•This is the first report about study on the pathogenicity of TMUV in geese.•Severe signs, lesions and higher viral loads were observed in younger geese.•Geese infected with TMUV intravenously was ...more severe than geese intranasally.•Severity of signs and lesions, viral loads reached the peak at 6 dpi in geese.•Younger geese were more susceptible to TMUV than the older.
Duck Tembusu virus (TMUV) is an emerging flavivirus that has caused variable levels of outbreaks in poultry in recent years. In order to study the effect of age and inoculation routes on the TMUV infection, one hundred healthy domestic 5-day-old and 20-day-old goslings were equally divided into five groups and four experimental groups of goslings were infected with the TMUV-SDSG strain by intravenous and intranasal routes, respectively. Severe clinical signs were observed in goslings infected at 5 days of age, including listlessness, growth retardation, severe neurological dysfunction and even death. However, goslings infected at 20 days of age showed mild symptoms and no mortality. The severity of gross lesions gradually reduced as goslings matured. The severe histopathological changes were observed in 5-day-old infected goslings, including cerebral edema, viral encephalitis, myocardial necrosis, hepatic steatosis, spleen lymphoid cell depletion, pancreatic epithelial cell shedding and interstitial hemorrhage. However, 20-day-old infected goslings showed mild histopathological changes. Viral loads in different tissues were detected by the SYBR Green I real-time PCR assay. The level of viral loads in most of tissues 5-day-old infected goslings was higher than that of 20-day-old infected goslings, correlating with the severity of clinical symptoms and lesions in these tissues. 20-day-old infected goslings developed significantly higher serum neutralizing antibody titers than 5-day-old infected goslings. Furthermore, goslings infected with TMUV intravenously demonstrated more severe clinical signs, lesions and higher viral loads in tissues than those of goslings infected with TMUV intranasally. Therefore, age and inoculation routes can affect the pathogenicity of TMUV in geese and younger geese are more susceptible to the virus. Age and inoculation route factors should be considered in study of the pathogenicity, pathogenesis, folumation of prevention and therapy strategies of TMUV infection in geese.
Traditionally, herbal medicine is consumed by drinking decoctions produced by boiling herbs with water. The functional components of the decoction are heat stable. Small RNAs (sRNAs) were reported as ...a new class of functional components in decoctions. However, the mechanisms by which sRNAs survive heat treatment of the decoction and enter cells are unclear. Previous studies showed that plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs), which we call botanosomes, could deliver therapeutic reagents in vivo. Here, we report that heat-stable decoctosomes (ELNs) from decoctions have more therapeutic effects than the decoctions in vitro and demonstrate therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Furthermore, sRNAs, such as HJT-sRNA-m7 and PGY-sRNA-6, in the decoctosome exhibit potent anti-fibrosis and anti-inflammatory effects, respectively. Decoctosome is comprised of lipids, chemical compounds, proteins, and sRNAs. A medical decoctosome mimic is called bencaosome. A single lipid sphinganine (d22:0) identified in the decoctosome was mixed and heated with the synthesized sRNAs to form the simplest bencaosome. This simple bencaosome structure was identified by critical micelle concentration (cmc) assay that sRNAs coassembled with sphinganine (d22:0) to form the lipid layers of vesicles. The heating process facilitates co-assembly of sRNAs and sphinganine (d22:0) until a steady state is reached. The artificially produced sphinganine-HJT-sRNA-m7 and sphinganine- PGY-sRNA-6 bencaosomes could ameliorate bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and poly(I:C)-induced lung inflammation, respectively, following oral administration in mice. Our study not only demonstrates that the herbal decoctosome may represent a combinatory remedy in precision medicine but also provides an effective oral delivery route for nucleic acid therapy.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) play critical roles in the regulation of different biological processes, but their underlying mechanisms in diabetes mellitus (DM) are ...still largely unknown. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the functions of miRNAs and tsRNAs in the pathogenesis of DM. A high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozocin (STZ)-induced DM rat model was established. Pancreatic tissues were obtained for subsequent studies. The miRNA and tsRNA expression profiles in the DM and control groups were obtained by RNA sequencing and validated with quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). Subsequently, bioinformatics methods were used to predict target genes and the biological functions of differentially expressed miRNAs and tsRNAs. We identified 17 miRNAs and 28 tsRNAs that were significantly differentiated between the DM and control group. Subsequently, target genes were predicted for these altered miRNAs and tsRNAs, including Nalcn, Lpin2 and E2f3. These target genes were significantly enriched in localization as well as intracellular and protein binding. In addition, the results of KEGG analysis showed that the target genes were significantly enriched in the Wnt signaling pathway, insulin pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and Hippo signaling pathway. This study revealed the expression profiles of miRNAs and tsRNAs in the pancreas of a DM rat model using small RNA-Seq and predicted the target genes and associated pathways using bioinformatics analysis. Our findings provide a novel aspect in understanding the mechanisms of DM and identify potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of DM.
Molecular dynamics simulations using Tersoff potential were performed in order to study the evolution of the atomic packing structures, loading states on the atoms, and tensile tests, as well as the ...thermal properties of Si/Ge core–shell nanowires with different core–shell structures and ratios at different temperatures. Potential energy and pair distribution functions indicate the structural features of these nanowires at different temperatures. During uniaxial tensile testing along the wire axis at different temperatures, different stages including elasticity, plasticity, necking, and fractures are characterized through stress–strain curves, and Young’s modulus, as well as tensile strength, are obtained. The packing patterns and Lode–Nadai parameters reveal the deformation evolution and different distributions of loading states at different strains and temperatures. The simulation results indicate that as the temperature increases, elasticity during the stretching process becomes less apparent. Young’s modulus of the Si/Ge core–shell nanowires at room temperature show differences with changing core–shell ratios. In addition, the Lode–Nadai parameters and atomic level pressures show the differences of these atoms under compression or tension. Temperature and strain significantly affects the pressure distribution in these nanowires. The phonon density of states, when varying the composition and strain, suggest different vibration modes at room temperature. The heat capacities of these nanowires were also determined.
Doped 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐MeOTAD), which acts as a hole‐transporting layer (HTL), endows perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with excellent ...performance. However, the intrinsically hygroscopic nature of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) dopants also aggravates the moisture instability of PSCs. In this work, the origins of the moisture instability of spiro‐MeOTAD HTLs are explored and strategies to enhance moisture resistance are proposed. After 780 h of aging in air, 52% of the initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) can be sustained by prolonging the mixing time of the precursor solution of spiro‐MeOTAD to reduce accumulated LiTFSI. In contrast, only 7% of the initial PCE remains if the precursor solution is mixed briefly. By thermally annealing an HTL to evaporate residual tBP in spiro‐MeOTAD, pinholes are completely eliminated and 65% of the initial PCE remains after the same aging time. In this study, the significance of the initial morphology of spiro‐MeOTAD HTLs on device stability is analyzed and strategies based on physical morphology for controlling PSC moisture instability induced by HTL dopants are developed.
The hygroscopic characteristics of dopants in 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐MeOTAD) hole‐transporting layers (HTLs) result in the degradation of both HTL morphology and device performance. A detailed study on the effects of initial morphology is presented. Accumulated lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) is the key factor causing poor stability. Performing thermal annealing on HTL can improve the air stability greatly.
Background Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has been proven to be a promising tumor-specific biomarker in solid tumors, but its clinical utility in risk stratification and early prediction of relapse ...for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has not been well explored. Methods Here, using a lymphoma-specific sequencing panel, we assessed the prognostic and predictive utilities of ctDNA measurements before, during, and after first-line therapy in 73 Chinese DLBCL patients. Results The pretreatment ctDNA level serving as an independent prognostic factor for both progression-free survival (PFS, adjusted HR 2.47; p = 0.004) and overall survival (OS, adjusted HR 2.49; p = 0.011) was confirmed in our cohort. Furthermore, the patients classified as molecular responders who presented a larger decrease in ctDNA levels after the initial two treatment cycles had more favorable PFS (unreached vs. 6.25 months; HR 5.348; p = 0.0015) and OS (unreached vs. 25.87; HR 4.0; p = 0.028) than non-responders. In addition, interim ctDNA clearance may be an alternative noninvasive method of positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) for predicting better PFS (HR 3.65; p = 0.0033) and OS (HR 3.536; p = 0.016). We also demonstrated that posttreatment ctDNA was a sensitive indicator for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with a high risk of recurrence (HR 6.471; p = 0.014), who were otherwise claimed to achieve radiographic CR (complete remission). Conclusions CtDNA is a promising noninvasive tool for prognosis prediction, response assessment, and early relapse prediction of first-line treatment in DLBCL patients. Keywords: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma, Circulating tumor DNA, Minimal residual disease
An environmentally friendly process for efficient separation and recovery of V(V) from aqueous solution containing Cr(VI) was proposed using the new task-specific ionic liquid of C12H25NH3Cyanex 272. ...The separation factor of V(V) from Cr(VI) was about 1.08 × 103 with the optimum extraction conditions, and the extraction percentage of V(V) was about 99.5 %. The loaded organic phase was stripped using the NH3·H2O, and the recovered NH4VO3 was obtained with the processes of stripping, filtration, washing, and desiccation. The qualitative analysis of the recovered NH4VO3 was made using the X-ray diffraction, and its peaks were good consistent with the standard sample. Morphology of the recovered NH4VO3 was also studied using the scanning electron microscope. The extraction mechanism of V(V) using the C12H25NH3Cyanex 272 was investigated using the slope method and infrared spectrum analysis. This new environmentally friendly process can be used for the separation and recovery of V(V) from real leaching solution with the aim of industrial application.
Planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) is a key parameter for air quality prediction and boundary layer meteorology studies. The height of thermodynamic boundary layer (Hθ) and material boundary ...layer (HC) in different seasons are compared by using microwave radiometer (MWR) and ceilometer. There are considerable differences between Hθ and HC and the causes are further studied. We found that when the boundary layer is markedly stable at night, the MWR's algorithm used to estimate PBLH has a retrieval restriction and directly leads to a much higher Hθ than HC (1 to 2.5 km higher). This unrealistic PBLH can be identified and eliminated effectively by using temperature differences from the surface to 1 km. During periods of transportation and diffusion of aerosols, strong southerly winds transporting pollutants northward above Hθ or strong northerly winds throughout the boundary layer removing pollutants will cause a much higher HC than Hθ (0.5 to 2 km higher). However, when transportation occurs in the lower layer within Hθ, HC and Hθ are consistent. The aerosol layers is able to characterize the multiple-layered structure of the nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) and the evolution of the boundary layer by using backscatter. The stable boundary layer (SBL) ranges from 0.3 to 0.6 km at night. Compared with the idealized thermodynamic boundary layer, there isn't a distinct boundary between the SBL and the growing mixing layer (ML) after sunrise. The residual layer (RL) ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 km, it lasts 4 or 5 h after sunrise and shows up again within 2 h after sunset. The maximum detectable range of Doppler Lidar has a large backscatter gradient, so is strongly consistent with the RL at night and the ML in the daytime during a pollution event. The combined observation of microwave radiometer and ceilometer can well reveal the completed characteristics of boundary layer structures.
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The nanopore-based technique is a useful tool for single-molecule sensing and characterization. In this work, we have developed a new DNA-functionalized gold-modified nanopore, and analytes can ...induce the conformational switch of i-motif DNA formed on the inner surface of the nanopore. i-Motif DNA structure can be formed in the presence of silver ions (Ag+), which will result in the change in surface charge and structure of the nanopore tip and ion current rectification (ICR) ratio. The i-motif DNA structure on nanopore surface will be destroyed after the addition of glutathione (GSH) due to the strong interaction of Ag–S bond, which results in the recovery of surface charge, steric hindrance, and ICR ratio. This analyte-triggered conformational switch of i-motif DNA can help us deeply understand the DNA technology inside single nanopore and will benefit the possible applications in an ultrasensitive detection and biological/chemical analysis.
An environmentally friendly recycling process of cobalt (Co2+) from simulated solution for spent ternary lithium batteries was demonstrated in this research. The novel task-specific ionic liquids ...(TSILs) of C8H17NH2Cyanex 272 were synthesized by one-step reaction of n-octylamine and Cyanex 272. The TSILs have good performance for selective extraction and separation of Co2+. The separation factor of Co2+ and Ni2+ (βCo/Ni) was 976.9 using the two-stage cross-flow extraction, and the extraction percentage of Li+ (E Li) was zero. Efficient selective separation of Co2+ from simulated solution containing Ni2+ and Li+ can be achieved using this environmentally friendly process. High purity CoSO4·7H2O (99.7 wt %) was obtained from the simulated solution using the processes of extraction, stripping, scrubbing, and evaporation crystallization. The conceptual recycling flow-sheet for Co2+ from spent ternary lithium batteries was presented on the basis of the new environmentally friendly extraction process. The mechanism of extractive reaction of Co2+ using the C8H17NH2 Cyanex 272 was investigated according to the slope method and FT-IR spectra.
