Soil carbon emissions and influential factors across various stages of vegetation succession in vegetated concrete.

After ecological restoration of high and steep slopes in the project disturbed area, soil properties, soil microorganisms, litter types and root types change with the succession of vegetation cover communities. However, the effects of different vegetation successional stages on soil respiration dynamics remain unclear. To elucidate trends and drivers of soil respiration in the context of vegetation succession, we used spatio-temporal alternative applied research. Vegetated concrete-restored slopes (VC) with predominantly herbaceous (GS), shrub (SS), and arborvitae (AS) vegetation were selected, and naturally restored slopes (NS) were used as control. SRS1000 T soil carbon flux measurement system was used to monitor soil respiration rate. The results showed that soil respiration (RS) and fractions of all four treatments showed a single-peak curve, with peaks concentrated in July and August. During the succession of vegetation from herbaceous to arborvitae on VC slopes, RS showed a decreasing trend, and GS was significantly higher than AS by 45%; Compared to NS, RS was 29.81% and 21.56% higher in GS and SS successional stages, respectively, and 27.51% lower in AS stage. RS was significantly and positively correlated with nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), both of which are important factors in regulating RS under vegetation succession. A bivariate model of soil temperature and water content explains the variability of Rs better. Overall, RS was higher than NS in the transition stage and lower than NS in the equilibrium stage of the vegetation community on VC slopes, and the RS decreases gradually with the vegetation succession of artificial ecological restoration slopes.

Epidemic characteristics of the SXT/R391 integrated conjugative elements in multidrug-resistant Proteus mirabilis isolated from chicken farm.

This study was designed to depict prevalence and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) strains in 4 chicken farms and to probe the transfer mechanism of resistance genes. A total of 187 P. mirabilis isolates were isolated from 4 chicken farms. The susceptibility testing of these isolates to 14 antimicrobials showed that the multidrug resistance (MDR) rate was as high as 100%. The ß-lactamase resistance genes blaOXA-1, blaCTX-M-1G, blaCTX-M-9G and colistin resistance gene mcr-1 were highly carried in the P. mirabilis isolates. An MDR strain W47 was selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS) and conjugation experiment. The results showed that W47 carried 23 resistance genes and 64 virulence genes, and an SXT/R391 integrated conjugative elements (ICEs) named ICEPmiChn5 carrying 17 genes was identified in chromosome. ICEPmiChn5 was able to be excised from the chromosome of W47 forming a circular intermediate, but repeated conjugation experiments were unsuccessful. Among 187 P. mirabilis isolates, 144 (77.01%, 144/187) isolates carried ICEPmiChn5-like ICEs, suggesting that ICEs may be the major vector for the transmission of resistance genes among MDR chicken P. mirabilis strains in this study. The findings were conducive to insight into the resistance mechanism of chicken P. mirabilis strains and provide a theoretical basis for the use of antibiotics for the treatment of MDR P. mirabilis infections in veterinary clinic.

Comparative analysis on the outcomes in circumcising children using modified Chinese ShangRing and conventional surgical circumcision.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences and outcomes of surgical procedures, clinical effect, complications and patients' satisfaction between disposable oval-shaped circumcision device (Modified Chinese ShangRing series, Kiddie love®) and conventional circumcision in the treatment of children with phimosis or redundant prepuce. METHODS: The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed in 114 children with phimosis or redundant foreskin undergone circumcision using a disposable oval-shaped circumcision device, a modified Chinese ShangRing series, Kiddie Love® (Kiddie Love group) in our hospital between January 2018 and February 2020, and another 114 children with similar conditions circumcised by conventional surgical procedure before January 2018 (conventional group). The two groups were compared regarding the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain scores, healing time, the incidence of complications and guardian's satisfaction. RESULTS: Circumcision was successfully completed in children in both groups. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain scoring in 24 h by VAS, pain at the removal of the device or stitches and wound healing were (6.4 ± 1.6) min, (34.1 ± 6.4) min; (0.7 ± 0.2) ml, (2.6 ± 0.6) ml; (2.2 ± 1.0) points, (1.3 ± 0.5) points; (23.7 ± 3.9)day, (15.9 ± 2.8)day, respectively for Kiddie Love group and conventional group(either P < 0.05 or P > 0.05). The two groups were significantly different in the incidence of hematoma, edema and incision dehiscenceyet were insignificant in incision infection. Children in both groups were followed up from 6 to 31 months (mean: 23 months), and the satisfaction rate was 94.7% (108/114) in parents of the children circumcised by the ShangRing and 83.3% (95/114) in those of children treated by conventional circumcision (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Modified Chinese ShangRing, Kiddie Love®, has superiorities, including simpler procedure, shorter operative time, less blood loss, fewer complications, better cosmetic results and higher satisfaction of patients over conventional circumcision in the treatment of children with phimosis or redundant foreskin, and worthy of wider clinical recommendation.

Effects of two types of activated carbon on the properties of vegetation concrete and Cynodon dactylon growth.

Vegetation concrete is one of the most widely used substrates for slope ecological protection in China. However, there are still some imperfections that are disadvantageous for plant growth, such as high density, low porosity, insufficient nutrient retention ability and so on. In this paper, the effect of wood activated carbon and mineral activated carbon on the physicochemical properties of vegetation concrete is studied. The experimental results show that the activated carbon proportion in vegetation concrete is positively related to the porosity, permeability coefficient, water holding capacity, and nutrient content and retention ability, while it is negatively related to the dry density, water retention ability, cohesive force and internal friction angle. However, it should be noticed that when the proportion exceeds 2%, the average height, aboveground biomass and underground biomass of Cynodon dactylon decrease with increasing proportion of activated carbon. The effect of wood activated carbon is generally more remarkable than that of mineral activated carbon. In addition, according to the research results, the effect of activated carbon on vegetation concrete can last for at least half a year, although it does slowly deteriorate with increasing time. By comprehensive consideration of the current industry standard, previous research results and economical reasoning, the recommended type of activated carbon is wood, with a corresponding suitable proportion ranging between 1 and 2%.

Diethylenetriamine directed the assembly of Co0.85Se nanosheets layer by layer on N-doped carbon nanosheets for high performance lithium ion batteries.

Co0.85Se nanosheets assembled layer by layer on N-doped carbon nanosheets (NC@Co0.85Se) are designed and fabricated through a facile solvothermal process. The hexamethylenetetramine as the solvent and complexing agent promotes the accumulation of Co0.85Se layer by layer. The long chain diethylenetriamine between the Co0.85Se nanosheets provides buffer space and nanochannels for accelerating the Li+ transportation. The N-doped carbon nansheets in NC@Co0.85Se provide effective conductive network during charge-discharge process. As an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the NC@Co0.85Se nanocomposites deliver a high specific capacity of 636 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at current density of 200 mA g-1, and 399 mAh g-1 for 500 cycles at high current density of 5000 mA g-1.

NiMoS4 nanocrystals anchored on N-doped carbon nanosheets as anode for high performance lithium ion batteries.

Owing to the excellent electrical conductivity and high theoretical capacity, binary transition metal sulfides have attracted extensive attention as promising anodes for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). However, the relatively poor electrical conductivity and serious capacity fading originated from large volume change still hinder their practical applications. Herein, binary NiMoS4 nanoparticles are deposited on N doped carbon nanosheets (NC@NiMoS4) through a facile hydrothermal method. The N doped carbon nanosheets and the strong chemical bonding between NC and NiMoS4 can accommodate the volume change, keep the structural integrity and promote the ion/electron transfer during electrochemical reaction. The extra voids between NiMoS4 nanoparticles enlarge the contact area and reduce the lithium migration barriers. As anode for LIBs, the NC@NiMoS4 exhibits the excellent cycle stability with 834 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at the current density of 100 mA g-1. Even at high rate of 2000 mA g-1, the specific capacity of 544 mAh g-1 can be achieved after 500 cycles.

SIRT5 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Regulating Mitochondrial Apoptosis.

SIRT5 belongs to a family of NAD+-dependent lysine deacetylases called sirtuins. Although accumulating evidence indicates SIRT5 upregulation in cancers, including liver cancer, the detailed roles and mechanisms remain to be revealed. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide, and finding effective targets for HCC treatment and prevention is urgently needed. In the present study, we confirmed that mitochondrial sirtuins, particularly SIRT5, are more highly expressed in HCC cell lines than in normal liver cell lines. Moreover, SIRT5 knockdown suppresses HCC cell proliferation and SIRT5 overexpression promotes HCC cell proliferation. Furthermore, we verified that SIRT5 knockdown increases HCC cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. By co-IP and western blotting, we illustrated that SIRT5 deacetylates cytochrome c thus regulating HCC cell apoptosis. Taken together, our findings suggest that SIRT5 may function as a prognostic factor and drug target for HCC treatment.

Non-invasive metabolomic profiling of culture media of ICSI- and IVF-derived early developmental cattle embryos via Raman spectroscopy.

The aim of the present study was to compare differences in composition between in vitro cultured early developmental embryos resulting from either in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Non-invasive metabolomic profiling of culture media was conducted with laser tweezer Raman spectroscopy (LTRS), providing molecular information that was used to aid the diagnosis or treatment of embryos that were adversely affected by ICSI treatment, ultimately improving the ICSI embryonic developmental potential. Cattle embryos were generated via ICSI and IVF with development to the 2-, 4-, 8-, 16-,32-cell, and blastocyst stages with individual in vitro culturing occurring for 4 h. The culture media for embryos in different developmental stages were separately analyzed using LTRS. The resulting composition of culture media used for culturing IVF- and ICSI-derived embryos was mainly altered in contents of carbohydrates, lipids, DNA, and proteins. Bands at 1004 cm-1 (phenylalanine) and 1529 cm-1 (-C = C-carotenoid) had specific patterns related to the metabolicactivity of embryos; using LTRS, and these may be considered as biomarkers for embryonic development. Furthermore, the vibrations of lipids at different stages increased more with assessment of ICSI culture media than in IVF media. Discriminant function analysis can be utilized for the classification of culture media used for culture of ICSI- and IVF-derived embryos. In conclusion, LTRS can be used for development of an independent assay to assess embryo status during both ICSI and IVF procedures, which provides novel insights into differences in structure and components of single cells.

Of genes and microbes: solving the intricacies in host genomes.

Microbiome research is a quickly developing field in biomedical research, and we have witnessed its potential in understanding the physiology, metabolism and immunology, its critical role in understanding the health and disease of the host, and its vast capacity in disease prediction, intervention and treatment. However, many of the fundamental questions still need to be addressed, including the shaping forces of microbial diversity between individuals and across time. Microbiome research falls into the classical nature vs. nurture scenario, such that host genetics shape part of the microbiome, while environmental influences change the original course of microbiome development. In this review, we focus on the nature, i.e., the genetic part of the equation, and summarize the recent efforts in understanding which parts of the genome, especially the human and mouse genome, play important roles in determining the composition and functions of microbial communities, primarily in the gut but also on the skin. We aim to present an overview of different approaches in studying the intricate relationships between host genetic variations and microbes, its underlying philosophy and methodology, and we aim to highlight a few key discoveries along this exploration, as well as current pitfalls. More evidence and results will surely appear in upcoming studies, and the accumulating knowledge will lead to a deeper understanding of what we could finally term a "hologenome", that is, the organized, closely interacting genome of the host and the microbiome.

Spontaneously removed biliary stent drainage versus T-tube drainage after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration.

Several studies have shown the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) as a minimally invasive treatment options for choledocholithiasis. Use of T-tube or biliary stent drainage tube placement after laparoscopic choledochotomy for common bile duct (CBD) stones is still under debate. This study tried to confirm the safety of spontaneously removable biliary stent in the distal CBD after LCBDE to allow choledochus primary closure. A total of 47 patients with choledocholithiasis underwent LCBDE with primary closure and internal drainage using a spontaneously removable biliary stent drainage tube (stent group, N = 22) or T-tube (T-tube group, N = 25). Operative parameters and outcomes are compared. Surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, drainage tube removal time, postoperative intestinal function recovery, and cost of treatment were all significantly lower in the stent group as compared to that in the T-tube group (P < 0.05 for all). Otherwise, Bile leakage between the two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05). The biliary stent drainage tube was excreted spontaneously 4 to 14 days after surgery with the exception of one case, where endoscopic removal of biliary tube was required due to failure of its spontaneous discharge. LCBDE with primary closure and use of spontaneously removable biliary stent drainage showed advantage over the use of traditional T-tube drainage in patients with choledocholithiasis.

Successful vitrification of bovine immature oocyte using liquid helium instead of liquid nitrogen as cryogenic liquid.

The objectives of this study were to compare the effectiveness of liquid helium (LHe) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) as cryogenic liquid for vitrification of bovine immature oocytes with open-pulled straw (OPS) system and determine the optimal cryoprotectant concentration of LHe vitrification. Cumulus oocyte complexes were divided into three groups, namely, untreated group (control), LN2 vitrified with OPS group, and LHe vitrified with OPS group. Oocyte survival was assessed by morphology, nuclear maturation, and developmental capability. Results indicated that the rates of normal morphology, maturation, cleavage, and blastocyst (89.3%, 52.8%, 42.7%, and 10.1%, respectively) in the LHe-vitrified group were all higher than those (79.3%, 43.4%, 34.1%, and 4.7%) in the LN2-vitrified group (P < 0.05) although the corresponding rates in both treated groups decreased compared with the control group (100%, 75.0%, 64.9%, and 40.8%; P < 0.05). Normal calves were obtained after the transfer of blastocysts derived from LHe- and LN2-vitrified oocytes. The effects of the different vitrification solutions (EDS30, EDS35, EDS40, EDS45, and EDS50) in LHe vitrification for bovine immature oocytes vitrification were examined. No difference was found in the rates of morphologically normal oocytes among the EDS30 (87.9%), EDS35 (90.1%), EDS40 (89.4%), and EDS45 (87.2%) groups (P > 0.05). The maturation rate of the EDS35 group (65.0%) was higher than those of the EDS30 (51.3%), EDS40 (50.1%), EDS45 (52.1%), and EDS50 groups (36.9%; P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the cleavage and blastocyst rates between the EDS35 (49.0% and 12.1%) and EDS40 (41.7% and 10.2%) groups. However, the cleavage and blastocyst rates in the EDS35 group were higher (P < 0.05) than those of the EDS30 (36.2% and 6.8%), EDS45 (35.9% and 5.8%), and EDS50 (16.6% and 2.2%) groups. In conclusion, LHe can be used as a cryogenic liquid for vitrification of bovine immature oocytes, and it is more efficient than LN2-vitrified oocytes in terms of blastocyst production. EDS35 was the optimal cryoprotectant agent combination for LHe vitrification in this study.

Developmental competence and gene expression of immature oocytes following liquid helium vitrification in bovine.

The objective of this study was to develop an effective ultra-rapid vitrification method and evaluate its effect on maturation, developmental competence and development-related gene expression in bovine immature oocytes. Bovine cumulus oocyte complexes were randomly allocated into three groups: (1) controls, (2) liquid nitrogen vitrification, and (3) liquid helium vitrification. Oocytes were vitrified and then warmed, the percentage of morphologically normal oocytes in liquid helium group (89.0%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the liquid nitrogen group (81.1%). When the vitrified-thawed oocytes were matured in vitro for 24h, the maturation rate in liquid helium group (50.6%) was higher (P<0.05) than liquid nitrogen group (42.6%). Oocytes of liquid helium vitrification had higher cleavage and blastocyst rates (41.1% and 10.0%) than that of liquid nitrogen vitrification (33.0% and 4.5%; P<0.05) after in vitro fertilization. Moreover, the expression of GDF9 (growth/differentiation factor-9), BAX (apoptosis factor) and ZAR1 (zygote arrest 1) was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) when the vitrified-thawed oocytes were matured 24h. The expression of these genes was altered after vitrification. Expression of GDF9 and BAX in the liquid helium vitrification group was not significantly different from that of the control, however there were significant differences between the liquid nitrogen vitrification group and control. In conclusion, it was feasible to use liquid helium for vitrifying bovine immature oocytes. There existed an association between the compromised developmental competence and the altered expression levels of these genes for the vitrified oocytes.