Musk secretion in muskrats(Ondatra zibethicus L.):association with lipid and cholesterol metabolism-related pathways

Male muskrats(Ondatra zibethicus L.)secrete musk from their scent glands during musk secretion season.Musk plays an important role as a communication pheromone during the breeding season.In this study,gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS)was used to analyze the main components of musk.The GC–MS results after methyl esterification showed that 71.55%of the musk is composed of fatty acids.The other components of muskrat musk include cholesterol(9.31%)and other organics.Transcriptome comparison between musk secretion and non-secretion seasons showed significant changes in the scent glands for 53 genes involved in fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and metabolism regulatory pathways,which include fatty acid biosynthesis,elongation,and metabolism;steroid biosynthesis;steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways.A reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed these detected changes.Overall,our results indicated that lipid synthesis and metabolism play important roles in musk compound synthesis by providing energy for musk production,and the produced musk provides a mechanism for male muskrats to communicate with females during the breeding season.

Analysis on Antibacterial, Detumescent and Antioxidant Activity of Huoshan Large-leaf Yellow Tea

[Objectives] To provide experimental basis for the effective development and utilization of Huoshan large-leaf yellow tea resources and the screening of safe and effective active ingredients of large-leaf yellow tea. [Methods] The active substances of Huoshan large-leaf yellow tea were extracted by hot-water extraction, and the freeze-dried powder of Huoshan large-leaf yellow tea was obtained by freeze drying. The antibacterial activity of the extract was preliminarily confirmed using the Oxford cup method, and its antimicrobial spectrum was analyzed using 14 strains. A xylene-induced mouse auricle swelling test was carried out to detect the swelling inhibition rate of the extract and analyze its in-vitro detumescent activity. Then, the antioxidant activity of the extract was identified through a DPPH free radical scavenging capacity test and a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. [Results] The extract had significant inhibitory effects on various bacteria. The extract could effectively inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus hirae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis , and other strains. The diameter of the inhibition zone increased with the increase of sample concentration. The extract had a significant inhibitory effect on auricle swelling induced by xylene in mice. When the concentration of the drug reached 1.0 mg/mL, its inhibition rate on mouse auricle swelling reached 55.2% ( P <0.01), slightly lower than the swelling inhibition rate of the aspirin group (66.52%, P <0.01). The results of the antioxidant test showed that large-leaf yellow tea extract also had strong activity. Within the concentration range of 0.1-1.0 mg/mL, its DPPH radical scavenging rate increased with the increase of sample concentration. Within the concentration range of 0.1-1.0 mg/mL, its DPPH radical scavenging rate increased with the increase of sample concentration. When the concentration reached 1.0 mg/mL, the scavenging rate reached 69.75%. The Fe 3+ -reduction capacity of the extract also increased with the increase of sample concentration within the concentration range of 0.1-2.5 mg/mL. When the concentration was 2.5 mg/mL, the reducing power of the extract reached 1.43±0.04. However, its DPPH free radical scavenging rate and reducing power were slightly lower than the capacity of V C at the same concentration. [Conclusions] The extract of Huoshan large-leaf yellow tea obtained by hot-water extraction had strong activity in many aspects, including inhibiting the growth of various microbes, subsiding swelling in vitro and resisting oxidation. These experimental results provide certain guiding significance for the basic research of Huoshan large-leaf yellow tea extract, as well as experimental data support for the subsequent development of functional foods and drugs of Huoshan large-leaf yellow tea.

Fe_(3)O_(4) nanoparticles encapsulated in graphitized and inplane porous carbon nanocages derived from emulsified asphalt for a high-performance lithium-ion battery anode

In this work,C@Fe_(3)O_(4) composites were prepared through a typical template method with emulsified asphalt as carbon source,ammonium ferric citrate as transition metal oxide precursor,and NaCl as template.As an anode for lithium-ion batteries,the optimized C@Fe_(3)O_(4)-1:2 composite exhibits an excellent reversible capacity of 856.6 mA·h·g^(-1)after 100 cycles at 0.1A·g^(-1)and a high capacity of 531.1mA·h·g^(-1)after 300 cycles at 1 A·g^(-1),much better than those of bulk carbon/Fe_(3)O_(4) prepared without NaCl.Such remarkable cycling performance mainly benefits from its well-designed structure:Fe_(3)O_(4) nanoparticles generated from ammonium ferric citrate during pyrolysis are homogenously encapsulated in graphitized and in-plane porous carbon nanocages derived from petroleum asphalt.The carbon nanocages not only improve the conductivity of Fe_(3)O_(4),but also suppress the volume expansion of FesO4 effectively during the charge discharge cycle,thus delivering a robust electrochemical stability.This work realizes the high value-added utilization of low-cost petroleum asphalt,and can be extended to application of other transition-metal oxides-based anodes.

Conductive fibers for biomedical applications

Bioelectricity has been stated as a key factor in regulating cell activity and tissue function in electroactive tissues.Thus,various biomedical electronic constructs have been developed to interfere with cell behaviors to promote tissue regeneration,or to interface with cells or tissue/organ surfaces to acquire physiological status via electrical signals.Benefiting from the outstanding advantages of flexibility,structural diversity,customizable mechanical properties,and tunable distribution of conductive components,conductive fibers are able to avoid the damage-inducing mechanical mismatch between the construct and the biological environment,in return to ensure stable functioning of such constructs during physiological deformation.Herein,this review starts by presenting current fabrication technologies of conductive fibers including wet spinning,microfluidic spinning,electrospinning and 3D printing as well as surface modification on fibers and fiber assemblies.To provide an update on the biomedical applications of conductive fibers and fiber assemblies,we further elaborate conductive fibrous constructs utilized in tissue engineering and regeneration,implantable healthcare bioelectronics,and wearable healthcare bioelectronics.To conclude,current challenges and future perspectives of biomedical electronic constructs built by conductive fibers are discussed.

Improving Baculovirus Transduction of Mammalian Cells by Incorporation of Thogotovirus Glycoproteins

Baculovirus can transduce a wide range of mammalian cells and is considered a promising gene therapy vector. However,the low transduction efficiency of baculovirus into many mammalian cells limits its practical application. Co-expressing heterologous viral glycoproteins(GPs), such as vesicular stomatitis virus G protein(VSV G), with baculovirus native envelope protein GP64 is one of the feasible strategies for improving virus transduction. Tick-borne thogotoviruses infect mammals and their GPs share sequence/structure homology and common evolutionary origins with baculovirus GP64.Herein, we tested whether thogotovirus GPs could facilitate the entry of the prototype baculovirus Autographa californica multiple multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus(AcMNPV) into mammalian cells. The gp genes of two thogotoviruses, Thogoto virus and Dhori virus, were inserted into the AcMNPV genome. Both GPs were properly expressed and incorporated into the envelope of the recombinant AcMNPVs. The transduction rates of recombinant AcMNPVs expressing the two thogotovirus GPs increased for approximately 4–12 fold compared to the wild type AcMNPV in six of the 12 tested mammalian cell lines. It seemed that thogotovirus GPs provide the recombinant AcMNPVs with different cell tropisms and showed better performance in several mammalian cells compared to VSV G incorporated AcMNPV. Further studies showed that the improved transduction was a result of augmented virus-endosome fusion and endosome escaping, rather than increased cell binding or internalization. We found the AcMNPV envelope protein GP64-mediated fusion was enhanced by the thogotovirus GPs at relatively higher p H conditions. Therefore, the thogotovirus GPs represent novel candidates to improve baculovirus-based gene delivery vectors.

Continuous morphing trailing-edge wing concept based on multi-stable nanomaterial

Morphing technology is one of the most effective methods to improve the flight efficiency of aircraft.Traditional control surfaces based morphing method is mature and widely used on current civil and military aircraft,but insufficiently effective for the entire flight envelope.Recent research on morphing wing still faces the challenge that the skin material for morphing should be both deformable and stiff.In this study,a continuous morphing trailing-edge wing with a new multi-stable nano skin material fabricated using surface mechanical attrition treatment technology was proposed and designed.Computational fluid dynamics simulation was used to study the aerodynamic performance of the continuous morphing trailing-edge wing.Results show that the lift coefficient increases with the increase of deflection angle and so does the lift-drag ratio at a small angle of attack.More importantly,compared with the wing using flaps,the continuous morphing trailing-edge wing can reduce drag during the morphing process and its overall aerodynamic performance is improved at a large angle of attack range.Flow field analysis reveals that the continuous morphing method can delay flow separation in some situations.

Numerical study of vortex breaker optimization in a first stage oxygen tank

One of the crucial factors affecting the carrying capacity of the cryogenic liquid launch vehicle is the effective volume of the tank.Theoretical and experimental investigations on vortex breaker mechanisms have proposed promising schemes applied in the oxygen tank of the liquid-propellant launch vehicle to ensure the normal operation of the engine.In this paper,the liquid surface profile functions of the laminar core when the vortex generates were derived based on the Rankine vortex model.The dimensionless residual volume V/d3 and the Froude number were applied to compare the theoretical prediction of critical height with the actual simulation data of liquid oxygen.This comparison method can improve the model’s accuracy.The efficiency of different basic shapes of vortex breakers was tested by conducting CFD modelling on a non-vertical outflow tank under a specific operating condition.Simulation results suggest negligible effects of heat transfer and surface tension.A circular plate is considered the optimal vortex breaker shape in traditional vertical outflow tanks,while a higher optimize efficiency was discovered in the half baffle basic shape in a non-vertical outflow tank by comparing the dimensionless residual volume and flow coefficient.A 34.26%reduction in flow resistance of half baffle breaker can be reached when applying a twenty-degree outlet pipe chamfering setting compared to a zero-degree chamfer.Considering practical operating limitations,it is concluded that a vortex breaker mechanism in a half baffle basic shape with a radius of 2.5d and a height of 4/d is the optimal scheme,which is suitable for all types of tanks.Its optimization efficiency of the residual volume reduction is about 56.68%compared to a nobreaker installation case.Lastly,a general equation based on CFD simulation for predicting the residual volume under a certain outflow velocity was proposed:V=d3yaFr0:3,which trend is consistent with that of mathematical prediction V=d3yaFr1=3.This consistency proves the accuracy and applicability of optimization strategy in this paper.

Ultrastretchable and wearable conductive multifilament enabled by buckled polypyrrole structure in parallel

Stretchable conductive fibers have attracted much attention due to their potential use in wearable electronics.However,the ultrahigh strain insensitive conductivity is hindered by mechanical mismatch in Young’s modulus and failure of stretchable structures under large deformation.This challenge is addressed with a conductive and elastic multifilament made of the polyurethane monofilaments that are surface-coated with buckled polypyrrole(PPy)of which flexibility is improved by sodium sulfosalicylate.Such parallel conductive monofilaments with PPy buckling on surface reduce the influence of cracks in the conductive coating on the overall conductivity,displaying an ultra-high strain insensitive behavior(quality factor Q=10.9).Remarkably,various complex forms of wearable electronic textiles made by this conductive multifilament maintain the strain-insensitive behavior of the original multifilament,even upon the large deformation of human joint.This multifilament with wrinkled PPy has attractive advantages in the application of super-stretched wearable electronic devices.

Characterization of intestinal microbiota and fecal cortisol,T3,and IgA in forest musk deer(Moschus berezovskii)from birth to weaning

Analysis of the intestinal microbiota and physiological parameters in mammalian infancy can reveal health status.In this study,we used a combination of molecular and immunochemical approaches to assess fecal microbiota as well as Cortisol(Cor),Triiodothyronine(T3),and immunoglobulin A(IgA)levels of young forest musk deer(FMD),from birth to one month after weaning(7 days of age–110 days of age).During development as the diet of FMD changes from consuming milk to eating plants,the richness and diversity of intestinal microbiota of young FMD increased significantly.Cor levels remained unchanged throughout early development while significantly increased after weaning,T3 and IgA initially were derived from milk during lactation,significantly decreased after weaning.Correlation network analysis showed that the community of food-oriented microbes were highly structured and that many genera were correlated.Overall,this study provides scientific insights into effective management strategies for the protection of FMD population.