SSR Marker Acquisition and Application from Transcriptome of Captive Chinese Forest Musk Deer (Moschus berezovskii).

Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) is one of the most endangered medicinally important wild animals in the world. Forest musk deer farming is the main way of production of musk. However, the single provenance and lack of genetic information lead to reduced genetic diversity of forest musk deer. Therefore, more SSR markers need to be developed to identify forest musk deer germplasm. In this study, bone marrow derived mesenchymal cells were used to construct cDNA library for transcriptome sequencing. The datasets were de novo assembled and annotated. 9 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were finally identified and used to detect population genetic diversity. 6.07 Gb clean data were generated using Illumina sequencing technology, and de novo assembled into 138,591 transcripts and 81,553 unigenes. 5,777 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified, in which there were 578 repeating motif types, with mono-nucleotide and tri-nucleotides comprising 55.88% and 25.60%, respectively. 100 primer pairs were designed to validate amplification and polymorphism using DNA from fecal samples. 9 polymorphic SSRs were developed and used to detect population genetic diversity of 122 forest musk deer in 2 farms. The average number of alleles per locus varied from 4 to 15 (average = 8.3). The observed heterozygosity (HO) per locus ranged from 0.102 to 0.941, while the expected heterozygosity (HE) per locus was from 0.111 to 0.651. All loci deviated significantly from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p < 0.001). The polymorphism information content (PIC) of these loci varied from 0.108 to 0.619. 9 polymorphic SSR markers were developed in this research. These sites can be used for breeding planning and conservation of germplasm resources.

A Radiomics Model for the Differentiation of Intracranial Solitary Fibrous Tumor/Hemangiopericytoma and Meningioma Based on Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Although the imaging findings of intracranial solitary fibrous tumor (SFT)/hemangiopericytoma (HPC) and meningioma are similar, their treatment and prognosis are quite different. Accurate preoperative identification of these two types of tumors is crucial for individualized treatment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a radiomics model for the differentiation of intracranial SFT/HPC and meningioma based on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 99 patients from July 2012 to July 2018 with histologically and immunohistochemically confirmed SFT/HPC (n = 40) or meningiomas (n = 59) were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 1118 features were extracted based on its image shape, intensity and texture features. The logistic regression (LR) and multi-layer artificial neural network (ANN) classifiers were used to classify SFT/HPC and meningioma. The predictive performance was calculated using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). RESULTS: We found significant difference in terms of sex between the SFT/HPC and meningioma group (χ2= 4.829, P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in age (P > 0.05). The most significant radiomics features included five shape and four first-order level features. For the LR classifier, the prediction accuracy of SFT/HPC was 71.0% and meningioma was 78.7%. For the ANN classifier, the prediction accuracy of SFT/HPC was 83.9% and meningioma was 80.9%. Both of the two classifiers achieved a high accuracy rate, but ANN was better. CONCLUSIONS: Radiomics features, especially when combined with an ANN classifier, can provide satisfactory performance in distinguishing SFT/HPC and meningioma.

[Rapid determination of componential contents and calorific value of selected agricultural biomass feedstocks using spectroscopic technology].

Rapid determination of biomass feedstock properties is of value for the production of biomass densification briquetting fuel with high quality. In the present study, visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy was employed to build prediction models of componential contents, i. e. moisture, ash, volatile matter and fixed-carbon, and calorific value of three selected species of agricultural biomass feedstock, i. e. pine wood, cedar wood, and cotton stalk. The partial least squares (PLS) cross validation results showed that compared with original reflection spectra, PLS regression models developed for first derivative spectra produced higher prediction accuracy with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.97, 0.94 and 0.90, and residual prediction deviation (RPD) of 6.57, 4.00 and 3.01 for ash, volatile matter and moisture, respectively. Good prediction accuracy was achieved with R2 of 0.85 and RPD of 2.55 for fixed carbon, and R2 of 0.87 and RPD of 2.73 for calorific value. It is concluded that the Vis-NIR spectroscopy is promising as an alternative of traditional proximate analysis for rapid determination of componential contents and calorific value of agricultural biomass feedstock

Isolation and Identification of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Forest Musk Deer.

The forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) is an endangered animal that produces musk that is utilized for medical applications worldwide, and this species primarily lives in China. Animal-derived musk can be employed as an important ingredient in Chinese medicine. To investigate the properties of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from the bone marrow of forest deer for future application, MSCs were isolated and cultivated in vitro. The properties and differentiation of these cells were assessed at the cellular and gene levels. The results show that 81,533 expressed genes were detected by RNA sequencing, and marker genes of MSCs were expressed in the cells. Karyotype analysis of the cells determined the karyotype to be normal, and marker proteins of MSCs were observed to be expressed in the cell membranes. Cells were differentiated into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondroblasts. The expression of genes related to osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondroblasts was observed to be increased. The results of this study demonstrate that the properties of the cells isolated from bone marrow were in keeping with the characteristics of MSCs, providing a possible basis for future research.

Aquabis-(6-bromo-picolinato-κN,O)copper(II).

In the title compound, [Cu(C(6)H(3)BrNO(2))(2)(H(2)O)], the Cu atom adopts a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination arising from two N,O-bidentate ligands and a water mol-ecule, with one N atom in an axial site and the other in an equatorial site. The dihedral angle between the pyridine ring planes is 67.6 (2)°. In the crystal, O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds result in chains propagating in [100].

Bis[6-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN)picolinato-κN,O]manganese(II) bis-(3,5-dinitro-benzoic acid) solvate.

In the title complex, [Mn(C(11)H(10)N(3)O(2))(2)]·2C(7)H(4)N(2)O(6), the Mn(II) atom has a disorted octa-hedral coordination formed by four N and two O atoms of two mer-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)picolinate ligands (DMPP). Each of the two symmetry-independent 3,5-dinitro-benzoic acid mol-ecules is linked to the mol-ecule of the complex via a hydrogen bond involving its carboxylic H atom and one of the DMPP ligands of the complex. However, in one of the DMPP ligands, the non-coordinated carbonyl O atom serves as the hydrogen-bond acceptor, whereas in the second ligand it is the Mn-coordinated O atom which is involved in the hydrogen bonding.

3-Chloro-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)picolinic acid-triphenyl-phosphine oxide (1/1).

In the title 1:1 adduct, C(11)H(10)ClN(3)O(2)·C(18)H(15)OP, the dihedral angle between the pyridine and pyrazole rings is 10.3 (2)°. The two components of the adduct are linked by an O-H⋯O hydrogen bond.

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for solid-phase extraction and determination of Rhodamine B in food.

Core-shell magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) nanoparticles (NPs), in which a Rhodamine B-imprinted layer was coated on Fe3O4 NPs. were synthesized. First, Fe3O4 NPs were prepared by a coprecipitation method. Then, amino-modified Fe3O4 NPs (Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2) was prepared. Finally, the MIPs were coated on the Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 surface by the copolymerization with functional monomer, acrylamide, using a cross-linking agent, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate; an initiator, azobisisobutyronitrile and a template molecule, Rhodamine B. The Fe3O4@MIPs were characterized using a scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, vibrating sample magnetometer, and re-binding experiments. The Fe3O4@MIPs showed a fast adsorption equilibrium, a highly improved imprinting capacity, and significant selectivity; they could be used as a solid-phase extraction material and detect illegal addition Rhodamine B in food. A method was developed for the selective isolation and enrichment of Rhodamine B in food samples with recoveries in the range 78.47-101.6% and the relative standard deviation was <2%.

[Monolith column solid-phase extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography in online mode for the determination of forchlorfenuron in fruits].

A novel method based on the monolithic column solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography in online mode was developed for the determination of trace forchlorfenuron in fruits. The enrichment factor of SPE for forchlorfenuron was 214. The method was fully validated. It showed a linear range of 0.01-50.00 microg/L and a limit of detection of 25 ng/L, with the relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.9%. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of forchlorfenuron in grape, kiwifruit and watermelon samples, with the recoveries of 87.0%-120.7% and the RSDs of 0.6%-9.2%. This online method was proved to be selective, sensitive and convenient for the determination of trace forchlorfenuron in complex samples.

Synthesis, characterization and luminescence properties of Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes with novel pyrazole derivatives and 1,10-phenanthroline.

Two novel pyrazole-derived ligands, 3-chloro-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)picolinic acid (CDPA) and 3-chloro-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-N-phenylpicolinamide (CDPP) were prepared by 3,6-dichloropicolinic acid (DCPA). Their complexes with terbium(III) and europium(III) were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, (1)H NMR and TG-DTG. Furthermore, the above complexes using 1,10-phenanthroline as a secondary ligand were also synthesized and characterized. The luminescence properties of these complexes in solid state were investigated. The results suggested that Tb(III) complexes exhibit more efficient luminescence than Eu(III) complexes and the fluorescence of the complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline as a secondary ligand was prominently stronger than that of complexes without this ligand., and the three ligand (DCPA), (CDPP) and (CDPA) are excellent sensitizers to Eu(III) and Tb(III) ion.