Constructing a Titanium Silicon Molecular Sieve-Based Z-Scheme Heterojunction with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity.

Titanium silicon molecular sieve (TS-1) is an oxidation catalyst that possesses a long lifetime of charge transfer excited state, high Ti utilization efficiency, large specific surface area, and good adsorption property; therefore, TS-1 acts as a Ti-based photocatalyst candidate. In this work, TS-1 coupled Bi2MoO6 (TS-1/BMO) photocatalysts were fabricated via a facile hydrothermal route. Interestingly, the optimized TS-1/BMO-1.0 catalyst exhibited a decent photodegradation property toward tetracycline hydrochloride (85.49% in 120 min) under the irradiation of full spectrum light, which were 4.38 and 1.76 times compared to TS-1 and BMO, respectively. The enhanced photodegradation property of the TS-1/BMO-1.0 catalyst could be attributed to the reinforced light-harvesting capacity of the photocatalyst, high charge mobility, and suitable band structure for tetracycline hydrochloride degradation. In addition, the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride by the TS-1/BMO-1.0 catalyst was reasonably proposed based on the band structure, trapping, and ESR tests. This research provided feasible ideas for the design and construction of high-efficiency photocatalysts for contaminant degradation.

Metal-Organic Frameworks Marry Sponge: New Opportunities for Advanced Water Treatment.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered attention across various fields due to their noteworthy features like high specific surface area, substantial porosity, and adjustable performance. In the realm of water treatment, MOFs exhibit great potential for eliminating pollutants such as organics, heavy metals, and oils. Nonetheless, the inherent powder characteristics of MOFs pose challenges in terms of recycling, pipeline blockage, and even secondary pollution in practical applications. Addressing these issues, the incorporation of MOFs into sponges proves to be an effective solution. Strategies like one-pot synthesis, in situ growth, and impregnation are commonly employed for loading MOFs onto sponges. This review comprehensively explores the synthesis strategies of MOFs and sponges, along with their applications in water treatment, aiming to contribute to the ongoing advancement of MOF materials.

Association of anti-Ro52 antibody with depression and anxiety in patients with connective tissue diseases: an observational, single-centre, cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the risk factors of anxiety and depression, especially their association with serum autoantibodies, in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs). METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-two inpatients with CTDs were recruited and their demographic, serological and imaging data were collected through the medical record system. Depression and anxiety were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale (GAD-7) respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), rank sum test, chi-square test and logistic regression were performed to investigate risk factors for depression and anxiety. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) and anxiety (GAD-7 ≥5) in CTD patients was significantly higher than that in the Chinese general population (depression: 44.3% vs. 32.2%, anxiety: 39.5% vs. 22.2%). Sleep time was a protective factor for both depression and anxiety (OR=0.734, 95% CI: 0.616~0.874, p<0.001 and OR=0.684, 95% CI: 0.559~0.835, P<0.001, respectively) while anti-Ro52 antibody was a risk factor for them (OR=5.466, 95% CI: 2.978~10.032, p<0.001 and OR=4.075, 95% CI: 2.073~8.010, p<0.001, respectively). Further analysis showed that anti-Ro52 antibody was a risk factor for depression and anxiety in all four subgroups, namely SLE, SS, RA, and other CTDs. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-Ro52 antibody is probably a risk factor for depression and anxiety in patients with connective tissue diseases. CTD patients with the presence of anti-Ro52 antibody are more prone to depression and anxiety than those without it.

Occurrence, Profiles and Ecological Risk of Bisphenol Analogues in a Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant.

Due to the strict control on bisphenol A (BPA) in many countries, bisphenol analogues (BPs) are being widely used as alternative materials to manufacture epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, resulting in their occurrence in sewage treatment plants (STPs). In this study, the occurrence and distribution of 7 BPs in a large-scale STP in Beijing China was investigated. Wastewater samples were collected from the influents and effluents of each processing unit, and extracted by solid-phase extraction. Target compounds were quantified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The total concentrations of seven BPs (ΣBPs) were 400.42 ± 48.12 ng/L in the raw sewage, 438.60 ± 46.50 ng/L in the primary effluent, 17.21 ± 13.12 ng/L in the secondary effluent, and 11.33 ± 4.84 ng/L in the tertiary effluent, respectively. Bisphenol S (BPS) and BPA were the predominant congener in raw sewage with an overall contribution of 29.32% and 70.22% to the ΣBPs, indicating that there was a large amount of BPS and BPA consumption in the study area. During a one-week sampling period, ΣBPs changed slightly at the same sampling site. It was found that high removal efficiencies were achieved for BPs in anoxic and oxic secondary clarifier treatment units, suggesting that biodegradation and sorption played major roles in BPs elimination in the STP. After tertiary treatment, all BPs except BPA were completely removed, suggesting the necessity to investigate the fate and toxicity of BPA in the aquatic environment.

Prostatic arterial embolization for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia: a comparative study of medium- and large-volume prostates.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the outcomes of prostatic arterial embolization (PAE) in treating large (>80 mL) in comparison with medium-sized prostate glands (50-80 mL) to determine whether size affects the outcome of PAE. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 115 patients (mean age 71.5 years) diagnosed with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) attributable to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) refractory to medical treatment underwent PAE. Group A (n = 64) included patients with a mean prostate volume of 129 mL; group B (n = 51) included patients with a mean prostate volume of 64 mL. PAE was performed using 100-µm particles. Follow-up was performed using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), peak urinary flow rate (Qmax ), post-void residual urine volume (PVR), the International Index of Erectile Function short form (IIEF-5), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging at 1, 3 and 6 months, and every 6 months thereafter. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in baseline IPSS, QoL, Qmax , PVR, PSA level or IIEF-5 score. The technical success rate was 93.8% in group A and 96.8% in group B (P = 0.7). A total of 101 patients (55 patients in group A and 46 patients in group B) completed the mean (range) follow-up of 17 (12-33) months. Compared with baseline, there were significant improvements in IPSS, QoL, Qmax , prostate volume and PVR in both groups after PAE. The outcomes in group A were significantly better than in group B with regard to mean ± sd IPSS (-14 ± 6.5 vs -10.5 ± 5.5, respectively), Qmax (6.0 ± 1.5 vs 4.5 ± 1.0 mL/s, respectively), PVR (-80.0 ± 25.0 vs -60.0 ± 20.0 mL, respectively), prostate volume (-54.5 ± 18.0 mL [-42.3%] vs -18.5 ± 5.0 mL [-28.9%], respectively), and QoL score (-3.0 ± 1.5 vs -2.0 ± 1.0) with P values <0.05. The mean IIEF-5 score was not significantly different from baseline in both groups. No major complications were noted. CONCLUSIONS: We found that PAE is a safe and effective treatment method for patients with LUTS attributable to BPH. The clinical and imaging outcomes of PAE were better in patients with larger prostate glands than medium-sized ones.

Determination of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water by solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Given the potential risks of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the analysis of their presence in water is very urgent. We have developed a novel procedure for determining chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water based on solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The extraction parameters of solid-phase extraction were optimized in detail. Under the optimal conditions, the proposed method showed wide linear ranges (1.0-1000 ng/L) with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9952 to 0.9998. The limits of detection and the limits of quantification were in the range of 0.015-0.591 and 0.045-1.502 ng/L, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 82.5 to 102.6% with relative standard deviations below 9.2%. The obtained method was applied successfully to the determination of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in real water samples. Most of the chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected and 1-monochloropyrene was predominant in the studied water samples. This is the first report of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples in China. The toxic equivalency quotients of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the studied tap water were 9.95 ng the toxic equivalency quotient m(-3) . 9,10-Dichloroanthracene and 1-monochloropyrene accounted for the majority of the total toxic equivalency quotients of chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tap water.

Prostatic arterial embolization for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms as a result of large benign prostatic hyperplasia: A prospective single-center investigation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of prostatic arterial embolization as a primary treatment for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms as a result of large benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS: A total of 64 patients with prostates >80 mL were included in the study. Prostatic arterial embolization was carried out using a combination of 50-µm and 100-µm particles. Clinical follow up was carried out using the International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, peak urinary flow, postvoid residual volume, International Index of Erectile Function Short Form, prostate-specific antigen, and prostatic volume at 1, 3, 6 and every 6 months thereafter. RESULTS: Prostatic arterial embolization was technically successful in 60 of 64 patients (93.8%). Follow-up data were available for 60 patients with a mean of 18 months. A clinical improvement, defined as reduction of International Prostate Symptom Score and increase of peak urinary flow, at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months, was achieved in 95.0%, 95.0%, 93.3%, 92.6% and 90.5%, respectively. A total of 42 patients had completed the follow up at 24 months after prostatic arterial embolization. There was an improvement in terms of mean International Prostate Symptom Score (pre-prostatic arterial embolization vs post-prostatic arterial embolization 27.0 vs 8.0; P < 0.01), mean quality of life (5.5 vs 2.0; P < 0.01), mean peak urinary flow (7.0 vs 13.0; P < 0.01), mean postvoid residual volume (130 vs 45.0; P < 0.05) and prostatic volume (121.0 vs 71.5, reduction of 40.9%; P < 0.01) were significantly different with respect to baseline. CONCLUSION: Prostatic arterial embolization seems to be a safe and effective treatment method for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms as a result of large benign prostatic hyperplasia, and it might play an important role for patients in whom medical therapy has failed, who are not candidates for surgical treatment.

The Potential of the lncRNAs ADAMTSL4-AS1, AC067931 and SOCS2-AS1 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells as Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers for Hepatitis B Virus-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) might be closely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and could serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers. This study aimed to investigate lncRNA-based diagnostic biomarkers for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated HCC. Materials and Methods: High-throughput transcriptome sequencing was conducted on the liver tissues of 15 patients with HBV-associated liver diseases (5 with chronic hepatitis B [CHB], 5 with liver cirrhosis [LC], and 5 with HCC). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze lncRNA expressions. Potential diagnostic performance for HBV-associated HCC screening was evaluated. Results: Through trend analysis and functional analysis, we found that 8 lncRNAs were gradually upregulated and 1 lncRNA was progressively downregulated by regulation of target mRNAs and downstream HCC-associated signaling pathways. The validation of dysregulated lncRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HCC tissues by qRT-PCR revealed that ADAMTSL4-AS1, SOCS2-AS1, and AC067931 were significantly increased in HCC compared with CHB and cirrhosis. Moreover, differentially expressed lncRNAs were aberrantly elevated in Huh7, Hep3B, HepG2, and HepG2.215 cells compared with LX2 cells. Furthermore, ADAMTSL4-AS1, SOCS2-AS1, and AC067931 were identified as novel biomarkers for HBV-associated HCC. For distinguishing HCC from CHB, ADAMTSL4-AS1, AC067931, and SOCS2-AS1 combined with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.945 (sensitivity, 83.9%; specificity, 89.8%). Similarly, for distinguishing HCC from LC, this combination had an AUC of 0.871 (sensitivity, 91.1%; specificity, 68.2%). Furthermore, this combination showed the highest diagnostic ability to distinguish HCC from CHB and LC (AUC, 0.905; sensitivity, 91.1%; specificity, 75.3%). In particular, this combination identified AFP-negative (AFP < 20 ng/mL) (AUC = 0.814), small (AUC = 0.909), and early stage (AUC = 0.863) tumors. Conclusion: ADAMTSL4-AS1, SOCS2-AS1, and AC067931 combined with AFP in PBMCs may serve as a noninvasive diagnostic biomarker for HBV-associated HCC, especially AFP-negative, small, and early stage HCC.

Seeking the adsorption of tetracycline in water by Fe-modified sludge biochar at different pyrolysis temperatures.

The composite material SBC-Fe-x with sludge and Fe3+ was developed by different calcination temperatures (600, 700, and 800 °C) for the removal of tetracycline (TC). The adsorption rates of SBC-Fe-600, SBC-Fe-700, and SBC-Fe-800 were 77.5%, 89%, and 91%, respectively. Furthermore, the Langmuir model indicated that the maximum adsorption capacity of SBC-Fe-700 (157.93 mg/g) was three times greater than that of SBC-Fe-600. The conclusions were confirmed by a series of characterizations that SBC-Fe-700 showed a larger specific surface area, well-developed pore structure, rich oxygen-containing functional groups and a high degree of graphitization. The results of pH experiments indicated the broad applicability of SBC-Fe-700 for TC adsorption. In addition, SBC-Fe-700 suggested outstanding performance in different water environments. This work produced a feasible adsorbent for the removal of TC, and a new direction for sludge resource utilization was proposed.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Uptake among Patients with Chronic Liver Disease: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Hebei Province, China.

Chronic liver disease (CLD) patients have higher mortality and hospitalization rates after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to explore SARS-CoV-2 vaccine perceptions, side effects, factors associated with nonvaccination and attitudes toward fourth-dose vaccine among CLD patients. The differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups among 1491 CLD patients and the risk factors associated with nonvaccination status were analyzed. In total, 1239 CLD patients were immunized against SARS-CoV-2. CLD patients have a high level of trust in the government and clinicians and were likely to follow their recommendations for vaccination. Reasons reported for nonvaccination were mainly concerns about the vaccines affecting their ongoing treatments and the fear of adverse events. However, only 4.84% of patients reported mild side effects. Risk factors influencing nonvaccination included being older in age, having cirrhosis, receiving treatments, having no knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine considerations and not receiving doctors' positive advice on vaccination. Furthermore, 20.6% of completely vaccinated participants refused the fourth dose because they were concerned about side effects and believed that the complete vaccine was sufficiently protective. Our study proved that SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were safe for CLD patients. Our findings suggest that governments and health workers should provide more SARS-CoV-2 vaccination information and customize strategies to improve vaccination coverage and enhance vaccine protection among the CLD population.

Diagnostic value and characteristic analysis of serum nucleocapsid antigen in COVID-19 patients.

Background: To date, several types of laboratory tests for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis have been developed. However, the clinical importance of serum severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid antigen (N-Ag) remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we sought to investigate the value of serum SARS-CoV-2 N-Ag for COVID-19 diagnosis and to analyze N-Ag characteristics in COVID-19 individuals. Methods: Serum samples collected from 215 COVID-19 patients and 65 non-COVID-19 individuals were used to quantitatively detect N-Ag via chemiluminescent immunoassay according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the N-Ag assay were 64.75% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) [55.94-72.66%]) and 100% (95% CI [93.05-100.00%]), respectively, according to the cut-off value recommended by the manufacturer. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed a sensitivity of 100.00% (95% CI [94.42-100.00%]) and a specificity of 71.31% (95% CI [62.73-78.59%]). The positive rates and levels of serum SARS-CoV-2 N-Ag were not related to sex, comorbidity status or disease severity of COVID-19 (all P < 0.001). Compared with RT‒PCR, there was a lower positive rate of serum N-Ag for acute COVID-19 patients (P < 0.001). The positive rate and levels of serum SARS-CoV-2 N-Ag in acute patients were significantly higher than those in convalescent patients (all P < 0.001). In addition, the positive rate of serum SARS-CoV-2 N-Ag in acute COVID-19 patients was higher than that of serum antibodies (IgM, IgG, IgA and neutralizing antibodies (Nab)) against SARS-CoV-2 (all P < 0.001). However, the positive rate of serum SARS-CoV-2 N-Ag in convalescent COVID-19 patients was significantly lower than that of antibodies (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: Serum N-Ag can be used as a biomarker for early COVID-19 diagnosis based on appropriate cut-off values. In addition, our study also demonstrated the relationship between serum N-Ag and clinical characteristics.

Untargeted Metabolomics and Physicochemical Analysis Revealed the Quality Formation Mechanism in Fermented Milk Inoculated with Lactobacillus brevis and Kluyveromyces marxianus Isolated from Traditional Fermented Milk.

Traditional fermented milk from the western Sichuan plateau of China has a unique flavor and rich microbial diversity. This study explored the quality formation mechanism in fermented milk inoculated with Lactobacillus brevis NZ4 and Kluyveromyces marxianus SY11 (MFM), the dominant microorganisms isolated from traditional dairy products in western nan. The results indicated that MFM displayed better overall quality than the milk fermented with L. brevis NZ4 (LFM) and K. marxianus SY11 (KFM), respectively. MFM exhibited good sensory quality, more organic acid types, more free amino acids and esters, and moderate acidity and ethanol concentrations. Non-targeted metabolomics showed a total of 885 metabolites annotated in the samples, representing 204 differential metabolites between MFM and LFM and 163 between MFM and KFM. MFM displayed higher levels of N-acetyl-L-glutamic acid, cysteinyl serine, glaucarubin, and other substances. The differential metabolites were mainly enriched in pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and beta-alanine metabolism. This study speculated that L. brevis affected K. marxianus growth via its metabolites, while the mixed fermentation of these strains significantly changed the metabolism pathway of flavor-related substances, especially glycerophospholipid metabolism. Furthermore, mixed fermentation modified the flavor and quality of fermented milk by affecting cell growth and metabolic pathways.

Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccine enhanced immune responses in patients with chronic liver diseases.

Chronic liver disease (CLD) entails elevated risk of COVID-19 severity and mortality. The effectiveness of the booster dose of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in stimulating antibody response in CLD patients is unclear. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving 237 adult CLD patients and 170 healthy controls (HC) to analyze neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2 prototype and BA.4/5 variant, anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG, and total anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Serum levels of the total anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, anti-RBD IgG and inhibition efficacy of NAbs were significantly elevated in CLD patients after the booster dose compared with the pre-booster dose, but were relatively lower than those of HCs. Induced humoral responses decreased over time after booster vaccination. The neutralization efficiency of the serum against BA.4/5 increased but remained below the inhibition threshold. All four SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, including total anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, anti-RBD IgG and NAbs against prototype and BA.4/5, were lower in patients with severe CLD than those with non-severe CLD. After booster shot, age and time after the last vaccine were the risk factors for seropositivity of NAb against BA.4/5 in CLD patients. Additionally, white blood cell counts and hepatitis B core antibodies were the protective factors, and severe liver disease was the risk factor associated with seropositivity of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Overall, our data uncovered that antibody responses were improved in CLD patients and peaked at 120 days after the booster vaccines. All antibodies excepting total anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies declined after peak. CLD patients exhibited impaired immunologic responses to vaccination and weakened NAbs against BA.4/5, which hindered the protective effect of the booster shot against Omicron prevalence. Cellular immune responses should be further evaluated to determine the optimal vaccine regimen for CLD patients.

Reduction of nitrate by bimetallic Fe/Ni nanoparticles.

Bimetallic Fe/Ni nanoparticles were synthesized and their nitrate reduction capacity was studied. Nitrate (354 mg L(-1), equal to 5.71 mmol L(-1)) reduction was performed using Fe/Ni nanoparticles with various Ni contents (1.0, 5.0, 10 and 20%) in an unbuffered condition. Optimum nitrate reduction rate (1.03 +/- 0.087 x 10(-4) mol x min(-1) x greduc(-1)) was obtained with 5.0% nano-scale Fe/Ni, while only 25% nitrate (1.05 +/- 0.091 x 10(-5) mol x min(-1) x greduc(-1)) was transformed by nano-scale Fe(0) within the same reaction time, which means that these bimetallic nanoparticles are obviously more reactive than monometallic nano-scale Fe(0). For this bimetallic system a near-neutral initial pH (6.5) is more favourable than an acidic condition (2.0 and 4.0). Relatively air-stable nano-scale Fe/Ni particles were developed by slowly aging them for 22 h and exhibited similar reactivity to freshly synthesized nano-scale Fe(0). Although undesirable transformation of nitrate (91.0 +/- 0.37%) to ammonium was observed in this study, Fe/Ni particles showed a much higher nitrate reduction rate and an optimum reduction rate at near-neutral pH, which may have important implications for nitrate-contaminated site remediation.

Design a flower-like magnetic graphite carbon microsphere for enhanced adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol.

2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) is a hazardous chlorinated organic chemical, so its removal is an important task to protect the whole ecosystem and human health. During the material preparation, the magnetic graphitic carbon adsorbent (HFMCM) with a sparse sheet-like stacking structure was formed by interlayer assembly of nickel hydroxide nanosheets and hydrothermal glucose carbon. The conditions for optimal performance of the adsorbent are 45 °C and pH 5. The maximum adsorption capacity of HFMCM-180 for 2,4-DCP is 147.06 mg·g-1. Adsorption behavior in accordance with Langmuir isothermal model and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The adsorbent remains selective for 2,4-DCP in metal ion solutions. More than 75% of the adsorption capacity is maintained after five cycles of adsorption. Electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and π-π bonding play a major role in the adsorption of 2,4-DCP by HFMCM. The adsorbent was glucose as the carbon source, nickel sulfate as the magnetic source, and hexamethylenetetramine as the precipitant. Its carbonization after pretreatment with different hydrothermal temperatures resulted in the synthesis of flower-like graphitic carbon spheres with magnetic properties. The interconnected pore channels on the adsorbent surface conferred large specific surface area to the material. 2,4-DCP was efficiently adsorbed by π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic attraction within the pore channels with low spatial potential resistance.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Dayu yak (Bos grunniens).

Dayu yak (Bos grunniens) is a long-furred yak breed from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and is highly adapted to local high-altitude and cold environments. In this study, its mitochondrial genome was characterized via high-throughput sequencing technology. The genome is 16,323 bp long with an AT-biased base composition (61.0% A + T; light strand), and harbors the typical set of 37 mitochondrial genes and a noncoding control region. Its gene arrangement is identical to those of other bovid taxa. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Dayu yak is most closely related to Maiwa, Niangya, Qinghai Plateau, Xueduo and Yushu yaks.

The effects of whole body vibration on muscle strength and functional mobility in persons with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to confirm the effects of the whole body vibration (WBV) on muscle performance and functional mobility in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in databases of Pubmed, Web of Science, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library from 1990 to 2015. The risk of bias in the selected studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's Tool. Summary statistics was calculated using the Review Manager 5.2 software. RESULTS: Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 7 trials including 201 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the WBV significantly improved the knee extensor strength (WMD=13.74, 95% CI 4.56 to 22.93, P=0.003). However, there were no significant differences between WBV and control groups on knee flexor strength (95% CI -26.22 to 41.83, P=0.65), Timed Up and Go test (TUG, WMD=0.31, 95% CI: -0.91 to 3.42, P=0.62) and walking speed (SMD=0.42, 95% CI: -0.78 to 1.62, P=0.49). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the WBV may improve the knee extension muscle strength. However, the WBV does not show a meaningful improvement of functional mobility in MS patients.

Effects of Three Types of Inactivation Agents on the Antibody Response and Immune Protection of Inactivated IHNV Vaccine in Rainbow Trout.

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) infects salmonid fish, resulting in high mortality and serious economic losses to salmonid aquaculture. Therefore, an effective IHNV vaccine is urgently needed. To select an inactivation agent for the preparation of an effective IHNV vaccine, rainbow trout were immunized with mineral oil emulsions of IHNV vaccines inactivated by formaldehyde, binary ethylenimine (BEI), or ß-propiolactone (BPL). The fish were challenged 8 weeks after vaccination, and their IgM antibody response and relative percent survival (RPS) were evaluated. The results show that formaldehyde, BEI, and BPL abolished IHNV HLJ-09 infectivity within 24, 48, and 24 h at final concentrations of 0.2%, 0.02%, and 0.01%, respectively. The mean levels of specific IgM, both in serum and mucus (collected from the skin surface and gills), for the three immunized groups (from high to low) ranked as follows: the BPL group, BEI group, and formaldehyde group. From weeks 5 to 9, the mean log2 serum titers of IgM in the BPL group were significantly higher compared with those of the other groups (p < 0.05) during the 9 weeks of observation after vaccination (immunized at weeks 0 and6). Mucus OD490 values of the BPL group were significantly higher compared with those of the other groups (p < 0.05) when reaching their peak at weeks 5 and 8, but the difference between the formaldehyde and BEI groups was not significant (p > 0.05). The BPL-inactivated whole-virus vaccine had the greatest protective effect on the rainbow trout after challenge by an intraperitoneal injection of live IHNV, with an RPS rate of 91.67%, which was significantly higher compared with the BEI (83.33%) and formaldehyde (79.17%) groups. These results indicate that the BPL-inactivated IHNV oil-adjuvant vaccine was more effective than the formaldehyde- or BEI-inactivated vaccines. The results of this study provide an important foundation for further studies on inactivated IHNV vaccines.

Marker assisted pyramiding of two brown planthopper resistance genes, Bph3 and Bph27 (t), into elite rice Cultivars.

BACKGROUND: Brown planthopper (BPH) is the most destructive insect in rice production. Breeding of resistant cultivars is the most cost-effective and environment-friendly strategy for BPH management; however, resistant cultivars are currently hampered by the rapid breakdown of BPH resistance. Thus, there is an urgent need to use more effective BPH resistance genes or pyramiding different resistance genes to develop more durable resistant rice cultivars. RESULTS: Here a dominant BPH resistance gene Bph27(t) were introgressed into a susceptible commercial japonica variety Ningjing3 (NJ3) and indica variety 93-11 using marker-assisted selection (MAS), respectively. Further, Bph27(t) and a durable BPH resistance gene Bph3 was pyramided by intercrossing single-gene introgressed lines through MAS. The introgression of BPH resistance genes significantly improved the BPH resistance and reduced the yield loss caused by BPH. CONCLUSION: The development of single and two genes pyramided lines in this study provides innovative resources for molecular breeding of durable BPH-resistant rice cultivars and BPH management through resistant cultivars.