Differential effects of specific emotions on spatial decision-making: evidence from cross-frequency functionally independent brain networks.

Emotions significantly shape the way humans make decisions. However, the underlying neural mechanisms of this influence remain elusive. In this study, we designed an experiment to investigate how emotions (specifically happiness, fear, and sadness) impact spatial decision-making, utilizing EEG data. To address the inherent limitations of sensor-level investigations previously conducted, we employed standard low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography and functional independent component analysis to analyze the EEG data at the cortical source level. Our findings showed that across various spectral-spatial networks, positive emotion activated the decision-making network in the left middle temporal gyrus and inferior temporal gyrus, in contrast to negative emotions. We also identified the common spectral-spatial networks and observed significant differences in network strength across emotions. These insights further revealed the important role of the gamma-band prefrontal network. Our research provides a basis for deciphering the roles of brain networks in the impact of emotions on decision-making.

Metabolic Regulation of Gene Expression by Histone Lysine ß-Hydroxybutyrylation.

Here we report the identification and verification of a ß-hydroxybutyrate-derived protein modification, lysine ß-hydroxybutyrylation (Kbhb), as a new type of histone mark. Histone Kbhb marks are dramatically induced in response to elevated ß-hydroxybutyrate levels in cultured cells and in livers from mice subjected to prolonged fasting or streptozotocin-induced diabetic ketoacidosis. In total, we identified 44 histone Kbhb sites, a figure comparable to the known number of histone acetylation sites. By ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis, we demonstrate that histone Kbhb is a mark enriched in active gene promoters and that the increased H3K9bhb levels that occur during starvation are associated with genes upregulated in starvation-responsive metabolic pathways. Histone ß-hydroxybutyrylation thus represents a new epigenetic regulatory mark that couples metabolism to gene expression, offering a new avenue to study chromatin regulation and diverse functions of ß-hydroxybutyrate in the context of important human pathophysiological states, including diabetes, epilepsy, and neoplasia.

Cyp19a1a Promotes Ovarian Maturation through Regulating E2 Synthesis with Estrogen Receptor 2a in Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen, 1788).

In the artificial breeding of Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen, 1788), female fish spawn before male release sperm, which indicates rapid ovarian development. In fish, aromatase is responsible for converting androgens into estrogens and estrogen plays a crucial role in ovarian development. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of brain-type and ovarian-type aromatase to study the rapid ovarian development mechanism. The results showed that cyp19a1a was mainly expressed in the ovary and could be classified as the ovarian type, whereas cyp19a1b could be considered as the brain type for its expression was mainly in the brain. During ovarian development, the expression of cyp19a1a in the ovary significantly increased from stage IV to stage V and Cyp19a1a signals were present in the follicle cells, while cyp19a1b expression in the pituitary gland decreased from stage IV to stage V. To further investigate the function of Cyp19a1a, recombinant Cyp19a1a (rCyp19a1a) was produced and specific anti-Cyp19a1a antiserum was obtained. The expressions of cyp19a1a, estrogen receptors 2 alpha (esr2a), and androgen receptor alpha (arα) were significantly upregulated in the presence of rCyp19a1a. Meanwhile, cyp19a1a was expressed significantly after E2 treatment in both ovarian and testicular tissue culture. Taken together, we found two forms of aromatase in silver pomfret. The ovarian-type aromatase might play an important role in ovarian differentiation and maturation, and participate in E2 synthesis through co-regulation with esr2a. The brain-type aromatase cyp19a1b might be involved in the regulation of both brain and gonadal development.

Identification and characterization of toll-like receptor genes in silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) and their involvement in the host immune response to Photobacterium damselae subsp. Damselae and Nocardia seriolae infection.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are vital pattern recognition receptors that play a critical role in the innate immune response against pathogenic attack. Among the bacteria commonly found in the culture process of silver pomfret, Photobacterium damselae subsp. Damselae (PDD, gram-negative) and Nocardia seriolae (NS, gram-positive), can cause large-scale mortality in this fish species. However, there is currently no research on the role of TLRs in mediating the immune response of silver pomfret to these two bacterial infections. Therefore, in this study, we identified nine PaTLRs family members, including several fish-specific TLRs (TLR14 and TLR21). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these PaTLRs genes could be classified into five subfamilies, namely TLR1, TLR3, TLR5, TLR7, and TLR11, indicating their evolutionary conservation. To further explore the interactions of TLR genes with immune-related mediators, protein and protein interaction network (PPI) results were generated to explain the association of TLR genes with TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and other relevant genes in the MyD88-dependent pathway and NF-κb signaling pathway. Subsequently, RT-qPCR was conducted to verify the expression patterns of the nine TLR genes in the gills, skin, kidney, liver, and spleen of healthy fish, with most of the TLRs showing high expression levels in the spleen. Following infection with PDD and NS, these PaTLRs exhibited different expression patterns in the spleen, with PaTLR2, PaTLR3, PaTLR5, PaTLR7, PaTLR9, and PaTLR14 being significantly up-regulated. Furthermore, when spleen cells were treated with bacterial compositions, the majority of PaTLRs expression was up-regulated in response to Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipophosphorylcholic acid (LTA) treatment, except for PaTLR21. Finally, changes in the expression levels of TLR-interacting genes were also observed under the stimulation of bacteria and bacterial compositions. The results of this study provide a preliminary reference for further understanding the mechanism of the innate immune response of the TLR gene family in silver pomfret and offer theoretical support for addressing the disease problems encountered during large-scale fish breeding.

Developmental Genetic Basis of Hoxd9 Homeobox Domain Deletion in Pampus argenteus Pelvic Fin Deficiency.

Pampus argenteus is important for commercial fishery catch species and is an emerging target for aquaculture production. Notably, P. argenteus has a bizarre morphology and lacks pelvic fins. However, the reason for the lack of pelvic fins remains unclear, ultimately leading to frequent upside-down floating of P. argenteus during breeding and marked consumption of physical energy. Some lineages, including whales, fugu, snakes, and seahorse, independently lost the pelvic appendages over evolutionary time. Do different taxa employ the same molecular genetic pathways when they independently evolve similar developmental morphologies? Through analysis of the gene responsible for appendage localization, Hoxd9, it was discovered that the Hox domain was absent in the Hoxd9 gene of P. argenteus, and the Hoxd9b gene lacked the Hox9 activation region, a feature not observed in the Hoxd9 gene of other fish species. Interestingly, those distinctive characteristics are not observed in the Hoxd9 gene of other fish species. To determine the association between the Hoxd9 gene characteristics and the pelvic fin deletion in P. argenteus, the full-length cDNA of the Hoxd9a gene was cloned, and morphological observations of the species' juveniles were performed using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Thereafter, the tissue localization of Hoxd9a in the species was analyzed at the gene and protein levels. Based on the results, deletion of the Hoxd9a structural domain possibly leads to disruptions in the protein translation and the pelvic fin localization in P. argenteus during its early ontogenetic developmental stage, resulting in the absence of pelvic fins.

Morphological and Molecular Functional Evidence of the Pharyngeal Sac in the Digestive Tract of Silver Pomfret, Pampus argenteus.

The pharyngeal sac is a comparatively rare organ in the digestive tract among teleost fishes. However, our understanding of this remarkable organ in the silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) is limited. In the present study, we examined the various morphological and histological characteristics of the pharyngeal sac using histochemical techniques and electron microscopy. The pharyngeal sac showed unique characteristics such as well-developed muscular walls, weakly keratinized epithelium, numerous goblet cells, and needle-like processes on the papillae. The porous cavity of the papillae contained numerous adipocytes and was tightly enveloped by type I collagen fibers. These structures might provide mechanical protection and excellent biomechanical properties for grinding and shredding prey. A comparison of gene expression levels between the pharyngeal sac and esophagus using RNA-seq showed that phenotype-associated genes (epithelial genes and muscle genes) were upregulated, whereas genes related to nutrient digestion and absorption were downregulated in the pharyngeal sac. These results support the role of the pharyngeal sac in shredding and predigesting food. Overall, these findings provide a clearer understanding of the pharyngeal sac morphology and explain the morphological adaptations of the digestive tract for feeding on gelatinous prey. To our knowledge, this is the first report on pharyngeal sac gene expression in P. argenteus.

Selenocystine-Derived Label-Free Fluorescent Schiff Base Nanocomplex for siRNA Delivery Synergistically Kills Cancer Cells.

Chemo and siRNA synergic treatments for tumors is a promising new therapeutic trend. Selenocystine, a selenium analog of cysteine, has been considered a potential antitumor agent due to its redox perturbing role. In this study, we developed a nanocarrier for siRNA based on a selenocystine analog engineered polyetherimide and achieved traceable siRNA delivery and the synergic killing of tumor cells. Notably, we applied the label-free Schiff base fluorescence mechanism, which enabled us to trace the siRNA delivery and to monitor the selenocystine analogs' local performance. A novel selenocystine-derived fluorescent Schiff base linker was used to crosslink the polyetherimide, thereby generating a traceable siRNA delivery vehicle with green fluorescence. Moreover, we found that this compound induced tumor cells to undergo senescence. Together with the delivery of a siRNA targeting the anti-apoptotic BCL-xl/w genes in senescent cells, it achieved a synergistic inhibition function by inducing both senescence and apoptosis of tumor cells. Therefore, this study provides insights into the development of label-free probes, prodrugs, and materials towards the synergic strategies for cancer therapy.

Effects of acute low-salinity stress on osmoregulation, antioxidant capacity, and growth of the black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii).

The black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) is an important marine economic fish found on the southeast coast of China. Because of the frequent climate change, the salinity of the waters inhabited by A. schlegelii often decreases, which interferes with the fish's physiological homeostasis. The isotonic salinity of teleosts are usually lower than that of seawater, so maximum economic benefits cannot be obtained from conventional mariculture. This study was performed to preliminarily clarify the osmotic regulation and antioxidant mechanism of juvenile A. schlegelii and find an appropriate culture salinity value. We selected 5 psu, 10 psu, 15 psu, and 25 psu (control) to conduct physiological experiments for 96 h and growth experiments for 60 days. We found that the juvenile A. schlegelii could adjust their osmotic pressure within 12 h. The growth hormone and cortisol were found to be seawater-acclimating hormones, whereas prolactin was freshwater-acclimating hormone. The activity and mRNA expression of Na+/K+-ATPase showed a U-shaped trend with the decrease of in salinity at 12-96 h. Serum ion concentration and osmotic pressure remained at a relatively stable level after being actively adjusted from 6 to 12 h. At 96 h, the osmotic pressure of the serum isotonic point of juvenile A. schlegelii was approximately equal to that of water with 14.94 salinity. The number and volume of Cl--secreting cells in the gills decreased. The glomeruli were more developed and structurally sound, with the renal tubules increasing in diameter and the medial brush border being more developed; this may indicate a decrease in salt secretion and an enhanced reabsorption function in the low salinity groups. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and concentration of malondialdehyde were the lowest in the 15 psu group. In addition, the culture conditions of the 15 psu group improved the feed conversion rate without significant differences in weight gain when compared with the control group. Our results show that 15 psu salinity may be the best parameter for obtaining the maximum economic benefits.

Cadmium transcriptionally regulates Scd1 expression in silver pomfret.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the major contaminants in aquatic ecosystem. Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (Scd1) has been implicated in adaptive responses to environmental stressors. The objectives of this study are (a) to characterize scd1 mRNA from silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus); (b) to investigate the expression and activity of Scd1 in silver pomfret exposed to Cd; and (c) to investigate how Cd modifies scd1 gene transcription in silver pomfret. Results indicated that Scd1 was generally conserved across fish species and scd1 mRNA level was higher by far in the brain and liver, followed by the kidney and intestine. Exposure to Cd led to significant changes of the expression and activity of Scd1 in in the liver and intestine. The liver mRNA abundance of scd1 was significantly lower in the Cd-treated groups than in the control group. The 10 days treatment with 1 mg/L Cd significantly upregulated the intestinal scd1 mRNA level, an approximately 9-fold higher in the 1 mg/L Cd-treated group as compared with the control group. Accordingly, Scd1 activity indices (18:1n-9/18:0) in the liver were significantly decreased in the 0.5 mg/L group compared with the control group, while Scd1 activity indices in the intestine were significantly increased in the 1 mg/L group compared with the control group. Moreover, overexpression of sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (Srebp1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (Pparγ )in HEK 293T cells produced a 2-fold increment in the activity of the scd1 promoter. Furthermore, srebp1 had a similar expression pattern to scd1 in the liver and intestine of silver pomfret exposed to Cd. These results indicated that Cd could regulate scd1 expression, possibly through the transcriptional factor Srebp1.

Quantitative Crotonylome Analysis Expands the Roles of p300 in the Regulation of Lysine Crotonylation Pathway.

Lysine crotonylation (Kcr) is a recently identified post-translational modification (PTM) that is regulated by an acetyltransferase, p300. The p300-catalyzed histone Kcr is able to stimulate transcription to a greater degree than the well-studied histone lysine acetylation (Kac). Despite these progresses, the global Kcr substrates regulated by p300 remain largely unknown, hindering efforts to establish mechanistic links between Kcr and p300-mediated phenotypes. Here, a quantitative proteomics study to characterize the p300-regulated lysine crotonylome is reported. A total of 816 unique endogenous crotonylation sites are identified across 392 proteins, with 88 sites from 69 proteins being decreased by more than 0.7-fold (log2 < 0.5) and 31 sites from 17 proteins being increased by more than 1.4-fold (log2 > 0.5) in response to p300 knockout (KO). The most downregulated crotonylome alterations under p300 deficiency concern components of the nonsense-mediated decay, infectious disease, and viral/eukaryotic translation pathways. Moreover, some p300-targeted Kcr substrates are potentially linked to diseases such as cancer. Taken together, this study reveals the lysine crotonylome in response to p300, which sheds light on the role for lysine crotonylation in regulation of diverse cellular processes and provides new insights into mechanisms of p300 functions.

Concise review: induced pluripotency by defined factors: prey of oxidative stress.

Reprogramming somatic cells to pluripotency (induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs) via forced expression of defined factors has become one of the most fascinating areas in biomedical research because it holds a tremendous application potential for cell therapy, disease modeling, and drug screening applications. However, cellular reprogramming is a very inefficient and metabolically demanding process commonly associated with genomic instability of the resulting iPSCs. Low reprogramming efficiency and presence of de novo genomic aberrations in iPSCs may hamper their downstream applications. Here, we review mounting studies that have tackled reprogramming efficiency and genome stability of iPSCs. In particular, we focus on the effect of oxidative stress on cellular reprogramming. We will discuss how oxidative stress influences cellular reprogramming and the mechanisms by which antioxidants promote reprogramming efficiency and preserve genome integrity of iPSCs. A reduction of oxidative stress is expected to augment reprogramming efficiency and concomitantly promote the genomic integrity of the resulting iPSCs, eventually facilitating the implementation of cellular reprogramming for downstream applications. Stem Cells 2015;33:1371-1376.

Impact of Admission Glucose on Non-Diabetic Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Impaired admission glucose (AG) is thought to significantly increase the risk of both early and late death with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), especially for non-diabetic patients. However, several earlier studies contradict these relationships. Through our meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate such a relation between impaired AG, the risk of death and STEMI. METHODS: We accessed PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library and systematically searched their databases to identify all related prospective cohort studies. The relative risks (RRs) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled quantitatively. RESULTS: The pooled, unadjusted relative risks of early outcome events indicated that patients who had glucose concentrations ≥ the range of 6.1-11.1 mmol/L, had a 4.38-fold (95% CI, 3.23-5.94) higher early mortality. For late outcome events, the pooled unadjusted RR indicated patients who had glucose concentrations ≥ the range 7.8-11.1 mmol/L, and had a 2.69-fold (95% CI, 2.16-3.34) higher late mortality based on full participants, whereas patients had a 1.65-fold (95% CI, 1.33-2.04) higher late mortality based on based on in-hospital or 30-day survivors. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present meta-analysis demonstrated that impaired admission glucose may be an effective prognostic marker for significantly increased risk of early death. Regarding the long-term outcomes based on full population or early survival, high admission glucose also has a distinct but poorer prognostic impact on long-term mortality than early mortality. KEY WORDS: Admission glucose • Meta-analysis • Myocardial infarction • Non-diabetic.

Cloning and expression profiling of a cuticular protein gene in Daphnia carinata.

The cladoceran Daphnia carinata undergoes an unusual transition from asexual to sexual reproduction in response to environmental stimuli. Previously, a D. carinata cuticular protein (CP) was identified in an EST library. In this study, the full-length CP cDNA was cloned and sequenced (GenBank accession number: KF551931), and the expression levels in different reproductive states were assessed. Parthenogenetic and sexual female D. carinata were isolated, and CP expression was investigated using semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CP was expressed during both reproductive stages, but expression was higher in sexual females. Cellular localization was also investigated using digoxin-labeled RNA probes in RNA whole-mount in situ hybridization assays, and CP was mainly expressed in the first pair of thoracic appendages, the surface of the head, shell spines, and other parts of the epidermis in parthenogenetic organisms. In contrast, CP expression was restricted to the thoracic appendages in sexual females.

Identification and expression analysis of a doublesex1 gene in Daphnia pulex during different reproductive stages.

The gene doublesex (dsx) has shown deep conservation in the sex determination in many organisms. Environmental stimuli initiate a switch in the reproductive strategy of Daphnia pulex from asexual to sexual reproduction; however, occasionally, changes in environmental conditions will not lead to this transition. So study genetic responses to environmental stimuli and the molecular basis for the switch of reproductive stages are urgently needed. Therefore, we isolated and sequenced a D. pulex doublesex1 gene (Dpdsx1) and analyzed its expression and location by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and whole-mount in situ hybridization in D. pulex during different stages of reproduction. The predicted amino acid sequence has 335 amino acids that contained one DM domain and one dimerization domain, which is characteristic of insect orthologs of Dsx. Real-time PCR showed that Dpdsx1 expression decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in different reproductive stages in the following order: male, parthenogenetic female, ephippial female, resting egg, and juvenile female. Whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed that Dpdsx1 is expressed in the first antennae, first thoracic limb and compound eye in males, whereas expression levels in the corresponding sites of parthenogenetic and ephippial females were relatively weak. Dpdsx1 could not be detected in the gonads of males or ephippial and parthenogenetic females. Taken together, these different reproductive stages' and sex specific expression patterns are regulated temporally and spatially. We speculate that Dpdsx1 may involve in switching different stages of reproduction and in sexual differentiation in D. pulex.

A tangible programming tool for children to cultivate computational thinking.

Game and creation are activities which have good potential for computational thinking skills. In this paper we present T-Maze, an economical tangible programming tool for children aged 5-9 to build computer programs in maze games by placing wooden blocks. Through the use of computer vision technology, T-Maze provides a live programming interface with real-time graphical and voice feedback. We conducted a user study with 7 children using T-Maze to play two levels of maze-escape games and create their own mazes. The results show that T-Maze is not only easy to use, but also has the potential to help children cultivate computational thinking like abstraction, problem decomposition, and creativity.

Study on the anti-retrogradation of wheat amylopectin by addition of alkali-soluble glutenin.

The retrogradation of wheat amylopectin during cold storage is the main reason for the increasing hardness of flour products such as steamed bread, bread and pastries, etc. Addition of gluten protein components is a green, safe, cheap and efficient method to inhibit the retrogradation of wheat amylopectin. In this paper, as being stored at 4 °C for 7 d, retrogradation rate of wheat amylopectin decreased from 55.02 % to 14.37 % after it was mixed with 20 % alkali-soluble glutenin (ASG) at 30 °C for 90 min, a 73.8 % reduction. The infrared results showed that the intensity of bending vibration of water molecules and intra-molecular ß-sheet content of ASG decreased during the interaction between amylopectin and ASG. Meanwhile, intermolecular ß-sheet and random coil contents of ASG increased. The results of 13C Solid-state NMR indicated that Qß, Pγ and Lγ of ASG involved in interaction of wheat amylopectin, ASG and molecule of water. Under the optimal conditions, the interaction of wheat amylopectin and ASG began to form spheres containing disulfide bonds, resulting in the attenuation or disappearance of the diffraction peak at 2θ 19.7°, which may be marked as the criterion for the best mixing time of wheat amylopectin and ASG. The retrogradation kinetic index (n) of wheat amylopectin decreased significantly with the addition of ASG and formation of disulfide bond was the key factor. ASG could be potentially used as an anti-retrogradation agent for amylopectin.

Division of neuromuscular compartments and localization of the center of the highest region of muscle spindles abundance in deep cervical muscles based on Sihler's staining.

Purpose: The overall distribution pattern of intramuscular nerves and the regions with the highest spindle abundance in deep cervical muscles have not been revealed. This study aimed to reveal neuromuscular compartmentalization and localize the body surface position and depth of the center of the region of highest muscle spindle abundance (CRHMSA) in the deep cervical muscles. Methods: This study included 36 adult cadavers (57.7 ± 11.5 years). The curved line joining the lowest point of the jugular notch and chin tip was designated as the longitudinal reference line (line L), and the curved line connecting the lowest point of the jugular notch and acromion was designated as the horizontal reference line (line H). Modified Sihler's staining, hematoxylin-eosin staining and computed tomography scanning were employed to determine the projection points (P) of the CRHMSAs on the anterior surfaces of the neck. The positions (PH and PL) of point P projected onto the H and L lines, and the depth of each CRHMSA, and puncture angle were determined using the Syngo system. Results: The scalenus posterior and longus capitis muscles were divided into two neuromuscular compartments, while the scalenus anterior and longus colli muscles were divided into three neuromuscular compartments. The scalenus medius muscle can be divided into five neuromuscular compartments. The PH of the CRHMSA of the scalenus muscles (anterior, medius, and posterior), and longus capitis and longus colli muscles, were located at 36.27, 39.18, 47.31, 35.67, and 42.71% of the H line, respectively. The PL positions were at 26.53, 32.65, 32.73, 68.32, and 51.15% of the L line, respectively. The depths of the CRHMSAs were 2.47 cm, 2.96 cm, 2.99 cm, 3.93 cm, and 3.17 cm, respectively, and the puncture angles were 87.13°, 85.92°, 88.21°, 58.08°, and 77.75°, respectively. Conclusion: Present research suggests that the deep cervical muscles can be divided into neuromuscular compartments; we recommend the locations of these CRHMSA as the optimal target for administering botulinum toxin A injections to treat deep cervical muscle dystonia.

Comprehensive Analysis of Phylogenetic Relationship and Optimal Codons in Mitochondrial Genomes of the Genus Pseudogastromyzon.

As indicator organisms for water pollution detection, Pseudogasteromyzon species play a vital role in aquatic environment monitoring. We have successfully sequenced the mitogenomes of P. fasciatus jiulongjiangensis and P. myersi and downloaded the mitogenomes of nine other Pseudogastromyzon fish on GenBank to conduct a detailed comparative analysis of their phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history. The findings revealed a conservation in both gene composition and gene order. Except for the trnS1 gene lacking dihydrouracil arms, the other 21 tRNAs showed the typical clover-leaf secondary structure. According to the ΔRSCU method, we identified the seven most abundant optimal codons: CUA, GUA, CCA, CAA, GAA, AGC, and GGC. The construction of maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayes trees yielded congruent topologies, and the 11 Pseudogastromyzon species were clustered into two major clusters. Among them, one of which was composed of P. fangi, P. changtingensis changtingensis, and P. changtingensis tungpeiensis, while the remaining eight species formed another cluster, further subdivided into five smaller clusters. Distinct clusters formed between P. fasciatus jiulongjiangensis and P. meihuashanensis, P. cheni and P. peristictus, and P. laticeps and P. lianjiangensis, and the remaining two species were clustered separately, thereby enhancing our understanding of them. Furthermore, our analysis results of divergence times revealed that these 11 Pseudogasteromyzon species underwent rapid differentiation in the Pleistocene epochs. Overall, our study sheds light on the phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary history of Pseudogasteromyzon species, providing a necessary knowledge foundation for further understanding the intricacies of an ecosystem health assessment.

Division of neuromuscular compartments and localization of the center of the intramuscular nerve-dense region in pelvic wall muscles based on Sihler's staining.

The innervation of the pelvic wall muscles is not very clear. This study aimed to reveal the division of neuromuscular compartments and localize the surface position and depth of the center of the intramuscular nerve-dense region (CINDR) of the pelvic wall muscles based on Sihler's staining. Twenty-four adult cadavers were used. To localize the CINDR of the pelvic wall muscles, horizontal (H) and longitudinal (L) reference lines were drawn, and Sihler's staining was used to reveal the intramuscular nerve distribution. The CINDR projection points (P and P' points) behind and in front of the body surface, the positions of the P points projected onto the H and L lines (PH and PL points), and the depth of CINDR were determined by spiral computed tomography scanning. The piriformis and obturator internus muscles can be divided into two and three neuromuscular compartments, respectively. The PH of CINDR of the piriformis muscle was located at 22.61 ± 2.66% of the H line, the PL was at 28.53 ± 6.08% of the L line, and the puncture depth of the piriformis muscle was at 24.64 ± 2.16% of the PP' line. The PH of CINDR of the obturator internus muscle was at 16.49 ± 1.20% of the H line, the PL was at 10.94 ± 1.09% of its L line, and the puncture depth was 6.26 ± 0.38 cm. These findings may guide the design of the compartmentalized transplantation of the pelvic wall muscles and improve the target localization efficiency and efficacy for injecting botulinum toxin A to treat pelvic wall muscle spasm.

Analysis of non-covalent interaction between ß-lactoglobulin and hyaluronic acid under ultrasound-assisted treatment: Conformational structures and interfacial properties.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) used as a food ingredient is gaining acceptance and popularity. However, the studies available for the effect of HA concentrations on the properties of ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG) were limited. In this study, we investigated that the molecular characterization and functional properties of the complex formed by the non-covalent binding of ß-LG and HA, as well as the ultrasound-assisted treatment at acidic pH. The optimal pH and ratio of ß-LG/HA were set as 7 and 4:1, respectively. The fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and molecular docking results revealed that the addition of HA and ultrasound induced a decrease in random coil and α-helix and an increase in ß-sheet contents in ß-LG. By the complexation with HA, the thermal stability, freezing stability, and antioxidant properties of ß-LG were all improved under ultrasound treatment. The results of the present study can be useful for the modulation of HA based biopolymer complexes and the exploitation as encapsulating or structuring agents in food industry.