Computational discovery of fast interstitial oxygen conductors.

New highly oxygen-active materials may enhance many energy-related technologies by enabling efficient oxygen-ion transport at lower temperatures, for example, below ~400 °C. Interstitial oxygen conductors have the potential to realize such performance but have received far less attention than vacancy-mediated conductors. Here we combine physically motivated structure and property descriptors, ab initio simulations and experiments to demonstrate an approach to discover new fast interstitial oxygen conductors. Multiple new families were found, which adopt completely different structures from known oxygen conductors. From these families, we synthesized and studied oxygen kinetics in La4Mn5Si4O22+δ, a representative member of the perrierite/chevkinite family. We found that La4Mn5Si4O22+δ has higher oxygen-ion conductivity than the widely used yttria-stabilized ZrO2, and among the highest surface oxygen exchange rates at the intermediate temperature of known materials. The fast oxygen kinetics is the result of simultaneously active interstitial and interstitialcy diffusion pathways. We propose that the essential features for forming an effective interstitial oxygen conductor are the availability of electrons and structural flexibility, enabling a sufficient accessible volume. This work provides a powerful approach for understanding and discovering new interstitial oxygen conductors.

Ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and breast cancer risk in a population-based Canadian case-control study.

PURPOSE: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a class of ubiquitous pollutants recognized as established human carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. PAHs have seldom been modeled at the population-level in epidemiological studies. Fluoranthene is a prevalent PAH in urban settings and correlates with the occurrence of other PAHs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between long-term residential exposure to ambient PAHs and breast cancer risk, both pre- and post-menopausal, in Canada. METHODS: Using the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance System (NECSS), a national-scale Canadian population-based case-control study, annual fluoranthene exposures were estimated using the GEM-MACH-PAH chemical transport model on the basis of geocoded residential histories throughout a 20-year exposure window. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) controlling for potential confounders were estimated using logistic regression. Separate analyses were conducted for Ontario and national samples given a finer-resolution exposure surface and additional risk factor information available for Ontario. RESULTS: Positive associations were observed between fluoranthene exposure and premenopausal breast cancer, with inconsistent findings for postmenopausal breast cancer. For premenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs of 2.48 (95% CI: 1.29, 4.77) and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.11, 2.29) were observed when comparing the second highest category of exposure to the lowest, among the Ontario and national samples, respectively. For postmenopausal breast cancer, adjusted ORs were 1.10 (95% CI: 0.67, 1.80) and 1.33 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.73). Associations for the highest level of exposure, across both samples and menopausal strata, were non-significant. CONCLUSION: This study provides support for the hypothesis that ambient PAH exposures increase the risk of premenopausal breast cancer.

Forensic age estimation in adults based on multidetector computed tomography analysis of bone density in the medial meta-epiphyseal region of clavicle.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) in the medial meta-epiphyseal region of clavicle (MERC) for adult age estimation. A total of 1064 chest MDCT scans from individuals aged 21 to 102 years were utilized to determine the MERC BMD. The Mimics software was used for the BMD measurements, and the average BMD of both MERC was also calculated. Regression analysis was conducted with chronological age as a dependent variable and MERC BMD as an independent variable to establish a mathematical model for age estimation. The mean absolute error (MAE) was calculated to evaluate the accuracy of the regression model using an independent validation sample. Among all the models, the cubic regression model showed the highest correlation between MERC BMD and chronological age and also provided the most accurate age prediction for both males and females (MAE = 9.41 for males, MAE = 10.38 for females). Our study suggests that BMD measured by MERC can be utilized for age estimation in adults when more reliable indicators are not available.

Adult age estimation from the sternum using maximum intensity projection images of CT and data mining in a Chinese population.

This study aimed to explore and develop data mining models for adult age estimation based on CT reconstruction images from the sternum. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) images of chest CT were retrospectively collected from a modern Chinese population, and data from 2700 patients (1349 males and 1351 females) aged 20 to 70 years were obtained. A staging technique within four indicators was applied. Several data mining models were established, and mean absolute error (MAE) was the primary comparison parameter. The intraobserver and interobserver agreement levels were good. Within internal validation, the optimal data mining model obtained the lowest MAE of 9.08 in males and 10.41 in females. For the external validation (N = 200), MAEs were 7.09 in males and 7.15 in females. In conclusion, the accuracy of our model for adult age estimation was among similar studies. MIP images of the sternum could be a potential age indicator. However, it should be combined with other indicators since the accuracy level is still unsatisfactory.

Carbon monoxide poisoning with hippocampi lesions on MRI: cases report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is now one of the leading causes of poisoning-related mortality worldwide. The central nervous system is the most vulnerable structure in acute CO poisoning. MRI is of great significance in the diagnosis and prognosis of CO toxic encephalopathy. The imaging features of CO poisoning are diverse. We report atypical hippocampal lesions observed on MRI in four patients after acute CO exposure. CASE PRESENTATIONS: We report four patients who presented to the emergency department with loss of consciousness. The diagnosis of CO poisoning was confirmed on the basis of their detailed history, physical examination and laboratory tests. Brain MRI in all of these patients revealed abnormal signal intensity in hippocampi bilaterally. They all received hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The prognosis of all four patients was poor. CONCLUSION: Hippocampi, as a relatively rare lesion on MRI of CO poisoning, is of important significance both in the early and delayed stages of acute CO poisoning. In this article, we summarize the case reports of hippocampal lesions on MRI in patients with CO poisoning in recent years, in order to provide reference for the diagnosis and prognosis of CO poisoning.

Distribution of daily protein intake and appendicular skeletal muscle mass in healthy free-living Chinese older adults.

AIMS: Evidence regarding impact of protein intake distribution on skeletal muscle mass in older adults is limited and inconsistent. This study aims to investigate the relationship of evenness of dietary protein distribution and number of meals exceeding a threshold with appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) in healthy and free-living Chinese older adults. METHODS: Repeated measured data of 5689 adult participants aged ≥ 60 years from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) 2015 and 2018 waves were analyzed. Mixed-effects linear regression model was performed to examine the relationship between coefficient of variance (CV) of protein intake across meals, number of meals ≥ 0.4 g protein/kg BW and ASM, respectively. Analyses were conducted separately for male and female. RESULTS: The average CV of protein intake in each wave was in the range of 0.34-0.35. More than 40% male and female participants in each wave had no meal reaching 0.4 g protein/kg BW. Female participants in the highest quartile of protein intake CV had significantly lower ASM (ß = -0.18, 95%CI = -0.32, -0.04) compared with those in the lowest quartile, after adjustment for multiple confounders. Significant negative trends were observed across dietary protein CV quartiles with ASM both in male (P trend = 0.043) and female (P trend = 0.007). Significant positive association between number of meals exceeding 0.4 g protein /kg BW and relative ASM were observed in females (2 meals vs. 0 meal: ß = 0.003, 95%CI = 0.0007,0.006;≥3 meals vs. 0 meal: ß = 0.008, 95%CI = 0.003,0.013), after adjusting for multiple covariates. CONCLUSIONS: A more even-distributed protein intake pattern and more meals reaching protein intake threshold were respectively associated with higher appendicular skeletal muscle mass in healthy and free-living older Chinese adults. Prospective studies and intervention trials are needed to confirm these cross-sectional findings.

Transplant of fecal microbiota from healthy young mice relieves cognitive defects in late-stage diabetic mice by reducing metabolic disorders and neuroinflammation.

Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is becoming as a promising area of interest for treating refractory diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of FMT on diabetes-associated cognitive defects in mice as well as the underlying mechanisms. Fecal microbiota was prepared from 8-week-aged healthy mice. Late-stage type 1 diabetics (T1D) mice with a 30-week history of streptozotocin-induced diabetics were treated with antibiotics for 7 days, and then were transplanted with bacterial suspension (100 µL, i.g.) once a day for 14 days. We found that FMT from healthy young mice significantly alleviated cognitive defects of late-stage T1D mice assessed in Morris water maze test. We revealed that FMT significantly reduced the relative abundance of Gram-negative bacteria in the gut microbiota and enhanced intestinal barrier integrity, mitigating LPS translocation into the bloodstream and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the hippocampus, thereby reducing T1D-induced neuronal loss and astrocytic proliferation. FMT also reshaped the metabolic phenotypes in the hippocampus of T1D mice especially for alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. Moreover, we showed that application of aspartate (0.1 mM) significantly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1ß production in BV2 cells under a HG/LPS condition. We conclude that FMT can effectively relieve T1D-associated cognitive decline via reducing the gut-brain metabolic disorders and neuroinflammation, providing a potential therapeutic approach for diabetes-related brain disorders in clinic.

Low prevalence of mcr-1 in Escherichia coli from food-producing animals and food products in China.

BACKGROUND: mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli has emerged as a significant threat to human health, veterinary health, and food safety in recent years. After the prohibition of colistin as a feed additive in animal husbandry in China, a noticeable reduction in both colistin resistance and the prevalence of mcr-1 was observed in E. coli from animals and humans. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of the colistin resistance gene mcr-1 and characterize its genetic context in E. coli strains derived from fecal and meat samples from food-producing animals in China. METHODS: A total of 1,353 fecal samples and 836 food samples were collected between 2019 and 2020 in China. E. coli isolates were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and their susceptibility to colistin were determined using the broth microdilution method. The colistin-resistant E. coli isolates were screened for the presence of mcr by PCR analysis and sequencing. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 15 antimicrobial agents against the mcr-1-positive strains were further tested using the agar dilution method, conjugation assays were performed, and whole genome sequencing was performed using Illumina HiSeq. RESULTS: In total, 1,403 E. coli strains were isolated. Thirteen isolates from chicken meat (n = 7), chickens (n = 3), and pigs (n = 3) were resistant to colistin with MIC values of 4 to 16 mg/L, and carried mcr-1. All mcr-1-positive strains, except for isolate AH20PE105, contained multiple resistance genes and exhibited multidrug-resistant phenotypes. They belonged to 10 sequence types (STs), including a novel ST (ST14521). mcr-1 was located on IncI2 (n = 9), IncX4 (n = 2), and IncHI2 (n = 2) plasmids, which were highly similar to other mcr-1-carrying plasmids sharing the same incompatibility type. Seven mcr-1-carrying plasmids could be successfully conjugally transferred to E. coli C600. CONCLUSIONS: While the low prevalence of mcr-1 (0.93%) identified in this study may not immediately seem alarming, the very emergence of this gene merits attention given its implications for colistin resistance and public health. Hence, ongoing surveillance of mcr-1 in E. coli remains crucial.

The lncRNA20718-miR6022-RLPs module regulates tomato resistance to Phytophthora infestans.

KEY MESSAGE: Sl-lncRNA20718 acts as an eTM of Sl-miR6022 regulating its expression thereby affecting SlRLP6/10 expression. SlRLP6/10 regulate PRs expression, ROS accumulation, and JA/ET content thereby affecting tomato resistance to P. infestans. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an important horticultural and cash crop whose yield and quality can be severely affected by Phytophthora infestans (P. infestans). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are widely involved in plant defense responses against pathogens. The involvement of Sl-lncRNA20718 and Sl-miR6022 in tomato resistance to P. infestans as well as the targeting of Sl-miR6022 to receptor-like protein genes (RLPs) were predicted in our previous study. However, uncertainty exists regarding their potential interaction as well as the molecular processes regulating tomato resistance. Here, we found that Sl-lncRNA20718 and Sl-miR6022 are positive and negative regulators of tomato resistance to P. infestans by gain- and loss-of-function experiments, respectively. Overexpression of Sl-lncRNA20718 decreased the expression of Sl-miR6022, induced the expression of PRs, reduced the diameter of lesions (DOLs), thereby enhanced disease resistance. A six-point mutation in the binding region of Sl-lncRNA20718 to Sl-miR6022 disabled the interaction, indicating that Sl-lncRNA20718 acts as an endogenous target mimic (eTM) of Sl-miR6022. We demonstrated that Sl-miR6022 cleaves SlRLP6/10. Overexpression of Sl-miR6022 decreases the expression levels of SlRLP6/10, induces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduces the content of JA and ET, thus inhibiting tomato resistance to P. infestans. In conclusion, our study provides detailed information on the lncRNA20718-miR6022-RLPs module regulating tomato resistance to P. infestans by affecting the expression of disease resistance-related genes, the accumulation of ROS and the phytohormone levels, providing a new reference for tomato disease resistance breeding.

Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-stimulated BMSC-derived exosome promotes osteoclastogenesis via miR-151-3p/PAFAH1B1.

OBJECTIVES: Porphyromonas gingivalis-LPS regulated bone metabolism by triggering dysfunction of osteoblasts directly, and affecting activity of osteoclasts through intracellular communication. Exosome, as the mediator of intercellular communication, was important vesicle to regulate osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis. This research was designed for investigating the mechanism of BMSCs-EXO in modulating osteoclastic activity under the P. gingivalis-LPS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cytotoxicity and osteogenic effects of P. gingivalis-LPS on BMSCs was evaluated, and then osteoclastic activity of RAW264.7 co-cultured with exosomes was detected. Besides, Affymetrix miRNA array and luciferase reporter assay were used to identify the target exosomal miRNA signal pathway. RESULTS: BMSCs' osteogenic differentiation and proliferation were decreased under 1 and 10 µg/mL P. gingivalis-LPS. Osteoclastic-related genes and proteins levels were promoted by P. gingivalis-LPS-stimulated BMSCs-EXO. Based on the miRNA microarray analysis, exosomal miR-151-3p was lessened in BMExo-LPS group, which facilitated osteoclastic differentiation through miR-151-3p/PAFAH1B1. CONCLUSIONS: Porphyromonas gingivalis-LPS could regulated bone metabolism by inhibiting proliferation and osteogenesis of BMSCs directly. Also, P. gingivalis-LPS-stimulated BMSCs-EXO promoted osteoclastogenesis via activating miR-151-3p/PAFAH1B1 signal pathway.

Interaction Between Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-alpha Gene Polymorphism and Helicobacter pylori Infection on Gastric Cancer in a Chinese Tibetan Population.

To investigate the impact of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HIF1α gene and its interaction with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection on susceptibility to gastric cancer (GC).Logistic regression was used to test the relationship between four SNPs of HIF1α gene and the susceptibility of GC. A generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) model was used to assess the HIF1α gene-H. pylori infection interaction.Logistic regression analysis indicated that both the rs11549465-CT genotype and the T allele were associated with an increased risk of GC, adjusted OR (95% CI) were 1.63 (1.09-2.20) (CT vs. CC) and 1.70 (1.13-2.36) (T vs. C), respectively. We also found that both the rs11549467-A allele and rs11549467-GA genotype were associated with an increased risk of GC, and adjusted OR (95% CI) were 2.21 (1.61-2.86) (GA vs. GG), 2.13 (1.65-2.65) (A vs. G), respectively. However, no statistically significant impact of rs2057482 or rs1957757 on risk of GC was found. The GMDR model indicated a statistically significant two-dimensional model combination (including rs11549467 and H. pylori infection). The selected model had testing balanced accuracy of 0.60 and the best cross-validation consistencies of 10/10 (p = 0.0107). Compared with H. pylori infection negative participants with rs11549467-GG genotype, H. pylori positive participants with the rs11549467-GA genotype had the highest GC risk, the OR (95% CI) was 3.04 (1.98-4.12).The rs11549467-A allele and rs11549467-GA genotype was associated with increased GC risk. Additionally, the gene-environment interaction between HIF-1α-rs11549467 and H. pylori infection was also correlated with an increased risk of GC.

Combined exposure to manganese and iron decreases oxidative stress-induced nerve damage by increasing Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 expression.

BACKGROUND: Manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) are essential trace elements for humans, yet excessive exposure to Mn or Fe can accumulate in the central nervous system (CNS) and cause neurotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Mn and Fe exposure, alone or in combination, on inducing oxidative stress-induced neurological damage in rat cortical and SH-SY5Y cells, and to determine whether combined exposure to these metals increases their individual toxicity. METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells and male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to observe the effects of oxidative stress-induced neurological damage induced by exposure to manganese and iron alone or in combination. To detect the expression of anti-oxidative stress-related proteins, Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1, and the apoptosis-related proteins, Bcl2 and Bax, and the neurological damage-related protein, α-syn. To detect reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis. To detect the expression of the rat cortical protein Nrf2. To detect the production of proinflammatory cytokines. RESULTS: We demonstrate that juvenile developmental exposure to Mn and Fe and their combination impairs cognitive performance in rats by inducing oxidative stress causing neurodegeneration in the cortex. Mn, Fe, and their combined exposure increased the expression of ROS, Bcl2, Bax, and α-syn, activated the inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-12, inhibited the activities of SOD and GSH, and induced oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration both in rats and SH-SY5Y cells. Combined Mn-Fe exposure attenuated the oxidative stress induced by Mn and Fe exposure alone by increasing the expression of antioxidant factors Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1. CONCLUSION: In both in vivo and in vitro studies, manganese and iron alone or in combination induced oxidative stress, leading to neuronal damage. In contrast, combined exposure to manganese and iron mitigated the oxidative stress induced by exposure to manganese and iron alone by increasing the expression of antioxidant factors. Therefore, studies to elucidate the main causes of toxicity and establish the molecular mechanisms of toxicity should help to develop more effective therapeutic modalities in the future.

Biotransformation characteristics of tetracycline by strain Serratia marcescens MSM2304 and its mechanism evaluation based on products analysis and genomics.

Microbial biotransformation is a recommended and reliable method in face of formidable tetracycline (TC) with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Herein, comprehensive characteristics of a newfound strain and its molecular mechanism in process of TC bioremediation were involved in this study. Specifically, Serratia marcescens MSM2304 isolated from pig manure sludge grew well in presence of TC and achieved optimal removal efficiency of 61% under conditions of initial TC concentration of 10 mg/L, pH of 7.0, cell inoculation amount of 5%, and tryptone of 10 g/L as additional carbon. The pathways of biotransformation include EPS biosorption, cell surface biosorption and biodegradation, which enzymatic processes of biodegradation were occurred through TC adsorbed by biofilms was firstly broken down by extracellular enzymes and part of TC migrated towards biofilm interior and degraded by intracellular enzymes. Wherein extracellular polysaccharides in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from biofilm of strain MSM2304 mainly performed extracellular adsorption, and changes in position and intensity of CO, =CH and C-O-C/C-O of EPS possible further implied TC adsorption by it. Biodegradation accounting for 79.07% played a key role in TC biotransformation and could be fitted well by first-order model that manifesting rapid and thorough removal. Potential biodegradation pathway including demethylation, dihydroxylation, oxygenation, and ring opening possibly involved in TC disposal process of MSM2304, TC-degrading metabolites exhibited lower toxicity to indicator bacteria relative to parent TC. Whole genome sequencing as underlying molecular evidence revealed that TC resistance genes, dehydrogenases-encoding genes, monooxygenase-encoding genes, and methyltransferase-encoding genes of strain MSM2304 were positively related to TC biodegradation. Collectively, these results favored a theoretical evaluation for Serratia marcescens MSM2304 as a promising TC-control agent in environmental bioremediation processes.

[Research progress on structures, activities, and biosynthesis of blazeispirol compounds from Agaricus blazei].

Agaricus blazei is a rare medicinal and edible fungus with a crispy taste and delicious flavor. Both fruiting body and mycelium are rich in polysaccharides, sterols, terpenoids, peptides, lipids, polyphenols, and other active ingredients, which have strong pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, lipid-lowering, glucose-lowering, immunomodulation, optimization of intestinal flora, and anti-oxidation. Therefore, it is a kind of fungal resource with a great prospect of edible and medicinal development. Among the reported chemical components of A. blazei, blazeispirol is a series of sterol compounds unique to A. blazei, which has a spiral structure and is different from classical steroids. It is an important active ingredient found in the mycelium of A. blazei and has significant hepatoprotective activity. It can be used as a phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic marker of A. blazei strains and is considered an excellent lead compound for drug development. According to the skeleton structure characteristics, the 17 discovered blazeispirol compounds can be divided into two types: blazeispirane and problazeispirane. In order to further explore the resource of blazeispirol compounds of A. blazei, the discovery, isolation, structure, biological activity, and biosynthetic pathways of blazeispirol compounds of A. blazei were systematically reviewed. Besides, the metabolic regulation strategies related to the fermentation synthesis of blazeispirol A by A. blazei were discussed. This review could provide a reference for the efficient synthesis and development of blazeispirol compounds, the research and development of related drugs and functional foods, and the quality improvement of A. blazei and other medicinal and edible fungi resources and derivatives.

Saikosaponin-d mediates FOXG1 to reverse docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer through oxidative phosphorylation.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa), a prevalent malignancy worldwide, is frequently identified in advanced stages due to the absence of distinctive early symptoms, thereby culminating in the development of chemotherapy-induced drug resistance. Exploring novel resistance mechanisms and identifying new therapeutic agents can facilitate the advancement of more efficacious strategies for PCa treatment. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis was employed to investigate the expression of FOXG1 in PCa tissues. Subsequently, qRT-PCR was utilized to validate FOXG1 mRNA expression levels in corresponding PCa cell lines. FOXG1 knockdown was performed, and cell proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 assays, while cell migration and invasion capabilities were evaluated through wound healing and Transwell assays. Western blot and Seahorse analyzer were used to measure oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) levels. Additionally, to explore potential approaches to alleviate PCa drug resistance, this study assessed the impact of biologically active saikosaponin-d (SSd) on PCa malignant progression and resistance by regulating FOXG1 expression. RESULTS: FOXG1 exhibited high expression in PCa tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of FOXG1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PCa cells, while FOXG1 overexpression had the opposite effect and promoted OXPHOS levels. The addition of an OXPHOS inhibitor prevented this outcome. Finally, SSd was shown to suppress FOXG1 expression and reverse docetaxel resistance in PCa cells through the OXPHOS pathway. CONCLUSION: This work demonstrated that SSd mediated FOXG1 to reverse malignant progression and docetaxel resistance in PCa through OXPHOS.

Differential age-related transcriptomic analysis of ovarian granulosa cells in Kazakh horses.

Introduction: The Kazakh horse, renowned for its excellence as a breed, exhibits distinctive reproductive traits characterized by early maturity and seasonal estrus. While normal reproductive function is crucial for ensuring the breeding and expansion of the Kazakh horse population, a noteworthy decline in reproductive capabilities is observed after reaching 14 years of age. Methods: In this study, ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) were meticulously collected from Kazakh horses aged 1, 2, 7, and above 15 years old (excluding 15 years old) for whole transcriptome sequencing. Results: The analysis identified and selected differentially expressed mRNAs, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs for each age group, followed by a thorough examination through GO enrichment analysis. The study uncovered significant variations in the expression profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs within GCs at different stages of maturity. Notably, eca-miR-486-3p and miR-486-y exhibited the highest degree of connectivity. Subsequent GO, KEGG, PPI, and ceRNA network analyses elucidated that the differentially expressed target genes actively participate in signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, and hormonal regulation. These pathways include but are not limited to the MAPK signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, Calcium signaling pathway, Aldosterone synthesis and secretion, Cellular senescence, and NF-kappa B signaling pathway-essentially encompassing signal transduction pathways crucial to reproductive processes. Discussion: This research significantly contributes to unraveling the molecular mechanisms governing follicular development in Kazakh horses. It establishes and preliminarily validates a differential regulatory network involving lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA, intricately associated with processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis and integral to the developmental intricacies of stromal follicles. The findings of this study provide a solid theoretical foundation for delving deeper into the realm of reproductive aging in Kazakh mares, presenting itself as a pivotal regulatory pathway in the context of horse ovarian development.

[Bacterial Community Structure of Typical Lake Sediments in Yinchuan City and Its Response to Heavy Metals].

Lake wetlands are extremely important and special ecosystems, which are important for regional water resource storage, environmental protection, and biodiversity maintenance. Sediment bacteria are an important component of lake ecosystems and are a major driver of biogeochemical cycling in lakes. In order to investigate the community structure of bacteria in typical lake sediments in Yinchuan City and their influencing factors, three typical lakes in Yinchuan City (Yuehai Lake, Mingcui Lake, and Xiniu Lake) were selected for the study and surface sediments were collected in January, April, July, and October 2021. The composition of the sediment bacterial community was examined using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology, and the response relationships between them and heavy metals were explored. The results showed that the ecological hazard coefficient for heavy metals in the sediments of three typical lakes in Yinchuan City was far less than 40, and the ecological hazard index was far less than 150, all of which indicated a minor ecological hazard. There were no significant differences in bacterial community diversity among the three lakes, but there were significant variations in diversity among the lakes in different seasons and significant differences in community composition. The dominant phyla (top three in terms of relative abundance) in Yuehai Lake, Mingcui Lake, and Xiniu Lake were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi. The dominant lower orders were Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Deltaproteobacteria. The main divergent species that occurred at the phylum level in typical lakes in Yinchuan were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Euryarchaeota, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteria. The sediment bacterial community structure of Yuehai Lake was significantly correlated with Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, As, and Pb; the sediment bacterial community structure of Lake Mingcui was significantly correlated with Fe, Pb, and Cr; and the sediment bacterial community structure of Xiniu Lake was not significantly correlated with heavy metals. The types and contents of sediment heavy metals had a significant effect on the bacterial community structure of sediments in Yinchuan Yuehai Lake and Mingcui Lake and were important environmental factors that caused changes in the bacterial community structure of lake sediments.

Research Note: Effects of different light-emitting diode lights during egg incubation on hatching performance and embryo development in White King pigeons.

The light provide during incubation can influence hatching characteristics (hatching time, hatchability, etc.) and embryo development in chickens, geese, and turkeys. However, relevant studies on this factor in pigeons are lacking. This study investigated the effects of in ovo photostimulation during embryogenesis on hatching performance, squab quality, and embryo development in pigeons. 400 eggs from paired- bred pigeons were randomly distributed into 4 incubation lighting treatments, with 2 replicates per treatment. The treatments included dark as a control (NL), 12-h light, and 12-h dark photoperiods of white light (WL), red light (RL), and green light (GL) (100 lx at egg level) during the first 15 d of incubation. A total of 1,600 eggs in 4 batches from White King pigeons were used. The results showed that hatching time of the WL group was significantly shorter than that of the dark light group (P < 0.05). The hatchability of fertile eggs in the WL group was significantly higher (P < 0.05), whereas the hatchability of fertile eggs in the RL group was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of in the control group. Light stimulation had no effect on time to 90% hatching or average hatching time (P > 0.05). In addition, the hatch window was not extended by light stimulation (P > 0.05). The group incubated under GL showed an increase in embryo weight and relative leg muscle on embryonic d 14 and the hatching day compared to the dark incubation (P < 0.05). Green light stimulated the heart and liver development during the early and middle stages of embryogenesis. It was concluded that white light stimulation during embryogenesis accelerated the hatching process, whereas monochromatic green light had a positive effect on embryo development. Our findings provide important guidance for developing light protocols for pigeon egg incubation.

Transcriptome identification of differential mammary genes of Kazakh horses during early pregnancy.

Kazakh mares have attracted widespread attention with their outstanding lactation traits. Lactation is a complex dynamic process regulated by multiple factors. The extensive application of transcriptome sequencing technology enables researchers to further explore this biological issue. This study selected three pregnant and three non-pregnant Kazakh mares as the research subject. Their mammary glands were taken for transcriptome sequencing. The results show that there are 9 lncRNAs and 122 mRNAs differentially expressed between the two groups. GO enrichment analysis shows that there are 175 molecular functions, 59 cellular components, and 555 biological processes, including cellular hormone metabolic process, hormone catabolic process, and I-kappaB kinase/NF-kappaB signaling. KEGG enrichment analysis exhibits that these differential genes are mainly enriched in the NF-kappa B signaling pathway, steroid hormone biosynthesis, breast cancer, ECM-receptor interaction, and MAPK signaling pathway. WNT4, DPP4, and NFKBIA are key nodes regulating breast activation. Conclusions: Through the comparative analysis of the transcriptome data of mammary tissues of pregnant and non-pregnant mares, relevant differentially expressed genes are screened and analyzed. This study provides valuable fundamental data for investigating candidate genes related to the lactation regulation and mammogenesis of Kazakh horses.