Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) Activity Patterns Using Camera Traps in the Qilian Mountain National Park (Qinghai Area), China.

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the condition of snow leopards. The snow leopard (Panthera uncia), an apex predator of alpine ecosystems, is essential for the structural and functional stability of ecosystems. Monitoring of snow leopards' activity patterns based on camera traps in the Qilian Mountain National Park (Qinghai area) between August 2020 to October 2023 was performed. The results showed that autumn is the peak period of snow leopard activity, especially in September when the frequency of activity is the highest, and there is one peak in the frequency of snow leopard daily activity in the time period of 18:00-22:00, while the highest overlap of the daily activity curves of snow leopards in different months was from spring to autumn (Δ = 0.97), and there were significant differences in diurnal activity rhythm between spring and autumn (p = 0.002). Snow leopards prefer sunny days, and they tend to be active at temperatures of -10-9 °C. Our research aimed to uncover the activity patterns of snow leopards at different scales within the study area and provide data for further studies on snow leopards and other wildlife by researchers. This study can be used to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ecological characteristics of snow leopards and to assess their habitats, and it will also serve as a reference for the local wildlife management authorities in formulating snow leopard conservation measures.

Trans-ancestry analysis in over 799,000 individuals yields new insights into the genetic etiology of colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated the relevance of circulating factors in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the causal relationship remains unclear. METHODS: Summary-level data for CRC were obtained from the UK Biobank (5,657 cases and 372,016 controls), FinnGen cohort (3,022 cases and 215,770 controls), and BioBank Japan Project (BBJ, 7,062 cases and 195,745 controls). Thirty-two peripheral markers with consistent definitions were collected from the three biobanks. Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to evaluate the causal effect of circulating factors on CRC. The effects from the three consortiums were combined using trans-ancestry meta-analysis methods. RESULTS: Our analysis provided compelling evidence for the causal association of higher genetically predicted eosinophil cell count (EOS, odds ratio [OR], 0.8639; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7922-0.9421) and red cell distribution width (RDW, OR, 0.9981; 95% CI, 0.9972-0.9989) levels with a decreased risk of CRC. Additionally, we found suggestive evidence indicating that higher levels of total cholesterol (TC, OR, 1.0022; 95% CI, 1.0002-1.0042) may increase the risk of CRC. Conversely, higher levels of platelet count (PLT, OR, 0.9984; 95% CI, 0.9972-0.9996), total protein (TP, OR, 0.9445; 95% CI, 0.9037-0.9872), and C-reactive protein (CRP, OR, 0.9991; 95% CI, 0.9983-0.9999) may confer a protective effect against CRC. Moreover, we identified six ancestry-specific causal factors, indicating the necessity of considering patients' ancestry backgrounds before formulating prevention strategies. CONCLUSIONS: MR findings support the independent causal roles of circulating factors in CRC, which might provide a deeper insight into early detection of CRC and supply potential preventative strategies.

Investigation on the contribution of swim bladder to hearing in crucian carp (Carassius carassius).

The swim bladder in some teleost fish functions to transfer the sound energy of acoustic stimuli to the inner ears. This study uses the auditory evoked potential tests, micro-computed tomography scanning, reconstruction, and numerical modeling to assess the contribution of the swim bladder to hearing in crucian carp (Carassius carassius). The auditory evoked potential results show that, at the tested frequency range, the audiogram of fish with an intact swim bladder linearly increases, ranging from 100 to 600 Hz. Over this frequency, the sound pressure thresholds have a local lowest value at 800 Hz. The mean auditory threshold of fish with an intact swim bladder is lower than that of fish with a deflated swim bladder by 0.8-20.7 dB. Furthermore, numerical simulations show that the received pressure of the intact swim bladders occurs at a mean peak frequency of 826 ± 13.6 Hz, and no peak response is found in the deflated swim bladders. The increased sensitivity of reception in sound pressure and acceleration are 34.4 dB re 1 µPa and 40.3 dB re 1 m·s-2 at the natural frequency of swim bladder, respectively. Both electrophysiological measurement and numerical simulation results show that the swim bladder can potentially extend hearing bandwidth and further enhance auditory sensitivity in C. carassius.

Identification and Characterization of Two Novel Extracellular ß-Glucanases from Chaetomium globosum against Fusarium sporotrichioides.

Chaetomium globosum can inhibit the growth of fusarium by means of their extracellular proteins. Two novel ß-glucanases, designated Cgglu17A and Cgglu16B, were separated from the supernatant of C. globosum W7 and verified to have the ability to hydrolyze cell walls of Fusarium sporotrichioides MLS-19. Cgglu17A (397 amino acids) was classified as glycoside hydrolase family 17 while Cgglu16B belongs to the family16 (284 amino acids). Recombinant protein Cgglu17A was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, and the enzymes were purified by affinity chromatography. Maximum activity of Cgglu17A appeared at the pH 5.5 and temperature 50 °C, but Cgglu16B shows the maximum activity at the pH 5.0 and temperature 50 °C. Most of heavy metal ions had inhibition effect on the two enzymes, but Cgglu17A and Cgglu16B were respectively activated by Ba2+ and Mn2+. Cgglu17A exhibited high substrate specificity, almost only catalyzing the cleavage of ß-1,3-glycosidic bond, in various polysaccharose, to liberate glucose. However, Cgglu16B showed high catalytic activities to both ß-1,3-glycosidic and ß-1,3-1,4-glycosidic bonds. Cgglu17A was an exo-glucanase, but Cgglu16B was an endo-glucanase based on hydrolytic properties assay. Both of two enzymes showed potential antifungal activity, and the synergistic effect was observed in the germination experiment of pathogenic fungus. In conclusion, Cgglu17A (exo-1,3-ß-glucanase) and Cgglu16B (endo-1,3(4)-ß-glucanase) were confirmed to play a key role in the process of C. globosum controlling fusarium and have potential application value on industry and agriculture for the first time.

Expression of aldose reductase in mouse endometrial epithelial cells and its role in sperm capacitation.

The survival, motility and capacitation of sperm in the female reproductive tract are important prerequisites for fertilization. The uterus is the main location for sperm capacitation. One of the most important physiological functions of the endometrial epithelium is to create a suitable uterine environment under the regulation of ovarian hormones, to ensure sperm capacitation. The composition of uterine fluid directly affects sperm capacitation. Fructose is an important component of semen that supports sperm viability and motility. Aldose reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme in the polyol pathway, metabolizes sorbitol and fructose, thereby supplying cells with necessary energy for functional activities. Existing studies have reported the presence aldose reductase in the endometrium, leading us to hypothesize that its expression in endometrial epithelium might promote sperm capacitation by maintaining the uterine environment. Yet, the mechanism of regulation has not been clarified. In this study, we investigated the expression of aldose reductase in mouse endometrial epithelium and its potential role in sperm capacitation. We initially investigated the periodic characteristics of glucose, fructose and sorbitol in uterine fluid. We then studied the temporal and spatial characteristics of aldose reductase in the endometrial epithelium. Next, we examined the effect of aldose reductase on glucose, fructose and sorbitol in uterine fluid. Finally, we explored the effect of aldose reductase on sperm capacitation and fertilization. The results showed that glucose and fructose content in uterine fluid and the expression of aldose reductase fluctuated periodically during physiological periods. Inhibition of aldose reductase in the endometrial epithelium interfered with sperm capacitation and fertilization by reducing the fructose levels in the uterine fluid. To conclude, the aldose reductase-mediated polyol pathway in endometrial epithelial cells is essential to maintain an appropriate fructose environment in the uterine fluid for sperm capacitation and fertilization.

Underwater acoustic metamaterials.

Acoustic metamaterials have been widely investigated over the past few decades and have realized acoustic parameters that are not achievable using conventional materials. After demonstrating that locally resonant acoustic metamaterials are capable of acting as subwavelength unit cells, researchers have evaluated the possibility of breaking the classical limitations of the material mass density and bulk modulus. Combined with theoretical analysis, additive manufacturing and engineering applications, acoustic metamaterials have demonstrated extraordinary capabilities, including negative refraction, cloaking, beam formation and super-resolution imaging. Owing to the complexity of impedance boundaries and mode transitions, there are still challenges in freely manipulating acoustic propagation in an underwater environment. This review summarizes the developments in underwater acoustic metamaterials over the past 20 years, which include underwater acoustic invisibility cloaking, underwater beam formation, underwater metasurfaces and phase engineering, underwater topological acoustics and underwater acoustic metamaterial absorbers. With the evolution of underwater metamaterials and the timeline of scientific advances, underwater acoustic metamaterials have demonstrated exciting applications in underwater resource development, target recognition, imaging, noise reduction, navigation and communication.

The spatial variation and driving factors of soil total carbon and nitrogen in the Heihe River source region.

Soil carbon and nitrogen levels are key indicators of soil fertility and are used to assess ecological value and safeguard the environment. Previous studies have focused on the contributions of vegetation, topography, physical and chemical qualities, and meteorology to soil carbon and nitrogen change, but there has been little consideration of landscape and ecological environment types as potential driving forces. The study investigated the horizontal and vertical distribution and influencing factors of total carbon and total nitrogen in soil at 0-20 and 20-50 cm depths in the source region of the Heihe River. A total of 16 influencing factors related to soil, vegetation, landscape, and ecological environment were selected, and their individual and synergistic effects on the distributions of total carbon and total nitrogen in soil were assessed. The results show gradually decreasing average values of soil total carbon and total nitrogen from the surface layer to the bottom layer, with larger values in the southeast part of the sampling region and smaller values in the northwest. Larger values of soil total carbon and total nitrogen at sampling points are distributed in areas with higher clay and silt and lower soil bulk density, pH, and sand. For environmental factors, larger values of soil total carbon and total nitrogen are distributed in areas with higher annual rainfall, net primary productivity, vegetation index, and urban building index, and lower surface moisture, maximum patch index, boundary density, and bare soil index. Among soil factors, soil bulk density and silt are most closely associated with soil total carbon and total nitrogen. Among surface factors, vegetation index, soil erosion, and urban building index have the greatest influence on vertical distribution, and maximum patch index, surface moisture, and net primary productivity have the greatest influence on horizontal distribution. In conclusion, vegetation, landscape, and soil physical properties all have a significant impact on the distribution of soil carbon and nitrogen, suggesting better strategies to improve soil fertility.

PCSK9 involves in the high-fat diet-induced abnormal testicular function of male mice.

In brief: Impaired spermatogenesis resulting from disturbed cholesterol metabolism due to intake of high-fat diet (HFD) has been widely recognized, however, the role of preprotein invertase subtilin 9 (PCSK9), which is a negative regulator of cholesterol metabolism, has never been reported. This study aims to reveal the role of PCSK9 on spermatogenesis induced by HFD in mice. Abstract: Long-term consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) is an important factor that leads to impaired spermatogenesis exhibiting poor sperm quantity and quality. However, the mechanism of this is yet to be elucidated. Disrupted cholesterol homeostasis is one of many crucial pathological factors which could contribute to impaired spermatogenesis. As a negative regulator of cholesterol metabolism, preprotein invertase subtilin 9 (PCSK9) mediates low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) degradation to the lysosome, thereby reducing the expression of LDLR on the cell membrane and increasing serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, resulting in lipid metabolism disorders. Here, we aim to study whether PCSK9 is a pathological factor for impaired spermatogenesis induced by HFD and the underlying mechanism. To meet the purpose of our study, we utilized wild-type C57BL/6 male mice and PCSK9 knockout mice with same background as experimental subjects and alirocumab, a PCSK9 inhibitor, was used for treatment. Results indicated that HFD induced higher PCSK9 expression in serum, liver, and testes, and serum PCSK9 is negatively correlated with spermatogenesis, while both PCSK9 inhibitor treatment and PCSK9 knockout methodologies ameliorated impaired lipid metabolism and spermatogenesis in mice fed a HFD. This could be due to the overexpression of PCSK9 induced by HFD leading to dyslipidemia, resulting in testicular lipotoxicity, thus activating the Bcl-2-Bax-Caspase3 apoptosis signaling pathway in testes, particularly in Leydig cells. Our study demonstrates that PCSK9 is an important pathological factor in the dysfunction of spermatogenesis in mice induced by HFD. This finding could provide innovative ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

Differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes with CYP450 metabolic enzyme activity induced by a liver injury microenvironment.

The aim of this study was to observe the effect of a simulated liver tissue injury microenvironment on the directed differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes with CYP450 metabolic activity in vitro, and to explore the mechanisms underlying this directed differentiation. Normal and damaged liver tissue homogenate supernatants (LHS and CCl4-LHS, respectively) were used as induction fluids. After induction for different durations, Western blot and RT-PCR were used to measure the protein and gene expression of the hepatocellular proteins AFP, CK18, ALB, and the CYP450 family. Simultaneously, the metabolic activity of CYP450 in hepatocytes was determined. Compared with the LHS and CCl4-LHS controls, the LHS and CCl4-LHS induction groups showed a significantly elevated protein and gene expression of AFP, CK18, ALB, CYP1A1/2, CYP2A6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4 (P < 0.05). The metabolic activity of CYP450 in hepatocytes was increased (P < 0.05). In addition, compared with the LHS group, the CCl4-LHS group induced cell differentiation more rapidly and with a higher efficiency. The results suggested that a liver injury microenvironment is conducive for the directed differentiation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes with metabolic enzyme activity.

Fc Fragment of IgE Receptor Ig (FCER1G) acts as a key gene involved in cancer immune infiltration and tumour microenvironment.

Although recent studies have revealed the relationship between Fc Fragment of IgE Receptor Ig (FCER1G) and human tumours, there is still a lack of a more comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of FCER1G as an immune-related gene. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern and prognostic value of FCER1G based on multiple databases. Subsequently, we further explored the role of FCER1G in tumour proliferation and metastasis, as well as its genomic alterations and DNA methylation levels, we next assessed the association between FCER1G and the immune infiltrating cells of the tumour microenvironment in different cancers and verified it by immunohistochemical staining. The correlation between FCER1G and immune checkpoint genes expression and its predictive power in the immune checkpoint blockade treatment cohorts were used to evaluate the importance of FCER1G in immunotherapy. Enrichment analysis of FCER1G-associated partners was also performed. In addition, we substantiated the expression of FCER1G in specific cell types of different tumours using single-cell RNA sequencing data from different databases. Our research results showed that FCER1G is up-regulated in most tumour. Positive associations were found between FCER1G expression and tumour prognosis, proliferation, and metastasis, we also found that FCER1G is closely related to the tumour microenvironment and tumour immunity. Moreover, FCER1G-associated partners were enriched in pathways associated with neutrophils activation. Finally, we confirmed that FCER1G was mainly expressed in monocyte/macrophages of the tumour microenvironment. In conclusion, our findings provided a comprehensive understanding of FCER1G in oncogenesis and tumour immunology among various tumours and demonstrated its potential value in prognosis prediction and tumour immunotherapy.