Influence of soaking Malus domeri(Bois)Chev.leaves on gut microbiota and metabolites of long-living elderly individuals in Hezhou city,Guangxi,China

To investigate the effects of drinking the soaking of Malus domeri(Bois)Chev.leaves on gut microbiota and metabolites of long-living elderly individuals in Hezhou city,Guangxi,China.It has been reported that longevity is closely related to metabolism and the gut microbiota.The 16S rRNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS)were used to analysis fecal samples and explore the factors affecting longevity in the region.Interestingly,we discovered,that elderly individuals who had been drinking the soaking of M.domeri(Bois)Chev.leaves for a long time exhibited higher diversity of the gut microbiota than without drinking the soaking,notably.The proportions of Ruminococcaceae and Prevotella were decreased in those who did not drink this soaking.In addition,a total of 106 metabolites were characterized,and the people of long-lived people(>90 years old)and elderly people(<90 years old)who drinking soaking of M.domeri(Bois)Chev.leaves significantly altered the gut microbiota and upregulated levels of haplopine,farnesol,genipic acid,momordicinin,2-hydroxyestrone,hydroxyphenyllactic acid,caffeic acid,sophoraflavanone B,and soyasaponin I.We preliminarily determined that M.domeri(Bois)Chev.leaves consumption may be an important factor affecting longevity in this area.

The superiority and feasibility of 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride-stained brain tissues for molecular biology experiments based on microglial properties

Background:TTC(2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride)staining is the most commonly used method in identifying and assessing cerebral infarct volumes in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model.Given that microglia exhibit different morphologies in different regions after ischemic stroke,we demonstrate the superiority and necessity of using TTC-stained brain tissue to analyze the expression of various proteins or genes in different regions based on microglia character.Methods:We compared brain tissue(left for 10 min on ice)from the improved TTC staining method with penumbra from the traditional sampling method.We identified the feasibility and necessity of the improved staining method using real time(RT)-PCR,Western blot,and immunofluorescence analysis.Results:There was no protein and RNA degradation in the TTC-stained brain tissue group.However,the TREM2 specifically expressed on the microglia showed a significant difference between two groups in the penumbra region.Conclusions:TTC-stained brain tissue can be used for molecular biology experiments without any restrictions.In addition,TTC-stained brain tissue shows greater superiority due to its precise positioning.

An Ultraviolet Hybrid Plasmonic Waveguide for Nanolaser Applications

In this paper, a novel hybrid plasmonic waveguide with a metal ridge and an MgF2 dielectric layer is demonstrated at ultraviolet band. We investigate the propagation distance, the scaling factor and the figure of merit by using the finite element method. The structure enables low scaling factor and long propagation distance. Compared to the previous structure with a metal plate, this waveguide has better performance. And the structure can be used as a nanolaser and has broad application prospects in optoelectronic integrated circuits, biological detection and so on.

Female Reproductive Cycles of Phrynocephalus przewalskii (Lacertilia:Agamidae) in the Tengger Desert,China

The timing of reproduction can significantly affect an offspring＇s fitness, thereby also influencing the fitness of the parents, especially in species inhabiting extreme environments, such as deserts. Female reproductive cycles in Phrynocephalus przewalskii were studied from April to September 2008. Significant cycles of gonadal volume were found in all studied populations and the cycles were similar among the various populations. Females began vitellogenesis in April and contained oviductal eggs form May to June. Gonad volume decreased significantly in July and reached minimum volume from August to September. The follicular growth was negatively correlated with increasing precipitation and temperature in all populations. Hatching occurs during summer and early fall, when most of the annual rainfall occurs. Mean clutch size based on all populations was 2.7 ± 0.9 SE （n = 71）.

Light-triggered interfacial charge transfer and enhanced photodetection in CdSe/ZnS quantum dots/MoS_(2)mixed-dimensional phototransistors

Mix-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures(vdWHs)have inspired worldwide interests and efforts in the field of ad-vanced electronics and optoelectronics.The fundamental understanding of interfacial charge transfer is of vital import-ance for guiding the design of functional optoelectronic applications.In this work,type-Ⅱ0D-2D CdSe/ZnS quantum dots/MoS_(2)vdWHs are designed to study the light-triggered interfacial charge behaviors and enhanced optoelectronic performances.From spectral measurements in both steady and transient states,the phenomena of suppressed photolu-minescence(PL)emissions,shifted Raman signals and changed PL lifetimes provide strong evidences of efficient charge transfer at the 0D-2D interface.A series of spectral evolutions of heterostructures with various QDs overlapping concentrations at different laser powers are analyzed in details,which clarifies the dynamic competition between exciton and trion during an efficient doping of 3.9×10^(13)cm^(−2).The enhanced photoresponses(1.57×10^(4)A·W^(-1))and detectivities(2.86×10^(11)Jones)in 0D/2D phototransistors further demonstrate that the light-induced charge transfer is still a feasible way to optimize the performance of optoelectronic devices.These results are expected to inspire the basic understand-ing of interfacial physics at 0D/2D interfaces,and shed the light on promoting the development of mixed-dimensional op-toelectronic devices in the near future.

Geographic Variation in Clutch and Egg Size for the Lizard Phrynocephalus przewalskii(Squamata:Agamidae)

In order to tease apart proximate vs. ultimate sources of variation in reproductive strategy, studies have increasingly focused on populations rather than species as the unit of interest. The reproductive parameters of Phrynocephalus przewalskii （Agamidae） in different populations within the same phylogenetic clade were compared in this study. Female SVL, clutch size, egg volume and clutch volume varied significantly among populations. With increase in latitude, clutch size increased, while egg size decreased. Relatively fewer but larger eggs were produced with increasing of population density. Food availability had positive effects on clutch size, but no effect on egg size. Our result indicated that latitude, food availability and population density may be the proximate factors affecting the reproductive parameters ofP. przewalskii.

Chemical Constituents from the Flowers of Dendrobium chrysanthum

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the chemical constituents from the flowers of Dendrobium chrysanthum and determine its bioactive compounds.[Method] The compounds were extracted by 95% alcohol and isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis(1H NMR,13 CNMR and EIMS). [Result] Nine compounds were obtained and identified as stigmasterol(1), β-sitosterol(2), linoleic acid(3),stigmast-4-en-3-one(4), dibutyl phthalate(5), moscatilin(6), ergosterol(7), ergosterol peroxide(8) and daucosterol(9). [Conclusion] All compounds were isolated from its flowers for the first time.

Efficient Photolytic Halogenation and Oxidation of Unactivated Alkyl sp^(3) C—H Bonds with Iodine(III)

A metal-free,green,and sustainable functionalization of unactivated alkyl sp^(3) C—H bonds is reported using iodine(III)as a feasible dehydrogenation agent under visible light or KBr,and alkyl chlorides,bromides,alcohols,and ketones could be constructed by addition of different coupling reagents.Cheap and safe iodobenzene diacetate was used to form a radical to activate the alkyl sp^(3) C—H bond in a highly efficient manner,which can construct different alkylation products by adding corresponding coupling reagents.

High-performance optoelectronic devices based on van der Waals vertical MoS2/MoSe2 heterostructures

Monolayer MoS2 is a direct band gap semiconductor with large exciton binding energy,which is a promising candidate for the application of ultrathin optoelectronic devices.However,the optoelectronic performance of monolayer M0S2 is seriously limited to its growth quality and carrier mobility.In this work,we report the direct vapor growth and the optoelectronic device of verticallystacked MoS2/MoSe2 heterostructure,and further discuss the mechanism of improved device performance.The optical and high-resolution atomic characterizations demonstrate that the heterostructure interface is of high-quality without atomic alloying.Electrical transport measurements indicate that the heterostructure transistor exhibits a high mobility of 28.5 cm^2/(V·s)and a high on/off ratio of 10^7.The optoelectronic characterizations prove that the heterostructure device presents an enhanced photoresponsivity of 36 A/W and a remarkable detectivity of 4.8×10^11 Jones,which benefited from the interface induced built-in electric field and carrier dependent Coulomb screening effect.This work demonstrates that the construction of two-dimensional(2D)semiconductor heterostructures plays a significant role in modifying the optoelectronic device properties of 2D materials.

Plasmonically engineered light-matter interactions in Aunanoparticle/MoS_(2) heterostructures for artificial optoelectronic synapse

Optoelectronic synaptic elements are emerging functional devices for the vigorous development of advanced neuromorphic computing technology in the post-Moore era.However,optoelectronic devices based on transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs)are limited to their poor mobilities and weak light-matter interactions,which still hardly exhibit superior device performances in the application of artificial synapses.Here,we demonstrate the successful fabrication of Au nanoparticle-coupled MoS_(2)heterostructures via chemical vapor deposition(CVD),where the light absorption of MoS_(2)is greatly enhanced and engineered by plasmonic effects.Hot electrons are excited from Au nanoparticles,and then injected into MoS_(2)semiconductors under the light illumination.The plasmonically-engineered photo-gating effect at the metal-semiconductor junction is demonstrated to create optoelectronic devices with excellent synaptic behaviors,especially in ultra-sensitive excitatory postsynaptic current(EPSC,9.6×10^(-3)nA@3.4 nW·cm^(-2)),ultralow energy consumption(34.7 pJ),long-state retention time(>1,000 s),and tunable synaptic plasticity transitions.The material system of Au-nanoparticles coupled TMDs presents unique advantages for building artificial synapses,which may lead the future development of neuromorphic electronics in optical information sensing and learning.

Proteomics analysis of the hypothalamus of high-fat diet fed mice after Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y44 administration

Probiotics could regulate human health via changing gut microbiota.Our previous studies found that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Y44 (L.plantarum Y44) was shown to reverse obesity-related symptoms of high-fat diet fed mice by influencing gut microbiota,which ameliorated lipid metabolism disorders and intestinal inflammation.In this study,the effects of L.plantarum Y44 on high-fat fed mice and the involved mechanisms were investigated through hypothalamus proteomics analysis,which revealed 22 downregulated and 21 upregulated proteins.Differentially expressed proteins between L.plantarum Y44 intervention group and high-fat fed group in hypothalamus of mice involved in metabolic pathways were concentrated in endocrine regulation of carbohydrate,amino acid and energy generation pathways.The hypothalamus proteomics results about the influences on most of differentially expressed proteins of L.plantarum Y44 administering high-fat fed mice has been verified.Therefore,L.plantarum Y44 would be a potential functional strain for the amelioration of high-fat diet associated health problems.

Vibrio Septicemia Diagnosed With Next-Generation Sequencing:A Case Report

Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus aremarine gram-negative bacilli that can cause septicemia and gastrointestinal and wound infections.Early suspicion,diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy for those infections are essential as delay can adversely affect the outcome.Here,we report a patient who developed a V.vulnificus and V.parahaemolyticus infection after contact with a fishing net.The cause of infection was finally diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing.The patient required an emergency amputation of the upper-and middle-third of the right upper limb.