Multi-omics analysis reveals the molecular regulatory network underlying the prevention of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum against LPS-induced salpingitis in laying hens

Background Salpingitis is one of the common diseases in laying hen production, which greatly decreases the economic outcome of laying hen farming. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was effective in preventing local or systemic inflammation, however rare studies were reported on its prevention against salpingitis. This study aimed to investigate the preventive molecular regulatory network of microencapsulated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum(MLP) against salpingitis through multi-omics analysis, including microbiome, transcriptome and metabolome analyses.Results The results revealed that supplementation of MLP in diet significantly alleviated the inflammation and atrophy of uterus caused by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in hens(P < 0.05). The concentrations of plasma IL-2 and IL-10 in hens of MLP-LPS group were higher than those in hens of LPS-stimulation group(CN-LPS group)(P < 0.05). The expression levels of TLR2, MYD88, NF-κB, COX2, and TNF-α were significantly decreased in the hens fed diet supplemented with MLP and suffered with LPS stimulation(MLP-LPS group) compared with those in the hens of CN-LPS group(P < 0.05). Differentially expressed genes(DEGs) induced by MLP were involved in inflammation, reproduction, and calcium ion transport. At the genus level, the MLP supplementation significantly increased the abundance of Phascolarctobacterium, whereas decreased the abundance of Candidatus_Saccharimonas in LPS challenged hens(P < 0.05). The metabolites altered by dietary supplementation with MLP were mainly involved in galactose, uronic acid, histidine, pyruvate and primary bile acid metabolism. Dietary supplementation with MLP inversely regulates LPSinduced differential metabolites such as Lyso PA(24:0/0:0)(P < 0.05).Conclusions In summary, dietary supplementation with microencapsulated Lactiplantibacillus plantarum prevented salpingitis by modulating the abundances of Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Phascolarctobacterium, Ruminococcus_torques_group and Eubacterium_hallii_group while downregulating the levels of plasma metabolites, p-tolyl sulfate, o-cresol and N-acetylhistamine and upregulating S-lactoylglutathione, simultaneously increasing the expressions of CPNE4, CNTN3 and ACAN genes in the uterus, and ultimately inhibiting oviducal inflammation.

Preparation of high-purity fluorite and nanoscale calcium carbonate from low-grade fluorite

Flotation separation of calcite from fluorite is a challenge on low-grade fluorite flotation that limits the recovery and purity of fluorite concentrate.A new acid leaching–flotation process for fluorite is proposed in this work.This innovative process raised the fluor-ite’s grade to 97.26wt%while producing nanoscale calcium carbonate from its leachate,which contained plenty of calcium ions.On the production of nanoscale calcium carbonate,the impacts of concentration,temperature,and titration rate were examined.By modifying the process conditions and utilizing crystal conditioning agents,calcite-type and amorphous calcium carbonates with corresponding particle sizes of 1.823 and 1.511μm were produced.The influence of the impurity ions Mn^(2+),Mg^(2+),and Fe^(3+)was demonstrated to reduce the particle size of nanoscale calcium carbonate and make crystal shape easier to manage in the fluorite leach solution system compared with the calcium chloride solution.The combination of the acid leaching–flotation process and the nanoscale calcium carbonate preparation method improved the grade of fluorite while recovering calcite resources,thus presenting a novel idea for the effective and clean usage of low-quality fluorite resources with embedded microfine particles.

MicroMagnetic.jl:A Julia package for micromagnetic and atomistic simulations with GPU support

MicroMagnetic.jl is an open-source Julia package for micromagnetic and atomistic simulations.Using the features of the Julia programming language,MicroMagnetic.jl supports CPU and various GPU platforms,including NVIDIA,AMD,Intel,and Apple GPUs.Moreover,MicroMagnetic.jl supports Monte Carlo simulations for atomistic models and implements the nudged-elastic-band method for energy barrier computations.With built-in support for double and single precision modes and a design allowing easy extensibility to add new features,MicroMagnetic.jl provides a versatile toolset for researchers in micromagnetics and atomistic simulations.

CuO/TiO_(2)负载型催化剂的制备、拉曼光谱表征及催化CO氧化反应性质评价

通过设计包含催化剂制备、仪器表征和性质研究一体的综合实验,可以加深学生对催化化学的认识,使得传统理论催化教学更加立体化。本综合实验包括使用沉积-沉淀法制备CuO/TiO_(2)催化剂,使用拉曼光谱对催化剂结构进行物相分析,以及评价该催化剂催化CO氧化反应的性能三方面内容,使学生建立起化学材料“结构-性能”之间的初步认识,提升科研实践能力,为今后科研之路奠定基础。

Seismic monitoring of sub-seafloor fluid processes in the Haima cold seep area using an Ocean Bottom Seismometer (OBS)

The use of ocean bottom seismometers provides an effective means of studying the process and the dynamic of cold seeps by continuously recording micro-events produced by sub-seafloor fluid migration.We deployed a four-component Ocean Bottom Seismometer(OBS)at an active site of the Haima cold seep from 6 November to 19 November in 2021.Here,we present the results of this short-term OBS monitoring.We first examine the OBS record manually to distinguish(by their distinctive seismographic signatures)four types of events:shipping noises,vibrations from our remotely operated vehicle(ROV)operations,local earthquakes,and short duration events(SDEs).Only the SDEs are further discussed in this work.Such SDEs are similar to those observed in other sea areas and are interpreted to be correlated with sub-seafloor fluid migration.In the OBS data collected during the 14-day monitoring period.We identify five SDEs.Compared to the SDE occurrence rate observed in other cold seep regions,five events is rather low,from which it could be inferred that fluid migration,and subsequent gas seepage,is not very active at the Haima site.This conclusion agrees with multi-beam and chemical observations at that site.Our observations thus provide further constraint on the seepage activity in this location.This is the first time that cold seep-related SDEs have been identified in the South China Sea,expanding the list of sea areas where SDEs are now linked to cold seep fluid migration.

Supplemental N-acyl homoserine lactonase alleviates intestinal disruption and improves gut microbiota in broilers challenged by Salmonella Typhimurium

Background Salmonella Typhimurium challenge causes a huge detriment to chicken production.N-acyl homoserine lactonase(AHLase),a quorum quenching enzyme,potentially inhibits the growth and virulence of Gram-negative bacteria.However,it is unknown whether AHLase can protect chickens against S.Typhimurium challenge.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of AHLase on growth performance and intestinal health in broilers challenged by S.Typhimurium.A total of 240 one-day-old female crossbred broilers(817C)were randomly divided into 5 groups(6 replicates/group):negative control(NC),positive control(PC),and PC group supplemented with 5,10 or 20 U/g AHLase.All birds except those in NC were challenged with S.Typhimurium from 7 to 9 days of age.All parameters related to growth and intestinal health were determined on d 10 and 14.Results The reductions(P<0.05)in body weight(BW)and average daily gain(ADG)in challenged birds were alleviated by AHLase addition especially at 10 U/g.Thus,samples from NC,PC and PC plus 10 U/g AHLase group were selected for further analysis.S.Typhimurium challenge impaired(P<0.05)intestinal morphology,elevated(P<0.05)ileal inflammatory cytokines(IL-1βand IL-8)expression,and increased(P<0.05)serum diamine oxidase(DAO)activity on d 10.However,AHLase addition normalized these changes.Gut microbiota analysis on d 10 showed that AHLase reversed the reductions(P<0.05)in several beneficial bacteria(e.g.Bacilli,Bacillales and Lactobacillales),along with increases(P<0.05)in certain harmful bacteria(e.g.Proteobacteria,Gammaproteobacteria,Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia/Shigel a)in PC group.Furthermore,AHLase-induced increased beneficial bacteria and decreased harmful bacteria were basically negatively correlated(P<0.05)with the reductions of ileal IL-1βand IL-8 expression and serum DAO activity,but positively correlated(P<0.05)with the increased BW and ADG.Functional prediction revealed that AHLase abolished S.Typhimurium-induced upregulations(P<0.05)of certain pathogenicity-related pathways such as lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis,shigellosis,bacterial invasion of epithelial cells and pathogenic Escherichia coli infection of gut microbiota.Conclusions Supplemental AHLase attenuated S.Typhimurium-induced growth retardation and intestinal disruption in broilers,which could be associated with the observed recovery of gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Heteroatom dopant strategy triggered high-potential plateau to non-graphitized carbon with highly disordered microstructure for high-performance sodium ion storage

Non-graphitized carbon(NGC)has been extensively utilized as carbonaceous anode in sodium-ion batteries(SIBs).However,more optimization to achieve competitive capacity and stability is still challenging for SIBs.In the study,the dopant strategy is utilized to construct nitrogen/sulfur-doped non-graphitized carbon(N-NGC or S-NGC)shell decorated on three-dimensional graphene foam(GF)as a self-support electrode.The highly disordered microstructures of heteroatom doped carbons are produced by applying a low-temperature pyrolysis treatment to precursors containing nitrogen and sulfur.The DFT calculations of Na-ion adsorption energies at diverse heteroatom sites show marginal-S,pyrrolic N and pyridinic N with more intensive Na-ion adsorption ability than middle-S,C=O and pristine carbon.The N-NGC with dominant small graphitic regions delivers adsorption ability to Na-ion,while the S-NGC with significant single carbon lattice stripes demonstrates redox reaction with Na-ion.Evidently,in comparison with only adsorption-driven slope regions at high potential for N-NGC,the redox reaction-generated potentialplateau enables non-graphitized S-NGC superior discharge/charge capacity and cycle-stability in the slope region.This work could provide deep insight into the rational design of non-graphitized carbon with rich microstructure and composition.

Review on Dynamic Modeling and Vibration Characteristics of Rotating Cracked Blades

As one of the most important parts in the engine,the structure and state of the rotating blade directly affect the normal performance of the aeroengine.In order to monitor engine crack failure and ensure flight safety,it is necessary to carry out research on the dynamic modeling of the cracked blade and breathing crack-induced vibration mechanisms.This paper summarizes the current research status on the dynamics of cracked blade,and the related topics mainly include four aspects:crack propagation path,mechanical model of open and breathing cracks,dynamic modeling methods of cracked blades such as lumped mass model,semi-analytical model and finite element model,and dynamic characteristics of cracked blades.The review will provide valuable references for future studies on dynamics and fault diagnosis of cracked blade in aeroengine.

聚乙烯醇缩丁醛改性酚醛树脂的耐热与增韧性能

选用聚乙烯醇缩丁醛(PVB)对酚醛树脂进行增韧改性,制备了PVB含量不同的改性酚醛树脂,并基于半凝胶状态制备了改性树脂浇铸体。采用扫描电镜观察酚醛树脂浇铸体拉伸断裂截面,发现该方法所制备的浇铸体内部无气泡存在;通过红外光谱对改性前后的酚醛树脂进行结构表征,证实了PVB与酚醛树脂发生了接枝反应;通过差示扫描量热分析和凝胶时间测试确定了改性酚醛树脂的固化工艺;采用热重分析对改性前后酚醛树脂进行热稳定性分析及对比,发现PVB改性酚醛树脂的热稳定性下降;对改性前后酚醛树脂浇铸体进行拉伸、弯曲性能测试,结果表明,PVB的添加量为14%时,增韧效果尤为显著,其拉伸强度为44.46 MPa,断裂伸长率为1.19%,弯曲强度为93.06 MPa,分别较酚醛树脂增加了48.82%,36.50%,135.25%。

小细胞肺癌的免疫治疗临床进展

小细胞肺癌是一种侵袭性强、预后差的恶性肿瘤,多学科联合的综合治疗是其经典的治疗模式。长期以来,小细胞肺癌的治疗方案一直停滞不前;近些年,免疫治疗药物的初始经验使得小细胞肺癌的治疗出现了新的契机。部分免疫检查点抑制剂的临床试验已经证实了其在小细胞肺癌方面的有效性及安全性;基于Ⅲ期临床试验(Impower133和CASPIAN研究)的结果,目前美国国家食品药品监督管理局已经分别批准Atezolizumab、Durvalumab联合化疗用于广泛期小细胞肺癌的一线治疗。包含免疫检查点抑制剂的不同治疗方案在小细胞肺癌人群的临床试验正积极广泛开展,为小细胞肺癌的治疗提供了不同的视野。本文综述目前小细胞肺癌免疫治疗的临床进展。

Effects of thymol and carvacrol supplementation on intestinal integrity and immune responses of broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens

Background： Necrotic enteritis caused by Clostfidium perffingens infection leads to serious economic losses in the global poultry production. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of essential oils （EO, which contained 25 % thymol and 25 % carvacrol as active components） supplementation on growth performance, gut lesions, intestinal morphology, and immune responses of the broiler chickens infected with C. perfringens. A total of 448 1-day-old male broiler chicks were allocated into eight treatment groups following a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement with four dietary EO dosages （0, 60, 120, or 240 mg/kg） and two infection status （with or without C. perfringens challenge from d 14 to 20）. Results： The challenge did not impair the growth performance of birds, but induced gut lesions and increased crypt depth in the ileum （P ≤ 0.05）. It also down-regulated the claudin-1 and occludin mRNA expression （P ≤0.05）, up-regulated the mRNA expression of interleukin-113 （P≤ 0.05）, tended to increase the toll-like receptor （TLR） 2 mRNA expression （P 〈 0.10） in the ileum, and enhanced the mucosal secretory IgA production （P 〈 0.05）. In the challenged birds, dietary EO supplementation linearly alleviated the gut lesions and improved the ratio of villus height to crypt depth （P ≤0.05）, and the supplementation of 120 and 240 mg/kg EO increased the serum antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus （P≤ 0.05）. Regardless of challenge, the EO supplementation showed a tendency to linearly elevate the feed conversion efficiency between 14 and 28 d of age as well as the occludin mRNA expression （P〈 0.10）, and linearly inhibited the mRNA expression of TLR2 and tumor necrotic factor-o in the ileum （P≤ 0.05）. Conclusions： The dietary supplementation of EO could alleviate the intestinal injury by improving intestinal integrity and modulating immune responses in the C. perffingens-challenged broiler chickens.

使用程序升温还原方法认识无机化合物的氧化还原行为——面向拔尖计划学生的综合实验

元素化学是无机化学教学的重要组成部分。通过实验的方法研究元素及其无机化合物的性质和反应规律,可以使传统的描述性教学成为易于形象理解和深入掌握的立体化教学。本实验包含简单无机化合物的合成制备以及运用程序升温还原技术(TPR)考查所制备的材料的氧化还原性质两部分内容。程序升温还原方法可以非常直观地反映出样品的还原过程,并可以给出样品还原能力强弱(峰的位置,用于定性考查)、还原物种种类和数目(峰的数目、强弱,用于定量考查),以及各组分之间的相互作用的信息。程序升温还原技术操作简便、易实行,可在高校化学实验教学中推广使用。

Effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus on the growth performance and intestinal health of broilers challenged with Clostridium perfringens

Background: Clostridium perfringens is the main etiological agent of necrotic enteritis. Lactobacil i show beneficial effects on intestinal health in infectious disease, but the protective functions of lactobacil i in C. perfringens-infected chickens are scarcely described. This study examined the effects of Lactobacil us acidophilus(L. acidophilus) on the growth performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens chal enged with Clostridium perfringens(C. perfringens) over a 28-day period. Using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, a total of 308 1-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks were included to investigate the effects of Lactobacil us acidophilus(L. acidophilus) on the growth performance and intestinal health of broiler chickens chal enged with Clostridium perfringens(C. perfringens) during a 28-day trial.Results: During infection(d 14–21), C. perfringens challenge decreased the average daily gain(P < 0.05), and increased feed conversion ratio and the mortality rate(P < 0.05). However, dietary supplementation with L. acidophilus increased the body weight of C. perfringens-infected broilers on d 21(P < 0.05), and tended to decrease the mortality(P = 0.061).C. perfringens challenge decreased the villus height(P < 0.05), the ratio of villus height to crypt depth(P < 0.05) and OCLN(occludin) m RNA expression(P < 0.05), and increased the pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the spleen and jejunum, the intestinal populations of C. perfringens and Escherichia(P < 0.05), and the serum content of endotoxin(P < 0.05), regardless of L. acidophilus supplementation. In contrast, dietary L. acidophilus reducedthe intestinal lesion score of challenged broilers(P < 0.05), the m RNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ileal populations of Escherichia and serum endotoxin content(P < 0.05), but increased the intestinal Lactobacillus populations(P < 0.05),irrespective of C. perfringens challenge.Conclusion: Dietary addition of L. acidophilus could improve the intestinal health and reduce the mortality of broilers suffering from necrotic enteritis.

CO2 hydrogenation to methanol over Cu/CeO2 and Cu/ZrO2 catalysts:Tuning methanol selectivity via metal-support interaction

Copper-based catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol are supported on ZrO2 and CeO2,respectively.Reaction results at 3.0 MPa and temperatures between 200 and 300°C reveal that Cu catalysts supported on ZrO2 and CeO2 exhibit better activity and selectivity than pure Cu catalyst due to Cu-support(ZrO2 and CeO2)interaction.Combining the structural characterizations with in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(in-situ DRIFTS),Cu/CeO2 shows the higher methanol selectivity due to the formation of main carbonates intermediates,which are closely related with the oxygen vacancies over Cu/CeO2.In contrast,bicarbonate and carboxyl species are observed on Cu/ZrO2,which originates from the hydroxyl groups presented on catalyst surfaces.Difference in CO2 adsorption intermediates results in the distinct methanol selectivity over the two catalysts.

Biochemical and physiological bases for utilization of dietary amino acids by young Pigs

Protein is quantitatively the most expensive nutrient in swine diets. Hence it is imperative to understand the physiological roles played by amino acids in growth, development, lactation, reproduction, and health of pigs to improve their protein nutrition and reduce the costs of pork production. Due to incomplete knowledge of amino acid biochemistry and nutrition, it was traditionally assumed that neonatal, post-weaning, growing-finishing, and gestating pigs could synthesize sufficient amounts of all ＂nutritionally nonessential amino acids＂ （NEAA） to support maximum production performance. Therefore, over the past 50 years, much emphasis has been placed on dietary requirements of nutritionally essential amino acids as building blocks for tissue proteins. However, a large body of literature shows that NEAA, particularly glutamine, glutamate, arginine and proline regulate physiological functions via cell signaling pathways, such as mammalian target of rapamycin, AMP-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-related kinase, Jun kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and NEAA-derived gaseous molecules （e.g., nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide）. Available evidence shows that under current feeding programs, only 70% and 55% of dietary amino acids are deposited as tissue proteins in 14-day-old sow-reared piglets and in 30-day-old pigs weaned at 21 days of age, respectively. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the robes and dietary requirements of NEAA in swine nutrition. This review highlights the basic biochemistry and physiology of absorption and utilization of amino acids in young pigs to enhance the efficacy of utilization of dietary protein and to minimize excretion of nitrogenous wastes from the body.

In vitro antibacterial activity of thymol and carvacrol and their effects on broiler chickens challenged with Clostridium perfringens

Background： In the post-antibiotic era, essential oils （EO） are promising alternatives to growth-promoting antibiotics. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial activities of an EO product and its components thymol and carvacrol in vitro, and the efficacy of EO to control Clostridium perffingens challenge in broiler chickens. Results： The in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration assay showed strong antibacterial activity of the EO product, thymol, and carvacrol against pathogenic Escherichia col~, C. perffingens, and Salmonella strains, and weak activity towards beneficial Lactobacillus strains. Besides, an additive effect was observed between thymol and carvacrol. The in vivo study was carried out with 448 male broiler chicks following a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement to test the effects of EO supplementation （0, 60, 120, or 240 mg/kg EO in wheat-based diet）, pathogen challenge （with or without oral gavage of C. perfr/ngens from day 14 to day 20） and their interactions. Each treatment consisted of eight replicate pens （seven birds/pen）. The challenge led to macroscopic gut lesions, and resulted in a significant increase in ileal populations of C. perffingens and Eschefichia subgroup （P ≤ 0.05） on day 21. Dietary EO supplementation did not influence C. perfringens numbers, but linearly alleviated intestinal lesions on day 21 and 28 （P= 0.010 and 0.036, respectively）, and decreased Eschefichia populations in ileum with increased EO dosages （P = 0.027 and 0.071 for day 21 and 28, respectively）. For caecum, EO quadratically influenced Lactobacillus populations on day 21 （P = 0.002）, and linearly decreased the numbers of total bacteria and Eschefichio on day 28 （P = 0.026 and 0.060, respectively）. Mean thymol and carvacrol concentrations in the small intestine were 0.21 and 0.20 μg/g in intestinal digesta （wet weight）, respectively, for birds fed 60 mg/kg EO, and 0.80 and 0.71 μg/g, respectively, for birds fed 240 mg/kg EO. Conclusions： These results indicated that dietary EO supplementation could affect intestinal microbiota and alleviate intestinal lesions in broilers, which may contribute in controlling C. perffingens infection in broiler chickens.

儿童青少年社会适应的发展特点与影响因素及其促进

社会适应即个体不断调整自身的心理状态与行为表现,最终使自身与社会环境保持动态平衡的过程。社会适应对儿童青少年的发展十分重要,是衡量其心理健康水平的重要指标。整体而言,儿童青少年的社会适应在学前时期显著提升,小学阶段平稳发展,在青春期会经历重要的重组和调整,并在经历多次“不平衡—调整—平衡”的过程后才能达到良好状态。不良人格特质、父母文化水平较低、低质量的隔辈养育是儿童青少年社会适应发展的不利因素,积极的自我意识、社会支持、生活经历是儿童青少年社会适应发展的有利因素。为促进我国儿童青少年社会适应的发展,不仅应在园本与校本课程中体现和增加社会适应的内容,而且应关注和改善父母的教养方式与教育行为。为此,将来应进一步编制符合新时代变化的儿童青少年社会适应测量工具,构建基于本土文化的儿童青少年社会适应理论与教育活动体系,同时深入开展相关干预研究。

An investigation of Zr/Ce ratio influencing the catalytic performance of CuO/Ce1-xZrxO2 catalyst for CO2 hydrogenation to CH3OH

A series of CuO/Ce1-xZrxO2 catalysts(x=0.2,0.4,0.6 and 0.8)are applied to elaborate the effect of the Zr/Ce ratio on the catalytic performance of CO2 hydrogenation to CH3OH.The best catalytic performance is achieved with CuO/Ce0.4Zr0.6O2,exhibiting XCO2=13.2%and YCH3OH=9.47%(T=280℃,P=3 MPa).The formation of dispersed surface CuO species and larger number of oxygen vacancies are detected over CuO/Ce0.4Zr0.6O2 due to stronger interaction between CuO and Ce0.4Zr0.6O2,resulting in the superior activation ability for H2 and CO2 respectively.Additionally,the evidence is provided by in situ DRIFTS under the activity test pressure(3 MPa)that bi/m-HCOO* species are preferable for accumulating over ceria-rich(CuO/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 and CuO/Ce0.8Zr0.2O2)catalysts while zirconia-rich(CuO/Ce0.4Zr0.6O2 and CuO/Ce0.2Zr0.8O2)catalysts are benefit to encourage the transformation of bi/m-HCOO* species to CH3OH.The abundant population and high activity of intermediate species over CuO/Ce0.4Zr0.6O2 give a strong positive effect on the catalytic performance.

Lim kinase,a bi-functional effector in injury-induced structural plasticity of synapses

The structural plasticity of synaptic terminals contributes to normal nervous system function but also to neural degeneration, in the form of terminal retraction, and regeneration, due to process growth. Synaptic morphological change is mediated through the actin cytoskeleton, which is enriched in axonal and dendritic terminals. Whereas the three RhoGTPases, RhoA, Cdc42 and Rac, function as upstream signaling nodes sensitive to extracellular stimuli, LIMK-cofilin activity serves as a common downstream effector to up-regulate actin turnover, which is necessary for both polymerization and depolymerization. The dual effects of LIMK activity make LIMK a potential target of therapeutic intervention for iniury-induced synaptic plasticity, as LIMK inhibition can stabilize actin cytoskeleton and preserve existing structure. This therapeutic benefit of LIMK inhibition has been demonstrated in animal models of injury-induced axon retraction and neuritic sprouting by rod photoreceptors. A better understanding of the regulation of LIMK-cofilin activity and the interaction with the microtubular cytoskeleton may open new ways to promote synaptic regeneration that can benefit neuronal degenerative disease.

Effect of p62 on tau hyperphosphorylation in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Tau hyperphosphorylation is a main cause of neuronal loss in Alzheimer＇s disease, which can be caused by many factors, including oxidative stress. The multifunctional protein p62, which exists in neurofibrillary tangles and causes aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau, not only serves as a receptor in selective autophagy, but also regulates oxidative stress. However, whether p62 participates in oxidative stress-induced tau hyperphosphorylation remains unclear. In this study, we produced an Alzheimer＇s disease rat model by injecting 13-amyloid protein into the hippocampus and ^-galactose intraperitoneally. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used for morphological analysis of brain tissue, and western blotting, immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-PCR were employed to study p62 and autophagy related proteins, antioxidant defense system kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-NF-E2-related factor 2 related proteins and hyperphosphorylated tau, respectively. The number of neurons in the brain decreased in Aizheimer＇s disease rats, and the autophagy related proteins Atg12-Atg5, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-phosphatidylethanolamine and Beclinl increased significantly, while p62 expression reduced. Expression of kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 increased, NF-E2-related factor 2 protein and the downstream gene products of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit and glutamate cysteine ligase modulatory subunit decreased, and hyperphosphorylated tau increased. These findings demonstrate that autophagy levels increased and p62 levels decreased in the brains of Alzheimer＇s disease rats. Moreover, the anti-oxidative capability of the NF-E2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element pathway was decreased, which may be the cause of tau hyperphosphorylation in Alzheimer＇s disease brain tissue and the subsequent structural and functional damage to neurons.