First Report of Blastocystis Infection in Pigs from Large Farms in Xinjiang, China.

Blastocystis is a common intestinal protozoan in humans and various animals worldwide. A few studies have reported the genetic characterization of Blastocystis in pigs in China, but no epidemiological data are available from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In this study, 801 fecal samples were collected from seven scale pig farms in Xinjiang and tested by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis of the partial SSU rRNA gene. The average infection rate of Blastocystis was 21.7% (174/801), with 7.1% in preweaning piglets, 10.0% in postweaning piglets, 31.8% in fattening pigs, and 41.9% in sows (χ2  = 104.89; P < 0.01). Blastocystis subtypes ST1 (7/174), ST3 (2/174), and ST5 (165/174) were identified, with subtype ST5 being predominant in each of the pig farms and in each of the age groups. ST3 and ST5 were identified in preweaning piglets, and ST1, ST3, and ST5 were identified in postweaning piglets. In contrast, only the subtype ST5 was observed in fattening pigs and sows. Genetic polymorphisms were observed at the intrasubtype level, including two variations of ST1 (ST1A, ST1B), and seven of ST5 (ST5A to ST5G), by sequence alignment analysis and phylogenetic analysis. More studies are needed to elucidate the transmission and public health significance of Blastocystis in pigs in various areas.

Molecular identification and genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in experimental rats in China.

Experimental rats are important animal models, and a history of pathogenic infections in these animals will directly affect the animal trial results. Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a ubiquitous potential pathogen transmitted via the fecal-oral route. To determine the prevalence and genotypic distributions of E. bieneusi in experimental rats in China, 291 fresh fecal samples were collected from four medical experimental animal centers. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was screened via nested-PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Of the rats tested, 4.8% (14/291) were positive for E. bieneusi. Five E. bieneusi ITS genotypes (four known: EbpA, EbpC, CHY1, and N; one novel: SHR1) were detected among 14 sequenced samples. The dominant E. bieneusi genotype was EbpA (50.0%, 7/14). In the phylogenetic analysis, genotypes EbpA and EbpC belonged to the previously described group 1, genotypes N and SHR1 belonged to group 2, and genotype CHY1 belonged to the novel group 12. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. bieneusi in experimental laboratory rats in China. Infections with this pathogen must be monitored in laboratory animals, and quality control officers in the medical experimental centers should attempt to trace the pathogen's source and stop its transmission.

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in minks (Neovison vison), blue foxes (Vulpes lagopus), and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in farms from Xinjiang, Northwest China.

The objective of this study was to determine the infection rate and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in minks, foxes, and raccoon dogs, farmed in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China. Fresh fecal specimens were collected from individual cages of farmed minks (n = 214), blue foxes (n = 35), and raccoon dogs (n = 39) and examined using nested PCR based on the Cryptosporidium spp. small subunit rRNA gene. Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in 35 cages (12.2%, 35/288), with a higher infection rate detected in raccoon dogs (20.5%) compared with minks (12.1%) and blue foxes (2.9%). Sequence analysis showed that Cryptosporidium canis was the only species identified in blue foxes and raccoon dogs, while in the 26 Cryptosporidium-positive mink specimens, Cryptosporidium mink genotype (n = 17), C. canis (n = 7), and Cryptosporidium parvum (n = 2) were identified. Further analysis based on the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene determined that both C. parvum isolates belonged to the subtype IIdA15G1, while eight of the 17 Cryptosporidium mink genotype isolates were a novel subtype that we have named XeA5G1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of C. parvum subtype IIdA15G1 infection in minks. Since all the Cryptosporidium species/genotypes identified in minks, foxes, and raccoon dogs from Xinjiang have been previously found in humans, our results suggest that these fur animals may play a role in the transmission of zoonotic Cryptosporidium.

Molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. in pet snakes in Beijing, China.

Few reports of Cryptosporidium spp. in snakes in China have been published. To determine the infection rate and document the presence of Cryptosporidium in pet snakes using molecular methods, 273 fecal samples were collected from eight species of pet snakes from 13 pet households in Beijing, China, and were examined by PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Cryptosporidium was detected from 17 of 273 (6.2%) samples, and nine out of 13 households tested positive for Cryptosporidium with a range of 3.3 to 33.3% among households showing significant difference (p < 0.01). The infection rate of Cryptosporidium for females and males was 6.5% (13/201) and 5.6% (4/72), respectively, showing no significant difference (p > 0.05). Six out of eight pet snake species tested positive for Cryptosporidium with a range of 4.2 to 9.1% among species, showing no significant difference (p > 0.05). Two Cryptosporidium species were identified: Cryptosporidium serpentis in 10 samples and Cryptosporidium varanii in seven samples. No zoonotic Cryptosporidium species occur in our study populations.

Evaluation of thermal expansion coefficient of carbon fiber reinforced composites using electronic speckle interferometry.

An optical system for measuring the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of materials has been developed based on electronic speckle interferometry. In this system, the temperature can be varied from -60°C to 180°C with a Peltier device. A specific specimen geometry and an optical arrangement based on the Michelson interferometer are proposed to measure the deformation along two orthogonal axes due to temperature changes. The advantages of the system include its high sensitivity and stability over the whole range of measurement. The experimental setup and approach for estimating the CTE was validated using an Aluminum alloy. Following this validation, the system was applied for characterizing the CTE of carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRP) laminates. For the unidirectional fiber reinforced composites, the CTE varied with fiber orientation and exhibits anisotropic behavior. By stacking the plies with specific angles and order, the CTE of a specific CFRP was constrained to a low level with minimum variation temperature. The optical system developed in this study can be applied to CTE measurement for engineering and natural materials with high accuracy.

Strontium ion attenuates lipopolysaccharide-stimulated proinflammatory cytokine expression and lipopolysaccharide-inhibited early osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of the periodontium. The strontium ion (Sr2+ ) can prevent the bone loss associated with periodontitis and promote the regeneration of the bone. The mechanisms by which the Sr2+ works remain poorly understood. We aim to investigate the effects of the Sr2+ ion on cell proliferation, inflammatory regulation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) in pathological conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: hPDLCs were obtained from premolars that came from the orthodontic extraction. The hPDLCs were treated with Sr2+ and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which was applied as the pathological condition of periodontitis. The effect of the dose of Sr2+ on cell proliferation was analyzed using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The gene and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines were detected by the real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The osteogenic differentiation and mineralization were assessed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction, alkaline phosphatase activity assay and alizarin red staining. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that Sr2+ in a range of concentrations from 0.02 to 2.5 mmol/L significantly improved the proliferation of hPDLCs. Sr2+ reversed LPS-stimulated proinflammatory cytokine expressions such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8. Moreover, Sr2+ rescued the LPS-inhibited gene expression of osteogenic differentiation. Although it appeared to suppress the late mineralization, Sr2+ can reverse the LPS-inhibited early osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that Sr2+ could attenuate the LPS-stimulated proinflammatory molecule expression and inhibit early osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs.

DLX3 promotes bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell proliferation through H19/miR-675 axis.

The underlying molecular mechanism of the increased bone mass phenotype in Tricho-dento-osseous (TDO) syndrome remains largely unknown. Our previous study has shown that the TDO point mutation c.533A>G, Q178R in DLX3 could increase bone density in a TDO patient and transgenic mice partially through delaying senescence in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). In the present study, we provided a new complementary explanation for TDO syndrome: the DLX3 (Q178R) mutation increased BMSCs proliferation through H19/miR-675 axis. We found that BMSCs derived from the TDO patient (TDO-BMSCs) had stronger proliferation ability than controls by clonogenic and CCK-8 assays. Next, experiments of overexpression and knockdown of wild-type DLX3 via lentiviruses in normal BMSCs confirmed the results by showing its negative role in cell proliferation. Through validated high-throughput data, we found that the DLX3 mutation reduced the expression of H19 and its coexpression product miR-675 in BMSCs. Function and rescue assays suggested that DLX3, long noncoding RNA H19, and miR-675 are negative factors in modulation of BMSCs proliferation as well as NOMO1 expression. The original higher proliferation rate and the expression of NOMO1 in TDO-BMSCs were suppressed after H19 restoration. Collectively, it indicates that DLX3 regulates BMSCs proliferation through H19/miR-675 axis. Moreover, the increased expression of NOMO1 and decreased H19/miR-675 expression in DLX3 (Q178R) transgenic mice, accompanying with accrual bone mass and density detected by micro-CT, further confirmed our hypothesis. In summary, we, for the first time, demonstrate that DLX3 mutation interferes with bone formation partially through H19/miR-675/NOMO1 axis in TDO syndrome.

Propagation and control of congestion risk in scale-free networks based on information entropy.

To study the propagation pattern of congestion risk in the traffic network and enhance risk control capabilities, a model has been developed. This model takes into account the probabilities of five threats (the risk occurrence probability; the risk of loss; the unpredictability of risk; the uncontrollability of risk; the transferability of risk) in the traffic network to define the risk entropy and determine the risk capacity, analyze the mechanism of congestion risk propagation, and explore the impact of risk resistance, the average degree of risk capacity at intersections, and the degree of correlation on congestion risk propagation. Further, a control method model for risk propagation is proposed. Numerical simulation results demonstrate that the risk resistance parameter θ can inhibit the propagation of congestion risk during traffic congestion. The highest efficiency in controlling risk propagation is achieved when θ reaches a threshold value θ*. Furthermore, the average degree of intersection risk capacity α shows a positive correlation with θ* and a negative correlation with control efficiency. However, the degree of association ω has a negative effect on risk propagation control, decreasing the degree of association between nodes aids in risk propagation control.

Plasmonic dielectric antennas for hybrid optical nanotweezing and optothermoelectric manipulation of single nanosized extracellular vesicles.

This paper showcases an experimental demonstration of near-field optical trapping and dynamic manipulation of an individual extracellular vesicle. This is accomplished through the utilization of a plasmonic dielectric nanoantenna designed to support an optical anapole state-a non-radiating optical state resulting from the destructive interference between electric and toroidal dipoles in the far-field, leading to robust near-field enhancement. To further enhance the field intensity associated with the optical anapole state, a plasmonic mirror is incorporated, thereby boosting trapping capabilities. In addition to demonstrating near-field optical trapping, the study achieves dynamic manipulation of extracellular vesicles by harnessing the thermoelectric effect. This effect is induced in the presence of an ionic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), combined with plasmonic heating. Furthermore, the thermoelectric effect improves trapping stability by introducing a wide and deep trapping potential. In summary, our hybrid plasmonic-dielectric trapping platform offers a versatile approach for actively transporting, stably trapping, and dynamically manipulating individual extracellular vesicles.

Rapid Detection of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil Using Advanced Fluorescence Imaging Techniques.

Chemical methods for measuring soil organic content are often slow and yield inaccurate results due to significant errors. Simple summation of components may not accurately determine total organic content. In contrast, fluorescence imaging techniques offer rapid, in situ monitoring without complex pretreatment and demonstrate rapid and accurate assessment of soil organic content. Utilizing a soil organic pollutant fluorescence imaging in situ monitoring system that we independently developed, we conducted laboratory experiments to explore methods for acquiring fluorescence signals of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and extracting image features. We used this monitoring system to obtain fluorescence images of crude oil in standard soil (soil properties are shown in Table S1) samples at concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 g/kg, and the coefficient of determination of the total amount inversion model reached 0.999. Simultaneously, we applied the system to a deserted petroleum storage area, and the relative standard deviation values of 16 of the 18 groups of tests were less than 1%, indicating that the monitoring system is highly stable when applied in the field. This study provides both theoretical foundation and technical support for the rapid and nondestructive detection of total petroleum hydrocarbons in soil at field sites.

Reaction induced thermally stabilized TS-1 zeolite as a novel long-lasting catalyst for methyl lactate production.

Commercial TS-1 zeolite was functionalized as a stable catalyst for the one-pot transformation of fructose to methyl lactate (MLA) by the reaction solvent (methanol) to generate increased catalytic activity. As a result, TS-1 was recycled for 14 cycles without a regeneration process by calcination and accompanied by a surprising increased catalytic activity. This work is expected to provide a new option for the industrial production of biomass-based MLA by heterogeneous chemocatalysis.

Multifunctional roles of inflammation and its causative factors in primary liver cancer: A literature review.

Primary liver cancer is a severe and complex disease, leading to 800000 global deaths annually. Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation is one of the critical factors in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients with viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, and steatohepatitis symptoms are at higher risk of developing HCC. However, not all inflammatory factors have a pathogenic function in HCC development. The current study describes the process and mechanism of hepatitis development and its progression to HCC, particularly focusing on viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, and steatohepatitis. Furthermore, the roles of some essential inflammatory cytokines in HCC progression are described in addition to a summary of future research directions.

Multidimensional conservation analysis decodes the expression of conserved long noncoding RNAs.

Although long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) experience weaker evolutionary constraints and exhibit lower sequence conservation than coding genes, they can still conserve their features in various aspects. Here, we used multiple approaches to systemically evaluate the conservation between human and mouse lncRNAs from various dimensions including sequences, promoter, global synteny, and local synteny, which led to the identification of 1,731 conserved lncRNAs with 427 high-confidence ones meeting multiple criteria. Conserved lncRNAs, compared with non-conserved ones, generally have longer gene bodies, more exons and transcripts, stronger connections with human diseases, and are more abundant and widespread across different tissues. Transcription factor (TF) profile analysis revealed a significant enrichment of TF types and numbers in the promoters of conserved lncRNAs. We further identified a set of TFs that preferentially bind to conserved lncRNAs and exert stronger regulation on conserved than non-conserved lncRNAs. Our study has reconciled some discrepant interpretations of lncRNA conservation and revealed a new set of transcriptional factors ruling the expression of conserved lncRNAs.

Efficient ilamycins production utilizing Enteromorpha prolifera by metabolically engineered Streptomyces atratus.

With the invasion of green tides and the increase of urban green areas worldwide, multimillion tons of Enteromorpha need to be reutilized. In this study, Enteromorpha prolifera powder is considered a promising biomass resource for the production of commercial chemical products production. Ilamycins, novel cyclic heptapeptides with significant anti-TB activities, are isolated from Streptomyces atratus SCSIO ZH16, a deep-sea-derived strain. Using EP powder as a nitrogen source, the production of ilamycins reached 709.97 mg/L through optimization of the nitrogen source using the engineered strain S. atratus SCSIO ZH16 ΔR. After mutant strain constructions and tests, strain S. atratus SCSIO ZH16 ΔR::bldD EP powder achieved a higher production titer of ilamycins. Furthermore, the production titer of ilamycins and ilamycin E reached 1561.77 mg/L and 745.44 mg/L, respectively, in a 5 L bioreactor. This study suggests that E. prolifera is a promising and eco-friendly nitrogen source for the production of ilamycins.

A 3D biomimetic optoelectronic scaffold repairs cranial defects.

Bone fractures and defects pose serious health-related issues on patients. For clinical therapeutics, synthetic scaffolds have been actively explored to promote critical-sized bone regeneration, and electrical stimulations are recognized as an effective auxiliary to facilitate the process. Here, we develop a three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic scaffold integrated with thin-film silicon (Si)-based microstructures. This Si-based hybrid scaffold not only provides a 3D hierarchical structure for guiding cell growth but also regulates cell behaviors via photo-induced electrical signals. Remotely controlled by infrared illumination, these Si structures electrically modulate membrane potentials and intracellular calcium dynamics of stem cells and potentiate cell proliferation and differentiation. In a rodent model, the Si-integrated scaffold demonstrates improved osteogenesis under optical stimulations. Such a wirelessly powered optoelectronic scaffold eliminates tethered electrical implants and fully degrades in a biological environment. The Si-based 3D scaffold combines topographical and optoelectronic stimuli for effective biological modulations, offering broad potential for biomedicine.

Optimal scan strategy for mega-pixel and kilo-gray-level OLED-on-silicon microdisplay.

The digital pixel driving scheme makes the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) microdisplays more immune to the pixel luminance variations and simplifies the circuit architecture and design flow compared to the analog pixel driving scheme. Additionally, it is easily applied in full digital systems. However, the data bottleneck becomes a notable problem as the number of pixels and gray levels grow dramatically. This paper will discuss the digital driving ability to achieve kilogray-levels for megapixel displays. The optimal scan strategy is proposed for creating ultra high gray levels and increasing light efficiency and contrast ratio. Two correction schemes are discussed to improve the gray level linearity. A 1280×1024×3 OLED-on-silicon microdisplay, with 4096 gray levels, is designed based on the optimal scan strategy. The circuit driver is integrated in the silicon backplane chip in the 0.35 µm 3.3 V-6 V dual voltage one polysilicon layer, four metal layers (1P4M) complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process with custom top metal. The design aspects of the optimal scan controller are also discussed. The test results show the gray level linearity of the correction schemes for the optimal scan strategy is acceptable by the human eye.

Identification of Anaplasma spp. in Tian Shan wapiti deer (Cervus elaphus songaricus) in Xinjiang, China.

Anaplasma spp. are important zoonotic tick-borne pathogens that impact on human health. There are few reports on the prevalence and molecular genetic characteristics of Cervidae species in China. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the presence of Anaplasma spp. in blood samples of Tian Shan wapiti (Cervus elaphus songaricus) in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, and conduct phylogenetic analyses. A total of 50 blood samples (wild deer n = 26, and captive deer n = 24) were collected from the deer. PCR was used to detect Anaplasma spp. in the blood samples. Forty percent (20) of the samples were found to contain Anaplasma spp. Three Anaplasma species DNA were detected in deer blood samples: A. bovis (n = 13), A. ovis (n = 18), and A. phagocytophilum (n = 11). Among the 20 Anaplasma spp. positive samples, 14 were mixed infection of two or three pathogens. The prevalence of Anaplasma species in wild deer was significantly higher than that of captive deer, 73.1% (19) vs 4.2% (1) respectively, (p < 0.01). Two A. ovis sequence types (AB1, and AB2), three A. ovis sequence types (AO1-AO3), and one A. phagocytophilum sequence type (AP1) were obtained in this study. The sequences of AO1 shared 100% identity with a human isolate from Cyprus. Our results suggest that wild deer are more likely to become infected with Anaplasma spp. than captive individuals, and thus, could potentially transmit pathogens to humans.

A Landscape of Murine Long Non-Coding RNAs Reveals the Leading Transcriptome Alterations in Adipose Tissue during Aging.

Aging is an inevitable process that involves profound physiological changes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators in various biological processes but are not systemically studied in aging. To provide an organism-wide lncRNA landscape during aging, we conduct comprehensive RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses across the mouse lifespan. Of the 1,675 aging-regulated lncRNAs (AR-lncRNAs) identified, the majority are connected to inflammation-related biological pathways. AR-lncRNAs exhibit high tissue specificity; conversely, those with higher tissue specificity are preferentially regulated during aging. White adipose tissue (WAT) displays the highest number of AR-lncRNAs and develops the most dynamic crosstalk between AR-lncRNA and AR-mRNA during aging. An adipose-enriched AR-lncRNA, lnc-adipoAR1, is negatively correlated with aging, and knocking it down inhibits adipogenesis, phenocopying the compromised adipogenic capacity of aged fat. Our works together reveal AR-lncRNAs as essential components in aging and suggest that although each tissue ages in a distinct manner, WAT is a leading contributor to aging-related health decline.

Molecular detection of Anaplasma spp. in dairy cattle in southern Xinjiang, China.

Bovine anaplasmosis is caused by a group of obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the genus Anaplasma, which are transmitted by ticks. This study was conducted to determine the prevalences and molecular characterization of Anaplasma spp. in dairy cattle in the upper reaches of the Tarim River in Xinjiang, China. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing approaches, DNA of Anaplasma spp. was detected in 16 of 493 (3.2%) blood samples from dairy cattle. Positive rates were 0.2% (1/493), 0.4% (2/493), 0.2% (1/493), 2.4% (12/493) and 2.4% (12/493) for A. bovis, A. ovis, A. phagocytophilum like strain, A. phagocytophilum and A. platys like strain, respectively. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. platys like strain co-infection was detected in 12 samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. ovis infection in dairy cattle in Xinjiang. This study provides new data on the prevalences of Anaplasma spp. in cattle in Xinjiang, which will help to formulate appropriate control strategies for these pathogens in this area.

Photobiomodulation therapy for management of inferior alveolar nerve injury post-extraction of impacted lower third molars.

PURPOSE: Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury is one of the most serious complications after extraction of impacted lower third molars. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy has been noted to reduce pain and inflammation while promoting tissue healing. This study examined the efficacy of PBM therapy tested in a case series of patients with postoperative IAN injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 20 patients with post-extraction IAN injury were involved in this study and divided into two groups. In the study group, PBM therapy (808-nm laser, 16 mW, 3 J/cm2) was used every other day for 2 weeks solely on post-extraction sockets in 10 patients diagnosed with IAN injury. In the control group, mecobalamine was prescribed to 10 patients with IAN injury. Objective and subjective recovery of IAN paresthesia was evaluated using clinical neurosensory testing and visual analog score. RESULTS: All patients showed improvement in both objective and subjective examination. Notably, the visual analog score was significantly improved after PBM treatment compared to the mecobalamine treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PBM therapy with 808-nm laser appears to be an effective approach to manage paresthesia post-IAN injury following impacted third molar surgery. Given the limited sample size in this study, large-scale, placebo-controlled, multi-center randomized controlled trials are needed for further validation of this innovative treatment.