Construction and validation of a predictive model of pneumonia for ICU patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The incidence of pneumonia in ICU patients with TBI is very high, seriously affecting the prognosis. This study aims to construct a predictive model for pneumonia in ICU patients with TBI and provide help for the prevention of TBI-related pneumonia.Clinical data of ICU patients with TBI were collected from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database and hospital data. Variables were screened by lasso and multivariate logistic regression to construct a predictive nomogram model, verified in internal validation cohort and external validation cohort by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA).A total of 1850 ICU patients with TBI were enrolled in the study from the MIMIC-IV database, including 1298 in the training cohort and 552 in internal validation cohort. The external validation cohort included 240 ICU patients with TBI from hospital data. Nine variables were selected from the training cohort by lasso regression and multivariate logistic regression, and a pneumonia prediction nomogram was constructed. This nomogram has a high discrimination in training, internal validation and external validation cohorts (AUC = 0.857, 0.877, 0.836). The calibration curve and DCA showed that this nomogram had a high calibration and better clinical decision-making efficiency.The nomogram showed excellent discrimination and clinical utility to predict pneumonia, and could identify pneumonia high-risk patients early, thus providing personalised treatment strategies for ICU patients with TBI.

Characteristics of follicular dynamics and reproductive hormone profiles during oestrous cycles of jennies over an entire year.

Although donkeys have been domesticated for over 6,000 years, limited information is available concerning their reproductive physiology, especially under intensive rearing conditions. The aims of this experiment were to study follicular dynamics and reproductive hormone variation in jennies during the inter-ovulatory interval in different seasons. A total of 12 continuous cycles of six Dezhou Black (DB) donkey jennies were examined in four different seasons. The diameters of the six largest follicles of each jenny were measured daily by ultrasonography, and blood samples were collected at fixed times for reproductive hormone assays. The results demonstrated that most jennies displayed regular oestrous cycles in all seasons. The follicular dynamics were similar in Spring, Summer and Winter, while the jennies had longer oestrous cycles with delayed follicular deviation and dominant selection in Autumn. At least two follicular waves were observed in each oestrous cycle, throughout the study, but two jennies presented oestrous cycles with three follicular waves in the Autumn. The numbers of follicular waves were consistent with the numbers of FSH surges. Oestrous characteristics of the jennies in a large herd were also analysed. The results showed that the rates of regular oestrous cycles were 83.1% (265/319), 89.6% (215/240), 80.2% (235/293) and 77.1% (178/231), with 26.4% (70/265), 19.5% (42/215), 22.1% (52/235) and 23.0% (41/178) double ovulation rates in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, respectively. The results presented may be useful for donkey farms in the design of breeding strategies.

Label-free based comparative proteomic analysis of whey proteins between different milk yields of Dezhou donkey.

Donkey milk, similar to human milk in compositions, has been suggested as the best potential hypoallergenic replacement diet for babies suffering from cow milk protein allergens and a promising nutraceutical for aged people. In this study, label-free mass spectrometry analysis was conducted to quantitatively identify the whey proteins differentially expressed in high-milk-yield samples compared with low-milk-yield samples. A total of 216 whey proteins were identified, and 19 of them showed significant differences in high-milk-yield samples. Of these proteins, 16 were upregulated and 3 were downregulated. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were subjected to intensive bioinformatic analysis. Results revealed that the majority of DEPs participated in protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, estrogen signaling pathway, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Functional protein analysis suggested that proteins functioned in binding, catalytic activity, molecular function regulation, structural molecule activity, and transporter activity. Our study was the first to analyze the whey protein profile of different samples of donkey milk and to identify candidate proteins that could be used to explore the molecular mechanism related to the yield traits of Dezhou donkey milk. This study provided the biomarkers for the selection of high-milk-yielding donkey and obtained valuable information for future studies.

Intracellular calcium chelating agent (BAPTA-AM) aids stallion semen cooling and freezing-thawing.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of 1,2-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N0 N0-tetraacetic acid, tetra-acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM), an intracellular calcium chelating agent, on stallion semen cooling and freezing-thawing. After collection, semen was extended (1:1 v/v) on a skim milk-based extender, centrifuged and resuspended at 400 million/ml into cooling or freezing extenders containing 0, 5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 µΜ BAPTA-AM. Motility parameters were assessed after cooling in Equitainer at 5°C for 12, 24, 48, 72 and 120 hr and after freezing-thawing. In addition, mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular ATP, reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde concentrations were measured in cryopreserved-thawed semen. Cooled stored (48 hr) semen containing 50 µΜ BAPTA-AM and control extender (0 µΜ BAPTA-AM) was used to assess fertility. Inclusion of 50 µΜ BAPTA-AM resulted in superior sperm motility parameters during cooled storage when compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, semen cryopreserved in extender containing 50 µΜ BAPTA-AM showed increased intracellular ATP and mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde were increased after thawing for all groups (p < 0.05). Addition of 50 µΜ BAPTA-AM to cooling extender resulted in similar pregnancy rates to the control group (75% vs. 73.6%, respectively; p > 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of BAPTA-AM to semen extenders aided stallion semen cryopreservation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the cooling extender supplemented with 50 µΜ BAPTA-AM could be used to prolong the sperm motility during cooling without apparently compromising fertility. Field trials should be conducted to assess fertility of cryopreserved stallion semen with BAPTA-AM.

Inhomogeneous-collapse driven micelle-vesicle transition of amphiphilic block copolymers.

Understanding the morphological transition dynamics related to the hydrophilic-hydrophobic interface has been a challenge due to the lack of an effective evaluation method. Herein, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed to study the morphological transition related chain collapse of poly(N,N'-diethylaminoethylmethacrylate)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PDEAEMA133-b-PNIPA322) and poly(N,N'-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PDMAEMA95-b-PNIPA228) and was proved to be a powerful technique in morphological transition mechanism studies once combined with dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Unlike the cooperative coil collapse of two blocks in the PDMAEMA95-b-PNIPA228 alkaline solution upon heating which induces the assembly of a nanostructure (∼200 nm) with a hydrophobic core containing both collapsed PDMAEMA and PNIPA segments and a hydrophilic surface part consisting of un-shrunk PDMAEMA and PNIPA segments, PDEAEMA133-b-PNIPA322 with a low-temperature core-shell micelle structure showed a micelle-vesicle transition due to temperature-induced inhomogeneous-collapse of PNIPA. The PNIPA segments in the shell sequentially collapse outside (starting at the core-shell interface), accompanied by a gradual decrease in micelle size. Above the critical temperature, the residual hydrophilic PNIPA segments become too short to stabilize the micelle structure, the micelles then transform into vesicles of a slightly larger size, instead of micelle aggregation and precipitation as normally expected.

A novel role of transient receptor potential mucolipin1 (TRPML1) in protecting against imidazole-induced cytotoxicity.

Lysosomotropic amines cause serious side effects such as cytoplasmic vacuolation and cell death. TRPML1 (also known as mucolipin1), a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) protein family, may regulate fusion/fission of vesicles along the endocytic pathway and some aspects of lysosomal ion homeostasis. Nevertheless, it is still unknown whether TRPML1 is involved in death of mammalian cells induced by lysosomotropic agents. In this study, imidazole was used as a model to investigate the role of TRPML1 in the cytotoxicity of lysosomotropic agents. Overexpression of wild-type TRPML1 inhibited imidazole-induced vacuole formation and cell death in human endometrial adenocarcinoma (HEC-1B) cells. In contrast, siRNA-mediated TRPML1 knockdown increased the cell death induced by imidazole. Bafilomycin A1 raises the pH of acidic organelles and therefore suppresses accumulation of weak bases in them. Similarly, lysosomal pH was raised in TRPML1-overexpressing cells; therefore, we inferred that TRPML1 protected against imidazole toxicity by regulating the pH of acidic organelles. We concluded that TRPML1 had a novel role in protecting against lysosomotropic amine toxicity.

Construction and Validation of Nomograms for Predicting Overall Survival and Cancer-Specific Survival in Patients with Primary Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma.

OBJECTIVE: Anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AOD) is a rare high-grade central nervous system tumor. The current research on prognostic prediction of AOD remains limited. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors and establish the nomograms to predict overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients with AOD. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with AOD between 1992 and 2020 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result database. We performed univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify independent prognostic factors based on the training group. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to compare the impact of various independent factors on patient prognosis. For OS and CSS, the nomograms were constructed and verified by the validation group. Harrell''s concordance index, receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses were used to assess the discrimination, consistency, and clinical value of the nomograms. RESULTS: A total of 1202 AOD patients were enrolled, being randomly divided into training (n = 841) and validation (n = 361) groups (7:3 ratio). Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis identified 4 significant independent factors (tumor site, age, surgery, and chemotherapy). For OS and CSS, Harrell''s concordance index were 0.731 (0.705-0.757) and 0.728 (0.701-0.754) in the training group, 0.688 (0.646-0.731) and 0.684 (0.639-0.729) in the validation group, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curves and Calibration curves showed good discrimination and consistency, respectively. In addition, the decision curve analyses curves showed the nomograms have good clinical benefits. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully established the nomograms to predict the OS and CSS for AOD patients. The nomograms showed good performance in prognostic prediction, assisting clinicians in evaluating patient prognosis and personalizing treatment plans.

Examination of Beam Theories for Buckling and Free Vibration of Functionally Graded Porous Beams.

This paper examines the accuracy and effectiveness of various beam theories in predicting the critical buckling loads and fundamental frequencies of functionally graded porous (FGP) beams whose material properties change continuously across the thickness. The beam theories considered are classical beam theory (CBT), first-order shear deformation beam theory (FSDBT), third-order shear deformation beam theory (TSDBT), and the broken-line hypothesis-based shear deformation beam theory (BSDBT). Governing equations for those beam theories are formulated by using the Hamilton's principle and are then solved by means of the generalised differential quadrature method. Finite element simulation solutions are provided as reference results to assess the predictions of those beam theories. Comprehensive numerical results are presented to evaluate the influences of the porosity distribution and coefficient, slenderness ratio, and boundary condition on the difference between theoretical predictions and simulation results. It is found that the differences significantly increase as the porosity coefficient rises, and this effect becomes more noticeable for the rigid beam with a smaller slenderness ratio. Nonetheless, the results produced by the BSDBT are always the closest to simulation ones. The findings in this paper will contribute to the establishment of more refined theories for the mechanical analysis of FGP structures.

A novel arginine methylation-associated lncRNA signature effectively predicts prognosis in breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer (BC) is a disease highly associated with epigenetic modification, and arginine methylation is particularly important in its genetic regulation. However, the role of arginine methylation related lncRNAs in breast cancer has not been studied. First, we identified the related lncRNAs (from TCGA database) according to the differentially expressed genes related to arginine methylation in breast cancer. Then the lncRNAs related to protein arginine methylation were obtained by regression analysis, and the risk score model was constructed. Finally, the cell experiment and subcutaneous tumor model verified that the arginine methylation related lncRNA z68871.1 in the model had a significant effect on the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells. In conclusion, we successfully constructed an arginine methylation related lncRNA model, which has strong predictive ability. At the same time, this study provides an experimental basis for exploring the mechanism of arginine methylation in BC and helps to find new biomarkers of BC.

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat/CRISPR-Associated Protein and Its Utility All at Sea: Status, Challenges, and Prospects.

Initially discovered over 35 years ago in the bacterium Escherichia coli as a defense system against invasion of viral (or other exogenous) DNA into the genome, CRISPR/Cas has ushered in a new era of functional genetics and served as a versatile genetic tool in all branches of life science. CRISPR/Cas has revolutionized the methodology of gene knockout with simplicity and rapidity, but it is also powerful for gene knock-in and gene modification. In the field of marine biology and ecology, this tool has been instrumental in the functional characterization of 'dark' genes and the documentation of the functional differentiation of gene paralogs. Powerful as it is, challenges exist that have hindered the advances in functional genetics in some important lineages. This review examines the status of applications of CRISPR/Cas in marine research and assesses the prospect of quickly expanding the deployment of this powerful tool to address the myriad fundamental marine biology and biological oceanography questions.

Association of glycemic variability and prognosis in patients with traumatic brain injury: A retrospective study from the MIMIC-IV database.

BACKGROUND: Elevated glycemic variability (GV) often occurs in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and is associated with patient prognosis. However, the association between GV and prognosis in ICU patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unclear. METHOD: Clinical data of ICU patients with TBI were obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) -IV database. The coefficient of variation (CV) was utilized to quantify GV, while the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was employed to evaluate the consciousness status of TBI patients. Pearson linear correlation analysis, linear regression, COX regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to investigate the relationship between CV and consciousness impairment, as well as the risk of in-hospital mortality. RESULT: A total of 1641 ICU patients with TBI were included in the study from the MIMIC-IV database. Pearson linear correlation and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis results showed a negative linear relationship between CV and the last GCS (P = 0.002) with no evidence of nonlinearity (P for nonlinear = 0.733). Multivariable linear regression suggested a higher CV was associated with a lower discharge GCS [ß (95 %CI) = -1.86 (-3.08 âˆ¼ -0.65), P = 0.003]. Furthermore, multivariable COX regression indicated that CV ≥ 0.3 was a risk factor for in-hospital death in TBI patients [HR (95 %CI) = 1.74 (1.15-2.62), P = 0.003], and this result was also consistent across sensitivity and subgroup analyses. CONCLUSION: Higher GV is related to poorer consciousness outcomes and increased risk of in-hospital death in ICU patients with TBI. Additional research is needed to understand the logical relationship between GV and TBI progression.

Epigenomic landscapes during prefrontal cortex development and aging in rhesus.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is essential for higher-level cognitive functions. How epigenetic dynamics participates in PFC development and aging is largely unknown. Here, we profiled epigenomic landscapes of rhesus monkey PFCs from prenatal to aging stages. The dynamics of chromatin states, including higher-order chromatin structure, chromatin interaction and histone modifications are coordinated to regulate stage-specific gene transcription, participating in distinct processes of neurodevelopment. Dramatic changes of epigenetic signals occur around the birth stage. Notably, genes involved in neuronal cell differentiation and layer specification are pre-configured by bivalent promoters. We identified a cis-regulatory module and the transcription factors (TFs) associated with basal radial glia development, which was associated with large brain size in primates. These TFs include GLI3, CREB5 and SOX9. Interestingly, the genes associated with the basal radial glia (bRG)-associated cis-element module, such as SRY and SOX9, are enriched in sex differentiation. Schizophrenia-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms are more enriched in super enhancers (SEs) than typical enhancers, suggesting that SEs play an important role in neural network wiring. A cis-regulatory element of DBN1 is identified, which is critical for neuronal cell proliferation and synaptic neuron differentiation. Notably, the loss of distal chromatin interaction and H3K27me3 signal are hallmarks of PFC aging, which are associated with abnormal expression of aging-related genes and transposon activation, respectively. Collectively, our findings shed light on epigenetic mechanisms underlying primate brain development and aging.

A Novel Cuprotosis-Related lncRNA Signature Effectively Predicts Prognosis in Glioma Patients.

Cuprotosis is a novel and different cell death mechanism from the existing known ones that can be used to explore new approaches to treating cancer. Just like ferroptosis and pyroptosis, cuprotosis-related genes regulate various types of tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastasis. However, the relationship between cuprotosis-related long non-coding RNA (cuprotosis-related lncRNA) in glioma development and prognosis has not been investigated. We obtained relevant data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), and published articles. First, we identified 365 cuprotosis-related lncRNAs based on 10 cuprotosis-related differential genes (|R2|> 0.4, p < 0.001). Then using Lasso and Cox regression analysis methods, 12 prognostic cuprotosis-related lncRNAs were obtained and constructed the CuLncSigi risk score formula. Our next step was to divide the tumor gliomas into two groups (high risk and low risk) based on the median risk score, and we found that patients in the high-risk group had a significantly worse prognosis. We used internal and external validation methods to simultaneously analyze and validate that the risk score model has good predictive power for patients with glioma. Next, we also performed enrichment analyses such as GSEA and aaGSEA and evaluated the relationship between immune-related drugs and tumor treatment. In conclusion, we successfully constructed a formula of cuprotosis-related lncRNAs with a powerful predictive function. More importantly, our study paves the way for exploring cuprotosis mechanisms in glioma occurrence and development and helps to find new relevant biomarkers for glioma early identification and diagnosis and to investigate new therapeutic approaches.

Analysis of Prognostic Factors and Surgical Management of Elderly Patients with Low-Grade Gliomas.

BACKGROUND: The number of elderly patients with low-grade glioma (LGG) is increasing, but their prognostic factors and surgical treatment are still controversial. This paper aims to investigate the prognostic factors of overall survival and cancer-specific survival in elderly patients with LGG and analyze the optimal surgical treatment strategy. METHODS: Patients in the study were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and patients were randomized into a training and a test set (7:3). Clinical variables were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis to screen for significant prognostic factors, and nomograms visualized the prognosis. In addition, survival analysis of elderly patients regarding different surgical management was also analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Six prognostic factors were screened by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis on the training set: tumor site, laterality, histological type, the extent of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, and all factors were visualized by nomogram. And we evaluated the accuracy of the nomogram model using consistency index, calibration plots, receiver operator characteristic curves, and decision curve analysis, showing that the nomogram has strong accuracy and applicability. We also found that gross total resection improved overall survival and cancer-specific survival in patients with LGG aged ≥65 years relative to those who did not undergo surgery (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we created and validated prognostic nomograms for elderly patients with LGG, which can help clinicians to provide personalized treatment services and clinical decisions for their patients. More importantly, we found that older age alone should not preclude aggressive surgery for LGGs.

A Comprehensive Review on Combinatorial Film via High-Throughput Techniques.

Numerous technological advancements in the 21st century depend on the creation of novel materials possessing enhanced properties; there is a growing reliance on materials that can be optimized to serve multiple functions. To efficiently save time and meet the requirements of diverse applications, high-throughput and combinatorial approaches are increasingly employed to explore and design superior materials. Among them, gradient thin-film deposition is one of the most mature and widely used technologies for high-throughput preparation of material libraries. This review summarizes recent progress in gradient thin-film deposition fabricated by magnetron sputtering, multi-arc ion plating, e-beam evaporation, additive manufacturing, and chemical bath deposition, providing readers with a fundamental understanding of this research field. First, high-throughput synthesis methods for gradient thin films are emphasized. Subsequently, we present the characteristics of combinatorial films, including microstructure, oxidation, corrosion tests, and mechanical properties. Next, the screening methods employed for evaluating these properties are discussed. Furthermore, we delve into the limitations of high-throughput preparation and characterization techniques for combinatorial films. Finally, we provide a summary and offer our perspectives.

Effect of cloprostenol on luteolysis and comparison of different estrus synchronization protocols in jennies.

Estrus synchronization is necessary for intensive donkey farming. Studies on estrus synchronization in jennies are, however, scarce. We aimed to investigate the susceptibility of the donkey corpus luteum to cloprostenol and design a successful estrus synchronization protocol. Firstly, the effects of different cloprostenol doses and the timing effect of cloprostenol treatment on estrous cycle was investigated. The time from treatment to luteolysis, the ovulation interval, pre-ovulatory diameter, and ovulation rates were compared between groups. Secondly, to identify the best protocol, eight estrus synchronization protocols from three categories were examined. In the first category, jennies in groups A (n = 55) and B (n = 30) received a progesterone releasing intra-vaginal device (JVID®) and cloprostenol treatment. In the second category (group C to F), jennies were pretreated with deslorelin, and then treated with JVID and cloprostenol, including groups C (n = 50), D (n = 50), E (n = 70), and F (n = 65). In the third category, jennies were treated with deslorelin and cloprostenol, including groups G (n = 40) and H (n = 40). Comparisons were made among groups regarding the degree of synchronization, ovulation, and pregnancy rates. Treatment with 0.4 mg cloprostenol on the third day following ovulation minimized the length of the luteal phase and estrous cycle. Synchronization rate varied from 60.0% to 88.6% among groups and was highest in group E. Pregnancy rates did not differ among the eight protocols. In conclusion, cloprostenol effectively induced luteolysis in jennies and a treatment protocol combining deslorelin, cloprostenol, and JVID is efficient for estrus synchronization in donkeys.

M7G-related LncRNAs: A comprehensive analysis of the prognosis and immunity in glioma.

Today, numerous international researchers have demonstrated that N7-methylguanosine (m7G) related long non-coding RNAs (m7G-related lncRNAs) are closely linked to the happenings and developments of various human beings' cancers. However, the connection between m7G-related lncRNAs and glioma prognosis has not been investigated. We did this study to look for new potential biomarkers and construct an m7G-related lncRNA prognostic signature for glioma. We identified those lncRNAs associated with DEGs from glioma tissue sequences as m7G-related lncRNAs. First, we used Pearson's correlation analysis to identify 28 DEGs by glioma and normal brain tissue gene sequences and predicated 657 m7G-related lncRNAs. Then, eight lncRNAs associated with prognosis were obtained and used to construct the m7G risk score model by lasso and Cox regression analysis methods. Furthermore, we used Kaplan-Meier analysis, time-dependent ROC, principal component analysis, clinical variables, independent prognostic analysis, nomograms, calibration curves, and expression levels of lncRNAs to determine the model's accuracy. Importantly, we validated the model with external and internal validation methods and found it has strong predictive power. Finally, we performed functional enrichment analysis (GSEA, aaGSEA enrichment analyses) and analyzed immune checkpoints, associated pathways, and drug sensitivity based on predictors. In conclusion, we successfully constructed the formula of m7G-related lncRNAs with powerful predictive functions. Our study provides instructional value for analyzing glioma pathogenesis and offers potential research targets for glioma treatment and scientific research.

Hot Deformation Behavior and Microstructure Evolution of a Novel Al-Zn-Mg-Li-Cu Alloy.

Lightweight structural alloys have broad application prospects in aerospace, energy, and transportation fields, and it is crucial to understand the hot deformation behavior of novel alloys for subsequent applications. The deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of a new Al-Zn-Mg-Li-Cu alloy was studied by hot compression experiments at temperatures ranging from 300 °C to 420 °C and strain rates ranging from 0.01 s-1 to 10 s-1. The as-cast Al-Zn-Mg-Li-Cu alloy is composed of an α-Al phase, an Al2Cu phase, a T phase, an η phase, and an η' phase. The constitutive relationship between flow stress, temperature, and strain rate, represented by Zener-Hollomon parameters including Arrhenius terms, was established. Microstructure observations show that the grain size and the fraction of DRX increases with increasing deformation temperature. The grain size of DRX decreases with increasing strain rates, while the fraction of DRX first increases and then decreases. A certain amount of medium-angle grain boundaries (MAGBs) was present at both lower and higher deformation temperatures, suggesting the existence of continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). The cumulative misorientation from intragranular to grain boundary proves that the CDRX mechanism of the alloy occurs through progressive subgrain rotation. This paper provides a basis for the deformation process of a new Al-Zn-Mg-Li-Cu alloy.

Effects of Exercise on Donkey Semen Parameters and Some Physiological Indices.

To study the effects of exercise on donkey semen parameters, Dezhou donkey (Equus asinus) jackasses (n = 18) were assigned to three groups: control (CN, n = 6), 1-hour exercise (1 h EX, n = 6) and 2-hour exercise (2 h EX, n = 6) groups. They were exercised with a walking machine for 3 days/week for 8 weeks. Semen parameters and reproductive hormones were evaluated weekly. The heart rate, rectal temperature, blood haematology indexes, and the body condition score (BCS) were also measured. Results showed that the ejaculation volume increased while the sperm concentration decreased after exercise. However, other sperm parameters were unaffected. Reproductive hormones at resting period were rarely affected by exercise. The red blood cell number increased (P = .023), while the mean erythrocyte hemoglobin concentration decreased (P = .045) after the 8-week exercise in the 2 h EX group compared with the CN. After the 8-week exercise, the resting heart rate of the two exercise groups decreased significantly compared with the CN. The BCS in the CN group increased after the experiment (P = .024). In conclusion, we found that exercise had positive effects on some physiological indices but did not affect semen parameters expect for volume and concentration of the jackass.

A sensitive, accurate, and high-throughput gluco-oligosaccharide oxidase-based HRP colorimetric method for assaying lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase activity.

BACKGROUND: The AA9 (auxiliary activities) family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (AA9 LPMOs) is a ubiquitous and diverse group of enzymes in the fungal kingdom. They catalyse the oxidative cleavage of glycosidic bonds in lignocellulose and exhibit great potential for biorefinery applications. Robust, high-throughput and direct methods for assaying AA9 LPMO activity, which are prerequisites for screening LPMOs with excellent properties, are still lacking. Here, we present a gluco-oligosaccharide oxidase (GOOX)-based horseradish peroxidase (HRP) colorimetric method for assaying AA9 LPMO activity. RESULTS: We cloned and expressed a GOOX gene from Sarocladium strictum in Trichoderma reesei, purified the recombinant SsGOOX, validated its properties, and developed an SsGOOX-based HRP colorimetric method for assaying cellobiose concentrations. Then, we expressed two AA9 LPMOs from Thielavia terrestris, TtAA9F and TtAA9G, in T. reesei, purified the recombinant proteins, and analysed their product profiles and regioselectivity towards phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC). TtAA9F was characterized as a C1-type (class 1) LPMO, while TtAA9G was characterized as a C4-type (class 2) LPMO. Finally, the SsGOOX-based HRP colorimetric method was used to quantify the total concentration of reducing lytic products from the LPMO reaction, and the activities of both the C1- and C4-type LPMOs were analysed. These LPMOs could be effectively analysed with limits of detection (LoDs) less than 30 nmol/L, and standard curves between the A515 and LPMO concentrations with determination coefficients greater than 0.994 were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: A novel, sensitive and accurate assay method that directly targets the main activity of both C1- and C4-type AA9 LPMOs was established. This method is easy to use and could be performed on a microtiter plate for high-throughput screening of AA9 LPMOs with desirable properties.