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1.
Int Ophthalmol ; 44(1): 161, 2024 Mar 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38536501

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pseudoexfoliation (XFS) is a common cause of glaucoma in nowadays. Because of XFS causing irreversible blindness secondary to glaucoma (XFG), this study aims to identify the current prevalence of XFS among Xinjiang Province of China, and identify the hub genes involved in XFS. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted from 2007 to 2019 for patients aged 50 and older. All patients with XFS or XFG diagnosed by slit lamp exam were identified through chart review. RESULTS: Of the 84 patient charts available for review, 50% of the patients identified as male, with a mean age of 67 years. The top ten genes evaluated by connectivity degree in the PPI network were identified. The results showed that Tyrobp was the most outstanding gene, followed by Ptprc, Fcgr3, Itgb2, Emr1, Cd68, Syk, Fcerlg, Hck, and Lyz2. All of these hub genes were downregulated in XFS. CONCLUSION: Our findings show a considerably biomarkers of XFS for diagnosis and treatment.


Subject(s)
Exfoliation Syndrome , Glaucoma , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Aged , Exfoliation Syndrome/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Glaucoma/complications , China/epidemiology
2.
Int J Biometeorol ; 68(5): 843-854, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38326654

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the associations between environmental temperature and schizophrenia admissions in Liuzhou, China. A Poisson generalized linear model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to analyze the effects of daily mean temperature on schizophrenia admissions from 2013 to 2020 in Liuzhou. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate possible modifications stratified by gender, marital status, and age. In this study, 10,420 schizophrenia admissions were included. The relative risks of schizophrenia admissions increased as the temperature rose, and the lag effects of high temperature on schizophrenia admissions were observed when the daily mean temperature reached 21.65°C. The largest single effect was observed at lag0, while the largest cumulative effect was observed at lag6. The single effects of high temperatures on schizophrenia admissions were statistically significant in both males and females, but the cumulative effects were statistically significant only in males, with the greatest effect at lag0-7. The single effect of high temperatures on admissions for unmarried schizophrenics was greatest at lag5, while the maximum cumulative effect for unmarried schizophrenia was observed at lag0-7. The single effects of high temperatures on schizophrenia admissions were observed in those aged 0-20, 21-40, and 41-60. The cumulative effects for schizophrenics aged 21-40 were observed from lag0-3 to lag0-7, with the maximum effect at lag0-7. In conclusion, the risk of schizophrenia admissions increased as the environmental temperature increased. The schizophrenics who were unmarried appeared to be more vulnerable to the single and cumulative effects of high temperature.


Subject(s)
Schizophrenia , Temperature , Humans , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , China/epidemiology , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Adolescent , Child , Infant , Child, Preschool , Infant, Newborn , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Marital Status/statistics & numerical data
3.
BMC Infect Dis ; 23(1): 309, 2023 May 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37158846

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As a member of the HACEK group, Aggregatibacter segnis (A. segnis) is a fastidious Gram-negative coccobacillus that resides in the human oropharyngeal flora. Infective endocarditis caused by A. segnis is rarely reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for a 3-month history of intermittent high fever, chills, and chest distress. On presentation, he was febrile and tachycardic but otherwise with stable vital signs. Physical examination revealed systolic murmurs in the aortic and mitral valve areas. Pitting edema was evident in the lower extremities. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated multiple vegetations in the mitral and aortic valves. Severe regurgitation of the aortic valve and left heart dysfunction were also detected. With the suspicion of infective endocarditis and heart failure, we immediately performed microbiological tests and arranged the cardiac replacement surgery. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) identified A. segnis from the bloodstream. While the surgical specimen culture was negative, the mNGS was positive for A. segnis. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone for four weeks and discharged. He remained clinically well, with laboratory results restored. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of A. segnis infective endocarditis that combined MALDI-TOF and metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the diagnosis. The hypothesis-independent molecular techniques can outperform conventional tools to prevent diagnostic delay.


Subject(s)
Endocarditis, Bacterial , Endocarditis , Heart Failure , Male , Humans , Adult , Aggregatibacter segnis , Delayed Diagnosis , Endocarditis, Bacterial/diagnosis , Endocarditis, Bacterial/drug therapy , Fever
4.
J Biosci Bioeng ; 134(6): 528-533, 2022 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36224065

ABSTRACT

The intracellular NAD(P)H insufficiency is the key factor which limits the reduced product (such as chiral alcohols) synthesis by whole cell biocatalysis or microbial cell factory. In this paper, we reported a novel solution to increase NADPH supply through strengthening the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) flux with overexpression of extra zwf (gene for glucose 6-phosphatedehydrogenase) and glk (gene for glucokinase) by recombinant Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)/pETDuet-1-glk-zwf and pET28a-bccr containing a carbonyl reductase gene bccr. The amount of intracellular NADPH was significantly increased from 150.3 µmol/L to 681.8 µmol/L after strengthening the PPP flux, which was 4.5-fold to that of the control. It was applied to improve the asymmetric reduction of 4-chloroacetoacetate to ethyl S-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutylate catalyzed by the BcCR, which increased the reaction yield 2.8-fold to the control. This strategy provides a new way to increase NADPH supply in E. coli cell factories.


Subject(s)
Escherichia coli , Pentose Phosphate Pathway , NADP , Escherichia coli/genetics
5.
J Viral Hepat ; 29(6): 412-419, 2022 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35293082

ABSTRACT

The long-term impact, incidence and risk factors of thyroid dysfunction in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving pegylated interferon (IFN) alpha (PegIFN-alpha) therapy remain unclear. We aim to investigate the long-term safety of thyroid dysfunction in CHB patients receiving PegIFN-alpha. A retrospective observational study of 425 CHB patients with normal baseline thyroid function was carried out. Patients were followed up over 10 years to assess thyroid function after receiving IFN. At the end of the IFN therapy, 67 patients (15.8%) had developed thyroid dysfunction, 31 patients (46.3%) had hyperthyroidism and 64.4% presented with subclinical thyroid dysfunction. In follow-up of thyroid dysfunction patients, 37 patients (74.0%) spontaneously regained normal thyroid function. Pretreatment thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) positivity and free thyroxine (FT4) were independent risk factors associated with thyroid dysfunction incidence. High TSH level (OR = 9.866, 95%CI, 3.245-29.998) was associated with a greater likelihood of hypothyroidism. High FT4 levels (OR = 0.464, 95%CI, 0.248-0.868) indicate a low likelihood of thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid dysfunction is a common but acceptable side effect of IFN therapy for CHB. Most thyroid dysfunction is reversible. Pretreatment TSH level and TPOAb positivity are risk factors for thyroid dysfunction development during IFN therapy. A high TSH level predicts an increased incidence of hypothyroidism. Moreover, FT4 may be a protective factor for thyroid dysfunction.


Subject(s)
Hepatitis B, Chronic , Hypothyroidism , Thyroid Diseases , China/epidemiology , Follow-Up Studies , Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy , Humans , Hypothyroidism/chemically induced , Hypothyroidism/drug therapy , Incidence , Interferon-alpha/adverse effects , Polyethylene Glycols/adverse effects , Risk Factors , Thyroid Diseases/chemically induced , Thyroid Diseases/epidemiology , Thyrotropin
6.
Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) ; 2021: 7407086, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34395181

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role and possible underlying mechanism of miR-486 in ovarian cancer (OC) cells. METHODS: The expression of miR-486 and CADM1 was detected by qRT-PCR in OC tissues and adjacent nontumor tissues and OC cell lines. The dual-luciferase reporter gene system was used to determine the targeting relationship between miR-486 and CADM1. CCK-8, colony formation assay, Transwell, and flow cytometry were performed to detect cell proliferation, cell invasion, cell cycle progression, and the apoptotic cell death, respectively. Western blot was carried out to detect the expression of CADM1 protein and the proteins associated with cell cycle progression. RESULTS: miR-486 was significantly upregulated in OC tissues and cells, while CADM1 expression was significantly downregulated. Dual-luciferase reporter assays further confirmed that CADM1 was a target gene of miR-486. Interference with miR-486 could inhibit the proliferation and invasion and promoted the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells. Knocking down both miR-486 and CADM1 significantly increased the SKOV3 cell proliferation, invasion, and the number of cells transitioning from the G0/G1 phase into the S phase of cell cycle and reduced the cellular apoptosis. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of cell cycle progression-related proteins (CyclinD1, CyclinE, and CDK6) was significantly reduced, and the p21 expression was increased when interfering with both miR-486 and CADM1 expression. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that miR-486 could act as a tumor promoter by targeting CADM1 and be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of OC.


Subject(s)
Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism , Cell Cycle , Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism , Apoptosis , Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/genetics , Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics , Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Female , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Humans , MicroRNAs/genetics , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology , Signal Transduction
7.
Nanomaterials (Basel) ; 11(6)2021 May 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34072587

ABSTRACT

A novel three-dimensional graphene-like networks material (3D-GLN) exhibiting the hierarchical porous structure was fabricated with a large-scale preparation method by employing an ion exchange resin as a carbon precursor. 3D-GLN was first studied as the effective microwave absorbing material. As indicated from the results of the electromagnetic parameter tests, and the minimum reflection loss (RL) of the 3D-GLN reached -34.75 dB at the frequency of 11.7 GHz. To enhance the absorption performance of the nonmagnetic 3D-GLN, the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were loaded on the surface of the 3D-GLN by using the hydrothermal method to develop the 3D-GLN/Fe3O4 hybrid. The hybrid exhibited the prominent absorbing properties. Under the matching thickness of 3.0 mm, the minimum RL value of hybrid reached -46.8 dB at 11.8 GHz. In addition, under the thickness range of 2.0-5.5 mm, the effective absorption bandwidth (RL < 10 dB) was 13.0 GHz, which covered part of the C-band and the entire X-band, as well as the entire Ku-band. The significant microwave absorption could be attributed to the special 3D network structure exhibited by the hybrid and the synergistic effect exerted by the graphene and the Fe3O4 nanoparticles. As revealed from the results, the 3D-GLN/Fe3O4 hybrid could be a novel microwave absorber with promising applications.

8.
Nat Genet ; 53(5): 742-751, 2021 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33875864

ABSTRACT

The evolutionary and genetic origins of the specialized body plan of flatfish are largely unclear. We analyzed the genomes of 11 flatfish species representing 9 of the 14 Pleuronectiforme families and conclude that Pleuronectoidei and Psettodoidei do not form a monophyletic group, suggesting independent origins from different percoid ancestors. Genomic and transcriptomic data indicate that genes related to WNT and retinoic acid pathways, hampered musculature and reduced lipids might have functioned in the evolution of the specialized body plan of Pleuronectoidei. Evolution of Psettodoidei involved similar but not identical genes. Our work provides valuable resources and insights for understanding the genetic origins of the unusual body plan of flatfishes.


Subject(s)
Flatfishes/anatomy & histology , Flatfishes/genetics , Phylogeny , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Amino Acid Sequence , Animal Fins/anatomy & histology , Animals , Biocatalysis , Evolution, Molecular , Gene Expression Regulation , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Mutation/genetics , Organ Size , Species Specificity
9.
Ann Transl Med ; 9(3): 235, 2021 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33708862

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Congenital cataract (CC) is a congenital abnormality characterized by lens opacity present at birth and is associated with highly heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Lens-specific integral membrane protein (LIM2) gene expression is localized to tight junctional domains of different lens fiber membranes. To date, only four mutations in LIM2 have been reported to be associated with congenital or presenile cataracts. Due to the rarity of variants detected in the gene, there is limited progress in understanding the correlation between the genotype and phenotype of patients with mutations in LIM2. METHODS: A total of four Chinese families with CCs were recruited for this study, including three families inheriting in an autosomal dominant (AD) pattern and one sporadic case. Genomic DNA was extracted from the leukocytes of peripheral blood collected from all available patients. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on all probands and at least one of their parents. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to evaluate the pathogenicity of the candidate variants. Exon 4 of LIM2 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced. All patients underwent full ocular examinations. This was an observational study to explore the genotype-phenotype relationships in the four families with a common candidate variant. RESULTS: Various ocular phenotypes were detected in these families, mainly including CCs, elongated axial length, and myopia-related fundus changes. The LIM2 gene mutation, p.Arg130Cys, was detected in all patients. This was further confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The proportion of probands with this mutation in our CCs database was 3.1% (4/130), which indicated that this mutation appears to be a frequent cause of cataracts in the Han Chinese population. This variation has been reported by other investigators before and was correlated with isolated cataracts. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study that reports various ocular phenotypes associated with the p.Arg130Cys mutation in the LIM2 gene, which indicated the phenotypic heterogeneity of this gene. LIM2 might not only function as an integral membrane protein in lens fiber cells but also be associated with the axial development of the eyeball. Functional studies of the LIM2 gene are important and should receive more attention.

10.
Anal Cell Pathol (Amst) ; 2021: 9868462, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34976598

ABSTRACT

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/7407086.].

11.
Mol Ecol Resour ; 21(2): 511-525, 2021 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33010101

ABSTRACT

The blue king crab, Paralithodes platypus, which belongs to the family Lithodidae, is a commercially and ecologically important species. However, a high-quality reference genome for the king crab has not yet been reported. Here, we assembled the first chromosome-level blue king crab genome, which contains 104 chromosomes and an N50 length of 51.15 Mb. Furthermore, we determined that the large genome size can be attributed to the insertion of long interspersed nuclear elements and long tandem repeats. Genome assembly assessment showed that 96.54% of the assembled transcripts could be aligned to the assembled genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed the blue king crab to have a close relationship with the Eubrachyura crabs, from which it diverged 272.5 million years ago. Population history analyses indicated that the effective population of the blue king crab declined sharply and then gradually increased from the Cretaceous and Neogene periods, respectively. Furthermore, gene families related to developmental pathways, steroid and thyroid hormone synthesis, and inflammatory regulation were expanded in the genome, suggesting that these genes contributed substantially to the environmental adaptation and unique body plan evolution of the blue king crab. The high-quality reference genome reported here provides a solid molecular basis for further study of the blue king crab's development and environmental adaptation.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Biological , Anomura , Biological Evolution , Animals , Anomura/genetics , Chromosomes , Genome , Genome Size , Phylogeny
12.
Virus Genes ; 56(6): 677-686, 2020 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32840739

ABSTRACT

We amplified a full-length hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome from the serum of a chronic hepatitis B patient who experienced virological breakthrough with high HBV DNA titer following adefovir (ADV) therapy. The PCR product was cloned and sequencing of the six clones revealed an isolate of C2 subgenotype. Mutation(s) in the polymerase gene responsible for ADV resistance included rtA181T (all clones) and rtN236T (four clones). The rtA181T mutation caused the W172* nonsense mutation in the overlapping S gene. In addition, all the clones harbored another nonsense mutation in the S gene (C69*) and a 207nt in-frame deletion in the preS1 region. These clones were converted to a 1.1mer construct for transient transfection of Huh7 cells. All the clones were deficient in hepatitis B surface antigen production. Three clones had similar levels of DNA replication. Comparison with a wild-type clone of the same genotype revealed a higher intracellular level of replicative DNA for clone c4, which was reduced by putting back the deleted 207nt, but not by co-transfection with an expression construct for the three surface proteins to rescue virion production. The HBcAg expression of the c4 and c4+207nt clones was mainly in the nucleus. Co-transfection with the L/M/S proteins expression construct did not alter the distribution of core. Clone c4 showed a significantly decreased susceptibility to ADV, a mild reduction in susceptibility to lamivudine and tenofovir, but remained sensitive to entecavir. In conclusion, this is an unusual ADV-resistant HBV isolate harboring two nonsense mutations in the S gene and a large in-frame deletion in the preS1 region, but still retains a high replication phenotype, which can provide a platform for recombinant vector construction.


Subject(s)
Drug Resistance, Viral/genetics , Genes, Viral , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/genetics , Hepatitis B, Chronic/virology , Adenine/analogs & derivatives , Adenine/therapeutic use , Adult , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , DNA, Viral , Genotype , Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Mutation , Organophosphonates/therapeutic use
13.
Mol Ecol ; 29(15): 2777-2792, 2020 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32306438

ABSTRACT

Species that evolved in temperate regions during the Pleistocene experienced periods of extreme climatic transitions. Consequent population fragmentation and dynamics had the potential to generate small, isolated populations where the influence of genetic drift would be expected to be strong. We use comparative genomics to assess the evolutionary influence of historical demographics and natural selection through a series of transitions associated with the formation of the genus Capreolus, speciation within this genus during the Quaternary and during divergence among European roe deer (C. capreolus) populations. Our analyses were facilitated by the generation of a new high-coverage reference genome for the Siberian roe deer (C. pygargus). We find progressive reductions in effective population size (Ne ), despite very large census sizes in modern C. capreolus populations and show that low Ne has impacted the C. capreolus genome, reducing diversity and increasing linkage disequilibrium. Even so, we find evidence for natural selection shared among C. capreolus populations, including a historically documented founder population that has been through a severe bottleneck. During each phylogenetic transition there is evidence for selection (from dN/dS and nucleotide diversity tests), including at loci associated with diapause (delayed embryonic development), a phenotype restricted to this genus among the even-toed ungulates. Together these data allow us to assess expectations for the origin and diversification of a mammalian genus during a period of extreme environmental change.


Subject(s)
Deer , Animals , Deer/genetics , Demography , Female , Genetic Drift , Phylogeny , Pregnancy , Selection, Genetic
14.
RSC Adv ; 10(47): 28324-28331, 2020 Jul 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35519098

ABSTRACT

Heterogeneity can be used as a promising method to improve the electrochemical performance of electrode materials; thus, ZnCo2O4@PPy samples were prepared using a facile hydrothermal route and an electrochemical deposition process. The as-prepared products possess a specific capacitance of 605 C g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1. The asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) possesses an energy density of 141.3 W h kg-1 at a power density of 2700.5 W kg-1 and capacity retention of 88.1% after 10 000 cycles, indicating its promising potential for energy devices. ZnCo2O4@PPy-50 exhibited an excellent OER performance and outstanding HER performance in alkaline media. As an advanced bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting, a voltage of 1.61 V at a current density of 50 mA cm-2 outperforms the majority of noble-metal-free electrocatalysts.

15.
Virus Res ; 276: 197825, 2020 01 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31785305

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the prototype of hepadnaviruses, which can be subgrouped into orthohepadnaviruses infecting mammals, avihehepadnaviruses of birds, metahepadnaviruses of fish, and herpetohepadnaviruses of amphibians and reptiles. The middle (M) envelope protein and e antigen are new additions in the evolution of hepadnaviruses. They are alternative translation products of the transcripts for small (S) envelope and core proteins, respectively. For HBV, e antigen is converted from precore/core protein by removal of N-terminal signal peptide followed by furin-mediated cleavage of the basic C-terminus. This study compared old and newly discovered hepadnaviruses for their envelope protein and e antigen expression or processing. The S protein of bat hepatitis B virus (BHBV) and two metahepadnaviruses is probably myristoylated, in addition to two avihepadnaviruses. While most orthohepadnaviruses express a functional M protein with N-linked glycosylation near the amino-terminus, most metahepadnaviruses and herpetohepadnaviruses probably do not. These viruses and one orthohepadnavirus, the shrew hepatitis B virus, lack an open precore region required for e antigen expression. Potential furin cleavage sites (RXXR sequence) can be found in e antigen precursors of orthohepadnaviruses and avihepadnaviruses. Despite much larger precore/core proteins of avihepadnaviruses and their limited sequence homology with those of orthohepadnaviruses, their proximal RXXR motif can be aligned with a distal RXXR motif for orthohepadnaviruses. Thus, furin or another basic endopeptidase is probably the shared enzyme for hepadnaviral e antigen maturation. A precore-derived cysteine residue is involved in forming intramolecular disulfide bond of HBV e antigen to prevent particle formation, and such a cysteine residue is conserved for both orthohepadnaviruses and avihepadnaviruses. All orthohepadnaviruses have an X gene, while all avihepadnaviruses can express the e antigen. M protein expression appears to be the most recent event in the evolution of hepadnaviruses.


Subject(s)
Antigens, Viral/genetics , Biological Evolution , Gene Expression Regulation, Viral , Hepadnaviridae Infections/virology , Hepadnaviridae/genetics , Viral Envelope Proteins/genetics , Amino Acid Sequence , Antigens, Viral/immunology , Evolution, Molecular , Genome, Viral , Genomics/methods , Hepadnaviridae/immunology , Hepadnaviridae Infections/immunology , Hepatitis B/immunology , Hepatitis B/virology , Hepatitis B e Antigens/genetics , Hepatitis B e Antigens/immunology , Hepatitis B virus/genetics , Hepatitis B virus/immunology , Humans , Viral Envelope Proteins/chemistry , Viral Envelope Proteins/immunology
16.
Sci Total Environ ; 707: 135507, 2020 Mar 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31761370

ABSTRACT

Soil respiration is a large carbon flux from terrestrial ecosystems to the atmosphere, and small variations in soil respiration can prominently influence the global carbon (C) cycle. The vegetation changes could directly affect soil respiration. The large-scale "Grain for Green" project carried out on the Loess Plateau, China has importantly affected the contribution of soil respiration to atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Therefore, it is important to study the effects of vegetation restoration on soil respiration. We selected four land-use types: crop, forest, shrub, and grassland in the Zhifanggou watershed to analyze variation in soil respiration during dry and rainy seasons. Furthermore, the source of CO2 emissions from soil respiration was identified using isotopes. The results showed that soil respiration in the rainy season was significantly higher than that in the dry season (P < .05). Soil respiration in the dry season was as follows: shrubland (1.04 µmol m-2 s-1) > cropland (0.72 µmol m-2 s-1) > forestland (0.44 µmol m-2 s-1) > grassland (0.33 µmol m-2 s-1). However, grass and forestland had significantly higher soil respiration than shrub and cropland in the rainy season (P < .05). Roots were the main source of soil respiration in cropland, which contributed >70% of CO2 emissions. Following revegetation, litter contributed more to soil respiration than roots or soil microorganisms at >68% of soil respiration. Our results provide a theoretical basis for assessing C balance in terrestrial ecosystems.


Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Soil , Carbon Cycle , Carbon Dioxide , China
17.
Science ; 364(6446)2019 06 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31221828

ABSTRACT

The ruminants are one of the most successful mammalian lineages, exhibiting morphological and habitat diversity and containing several key livestock species. To better understand their evolution, we generated and analyzed de novo assembled genomes of 44 ruminant species, representing all six Ruminantia families. We used these genomes to create a time-calibrated phylogeny to resolve topological controversies, overcoming the challenges of incomplete lineage sorting. Population dynamic analyses show that population declines commenced between 100,000 and 50,000 years ago, which is concomitant with expansion in human populations. We also reveal genes and regulatory elements that possibly contribute to the evolution of the digestive system, cranial appendages, immune system, metabolism, body size, cursorial locomotion, and dentition of the ruminants.


Subject(s)
Genome , Ruminants/classification , Ruminants/genetics , Animals , Evolution, Molecular , Phylogeny , Sequence Analysis, DNA
18.
Adv Mater ; 31(7): e1805921, 2019 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30589117

ABSTRACT

Together with the evolution of digital health care, the wearable electronics field has evolved rapidly during the past few years and is expected to be expanded even further within the first few years of the next decade. As the next stage of wearables is predicted to move toward integrated wearables, nanomaterials and nanocomposites are in the spotlight of the search for novel concepts for integration. In addition, the conversion of current devices and attachment-based wearables into integrated technology may involve a significant size reduction while retaining their functional capabilities. Nanomaterial-based wearable sensors have already marked their presence with a significant distinction while nanomaterial-based wearable actuators are still at their embryonic stage. This review looks into the contribution of nanomaterials and nanocomposites to wearable technology with a focus on wearable sensors and actuators.


Subject(s)
Nanostructures , Wearable Electronic Devices , Accelerometry/instrumentation , Drug Delivery Systems/instrumentation , Humans , Monitoring, Physiologic/instrumentation
19.
Mol Ecol Resour ; 19(3): 744-756, 2019 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30592378

ABSTRACT

Horseshoe crabs including Tachypleus tridentatus are a group of marine arthropods and living fossil species which have existed on the earth for ~500 million years. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying their unique adaptive ability are still unclear. Here, we assembled the first chromosome-level T. tridentatus genome, and proved that this genome is of high quality with contig N50 1.69 Mb. By comparison with other arthropods, some gene families of T. tridentatus experienced significant expansion, which are related to several signaling pathways, endonuclease activities, and metabolic processes. Based on the results of comparative analysis of genomics and 27 transcriptomes from nine tissues, we found that the expanded Dscam genes are located at key hub positions of immune network. Furthermore, the Dscam genes showed higher levels of expression in the yellow connective tissue (the birthplace of blood cells with strong differentiation capability) than the other eight tissues. Besides, the Dscam genes are positively correlated with the expression of the core immunity gene, clotting factor B, which is involved in the coagulation cascade reaction. The effective and unusual immune ability endowed by the expansion and expression of Dscam genes in the horseshoe crab may be a factor that makes the species have a strong environmental adaptability within ~500 million years. The high quality chromosome level genome of a horseshoe crab and unique genomic features reported in this study provide important data resources for future studies on the evolution of marine ecological systems.


Subject(s)
Aquatic Organisms/classification , Aquatic Organisms/genetics , Computational Biology , Evolution, Molecular , Genomics , Horseshoe Crabs/classification , Horseshoe Crabs/genetics , Animals
20.
Virus Res ; 257: 33-39, 2018 09 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30179704

ABSTRACT

Variants of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) influenced its antigenicity and immunogenicity. In our study, we aim to investigate biological significance of amino acid (aa) substitutions in HBsAg, Q129 N and T131 N/M133 T, for glycosylation, antigenicity and immunogenicity of variant HBsAg (vtHBsAg) and viral replication. Expression plasmids of vtHBsAg with aa substitutions Q129 L, T123 N, Q129 N and T131 N/M133 T were constructed. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining and Western blot were simultaneously utilized to examine expression of vtHBsAg proteins in Huh7 cells transfected with vtHBsAg constructs. vtHBsAg of Q129 N and T131 N/M133 T created new N-glycosylation and displayed perinuclear distribution by IF staining with the anti-HA. Antigenicity of vtHBsAg of Q129 N and T131 N/M133 T was reduced compared with wild type (wt) HBsAg. In addition, we discovered impaired ability to induce anti-HBs responses against wtHBsAg in mice immunized with plasmids pHBsAg- Q129 N and T131 N/M133 T. Even so, efficient protective response toward wild type HBV can be primed by the two vtHBsAgs in mice. Further, we discovered that vtHBsAg with Q129 N distinctly impaired HBV replication capacity, but vtHBsAg with T131 N/M133 T had no impact on viral replication. Thus, we conclude that vtHBsAg with Q129 N or T131 N/M133 T creates new N-glycosylation and interferes with both the antigenicity and immunogenicity of vtHBsAg. And vtHBsAg with Q129 N impaired HBV replication ability.


Subject(s)
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/genetics , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology , Hepatitis B virus/physiology , Virus Replication , Amino Acid Substitution , Animals , Cell Line , DNA Replication , Female , Glycosylation , Hepatitis B/immunology , Hepatitis B Antibodies/immunology , Hepatitis B virus/immunology , Humans , Immunogenicity, Vaccine , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mutation
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