Investigating the role of non-ionic surfactants as electrolyte additives for improved zinc anode performance in aqueous batteries.

Zinc metal anodes encounter significant challenges, including dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion, all of which impede the rate capability and longevity of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). To effectively tackle these issues, we introduced Tween-80 into the traditional ZnSO4 electrolyte as an additive. Tween-80 possesses electronegative oxygen atoms that enable it to adsorb onto the zinc (Zn) anode surface, facilitating the directional deposition of Zn metal along the (002) orientation. The hydroxyl and ether groups within Tween-80 can displace some of the coordinated water molecules in the Zn2+ inner solvation shell. This disruption of the hydrogen bond network regulates the solvation structure of Zn2+ ions and suppresses the possibility of hydrogen evolution. Moreover, the long hydrocarbon chain present in Tween-80 exhibits excellent hydrophobic properties, aiding in the resistance against corrosion of the Zn anode by water molecules and reducing hydrogen evolution. Consequently, a symmetric cell equipped with the Tween-80 additive can cycle stably for over 4000 h at 1 mA cm-2 and 1 mA h cm-2. When paired with the V2O5 cathode, the full cell demonstrates a high-capacity retention rate exceeding 80 % over 1000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g-1. This study underscores the advantages of utilizing non-ionic surfactants for achieving high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

SERS-based Ag NCs@PDMS flexible substrate combined with chemometrics for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens on egg surface.

An innovative method is introduced based on the combination of label-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering with advanced multivariate analysis. This technique allows both quantitative and qualitative assessment of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli on eggshells. Using silver nanocubes embedded in polydimethylsiloxane, we consistently achieved Raman spectra of bacteria. The stability of the Ag NCs@PDMS substrate is confirmed using rhodamine 6G over 30 days under standard conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) effectively distinguishes between S. typhimurium and E. coli spectra. Partial least squares regression (PLS) models were developed for quantitative determination of bacteria on egg surfaces, yielding accurate results with minimal error. The S. typhimurium model achieves Rc2 = 0.9563 and RMSEC = 0.601 in calibration, and Rv2 = 0.9113 and RMSEV = 0.907 in validation. Similarly, the E. coli model achieves Rc2 = 0.9877 and RMSEC = 0.322 in calibration, and Rv2 = 0.9606 and RMSEV = 0.579 in validation. Recoveries validate PLS predictions by inoculating egg surfaces with varying bacterial amounts. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of SERS-PLS for quantitative determination of S. typhimurium and E. coli on eggshells, promising enhanced food safety protocols.

Duck hepatitis A virus 1-encoded 2B protein disturbs ion and organelle homeostasis to promote NF-κB/NLRP3-mediated inflammatory response.

Previous studies by our group and others have highlighted the critical role of hyperinflammation in the pathogenicity of duck hepatitis A virus 1 (DHAV-1), an avian picornavirus that has caused significant devastation in the duck industry worldwide for decades. However, the precise mechanisms by which DHAV-1 infection regulates the inflammatory responses, particularly the production of IL-1ß, remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that DHAV-1 infection triggers NF-κB- and NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1ß production. Mechanistically, DHAV-1 infection, particularly its replication and translation, disrupts cellular homeostasis of Ca2+, K+, ROS and cathepsin, which act cooperatively as assembly signals for NLRP3 inflammasome activation. By screening DHAV-1-encoded proteins, we identified that the viroporin 2B dominates NF-κB as well as NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Mutation analysis revealed that I43 within the 2B protein is the key amino acid for Ca2+ mobilization and subsequent activation of NF-κB transcriptional activity and NLRP3 inflammasome. Moreover, DHAV-1 infection and the 2B protein activate the MAVS- and MyD88-NF-κB pathways by relay, providing the necessary priming signals for NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In summary, our findings elucidate a mechanism through which DHAV-1 triggers inflammatory responses via NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome activation, offering new perspectives on DHAV-1 pathogenesis and informing the development of targeted anti-DHAV-1 treatments.

Designing a hollow MoSe2/CuS nanospheres type-II heterojunction photocatalyst with superior UV-vis-NIR absorption for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.

In this work, a hollow MoSe2/CuS type-II heterojunction was fabricated using hollow MoSe2 nanospheres as the basis for structural design. UV-Vis-NIR diffuse absorption tests show that MoSe2/CuS has a broad spectral absorption to extend the optical response range from UV-Vis to NIR. The light source utilization rate and interfacial area are increased by the hollow MoSe2/CuS core-shell structure. The broad absorption ability of MoSe2/CuS can facilitate the photocatalysis process. As the electrochemical impedance of MoSe2/CuS is lower than that of the MoSe2, MoSe2/CuS has a good photogenerated carrier separation efficiency. Benefiting from the synergistic facilitation effect of the multi-level 3D hollow nanosphere and the significant space charge region in type-II heterojunction, the RhB degradation efficiency of MoSe2/CuS reached 96.0% in 120.0 min under Xe (350 W) broadband spectrum light irradiation. The photocatalysis mechanism of the hollow MoSe2/CuS core-shell structure was investigated. This work provides an insight into the application of broad spectrum semiconductor heterojunctions to solve environmental problems.

The effect of matrine and glycyrrhizic acid on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Vitro and in vivo.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is endemic worldwide, seriously affecting the development of the pig industry, but vaccines have limited protective effects against PRRSV transmission. The aim of this study was to identify potential anti-PRRSV drugs. We examined the cytotoxicity of seven compounds formulated based on the mass ratio of glycyrrhizic acid to matrine and calculated their inhibition rates against PRRSV in vitro. The results showed that the seven compounds all had direct killing and therapeutic effects on PRRSV, and the compounds inhibited PRRSV replication in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The compound with the strongest anti-PRRSV effect was selected for subsequent in vivo experiments. Pigs were divided into a control group and a medication group for the in vivo evaluation. The results showed that pigs treated with the 4:1 compound had 100% morbidity after PRRSV challenge, and the mortality rate reached 75% on the 8th day of the virus challenge. These results suggest that this compound has no practical anti-PRRSV effect in vivo and can actually accelerate the death of infected pigs. Next, we further analyzed the pigs that exhibited semiprotective effects following vaccination with the compound to determine whether the compound can synergize with the vaccine in vivo. The results indicated that pigs treated with the compound had higher mortality rates and more severe clinical reactions after PRRSV infection (p < 0.05). The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-1ß, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) were significantly greater in the compound-treated pigs than in the positive control-treated pigs (p < 0.05), and there was no synergistic enhancement with the live attenuated PRRSV vaccine (p < 0.05). The compound enhanced the inflammatory response, prompted the body to produce excessive levels of inflammatory cytokines and caused body damage, preventing a therapeutic effect. In conclusion, the present study revealed that the in vitro effectiveness of these agents does not indicate that they are effective in vivo or useful for developing anti-PRRSV drugs. Our findings also showed that, to identify effective anti-PRRSV drugs, comprehensive drug screening is needed, for compounds with solid anti-inflammatory effects both in vitro and in vivo. Our study may aid in the development of new anti-PRRSV drugs.

Ursodeoxycholic acid and COVID-19 outcomes: a cohort study and data synthesis of state-of-art evidence.

BACKGROUND: The potential of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 was demonstrated. However, conflicting evidence emerged regarding the association between UDCA and COVID-19 outcomes, prompting the need for a comprehensive investigation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection were retrospectively analyzed and divided into two groups: the UDCA-treated group and the control group. Kaplan-Meier recovery analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the recovery time and hazard ratios. Additionally, study-level pooled analyses for multiple clinical outcomes were performed. RESULTS: In the 115-patient cohort, UDCA treatment was significantly associated with a reduced recovery time. The subgroup analysis suggests that the 300 mg subgroup had a significant (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.63 [95% CI, 1.01 to 2.60]) benefit with a shorter duration of fever. The results of pooled analyses also show that UDCA treatment can significantly reduce the incidence of severe/critical diseases in COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio: 0.68 [95% CI, 0.50 to 0.94]). CONCLUSIONS: UDCA treatment notably improves the recovery time following an Omicron strain infection without observed safety concerns. These promising results advocate for UDCA as a viable treatment for COVID-19, paving the way for further large-scale and prospective research to explore the full potential of UDCA.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of acupuncture in aspiration caused by post-stroke dysphagia.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of aspiration caused by post-stroke dysphagia. Methods: A computer search was conducted in nine databases, including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal (VIP), Wan-fang Database, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR), from their inception until April 2024. Clinical randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture combined therapy or single therapy with control interventions for the treatment of aspiration caused by post-stroke dysphagia were included. The primary outcome measure was the Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS), and secondary outcome measures included the overall effective rate, video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), and hyoid bone displacement. The statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 16.0. Results: A total of 16 articles involving 1,284 patients were included. The meta-analysis results showed that acupuncture combined therapy or single therapy was more effective in improving PAS scores compared to conventional rehabilitation therapy or balloon dilation of the catheter [WMD = -1.05, 95% CI (-1.30, -0.80), Z = 0.82, p = 0.00 < 0.05]. It was also more effective in improving VFSS scores [WMD = 1.32, 95% CI (0.08, 2.55), Z = 2.09, p = 0.04 < 0.05] and hyoid bone displacement [WMD = 2.02, 95% CI (0.86, 3.18), Z = 3.41, p = 0.00 < 0.05]. Additionally, acupuncture had a higher overall effective rate [WMD = 1.21, 95% CI (1.14, 1.29), Z = 5.76, p = 0.00 < 0.05] and a lower incidence of adverse events. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the literature had minimal impact on the results, and bias tests showed no publication bias. Conclusion: Acupuncture combined therapy and acupuncture single therapy can effectively improve aspiration caused by post-stroke dysphagia with a low incidence of adverse events. However, due to the low quality of the included literature, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are still needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of aspiration caused by post-stroke dysphagia. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023462707, identifier CRD42023462707.

Fabrication and characterization of carrageenan-based multifunctional films integrated with gallic acid@ZIF-8 for beef preservation.

The development of environmentally friendly biodegradable films is urgently required for reducing the plastic pollution crisis and ensuring food safety. Thus, here we aimed to prepare ZIF-8 that has delivery ability for gallic acid (GA) and further incorporated this material (GA@ZIF-8) into carrageenan (CA) matrix to obtain a series of CA-GA@ZIF-8 films. This design significantly improved the mechanical strength and UV barrier and reduced water vapor permeability, moisture content, and swelling rate of the CA films. CA-GA@ZIF-8 films exhibited sustainable release of GA and controlled migration of Zn2+ up to 144 h in a high-fat food simulator. Also, the composite films performed high-efficiency antioxidant activities (83.29 % for DPPH and 62.11 % for ABTS radical scavenging activity) and 99.51 % antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli O157:H7 after 24 h. The great biocompatibility of GA@ZIF-8 and CA-GA@ZIF-8-10 % was confirmed by hemolysis, cell cytotoxicity, and mice model. Finally, the preservation experiments showed that CA-GA@ZIF-8 films could effectively maintain freshness and reduce the growth of microorganisms and oxidation of lipids during the preservation of beef. These results suggest that CA-GA@ZIF-8 films hold promising potential for improving the quality preservation of beef.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transformation Promotes the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through NF-κB/MMP9 Axis.

BACKGROUND: Primary liver cancer (PHC) stands as one of the most prevalent malignant diseases in clinical settings. Studies have indicated that transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment exhibits superior clinical outcomes, potentially increasing the complete necrosis rate in patients with PHC. A correlation exists between the clinical outcomes of TACE surgery and the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), yet the underlying mechanism remains a mystery. Hence, it is crucial to investigate the impact and mechanism of EMT on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Retrospectively, patients with advanced liver cancer who underwent TACE were selected and categorized into two groups based on the assessment of clinical efficacy: the effective group and the ineffective group. The expression levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), Ki-67, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), Vimentin, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in tumor tissues were evaluated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In vitro, Huh7 cells were cultured, and lentivirus infections were utilized to inhibit the overexpression of NF-κB and MMP9. The determination of EMT and cell viability was conducted through Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, RT-PCR, and Western blot. RESULTS: Sixty patients diagnosed with advanced liver cancer were selected for the study. Based on their clinical outcomes, 30 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were categorized into the effective group, while the remaining 30 patients were categorized into the ineffective group. The results of the Western blot analysis indicated that, in comparison to the effective group, the expression levels of NF-κB, MMP9, Ki-67, Bcl-2, Vimentin, and N-cadherin were significantly higher in the tumor tissues of the ineffective group. Conversely, the expression of Bax and E-cadherin was notably lower in the effective group. Following the individual knockdown of NF-κB and MMP9, the cell experiments revealed a remarkable decrease in the expression levels of Ki-67, Bcl-2, Vimentin, and N-cadherin, whereas the expression of Bax and E-cadherin showed significant elevation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant increase in cell viability and a decrease in cell apoptosis after the knockdown of NF-κB and MMP9. CONCLUSIONS: The NF-κB/MMP9 signaling axis serves as a pivotal regulator that fosters proliferation and impedes apoptosis in Huh7 cells by modulating the process of EMT.

Network pharmacology and molecular docking reveal the mechanisms of curcumin activity against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Curcumin (CUR), an effective traditional Chinese medicinal extract, displays good anti-cancer activity against various cancers. Nevertheless, the impacts and fundamental mechanisms of CUR to treat esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) yet to be comprehensively clarified. This study examined the suppressive impacts of CUR on ESCC. Methods: For a comprehensive understanding of the effect of CUR in ESCC. The CUR targets and ESCC-related genes were identified respectively, and the intersection targets between CUR and ESCC were acquired. Then, we examined the intersection targets and discovered genes that were expressed differently in ESCC. Using DAVID, enrichment analyses were conducted on the targets of CUR-ESCC. The STRING database and Cytoscape v.3.9.1 were utilized to build networks for protein-protein interaction (PPI) and drug-target-pathway. Furthermore, the interactions between CUR and its core targets were confirmed by molecular docking studies. To confirm the effects of CUR on ESCC cells, in vitro experiments were finally conducted. Results: Overall, 47 potential CUR targets for ESCC treatment were identified. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis identified 61 signaling pathways, primarily associated with the FoxO signaling, the cell cycle, cellular senescence, the IL-17 signaling pathway which play important roles in ESCC progression. In the PPI network and the docking results identified CHEK1 and CDK6 as the core targets that positively associated with ESCC survival. CUR arrested ESCC cells at the G2/M and S phases, as shown by flow cytometry. Colony formation and CCK8 assays showed that CUR can inhibit the proliferative ability of ESCC cells. The Transwell invasion results validated that CUR can significantly inhibit the invasion rates of ESCC cells. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings indicate that CUR exhibits pharmacological effects on multiple targets and pathways in ESCC.

Edge interface microenvironment regulation of CoOOH/commercial activated carbon nano-hybrids enabling PMS activation for degrading ciprofloxacin.

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) is widely employed to generate oxygen-containing reactive species for ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation. Herein, cobalt oxyhydroxide @activated carbon (CoOOH@AC) was synthesized via a wet chemical sedimentation method to activate PMS for degradation of CIP. The result suggested AC can support the vertical growth of CoOOH nanosheets to expose high-activity Co-contained edges, possessing efficient PMS activation and degradation activity and catalytic stability. In the presence of 3.0 mg of optimal CoOOH@AC and 2 mM PMS, 96.8 % of CIP was degraded within 10 min, approximately 11.6 and 9.97 times greater than those of CoOOH/PMS and AC/PMS systems. Notably, it was disclosed that the optimal CoOOH@AC/PMS system still exhibited efficient catalytic performance in a wide pH range, different organics and common co-existing ions. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance indicated that both radical and non-radical processes contributed to the degradation of CIP, with 1O2 and direct electron transfer accounting for the non-radical pathway and SO4•- and •OH serving as the main radical active species. Finally, possible CIP degradation pathways were proposed based on high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This study provided an alternate method for wastewater treatment based on PMS catalyzed by cobalt-based hydroxide.

Ligand-Directed Self-Assembly of Organic-Semiconductor/Quantum-Dot Blend Films Enables Efficient Triplet Exciton-Photon Conversion.

Blends comprising organic semiconductors and inorganic quantum dots (QDs) are relevant for many optoelectronic applications and devices. However, the individual components in organic-QD blends have a strong tendency to aggregate and phase-separate during film processing, compromising both their structural and electronic properties. Here, we demonstrate a QD surface engineering approach using electronically active, highly soluble semiconductor ligands that are matched to the organic semiconductor host material to achieve well-dispersed inorganic-organic blend films, as characterized by X-ray and neutron scattering, and electron microscopies. This approach preserves the electronic properties of the organic and QD phases and also creates an optimized interface between them. We exemplify this in two emerging applications, singlet-fission-based photon multiplication (SF-PM) and triplet-triplet annihilation-based photon upconversion (TTA-UC). Steady-state and time-resolved optical spectroscopy shows that triplet excitons can be transferred with near unity efficiently across the organic-inorganic interface, while the organic films maintain efficient SF (190% yield) in the organic phase. By changing the relative energy between organic and inorganic components, yellow upconverted emission is observed upon 790 nm NIR excitation. Overall, we provide a highly versatile approach to overcome longstanding challenges in the blending of organic semiconductors with QDs that have relevance for many optical and optoelectronic applications.

Ectopic expression of HaPEPC1 from the desert shrub Haloxylon ammodendron confers drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) plays a crucial role in the initial carbon fixation process in C4 plants. However, its nonphotosynthetic functions in Haloxylon ammodendron, a C4 perennial xerohalophytic shrub, are still poorly understood. Previous studies have reported the involvement of PEPC in plant responses to abiotic stresses such as drought and salt stress. However, the underlying mechanism of PEPC tolerance to drought stress has not been determined. In this study, we cloned the C4-type PEPC gene HaPEPC1 from H. ammodendron and investigated its biological function by generating transgenic Arabidopsis plants with ectopic expression of HaPEPC1. Our results showed that, compared with WT (wild-type) plants, ectopic expression of HaPEPC1 plants exhibited significantly greater germination rates and chlorophyll contents. Furthermore, under drought stress, the transgenic plants presented increased root length, fresh weight, photosynthetic capacity, and antioxidant enzyme activities, particularly ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase. Additionally, the transgenic plants exhibited reduced levels of malondialdehyde, H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide), and O2- (superoxide radical). Transcriptome analysis indicated that ectopic expression of HaPEPC1 primarily regulated the expression of genes associated with the stress defence response, glutathione metabolism, and abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis and signalling pathways in response to drought stress. Taken together, these findings suggest that the ectopic expression of HaPEPC1 enhances the reduction of H2O2 and O2- in transgenic plants, thereby improving reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity and enhancing drought tolerance. Therefore, the HaPEPC1 gene holds promise as a candidate gene for crop selection aimed at enhancing drought tolerance.

White light emission in 0D halide perovskite [(CH3)3S]2SnCl6·H2O crystals through variation of doping ns2 ions.

With the rapid development of white LEDs, the research of new and efficient white light emitting materials has attracted increasing attention. Zero dimensional (0D) organic-inorganic hybrid metal halide perovskites with superior luminescent property are promising candidates for LED application, due to their abundant and tailorable structure. Herein, [(CH3)3S]2SnCl6·H2O is synthesized as a host for dopant ions Bi3+ and Sb3+. The Sb3+ doped, or Bi3+/Sb3+ co-doped, [(CH3)3S]2SnCl6·H2O has a tunable optical emission spectrum by means of varying dopant ratio and excitation wavelength. As a result, we can achieve single-phase materials suitable for emission ranging from cold white light to warm white light. The intrinsic mechanism is examined in this work, to clarify the dopant effect on the optical properties. The high stability of title crystalline material, against water, oxygen and heat, makes it promising for further application.

Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of MYB Gene Family and Analysis of Its Sex-Biased Expression Pattern in Spinacia oleracea L.

The members of the myeloblastosis (MYB) family of transcription factors (TFs) participate in a variety of biological regulatory processes in plants, such as circadian rhythm, metabolism, and flower development. However, the characterization of MYB genes across the genomes of spinach Spinacia oleracea L. has not been reported. Here, we identified 140 MYB genes in spinach and described their characteristics using bioinformatics approaches. Among the MYB genes, 54 were 1R-MYB, 80 were 2R-MYB, 5 were 3R-MYB, and 1 was 4R-MYB. Almost all MYB genes were located in the 0-30 Mb region of autosomes; however, the 20 MYB genes were enriched at both ends of the sex chromosome (chromosome 4). Based on phylogeny, conserved motifs, and the structure of genes, 2R-MYB exhibited higher conservation relative to 1R-MYB genes. Tandem duplication and collinearity of spinach MYB genes drive their evolution, enabling the functional diversification of spinach genes. Subcellular localization prediction indicated that spinach MYB genes were mainly located in the nucleus. Cis-acting element analysis confirmed that MYB genes were involved in various processes of spinach growth and development, such as circadian rhythm, cell differentiation, and reproduction through hormone synthesis. Furthermore, through the transcriptome data analysis of male and female flower organs at five different periods, ten candidate genes showed biased expression in spinach males, suggesting that these genes might be related to the development of spinach anthers. Collectively, this study provides useful information for further investigating the function of MYB TFs and novel insights into the regulation of sex determination in spinach.

DNA methylation dynamics during yak adipocyte differentiation.

In mammals, epigenetic modifications involving DNA methylation are necessary for the completion of the cell differentiation process. However, the global DNA methylation landscape and its dynamics during yak adipocyte differentiation remain unexplored. Here, we performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to asses DNA methylation in yak preadipocytes and adipocytes, combining these results with those of our previous studies on changes in chromatin accessibility and gene expression during yak adipogenesis. The results showed that CG methylation levels were lower in promoter than in exon and intron, and gradually decreasing from the distal regions to transcription start site (TSS). There was a significant negative correlation between CG methylation levels located in promoter and gene expression levels. The 46 genes shared by CG differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and differential chromatin accessibility were significantly enriched in Hedgehog and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. ATAC-seq peaks with high chromatin accessibility located in both promoter (≤ 2 kb from TSS) and distal (> 2 kb from TSS) regions corresponded to low methylation levels. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that DNA methylation and its interactions with chromatin accessibility regulate gene expression during yak adipocyte differentiation, contributing to the understanding of mechanisms of various epigenetic modifications and their interactions in adipogenesis.

A comprehensive study on the longissius dorsi muscle of Ashdan yaks under different feeding regimes based on transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.

Yak is an important dominant livestock species at high altitude, and the growth performance of yak has obvious differences under different feeding methods. This experiment was conducted to compare the effects of different feeding practices on growth performance and meat quality of yaks through combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. In terms of yak growth performance, compared with traditional grazing, in-house feeding can significantly improve the average daily weight gain, carcass weight and net meat weight of yaks; in terms of yak meat quality, in-house feeding can effectively improve the quality of yak meat. A combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis revealed 31 co-enriched pathways, among which arginine metabolism, proline metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism may be involved in the development of the longissimus dorsi muscle of yak and the regulation of meat quality-related traits. The experimental results increased our understanding of yak meat quality and provided data materials for subsequent deep excavation of the mechanism of yak meat quality.

A new perspective for evaluating the efficacy of tACS and tDCS in improving executive functions: A combined tES and fNIRS study.

BACKGROUND: Executive function enhancement is considered necessary for improving the quality of life of patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and Alzheimer's disease. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) has been shown to have some beneficial effects on executive functioning, but the quantification of these improvements remains controversial. We aimed to explore the potential beneficial effects on executive functioning induced by the use of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)/transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and the accompanying brain function variations in the resting state. METHODS: We recruited 229 healthy adults to participate in Experiments 1 (105 participants) and 2 (124 participants). The participants in each experiment were randomly divided into tACS, tDCS, and sham groups. The participants completed cognitive tasks to assess behavior related to three core components of executive functions. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to monitor the hemodynamic changes in crucial cortical regions in the resting state. RESULTS: Inhibition and cognitive flexibility (excluding working memory) were significantly increased after tACS/tDCS, but there were no significant behavioral differences between the tACS and tDCS groups. fNIRS revealed that tDCS induced decreases in the functional connectivity (increased neural efficiency) of the relevant cortices. CONCLUSIONS: Enhancement of executive function was observed after tES, and the beneficial effects of tACS/tDCS may need to be precisely evaluated via brain imaging indicators at rest. tDCS revealed better neural benefits than tACS during the stimulation phase. These findings might provide new insights for selecting intervention methods in future studies and for evaluating the clinical efficacy of tES.