Effect of Growth Stage on Nutrition, Fermentation Quality, and Microbial Community of Semidry Silage from Forage Soybean.

Soybean (Glycine max (Linn.) Merr.) is highly suitable as animal feed. The silage quality and microbial characteristics of soybean silage are still unclear. Forage soybean (HN389), at six different growth stages (R2-R7), were used as experimental materials to investigate the changes in fermentation, nutritional quality, and microbial characteristics of semidry silage after 0, 7, 14, 30, and 45 d. As the growth period extended, the content of crude protein (CP) and crude fat (EE) gradually increased, while the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and the acid detergent fiber (ADF) content decreased. The pH value also decreased gradually with fermentation time, accompanied by increases in the proportion of ammonia-N and the content of lactic acid (LA) and acetic acid (AA). In addition, competitive inhibition was observed in the microbial fermentation. With the process of ensiling, Lactobacillus became the dominant bacterial species. The results indicate that the most active stage of fermentation during ensiling occurred within the first 7 days, the fermentation and nutritional quality of the soybean forage were improved, and the optimal mowing stage was the grain stage. Comparison of the microbial abundance showed that all microorganisms entered a stable stage at 30 days of silage. After storage, the dominant bacteria were Lactobacillus, Enterobacter, and Pantoea.

Design of Boron and Transition Metal Embedded Two-Dimensional Porous Carbon Nitride for Electrocatalytic Synthesis of Urea.

Electrocatalytic coupling of CO and N2 to synthesize urea under ambient conditions is considered a promising strategy to replace traditional industrial technology. It is crucial to find efficient electrocatalysts that can adsorb and activate N2 and promote the C-N coupling reaction. Herein, a new two-dimensional porous carbon nitride material with multiactive sites is designed, in which boron and transition metal are embedded. Through a series of screening, B2Cr2, B2Mn2, and B2Os2 are predicted to be potential electrocatalysts for urea synthesis. Mechanistic studies are performed on bidentate metal-metal and metal-boron sites, and both NCON and CO mechanisms are explored. The electronic structure analysis shows that there is a strong N2 chemical adsorption within the bidentate site and that the N≡N bond is significantly activated. A new mechanism where free CO is inserted for C-N coupling within the two-dimensional porous structure is proposed.

Mutation of aspartic acid 262 on estrogen receptor abrogates estradiol signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: ERα (estrogen receptor alpha) exerts nuclear genomic actions and membrane-initiated non-genomic effects. The mutation of aspartic acid into alanine in vitro revealed the critical role of aspartic acid 258 (corresponding to mouse amino acid site 262) of ERα for non-nuclear function. Our previous in vitro study revealed that this mutation blocked estrogen's non-genomic effects on vascular endothelial H2S release. Here, we studied the in vivo role of the aspartic acid 262 of ERα in the reproductive system and in the vascular tissue. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We generated a mouse model harboring a point mutation of the murine counterpart of this aspartic acid into alanine (ERαD262A). Our results showed that the ERαD262A females are fertile with standard hormonal serum levels, but the uterine development and responded with estrogen and follicular development are disrupted. In line with our previous study, we found that the rapid dilation of the aorta was abrogated in ERαD262A mice. In contrast to the previously reported R264-ERα mice, the classical estrogen genomic effector SP1/NOS3/AP1 and the nongenomic effectors p-eNOs, p-AKT, and p-ERK were disturbed in the ERαD262A aorta. Besides, the serum H2S concentration was decreased in ERαD262A mice. Together, ERαD262A mice showed compromised both genomic and non-genomic actions in response to E2. CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that aspartic acid 262 of ERα are important for both genomic and non-genomic effects of E2. Our data provide a theoretical basis for further selecting an effective non-genomic mouse model and provide a new direction for developing estrogen non-genomic effect inhibitors.

Identification of key genes in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia via bioinformatic analysis and experimental verification.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is the primary cause of perinatal maternal-fetal mortality and morbidity. The exact molecular mechanisms of PE pathogenesis are largely unknown. This study aims to identify the hub genes in PE and explore their potential molecular regulatory network. Methods: We downloaded the GSE148241, GSE190971, GSE74341, and GSE114691 datasets for the placenta and performed a differential expression analysis to identify hub genes. We performed Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Disease Ontology (DO), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) Analysis to determine functional roles and regulatory networks of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We then verified the DEGs at transcriptional and translational levels by analyzing the GSE44711 and GSE177049 datasets and our clinical samples, respectively. Results: We identified 60 DEGs in the discovery phase, consisting of 7 downregulated genes and 53 upregulated genes. We then identified seven hub genes using Cytoscape software. In the verification phase, 4 and 3 of the seven genes exhibited the same variation patterns at the transcriptional level in the GSE44711 and GSE177049 datasets, respectively. Validation of our clinical samples showed that CADM3 has the best discriminative performance for predicting PE. Conclusion: These findings may enhance the understanding of PE and provide new insight into identifying potential therapeutic targets for PE.

Prediction of Three-Metal Cluster Catalysts on Two-Dimensional W2N3 Support with Integrated Descriptors for Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction.

In the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), nitrogen (N2) is chemically inert, it is difficult to break the triple bond, and the subsequent protonation step is very challenging. Suitable catalysts with high selectivity and high activity are needed to promote the electrocatalytic NRR. We screen a large number of clusters composed of three metal atoms embedded into a two-dimensional metal nitride, W2N3, with a N vacancy, and calculate the reaction energetics. The VNiCu cluster has the best catalytic activity among all the catalysts proposed so far. The Fe3 and Fe2Co clusters are excellent catalysts as well. In all cases, spin polarization is needed to observe the catalytic effect. We establish the optimal NRR path and confirm that it remains unchanged in the presence of a solvent. We find three groups of descriptors that can well predict the materials' properties and exhibit linear relationships with the NRR limiting potential.

Sensor for prednisolone detection in sports doping / Sensor para detecção de prednisolona no doping esportivo / Sensor para la detección de prednisolona en el dopaje deportivo

ABSTRACT Introduction: Prednisolone causes pro-inflammatory impulses to be inhibited and anti-inflammatory signals to be promoted. As a result, it alters how the body's immune system reacts to certain diseases. The World Anti-Doping Agency, however, has banned SNP and other glucocorticosteroids. An electrochemical sensor can be developed using a gold nanocomposite, polypyrrole nanoparticles and synthesized carbon nanotubes (Au-PPy NPs@CNTs). Objective: Develop an electrochemical sensor to detect prednisolone. Method: Au-PPy NPs@CNTs nanocomposite was chemically synthesized with a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface. Results: According to SEM data, the nanocomposite was composed of amorphous Au NPs, and PPy NPs deposited in tubes strongly entangled in a CNTs network. The wide linear range and low detection limit of the Au-PPy NPs@CNTs/GCE as prednisolone sensors were attributed to the combined catalytic performance of the Au and PPy NPs@CNTs nanostructures. Conclusion: The results of prednisolone detection in each specimen using the amperometric method indicated good accuracy. The accuracy and precision of Au-PPy NPs@CNTs/GCE for prednisolone detection were explored in blood samples from 5 young athletes aged 20-24 years who used prednisolone tablets (RSD less than 4.25%). In addition to monitoring prednisolone concentrations in athletes' serum, Au-PPy NPs@CNTs/GCE can be used as a reliable prednisolone sensor. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigating treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: A prednisolona faz com que os impulsos pró-inflamatórios sejam inibidos e os sinais anti-inflamatórios sejam promovidos. Como resultado, ela altera a forma como o sistema imunológico do corpo reage a certas doenças. A Agência Mundial Antidoping, no entanto, proibiu o SNP e outros glucocorticoesteroides. Usando um nanocomposto de ouro, nanopartículas de polipirrol e nanotubos de carbono sintetizados (Au-PPy NPs@CNTs), um sensor eletroquímico pode ser desenvolvido. Objetivo: Desenvolver um sensor eletroquímico para detectar a prednisolona. Método: O nanocompósito Au-PPy NPs@CNTs foi sintetizado quimicamente com uma superfície de eletrodo de carbono vítreo modificado (GCE). Resultados: De acordo com dados da SEM, o nanocomposto foi descoberto como sendo composto de Au NPs e NPs de PPy amorfo, depositados em tubos fortemente emaranhados em uma rede de CNTs. O amplo alcance linear e o baixo limite de detecção do Au-PPy NPs@CNTs/GCE como sensores de prednisolona foram atribuídos ao desempenho catalítico combinado das nanoestruturas de Au e PPy NPs@CNTs. Conclusão: Os resultados da detecção de prednisolona em cada espécime usando o método de amperometria indicaram boa precisão. A precisão e a acurácia de Au-PPy NPs@CNTs/GCE para a detecção de prednisolona foram exploradas em amostras de sangue preparadas de 5 atletas jovens de 20 a 24 anos que usaram comprimidos de prednisolona (RSD inferior a 4,25%). Além de monitorar as concentrações de prednisolona no soro dos atletas, Au-PPy NPs@CNTs/GCE pode ser usado como um sensor confiável de prednisolona. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: La prednisolona hace que se inhiban los impulsos proinflamatorios y se promuevan las señales antiinflamatorias. Como resultado, altera la forma en que el sistema inmunológico del cuerpo reacciona a ciertas enfermedades. Sin embargo, la Agencia Mundial Antidopaje ha prohibido el SNP y otros glucocorticosteroides. Utilizando un nanocompuesto de oro, nanopartículas de polipirrol y nanotubos de carbono sintetizados (Au-PPy NPs@CNTs), se puede desarrollar un sensor electroquímico. Objetivo: Desarrollar un sensor electroquímico para detectar la prednisolona. Método: Se sintetizó químicamente el nanocompuesto Au-PPy NPs@CNTs con una superficie de electrodo de carbono vítreo (GCE) modificada. Resultados: Según los datos del SEM, se comprobó que el nanocompuesto estaba compuesto de Au NPs y NPs de PP amorfo y depositados en tubos fuertemente enredados en una red de CNTs. El amplio rango lineal y el bajo límite de detección de Au-PPy NPs@CNTs/GCE como sensores de prednisolona se atribuyeron al rendimiento catalítico combinado de las nanoestructuras de Au y PPy NPs@CNTs. Conclusión: Los resultados de la detección de prednisolona en cada muestra mediante el método amperométrico indicaron una buena precisión. Se exploró la exactitud y precisión de las Au-PPy NPs@CNTs/GCE para la detección de prednisolona en muestras de sangre preparadas a partir de 5 jóvenes atletas de entre 20 y 24 años de edad que utilizaban tabletas de prednisolona (RSD inferior al 4,25%). Además de controlar las concentraciones de prednisolona en el suero de los deportistas, Au-PPy NPs@CNTs/GCE puede utilizarse como un sensor fiable de prednisolona. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

The SMC-family Wadjet complex protects bacteria from plasmid transformation by recognition and cleavage of closed-circular DNA.

Self versus non-self discrimination is a key element of innate and adaptive immunity across life. In bacteria, CRISPR-Cas and restriction-modification systems recognize non-self nucleic acids through their sequence and their methylation state, respectively. Here, we show that the Wadjet defense system recognizes DNA topology to protect its host against plasmid transformation. By combining cryoelectron microscopy with cross-linking mass spectrometry, we show that Wadjet forms a complex similar to the bacterial condensin complex MukBEF, with a novel nuclease subunit similar to a type II DNA topoisomerase. Wadjet specifically cleaves closed-circular DNA in a reaction requiring ATP hydrolysis by the structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) ATPase subunit JetC, suggesting that the complex could use DNA loop extrusion to sense its substrate's topology, then specifically activate the nuclease subunit JetD to cleave plasmid DNA. Overall, our data reveal how bacteria have co-opted a DNA maintenance machine to specifically recognize and destroy foreign DNAs through topology sensing.

Defining the proximal interaction networks of Arf GTPases reveals a mechanism for the regulation of PLD1 and PI4KB.

The Arf GTPase family is involved in a wide range of cellular regulation including membrane trafficking and organelle-structure assembly. Here, we have generated a proximity interaction network for the Arf family using the miniTurboID approach combined with TMT-based quantitative mass spectrometry. Our interactome confirmed known interactions and identified many novel interactors that provide leads for defining Arf pathway cell biological functions. We explored the unexpected finding that phospholipase D1 (PLD1) preferentially interacts with two closely related but poorly studied Arf family GTPases, ARL11 and ARL14, showing that PLD1 is activated by ARL11/14 and may recruit these GTPases to membrane vesicles, and that PLD1 and ARL11 collaborate to promote macrophage phagocytosis. Moreover, ARL5A and ARL5B were found to interact with and recruit phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase beta (PI4KB) at trans-Golgi, thus promoting PI4KB's function in PI4P synthesis and protein secretion.

Site-specific MCM sumoylation prevents genome rearrangements by controlling origin-bound MCM.

Timely completion of eukaryotic genome duplication requires coordinated DNA replication initiation at multiple origins. Replication begins with the loading of the Mini-Chromosome Maintenance (MCM) complex, proceeds by the activation of the Cdc45-MCM-GINS (CMG) helicase, and ends with CMG removal after chromosomes are fully replicated. Post-translational modifications on the MCM and associated factors ensure an orderly transit of these steps. Although the mechanisms of CMG activation and removal are partially understood, regulated MCM loading is not, leaving an incomplete understanding of how DNA replication begins. Here we describe a site-specific modification of Mcm3 by the Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier (SUMO). Mutations that prevent this modification reduce the MCM loaded at replication origins and lower CMG levels, resulting in impaired cell growth, delayed chromosomal replication, and the accumulation of gross chromosomal rearrangements (GCRs). These findings demonstrate the existence of a SUMO-dependent regulation of origin-bound MCM and show that this pathway is needed to prevent genome rearrangements.

Effect of Resistance Training Methods and Intensity on the Adolescent Swimmer's Performance: A Systematic Review.

Background: Resistance training has been widely used in various sports and improves competition performance, especially in swimming. Swimming performance is highly dependent on muscle strength, especially short distances. For adolescent athletes, the existing literature has bound to prove that resistance training is undoubtedly bound to improve swimmers' performance. Objectives: This study adopts a systematic literature review to (1) examine the effects of resistance training on the performance of adolescent swimmers, and (2) summarize their training methods and intensity. Methods: The literature search was undertaken in five international databases: the SCOUPS, PubMed, EBSCOhost (SPORTDiscus), CNKL, Web of Science. The searches covered documents in English and Chinese published until 30th December 2020. Electronic databases using various keywords related to "strength training" and "adolescent swimmers" were searched. Sixteen studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria where the data was then systematically reviewed using the PRISMA guideline. Furthermore, the physical therapy evidence database (PEDro) scale was used to measure each study's scientific rigor. Results: This review found that to improve the swimming performance of adolescents, two types of resistance training were used, specifically in water and on land, where both types of training can improve swimming performance. In addition, training with two types of resistance machines were better in the water than with one equipment. Resistance training can improve the swimming performance of adolescent swimmers at 50 m, 100 m, 200 m and 400 m distances. However, most studies only focused on the swimming performance at 50 m and 100 m lengths. A low-intensity, high-speed resistance training programme is recommended for adolescent swimmers to obtain the best training results. Conclusion: Water or land resistance training can improve the swimming performance. Given that both types of exercises have their strengths and weaknesses, combining these methods may enhance the swimmers' performance. In addition, despite the starting and turning phases consuming up to one-third of the total swimming time for short distances, literature in this area is limited. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier: CRD42021231510.

The effect of knowledge transfer theory on the selection of crossover winter sports athletes: A systematic literature review.

This article reviews studies on the knowledge transfer theory (KTT) in sport psychology using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method to identify any existing research gaps. This review utilizes a systematic process that involves searching for studies aimed at clarifying the relationship between KTT and crossover selection, promoting crossover development of winter sports, and cultivating outstanding athletes across six different databases. This work provides the foundation for future research on KTT in the field of selection of athletes for professional sports and those intending to showcase KTT's success in the selection of winter sports athletes. This review found that crossover selection of qualified athletes helps solve the issue of the shortage of professional athletes in specific sports.

Effect of core training on skill-related physical fitness performance among soccer players: A systematic review.

Aims: This study aims to present an in-depth review of the available literature on the effect of core training on skill-related physical fitness performance among soccer players, as well as to offer suggestions for researchers and coaches. Methods: The data in this study were presented based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Using scientific databases and web search engines including Scopus, Ebscohost, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, researchers collected studies from the published literature. Only 26 of the 84 articles satisfied all the inclusion criteria and were thus included in the systematic review. The quality of each study was determined using the PEDro scale. The scores for 26 studies range between three and six. Results: Core training can improve soccer players' skill-related physical fitness, including their power, speed, balance, and agility. Conclusion: The core is the anatomic and functional center of the body as well as its "engine." All movements emanate from the center of the body and are transmitted to the extremities. The core muscles differ from the limb muscles because they frequently cocontract, thus making the torso hard to the point whereby all the muscles work together to become synergists. Theoretically, a strong core permits the passage of force from the lower body to the upper body with minimal energy loss in the torso. Based on the 26 studies, this review suggests that core training should be incorporated into the daily training sessions of soccer players, with a minimum frequency and length of 15 min per training session, twice per week, for 4 weeks. Systematic review registration: https://inplasy.com, identifier INPLASY202290045.

Pacific contribution to decadal surface temperature trends in the Arctic during the twentieth century.

Instrumental records suggest multidecadal variability in Arctic surface temperature throughout the twentieth century. This variability is caused by a combination of external forcing and internal variability, but their relative importance remains unclear. Since the early twentieth century Arctic warming has been linked to decadal variability in the Pacific, we hypothesize that the Pacific could impact decadal temperature trends in the Arctic throughout the twentieth century. To investigate this, we compare two ensembles of historical all-forcing twentieth century simulations with the Norwegian Earth System Model (NorESM): (1) a fully coupled ensemble and (2) an ensemble where momentum flux anomalies from reanalysis are prescribed over the Indo-Pacific Ocean to constrain Pacific sea surface temperature variability. We find that the combined effect of tropical and extratropical Pacific decadal variability can explain up to ~ 50% of the observed decadal surface temperature trends in the Arctic. The Pacific-Arctic connection involves both lower tropospheric horizontal advection and subsidence-induced adiabatic heating, mediated by Aleutian Low variations. This link is detected across the twentieth century, but the response in Arctic surface temperature is moderated by external forcing and surface feedbacks. Our results also indicate that increased ocean heat transport from the Atlantic to the Arctic could have compensated for the impact of a cooling Pacific at the turn of the twenty-first century. These results have implications for understanding the present Arctic warming and future climate variations.

Shared and distinct roles of Esc2 and Mms21 in suppressing genome rearrangements and regulating intracellular sumoylation.

Protein sumoylation, especially when catalyzed by the Mms21 SUMO E3 ligase, plays a major role in suppressing duplication-mediated gross chromosomal rearrangements (dGCRs). How Mms21 targets its substrates in the cell is insufficiently understood. Here, we demonstrate that Esc2, a protein with SUMO-like domains (SLDs), recruits the Ubc9 SUMO conjugating enzyme to specifically facilitate Mms21-dependent sumoylation and suppress dGCRs. The D430R mutation in Esc2 impairs its binding to Ubc9 and causes a synergistic growth defect and accumulation of dGCRs with mutations that delete the Siz1 and Siz2 E3 ligases. By contrast, esc2-D430R does not appreciably affect sensitivity to DNA damage or the dGCRs caused by the catalytically inactive mms21-CH. Moreover, proteome-wide analysis of intracellular sumoylation demonstrates that esc2-D430R specifically down-regulates sumoylation levels of Mms21-preferred targets, including the nucleolar proteins, components of the SMC complexes and the MCM complex that acts as the catalytic core of the replicative DNA helicase. These effects closely resemble those caused by mms21-CH, and are relatively unaffected by deleting Siz1 and Siz2. Thus, by recruiting Ubc9, Esc2 facilitates Mms21-dependent sumoylation to suppress the accumulation of dGCRs independent of Siz1 and Siz2.

Quantification of the Arctic Sea Ice-Driven Atmospheric Circulation Variability in Coordinated Large Ensemble Simulations.

A coordinated set of large ensemble atmosphere-only simulations is used to investigate the impacts of observed Arctic sea ice-driven variability (SIDV) on the atmospheric circulation during 1979-2014. The experimental protocol permits separating Arctic SIDV from internal variability and variability driven by other forcings including sea surface temperature and greenhouse gases. The geographic pattern of SIDV is consistent across seven participating models, but its magnitude strongly depends on ensemble size. Based on 130 members, winter SIDV is ~0.18 hPa2 for Arctic-averaged sea level pressure (~1.5% of the total variance), and ~0.35 K2 for surface air temperature (~21%) at interannual and longer timescales. The results suggest that more than 100 (40) members are needed to separate Arctic SIDV from other components for dynamical (thermodynamical) variables, and insufficient ensemble size always leads to overestimation of SIDV. Nevertheless, SIDV is 0.75-1.5 times as large as the variability driven by other forcings over northern Eurasia and Arctic.

Sources and pathways of 90Sr in the North Atlantic-Arctic region: present day and global warming.

The spatial and temporal distributions of the anthropogenic radionuclides (137)Cs and (90)Sr, originating from nuclear bomb testing, the Sellafield reprocessing plant in the Irish Sea (UK), and from the Ob and Yenisey river discharges to the Arctic Ocean, have been simulated using the global version of the Miami Isopycnic Coordinate Ocean Model (MICOM). The physical model is forced with daily atmospheric re-analysis fields for the period of 1948-1999. Comparison of the temporal evolution of the observed and the simulated concentrations of (90)Sr has been performed in the Kara Sea. The relative contributions of the different sources on the temporal and spatial distributions of the surface (90)Sr are quantified over the simulated period. It follows that the Ob river discharge dominated the surface (90)Sr over most of the Arctic Ocean and along the eastern and western coasts of Greenland before 1960. During the period of 1980-1990, the atmospheric fallout and the Ob river discharge were equally important for the (90)Sr distribution in the Arctic Ocean. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to explore the possible dispersion of accidental released (90)Sr from the Ob and Yenisey rivers under a global warming scenario (2 x CO(2)). The difference between the present-day and the global warming scenario runs indicates that more of the released (90)Sr from the Ob and Yenisey rivers is confined to the Arctic Ocean in the global warming run, particularly in the near coastal, non-European part of the Arctic Ocean.

Simulating transport of non-Chernobyl (137)Cs and (90)Sr in the North Atlantic-Arctic region.

The spatial and temporal distributions of the anthropogenic radionuclides (137)Cs and (90)Sr, originating from nuclear bomb testing and the Sellafield reprocessing plants in the Irish Sea, are simulated using a global version of the Miami Isopycnic Coordinate Ocean Model (MICOM). The physical model is forced with daily atmospheric re-analysed fields for the period 1950 to present. Comparison of temporal evolution of observed and simulated concentrations of (137)Cs have been conducted for the regions east of Scotland, west of central Norway and at the entrance of the Barents Sea. It follows that the radionuclides from the Sellafield discharge reach the Barents Sea region after 4-5 years, in accordance with observations. The simulation provides a detailed distribution and evolution of the radionuclides over the integration time. For the Atlantic waters off the coast of Norway and in the southern Barents Sea, the atmospheric fallout dominates over the Sellafield release up to the mid 1960s and from the early 1990s, whereas Sellafield is the main source for the two radionuclides in the 1970s and 1980s. It is furthermore argued that model systems like the one presented here can be used for future prediction of radioactive contaminations in the Nordic Seas and the Arctic Ocean, for instance under various global warming scenarios.