This editorial highlighted the central role of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and discussed the emerging significance of Ras homolog enriched in brain 1(Rheb1)as a key regulato...This editorial highlighted the central role of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and discussed the emerging significance of Ras homolog enriched in brain 1(Rheb1)as a key regulator of β-cell mass and insulinsecretory capacity.While molecular mechanisms governing β-cell homeostasis remain incompletely defined,Yang et al have recently demonstrated that Rheb1 could promote β-cell proliferation through dual activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 and AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathways,rather than relying solely on mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1.Notably,Rheb1 expression is higher in pancreatic islets from younger individuals and upregulates hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha,which is recognized as a transcription factor essential for β-cell identity and insulin production.These insights position Rheb1 as a pivotal regulator of β-cell growth and metabolic function,with potential therapeutic implications for diabetes.Targeting Rheb1 may shift treatment paradigms from conventional glucose-lowering strategies towardβ-cell restoration,providing a novel approach to preserve or enhance functionalβ-cell mass in diabetic patients.Further investigation into Rheb1’s upstream regulators and downstream effectors may provide innovative therapeutic directions.展开更多
Macroalgae dominate nutrient dynamics and function as high-value foods for microbial,meio-and macrofaunal communities in coastal ecosystems.Because of this vital role,it is important to clarify the physiological infor...Macroalgae dominate nutrient dynamics and function as high-value foods for microbial,meio-and macrofaunal communities in coastal ecosystems.Because of this vital role,it is important to clarify the physiological information associated with environmental changes as it reflects their growth potential.To evaluate the effects of the changes in salinity and nutrients,the photosynthetic efficiency of a green macroalga Ulva fasciata from the Daya Bay was tested at a range of salinity(i.e.,31 to 10 psu)and nitrogen content(i.e.,5 to 60μmol L^(-1)).The results showed that cellular chlorophyll a(Chl a),carbohydrate and protein contents of U.fasciata were increased due to reduced salinity,and were decreased by interactive nitrogen enrichment.Within a short culture period(i.e.,18 h),the reduced salinity decreased the maximum photosynthetic efficiency(rETRmax and Pmax)derived from the rapid light response curve and photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate versus irradiance curve,respectively,as well as the saturation irradiance(E_(K)).This reducing effect diminished with enlonged cultivation time and reversed to a stimulating effect after 24 h of cultivation.The nitrogen enrichment stimulated the rETRmax and Pmax,as well as the E_(K),regardless of salinity,especially within short-term cultivation period(i.e.,<24 h).In addition,our results indicate that seawater freshening lowers the photosynthetic efficiency of U.fasciata in the short term,which is mitigated by nitrogen enrichment,but stimulates it in the long term,providing insight into how macroalgae thrive in coastal or estuarine waters where salinity and nutrients normally covary strongly.展开更多
Many studies have shown that fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5(FDNC5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) play vital roles in plasticity after brain injury. An enriched environment refers to an ...Many studies have shown that fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5(FDNC5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) play vital roles in plasticity after brain injury. An enriched environment refers to an environment that provides animals with multi-sensory stimulation and movement opportunities. An enriched environment has been shown to promote the regeneration of nerve cells, synapses, and blood vessels in the animal brain after cerebral ischemia;however, the exact mechanisms have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine whether an enriched environment could improve neurobehavioral functions after the experimental inducement of cerebral ischemia and whether neurobehavioral outcomes were associated with the expression of FDNC5 and BDNF. This study established ischemic mouse models using permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO) on the left side. On postoperative day 1, the mice were randomly assigned to either enriched environment or standard housing condition groups. Mice in the standard housing condition group were housed and fed under standard conditions. Mice in the enriched environment group were housed in a large cage, containing various toys, and fed with a standard diet. Sham-operated mice received the same procedure, but without artery occlusion, and were housed and fed under standard conditions. On postoperative days 7 and 14, a beam-walking test was used to assess coordination, balance, and spatial learning. On postoperative days 16–20, a Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory. On postoperative day 15, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex were analyzed by western blot assay. The results showed that compared with the standard housing condition group, the motor balance and coordination functions(based on beam-walking test scores 7 and 14 days after operation), spatial learning abilities(based on the spatial learning scores from the Morris water maze test 16–19 days after operation), and memory abilities(based on the memory scores of the Morris water maze test 20 days after operation) of the enriched environment group improved significantly. In addition, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex increased in the enriched environment group compared with those in the standard housing condition group. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that neurobehavioral functions were positively associated with the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF(r = 0.587 and r = 0.840, respectively). These findings suggest that an enriched environment upregulates FDNC5 protein expression in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia, which then activates BDNF protein expression, improving neurological function. BDNF protein expression was positively correlated with improved neurological function. The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Fudan University, China(approval Nos. 20160858 A232, 20160860 A234) on February 24, 2016.展开更多
An economic and effective method of preparing enriched 10B boric acid was established by chemical reactionof enriched 10BF3 and CaCO3. A process of boron trifluoride reacting with water was investigated under certainc...An economic and effective method of preparing enriched 10B boric acid was established by chemical reactionof enriched 10BF3 and CaCO3. A process of boron trifluoride reacting with water was investigated under certainconditions. Calcium carbonate was selected to counteract hydrofluoric acid followed on. Some key operation factorswere investigated, such as temperature, reaction time and the ratio of CaCO3 to 10BF3. The results showed that the yieldof enriched 10B boric acid could reach 97. 2% and the purity was up to 94. 1% under the following conditions: the temperaturewas 50-60,℃, the reaction time was 28 h and the ratio of CaCO3 to 10BF3 was 4. In addition, after recrystallizationand titration analysis, the purity of the product could reach over 99. 2% from 94.1%.展开更多
Grafting is a highly useful technique,and its success largely depends on graft union formation.In this study,we found that root-specific expression of the auxin biosynthetic gene iaaM in tobacco,when used as rootstock...Grafting is a highly useful technique,and its success largely depends on graft union formation.In this study,we found that root-specific expression of the auxin biosynthetic gene iaaM in tobacco,when used as rootstock,resulted in more rapid callus formation and faster graft healing.However,overexpression of the auxin-inactivating iaaL gene in rootstocks delayed graft healing.We observed increased endogenous auxin levels and auxin-responsive DR5::GUS expression in scions of WT/iaaM grafts compared with those found in WT/WT grafts,which suggested that auxin is transported upward from rootstock to scion tissues.A transcriptome analysis showed that auxin enhanced graft union formation through increases in the expression of genes involved in graft healing in both rootstock and scion tissues.We also observed that the ethylene biosynthetic gene ACS1 and the ethylene-responsive gene ERF5 were upregulated in both scions and rootstocks of the WT/iaaM grafts.Furthermore,exogenous applications of the ethylene precursor ACC to the junction of WT/WT grafts promoted graft union formation,whereas application of the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor AVG delayed graft healing in WT/WT grafts,and the observed delay was less pronounced in the WT/iaaM grafts.These results demonstrated that elevated auxin levels in the iaaM rootstock in combination with the increased auxin levels in scions caused by upward transport/diffusion enhanced graft union formation and that ethylene was partially responsible for the effects of auxin on grafting.Our findings showed that grafting success can be enhanced by increasing the auxin levels in rootstocks using transgenic or gene-editing techniques.展开更多
Two-stage underground coal gasification was studied to improve the caloric value of the syngas and to extend gas production times.A model test using the oxygen-enriched two-stage coal gasification method was carried o...Two-stage underground coal gasification was studied to improve the caloric value of the syngas and to extend gas production times.A model test using the oxygen-enriched two-stage coal gasification method was carried out.The composition of the gas produced,the time ratio of the two stages,and the role of the temperature field were analysed.The results show that oxygen-enriched two-stage gasification shortens the time of the first stage and prolongs the time of the second stage.Feed oxygen concentrations of 30%, 35%,40%,45%.60%,or 80%gave time ratios（first stage to second stage） of 1：0.12,1：0.21.1：0.51,1：0.64, 1：0.90.and 1：4.0 respectively.Cooling rates of the temperature field after steam injection decreased with time from about 19.1-27.4℃/min to 2.3-6.8℃/min.But this rate increased with increasing oxygen concentrations in the first stage.The caloric value of the syngas improves with increased oxygen concentration in the first stage.Injection of 80%oxygen-enriched air gave gas with the highest caloric value and also gave the longest production time.The caloric value of the gas obtained from the oxygenenriched two-stage gasification method lies in the range from 5.31 MJ/Nm^3 to 10.54 MJ/Nm^3.展开更多
In this study,we examined 3-month-old female mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain and age-matched homologous normal aging female mice from the senescence accelerated-resistant mouse 1 strain.Mice ...In this study,we examined 3-month-old female mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain and age-matched homologous normal aging female mice from the senescence accelerated-resistant mouse 1 strain.Mice from each strain were housed in an enriched environment（including a platform,running wheels,tunnel,and some toys）or a standard environment for 3 months.The mice housed in the enriched environment exhibited shorter escape latencies and a greater percentage of time in the target quadrant in the Morris water maze test,and they exhibited reduced errors and longer latencies in step-down avoidance experiments compared with mice housed in the standard environment.Correspondently,brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA and protein ex- pression in the hippocampus was significantly higher in mice housed in the enriched environment compared with those housed in the standard environment,and the level of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein was positively correlated with the learning and memory abilities of mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain.These results suggest that an enriched environment improved cognitive performance in mice form the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus.展开更多
Glaucoma is one of the world’s most frequent visual impairment causes and leads to selective damage to retinal ganglion cells and their axons.Despite glaucoma’s most accepted risk factor is increased intraocular pre...Glaucoma is one of the world’s most frequent visual impairment causes and leads to selective damage to retinal ganglion cells and their axons.Despite glaucoma’s most accepted risk factor is increased intraocular pressure(IOP),the mechanisms behind the disease have not been fully elucidated.To date,IOP lowering remains the gold standard;however,glaucoma patients may still lose vision regardless of effective IOP management.Therefore,the exclusive IOP control apparently is not enough to stop the disease progression,and developing new resources to protect the retina and optic nerve against glaucoma is a goal of vast clinical importance.Besides pharmacological treatments,environmental conditions have been shown to prevent neurodegeneration in the central nervous system.In this review,we discuss current concepts on key pathogenic mechanisms involved in glaucoma,the effect of enriched environment on these mechanisms in different experimental models,as well as recent evidence supporting the preventive and therapeutic effect of enriched environment exposure against experimental glaucomatous damage.Finally,we postulate that stimulating vision may become a non-invasive and rehabilitative therapy that could be eventually translated to the human disease,preventing glaucoma-induced terrible sequelae resulting in permanent visual disability.展开更多
An enriched environment is used as a behavio ral intervention therapy that applies sensory,motor,and social stimulation,and has been used in basic and clinical research of va rious neurological diseases.In this study,...An enriched environment is used as a behavio ral intervention therapy that applies sensory,motor,and social stimulation,and has been used in basic and clinical research of va rious neurological diseases.In this study,we established mouse models of photothrombotic stroke and,24 hours later,raised them in a standard,enriched,or isolated environment for 4 weeks.Compared with the mice raised in a standard environment,the cognitive function of mice raised in an enriched environment was better and the pathological damage in the hippocampal CA1 region was remarkably alleviated.Furthermore,protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6,nuclear factorκB p65,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factorα,and the mRNA expression level of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 were greatly lower,while the expression level of miR-146a-5p was higher.Compared with the mice raised in a standard environment,changes in these indices in mice raised in an isolated environment were opposite to mice raised in an enriched environment.These findings suggest that different living environments affect the hippocampal inflammatory response and cognitive function in a mouse model of stro ke.An enriched environment can improve cognitive function following stroke through up-regulation of miR-146a-5p expression and a reduction in the inflammatory response.展开更多
The effects of ambient CO2/ambient UV-B, enriched CO2/ambient UV-B, ambient CO2/enhanced UV-B, and enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B on the ultrastructure of Dunaliella salina were investigated. （1） The ultrastructure of D...The effects of ambient CO2/ambient UV-B, enriched CO2/ambient UV-B, ambient CO2/enhanced UV-B, and enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B on the ultrastructure of Dunaliella salina were investigated. （1） The ultrastructure of D..salina cell in the control experiment showed that the arrangement of thylakoid lamellae was regular, and there were many large starch grains among the thylakoid lamellae. A prominent well-developed pyrenoid was found in the middle of the chloroplast. Nucleus envelope and nucleolus were clearly observed. The Golgi apparatus accompanied by numerous vesicles with a compact arrangement of cisternae and the peripheral tips of the cisternae were swollen to a size comparable to that of some of the associated vesicles. （2） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in enriched CO2 showed that the arrangement of thylakoid was regular and the lamellae were vivid. Developed pyrenoids were found in the low-CO2-grown cells, but not in the high-CO2-grown cells. The mitochondria cristae were vivid. The arrangement of Golgi apparatus was compact. （3） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in enhanced UV-B showed that the thylakoid was dissolved and the cells had a less developed pyrenoid or no detectable pyrenoid. Part of the nucleus envelope was dissolved. The number ofmitochondria was increased and some mitochondria cristae were disintegrated. The starch grains were broken apart into many small starch grains. The Golgi apparatus with a loose arrangement ofcistemae and the peripheral tips of the Golgi cistemae were not especially swollen, with several large associated vesicles. （4） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in the enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B showed that part of the thylakoid and nucleus envelopes of some cells were dissolved. The pyrenoid was larger than that of the enhanced UV-B. There were many mitochondria between stroma and chloroplast membrane, but mitochondria cristae were partly dissolved. Many small starch grains were accumulated in cells. The starch sheath was broken into several discontinuous starch grains with different sizes. The arrangement of Golgi apparatus was loose. Above all, although the enriched CO2 can alleviate the damage induced by the UV-B radiation, the effects of experimental UV-B radiation were larger than the effects of actual UV-B radiation, the damage induced by the UV-B radiation was so severe, therefore, CO2 enrichment could not restore the ultrastructure to the control level.展开更多
Epilepsy is a neurodegenerative disease that interrupts the normal electrical activity of the brain and promotes abnormal wiring in this organ.Epileptic seizures are often associated with significant changes in the fu...Epilepsy is a neurodegenerative disease that interrupts the normal electrical activity of the brain and promotes abnormal wiring in this organ.Epileptic seizures are often associated with significant changes in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system(ANS).展开更多
The reproducing kernel particle method （RKPM） has been efficiently applied to problems with large deformations, high gradients and high modal density. In this paper, it is extended to solve a nonlocal problem modele...The reproducing kernel particle method （RKPM） has been efficiently applied to problems with large deformations, high gradients and high modal density. In this paper, it is extended to solve a nonlocal problem modeled by a fractional advectiondiffusion equation （FADE）, which exhibits a boundary layer with low regularity. We formulate this method on a moving least-square approach. Via the enrichment of fractional-order power functions to the traditional integer-order basis for RKPM, leading terms of the solution to the FADE can be exactly reproduced, which guarantees a good approximation to the boundary layer. Numerical tests are performed to verify the proposed approach.展开更多
Several thousand genes(17000–19000)are expressed in the human/mouse testis and a sizeable number of these are testis-enriched.However,the function of many of these genes in spermatogenesis is yet to be investigated.I...Several thousand genes(17000–19000)are expressed in the human/mouse testis and a sizeable number of these are testis-enriched.However,the function of many of these genes in spermatogenesis is yet to be investigated.In a recent study by Oyama et al.,1 the essential nature of 12 testis-enriched genes in male fertility was tested using knockout mouse models generated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9(CRISPR/Cas9)technology.The authors performed basic male fertility analyses for three knockout lines(Tmem210,4921539E11Rik,and 4930558C23Rik)and determined that spermatogenesis was normal,motile and morphologically normal sperm were produced,and knockout males were fertile.For the remaining nine lines(Cby2,Ldhal6b,Rasef,Slc25a2,Slc25a41,Smim8,Smim9,Tomm20l,and 1700057G04Rik),the authors simply investigated fertility via mating.Thus,there is a small chance that subtle roles of these genes in spermatogenesis or optimal fertility were overlooked.Altogether,despite a biased testis expression,each gene was dispensable for male fertility.展开更多
Tinnitus is a heterogeneous hearing disorder with no cure at present,but some treatments,such as a combination of counselling and sound therapy,can alleviate the discomfort it causes.The sound therapy efficiency depen...Tinnitus is a heterogeneous hearing disorder with no cure at present,but some treatments,such as a combination of counselling and sound therapy,can alleviate the discomfort it causes.The sound therapy efficiency depends on both the type of sound stimulus and the time of exposure.This study describes the fundamentals of a personalized sound therapy that stimulates the auditory system with either continuous or sequential sounds whose spectra are adjusted to the hearing levels of the participants.This sound therapy is called Enriched Acoustic Environment and is assessed in a sample of 137 participants with tinnitus.Tinnitus-related distress relief was clinically relevant and statistically significant for 90%of these patients.This was quantified as a mean decrease of 24.3 points on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.31%of participants were treated with sequential stimuli and achieved greater relief of distress(29.4 points on their Tinnitus Handicap Inventory score)compared to those treated with continuous sound(69%).According to these results,sequential sound seems to be optimal compared to continuous sound.展开更多
Electrochemical conversion of nitrate(NO_(3)~-) to ammonia(NH_(3)) can target two birds with one stone well, in NO_(3)^(-)-containing sewage remediation and sustainable NH_(3) production. However, single metalbased ca...Electrochemical conversion of nitrate(NO_(3)~-) to ammonia(NH_(3)) can target two birds with one stone well, in NO_(3)^(-)-containing sewage remediation and sustainable NH_(3) production. However, single metalbased catalysts are difficult to drive high-efficient NO_(3)~- removal due to the multi-electron transfer steps.Herein, we present a tandem catalyst with simple structure, Cu-Co binary metal oxides(Cu-Co-O), by engineering intermediate phases as catalytic active species for NO_(3)~- conversion. Electrochemical evaluation,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ Raman spectra together suggest that the newly-generated Cu-based phases was prone to NO_(3)~- to NO_(2)~- conversion, then NO_(2)~- was reduced to NH_(3) on Co-based species. At an applied potential of -1.1 V vs. saturated calomel electrode, the Cu-Co-O catalyst achieved NO_(3)~- -N removal of 90% and NH_(3) faradaic efficiency of 81% for 120 min in 100 m L of 50 mg/L NO_(3)~- -N,consuming only 0.69 k Wh/mol in a two-electrode system. This study provides a facile and efficient engineering strategy for developing high-performance catalysts for electrocatalytic nitrate conversion.展开更多
The molecular structure of phospholipids can be changed enzymatically to obtain different tailor-made phospholipids.Incorporation ofω-3 fatty acids into phospholipids structure increased their oxidative stability,sug...The molecular structure of phospholipids can be changed enzymatically to obtain different tailor-made phospholipids.Incorporation ofω-3 fatty acids into phospholipids structure increased their oxidative stability,suggesting more health beneficial phospholipids.This study aimed to optimize eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)incorporation into phospholipids structure by acidolysis reaction using free lipase(EC 3.1.1.3)from Rhizomucor miehei.Deoiled soy lecithin from anjasmoro variety was used as phospholipids source,whileω-3 fatty acid enriched oil was used as acyl source.Oil enriched withω-3 fatty acids was obtained from low temperature solvent crystallization of lemuru(Sardinella longiceps)by-product.Response surface methodology(RSM)was used in this study to determine the relationship between the three factors(enzyme concentration,reaction time and substrate ratio)and their effects on EPA incorporation into soy lecithin structure.The results showed that the relation between EPA content with three factors(reaction time,enzyme concentration and substrate ratio)was quadratic.The significant factors were substrate ratio and reaction time.Optimum conditions at a ratio of 3.77:1 betweenω-3 fatty acids enriched oil and soy lecithin,30%lipase concentration,and 24.08 h reaction time,gave 22.81%of EPA content of structured phospholipids.展开更多
This work aimed at determining the maximum acceptable level of wheat germ that can be added to one of homemade biscuits in Jordan, studying some chemical and sensory properties of this product, moreover, studying the ...This work aimed at determining the maximum acceptable level of wheat germ that can be added to one of homemade biscuits in Jordan, studying some chemical and sensory properties of this product, moreover, studying the effect of storage time after two months at room temperature on the sensory parameters of this product. The results showed that the addition of wheat germ in biscuit making at level of 20% (w/w) enhanced the nutritional value by increasing protein and total mineral content, as well as decreasing fat, total carbohydrates and total calories. The acceptability of sensory characteristics was improved by this fortification immediately after preparation and during storage.展开更多
A novel Pressurized Enriched Oxygen Biological Activated Carbon （PRBAC） method in treating secondary effluent of textile dying-printing ＆ alkali peeling wastewater was configured. The PRBAC reactor simply increased...A novel Pressurized Enriched Oxygen Biological Activated Carbon （PRBAC） method in treating secondary effluent of textile dying-printing ＆ alkali peeling wastewater was configured. The PRBAC reactor simply increased reactor pressure to create an eurtched dissolved oxygen （DO） environment to stimulate the bioactivities of microbes on GAC surface for removing refractory organic matter. Rapid Small- Scaled Colunm Test （RSSCT） was carried out to evaluate the adsorption characteristics of target stream constituents, and over 80% COD components were poorly adsorbable while about 82.5% color inducing matter and 85% UV254 surrogated matter were readily adsorbable. Compared with performances of normal BAC reactor under conventional DO condition, PRBAC achieved 20%, 10% and 50% more removal in COD, color and NH3-N abatement.展开更多
In this paper, the effects of storage time on the external and internal characteristics of lutein enriched eggs were studied. A total of 330 lutein eggs were stored at room temperature （30℃） for periods of 0, 3, 5,...In this paper, the effects of storage time on the external and internal characteristics of lutein enriched eggs were studied. A total of 330 lutein eggs were stored at room temperature （30℃） for periods of 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 d, respectively. At the end of each storage period, 30 lutein eggs were evaluated for egg quality. Storage time from 0 d to 21 d did not affect the eggshell thickness, shell ratio and yolk color （P 〉 0.05）. The effect of days in storage was statistically significant on the albumen ratio and Haugh unit （P 〈 0.05）, both of which decreased with increasing days of storage. Conversely, egg water loss and the yolk ratio increased with increasing days of storage （P 〈 0.05）. At the end of storage, the lutein value in the eggs was close to the value at the beginning of storage. The results indicated that storage time did not produce an adverse effect on the eggshell thickness, shell ratio, yolk color and concentration of lutein in lutein enriched eggs.展开更多
The source of elements and the modem sedimentary environment of the ferromanganese nodules enriched area of the North Pacific region were analysed statistically and discussed in detail - Cluster analysis shows the ar...The source of elements and the modem sedimentary environment of the ferromanganese nodules enriched area of the North Pacific region were analysed statistically and discussed in detail - Cluster analysis shows the area ’ s surface sediments are mainly brown clay and biogenic calcareous , calcsiliceous and siliceous ooze. Factor (principal component) analysis shows that the area’s trace elements (Fe . Mn.Cu】 Co.Ni 】 Zn , Cr . etc ) mainly come through adsorption of clay minerals and secondarily from authigenic sediments related to biochemical processes -展开更多
基金Supported by Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation,No.2025AFB845Graduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund of Wuhan University of Science and Technology,No.JCX2024044.
文摘This editorial highlighted the central role of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and discussed the emerging significance of Ras homolog enriched in brain 1(Rheb1)as a key regulator of β-cell mass and insulinsecretory capacity.While molecular mechanisms governing β-cell homeostasis remain incompletely defined,Yang et al have recently demonstrated that Rheb1 could promote β-cell proliferation through dual activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 and AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathways,rather than relying solely on mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1.Notably,Rheb1 expression is higher in pancreatic islets from younger individuals and upregulates hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha,which is recognized as a transcription factor essential for β-cell identity and insulin production.These insights position Rheb1 as a pivotal regulator of β-cell growth and metabolic function,with potential therapeutic implications for diabetes.Targeting Rheb1 may shift treatment paradigms from conventional glucose-lowering strategies towardβ-cell restoration,providing a novel approach to preserve or enhance functionalβ-cell mass in diabetic patients.Further investigation into Rheb1’s upstream regulators and downstream effectors may provide innovative therapeutic directions.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.20022YFC3102405)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42425004,32371665)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(Nos.2022A1515011461,2022A1515011831)。
文摘Macroalgae dominate nutrient dynamics and function as high-value foods for microbial,meio-and macrofaunal communities in coastal ecosystems.Because of this vital role,it is important to clarify the physiological information associated with environmental changes as it reflects their growth potential.To evaluate the effects of the changes in salinity and nutrients,the photosynthetic efficiency of a green macroalga Ulva fasciata from the Daya Bay was tested at a range of salinity(i.e.,31 to 10 psu)and nitrogen content(i.e.,5 to 60μmol L^(-1)).The results showed that cellular chlorophyll a(Chl a),carbohydrate and protein contents of U.fasciata were increased due to reduced salinity,and were decreased by interactive nitrogen enrichment.Within a short culture period(i.e.,18 h),the reduced salinity decreased the maximum photosynthetic efficiency(rETRmax and Pmax)derived from the rapid light response curve and photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate versus irradiance curve,respectively,as well as the saturation irradiance(E_(K)).This reducing effect diminished with enlonged cultivation time and reversed to a stimulating effect after 24 h of cultivation.The nitrogen enrichment stimulated the rETRmax and Pmax,as well as the E_(K),regardless of salinity,especially within short-term cultivation period(i.e.,<24 h).In addition,our results indicate that seawater freshening lowers the photosynthetic efficiency of U.fasciata in the short term,which is mitigated by nitrogen enrichment,but stimulates it in the long term,providing insight into how macroalgae thrive in coastal or estuarine waters where salinity and nutrients normally covary strongly.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81601961(to KWY),81672242(to YW)the Key Construction Projects of Shanghai Health and Family Planning on Weak Discipline,China,No.2015ZB0401(to YW)
文摘Many studies have shown that fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5(FDNC5) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) play vital roles in plasticity after brain injury. An enriched environment refers to an environment that provides animals with multi-sensory stimulation and movement opportunities. An enriched environment has been shown to promote the regeneration of nerve cells, synapses, and blood vessels in the animal brain after cerebral ischemia;however, the exact mechanisms have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine whether an enriched environment could improve neurobehavioral functions after the experimental inducement of cerebral ischemia and whether neurobehavioral outcomes were associated with the expression of FDNC5 and BDNF. This study established ischemic mouse models using permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO) on the left side. On postoperative day 1, the mice were randomly assigned to either enriched environment or standard housing condition groups. Mice in the standard housing condition group were housed and fed under standard conditions. Mice in the enriched environment group were housed in a large cage, containing various toys, and fed with a standard diet. Sham-operated mice received the same procedure, but without artery occlusion, and were housed and fed under standard conditions. On postoperative days 7 and 14, a beam-walking test was used to assess coordination, balance, and spatial learning. On postoperative days 16–20, a Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory. On postoperative day 15, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex were analyzed by western blot assay. The results showed that compared with the standard housing condition group, the motor balance and coordination functions(based on beam-walking test scores 7 and 14 days after operation), spatial learning abilities(based on the spatial learning scores from the Morris water maze test 16–19 days after operation), and memory abilities(based on the memory scores of the Morris water maze test 20 days after operation) of the enriched environment group improved significantly. In addition, the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF proteins in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex increased in the enriched environment group compared with those in the standard housing condition group. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that neurobehavioral functions were positively associated with the expression levels of FDNC5 and BDNF(r = 0.587 and r = 0.840, respectively). These findings suggest that an enriched environment upregulates FDNC5 protein expression in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex after cerebral ischemia, which then activates BDNF protein expression, improving neurological function. BDNF protein expression was positively correlated with improved neurological function. The experimental protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Fudan University, China(approval Nos. 20160858 A232, 20160860 A234) on February 24, 2016.
基金Supported by the Independent Innovation Fund of Tianjin University(No.1307)
文摘An economic and effective method of preparing enriched 10B boric acid was established by chemical reactionof enriched 10BF3 and CaCO3. A process of boron trifluoride reacting with water was investigated under certainconditions. Calcium carbonate was selected to counteract hydrofluoric acid followed on. Some key operation factorswere investigated, such as temperature, reaction time and the ratio of CaCO3 to 10BF3. The results showed that the yieldof enriched 10B boric acid could reach 97. 2% and the purity was up to 94. 1% under the following conditions: the temperaturewas 50-60,℃, the reaction time was 28 h and the ratio of CaCO3 to 10BF3 was 4. In addition, after recrystallizationand titration analysis, the purity of the product could reach over 99. 2% from 94.1%.
基金the Citrus Research and Development Foundation(Projects Li-749 and 16-001 to Y.L.)USDA-NIFA BRAG Program(Award Number 2010-33522-21697 to Y.L.)+1 种基金Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station,the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31801823)111 Project(B17043)for the financial support provided.
文摘Grafting is a highly useful technique,and its success largely depends on graft union formation.In this study,we found that root-specific expression of the auxin biosynthetic gene iaaM in tobacco,when used as rootstock,resulted in more rapid callus formation and faster graft healing.However,overexpression of the auxin-inactivating iaaL gene in rootstocks delayed graft healing.We observed increased endogenous auxin levels and auxin-responsive DR5::GUS expression in scions of WT/iaaM grafts compared with those found in WT/WT grafts,which suggested that auxin is transported upward from rootstock to scion tissues.A transcriptome analysis showed that auxin enhanced graft union formation through increases in the expression of genes involved in graft healing in both rootstock and scion tissues.We also observed that the ethylene biosynthetic gene ACS1 and the ethylene-responsive gene ERF5 were upregulated in both scions and rootstocks of the WT/iaaM grafts.Furthermore,exogenous applications of the ethylene precursor ACC to the junction of WT/WT grafts promoted graft union formation,whereas application of the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor AVG delayed graft healing in WT/WT grafts,and the observed delay was less pronounced in the WT/iaaM grafts.These results demonstrated that elevated auxin levels in the iaaM rootstock in combination with the increased auxin levels in scions caused by upward transport/diffusion enhanced graft union formation and that ethylene was partially responsible for the effects of auxin on grafting.Our findings showed that grafting success can be enhanced by increasing the auxin levels in rootstocks using transgenic or gene-editing techniques.
基金financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.50876112)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No.2009QH13)the Program of International S&T Cooperation (No.2009DFR60180,No.2010DFR60610)
文摘Two-stage underground coal gasification was studied to improve the caloric value of the syngas and to extend gas production times.A model test using the oxygen-enriched two-stage coal gasification method was carried out.The composition of the gas produced,the time ratio of the two stages,and the role of the temperature field were analysed.The results show that oxygen-enriched two-stage gasification shortens the time of the first stage and prolongs the time of the second stage.Feed oxygen concentrations of 30%, 35%,40%,45%.60%,or 80%gave time ratios（first stage to second stage） of 1：0.12,1：0.21.1：0.51,1：0.64, 1：0.90.and 1：4.0 respectively.Cooling rates of the temperature field after steam injection decreased with time from about 19.1-27.4℃/min to 2.3-6.8℃/min.But this rate increased with increasing oxygen concentrations in the first stage.The caloric value of the syngas improves with increased oxygen concentration in the first stage.Injection of 80%oxygen-enriched air gave gas with the highest caloric value and also gave the longest production time.The caloric value of the gas obtained from the oxygenenriched two-stage gasification method lies in the range from 5.31 MJ/Nm^3 to 10.54 MJ/Nm^3.
基金supported by the Program of Health Department of Hebei Province,No.20090338the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province,No.C2009001242Funding Project for Introduced Abroad Study Personnel of Hebei Province
文摘In this study,we examined 3-month-old female mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain and age-matched homologous normal aging female mice from the senescence accelerated-resistant mouse 1 strain.Mice from each strain were housed in an enriched environment（including a platform,running wheels,tunnel,and some toys）or a standard environment for 3 months.The mice housed in the enriched environment exhibited shorter escape latencies and a greater percentage of time in the target quadrant in the Morris water maze test,and they exhibited reduced errors and longer latencies in step-down avoidance experiments compared with mice housed in the standard environment.Correspondently,brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA and protein ex- pression in the hippocampus was significantly higher in mice housed in the enriched environment compared with those housed in the standard environment,and the level of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein was positively correlated with the learning and memory abilities of mice from the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain.These results suggest that an enriched environment improved cognitive performance in mice form the senescence-accelerated prone mouse 8 strain by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus.
基金supported by grants from the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica,Nos.PICT 1563 and PICT 2731(to RER)The University of Buenos Aires,No.20020100100678(to RER)Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas,No.PIP 0707(to RER),Argentina。
文摘Glaucoma is one of the world’s most frequent visual impairment causes and leads to selective damage to retinal ganglion cells and their axons.Despite glaucoma’s most accepted risk factor is increased intraocular pressure(IOP),the mechanisms behind the disease have not been fully elucidated.To date,IOP lowering remains the gold standard;however,glaucoma patients may still lose vision regardless of effective IOP management.Therefore,the exclusive IOP control apparently is not enough to stop the disease progression,and developing new resources to protect the retina and optic nerve against glaucoma is a goal of vast clinical importance.Besides pharmacological treatments,environmental conditions have been shown to prevent neurodegeneration in the central nervous system.In this review,we discuss current concepts on key pathogenic mechanisms involved in glaucoma,the effect of enriched environment on these mechanisms in different experimental models,as well as recent evidence supporting the preventive and therapeutic effect of enriched environment exposure against experimental glaucomatous damage.Finally,we postulate that stimulating vision may become a non-invasive and rehabilitative therapy that could be eventually translated to the human disease,preventing glaucoma-induced terrible sequelae resulting in permanent visual disability.
基金financially the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82072533the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2017M621675+1 种基金Huxin Foundation of Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of China,No.HX2003Yangzhou Science and Technology Development Plan Project of China,No.YZ2020201(all to XW)。
文摘An enriched environment is used as a behavio ral intervention therapy that applies sensory,motor,and social stimulation,and has been used in basic and clinical research of va rious neurological diseases.In this study,we established mouse models of photothrombotic stroke and,24 hours later,raised them in a standard,enriched,or isolated environment for 4 weeks.Compared with the mice raised in a standard environment,the cognitive function of mice raised in an enriched environment was better and the pathological damage in the hippocampal CA1 region was remarkably alleviated.Furthermore,protein expression levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6,nuclear factorκB p65,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factorα,and the mRNA expression level of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 were greatly lower,while the expression level of miR-146a-5p was higher.Compared with the mice raised in a standard environment,changes in these indices in mice raised in an isolated environment were opposite to mice raised in an enriched environment.These findings suggest that different living environments affect the hippocampal inflammatory response and cognitive function in a mouse model of stro ke.An enriched environment can improve cognitive function following stroke through up-regulation of miR-146a-5p expression and a reduction in the inflammatory response.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract Nos 30270258 and 40506028the Encouraging Foundation for 0utstanding Youth Scientists of Shandong Province under contract No.03BS120the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under contract No.2005037237.
文摘The effects of ambient CO2/ambient UV-B, enriched CO2/ambient UV-B, ambient CO2/enhanced UV-B, and enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B on the ultrastructure of Dunaliella salina were investigated. （1） The ultrastructure of D..salina cell in the control experiment showed that the arrangement of thylakoid lamellae was regular, and there were many large starch grains among the thylakoid lamellae. A prominent well-developed pyrenoid was found in the middle of the chloroplast. Nucleus envelope and nucleolus were clearly observed. The Golgi apparatus accompanied by numerous vesicles with a compact arrangement of cisternae and the peripheral tips of the cisternae were swollen to a size comparable to that of some of the associated vesicles. （2） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in enriched CO2 showed that the arrangement of thylakoid was regular and the lamellae were vivid. Developed pyrenoids were found in the low-CO2-grown cells, but not in the high-CO2-grown cells. The mitochondria cristae were vivid. The arrangement of Golgi apparatus was compact. （3） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in enhanced UV-B showed that the thylakoid was dissolved and the cells had a less developed pyrenoid or no detectable pyrenoid. Part of the nucleus envelope was dissolved. The number ofmitochondria was increased and some mitochondria cristae were disintegrated. The starch grains were broken apart into many small starch grains. The Golgi apparatus with a loose arrangement ofcistemae and the peripheral tips of the Golgi cistemae were not especially swollen, with several large associated vesicles. （4） The ultrastructure of D. salina cell in the enriched CO2/enhanced UV-B showed that part of the thylakoid and nucleus envelopes of some cells were dissolved. The pyrenoid was larger than that of the enhanced UV-B. There were many mitochondria between stroma and chloroplast membrane, but mitochondria cristae were partly dissolved. Many small starch grains were accumulated in cells. The starch sheath was broken into several discontinuous starch grains with different sizes. The arrangement of Golgi apparatus was loose. Above all, although the enriched CO2 can alleviate the damage induced by the UV-B radiation, the effects of experimental UV-B radiation were larger than the effects of actual UV-B radiation, the damage induced by the UV-B radiation was so severe, therefore, CO2 enrichment could not restore the ultrastructure to the control level.
基金supported by the Research Fund of the Erciyes University(TSD-09-1039)
文摘Epilepsy is a neurodegenerative disease that interrupts the normal electrical activity of the brain and promotes abnormal wiring in this organ.Epileptic seizures are often associated with significant changes in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system(ANS).
基金supported partly by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 11521202)support from the Chinese Scholarship Councilpartially support by an Army Research Office (Grant W911NF-15-10569)
文摘The reproducing kernel particle method （RKPM） has been efficiently applied to problems with large deformations, high gradients and high modal density. In this paper, it is extended to solve a nonlocal problem modeled by a fractional advectiondiffusion equation （FADE）, which exhibits a boundary layer with low regularity. We formulate this method on a moving least-square approach. Via the enrichment of fractional-order power functions to the traditional integer-order basis for RKPM, leading terms of the solution to the FADE can be exactly reproduced, which guarantees a good approximation to the boundary layer. Numerical tests are performed to verify the proposed approach.
文摘Several thousand genes(17000–19000)are expressed in the human/mouse testis and a sizeable number of these are testis-enriched.However,the function of many of these genes in spermatogenesis is yet to be investigated.In a recent study by Oyama et al.,1 the essential nature of 12 testis-enriched genes in male fertility was tested using knockout mouse models generated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9(CRISPR/Cas9)technology.The authors performed basic male fertility analyses for three knockout lines(Tmem210,4921539E11Rik,and 4930558C23Rik)and determined that spermatogenesis was normal,motile and morphologically normal sperm were produced,and knockout males were fertile.For the remaining nine lines(Cby2,Ldhal6b,Rasef,Slc25a2,Slc25a41,Smim8,Smim9,Tomm20l,and 1700057G04Rik),the authors simply investigated fertility via mating.Thus,there is a small chance that subtle roles of these genes in spermatogenesis or optimal fertility were overlooked.Altogether,despite a biased testis expression,each gene was dispensable for male fertility.
文摘Tinnitus is a heterogeneous hearing disorder with no cure at present,but some treatments,such as a combination of counselling and sound therapy,can alleviate the discomfort it causes.The sound therapy efficiency depends on both the type of sound stimulus and the time of exposure.This study describes the fundamentals of a personalized sound therapy that stimulates the auditory system with either continuous or sequential sounds whose spectra are adjusted to the hearing levels of the participants.This sound therapy is called Enriched Acoustic Environment and is assessed in a sample of 137 participants with tinnitus.Tinnitus-related distress relief was clinically relevant and statistically significant for 90%of these patients.This was quantified as a mean decrease of 24.3 points on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.31%of participants were treated with sequential stimuli and achieved greater relief of distress(29.4 points on their Tinnitus Handicap Inventory score)compared to those treated with continuous sound(69%).According to these results,sequential sound seems to be optimal compared to continuous sound.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.52131003 and 42007180)Special Research Assistant Program of Chinese Academy of Science, Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (No.cstc2020jcyj-msxm X0775)+1 种基金Scientific Research Instrument Development Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.YJKYYQ20200044)Outstanding Scientist of Chongqing Talent Program (No.CQYC20210101288)。
文摘Electrochemical conversion of nitrate(NO_(3)~-) to ammonia(NH_(3)) can target two birds with one stone well, in NO_(3)^(-)-containing sewage remediation and sustainable NH_(3) production. However, single metalbased catalysts are difficult to drive high-efficient NO_(3)~- removal due to the multi-electron transfer steps.Herein, we present a tandem catalyst with simple structure, Cu-Co binary metal oxides(Cu-Co-O), by engineering intermediate phases as catalytic active species for NO_(3)~- conversion. Electrochemical evaluation,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ Raman spectra together suggest that the newly-generated Cu-based phases was prone to NO_(3)~- to NO_(2)~- conversion, then NO_(2)~- was reduced to NH_(3) on Co-based species. At an applied potential of -1.1 V vs. saturated calomel electrode, the Cu-Co-O catalyst achieved NO_(3)~- -N removal of 90% and NH_(3) faradaic efficiency of 81% for 120 min in 100 m L of 50 mg/L NO_(3)~- -N,consuming only 0.69 k Wh/mol in a two-electrode system. This study provides a facile and efficient engineering strategy for developing high-performance catalysts for electrocatalytic nitrate conversion.
文摘The molecular structure of phospholipids can be changed enzymatically to obtain different tailor-made phospholipids.Incorporation ofω-3 fatty acids into phospholipids structure increased their oxidative stability,suggesting more health beneficial phospholipids.This study aimed to optimize eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)incorporation into phospholipids structure by acidolysis reaction using free lipase(EC 3.1.1.3)from Rhizomucor miehei.Deoiled soy lecithin from anjasmoro variety was used as phospholipids source,whileω-3 fatty acid enriched oil was used as acyl source.Oil enriched withω-3 fatty acids was obtained from low temperature solvent crystallization of lemuru(Sardinella longiceps)by-product.Response surface methodology(RSM)was used in this study to determine the relationship between the three factors(enzyme concentration,reaction time and substrate ratio)and their effects on EPA incorporation into soy lecithin structure.The results showed that the relation between EPA content with three factors(reaction time,enzyme concentration and substrate ratio)was quadratic.The significant factors were substrate ratio and reaction time.Optimum conditions at a ratio of 3.77:1 betweenω-3 fatty acids enriched oil and soy lecithin,30%lipase concentration,and 24.08 h reaction time,gave 22.81%of EPA content of structured phospholipids.
文摘This work aimed at determining the maximum acceptable level of wheat germ that can be added to one of homemade biscuits in Jordan, studying some chemical and sensory properties of this product, moreover, studying the effect of storage time after two months at room temperature on the sensory parameters of this product. The results showed that the addition of wheat germ in biscuit making at level of 20% (w/w) enhanced the nutritional value by increasing protein and total mineral content, as well as decreasing fat, total carbohydrates and total calories. The acceptability of sensory characteristics was improved by this fortification immediately after preparation and during storage.
文摘A novel Pressurized Enriched Oxygen Biological Activated Carbon （PRBAC） method in treating secondary effluent of textile dying-printing ＆ alkali peeling wastewater was configured. The PRBAC reactor simply increased reactor pressure to create an eurtched dissolved oxygen （DO） environment to stimulate the bioactivities of microbes on GAC surface for removing refractory organic matter. Rapid Small- Scaled Colunm Test （RSSCT） was carried out to evaluate the adsorption characteristics of target stream constituents, and over 80% COD components were poorly adsorbable while about 82.5% color inducing matter and 85% UV254 surrogated matter were readily adsorbable. Compared with performances of normal BAC reactor under conventional DO condition, PRBAC achieved 20%, 10% and 50% more removal in COD, color and NH3-N abatement.
文摘In this paper, the effects of storage time on the external and internal characteristics of lutein enriched eggs were studied. A total of 330 lutein eggs were stored at room temperature （30℃） for periods of 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 d, respectively. At the end of each storage period, 30 lutein eggs were evaluated for egg quality. Storage time from 0 d to 21 d did not affect the eggshell thickness, shell ratio and yolk color （P 〉 0.05）. The effect of days in storage was statistically significant on the albumen ratio and Haugh unit （P 〈 0.05）, both of which decreased with increasing days of storage. Conversely, egg water loss and the yolk ratio increased with increasing days of storage （P 〈 0.05）. At the end of storage, the lutein value in the eggs was close to the value at the beginning of storage. The results indicated that storage time did not produce an adverse effect on the eggshell thickness, shell ratio, yolk color and concentration of lutein in lutein enriched eggs.
文摘The source of elements and the modem sedimentary environment of the ferromanganese nodules enriched area of the North Pacific region were analysed statistically and discussed in detail - Cluster analysis shows the area ’ s surface sediments are mainly brown clay and biogenic calcareous , calcsiliceous and siliceous ooze. Factor (principal component) analysis shows that the area’s trace elements (Fe . Mn.Cu】 Co.Ni 】 Zn , Cr . etc ) mainly come through adsorption of clay minerals and secondarily from authigenic sediments related to biochemical processes -
