New Application of Multiresonance Organic Delayed Fluorescence Dyes: High-Performance Photoinitiating Systems for Acrylate and Epoxy Photopolymerization and Photoluminescent Pattern Preparation.

The primary focus of photopolymerization research is to advance highly efficient visible photoinitiating systems (PISs) as alternatives to conventional ultraviolet (UV) photoinitiators. We developed four multiresonance emitters (BIC-pCz, BNO1, BO-DICz, and TPABO-DICz) to sensitize iodonium salt (Iod) and initiate free-radical and cationic photopolymerization under visible light for the first time. The TPABO-DICz/Iod system achieved a double-bond conversion of over 70% within just 4 s of exposure to green light (520 nm), while the BNO1/Iod system achieved a double-bond conversion exceeding 50% with 10 s of exposure to red light (630 nm). The photochemical properties were studied through thermodynamic research, steady-state photolysis, and electron spin resonance. Photolithography techniques were employed to fabricate photoluminescent films and micrometer-scale patterns utilizing the blue-emitting BIC-pCz dye, showcasing the potential of photolithography in the production of photoluminescent pixels. Additionally, the BIC-pCz/Iod and TPABO-DICz/Iod systems have been employed to rapidly fabricate photoluminescent polymer patterns using a digital-light-processing 3D printer with a low-intensity light (3.2 mW cm-2). These multiresonance emitters show exceptional photosensitizing effects and can act as fluorescent dyes in photoluminescent patterns, highlighting the potential of utilizing photopolymerization for OLED applications.

Effects of dietary chlorogenic acid on ileal intestinal morphology, barrier function, immune factors and gut microbiota of broilers under high stocking density stress.

Aims: The purpose of this research was to assess the effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) in the diet on ileac structure, barrier function, immunological state, and microbial profile of broiler chickens in a high stocking density (HD) environment. Methods: Four hundred and seventy-six male AA broiler chickens were randomly split into four groups, two with a normal stocking density (ND) of fourteen birds per m2 and two with a high stocking density of twenty-two birds per m2. Each of the treatments consisted of five replicates. One of the two ND and HD groups received the usual feed, while the other two were given at 1.5 g/kg CGA as part of their dietary regimen. Results: The ND CGA group showed a greater increase in villus height and villus height/crypt depth compared to the ND group at 35 and 42 days. The HD group experienced a greater elevation in villus height due to CGA supplementation than the HD group across days 28, 35, and 42. At day 42, the HD group saw a decline in OCLN and ZO-1 mRNA expression in the ileum, but CGA was able to restore them. The HD group experienced a greater rise in OCLN mRNA than the control HD group when supplemented with CGA. The expression of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in the ileum was higher in the HD group, and CGA supplementation enhanced this effect. The HD group experienced a greater rise in IL-10 mRNA expression than the control group following the administration of CGA. The HD group showed reduced alpha diversity and an increase in detrimental microbes such as Turicibacter and Shigella in the gut compared to the ND group, while the HD CGA group saw a reduction in Turicibacter, Shigella, and other harmful microbes. These findings reveal that HD stress suppressed the growth of ileac villi, decreased the expression of tight-junction genes, amplified the expression of inflammatory genes, and disturbed the gut microbiota, ultimately leading to increased intestinal permeability. Conclusion: We conclude that when chickens are given dietary CGA, the disruption of the ileac barrier and increased oxidative damage and inflammation due to HD stress are reduced, which increases ileac integrity and the presence of beneficial intestinal bacteria.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced immune stress negatively regulates broiler chicken growth via the COX-2-PGE2-EP4 signaling pathway.

Aims: Immune stress in broiler chickens is characterized by the development of persistent pro-inflammatory responses that contribute to degradation of production performance. However, the underlying mechanisms that cause growth inhibition of broilers with immune stress are not well defined. Methods: A total of 252 1-day-old Arbor Acres(AA) broilers were randomly allocated to three groups with six replicates per group and 14 broilers per replicate. The three groups comprised a saline control group, an Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (immune stress) group, and an LPS and celecoxib group corresponding to an immune stress group treated with a selective COX-2 inhibitor. Birds in LPS group and saline group were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of LPS or saline from 14d of age for 3 consecutive days. And birds in the LPS and celecoxib group were given a single intraperitoneal injection of celecoxib 15 min prior to LPS injection at 14 d of age. Results: The feed intake and body weight gain of broilers were suppressed in response to immune stress induced by LPS which is an intrinsic component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme that mediates prostaglandin synthesis, was up-regulated through MAPK-NF-κB pathways in activated microglia cells in broilers exposed to LPS. Subsequently, the binding of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to the EP4 receptor maintained the activation of microglia and promoted the secretion of cytokines interleukin-1ß and interleukin-8, and chemokines CX3CL1 and CCL4. In addition, the expression of appetite suppressor proopiomelanocortin protein was increased and the levels of growth hormone-releasing hormone were reduced in the hypothalamus. These effects resulted in decreased expression of insulin-like growth factor in the serum of stressed broilers. In contrast, inhibition of COX-2 normalized pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and promoted the expression of Neuropeptide Y and growth hormone-releasing hormone in the hypothalamus which improved the growth performance of stressed broilers. Transcriptomic analysis of the hypothalamus of stressed broilers showed that inhibition of COX-2 activity significantly down-regulated the expression of the TLR1B, IRF7, LY96, MAP3K8, CX3CL1, and CCL4 genes in the MAPK-NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusion: This study provides new evidence that immune stress mediates growth suppression in broilers by activating the COX-2-PGE2-EP4 signaling axis. Moreover, growth inhibition is reversed by inhibiting the activity of COX-2 under stressed conditions. These observations suggest new approaches for promoting the health of broiler chickens reared in intensive conditions.

Effects of dietary chlorogenic acid on intestinal barrier function and the inflammatory response in broilers during lipopolysaccharide-induced immune stress.

Immune stress exerts detrimental effects on growth performance and intestinal barrier function during intensive animal production with ensuing serious economic consequences. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is used widely as a feed additive to improve the growth performance and intestinal health of poultry. However, the effects of dietary CGA supplementation on amelioration of the intestinal barrier impairment caused by immune stress in broilers are unknown. This study investigated the effects of CGA on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, and the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediated immune-stressed broilers. Three hundred and twelve 1-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were divided randomly into 4 groups with 6 replicates of thirteen broilers. The treatments included: i) saline group: broilers injected with saline and fed with basal diet; ii) LPS group: broilers injected with LPS and fed with basal diet; iii) CGA group: broilers injected with saline and feed supplemented with CGA; and iv) LPS+CGA group: broilers injected with LPS and feed supplemented with CGA. Animals in the LPS and LPS+CGA groups were injected intraperitoneally with an LPS solution prepared with saline from 14 d of age for 7 consecutive days, whereas broilers in the other groups were injected only with saline. LPS induced a decrease in feed intake of broilers during the stress period, but CGA effectively alleviated this decrease. Moreover, CGA inhibited the reduction of villus height and improved the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the duodenum of broilers 24 and 72 h after LPS injection. In addition, dietary CGA supplementation significantly restored the expression of cation-selective and channel-forming Claudin2 protein 2 h after LPS injection in the ileum. LPS enhanced the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) in the small intestine, but this enhancement was blocked by CGA supplementation. The expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) increased with LPS injection and CGA promoted the production of IL-10. CGA addition downregulated the expression of intestinal interleukin-6 (IL-6) of broilers under normal rearing conditions. However, CGA supplementation upregulated the expression of IL-6 of broilers 72 h after LPS injection. The data demonstrate that dietary supplementation with CGA alleviates intestinal barrier damage and intestinal inflammation induced by LPS injection during immune stress thereby improving growth performance of broilers.

Dietary Supplementation with Chlorogenic Acid Enhances Antioxidant Capacity, Which Promotes Growth, Jejunum Barrier Function, and Cecum Microbiota in Broilers under High Stocking Density Stress.

Chlorogenic acids (CGA) are widely used as feed additives for their ability to improve growth performance and intestinal health in poultry. However, whether dietary CGAs could reverse the impaired intestinal condition caused by high stocking density (HD) in broiler chickens is unknown. We determined the effect of dietary CGA on growth, serum antioxidant levels, jejunum barrier function, and the microbial community in the cecum of broilers raised under normal (ND) or HD conditions. HD stress significantly decreased growth and body weight, which was restored by CGA. The HD group showed increased serum malondialdehyde, an oxidative byproduct, and decreased SOD and GSH-Px activity. CGA reduced malondialdehyde and restored antioxidant enzyme activity. HD stress also significantly decreased jejunal villus length and increased crypt depth. Compared with ND, the expression of tight-junction genes was significantly decreased in the HD group, but this decrease was reversed by CGA. HD also significantly upregulated TNF-α. Compared with ND, the cecal microbiota in the HD group showed lower alpha diversity with increases in the harmful bacteria Turicibacter and Shigella. This change was altered in the HD + CGA group, with enrichment of Blautia, Akkermansia, and other beneficial bacteria. These results demonstrated that HD stress decreased serum antioxidant capacity, inhibited the development of jejunal villi, and downregulated expression of tight-junction genes, which increased intestinal permeability during the rapid growth period (21 to 35 days). Dietary CGA enhanced antioxidant capacity, improved intestinal integrity, and enhanced beneficial gut bacteria in chickens raised under HD conditions.

Coumarin Ketoxime Ester with Electron-Donating Substituents as Photoinitiators and Photosensitizers for Photopolymerization upon UV-Vis LED Irradiation.

High-performance photoinitiators (PIs) are essential for ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) light emitting diode (LED) photopolymerization. In this study, a series of coumarin ketoxime esters (COXEs) with electron-donating substituents (tert-butyl, methoxy, dimethylamino and methylthio) were synthesized to study the structure/reactivity/efficiency relationships for substituents for the photoinitiation performance of PIs. The introduction of heteroatom electron-donating substituents leads to a redshift in the COXE absorption of more than 60 nm, which matches the UV-Vis LED emission spectra. The PIs also show acceptable thermal stability via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The results from real-time Fourier transform infrared (RT-FTIR) measurements indicate that COXEs show an excellent photoinitiation efficiency for free radical polymerization under UV-Vis LED irradiation (365-450 nm); in particular, the conversion efficiency for tri-(propylene glycol) diacrylate (TPGDA) polymerization initiated by COXE-O and COXE-S (4.8 × 10-5 mol·g-1) in 3 s can reach more than 85% under UV-LED irradiation (365, 385 nm). Moreover, the photosensitization of COXEs in the iodonium hexafluorophosphate (Iod-PF6) and hexaarylbiimidazole/N-phenylglycine (BCIM/NPG) systems was investigated via RT-FTIR. As a coinitiator, COXEs show excellent performance in dry film photoresist (DFR) photolithography. This excellent performance of COXEs demonstrates great potential for UV-curing and photoresist applications, providing a new idea for the design of PIs.

Effect of Dietary Chlorogenic Acid on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Function, and Immune Response of Broiler Breeders under Immune Stress and Stocking Density Stress.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary chlorogenic acid supplementation on the growth performance, antioxidant function, and immune response of broiler breeders exposed to immune stress or high stocking density stress. The test was divided into two stress models. For the immune stress test, 198 birds were distributed into three experimental treatments with six replicates per treatment. The treatments were: (1) saline control (birds injected with saline and fed basal diet), (2) LPS group (birds injected with 0.5 mg LPS/kg body weight and fed basal diet), and (3) CGA + LPS group (birds injected with LPS and fed basal diet supplemented with 1 g/kg CGA. LPS was intraperitoneally injected from day 14, and then daily for 10 days. For the high stocking density stress model, 174 birds were distributed into three experimental treatments with six replicates per treatment. The treatments were: (1) controls (birds fed basal diet and raised at a stocking density of 14 broilers per m2), (2) high-density group (birds fed with basal diet and raised at a stocking density of 22 broilers per m2), and (3) high density + CGA group (birds fed with 1 g/kg CGA and raised at a stocking density of 22 broilers per m2). Results showed that LPS injection and high stocking density significantly decreased the body weight and feed intake of broiler breeders, while CGA supplementation increased feed intake of broiler breeders under LPS injection and high stocking density stress. Moreover, LPS injection and high stocking density increased the concentration of corticosterone in serum, and CGA addition remarkably downregulated serum corticosterone levels. The GSH level decreased with LPS injection and CGA increased the GSH concentration in the intestines of immune-stressed broiler breeders. LPS injection promoted the production of circulating proinflammatory cytokines (serum IL-1ß and TNF-α) by 72 h after LPS injection. Dietary supplementation with CGA prevented the increase in serum TNF-α caused by LPS. These results suggest that dietary inclusion of 1 g/kg CGA could increase the feed intake of broiler breeders and alleviate the effects of inflammatory mediator stress and exposure to high stocking density.

Porous CoxP nanosheets decorated Mn0.35Cd0.65S nanoparticles for highly enhanced noble-metal-free photocatalytic H2 generation.

Incorporating 2D transition-metal phosphides into visible-light-driven semiconductors is fascinating for advancing novel photocatalysts. In this paper, porous CoxP nanosheets prepared by phosphating Co(OH)2 nanosheets are coupled with Mn0.35Cd0.65S nanoparticles for significantly boosted photocatalytic H2 evolution performance. The optimal CoxP/Mn0.35Cd0.65S hybrids show an excellent visible-light H2 production rate of 7188.9 µmol g-1h-1 upon visible light with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 18.9% at 420 nm. The H2 production rate of the 5% CoxP/Mn0.35Cd0.65S sample is about 257 times bare CdS and even 18 times higher than pristine Mn0.35Cd0.65S. This dramatic photocatalytic H2 generation activity is mainly ascribed to the efficient charge transfer and abundant active sites by introducing the porous CoxP nanosheets. The photocatalytic mechanism of the CoxP/Mn0.35Cd0.65S composites is investigated by the photoluminescence (PL), time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), electrochemical, and photoelectrochemical (PEC) tests. This work presents a viable strategy to design a 2D/0D hybrid system containing porous cobalt phosphides nanosheets and MnCdS solid solutions for noble-metal-free photocatalytic application.

The removal of ammonia nitrogen via heterotrophic assimilation by a novel Paracoccus sp. FDN-02 under anoxic condition.

A novel strain FDN-02 was isolated from a sequencing batch biofilm reactor. FDN-02 was identified as Paracoccus sp., and the Genbank Sequence_ID was MW652628. Comparing with the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) by bacterium FDN-02 under different growth conditions, the optimal initial pH, carbon source, and C/N ratio were 7.0, sucrose, and 16, respectively. The maximum removal efficiency and rate of NH4+-N were respectively 96.2% and 10.06 mg-N/L/h within 8 h under anoxic condition when the concentration of NH4+-N was 44.87 mg/L. Specifically, 71.9% of NH4+-N was utilized by strain FDN-02 through heterotrophic assimilation to synthetize organic nitrogen, and approximately 24.1% of NH4+-N was lost in the form of gaseous nitrogen without the emission of nitrous oxide. Bacterium FDN-02 was also found to be a denitrifying organism, and nitrate nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen of lower concentrations were removed by denitrification after the enlargement of biomass. Further investigation showed that the biomass after the removal of NH4+-N by strain FDN-02 had resource utilization potential, and the contents of proteins and amino acids were 635 and 192.97 mg/g, respectively, especially for the usage as an alternative nutrient source for livestock and organic fertilizers. This study provided a promising environmentally friendly biological treatment method for the removal of NH4+-N in the wastewater.

[Combinatorial CRISPR inversions of CTCF sites in HOXD cluster reveal complex insulator function].

CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor) is a zinc-finger protein which plays a vital role in the three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture. A pair of forward-reverse convergent CTCF binding sites (CBS elements) mediates long-distance DNA interactions to form chromatin loops with the assistance of the cohesin complex, while CBS elements at the chromatin domain boundaries show reverse-forward divergent patterns and function as insulators to discriminate against DNA interaction between chromatin domains. However, there are still many unresolved problems regarding CTCF-mediated insulation function. In order to study the connections between chromatin loops and the insulation function of CBS elements, we combinatorically inverted CBS elements at the HOXD locus by using CRISPR/Cas9 DNA-fragment editing methods in the HEK293T cell line and obtained five different kinds of single-cell CRISPR clones. By performing quantitative high-resolution chromosome conformation capture copy (QHR-4C) experiments, we found that boundary CBS inversions abolish original chromatin loops and establish new loops from the opposite direction, thus shifting the insulator boundary to the new divergent CTCF sites. Furthermore, tandem CBS elements block cohesin permeated from the opposite orientation to function as insulators. RNA-seq experiments showed that alterations of local three-dimensional genome architecture would further influence gene expression of the HOXD cluster. In conclusion, a pair of divergent CBS elements function as insulators by forming chromatin loops within chromatin domains to block cohesin sliding.

Dietary Choline Intake during Pregnancy and PEMT rs7946 Polymorphism on Risk of Preterm Birth: A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Choline-metabolizing genetic variation may interact with choline intake on fetal programming and pregnancy outcome. This case-control study aims to explore the association of maternal choline consumption and phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT) gene polymorphism rs7946 with preterm birth risk. METHODS: 145 Han Chinese women with preterm delivery and 157 Han Chinese women with term delivery were recruited in Shanghai. Dietary choline intake during pregnancy was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, DNA samples were genotyped for PEMT rs7946 (G5465A) with plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels measured. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest quartile of choline intake, women within the highest consumption quartile had adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for preterm birth of 0.48 (95% confidence interval, CI [0.24, 0.95]). There was a significant interaction between maternal choline intake and PEMT rs7946 (p for interaction = 0.04), where the AA genotype carriers who consumed the energy-adjusted choline <255.01 mg/day had aOR for preterm birth of 3.75 (95% CI [1.24, 11.35]), compared to those with GG genotype and choline intake >255.01 mg/day during pregnancy. Additionally, the greatest elevated plasma Hcy was found in the cases with AA genotype and choline consumption <255.01 mg/day (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The AA genotype of PEMT rs7946 may be associated with increased preterm birth in these Han Chinese women with low choline intake during pregnancy.