Evolution, characterization, and expression profile of Egl-9 family hypoxia-inducible factor (egln) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under hypoxia stress.

Egl-9 family hypoxia-inducible factor (egln), an oxygen-sensing enzyme family, has been thoroughly characterized in mammals and certain fishes, but there is few research on its involvement in reproductive development and hypoxic stress in rainbow trout. In this study, we investigated the gene structure, physicochemical properties, and evolutionary connection of the egln gene family. The expression profile of egln gene family and their regulatory mechanism were explored using bioinformatics analysis and hypoxia treatment experiments. Five egln genes were discovered in the rainbow trout genome in this investigation (egln1, egln2a, egln2b, egln3a, and egln3b). Domain prediction revealed that all egln proteins have p4hc conserved domains, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that rainbow trout egln2 and egln3 were closely related to Atlantic salmon. The results of real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) showed that egln genes were generally expressed in all detected tissues, and higher in the ovary, testis, and brain in normoxia. Under hypoxia, the expression level of eglns was significantly down-regulated in most tissues except the liver. Our research contributes to future research on the functional properties of egln genes, as well as the evolution of teleosts and the impact of hypoxia on biological immunity.

The Postoperative Speech Intelligibility Evaluation of Modified Z-Plasty Palatoplasty.

The aim of the present study is to test the feasibility of modified Z-plasty palatoplasty for cleft palate repair in surgeries and provide a new surgical method. Forty cleft palate patients were selected as participants and divided into 2 groups in random. Twenty patients in the experiment group were treated by modified Z-plasty palatoplasty while the other 20 patients in the control group by double opposing Z-plasty and Sommerlad palatoplasty. By evaluating and observing postoperative velopharyngeal movement, speech intelligibility, nasal leaking, analysis of CSL (Computer Structure Language) and X-ray velopharyngeal lateral radiographs, Modified Z-plasty palatoplasty achieved better results than traditional operation. Satisfactory linguistic effects on incomplete cleft palate can be observed after modified Z-plasty palatoplasty treatment. So this method may be used as a clinical choice.

An Improved Method to Compute the Mutual Capacitance between Interdigital Transducers in Radio Frequency Surface Acoustic Wave Filters.

This paper proposes an improved method to calculate the mutual capacitance between interdigital transducer (IDT) electrodes to enhance the accuracy of the traditional coupling-of-modes (COM) model, which is commonly used to simulate surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters and duplexers. In this method, the boundary element method (BEM) is adopted to obtain the capacitance per unit length in a layered medium, while the partial capacitance (PC) method is used to derive the effective relative permittivity of the multi-layered IDT. Numerical results from commercially available software are provided for comparison with the results calculated using the proposed method. The consistent results verify the validity and accuracy of this method, which also demonstrates significantly faster calculation speed compared to commercially available software. Precise electrical response prediction of a dual-mode SAW (DMS) filter can be achieved by applying this method to the COM model, and this ultra-fast calculation method can also be included in filter design optimization.

A Phase Canceling Technique to Improve SAW Duplexer Isolation.

Spectrum resources are becoming increasingly crowded, and the isolation interval between different systems is getting smaller and smaller. This puts forward higher requirements for the duplexer. The duplexer is an important part of the radio frequency front end, and the isolation requirement is becoming higher. This paper presents a phase canceling circuit to improve the performance of the duplexer to meet the requirement of the communication system for isolation. A phase canceling circuit is an effective method to enhance the isolation through use of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) on-chip circuit. It contains a duplexer and a branch. The branch is designed for diminishing the leakage signal of the duplexer. Compared with the leakage signal, the branch consists of two attenuators and a phase shifter to generate a signal which has equal extent and reverse phase. As a result, this method is capable of increasing the isolation of band 5 by 12 dB in the downlink frequency. Meanwhile, it neither affects other factors, such as insertion loss or return loss, nor increases the size of the chip. The phase canceling circuit is expected to promote the quality of duplexer to satisfy the strict requirements in 4G and 5G systems.

The Effect of Defect Charge and Parasitic Surface Conductance on Aluminum Nitride RF Filter Circuit Loss.

When AlN thin films are deposited directly on the high-resistance silicon (HR-Si) substrate, a conductive layer will be formed on the HR-Si surface. This phenomenon is called the parasitic surface conduction (PSC) effect. The presence of the PSC effect will increase the power consumption of electronic components. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the PSC effect. In prior technology, the polysilicon layer is usually used as the trap-rich layer to reduce the PSC effect. Experiments show that compared to AlN films deposited directly on HR-Si, the AlN substrates with polysilicon introduced on HR-Si have less radio frequency (RF) loss. To verify the effect of polysilicon on RF loss, polysilicon films of three different thicknesses and several different roughnesses were introduced. The results show that the thickness of the polysilicon will affect the RF loss, while the roughness has almost no effect on it. The polysilicon trap-rich layer can reduce the RF loss, which gradually becomes smaller as the polysilicon thickness increases.

Improvement of YX42° Cut LiTaO3 SAW Filters with Optical Proximity Effect Correction Method.

Due to the influence of the optical proximity effect (OPE), it is easy for a pattern of photoresistance to be inconsistent with a design pattern, thus damaging the performance of a SAW resonator. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an optimization method for SAW filters based on optical proximity correction (OPC). This method can avoid the tip discharge problem of SAW filters by suppressing the problem of rounding and shrinking of dummy electrode and electrode tail caused by OPE. This method increases the quality factor (Q) of the SAW resonator and thus decreases the insertion loss of the SAW filter. The filter increases the bandwidth by 1.8 MHz at -1.5 dB after applying the OPC method. Additionally, it improves the stability of the filter under high power conditions.

Effect of Astaxanthin on the Antioxidant Capacity and Intestinal Microbiota of Tsinling Lenok Trout (Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis).

Astaxanthin (Ast) has been shown to be beneficial for the antioxidant capacity, immune system, and stress tolerance of fish. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Ast on the antioxidant capacity and intestinal microbiota of tsinling lenok trout. We formulated four diets with 0 (CT), 50 (A50), 100 (A100), and 150 (A150) mg/kg Ast. The results showed that Ast increased total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lysozyme (LZM), and catalase (CAT) activities. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was lower in A150 and A100 than in CT (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) were higher in A100 and A150 than in CT (P < 0.05). We harvested the midgut and applied next-generation sequencing of 16S rDNA. Compared to the control group, the Ast group had a greater abundance of Halomonas. Functional analysis showed that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation was significantly higher with Ast, while novobiocin biosynthesis and C5-branched dibasic acid metabolism were significantly lower with Ast. In conclusion, Ast could enhance the antioxidant capacity, non-specific immunity, and intestinal health of tsinling lenok trout.

Evolution, characterization, and immune response function of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under hypoxic stress.

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (Acsls), members of the acyl-activating enzyme superfamily, haves been systematically characterized in mammals and certain fishes, but the research on their involvement in reproductive development and hypoxic stress response in rainbow trout remains limited. In this study, we investigated the acsl gene structure and physical and chemical characteristics and the evolutionary relationship among acsl genes using the NCBI/Ensembl database. Using hypoxia treatment experiment, acsl gene expression in various organs and its regulation were investigated. A total of 11 acsl genes were identified in rainbow trout. Phylogenetic analyses found that acsl genes in rainbow trout were clustered into two clades: acsl3/4 and acsl1/2/5/6, and the additional gene duplication observed resulted from the third round of genome duplication unique to teleosts. Multiple sequence alignment and conserved motif analyses showed that the sequence of acsl proteins was highly conserved. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) showed that the acsl genes were highly expressed in immune tissues (liver and head kidney). Under hypoxia, the expression of acsl genes was upregulated, suggesting that they enhance the tolerance to hypoxia and are involved in the immune response in rainbow trout. Our study provides valuable insights into teleost evolution and effects of hypoxia on biological immunity and form a basis for further research on the functional characteristics of acsl genes.

Effects of early maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on neuropsychological status and visual acuity at five years of age of breast-fed term infants.

OBJECTIVE: We previously reported better psychomotor development at 30 months of age in infants whose mothers received a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (22:6n-3) supplement for the first 4 months of lactation. We now assess neuropsychological and visual function of the same children at 5 years of age. STUDY DESIGN: Breastfeeding women were assigned to receive identical capsules containing either a high-DHA algal oil (∼200 mg/d of DHA) or a vegetable oil (containing no DHA) from delivery until 4 months postpartum. Primary outcome variables at 5 years of age were measures of gross and fine motor function, perceptual/visual-motor function, attention, executive function, verbal skills, and visual function of the recipient children at 5 years of age. RESULTS: There were no differences in visual function as assessed by the Bailey-Lovie acuity chart, transient visual evoked potential or sweep visual evoked potential testing between children whose mothers received DHA versus placebo. Children whose mothers received DHA versus placebo performed significantly better on the Sustained Attention Subscale of the Leiter International Performance Scale (46.5 ± 8.9 vs 41.9 ± 9.3, P < .008) but there were no statistically significant differences between groups on other neuropsychological domains. CONCLUSIONS: Five-year-old children whose mothers received modest DHA supplementation versus placebo for the first 4 months of breastfeeding performed better on a test of sustained attention. This, along with the previously reported better performance of the children of DHA-supplemented mothers on a test of psychomotor development at 30 months of age, suggests that DHA intake during early infancy confers long-term benefits on specific aspects of neurodevelopment.

New technology for examining the anterior segment by ultrasonic biomicroscopy.

PURPOSE: To compare the comfort levels and measurement accuracy of the open-shell technique and a bag/balloon technology (ClearScan, ESI) in anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Robert Cizik Eye Clinic, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA. METHODS: In this prospective investigation, 20 subjects stated their preference and rated comfort (0 best to 5 worst) for the open-shell technique versus the bag/balloon technology. Three anterior chamber depth and sulcus-to-sulcus measurements were obtained, and the mean for each structure was taken as datum for each subject. Order presentation between the 2 methods was randomized. Pairwise t tests and linear regression analysis were used to determine statistical differences. RESULTS: One hundred percent of the cohort preferred the bag/balloon technology to the traditional open-shell technique. The mean comfort score was 0.40 +/- 0.53 (SD) and 2.95 +/- 0.90, respectively (P<.0001). Anterior chamber depth measurements did not differ clinically (0.056 mm) nor did sulcus-to-sulcus determinations (0.039 mm). CONCLUSION: Biometry, patient comfort, and ease of use were better with the ClearScan bag/balloon technology than with the traditional open-shell technique.

Effects of maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake on visual function and neurodevelopment in breastfed term infants.

BACKGROUND: Normal brain and visual development is thought to require exogenous docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) intake, but the amount needed is debatable. Because the supplementation of breastfeeding mothers with DHA increases the DHA content of their infants' plasma lipids, we hypothesized that it might also improve brain or visual function in the infants. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the effect of DHA supplementation of breastfeeding mothers on neurodevelopmental status and visual function in the recipient infant. DESIGN: Breastfeeding women received capsules containing either a high-DHA algal oil ( approximately 200 mg DHA/d) or a vegetable oil (no DHA) for 4 mo after delivery. Outcome variables included the fatty acid pattern of maternal plasma phospholipid and milk lipids 4 mo postpartum, the fatty acid pattern of plasma phospholipids and visual function in infants at 4 and 8 mo of age, and neurodevelopmental indexes of the infants at 12 and 30 mo of age. RESULTS: Milk lipid and infant plasma phospholipid DHA contents of the supplemented and control groups were approximately 75% and approximately 35% higher, respectively, at 4 mo postpartum. However, neither the neurodevelopmental indexes of the infants at 12 mo of age nor the visual function at 4 or 8 mo of age differed significantly between groups. In contrast, the Bayley Psychomotor Development Index, but not the Mental Development Index, of the supplemented group was higher (P < 0.01) at 30 mo of age. CONCLUSION: DHA supplementation of breastfeeding mothers results in higher infant plasma phospholipid DHA contents during supplementation and a higher Bayley Psychomotor Development Index at 30 mo of age but results in no other advantages either at or before this age.