The current study aimed to assess the effects of the addition of dietary fermented feed (FF) on the growth performance, blood parameters, intestinal morphology, and number of cecal microorganisms of Sichuan white geese from 1 to 28 d of age. A total of 240, 1-day-old female geese were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates (eight birds per replicate). Geese in the control group were fed the basal diet (0.0% FF) and the experimental groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0% FF, respectively. The 5.0% FF and 7.5% FF groups had greater body weights (BW), average daily feed intakes (ADFI), and average daily gains (ADG) than the control group. The feed/gain ratio (F/G) in the 7.5% FF group was higher than the control group. The concentrations of immunoglobulin A (IGA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the 5.0% FF group were higher than those in the control group, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the 5.0% FF group was lower. Moreover, the FF did not affect the plasma biochemical indicators, number of cecal microorganisms, and intestinal morphology of geese in the groups. These findings indicate that 5.0% FF may improve the growth performance (BW, ADG, and ADFI), immunological function, and antioxidant capacity of Sichuan white geese from 1 to 28 days of age.

The demand for rare earth elements (REE) is increasing rapidly owing to the emergence of new clean-energy and defense-related technologies. China's dominates the world production of REE. In this paper, we review the ore characteristics of four typical REE deposits in China and discuss the conventional beneficiation techniques, including gravity and magnetic separation, flotation, and hydrometallurgical processing of these ores. Some of the latest laboratory findings and industrial applications, as well as the development of novel reagents for REE processing in China are presented. The REE beneficiation technologies developed and employed in China could constitute a good case study for many other emerging projects being explored around the world.

RESUMO O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a soroprevalência de infecção com Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) em cabras em cinco províncias do noroeste da China. Soroprevalência foi determinado usando o kit de teste de ensaio de imunoabsorção enzimática (ELISA). A soroprevalência geral foi 21.23% (197/928). Análise estatística revlou que diferenças significativas foram observadas em fêmeas (P= 0.048, OR= 0.567, 95% CI= 0.309 a 1.041) e nos grupos ≥ 2 (P= 0.002, OR= 0.330, 95% CI= 0.224 a 0.488). Nenhuma diferença estatisticamente significativa foi observada entre diferentes províncias. Nossos resultados indicam que a infecção com T. gondii, que pode ter implicações importantes sobre a saúde pública, teve diferenças significativas em sexo e idade, mas nenhuma significância foi observada em diferentes regiões. Além disto, nossos resultados também indicam que infecção por T. gondii em cabras é generalizada nas cinco províncias do noroeste.

Abstract The formation and characteristics of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) under different operational conditions in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR), designed to treat Mustard tuber wastewater (MTW, characterized as saline wastewater), had been investigated in this study. Morphology and structure during granulation were determined using a microscope with a digital camera and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Granules formed in the reactors could be classified as zoogloea granules with a clear boundary outline and filamentous granules with mycelia bestrewing boundary. Zoogloea granules, cultivated in reactor R1 and R2, was with higher density than filamentous granules, cultivated in reactor R3, and consequently had a higher settling velocity. Results showed that divalent metal ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ with phosphate in inflow could transform into precipitates, serving as crystal nucleus and carriers for granulation. Moreover, appropriate organic loading, hydrodynamic shear and salt-stress selection can induce moderate growth of filamentous bacteria to act as granulation backbone and consequently granulation process under salt stress was a result together with crystal nucleus, filamentous bacteria, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which could be affected by salinity-shifting strategies and dosage of aluminum salt coagulant.

RESUMO: Carex physodes é uma espécie efêmera no deserto frio de Gurbantunggut, no noroeste da China, que possui padrões reprodutivos tanto sexuais como assexuais. Os objetivos principais deste estudo foram caracterizar os sistemas de reprodução e identificar o papel da dispersão dos frutos na reprodução sexual de C. physodes. Foram medidas a biomassa aérea e de raízes, a razão raiz-parte aérea, a biomassa de inflorescência e a frutificação de C. physodes e estudada a dispersão de estames perigínicos e aquênios em habitat natural e ambiente interno. A biomassa das raízes de C. physodes foi aproximadamente dez vezes maior do que a biomassa aérea. A maior parte da biomassa aérea é alocada para a inflorescência, o que sugere que C. physodes aloca a maioria da biomassa para a parte reprodutiva. Ela produz estames perigínicos com pericarpo contendo um aquênio. Os estames perigínicos se dispersam a uma distância muito maior do que os aquênios na velocidade do vento de 1 e 4 m s-1, e o tempo de flutuação dos estames perigínicos na água foi muito maior que o dos aquênios. Os estames perigínicos podem reter mais água e aderir ao solo muito mais facilmente do que os aquênios, o que sugere que esses estames são apropriados para dispersão por vento; além disso, estão adaptados para dispersão por grande distância quando ocorrem chuvas ocasionais. No entanto, os aquênios podem permanecer perto das plantas-mãe e dispersar-se apenas por distâncias curtas. C. physodes é adaptada morfológica e fisiologicamente ao ambiente do deserto frio por meio de uma combinação de caracteres associados aos rizomas e aos estames perigínicos. Essa adaptação pode aumentar a oportunidade de sobrevivência e expansão da população de C. physodes.

ABSTRACT: Carex physodes is an ephemeral species in the cold desert of Gurbantunggut in Northwest China. It has both asexual and sexual reproductive patterns. The primary aims of this study were to characterize the reproduction systems and identify the role of fruit dispersal in the sexual reproduction of C. physodes. Aboveground and underground biomass, root-shoot ratio, inflorescence biomass, fruit-set of C. physodes were measured and dispersal of perigynia and achenes in the natural habitat and indoor condition were studied. The underground biomass of C. physodes was approximately 10 times more than the aboveground biomass. The most parts of aboveground biomass is allocated to the inflorescence, which suggests that C. physodes allocates most biomass to the reproductive part. C. physodes produces perigynium with a pericarp containing one achene. The perigynia disperse at a much greater distance than achenes at both 1 and 4 m s-1 wind velocity, and the floating time of perigynia in water was much longer than that of achenes. Perigynia can hold more water and adher soil much more easily than achenes, which suggests that perigynia are suitable for wind dispersal, and they also adapt to spread at a long distance by occasionally rainfall. However, achenes may remain near the mother plants and only disperse at short distances. C. physodes is morphologically and physiologically adapted to the cold desert environment via a combination of characters associated with the rhizomatous and perigynium. This adaption may increase the opportunity of survival and expansion of population of C. physodes.

Among the novel class of endogenous long non-coding RNAs, circular RNA (circRNA) is known as a key regulator in the development and progression of different cancers. Its function and mechanism in the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer, however, has not been well studied. This study thus aimed to investigate potential regulation of colorectal cancer by circRNAs and the corresponding regulatory mechanism. We demonstrated that the expression of circRNA hsa_circ_0000523 (also known as circ_006229) was down-regulated in different colorectal cancer cell lines. It was also found that interference of hsa_circ_0000523 induced proliferation and suppressed apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells, the proliferation rate of which was reduced by the overexpression of hsa_circ_0000523. In addition, we found that miR-31 could recognize hsa_circ_0000523 sequence and that it acted as a “sponge” of miR-31, indirectly regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which was involved in the progression of colorectal cancer. The results suggested that the expression of hsa_circ_0000523 correlated to the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer cells. In addition, as a sponge of miR-31, the low level of hsa_circ_0000523 led to activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, inducing the subsequent progress of colorectal cancer.

Vitamin D (25(OH)D3) is an essential nutrient that plays a role in the immune system. Serum 25(OH)D3 is found to be associated with asthma. However, the role of vitamin D in obese asthma remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the association between vitamin D levels and asthma outcomes in a murine model of obese asthma. We also evaluated NLRP3 inflammasome activity in the pathogenesis of obese asthma. We divided 20 male Balb/c mice (3–4 weeks old) into 4 groups: normal control, asthma, obese, and obese asthma and developed an obese asthma mouse model. Airway hyperreactivity, cytokine concentrations, 25(OH)D3 levels, NLRP3 mRNA and IL-1β mRNA expressions were measured. Lung histology and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell count were also determined. Obese asthma mice showed a significant increase in airway hyper-responsiveness, airway inflammation, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and NLRP3 mRNA, IL-1β mRNA expression. Both asthma and obese groups had lower 25(OH)D3 levels. Vitamin D levels in obese asthma were the lowest among all groups. Vitamin D levels correlated negatively with body weight, lung resistance levels at 25 mg/mL of methacholine, total inflammatory cells, and IL-1β and IL-17 concentrations in BALF. These data demonstrated an association between serum vitamin D levels and outcomes of obese asthma, and indicated that NLRP3 inflammasome may play a role in this disorder.

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highly malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is closely related to the abnormal expression of genes. Familial acute myelogenous leukemia related factor (FAMLF; GenBank accession No. EF413001.1) is a novel gene that was cloned by our research group, and miR-181b is located in the intron of the FAMLF gene. To verify the role of miR-181b and FAMLF in BL, RNAhybrid software was used to predict target site of miR-181b on FAMLF and real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) was used to detect expression of miR-181b and FAMLF in BL patients, Raji cells and unaffected individuals. miR-181b was then transfected into Raji and CA46 cell lines and FAMLF expression was examined by RQ-PCR and western blotting. Further, Raji cells viability and proliferation were detected by MTT and clone formation, and Raji cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. The results showed that miR-181b can bind to bases 21–42 of the FAMLF 5′ untranslated region (UTR), FAMLF was highly expressed and miR-181b was lowly expressed in BL patients compared with unaffected individuals. FAMLF expression was significantly and inversely correlated to miR-181b expression, and miR-181b negatively regulated FAMLF at posttranscriptional and translational levels. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay identified that the 5′ UTR of FAMLF mRNA contained putative binding sites for miR-181b. Down-regulation of FAMLF by miR-181b arrested cell cycle, inhibited cell viability and proliferation in a BL cell line model. Our findings explain a new mechanism of BL pathogenesis and may also have implications in the therapy of FAMLF-overexpressing BL.

This study investigated the expression and regulation of IL-6R in hepatitis B-associated moderate hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Liver tissues, peripheral blood monocytes (PBMs) and serum were collected from 26 hepatitis B patients with liver fibrosis and 35 hepatitis B patients with liver cirrhosis. The levels of Il-6r mRNA expression in these samples were examined by quantitative real-time PCR and IL-6R protein levels were analyzed by western blot and ELISA. MiRNAs that regulate IL-6R expression were predicted by bioinformatics analysis, and validated by dual luciferase reporter assay. Compared with the hepatic fibrosis group, IL-6R was significantly upregulated at both mRNA and protein levels in liver tissues, PBMs and serum samples from the hepatic cirrhosis group (P<0.05). The 3′UTR of Il-6r mRNA was predicted to contain a miR-30b binding site and IL-6R was identified as a possible target of miR-30b. MiR-30b expression was significantly downregulated in samples from hepatic cirrhosis patients compared with hepatic fibrosis patients (P<0.05). In conclusion, IL-6R was upregulated while miR-30b was decreased in patients with liver cirrhosis. The miR-30 can directly regulate the expression of IL-6R.

ABSTRACT Background: In Taiwan, persons over 65 years old have higher prevalence of hepatitis C. Among these patients, around 50% have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Since cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are main causes of death in this age group, in this cross-sectional study, we tried to evaluate the effects of NAFLD and hepatitis C on the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: In total, 25 116 subjects over 65 years old who presented for routine health check-ups were enrolled. From the results of seropositivity for hepatitis C and abnormal echogenicity, they were classified into four groups: normal (N), subjects with only hepatitis C (C), subjects with only abnormal echogeni-city (E) and subjects with both hepatitis C and abnormal echogenicity (CE). Results: Subjects in both groups E and CE had higher abnormal MetS components than group C. Among all five components, triglyceride (TG) was the one having the highest odds ratio (OR) in determining the incidence of MetS in groups C and E. Finally, compared to group N, both groups E and CE had significantly higher OR for having MetS. However, after adjusting for confounding factors, only the significance between groups E and N remained. In other words, higher MetS was noted in group E compared to group N and there was no difference in incidence of MetS between group CE and group N. Conclusions: Chronic hepatitis C is a protective factor against having MetS and this effect might be due to lower TG level in the elderly. Further studies are warranted for the underlying mechanisms.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: En Taiwán, las personas mayores de 65 años tienen mayor prevalencia de hepatitis C. De estos pacientes, aproximadamente el 50% padece la enfermedad del hígado graso no alcohólico (HGNA). Puesto que la diabetes y las enfermedades cardiovasculares son la principal causa de muerte en este grupo etario, en este estudio transversal tratamos de evaluar los efectos de la EHGNA y la hepatitis C sobre el riesgo de síndrome metabólico (SMet). Métodos En total, se inscribieron 25116 sujetos mayores de 65 años que se presentaron para hacerse chequeos de salud rutinarios. A partir de los resultados de seropositividad para la hepatitis C y la ecogenicidad anormal, estos fueron clasificados en cuatro grupos: sujetos normales (N), sujetos sólo con hepatitis C (C), sujetos sólo con ecogenicidad anormal (E), y sujetos con hepatitis C y ecogenicidad anormal (CE). Resultados: Los sujetos en los grupos E y CE tuvieron componentes de SMet anormales más altos que los del grupo C. De los cinco componentes, el triglicérido (TG) fue el que tuvo el cociente de probabilidades (OR) más alto a la hora de determinar la incidencia de SMet en los grupos C y E. Finalmente, en comparación con el grupo N, tanto el grupo E como el CE tuvieron OR significativamente mayores por poseer SMet. Sin embargo, después del ajuste de los factores de confusión, solamente permaneció la significación entre los grupos E y N. En otras palabras, se observaron SMet más altos en el grupo E en comparación con el grupo N, y no hubo diferencias de incidencia entre el grupo CE y el grupo N. Conclusiones: La hepatitis C crónica es un factor protector frente al SMet, y este efecto podría deberse al bajo nivel de TG en los ancianos. Se requieren otros estudios en relación con los mecanismos subyacentes.

ABSTRACT This study is a family survey based on a typical patient with seborrhoeic keratosis (SK). Family members comprised 47 people of four generations, including 22 affected members (12 males and 10 females). The 17 people of the fourth generation were aged less than 26 years old. The proband in this study had typical clinical manifestations and pathology of SK, and all affected members of the family had characteristic skin rash that was easy to be identified. The pattern is consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance and SK is indicated to have a certain age onset.

RESUMEN Este estudio es una encuesta familiar basada en un paciente típico con queratosis seborreica (QS). Los miembros de la familia comprendían 47 personas de cuatro generaciones, incluyendo a 22 miembros afectados (12 varones y 10 hembras). Las 17 personas de la cuarta generación tenían menos de 26 años de edad. El probando (caso índice) en este estudio tenía manifestaciones clínicas típicas y patología de QS, y todos los miembros afectados de la familia presentaban la erupción de la piel característica, fácil de identificar. El patrón concuerda con la herencia autosómica dominante, y se indica que QS tiene su inicio a una cierta edad.

Galunisertib (LY2157299), a selective ATP-mimetic inhibitor of TGF-β receptor I (TGF-βRI), is the only known TGF-β pathway inhibitor. In the present study, we investigated the effect of galunisertib on taurocholate (TAC)-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) in rats, and the role of TGF-β and NF-κB signaling pathways. AP was induced by infusion of TAC into the pancreatic duct of Sprague-Dawley male rats (n=30). The rats (220±50 g) were administered galunisertib intragastrically [75 mg·kg-1·day-1 for 2 days (0 and 24 h)]. Serum IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, amylase (AMY), lipase (LIP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were measured by ELISA. NF-κB activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA); NF-κBp65 and TGF-β1 proteins, as well as TGF-βRI and p-Smad2/3 proteins, were detected by western blot assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. H&E staining was used to evaluate the histopathological alterations of the pancreas. Galunisertib treatment attenuated the severity of AP and decreased the pancreatic histological score. In addition, number of apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the galunisertib-treated group (16.38±2.26) than in the AP group (8.14±1.27) and sham-operated group (1.82±0.73; P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Galunisertib decreased the expression levels of TGF-βRI and p-Smad2/3 and inhibited NF-κB activation and p65 translocation compared with the sham-operated group. Furthermore, serum IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, AMY and LIP levels and tissue MPO activity were significantly decreased in the galunisertib-treated group. Our data demonstrate that galunisertib attenuates the severity of TAC-induced experimental AP in rats by inducing apoptosis in the pancreas, inhibiting the activation of TGF-β signals and NF-κB as well as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Quercetin shows protective effects against hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), as demonstrated in a rat model. However, whether these effects involve pulmonary vascular angiogenesis in HPS remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of quercetin on pulmonary vascular angiogenesis and explore the underlying mechanisms. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250 g underwent sham operation or common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Two weeks after surgery, HIF-1α and NFκB levels were assessed in rat lung tissue by immunohistochemistry and western blot. Then, CBDL and sham-operated rats were further divided into 2 subgroups each to receive intraperitoneal administration of quercetin (50 mg/kg daily) or 0.2% Tween for two weeks: Sham (Sham+Tween; n=8), CBDL (CBDL+Tween; n=8), Q (Sham+quercetin; n=8), and CBDL+Q (CBDL+quercetin; n=8). After treatment, lung tissue specimens were assessed for protein (immunohistochemistry and western blot) and/or gene expression (quantitative real-time PCR) levels of relevant disease markers, including VEGFA, VEGFR2, Akt/p-Akt, HIF-1α, vWf, and IκB/p-IκB. Finally, arterial blood was analyzed for alveolar arterial oxygen pressure gradient (AaPO2). Two weeks after CBDL, HIF-1α expression in the lung decreased, but was gradually restored at four weeks. Treatment with quercetin did not significantly alter HIF-1α levels, but did reduce AaPO2 as well as lung tissue NF-κB activity, VEGFA gene and protein levels, Akt activity, and angiogenesis. Although hypoxia is an important feature in HPS, our findings suggest that HIF-1α was not the main cause for the VEGFA increase. Interestingly, quercetin inhibited pulmonary vascular angiogenesis in rats with HPS, with involvement of Akt/NF-κB and VEGFA/VEGFR-2 pathways.

The densities of selected CaO-Al2O3-MgO slag systems were measured at 1823K by the Archimedean method. Thirteen different slag compositions were chosen based on different levels of the MgO content and the mass ratio of CaO/Al2O3. The results indicated that the density of the slag decreases with increasing MgO content (from 0-3.78 mass%), but increases with further increases in MgO content up to 11.33 mass%. At a fixed MgO content of 5.5%, the trend of density change with CaO/Al2O3 in the slag is similar to that for changes in MgO content. On the basis of the regular solution approximation rules of excess molar quantities, an attempt was made to estimate the molar volume of the slags investigated. The application of the molar volume model confirmed that the present expanded approximation rules are applicable to predict the molar volumes of the melts discussed.

The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) family is associated with autoimmune diseases, but its expression level in the immune cells of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the expression of TIM-3 mRNA is associated with pathogenesis of SLE. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis (qRT-PCR) was used to determine TIM-1, TIM-3, and TIM-4 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 132 patients with SLE and 62 healthy controls. The PBMC surface protein expression of TIMs in PBMCs from 20 SLE patients and 15 healthy controls was assayed by flow cytometry. Only TIM-3 mRNA expression decreased significantly in SLE patients compared with healthy controls (P<0.001). No significant differences in TIM family protein expression were observed in leukocytes from SLE patients and healthy controls (P>0.05). SLE patients with lupus nephritis (LN) had a significantly lower expression of TIM-3 mRNA than those without LN (P=0.001). There was no significant difference in the expression of TIM-3 mRNA within different classes of LN (P>0.05). Correlation of TIM-3 mRNA expression with serum IgA was highly significant (r=0.425, P=0.004), but was weakly correlated with total serum protein (rs=0.283, P=0.049) and serum albumin (rs=0.297, P=0.047). TIM-3 mRNA expression was weakly correlated with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI; rs=-0.272, P=0.032). Our results suggest that below-normal expression of TIM-3 mRNA in PBMC may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.