Quality of primary health care for chronic diseases in low-resource settings: Evidence from a comprehensive study in rural China.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of evidence regarding the definition of the quality of primary health care (PHC) in China. This study aims to evaluate the PHC quality for chronic diseases in rural areas based on a modified conceptual framework tailored to the context of rural China. METHODS: This comprehensive study, involving a patient survey, a provider survey and chart abstraction, and second-hand registered data, was set in three low-resource counties in rural China from 2021 to 2022. Rural patients with hypertension or type 2 diabetes, and health care workers providing care on hypertension or diabetes were involved. The modified PHC quality framework encompasses three core domains: a competent PHC system (comprehensiveness, accessibility, continuity, and coordination), effective clinical care (assessment, diagnosis, treatment, disease management, and provider competence), and positive user experience (information sharing, shared decision-making, respect for patient's preferences, and family-centeredness). Standardized PHC quality score was generated by arithmetic means or Rasch models of Item Response Theory. RESULTS: This study included 1355 patients, 333 health care providers and 2203 medical records. Ranging from 0 (the worst) to 1 (the best), the average quality score for the PHC system was 0.718, with 0.887 for comprehensiveness, 0.781 for accessibility, 0.489 for continuity, and 0.714 for coordination. For clinical care, average quality was 0.773 for disease assessment, 0.768 for diagnosis, 0.677 for treatment, 0.777 for disease management, and 0.314 for provider competence. The average quality for user experience was 0.727, with 0.933 for information sharing, 0.657 for shared decision-making, 0.936 for respect for patients' preferences, and 0.382 for family-centeredness. The differences in quality among population subgroups, although statistically significant, were small. CONCLUSION: The PHC quality in rural China has shown strengths and limitations. We identified large gaps in continuity of care, treatment, provider competence, family-centeredness, and shared decision-making. Policymakers should invest more effort in addressing these gaps to improve PHC quality.

[Ursolic acid improved demyelination and interstitial fluid drainage disorders in schizophrenia mice].

OBJECTIVE: To unveil the pathological changes associated with demyelination in schizophrenia (SZ) and its consequential impact on interstitial fluid (ISF) drainage, and to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of ursolic acid (UA) in treating demyelination and the ensuing abnormalities in ISF drainage in SZ. METHODS: Female C57BL/6J mice, aged 6-8 weeks and weighing (20±2) g, were randomly divided into three groups: control, SZ model, and UA treatment. The control group received intraperitoneal injection (ip) of physiological saline and intragastric administration (ig) of 1% carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na). The SZ model group was subjected to ip injection of 2 mg/kg dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) and ig administration of 1% CMC-Na. The UA treatment group underwent ig administration of 25 mg/kg UA and ip injection of 2 mg/kg MK-801. The treatment group received UA pretreatment via ig administration for one week, followed by a two-week drug intervention for all the three groups. Behavioral assessments, including the open field test and prepulse inhibition experiment, were conducted post-modeling. Subsequently, changes in the ISF partition drainage were investigated through fluorescent tracer injection into specific brain regions. Immunofluorescence analysis was employed to examine alterations in aquaporin 4 (AQP4) polarity distribution in the brain and changes in protein expression. Myelin reflex imaging using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) was utilized to study modifications in myelin within the mouse brain. Quantitative data underwent one-way ANOVA, followed by TukeyHSD for post hoc pairwise comparisons between the groups. RESULTS: The open field test revealed a significantly longer total distance [(7 949.39±1 140.55) cm vs. (2 831.01±1 212.72) cm, P < 0.001] and increased central area duration [(88.43±22.06) s vs. (56.85±18.58) s, P=0.011] for the SZ model group compared with the controls. The UA treatment group exhibited signifi-cantly reduced total distance [(2 415.80±646.95) cm vs. (7 949.39±1 140.55) cm, P < 0.001] and increased central area duration [(54.78±11.66) s vs. (88.43±22.06) s, P=0.007] compared with the model group. Prepulse inhibition test results demonstrated a markedly lower inhibition rate of the startle reflex in the model group relative to the controls (P < 0.001 for both), with the treatment group displaying significant improvement (P < 0.001 for both). Myelin sheath analysis indicated significant demyelination in the model group, while UA treatment reversed this effect. Fluorescence tracing exhibited a significantly larger tracer diffusion area towards the rostral cortex and reflux area towards the caudal thalamus in the model group relative to the controls [(13.93±3.35) mm2 vs. (2.79±0.94) mm2, P < 0.001 for diffusion area; (2.48±0.38) mm2 vs. (0.05±0.12) mm2, P < 0.001 for reflux area], with significant impairment of drainage in brain regions. The treatment group demonstrated significantly reduced tracer diffusion and reflux areas [(7.93±2.48) mm2 vs. (13.93±3.35) mm2, P < 0.001 for diffusion area; (0.50±0.30) mm2 vs. (2.48±0.38) mm2, P < 0.001 for reflux area]. Immunofluorescence staining revealed disrupted AQP4 polarity distribution and reduced AQP4 protein expression in the model group compared with the controls [(3 663.88±733.77) µm2 vs. (13 354.92±4 054.05) µm2, P < 0.001]. The treatment group exhibited restored AQP4 polarity distribution and elevated AQP4 protein expression [(11 104.68±3 200.04) µm2 vs. (3 663.88±733.77) µm2, P < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: UA intervention ameliorates behavioral performance in SZ mice, Thus alleviating hyperactivity and anxiety symptoms and restoring sensorimotor gating function. The underlying mechanism may involve the improvement of demyelination and ISF drainage dysregulation in SZ mice.

Structural Design and DLP 3D Printing Preparation of High Strain Stable Flexible Pressure Sensors.

Flexible pressure sensors are crucial force-sensitive devices in wearable electronics, robotics, and other fields due to their stretchability, high sensitivity, and easy integration. However, a limitation of existing pressure sensors is their reduced sensing accuracy when subjected to stretching. This study addresses this issue by adopting finite element simulation optimization, using digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technology to design and fabricate the force-sensitive structure of flexible pressure sensors. This is the first systematic study of how force-sensitive structures enhance tensile strain stability of flexible resistive pressure sensors. 18 types of force-sensitive structures have been investigated by finite element design, simultaneously, the modulus of the force-sensitive structure is also a critical consideration as it exerts a significant influence on the overall tensile stability of the sensor. Based on simulation results, a well-designed and highly stretch-stable flexible resistive pressure sensor has been fabricated which exhibits a resistance change rate of 0.76% and pressure sensitivity change rate of 0.22% when subjected to strains ranging from no tensile strain to 20% tensile strain, demonstrating extremely low stretching response characteristics. This study presents innovative solutions for designing and fabricating flexible resistive pressure sensors that maintain stable sensing performance even under stretch conditions.

Autopsy results from a COVID-19 patient treated in a tropical area, and a review of the epidemiological history.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an urgent need to produce accurate and sensitive tests. However, there have been instances where a positive nucleic acid test turns negative after treatment, and then positive again. This case report describes such an instance from the tropical region of Hainan, China. The patient was a 61-year-old female who went to Hainan on vacation from Wuhan during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Symptoms appeared 9 d after arriving in Hainan, and it was confirmed that the nucleic acid test was positive after 4 repeats. Her condition declined rapidly, her heart stopped beating, and she was admitted in a coma to the ICU. After treatment, the SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleic acid test of several nasopharyngeal swabs were negative, and tests on whole blood, anal swabs, and urine were also negative. Later, however, nucleic acid tests on a lower respiratory tract sputum swab and lower respiratory tract lavage fluid were positive. An autopsy examination was carried out 12 h after her death, and multi-organ secretions were extracted for nucleic acid testing. The SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleic acid was only detected in the swabs from the end of the bronchus, which was confirmed by the visualization of the coronavirus by electron microscopy. Autopsy confirmed that the damage was mainly concentrated in the lungs and immune organs and tissues throughout the body. Epidemiology indicated that none of the people she came into contact with after arriving in Hainan, including close contacts, were infected. This is in sharp contrast to the highly contagious virus in Wuhan in the temperate zone during the same period. This case report indicates: (1) The high temperatures in tropical areas may have an impact on the spread and harm of COVID-19, and (2) The reason why nucleic acid testing for COVID-19 was initially negative and then positive after treatment may be related to the survival of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in deep lung tissues.

High Mechanical Properties of Stretching Oriented Poly(butylene succinate) with Two-Step Chain Extension.

The structure, morphology, fracture toughness and flaw sensitivity length scale of chain-extended poly(butylene succinate) with various pre-stretch ratios were studied. PBS modification adopted from a multifunctional, commercially available chain-extension containing nine epoxy groups (ADR9) as the first step chain extension and hydroxyl addition modified dioxazoline (BOZ) as the second step. Time-temperature superposition (TTS) studies show that the viscosity increased sharply and the degree of molecular branching increased. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirm successful chain extension reactions. The orientation of the polymer in the pre-stretch state is such that spherulites deformation along the stretching direction was observed by polarized light optical microscopy (PLOM). The fracture toughness of sample (λfix = 5) is Γ ≈ 106 J m-2 and its critical flaw sensitivity length scale is Γ/Wc ≈ 0.01 m, approximately 5 times higher than PBS without chain-extension (Γ ≈ 2 × 105 J m-2 and Γ/Wc ≈ 0.002 m, respectively). The notch sensitivity of chain-extended PBS is significantly reduced, which is due to the orientation of spherulites more effectively preventing crack propagation. The principle can be generalized to other high toughness material systems.

Early changes to the extracellular space in the hippocampus under simulated microgravity conditions.

The smooth transportation of substances through the brain extracellular space (ECS) is crucial to maintaining brain function; however, the way this occurs under simulated microgravity remains unclear. In this study, tracer-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DECS-mapping techniques were used to image the drainage of brain interstitial fluid (ISF) from the ECS of the hippocampus in a tail-suspended hindlimb-unloading rat model at day 3 (HU-3) and 7 (HU-7). The results indicated that drainage of the ISF was accelerated in the HU-3 group but slowed markedly in the HU-7 group. The tortuosity of the ECS decreased in the HU-3 group but increased in the HU-7 group, while the volume fraction of the ECS increased in both groups. The diffusion rate within the ECS increased in the HU-3 group and decreased in the HU-7 group. The alterations to ISF drainage and diffusion in the ECS were recoverable in the HU-3 group, but neither parameter was restored in the HU-7 group. Our findings suggest that early changes to the hippocampal ECS and ISF drainage under simulated microgravity can be detected by tracer-based MRI, providing a new perspective for studying microgravity-induced nano-scale structure abnormities and developing neuroprotective approaches involving the brain ECS.

Managing Vibration Training Safety by Using Knee Flexion Angle and Rating Perceived Exertion.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is commonly applied in exercise and rehabilitation and its safety issues have been a major concern. Vibration measured using accelerometers can be used to further analyze the vibration transmissibility. Optimal bending angles and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) evaluations have not been sufficiently explored to mitigate the adverse effect. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the effect of various knee flexion angles on the transmissibility to the head and knee, the RPE during WBV exposure, and the link between the transmissibility to the head and the RPE. Sixteen participants randomly performed static squats with knee flexion angles of 90, 110, 130, and 150 degrees on a WBV platform. Three accelerometers were fixed on the head, knee, and center of the vibration platform to provide data of platform-to-head and platform-to-knee transmissibilities. The results showed that the flexion angle of 110 degrees induced the lowest platform-to-head transmissibility and the lowest RPE (p < 0.01). A positive correlation between RPE and the platform-to-head transmissibility was observed. This study concluded that a knee flexion of about 110 degrees is most appropriate for reducing vibration transmissibility. The reported RPE could be used to reflect the vibration impact to the head.

A numerical simulation method of natural fragment formation and injury to human thorax.

OBJECTIVE: Fragment injury is a type of blast injury that is becoming more and more common in military campaigns and terrorist attacks. Numerical simulation methods investigating the formation of natural fragments and injuries to biological targets are expected to be developed. METHODS: A cylindrical warhead model was established and the formation process of natural fragments was simulated using the approach of tied nodes with failure through the explicit finite element (FE) software of LS-DYNA. The interaction between the detonation product and the warhead shell was simulated using the fluid-structure interaction algorithm. A method to simulate the injury of natural fragments to a biological target was presented by transforming Lagrange elements into smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) particles after the natural fragments were successfully formed. A computational model of the human thorax was established to simulate the injury induced by natural fragments by the node-to-surface contact algorithm with erosion. RESULTS: The discontinuous velocities of the warhead shell at different locations resulted in the formation of natural fragments with different sizes. The velocities of natural fragments increased rapidly at the initial stage and slowly after the warhead shell fractured. The initial velocities of natural fragments at the central part of the warhead shell were the largest, whereas those at both ends of the warhead shell were the smallest. The natural fragments resulted in bullet holes that were of the same shape as that of the fragments but slightly larger in size than the fragments in the human thorax after they penetrated through. Stress waves propagated in the ribs and enhanced the injury to soft tissues; additionally, ballistic pressure waves ahead of the natural fragments were also an injury factor to the soft tissues. CONCLUSION: The proposed method is effective in simulating the formation of natural fragments and their injury to biological targets. Moreover, this method will be beneficial for simulating the combined injuries of natural fragments and shock waves to biological targets.

Augmented reality-assisted training with selected Tai-Chi movements improves balance control and increases lower limb muscle strength in older adults: A prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Tai-Chi benefits older adults by enhancing balance control and increasing the muscle strength of the lower limbs. However, a complete set of traditional Tai-Chi exercises is sometimes too difficult for beginners. We investigated whether practicing augmented reality-assisted training with selected Tai-Chi movements tailored to the practitioner's ability (selected Tai-Chi, or sTC) is as effective as performing a complete set of Tai-Chi sequences (complete traditional Tai-Chi, or tTC). METHODS: In this prospective randomized trial carried out in the Beitou District of Taipei City, Taiwan, community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 and without any debilitating diseases (n = 28) were included. Participants were randomly assigned to the sTC group (n = 14) or the tTC group (n = 14). Participants in the sTC group practiced selected Tai-Chi movements using the augmented reality Tai-Chi training system. Participants of the tTC group were asked to complete the 24-form Yang-style Tai-Chi following the instructions of Tai-Chi masters. Each training session lasted 30 min, with 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations included functional balance tests, comprising the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and Functional Reach Test (FRT), as well as muscle strength measurements of the lower extremities. RESULTS: Pre-intervention evaluations showed significant differences in FRT (p = 0.034) and left hip abductor muscle strength (p = 0.046) between the sTC and tTC groups. After 8 weeks of training, the BBS, TUG, and FRT scores in the sTC group showed significant improvement overall. Although all three functional balance test scores improved in the tTC group, only the improvement in BBS was statistically significant (p = 0.001). After 8 weeks, all muscle strength measurements increased by an average of 3.1 ± 1.0 kgw in the sTC group and 1.6 ± 0.8 kgw in the tTC group. CONCLUSIONS: The augmented reality-assisted training with selected Tai-Chi movements, designed based on objective measurements of the practitioner's capability, improved balance control and muscle strength of lower limbs at least as effectively as the complete sequence of traditional Tai-Chi exercises. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of National Yang-Ming University (IRB number: 1000087). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

UPLC-Q-TOF/MS Based Metabolomics Approach to Study the Hepatotoxicity of Cantharidin on Mice.

Cantharidin is the major bioactive compound extracted from the blister beetle, a traditional Chinese medicine, and has been proved to be a natural component with widely antitumor activity. However, clinical application of cantharidin is relatively restricted due to its potential toxic effects, especially hepatotoxicity. Although cantharidin-induced liver injury has been reported, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, an UPLC-Q-TOF/MS based metabolomics approach combined with blood biochemical analysis, histopathological examination, and cell apoptosis assay were used to investigate the mechanisms of cantharidin-induced hepatotoxicity. A total of 54 significantly changed metabolites and 14 disturbed metabolic pathways were identified in the cantharidin exposed groups. Among them, four metabolites (oxidized glutathione, glutathione, 3-sulfinoalanine, and deoxycholic acid 3-glucuronide) were selected based on their high impact value and potential biological function in the process of liver injury post cantharidin treatment. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of cantharidin-induced hepatotoxicity and may contribute to reduce the liver injury and gain more effective and safe clinical use of cantharidin. In addition, our results also demonstrated that cantharidin could impair multiple biological processes in liver, and future studies will be necessary to reveal the detailed molecular mechanisms of cantharidin-induced hepatotoxicity.

Population data of 19 autosomal STR loci in the Li population from Hainan Province in southernmost China.

In the present study, population data of 19 autosomal STR loci included in the Goldeneye™ DNA ID System 20A in 653 Li individuals was obtained and population genetic relationships among 13 populations were investigated. MDS and phylogenetic analysis suggested that the Hainan Li population kept a close genetic relationship with the Chinese Han populations, especially for Southern Han populations (Guangdong Han, Sichuan Han, and Hunan Han). Our results indicated that the 19 autosomal STRs are highly discriminative and polymorphic in the Hainan Li population suitable for personal forensic identification and paternity testing.

Feasibility and outcome of an individualized Tai Chi program for improving balance and strength in the elderly: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Tai Chi is too complex for most elderly individuals. There have been few reports regarding the development of simplified Tai Chi programs to suit the physical needs of elderly adults. However, these programs were not individualized according to the participants' balance control abilities. OBJECTIVE: Purpose of this study is to develop an individualized Tai Chi program and report the feasibility of the program. METHODS: Phase 1: Five Tai Chi masters performed the Tai Chi movements on a force platform. Based on the results of center of pressure displacement and the individual's balance abilities, an individualized program was developed.Phase 2: Ten community-dwelling older adults received 24 half-hour-sessions, using the individualized Tai Chi exercise program. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score, Timed Up & Go (TUG) test, forward reach, and strength of the knee extensor were determined before and after intervention. RESULTS: Participants achieved improved performance on balance control as measured with BBS (p≤0.001), TUG (p = 0.004) and forward reach (p = 0.035) as well as knee extensor strength (p = 0.002) after the program. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary result suggests that the individualized Tai Chi program is potentially effective to improve balance function and knee extensor strength of the elderly.

The evaluation of forensic characteristics and the phylogenetic analysis of the Ong Be language-speaking population based on Y-STR.

The Ong Be language, an important branch of the Tai-Kadai language family, is one of the most distinctive languages on Hainan Island. Ong Be language speakers, who have lived in the Lingao district of Hainan Island for generations, were classified as Han Chinese in the early days of the establishment of the People's Republic of China but have distinct differences from the Han Chinese in language, lifestyle, customs and values and particularly in appearances and features. Currently, Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (STR) haplotypes have been widely used in genetic applications, such as human forensics, historical investigations and genealogical research. In this study, 487 unrelated male individuals residing in the Lingao district volunteered, and their Y-STR haplotypes were investigated using the Yfiler and Yfiler Plus with 17 and 27 Y-STR loci, respectively. Furthermore, we combined our population data on the Lingao people with existing datasets from Asian nations (East, South and Southeast Asia) to explore the genetic variance and relationships with Han Chinese from different administrative regions in Northern and Southern China and Chinese ethnic minorities officially recognized by the PRC. Population comparisons demonstrated that the Lingao people had distant relationships with Asian nations at the national level and had relatively close genetic and linguistic relationships with Hainan Li and Guizhou Gelao, both of whom belong to the Tai-Kadai language family. The present results increase our understanding of the genetic relationships between the Lingao people and other groups, and further research in genetics and other areas is still needed to trace the origin of the Lingao people.

iRSpot-EL: identify recombination spots with an ensemble learning approach.

MOTIVATION: Coexisting in a DNA system, meiosis and recombination are two indispensible aspects for cell reproduction and growth. With the avalanche of genome sequences emerging in the post-genomic age, it is an urgent challenge to acquire the information of DNA recombination spots because it can timely provide very useful insights into the mechanism of meiotic recombination and the process of genome evolution. RESULTS: To address such a challenge, we have developed a predictor, called IRSPOT-EL: , by fusing different modes of pseudo K-tuple nucleotide composition and mode of dinucleotide-based auto-cross covariance into an ensemble classifier of clustering approach. Five-fold cross tests on a widely used benchmark dataset have indicated that the new predictor remarkably outperforms its existing counterparts. Particularly, far beyond their reach, the new predictor can be easily used to conduct the genome-wide analysis and the results obtained are quite consistent with the experimental map. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: For the convenience of most experimental scientists, a user-friendly web-server for iRSpot-EL has been established at http://bioinformatics.hitsz.edu.cn/iRSpot-EL/, by which users can easily obtain their desired results without the need to go through the complicated mathematical equations involved. CONTACT: bliu@gordonlifescience.org or bliu@insun.hit.edu.cnSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

dRHP-PseRA: detecting remote homology proteins using profile-based pseudo protein sequence and rank aggregation.

Protein remote homology detection is an important task in computational proteomics. Some computational methods have been proposed, which detect remote homology proteins based on different features and algorithms. As noted in previous studies, their predictive results are complementary to each other. Therefore, it is intriguing to explore whether these methods can be combined into one package so as to further enhance the performance power and application convenience. In view of this, we introduced a protein representation called profile-based pseudo protein sequence to extract the evolutionary information from the relevant profiles. Based on the concept of pseudo proteins, a new predictor, called "dRHP-PseRA", was developed by combining four state-of-the-art predictors (PSI-BLAST, HHblits, Hmmer, and Coma) via the rank aggregation approach. Cross-validation tests on a SCOP benchmark dataset have demonstrated that the new predictor has remarkably outperformed any of the existing methods for the same purpose on ROC50 scores. Accordingly, it is anticipated that dRHP-PseRA holds very high potential to become a useful high throughput tool for detecting remote homology proteins. For the convenience of most experimental scientists, a web-server for dRHP-PseRA has been established at http://bioinformatics.hitsz.edu.cn/dRHP-PseRA/.

iDHS-EL: identifying DNase I hypersensitive sites by fusing three different modes of pseudo nucleotide composition into an ensemble learning framework.

MOTIVATION: Regulatory DNA elements are associated with DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSs). Accordingly, identification of DHSs will provide useful insights for in-depth investigation into the function of noncoding genomic regions. RESULTS: In this study, using the strategy of ensemble learning framework, we proposed a new predictor called iDHS-EL for identifying the location of DHS in human genome. It was formed by fusing three individual Random Forest (RF) classifiers into an ensemble predictor. The three RF operators were respectively based on the three special modes of the general pseudo nucleotide composition (PseKNC): (i) kmer, (ii) reverse complement kmer and (iii) pseudo dinucleotide composition. It has been demonstrated that the new predictor remarkably outperforms the relevant state-of-the-art methods in both accuracy and stability. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: For the convenience of most experimental scientists, a web server for iDHS-EL is established at http://bioinformatics.hitsz.edu.cn/iDHS-EL, which is the first web-server predictor ever established for identifying DHSs, and by which users can easily get their desired results without the need to go through the mathematical details. We anticipate that IDHS-EL: will become a very useful high throughput tool for genome analysis. CONTACT: bliu@gordonlifescience.org or bliu@insun.hit.edu.cn SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Identification of Multi-Functional Enzyme with Multi-Label Classifier.

Enzymes are important and effective biological catalyst proteins participating in almost all active cell processes. Identification of multi-functional enzymes is essential in understanding the function of enzymes. Machine learning methods perform better in protein structure and function prediction than traditional biological wet experiments. Thus, in this study, we explore an efficient and effective machine learning method to categorize enzymes according to their function. Multi-functional enzymes are predicted with a special machine learning strategy, namely, multi-label classifier. Sequence features are extracted from a position-specific scoring matrix with autocross-covariance transformation. Experiment results show that the proposed method obtains an accuracy rate of 94.1% in classifying six main functional classes through five cross-validation tests and outperforms state-of-the-art methods. In addition, 91.25% accuracy is achieved in multi-functional enzyme prediction, which is often ignored in other enzyme function prediction studies. The online prediction server and datasets can be accessed from the link http://server.malab.cn/MEC/.

Identification and characterization of toxins in the venom gland of the Chinese bird spider, Haplopelma hainanum, by transcriptomic analysis.

Tarantula venoms provide a model system for studying toxin selectivity, structure-activity relationships and molecular evolution of peptide toxins. Previous studies have identified a large number of peptide toxins in the venom of the Chinese bird spider Haplopelma hainanum, generally regarded as a highly venomous spider. However, the lack of available RNA-seq transcriptomic and genomic data is an obstacle to understanding its venom at the molecular level. In this study, we investigated the venom gland transcriptome of H. hainanum by RNA-seq, in the absence of an available genomic sequence. We identified 201 potential toxins among 57 181 de novo assembled transcripts, including knottins, Kunitz-type toxins, enzymes and other proteins. We systematically identified most of the knottins and Kunitz-type toxins, some of which showed strongly biased expression in the venom gland, including members of the huwentoxin-1, huwentoxin-2 and magi-1 families. We also discovered several novel potential toxins. These data demonstrate the high molecular and structural diversity in the venom toxins of H. hainanum. This study offers a useful strategy for exploring the complex components of spider venoms.