This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of 3 rearing systems (FL: flooring litter rearing, MC: multilayer cage rearing, PN: plastic net rearing) with or without supplemental narasin on ...growth performance, gastrointestine development and health of broilers. A total of 2,400 one-day-old Ross 308 mixed-sex broilers (1:1 ratio of males and females) were used in a completely randomized design utilizing a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, with 12 replicates per treatment. Each replicate for FL, MC, and PN consisted of 34 birds per floor pen, 30 birds per cage, and 36 birds per net pen, respectively, ensuring the same stocking density (12 birds/m2) across the 3 systems. Results showed that lower ADG (average daily gain), ADFI (average daily feed intake), and FCR (feed conversation ratio) observed in the MC group than those of the other 2 systems from 1 to 36 d of age (P < 0.05). Narasin inclusion in the diets decreased ADFI and FCR significantly (P < 0.05). Multilayer cage and PN rearing systems reduced the relative weight of the gizzard significantly (P < 0.05). Compared with FL, MC reduced the relative weight of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of the ileal IL-1β and IFN-γ in FL were higher than those in PN and MC (P < 0.05). Narasin decreased the ileal mRNA expression of TNF-α (P < 0.05). Different rearing systems changed the ileal microflora structure of broilers. The FL system increased the ileal microbial diversity of broilers and the relative abundance of Actinobacteria. Narasin combined with MC increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria. In conclusion, birds reared in PN had a higher body weight. The MC birds had poorer intestinal development and health condition, higher abundance of Proteobacteria, but better FCR. The FL rearing appeared to be propitious for gastrointestinal development and health. Narasin inclusion in the diets improved FCR and changed the relative abundance Proteobacteria of broilers.
The epidermis serves as a critical protective barrier between the internal and external environment of the human body. Its remarkable barrier function is established through the keratinocyte (KC) ...terminal differentiation program. The transcription factors specifically regulating terminal differentiation remain largely unknown. Using a RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) profiling approach, we found that forkhead box c 1 (FOXC1) was significantly up-regulated in human normal primary KC during the course of differentiation. This observation was validated in human normal primary KC from several different donors and human skin biopsies. Silencing FOXC1 in human normal primary KC undergoing differentiation led to significant down-regulation of late terminal differentiation genes markers including epidermal differentiation complex genes, keratinization genes, sphingolipid/ceramide metabolic process genes and epidermal specific cell-cell adhesion genes. We further demonstrated that FOXC1 works down-stream of ZNF750 and KLF4, and upstream of GRHL3. Thus, this study defines FOXC1 as a regulator specific for KC terminal differentiation and establishes its potential position in the genetic regulatory network.
Abstract
Electron-scale magnetic holes (ESMHs) can dissipate energy and transport electrons in astrophysical plasmas. They are often observed in the solar wind at 1 au, but whether they are locally ...generated remains unclear. Here we investigate the ESMHs in the solar wind at 1 au based on observations of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) and Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of the Moon’s Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS) P1 spacecraft. There are 47 and 18 ESMH events observed by MMS1 and ARTEMIS P1, respectively, where an isolated ESMH or a train of ESMHs is regarded as an ESMH event. Our findings are as follows: (1) the occurrence rate of the ESMH events observed by MMS1 is much larger than that by ARTEMIS P1, which is located in the upstream solar wind; and (2) the proportion of the train of ESMHs in the ESMH events observed by each spacecraft is much higher in the ion foreshock than that in the undisturbed solar wind. These observations suggest that the terrestrial foreshock is an important source region of the ESMHs at 1 au, while some ESMHs come from the upstream undisturbed solar wind. The generation of these ESMHs can be explained by the electron vortex magnetic hole. Finding out the origin of the electron vortex may help to shed light on the whole chain of their generation and evolution in the foreshock.
Highlights • MEM treatment increased endogenous NGF level in APP/PS1 mice. • NGF/TrkA signaling is activated after MEM treatment, accompanied with the inhibition of p75NTR signaling. • Our research ...revealed a new NGF-related mechanism of MEM for improving cognitive deficits and amyloidosis. • The new mechanism suggests that NGF signaling is a potential target of MEM treatment for AD therapy.
Afforestation and land use changes that sequester carbon from the atmosphere in the form of woody biomass have turned southern China into one of the largest carbon sinks globally, which contributes ...to mitigating climate change. However, forest growth saturation and available land that can be forested limit the longevity of this carbon sink, and while a plethora of studies have quantified vegetation changes over the last decades, the remaining carbon sink potential of this area is currently unknown. Here, we train a model with multiple predictors characterizing the heterogeneous landscapes of southern China and predict the biomass carbon carrying capacity of the region for 2002–2017. We compare observed and predicted biomass carbon density and find that during about two decades of afforestation, 2.34 PgC have been sequestered between 2002 and 2017, and a total of 5.32 Pg carbon can potentially still be sequestrated. This means that the region has reached 73% of its aboveground biomass carbon carrying capacity in 2017, which is 12% more than in 2002, equal to a decrease of 0.77% per year. We identify potential afforestation areas that can still sequester 2.39 PgC, while old and new forests have reached 87% of their potential with 1.85 PgC remaining. Our work locates areas where vegetation has not yet reached its full potential but also shows that afforestation is not a long‐term solution for climate change mitigation.
Plain Language Summary
Forests sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the form of vegetation biomass, and tree planting initiatives are thus suggested as a promising measure against climate change. China has recently planted millions of trees, which sequester large amounts of carbon, but this carbon sink is not infinite. We quantify the amount of carbon that can still be sequestered in the forests of southern China. We find that 73% of the limits have been reached in 2017, which is 12% more than in 2002, when the tree planting initiatives started. This illustrates that planting trees is only a short term solution and only a reduction of CO2 emissions helps to mitigate climate change in the long term.
Key Points
We estimate the aboveground forest biomass of southern China to be 15.22 PgC in 2017 and the carrying capacity is 20.54 PgC
Afforestation starting in 2002 has consumed 2.34 PgC, but 5.32 PgC of potential carbon sinks are left
Afforestation approaches the carbon sink limits quickly and is not a long term measure to achieve carbon neutrality
Air pollution exposure increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and is a major global public health concern.
We investigated the benefits of reducing personal exposure to urban air pollution ...in patients with coronary heart disease.
In an open randomized crossover trial, 98 patients with coronary heart disease walked on a predefined route in central Beijing, China, under different conditions: once while using a highly efficient face mask, and once while not using the mask. Symptoms, exercise, personal air pollution exposure, blood pressure, heart rate, and 12-lead electrocardiography were monitored throughout the 24-hr study period.
Ambient air pollutants were dominated by fine and ultrafine particulate matter (PM) that was present at high levels 74 μg/m³ for PM(2.5) (PM with aerodynamic diamater <2.5 µm). Consistent with traffic-derived sources, this PM contained organic carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and was highly oxidizing, generating large amounts of free radicals. The face mask was well tolerated, and its use was associated with decreased self-reported symptoms and reduced maximal ST segment depression (-142 vs. -156 μV, p = 0.046) over the 24-hr period. When the face mask was used during the prescribed walk, mean arterial pressure was lower (93 ± 10 vs. 96 ± 10 mmHg, p = 0.025) and heart rate variability increased (high-frequency power: 54 vs. 40 msec², p = 0.005; high-frequency normalized power: 23.5 vs. 20.5 msec, p = 0.001; root mean square successive differences: 16.7 vs. 14.8 msec, p = 0.007). However, mask use did not appear to influence heart rate or energy expenditure.
Reducing personal exposure to air pollution using a highly efficient face mask appeared to reduce symptoms and improve a range of cardiovascular health measures in patients with coronary heart disease. Such interventions to reduce personal exposure to PM air pollution have the potential to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events in this highly susceptible population.
To explore the relationship between sleep habits (sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep onset timing) and ischemic stroke, and whether there is an interaction between sleep habits and ischemic ...stroke susceptibility gene loci.
A questionnaire survey, physical examination, blood biochemical testing and genotyping were conducted among rural residents in Beijing, and the gene loci of ischemic stroke suggested by previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were screened. Multivariable generalized linear model was used to analyze the correlation between sleep habits, sleep-gene interaction and ischemic stroke.
A total of 4 648 subjects with an average age of (58.5±8.7) years were enrolled, including 1 316 patients with ischemic stroke. Compared with non-stroke patients, stroke patients with sleep duration ≥9 hours, sleep efficiency < 80%, and sleep onset timing earlier than 22:00 accounted for a higher proportion (
< 0.05). There was no significant association between sleep duration and risk of ischemic strok
Background and purpose
Owing to its low morbidity but high mortality, no accurate scoring system focuses on primary pontine hemorrhage (PPH) has been established. We aim to compare the performances ...of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II with the ICH score in predicting the 30‐day mortality in patients with PPH.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients admitted with a diagnosis of PPH to a university‐affiliated hospital in southern China from May 2000 to June 2011. Data related to patient demographics and that necessary to calculate APACHE II, SAPS II, and ICH score were recorded. Performances of these scoring systems were presented as calibration and discrimination, which were measured by the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit test and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, respectively.
Results
Among 75 patients with PPH finally included, 31 (41.3%) died within 30 days. SAPS II (χ2 = 6.57, P = 0.682) had the best calibration, followed by APACHE II (χ2 = 8.06, P = 0.428) and ICH score (χ2 = 4.94, P = 0.176). Furthermore, in terms of area under the ROC curve, APACHE II (0.919) was more discriminative than SAPS II (0.890) and ICH score (0.844).
Conclusions
In predicting 30‐day mortality in patients with PPH, SAPS II has the best calibration, while APACHE II has the highest discrimination. The ICH score, which is easier and simpler to calculate, should be modified for PPH.
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