cancer patients and 396 healthy controls for our study. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to characterize genetic polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1. We observed that the Val/Val genotype of GSTP1 was associated with increased risk of gastric cancer when compared with the Ile/Ile genotype (OR = 3.19, 95%CI = 1.84-5.56). Moreover, the Val allele of GSTP1 was associated with higher susceptibility to gastric cancer as compared with the Ile allele (OR = 1.52, 95%CI = 1.19-1.93). However, GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms did not affect the development of gastric cancer. In conclusion, our study indicated that GSTP1 Ile105Val, but not GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms, was associated with risk of gastric cancer.

A new Ti 41.3 Cu 43.7 Hf 13.9 Si 1.1 bulk metallic glass (BMG), free of Ni, Al and Be elements, was designed using the proper mixing of binary deep eutectics. The alloy exhibited excellent glass forming ability (GFA) and could be cast into single glassy rod up to 3 mm in diameter by copper mould casting method. The appropriate atomic-size mismatch, the large negative heat of mixing among constituent elements, and the possible formation of glassy HfSiO 4 facilitated its superior GFA. The BMG also showed good mechanical properties with fracture strength of 1685 MPa and Young’s modulus of 95 GPa as well as better corrosion resistance in both NaCl and Hank’s solutions, compared with pure Ti and Ti–6Al–4V alloy. The above results demonstrated that the developed BMG is promising in biomedical applications.

The S4 segment and the S4-S5 linker of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels are crucial for voltage sensing. Previous studies on the Shaker and Kv1.2 channels have shown that phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) exerts opposing effects on Kv channels, up-regulating the current amplitude, while decreasing the voltage sensitivity. Interactions between PIP2 and the S4 segment or the S4-S5 linker in the closed state have been highlighted to explain the effects of PIP2 on voltage sensitivity. Here, we show that PIP2 preferentially interacts with the S4-S5 linker in the open-state KCNQ2 (Kv7.2) channel, whereas it contacts the S2-S3 loop in the closed state. These interactions are different from the PIP2-Shaker and PIP2-Kv1.2 interactions. Consistently, PIP2 exerts different effects on KCNQ2 relative to the Shaker and Kv1.2 channels; PIP2 up-regulates both the current amplitude and voltage sensitivity of the KCNQ2 channel. Disruption of the interaction of PIP2 with the S4-S5 linker by a single mutation decreases the voltage sensitivity and current amplitude, whereas disruption of the interaction with the S2-S3 loop does not alter voltage sensitivity. These results provide insight into the mechanism of PIP2 action on KCNQ channels. In the closed state, PIP2 is anchored at the S2-S3 loop; upon channel activation, PIP2 interacts with the S4-S5 linker and is involved in channel gating.

Annexins play critical roles in membrane organization, membrane trafficking and vesicle transport. The family members share the ability to bind to membranes with high affinities, but the interactions between annexins and membranes remain unclear. Here, using long-time molecular dynamics simulations, we provide detailed information for the binding of an annexin V trimer to a POPC/POPS lipid bilayer. Calcium ions function as bridges between several negatively charged residues of annexin V and the oxygen atoms of lipids. The preferred calcium-bridges are those formed via the carboxyl oxygen atoms of POPS lipids. H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions formed by several critical residues have also been observed in the annexin-membrane interface. The annexin-membrane binding causes small changes of annexin trimer structures, while has significant effects on lipid bilayer structures. The lipid bilayer shows a bent shape and forms a concave region in the annexin-membrane interaction interface, which provides an atomic-level evidence to support the view that annexins could disturb the stability of lipids and bend membranes. This study provides insights into the commonly occurring PS-dependent and calcium-dependent binding of proteins to membranes.

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels derive their voltage sensitivity from movement of gating charges in voltage-sensor domains (VSDs). The gating charges translocate through a physical pathway in the VSD to open or close the channel. Previous studies showed that the gating charge pathways of Shaker and Kv1.2-2.1 chimeric channels are occluded, forming the structural basis for the focused electric field and gating charge transfer center. Here, we show that the gating charge pathway of the voltage-gated KCNQ2 potassium channel, activity reduction of which causes epilepsy, can accommodate various small molecule ligands. Combining mutagenesis, molecular simulation and electrophysiological recording, a binding model for the probe activator, ztz240, in the gating charge pathway was defined. This information was used to establish a docking-based virtual screening assay targeting the defined ligand-binding pocket. Nine activators with five new chemotypes were identified, and in vivo experiments showed that three ligands binding to the gating charge pathway exhibit significant anti-epilepsy activity. Identification of various novel activators by virtual screening targeting the pocket supports the presence of a ligand-binding site in the gating charge pathway. The capability of the gating charge pathway to accommodate small molecule ligands offers new insights into the gating charge pathway of the therapeutically relevant KCNQ2 channel.

To study modeling for command activities process and command information process with the IDEF0 and IDEF3 method respectively. The purpose is to help staffs and commanders to understand and communicate by command process model, and lay foundation for the continuing transformation of the process of follow-up command and flexible reorganization under different operational conditions. Finally as an example, the electromagnetic spectrum management command process of joint operations is built to illuminate how to use the modelling method.

To investigate the economic performance of applying the ground source heat pump system in swine farms in Beijing China, initial investment and operating cost of ground source heat pump (GSHP) heating and cooling system, coal fired heating system (CFH), wet curtain fan cooling system (WCFC), air conditioner heating and cooling system (AC) were analyzed and compared. The results showed that the initial investment of GSHP heating and cooling system was higher than that of the CFH system integrated with WCFC system, the relative operating cost of the heating systems of GSHP, CFH and AC was 0.94, 1.00 and 0.98, respectively. The relative operating cost of the cooling system of the GSHP, WCFC and AC system was 4.50, 1.00 and 6.38, respectively.

Objectives of this study were to quantify production responses of lactating dairy cows to supplying absorbable Met as isopropyl-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (HMBi), or rumen-protected Met (RPM, Smartamine M; Adisseo, Alpharetta, GA) fed with or without 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (HMB), and to determine whether Met supplementation will allow the feeding of reduced dietary crude protein (CP). Seventy cows were blocked by parity and days in milk into 14 blocks and randomly assigned within blocks to 1 of the 5 dietary treatments based on alfalfa and corn silages plus high-moisture corn: 1 diet with 15.6% CP and no Met source (negative control); 3 diets with 15.6% CP plus 0.17% HMBi, 0.06% RPM + 0.10% HMB, or 0.06% RPM alone; and 1 diet with 16.8% CP and no Met supplement (positive control). Assuming that 50% of ingested HMBi was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and 80% of the Met in RPM was absorbed at intestine, the HMBi and RPM supplements increased metabolizable Met supply by 9 g/d and improved the Lys:Met ratio from 3.6 to 3.0. After a 2-wk covariate period during which all cows received the same diet, cows were fed test diets continuously for 12 wk. Diet did not affect dry matter intake (mean ± SD, 25.0±0.3 kg/d), body weight gain (0.59±0.2 kg/d), or milk yield (41.7±0.6 kg/d). However, feeding HMBi increased yield of energy-corrected milk and milk content of protein and solids-not-fat. Moreover, trends were observed for increased milk fat content and yield of fat and true protein on all 3 diets containing supplemental Met. Apparent N efficiency (milk N/N intake) was highest on the RPM treatment. Feeding 16.8% CP without a Met source elevated milk urea N and urinary excretion of urea N and total N and reduced apparent N efficiency from 34.5 to 30.2%, without improving production. Overall results suggested that feeding HMBi or RPM would give similar improvements in milk production and N utilization.

The feed unit is modeled with Solidworks entity, then the combined mechatronic simulation is studied with MATLAB and ADAMS, In this paper，control of information exchange was completed by defining the system input and output variables, it build a mechatronic integrated simulation platform of high speed linear feed system of type GD-3. The acceleration, velocity and displacement curve of linear feed system are simulated and compared with experimental results on optimization of parameters. The results indicate that the mechatronic integrated simulation of virtual prototyping can better analyze and evaluate the velocity and displacement Kinematics characteristics of high-speed linear feed system, the acceleration different between the simulation and experimental is 10.71 percent and the virtual prototyping simulation is verified to be a new approach for analysis of the kinematics characteristics of the high-speed linear feed system.

Aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) transparent conducting films were dynamically deposited on corning glass substrates in an in-line sputtering system operated at mid-frequency sputtering mode with excitation frequency of 40 kHz. This study addressed the surface structure as well as the electrical and optical properties after wet-chemical etching. With the increase of substrate temperature, the dominant orientation of the as-deposited films changes from (0 0 2) to (1 0 3). After wet-chemical etching, due to the quick etching rate of the (0 0 2) plane relative to the (1 0 3) plane, the surface morphology of the films deposited at different temperatures show a transition from craterlike to granular surface morphology. The experimental results demonstrate that the crystal orientation of the as-deposited films plays an important role for the etching behavior of the films.

The adhesion protein (AP) gene of Trichomonas gallinae from pigeon was cloned and sequenced. The first-strand cDNA of the AP gene of T. gallinae from pigeon was amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with total RNA extracting kit and cloned in the vector pMD18-T. The recombinant plasmid was identified by PCR and restriction endonuclease, and the positive clone was sequenced and analysed by comparing the sequence similarity with other sequences in the GenBank. The AP gene of T. gallinae had a length of 1032bp, which contained a complete open reading frame (ORF) of 930bp long, coding for 309 amino acids. The sequence analysis revealed that the homology with three AP genes of Trichomonas vaginalis (i.e., TVU87096, TVU87097 and TVU87098) was 94.2%, 92.6% and 92.0%, respectively. It is concluded that the successfully cloned AP gene from T. gallinae will provide the basis for the expression of the AP gene in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the preparation of its recombinant protein.