Potentilla parvifolia strongly influenced soil microbial community and environmental effect along an altitudinal gradient in central Qilian Mountains in western China.

The Qilian Mountains (QLMs) form an important ecological security barrier in western China and a priority area for biodiversity conservation. Potentilla parvifolia is a widespread species in the mid-high altitudes of the QLMs and has continuously migrated to higher altitudes in recent years. Understanding the effects of P. parvifolia on microbial community characteristics is important for exploring future changes in soil biogeochemical processes in the QLMs. This study found that P. parvifolia has profound effects on the community structure and ecological functions of soil microorganisms. The stability and complexity of the root zone microbial co-occurrence network were significantly higher than those of bare soils. There was a distinct altitudinal gradient in the effect of P. parvifolia on soil microbial community characteristics. At an elevation of 3204 m, P. parvifolia promoted the accumulation of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus and increased sucrase activity and soil C/N while significantly improving the community richness index of fungi (p < .05) compared with that of bacteria and the relative abundance of Ascomycota. The alpha diversity of fungi in the root zone soil of P. parvifolia was also significantly increased at 3550 m altitude. Furthermore, the community similarity distance matrix of fungi showed an evident separation at 3204 m. However, at an altitude of 3750 m, P. parvifolia mainly affected the bacterial community. Potentilla parvifolia increased the bacterial community richness. This is in agreement with the findings based on the functional prediction that P. parvifolia favors the growth and enrichment of denitrifying communities at 3550 and 3750 m. The results provide a scientific basis for predicting the evolutionary trends of the effects of P. parvifolia on soil microbial communities and functions and have important implications for ecological governance in the QLMs.

Contrasting influences of two dominant plants, Dasiphora fruticosa and Ligularia virguarea, on aboveground and belowground communities in an alpine meadow.

Soil organisms are abundant, phylogenetically and functionally diverse, and interact to catalyse and regulate critical soil processes. Understanding what structures belowground communities is therefore fundamental to gaining insight into ecosystem functioning. Dominant plants have been shown to influence belowground communities both directly and indirectly through changes in abiotic and biotic factors. In a field study, we used piecewise structural equation modelling to disentangle and compare the effects of a dominant allelopathic plant, Ligularia virgaurea, and a dominant facilitative plant, Dasiphora fruticosa, on understory plant, soil microbial and nematode community composition in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan plateau. Dasiphora fruticosa was associated with changes in edaphic variables (total nitrogen, soil organic carbon, pH and ammonium), understory plant and soil bacterial communities, whereas Ligularia virguarea was associated with increased soil ammonium content and soil fungal richness relative to dominant plant-free control plots. Moreover, nematode richness was significantly greater under D. fruticosa, with no change in nematode community composition. By contrast, nematode richness under Ligularia virgaurea was similar to that of dominant plant-free control plots, but nematode community composition differed from the control. The effects of both plants were predominantly direct rather than mediated by indirect pathways despite the observed effects on understory plant communities, soil properties and microbial assemblages. Our results highlight the importance of plants in determining soil communities and provide new insight to disentangle the complex above- and belowground linkages.

Direct and indirect effects of dominant plants on ecosystem multifunctionality.

Biodiversity is essential for the provision of multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously (ecosystem multifunctionality EMF). Yet, it remains unclear whether and how dominant plant species impact EMF. Here, we aimed at disentangling the direct from indirect above- and belowground pathways by which dominant plant species influence EMF. We evaluated the effects of two dominant plant species (Dasiphora fruticosa, and the toxic perennial plant Ligularia virgaurea) with expected positive and negative impacts on the abiotic environment (soil water content and pH), surrounding biological communities (plant and nematode richness, biomass, and abundance in the vicinity), and on the EMF of alpine meadows, respectively. We found that the two dominant plants enhanced EMF, with a positive effect of L. virgaurea on EMF greater than that of D. fruticosa. We also observed that dominant plants impacted on EMF through changes in soil water content and pH (indirect abiotic effects), but not through changes in biodiversity of surrounding plants and nematodes (indirect biotic pathway). Our study suggests that dominant plants may play an important role in promoting EMF, thus expanding the pervasive mass-ratio hypothesis originally framed for individual functions, and could mitigate the negative impacts of vegetation changes on EMF in the alpine meadows.

Shrub and precipitation interactions shape functional diversity of nematode communities on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Land use and climate change alter biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functioning worldwide. Land abandonment with consequent shrub encroachment and changes in precipitation gradients are known factors in global change. Yet, the consequences of interactions between these factors on the functional diversity of belowground communities remain insufficiently explored. Here, we investigated the dominant shrub effects on the functional diversity of soil nematode communities along a precipitation gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We collected three functional traits (life-history C-P value, body mass, and diet) and calculated the functional alpha and beta diversity of nematode communities using kernel density n-dimensional hypervolumes. We found that shrubs did not significantly alter the functional richness and dispersion, but significantly decreased the functional beta diversity of nematode communities in a pattern of functional homogenization. Shrubs benefited nematodes with longer life-history, larger body mass, and higher trophic levels. Moreover, the shrub effects on the functional diversity of nematodes depended strongly on precipitation. Increasing precipitation reversed the effects shrubs have on the functional richness and dispersion from negative to positive but amplified the negative effects shrubs have on functional beta diversity of nematodes. Benefactor shrubs had stronger effects on the functional alpha and beta diversity of nematodes than allelopathic shrubs along a precipitation gradient. A piecewise structural equation model showed that shrubs and its interactions with precipitation indirectly increased the functional richness and dispersion through plant biomass and soil total nitrogen, whereas it directly decreased the functional beta diversity. Our study reveals the expected changes in soil nematode functional diversity following shrub encroachment and precipitation, advancing our understanding of global climate change on nematode communities on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

What happens to gut microorganisms and potential repair mechanisms when meet heavy metal(loid)s.

Heavy metal (loid) pollution is a significant threat to human health, as the intake of heavy metal (loid)s can cause disturbances in intestinal microbial ecology and metabolic disorders, leading to intestinal and systemic diseases. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of heavy metal (loid)s on intestinal microorganisms and the necessary approaches to restore them after damage. This review provides a summary of the effects of common toxic elements, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and metalloid arsenic (As), on the microbial community and structure, metabolic pathways and metabolites, and intestinal morphology and structure. The effects of heavy metal (loid)s on metabolism are focused on energy, nitrogen, and short-chain fatty acid metabolism. We also discussed the main solutions for recovery of intestinal microorganisms from the effects of heavy metal (loid)s, namely the supplementation of probiotics, recombinant bacteria with metal resistance, and the non-toxic transformation of heavy metal (loid) ions by their own intestinal flora. This article provides insight into the toxic effects of heavy metals and As on gut microorganisms and hosts and provides additional therapeutic options to mitigate the damage caused by these toxic elements.

Relationship between physical fitness and energy balance related behaviors of primary school students in Shaanxi Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship between physical fitness and energy balance related behaviors (EBRBs), and their influencing factors among primary school students, so as to provide a scientific basis for the improvement of physical fitness in primary school students.@*Methods@#By using a random sampling method, a total of 1 451 pupils aged 10-12 were selected from 8 regions of Shannxi Province (Fengxiang, Weibin, Danfeng, Shangzhou, Huazhou, Linwei, Gaoling, Weiyang). According to the total score of physical fitness test, pupils were divided into the excellent good physical fitness group and the pass failed group. The students EBRBs and their influencing factors were investigated cross sectionally, and the Mann-Whitney U test and stepwise linear regression analysis were used to explore the relationship between physical fitness and EBRBs.@*Results@#Breakfasts behavior( r = 0.061 ) and physical activity behavior( r =0.105) among primary school students were positively correlated with total physical scores, with the excellent good physical fitness group (757.56, 768.57)were higher than that of the pass failed group(710.93, 705.67) ( Z= -2.41, -2.69, P <0.05). The screen behavior ( r =-0.065) was negatively correlated with the total physical fitness scores, with the excellent good physical fitness group (681.96) was significantly lower than the pass failed group(747.04) ( Z=2.78, P < 0.05 ). There was no statistically significant correlation between the frequency of beverage behavior and the total score of physical fitness ( P >0.05). The excellent good physical fitness group scored(762.22, 761.19, 758.82, 756.00, 761.20, 755.57, 761.52, 759.48, 781.78) higher than the pass failed group(708.70, 709.19, 710.32, 711.67, 709.19, 711.88, 709.04, 710.01, 699.36) including health beliefs, parental norms and parental role models for breakfast behaviors, and preferences, self efficacy, and self regulation for physical activities, as well as self efficacy, parental role models, family rules for screen behavior ( Z=-2.40, -2.78, -2.35, -2.48, -2.52, -2.27, -2.35, -2.22, -3.65, P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#The physical fitness of primary school students is affected by EBRBs. Parents should model positive behaviors in the family, promote the health behavior of primary school students, improve the physical health of primary school students health.

Relationship between physical fitness and energy balance related behaviors of primary school students in Shaanxi Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship between physical fitness and energy balance related behaviors (EBRBs), and their influencing factors among primary school students, so as to provide a scientific basis for the improvement of physical fitness in primary school students.@*Methods@#By using a random sampling method, a total of 1 451 pupils aged 10-12 were selected from 8 regions of Shannxi Province (Fengxiang, Weibin, Danfeng, Shangzhou, Huazhou, Linwei, Gaoling, Weiyang). According to the total score of physical fitness test, pupils were divided into the excellent good physical fitness group and the pass failed group. The students EBRBs and their influencing factors were investigated cross sectionally, and the Mann-Whitney U test and stepwise linear regression analysis were used to explore the relationship between physical fitness and EBRBs.@*Results@#Breakfasts behavior( r = 0.061 ) and physical activity behavior( r =0.105) among primary school students were positively correlated with total physical scores, with the excellent good physical fitness group (757.56, 768.57)were higher than that of the pass failed group(710.93, 705.67) ( Z= -2.41, -2.69, P <0.05). The screen behavior ( r =-0.065) was negatively correlated with the total physical fitness scores, with the excellent good physical fitness group (681.96) was significantly lower than the pass failed group(747.04) ( Z=2.78, P < 0.05 ). There was no statistically significant correlation between the frequency of beverage behavior and the total score of physical fitness ( P >0.05). The excellent good physical fitness group scored(762.22, 761.19, 758.82, 756.00, 761.20, 755.57, 761.52, 759.48, 781.78) higher than the pass failed group(708.70, 709.19, 710.32, 711.67, 709.19, 711.88, 709.04, 710.01, 699.36) including health beliefs, parental norms and parental role models for breakfast behaviors, and preferences, self efficacy, and self regulation for physical activities, as well as self efficacy, parental role models, family rules for screen behavior ( Z=-2.40, -2.78, -2.35, -2.48, -2.52, -2.27, -2.35, -2.22, -3.65, P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#The physical fitness of primary school students is affected by EBRBs. Parents should model positive behaviors in the family, promote the health behavior of primary school students, improve the physical health of primary school students health.

Relationship between physical fitness and energy balance related behaviors of primary school students in Shaanxi Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship between physical fitness and energy balance related behaviors (EBRBs), and their influencing factors among primary school students, so as to provide a scientific basis for the improvement of physical fitness in primary school students.@*Methods@#By using a random sampling method, a total of 1 451 pupils aged 10-12 were selected from 8 regions of Shannxi Province (Fengxiang, Weibin, Danfeng, Shangzhou, Huazhou, Linwei, Gaoling, Weiyang). According to the total score of physical fitness test, pupils were divided into the excellent good physical fitness group and the pass failed group. The students EBRBs and their influencing factors were investigated cross sectionally, and the Mann-Whitney U test and stepwise linear regression analysis were used to explore the relationship between physical fitness and EBRBs.@*Results@#Breakfasts behavior( r = 0.061 ) and physical activity behavior( r =0.105) among primary school students were positively correlated with total physical scores, with the excellent good physical fitness group (757.56, 768.57)were higher than that of the pass failed group(710.93, 705.67) ( Z= -2.41, -2.69, P <0.05). The screen behavior ( r =-0.065) was negatively correlated with the total physical fitness scores, with the excellent good physical fitness group (681.96) was significantly lower than the pass failed group(747.04) ( Z=2.78, P < 0.05 ). There was no statistically significant correlation between the frequency of beverage behavior and the total score of physical fitness ( P >0.05). The excellent good physical fitness group scored(762.22, 761.19, 758.82, 756.00, 761.20, 755.57, 761.52, 759.48, 781.78) higher than the pass failed group(708.70, 709.19, 710.32, 711.67, 709.19, 711.88, 709.04, 710.01, 699.36) including health beliefs, parental norms and parental role models for breakfast behaviors, and preferences, self efficacy, and self regulation for physical activities, as well as self efficacy, parental role models, family rules for screen behavior ( Z=-2.40, -2.78, -2.35, -2.48, -2.52, -2.27, -2.35, -2.22, -3.65, P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#The physical fitness of primary school students is affected by EBRBs. Parents should model positive behaviors in the family, promote the health behavior of primary school students, improve the physical health of primary school students health.

Relationship between energy balance-related behaviors and personal and family factors in overweight/obese primary school students aged 10-12 years in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Increasing rates of childhood obesity worldwide are a serious threat to the health of school-aged children. Unhealthy behavioral habits are modifiable factors in the control of childhood obesity, and personal and family factors are key influencing factors of behavioral habits in school-aged children. This study assessed the relationship between overweight/obesity, energy balance-related behaviors (EBRB), and their influencing factors in school-aged children. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey included 4412 primary school-aged (10-12 years) students who underwent body tests and were selected through stratified sampling in the Northeast, North, Northwest, and Southwest regions of China from March to July 2021. Independent sample t test was used to compare differences between behaviors and influencing factors of energy balance among overweight/obesity and normal weight students. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influence of EBRB on body shape. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the influence of personal and family factors on EBRB effects. RESULTS: Compared with normal-weight students, number of breakfasts consumed per week by overweight/obese students was significantly lower (p < 0.01), and weekly screen-viewing time was significantly longer (p < 0.01). Overweight/obese students' health beliefs, parental subjective norms, parental modelling, parental practices, and home availability scores increased significantly in terms of beverage consumption behavior (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Attitude, health beliefs, self-efficacy, parental subjective norms, and parental support scores decreased significantly in terms of breakfast consumption (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Health belief scores on physical activity increased significantly (p < 0.01), while preference and autonomy scores decreased significantly (p < 0.01). Health beliefs, parental subjective norms, and parental practices scores of screen-viewing activities increased significantly (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Breakfast consumption (odds ratio [OR]: 0.911; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.870-0.954) and screen-viewing activities (OR:1.055; 95% CI: 1.030-1.080) correlated negatively and positively with overweight/obesity, respectively. The main influencing factors of breakfast behavior in overweight/obese students were self-efficacy (0.14), preference (0.11), attitude (0.07), home availability (0.18), and parent modelling (0.09); those for screen-viewing behavior were preference (0.19), self-efficacy (- 0.15), parental practices (0.13), and parental subjective norm (0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Irregular breakfast consumption and excessive screen-viewing time are key EBRB associated with overweight/obesity among these Chinese participants. Their unhealthy breakfast consumption and screen-viewing activities result from a combination of personal and family factors.

Altering microbial community for improving soil properties and agricultural sustainability during a 10-year maize-green manure intercropping in Northwest China.

Maize is a crop that is cultivated worldwide. The Hexi Oasis is one of the most important areas for high-yield maize seed production in China. Green manure, a plant fertilizer, has great potential for increasing crop yield and agricultural sustainability. However, the role of microorganisms in soil health and the microbiological mechanism of green manure in improving soil fertility and crop production in the Hexi Oasis area remain unknown. The effects of maize-green manure intercropping on the soil microbial community structure and diversity and the mechanism of soil improvement were investigated in a 10-year field experiment. The study revealed that microbial phylotypes were grouped into four major ecological clusters. Module #2 is a soil core ecological cluster enriched with many plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The application of green manure led to significantly increased soil pH, nutrient contents, and enzyme activities, and significantly reduced the relative abundance of potential plant pathogens compared with monocropping, which should ensure high and stable maize yield under long-term continuous cropping. It also increased the economic benefits by 56.39% compared with monocropping, owing to the additional products produced by the green manure. These improvements were associated with changes in the microbial community structure and activity, consistent with the structural equation model results. Therefore, soil microorganisms are the key drivers of the potential benefits of maize-green manure on agricultural sustainability.

A cross-sectional comparative study on the effects of body mass index and exercise/sedentary on serum asprosin in male college students.

Adipocytes regulate the body's metabolism by secreting adipokines to maintain energy homeostasis. Asprosin is a new type of adipokine, and its relationship with obesity remains controversial. There are a few reports on the effect of long-term exercise on serum asprosin level. This study aimed to investigate the effects of body mass index (BMI) and exercise/sedentary habit on serum asprosin in male college students as well as the relationship between serum asprosin and body composition and related metabolic indicators and provided a basis for further exploration of the biological function of asprosin. Ninety-six male college students were classified into the sedentary habit group (SD; 48) and the special training experience group (ET; 48). Both groups included three subgroups of normal BMI, overweight, and obesity, with 16 people in each subgroup. One-way analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and Pearson correlation analysis were performed. The results showed that serum asprosin levels in the obesity subgroup were significantly higher than those in the normal and overweight subgroups. Excluding BMI interference, there were no significant differences in serum asprosin between the SD and ET groups; however, there were significant differences in body composition, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10. Asprosin was positively correlated with BMI, body fat percentage, visceral fat area, fasting insulin, insulin resistance homeostasis model, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and leptin levels and was negatively correlated with relative lean body mass, relative skeletal muscle mass, high-density lipoprotein, and interleukin-10, and adiponectin levels. In conclusion, serum asprosin is closely related to body weight, body composition, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammatory response, and fat hormones. Long-term exercise training cannot prevent BMI increase from increasing serum asprosin level. If the influence of BMI is excluded, long-term exercise training does not affect serum asprosin.

Human α-defensin 5 suppressed colon cancer growth by targeting PI3K pathway.

Defensins are highly conserved antimicrobial peptides, which ubiquitously expressed in different species. In addition to the functions in host defense, their aberrant expression have also been documented in cancerous tissue including breast cancer, lung caner and renal carcinoma etc. Whereas, roles of Defensin Alpha 5 (DEFA5) in colon cancer has not been explored. Bioinformatic analysis was used to study the expression of DEFA5 and its correlation with clinical outcomes; Western blot, qPCR, Co-immunoprecipitation, xenograft models were used to the study the molecular mechanism. Decreased expression of DEFA5 at protein level was observed in colon tissues. Colon cancer cell lines proliferation and colony formation capacity were significantly suppressed by DEFA5 overexpression. Moreover, in vivo tumor growth in nude mice was also suppressed by DEFA5 overexpression, suggesting a tumor suppressor role of DEFA5 in colon cancer. Mechanistically, DEFA5 directly binds to the subunits of PI3K complex, thus attenuates the downstream signaling transduction, leads to delayed cell growth and metastasis. Collectively, we concluded that DEFA5 showed an inhibitory effect in colon cancer cell growth and may serve as a potential tumor suppressor in colon cancer.

Sendeng-4 Suppressed Melanoma Growth by Induction of Autophagy and Apoptosis.

Sendeng-4 is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been successfully applied to anti-inflammatory diseases in clinical practice. Monomers within Sendeng-4 showed promising antitumor activity against lung cancer, colon cancer, and cutaneous cancer. However, potency of Sendeng-4 in melanoma has not been explored. This study aims to explore the potential application of Sendeng-4 in melanoma treatment. In the present study, we systemically investigate the possibility of Sendeng-4 for treatment of melanoma cancer in vitro by proliferation assay, colony formation, flow cell cytometry, RNA-seq, western blot, and fluorescence-based assay. Our data demonstrated that Sendeng-4 suppresses the proliferation and colony formation capacity of melanoma cells and induces cell cycle block at G2/M phase and eventually cell death. Mechanistically, transcriptome sequencing demonstrates that the PI3K-AKT pathway was significantly inactivated upon Sendeng-4 exposure, which was confirmed by western blot showing decreased phosphorylation of AKT. In addition, decreased BCL-2 expression and increased BAX expression were observed, suggesting programmed cell death via apoptosis. Moreover, LC3-II production as well as autophagosomes formation was observed as demonstrated by western blot and immunofluorescence, indicating elevated autophagy network by Sendeng-4 stimulation. Collectively, we concluded that Sendeng-4 might be used as an anticancer drug for melanoma.

Leptin and inflammatory factors play a synergistic role in the regulation of reproduction in male mice through hypothalamic kisspeptin-mediated energy balance.

BACKGROUND: Energy balance is closely related to reproductive function, wherein hypothalamic kisspeptin mediates regulation of the energy balance. However, the central mechanism of kisspeptin in the regulation of male reproductive function under different energy balance states is unclear. Here, high-fat diet (HFD) and exercise were used to change the energy balance to explore the role of leptin and inflammation in the regulation of kisspeptin and the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis. METHODS: Four-week-old male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly assigned to a normal control group (n = 16) or an HFD (n = 49) group. After 10 weeks of HFD feeding, obese mice were randomly divided into obesity control (n = 16), obesity moderate-load exercise (n = 16), or obesity high-load exercise (n = 17) groups. The obesity moderate-load exercise and obesity high-load exercise groups performed exercise (swimming) for 120 min/day and 120 min × 2 times/day (6 h interval), 5 days/week for 8 weeks, respectively. RESULTS: Compared to the mice in the normal group, in obese mice, the mRNA and protein expression of the leptin receptor, kiss, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) decreased in the hypothalamus; serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone levels and sperm quality decreased; and serum leptin, estradiol, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels and sperm apoptosis increased. Moderate- and high-load exercise effectively reduced body fat and serum leptin levels but had the opposite effects on the hypothalamus and serum IL-10 and TNF-α levels. Moderate-load exercise had anti-inflammatory effects accompanied by increased mRNA and protein expression of kiss and GnRH in the hypothalamus and increased serum FSH, LH, and testosterone levels and improved sperm quality. High-load exercise also promoted inflammation, with no significant effect on the mRNA and protein expression of kiss and GnRH in the hypothalamus, serum sex hormone level, or sperm quality. Moderate-load exercise improved leptin resistance and inflammation and reduced the inhibition of kisspeptin and the HPT axis in obese mice. The inflammatory response induced by high-load exercise may counteract the positive effect of improving leptin resistance on kisspeptin and HPT. CONCLUSION: During changes in energy balance, leptin and inflammation jointly regulate kisspeptin expression on the HPT axis.

Mesobacillus harenae sp. nov., isolated from the sandy soil of a cold desert.

A bacterial strain, designated Y40T, was isolated from sandy soil sampled on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. A polyphasic study confirmed the affiliation of the strain with the genus Mesobacillus. Strain Y40T was found to be an aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, motile and rod-shaped bacterium. The strain grew at 10-42 °C, pH 6-9 and with 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl. The diagnostic amino acid was meso-diaminopimeilic acid. MK7 was predominant menaquinone, and iso-C15:0, iso-C17:1 ω10c and anteiso-C15:0 were the major fatty acids. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content was 40.6 mol%. Based on he results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Y40T was phylogenetically closely related to Mesobacillus zeae JJ-247T and Mesobacillus foraminis CV53T, with similarities of 98.0 and 97.7 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity (ANIb) values between strain Y40T and Mesobacillus zeae JJ-247T and Mesobacillus foraminis CV53T were 69.9 and 70.0 %, respectively. Based on the morphological, physiological, and chemotaxonomic data, it is proposed that strain Y40T (=CICC 24459T=JCM 32794T) should be classified into the genus Mesobacillus as Mesobacillus harenae sp. nov.

Effect of Different Exercise Loads on Testicular Oxidative Stress and Reproductive Function in Obese Male Mice.

This study is aimed at investigating the effect of different exercise loads on the reproductive function of obese male mice and the underlying mechanisms. Male mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity were divided into obesity control (OC), obesity moderate-load exercise (OME), and obesity high-load exercise (OHE) groups. The OME and OHE groups were subjected to swimming exercise 5 days per week over a duration of 8 weeks, with the exercise load progressively increased to 2 h per day in the OME group and 2 h twice per day in the OHE group. In the OC group mice without exercise regimen, we observed a decrease in mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes, increase in free radical products, upregulation of mRNA and protein expression of nuclear factor-κB and proinflammatory cytokines, inhibition of mRNA and protein expression of testosterone synthases, decrease in the serum testosterone level and sperm quality, and increase in sperm apoptosis. Although both moderate-load exercise and high-load exercise reduced body fat, only moderate-load exercise effectively alleviated obesity-induced oxidative stress, downregulated the expression of nuclear factor-κB and proinflammatory cytokines, and reversed the decrease in mRNA and protein expression of testosterone synthases, serum testosterone level, and sperm quality. These changes were not observed in the OHE group mice. Obesity-induced testicular oxidative stress and inflammatory response decreased testosterone synthesis and sperm quality. Moderate-load exercise alleviated the negative effect of obesity on male reproductive function by decreasing testicular oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Although high-load exercise effectively reduced body fat, its effects on alleviating oxidative stress and improving male reproductive function were limited.

The intrinsic behavior of lithium fluoride in solid electrolyte interphases on lithium.

Lithium is the most attractive anode material for high-energy density rechargeable batteries, but its cycling is plagued by morphological irreversibility and dendrite growth that arise in part from its heterogeneous "native" solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Enriching the SEI with lithium fluoride (LiF) has recently gained popularity to improve Li cyclability. However, the intrinsic function of LiF-whether chemical, mechanical, or kinetic in nature-remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the stability of LiF in model LiF-enriched SEIs that are either artificially preformed or derived from fluorinated electrolytes, and thus, the effect of the LiF source on Li electrode behavior. We discovered that the mechanical integrity of LiF is easily compromised during plating, making it intrinsically unable to protect Li. The ensuing in situ repair of the interface by electrolyte, either regenerating LiF or forming an extra elastomeric "outer layer," is identified as the more critical determinant of Li electrode performance. Our findings present an updated and dynamic picture of the LiF-enriched SEI and demonstrate the need to carefully consider the combined role of ionic and electrolyte-derived layers in future design strategies.

Stability Research Considering Non-Linear Change in the Machining of Titanium Thin-Walled Parts.

Aiming to solve the problem whereby the damping process effect is significant and difficult to measure during low-speed machining of titanium alloy thin-walled parts, the ploughing coefficient of the flank face is obtained based on the frequency-domain decomposition (FDD) of the measured vibration signal and the energy balance principle, and then the process-damping prediction model is obtained. Aiming to solve the problem of non-linear change of dynamic characteristics of a workpiece caused by the material removal effect in the machining of titanium alloy thin-walled parts, a prediction model of dynamic characteristics of a workpiece is established based on the structural dynamic modification method. Meanwhile, the effect of material removal on the process-damping coefficient is studied, and the internal relationship between the process-damping coefficient and the dynamic characteristics of the workpiece is revealed. The stability lobe diagram is obtained by the full discretization in the titanium alloy milling process. The correctness of the model and stability prediction is verified by experiments under different working conditions. It is found that the coupling characteristics of process-damping and workpiece dynamic characteristics control the stability of the milling process. The research results can provide theoretical support for accurate characterization and process optimization of titanium alloy thin-walled workpiece milling.

Increasing hypothalamic nucleobindin 2 levels and decreasing hypothalamic inflammation in obese male mice via diet and exercise alleviate obesity-associated hypogonadism.

To explore the role of nesfatin-1 in regulating male reproductive function during energy balance variation, we employed an obese mouse model which was first induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and followed by interventions of a normal diet (ND) and/or moderate exercise, and then serum reproductive hormones of male mice, hypothalamic nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2)/nesfatin-1, inflammatory factors, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) levels were tested. Our findings showed that both serum nesfatin-1, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) levels and hypothalamic NUCB2/nesfatin-1 and Gnrh mRNA levels were reduced, whereas, the mRNA and protein levels of hypothalamic tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, inhibitor kappa B kinase ß (IKKß), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB were increased in obese male mice. Diet, exercise, and diet combined with exercise interventions reversed the decreases in serum nesfatin-1, FSH, LH, and T levels; increased hypothalamic NUCB2/nesfatin-1 and Gnrh mRNA levels; and reduced hypothalamic TNF-α, IL-1ß, IKKß, and NF-κB levels. These changes were accompanied by reduced adiposity, and these effects were more obvious in the diet combined with exercise group. Overall, our findings suggested that the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism associated with obesity may be induced by reduced hypothalamic NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels, which attenuated the stimulatory effect on GnRH directly or indirectly by suppressing its anti-inflammatory effect in the brain. Diet and/or exercise interventions were able to alleviate the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism associated with obesity, potentially by increasing hypothalamic NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels.

Langmuir-Blodgett self-assembly of ultrathin graphene quantum dot films with modulated optical properties.

Multiple-color-emissive graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have great potential in diverse applications such as bioimaging, light emission, and photocatalysis. Growing interest in GQDs is largely focused on their macro-scale aggregations that could inherit the unique properties of individual dots. However, the lack of advanced fabrication methods limits the practical applications of GQDs. Here, we employed a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique to fabricate ultrathin, high-quality GQD aggregated films with well-modulated optical properties in a wide range of wavelengths. Through the combination of a bottom-up synthesis of GQDs and the LB assembly method, uniform, closely packed, and ultra-thin GQD films can be self-assembled with a well-controlled thickness on different substrates. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ultra-thin GQD films have an obvious red-shift compared with isolated GQD solution. We then elucidate remarkably strong energy transfer in self-assembled GQDs. Furthermore, the ultra-thin GQD films exhibit a clear excitation-dependent PL that could almost cover the entire visible light. This convenient self-assembly method and systematic optical and physical studies of ultra-thin GQD films may provide a new direction for developing low-cost, GQD film-based light-emitting devices.