Circadian Rhythm Alteration of the Core Clock Genes and the Lipid Metabolism Genes Induced by High-Fat Diet (HFD) in the Liver Tissue of the Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle (Trionyx sinensis).

Physiology disorders of the liver, as it is an important tissue in lipid metabolism, can cause fatty liver disease. The mechanism might be regulated by 17 circadian clock genes and 18 fat metabolism genes, together with a high-fat diet (HFD). Due to their rich nutritional and medicinal value, Chinese soft-shelled turtles (Trionyx sinensis) are very popular among the Chinese people. In the study, we aimed to investigate the influence of an HFD on the daily expression of both the core clock genes and the lipid metabolism genes in the liver tissue of the turtles. The two diets were formulated with 7.98% lipid (the CON group) and 13.86% lipid (the HFD group) to feed 180 juvenile turtles, which were randomly divided into two groups with three replicates per group and 30 turtles in each replicate for six weeks, and the diet experiment was administrated with a photophase regimen of a 24 h light/dark (12L:12D) cycle. At the end of the experiment, the liver tissue samples were collected from nine turtles per group every 3 h (zeitgeber time: ZT 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24) for 24 h to investigate the daily expression and correlation analysis of these genes. The results showed that 11 core clock genes [i.e., circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (Clock), brain and muscle arnt-like protein 1 and 2 (Bmal1/2), timeless (Tim), cryptochrome 1 (Cry2), period2 (Per2), nuclear factor IL-3 gene (Nfil3), nuclear receptor subfamily 1, treatment D, member 1 and 2 (Nr1d1/2) and retinoic acid related orphan receptor α/ß/γ ß and γ (Rorß/γ)] exhibited circadian oscillation, but 6 genes did not, including neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (Npas2), Per1, Cry1, basic helix-loop-helix family, member E40 (Bhlhe40), Rorα and D-binding protein (Dbp), and 16 lipid metabolism genes including fatty acid synthase (Fas), diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (Dgat1), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (Hmgcr), Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1-like (Ldlr1), Lipin 1 (Lipin1), Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (Cpt1a), Peroxisome proliferator activation receptor α, ß and γ (Pparα/ß/γ), Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), Apoa (Apoa1), Apolipoprotein B (Apob), Pyruvate Dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4), Acyl-CoA synthase long-chain1 (Acsl1), Liver X receptors α (Lxrα) and Retinoid X receptor, α (Rxra) also demonstrated circadian oscillations, but 2 genes did not, Scd and Acaca, in the liver tissues of the CON group. However, in the HFD group, the circadian rhythms' expressional patterns were disrupted for the eight core clock genes, Clock, Cry2, Per2, Nfil3, Nr1d1/2 and Rorß/γ, and the peak expression of Bmal1/2 and Tim showed delayed or advanced phases. Furthermore, four genes (Cry1, Per1, Dbp and Rorα) displayed no diurnal rhythm in the CON group; instead, significant circadian rhythms appeared in the HFD group. Meanwhile, the HFD disrupted the circadian rhythm expressions of seven fat metabolism genes (Fas, Cpt1a, Sirt1, Apoa1, Apob, Pdk4 and Acsl1). Meanwhile, the other nine genes in the HFD group also showed advanced or delayed expression peaks compared to the CON group. Most importantly of all, there were remarkably positive or negative correlations between the core clock genes and the lipid metabolism genes, and their correlation relationships were altered by the HFD. To sum up, circadian rhythm alterations of the core clock genes and the lipid metabolism genes were induced by the high-fat diet (HFD) in the liver tissues of T. sinensis. This result provides experimental and theoretical data for the mass breeding and production of T. sinensis in our country.

A method based on improved ant colony algorithm feature selection combined with GWO-SVR model for predicting chlorophyll-a concentration in Wuliangsu Lake.

Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) is an important parameter in water bodies. Due to the complexity of optics in water bodies, it is difficult to accurately predict Chl-a concentrations in water bodies by current traditional methods. In this paper, using Sentinel-2 remote sensing images as the data source combined with measured data, taking Wuliangsu Lake as the study area, a new intelligent algorithm is proposed for prediction of Chl-a concentration, which uses the adaptive ant colony exhaustive optimization algorithm (A-ACEO) for feature selection and the gray wolf optimization algorithm (GWO) to optimize support vector regression (SVR) to achieve Chl-a concentration prediction. The ant colony optimization algorithm is improved to select remote sensing feature bands for Chl-a concentration by introducing relevant optimization strategies. The GWO-SVR model is built by optimizing SVR using GWO with the selected feature bands as input and comparing it with the traditional SVR model. The results show that the usage of feature bands selected by the presented A-ACEO algorithm as inputs can effectively reduce complexity and improve the prediction performance of the model, under the condition of the same model, which can provide valuable references for monitoring the Chl-a concentration in Wuliangsu Lake.

Gasdermin D in macrophages drives orchitis by regulating inflammation and antigen presentation processes.

Inflammation in the testes induced by infection and autoimmunity contributes significantly to male infertility, a public health issue. Current therapies using antibiotics and broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory drugs are ineffective against non-bacterial orchitis and induce side effects. This highlights the need to explore the pathogenesis of orchitis and develop alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study, we demonstrated that Gasdermin D (GSDMD) was activated in the testes during uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)-induced acute orchitis, and that GSDMD in macrophages induced inflammation and affected spermatogenesis during acute and chronic orchitis. In testicular macrophages, GSDMD promoted inflammation and antigen presentation, thereby enhancing the T-cell response after orchitis. Furthermore, the pharmacological inhibition of GSDMD alleviated the symptoms of UPEC-induced acute orchitis. Collectively, these findings provide the first demonstration of GSDMD's role in driving orchitis and suggest that GSDMD may be a potential therapeutic target for treating orchitis.

Laser-Ignited Lipid Peroxidation Nanoamplifiers for Strengthening Tumor Photodynamic Therapy Through Aggravating Ferroptotic Propagation and Sustainable High Immunogenicity.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is extensively investigated for tumor therapy in the clinic. However, the efficacy of PDT is severely limited by the tissue penetrability of light, short effective half-life and radius of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the weak immunostimulatory effect. In this study, a glutathione (GSH)-activatable nano-photosensitizer is developed to load with arachidonic acid (AA) and camouflage by erythrocyte membrane, which serves as a laser-ignited lipid peroxidation nanoamplifier (MAR). The photosensitive effect of MAR is recovered accompanied by the degradation in the tumor microenvironment and triggers the peroxidation of AA upon laser excitation. Interestingly, it aggravates the propagation of ferroptosis among cancer cells by driving the continuous lipid peroxidation chain reactions with the participation of the degradation products, ferrous ions (Fe2+), and AA. Consequently, even the deep-seated tumor cells without illumination also undergo ferroptosis owing to the propagation of ferroptotic signal. Moreover, the residual tumor cells undergoing ferroptosis still maintain high immunogenicity after PDT, thus continuously triggering sufficient tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) release to remarkably promote the anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, this study will provide a novel "all-in-one" nano-photosensitizer that not only amplifies the damaging effect and expands the effective range of PDT but also improves the immunostimulatory effect after PDT.

The preprogrammed anti-inflammatory phenotypes of CD11chigh macrophages by Streptococcus pneumoniae aminopeptidase N safeguard from allergic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Early microbial exposure is associate with protective allergic asthma. We have previously demonstrated that Streptococcus pneumoniae aminopeptidase N (PepN), one of the pneumococcal components, inhibits ovalbumin (OVA) -induced airway inflammation in murine models of allergic asthma, but the underlying mechanism was incompletely determined. METHODS: BALB/c mice were pretreated with the PepN protein and exposed intranasally to HDM allergen. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms were investigated using depletion and adoptive transfer experiments as well as transcriptome analysis and isolated lung CD11chigh macrophages. RESULTS: We found pretreatment of mice with PepN promoted the proliferation of lung-resident F4/80+CD11chigh macrophages in situ but also mobilized bone marrow monocytes to infiltrate lung tissue that were then transformed into CD11high macrophages. PepN pre-programmed the macrophages during maturation to an anti-inflammatory phenotype by shaping the metabolic preference for oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and also inhibited the inflammatory response of macrophages by activating AMP-activated protein kinase. Furthermore, PepN treated macrophages also exhibited high-level costimulatory signaling molecules which directed the differentiation into Treg. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that the expansion of CD11chigh macrophages in lungs and the OXPHOS metabolic bias of macrophages are associated with reduced allergic airway inflammation after PepN exposure, which paves the way for its application in preventing allergic asthma.

The directed acyclic graph helped identify confounders in the association between coronary heart disease and pesticide exposure among greenhouse vegetable farmers.

To explore the causal pathways associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) and pesticide exposure using a directed acyclic graph (DAG) analysis and to investigate the potential benefits of DAG by comparing it with logistic regression. This cross-sectional study enrolled 1368 participants from April 2015 to May 2017. Trained research investigators interviewed farmers using a self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression and DAG models were used to identify the associations between CHD and chronic pesticide exposure. A total of 150 (11.0%) of the 1368 participants are characterized as having CHD. High pesticide exposure (odds ratio = 2.852, 95% confidence intervals: 1.951-4.171) is associated with CHD when compare with low pesticide exposure by both DAG and logistic analyses. After adjusting for the additional potential influence of factors identified by the DAG analysis, there is no significant association, such as the results in logistic regression: ethnicity, education level, settlement time, and mixed pesticide status. Specifically, age, meal frequency, and consumption of fresh fruit, according to the DAG analysis, are independent factors for CHD. High pesticide exposure is a risk factor for CHD as indicated by both DAG and logistic regression analyses. DAG can be a preferable improvement over traditional regression methods to identify sources of bias and causal inference in observational studies, especially for complex research questions.

Sorption behavior and mechanism of U(VI) on Tamusu clay in the presence of U(VI)-CO3 complexes.

The sorption behavior of U(VI) on Tamusu clay sampled from a pre-selected high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal site in Inner Mongolia (China) was studied systematically in the U(VI)-CO3 solution at pH 7.8 by batch experiments. The results demonstrated that the distribution coefficients (Kd) decreased with the increasing values of pHinitial, [U(VI)]initial, and ionic strength, but increased with the extended time and the rising temperature. The sorption was a pH-dependent, heterogeneous, spontaneous, and endothermic chemical process, which could be better described by Freundlich isothermal model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The presence of humic acid (HA) or fulvic acid (FA) significantly inhibited the U(VI) sorption, due to the enhanced electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged HA/FA adsorbed on the clay surface and the negative U(VI) species, as well as the well dispersed HA/FA aggregates in solution wrapping the U(VI) species. The FTIR and XPS spectra indicated that the HCO3- groups on the surface of Tamusu clay after hydroxylation and the ‒OH groups in HA/FA were involved in the U(VI) sorption. The results reported here provide valuable insights into the further understanding of U(VI) migration in geological media.

Sugar intake and risk of hypertension: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort and cross-sectional studies.

Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between sugar intake, the levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the risk of hypertension, but findings have been inconsistent. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to examine the associations between sugar intake, hypertension risk, and BP levels. Articles published up to February 2, 2021 were sourced through PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a fixed- or random-effects model. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate dose-response associations. Overall, 35 studies were included in the present meta-analysis (23 for hypertension and 12 for BP). Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) were positively associated with hypertension risk: 1.26 (95% CI, 1.15-1.37) and 1.10 (1.07-1.13) per 250-g/day increment, respectively. For SBP, only SSBs were significant with a pooled ß value of 0.24 mmHg (95% CI, 0.12-0.36) per 250 g increase. Fructose, sucrose, and added sugar, however, were shown to be associated with elevated DBP with 0.83 mmHg (0.07-1.59), 1.10 mmHg (0.12-2.08), and 5.15 mmHg (0.09-10.21), respectively. Current evidence supports the harmful effects of sugar intake for hypertension and BP level, especially SSBs, ASBs, and total sugar intake.

CSF2 upregulates CXCL3 expression in adipocytes to promote metastasis of breast cancer via the FAK signaling pathway.

Recent studies have demonstrated that cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs) in the tumor microenvironment are involved in the malignant progression of breast cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of CAA formation and its effects on the development of breast cancer are still unknown. Here, we show that CSF2 is highly expressed in both CAAs and breast cancer cells. CSF2 promotes inflammatory phenotypic changes of adipocytes through the Stat3 signaling pathway, leading to the secretion of multiple cytokines and proteases, particularly C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CXCL3). Adipocyte-derived CXCL3 binds to its specific receptor CXCR2 on breast cancer cells and activates the FAK pathway, enhancing the mesenchymal phenotype, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells. In addition, a combination treatment targeting CSF2 and CXCR2 shows a synergistic inhibitory effect on adipocyte-induced lung metastasis of mouse 4T1 cells in vivo. These findings elucidate a novel mechanism of breast cancer metastasis and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer metastasis.

Survival benefits of perioperative chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy for advanced stage gastric cancer based on directed acyclic graphs.

The overall survival benefits of perioperative chemotherapy (PCT) and perioperative chemoradiotherapy (PCRT) for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) have not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to compare the benefits of PCT and PCRT in GC patients and determine the factors affecting survival rate using directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). The data of 1,442 patients with stage II-IV GC who received PCT or PCRT from 2000 to 2018 were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. First, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to identify possible influencing factors for overall survival. Second, the variables that were selected by LASSO were then used in univariate and Cox regression analyses. Third, corrective analyses for confounding factors were selected based on DAGs that show the possible association between advanced GC patients and outcomes and evaluate the prognosis. Patients who received PCRT had longer overall survival than those who received PCT treatment (P = 0.015). The median length of overall survival of the PCRT group was 36.5 (15.0 - 53.0) months longer than that of the PCT group (34.6 (16.0 - 48.0) months). PCRT is more likely to benefit patients who are aged ≤ 65, male, white, and have regional tumors (P<0.05). The multivariate Cox regression model showed that male sex, widowed status, signet ring cell carcinoma, and lung metastases were independent risk factors for a poor prognosis. According to DAG, age, race, and Lauren type may be confounding factors that affect the prognosis of advanced GC. Compared to PCT, PCRT has more survival benefits for patients with locally advanced GC, and ongoing investigations are needed to better determine the optimal treatment. Furthermore, DAGs are a useful tool for contending with confounding and selection biases to ensure the proper implementation of high-quality research.

The Feasibility Study of Intraoperative RLN Monitoring Using Cricothyroid Membrane-Inserted Needle Electrodes During Thyroid Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the feasibility, stability, safety, and economy of cricothyroid membrane (CM)-inserted needle electrodes for recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring. STUDY DESIGN: Parallel and controlled study. SETTING: Clinical research center for thyroid diseases of Shaanxi province. METHODS: A total of 64 patients in the needle electrodes group (104 recurrent laryngeal nerves [RLNs]) and 44 patients in the endotracheal tube (ETT)-based electrodes group (80 RLNs) underwent monitored thyroidectomy. The evoked electromyography (EMG) signals detected by the 2 electrodes were recorded and analyzed. The changes in EMG during Berry's ligament traction and tracheal displacement were compared. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative laryngoscopy within 1 week. RESULTS: Both electrodes successfully recorded typical evoked laryngeal EMG waveforms from RLNs. The needle electrodes recorded relatively higher amplitudes and similar latencies compared to ETT-based electrodes. The evoked EMG signals attributed to needle electrodes could accurately predict the function of RLNs with 100% sensitivity and specificity. The reduction in the recorded amplitudes attributed to needle electrodes was higher than that observed with ETT-based electrodes during Berry's ligament traction or trachea displacement, whereas a similar increase in the latencies was recorded in the 2 groups. Particularly, Berry's ligament traction was more likely to lead to EMG amplitude reduction and latency prolongation. The needle electrodes group recorded 2 cases of minor bleeding on the CM. The needle electrodes were more cost-effective than ETT-based electrodes. CONCLUSION: The CM-inserted needle electrodes are feasible, stable, safe, and economical for RLN monitoring, and they provide an alternative novel intraoperative neural monitoring format for thyroid surgeons.

In vivo characterization and analysis of glioblastoma at different stages using multiscale photoacoustic molecular imaging.

Simultaneous spatio-temporal description of tumor microvasculature, blood-brain barrier, and immune activity is pivotal to understanding the evolution mechanisms of highly aggressive glioblastoma, one of the most common primary brain tumors in adults. However, the existing intravital imaging modalities are still difficult to achieve it in one step. Here, we present a dual-scale multi-wavelength photoacoustic imaging approach cooperative with/without unique optical dyes to overcome this dilemma. Label-free photoacoustic imaging depicted the multiple heterogeneous features of neovascularization in tumor progression. In combination with classic Evans blue assay, the microelectromechanical system based photoacoustic microscopy enabled dynamic quantification of BBB dysfunction. Concurrently, using self-fabricated targeted protein probe (αCD11b-HSA@A1094) for tumor-associated myeloid cells, unparalleled imaging contrast of cells infiltration associated with tumor progression was visualized by differential photoacoustic imaging in the second near-infrared window at dual scale. Our photoacoustic imaging approach has great potential for tumor-immune microenvironment visualization to systematically reveal the tumor infiltration, heterogeneity, and metastasis in intracranial tumors.

Photoacoustic Microscopic Imaging of Cerebral Vessels for Intensive Monitoring of Metabolic Acidosis.

PURPOSE: Metabolic acidosis as one of the most common perioperative complications has been associated with increased risks for poor prognosis. Routine monitoring methods include blood gas analysis and electrocardiogram, which are limited by time delay effects. And the existing intravital imaging modalities are difficult to achieve in one step. Here, we present a dual-wavelength photoacoustic imaging approach to overcome this dilemma. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid approach for intensive monitoring of acid-base imbalance and cerebral oxygen metabolism. PROCEDURES: We characterized the cerebrovascular structure by label-free dual-wavelength (532 and 559 nm) photoacoustic microscopy in healthy and diabetic mouse models with metabolic acidosis. Concurrently, we developed a single-vessel analysis method to accurately delineate the differential responses of small vessels and quantify the cerebral oxygenation following experimental alteration of pH. RESULTS: We demonstrated that there was an increasing trend in changes of vascular measurements (density, diameter, and relative hemoglobin concentration) and cerebral microvascular oxygen metabolism with the aggravation of acidosis. Furthermore, we established a clinical nomogram for the diagnosis of disease severity and yielded good discrimination ability with area under the curve of 0.920-0.967 and accuracy of 81.9-93.0%. The nomogram was also validated well in the diabetic mouse model with metabolic acidosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our photoacoustic imaging approach has great potential for rapid detection of metabolic acidosis and brain oxygen metabolism, which could potentially be applied as a bedside monitoring method for brain protection and timely treatment of acid-base abnormalities.

Prediction of lake chlorophyll concentration using the BP neural network and Sentinel-2 images based on time features.

One of the most important indicators of lake eutrophication is chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration, which is also an essential component of lake water quality monitoring. It is an efficient, economical and convenient method to monitor the Chl-a concentration through remote sensing images. Taking the Wuliangsuhai Lake as an example, the relevant bands of Sentinel-2 images were used as the input and the Chl-a concentration as the output to build neural network models. In the process of building the model, we mainly studied and tested the impact of adding time features to the model input on the model accuracy. Through the experiment, it was found that the month and day difference features of remote sensing images and Chl-a measurement could significantly improve the prediction accuracy of Chl-a concentration in varying degrees. Finally, it was determined that the neural network prediction model with 12 bands of Sentinel-2 images combined month features as inputs and one hidden layer, eight neurons and Chl-a concentration as outputs was the best. Then, the accuracy of the model was validated when the test set accounts for 20 and 30%, and good results were obtained.

One-Pot, Open-Air Synthesis of Flexible and Degradable Multifunctional Polymer Composites with Adhesion, Water Resistance, Self-Healing, Facile Drug Loading, and Sustained Release Properties.

Developing proper wound management via wound dressings represents a global challenge. Ideal wound dressings shall encompass multiple integrated functionalities for variable, complex scenarios; however, this is challenging due to the complex molecular design and synthesis process. Herein, polymer composites, cross-linked poly(styrene oxide-co-hexaphenylcyclotrisiloxane)/crosslinked poly(hexaphenylcyclotrisiloxane) (cP(SO-co-HPCTS)/cPHPCTS) with multiple functionalities are prepared by a one-step, open-air method using catalytic ring-opening polymerization. The introduction of a mobile polymer cP(SO-co-HPCTS) endows the composite with good flexibility and self-healing properties at human body temperature. The hydrophobic groups in the main chain provide hydrophobicity and good water resistance, while the hydroxyl groups contained in the end groups enable good adhesion properties. Drugs can be efficiently loaded by blending and then sustainably release from the polymer composite. The material can rapidly degrade in a tetrahydrofuran solution of tetrabutylammonium fluoride due to its SiOSi bonds. The facile, one-step, open-air synthesis procedure and multiple functional properties integrated into the composites provide good prospects for their extensive application and batch production as wound dressing materials.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0003892 promotes the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma by regulating the miR-326/LASP1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy of the endocrine system. Circular RNA (circRNA) is recognized as a key regulator of tumorigenesis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Here this work focused on the mechanism of circRNA_0003892 (circ_0003892) in PTC progression. METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to examine circ_0003892, microRNA-326 (miR-326) and LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1) mRNA expression levels in PTC tissues and cell lines. Besides, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), EdU and transwell assays were conducted to detect the proliferative, migrative and invasive abilities of PTC cells, respectively. B The targeting relationships between miR-326 and circ_0003892 or LASP1 3'-UTR were verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. RESULTS: Circ_0003892 expression was raised in PTC tissues and cells, which was significantly interrelated with larger tumor size and extrathyroidal extension in PTC sufferers. Overexpression of circ_0003892 significantly promoted the malignant biological behaviors of PTC cells. Additionally, miR-326 was a downstream target of circ_0003892, and miR-326 overexpression weakened the promoting effect of circ_0003892 overexpression on the malignant progression of PTC. MiR-326 specifically inhibited LASP1. Circ_0003892 positively regulated LASP1 expression by targeting miR-326. CONCLUSION: Circ_0003892 up-regulates LASP1 expression and facilitates PTC progression via competitively binding to miR-326.

In vitro and in vivo development of interspecies Asian elephant embryos reconstructed with pig enucleated oocytes.

Interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) has an immense potential to rescue endangered animals and extinct species like mammoths. In this study, we successfully established an Asian elephant's fibroblast cell lines from ear tissues, performed iSCNT with porcine oocytes and evaluated the in vitro and in vivo development of reconstructed embryos. A total of 7780 elephant-pig iSCNT embryos were successfully reconstructed and showed in vitro development with cleavage rate, 4-cell, 8-cell and blastocyst rate of 73.01, 30.48, 5.64, and 4.73%, respectively. The total number of elephant-pig blastocyte cells and diameter of hatched blastocyte was 38.67 and 252.75 µm, respectively. Next, we designed species-specific markers targeting EDNRB, AGRP and TYR genes to verify the genome of reconstructed embryos with donor nucleus/species. The results indicated that 53.2, 60.8, and 60.8% of reconstructed embryos (n = 235) contained elephant genome at 1-cell, 2-cell and 4-cell stages, respectively. However, the percentages decreased to 32.3 and 32.7% at 8-cell and blastocyst stages, respectively. Furthermore, we also evaluated the in vivo development of elephant-pig iSCNT cloned embryos and transferred 2260 reconstructed embryos into two surrogate gilts that successfully became pregnant and a total of 11 (1 and 10) fetuses were surgically recovered after 17 and 19 days of gestation, respectively. The crown-rump length and width of elephant-pig cloned fetuses were smaller than the control group. Unfortunately, none of these fetuses contained elephant genomes, which suggested that elephant embryos failed to develop in vivo. In conclusion, we successfully obtained elephant-pig reconstructed embryos for the first time and these embryos are able to develop to blastocyst, but the in vivo developmental failure needs further investigated.

Exploration of double Z-type ternary composite long-afterglow/graphitic carbon nitride@metal-organic framework for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.

Methylene blue (MB) is a very widely used cationic dye for color cotton and silk products. The harmful MB has a complex aromatic structure that is difficult to be degraded in natural aqueous. In this study for the first time, a novel double Z-type ternary composite long-afterglow/graphitic carbon nitride@metal-organic framework (SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+/g-C3N4@NH2-UiO-66, SGN) has been synthesized by solvothermal method, and was used as a new photocatalyst for removal of MB. The photocatalytic performance of the composited photocatalyst SGN was largely improved compared to that of the non-composite. After 30 min of photocatalysis, the degradation ratio of SGN was 5.86, 4.04 and 10 times more efficient than that of long-afterglow (SAO), g-C3N4 and NH2-UiO-66, respectively. The high photocatalytic activity of the SGN could be ascribed to the double Z-type electron transfer mechanism. More importantly, due to the luminescence of SAO, the degradation ratio of ternary SGN can reach about 50 % after 5 h in the dark. Superoxide anion (·O2-) was verified to be the main active substance in the photocatalytic process by quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra analysis. The total organic matter contents (TOC) and partial degradation products were measured, which confirmed that some MB was mineralized into H2O and CO2, and some was degraded into smaller molecules. Moreover, the excellent stability and recyclability of this catalyst were also investigated. Here, a new promising material with high degradation performance for water pollution treatment is presented.

Association between Indoor Environment, Blood Trace Elements, and Immune Globulin among Workers from Vegetables Plastic Greenhouses in Yinchuan, China.

Background: To study the association between indoor environment (MiE), blood trace elements (BTE), and immune globulin (PRO) among workers from vegetables plastic greenhouse, and to assess the mediate effects on MiE and PRO by BTE. Methods: Overall, 168 practitioner and corresponding sheds were included from cross-sectional study in 2016. BTE and PRO were determined by physical test and MiE data from field and laboratory measurement. The association was assessed using canonical correlation analysis. The direct and indirect effects between MiE, PRO and BTE were conducted by structural equation model. 5000 times bootstrap methods were performed to estimate coefficient and 95% confidence interval. Results: MiE was moderately correlated with BTE (canonical coefficient = 0.439), and BTE was strongly correlated with PRO (canonical coefficient = 0.514 and 0.481). No statistical evidence was found for the overall impact of MiE on PRO, and BTE as an intermediary affecting its relevance was not confirmed. Only the path way of the BTE impact on PRO had a significant positive effect (P=0.012). Conclusion: BTE was positively associated with PRO, therefore, reducing exposure in greenhouse is a pathway to remain blood trace elements, and further effect the immune protein in human body.

Hydrogen sulfide activatable metal-organic frameworks for Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Photodynamic Therapy of colorectal cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising alternative and palliative therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer (CRC). A novel photosensitizer with higher selectivity for CRC and fewer side effects is vital for clinical application. Given that the overexpression of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in CRC, it is expected to provide a selective stimulus for activatable photosensitizers that in respond to the specific microenvironment. Herein, we report a novel development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of meso-Tetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphine (TCPP) and ferric ion (Fe3+) through a facile one-pot process. Experiments both in vitro and in vivo reveal that the MOF is capable of depredating in response to the high content of H2S in tumor microenvironment of CRC. Accompanying with the degradation and release of TCPP, the fluorescence and photosensitivity effect is switched from "off" to "on", enabling the MOF to serve as a H2S activatable nano-photosensitizer for real-time fluorescence imaging-guided and targeted PDT of CRC.