SiRAP2-12,a Positive Regulatory Factor,Effectively Improves the Waterlogging Tolerance of Foxtail Millet(Setaria italica)

Foxtail millet(Setaria italica)growth was inhibited because of waterlogging stress,which has caused yield reduc-tion.ERF family plays an important role to plant adversity tolerance.In our study,we obtained 19,819 differential expressed genes(DEGs)between the two treatments based on the RNA-seq sequencing of foxtail millet of water-logging stress.Furthermore,a total of 28 ERF family members were obtained,which have a complete open read-ing frame.We studied the evolution and function of SiERF family and how they affected the waterlogging tolerance.It was found that SiERF1A/B/C(GenBank ID:OR775217,OR775219,OR775218)and SiRAP2-12(GenBank ID:OR775216)have similar functions to the known waterlogging tolerance genes of other plants.Among them,the SiRAP2-12 expression was obviously significantly up-regulated in foxtail millet after 5d water-logging stress.After SiRAP2-12 was silenced,the activity of defense enzymes in millet decreased significantly.In details,superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT)and peroxidase(POD),the osmotic regulator proline(Pro),and the activity of the anaerobic respiratory enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH)content were decreased by 78.61%,29.52%,79.95%,19.41%and 54.77%,respectively.In contrast,the relative electrical conductivity contents(REC),malondialdehyde(MDA),and hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))of the foxtail millet subjected to virus-induced gene silencing clearly increased by 1.03-fold,36.09%,and 15.21%,respectively.The content of sodium(Na^(+))in the SiRAP2-12-silenced foxtail millet also increased,but that of potassium(K^(+))decreased.Interestingly,we found that ethylene content was significantly reduced.Further,the SiAOC1 expression,an essential gene for ethylene synthesis,was inhibited in SiRAP2-12-silenced foxtail millet after waterlogging stress.Taken together,we hypothesized that SiRAP2-12 might be a positive regulator of millet tolerance to waterlogging stress.

Pathogenic genes associated with Parkinson’s disease:molecular mechanism overview

Parkinson’s disease(PD)is a common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly,accounting for more than 1%of the population aged 65 years.Monogenic inheritance is relatively rare in PD,accounting for approximately 5%to 10%of PD patients,and there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that multiple genetic risk factors play a significant role in the pathogenesis of PD.Several groups have identified and reported a number of genes carrying mutations associated with affected family members.Mutated genes associated with PD are also candidates for idiopathic PD,and these genes may also carry other mutation sites that increase risk.When multiple genetic risk factors are combined,the risk of PD is increased to a greater extent,and to unravel the pathogenic pathways that lead to different forms of PD.This review focuses on the association of PD genes,such as Parkinson Disease 1-24(PARK1-24),glucosylceramidase(GBA),GTP cyclohydrolase 1(GCH1),fibroblast growth factor 20(FGF20),nuclear receptor-related factor 1(NURR1),NUS1 dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthase subunit(NUS1),diacylglycerol Lipase Beta(DAGLB),transmembrane protein(TMEM),ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1(UQCRC1),glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B protein(GPNMB),dynactin 1(DCTN1),LDL receptor related protein 10(LRP10),monoamine oxidase(MAO),ataxin 2(ATXN2),microtubule associated protein tau(MAPT),pantothenate kinase 2(PANK2),spastic parapplegia type 11(SPG11),polymer gamma(POLG),TATA-box binding protein associated factor 1(TAF1),dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A(Dyrk1a),and crystallin alpha A(CRYAA),with the pathogenesis of PD.We introduce what is currently known about the molecular genetics of PD to help explain the molecular mechanisms leading to the neurodegenerative disease.

Tracking the Confiscated Green Sea Turtles in the South China Sea:Where Did They Come From?Where Will They Go?

The population of the green sea turtle(Chelonia mydas)is under decline,threatened by bycatch and illegal acquisition despite worldwide protection efforts.However,the confiscation of illegally acquired sea turtles could aid in tracking their origin and movement patterns,crucial for effective conservation strategies.Combining satellite tracking and genetic analysis offers an opportunity to investigate the relationship between the origins and migration directions of green sea turtles in the western Pacific.Here,we applied two methods to investigate the spatial ecology of 18 green turtles caught as bycatch in the South China Sea.Our results revealed the genetic origins and diverse movements of the turtles.Bayesian Mixed Stock Analysis(MSA)suggested that these turtles originated from the rookery of the Xisha Islands(49.6%),central Ryukyu(24.6%),NE Borneo(8%),and the Sulu Sea(5.2%),with other rookeries in meagre proportions(<2%each).Satellite tracking showed the ranges of their travel were smaller than the whole contributed rookery range,but diverse.The haplotype diversity of these turtles is high,and CmP19 stands out as both the most frequent and the most diverse haplotype in terms of swimming destinations.These results indicate that the South China Sea is likely an important transportation hub and mating spot for green turtles.Our findings provided evidence for the rehabilitation of these green turtles in the wild and illustrated the complexity of movement during the green turtle’s life history,and the“mixed backgrounds”of the green turtles also highlight the need for joint conservation efforts of neighbouring countries in the South China Sea.

Role of STIM1 in neurodegeneration

STIM1 is an endoplasmic reticulum(ER) protein with a key role in Ca^(2+)mobilization. Due to its ability to act as an ER-intraluminal Ca^(2+) sensor, it regulates store-operated Ca^(2+) entry(SOCE), which is a Ca^(2+) influx pathway involved in a wide variety of signalling pathways in eukaryotic cells. Despite its important role in Ca^(2+) transport, current knowledge about the role of STIM1 in neurons is much more limited. Growing evidence supports a role for STIM1 and SOCE in the preservation of dendritic spines required for long-term potentiation and the formation of memory. In this regard, recent studies have demonstrated that the loss of STIM1, which impairs Ca^(2+) mobilization in neurons, risks cell viability and could be the cause of neurodegenerative diseases. The role of STIM1 in neurodegeneration and the molecular basis of cell death triggered by low levels of STIM1 are discussed in this review.

Implementation and uniformity calibration of LED array for photodynamic therapy

Irradiance uniformity is an important parameter for a Photodynamic Therapy(PDT)device.The calibration and verification of a LED array light source based on computer vision technology were implemented and carried out.First,the correlation coe±cients between the pulse width modulate value and the irradiance were calibrated.Then,the correction of the actual light center and divergence angle were solved by image processing to reduce errors from each LED lens.Finally,uniformity was optimized according to the irradiance formula of the Lambertian source.The lowest coe±cients of variation of irradiance were 4.87%in a 5 cm×12 cm area and 3.55%in a 3 cm×10 cm area within the depth range of 8–12 cm when the expected irradiance was 100 mW/cm^(2).This finding indicated that the light source can achieve a more uniform illumination and provide a better therapeutic effect for the PDT of port-wine stains.

Application of eDNA Metabarcoding for Detecting Anura in North China

eDNA metabarcoding is an advanced method formonitoring biodiversityproposed in recent years.By analyzing DNA in water,soil and sediment samples,the technology obtains species distribution and population quantity information.It was found that macrobarcode technology is more accurate than the traditional method in measuring the species richness of some groups.In Europe,America and South America,the relia bility of this technology in monitoring amphibian diversity in the wild was studied,and it was found to be better than traditional biodiversity monitoring methods in detecting species diversity.At present,amphibian monitoring mainly depends on various traditional methods,such as transects,drift fence traps,artificial shelters and mark-recapture.These monitoring techniques have many shortcomings,such as low accuracy and strong subjectivity of study results.These technologies have poor effects on rare,invasive and endangered species with strong concealment ability,low density and strong seasonality and are difficult to implement in sites inaccessible to people.Traditional monitoring technology also requires considerable investment of human and material resources,and the economic cost is relatively high,while eDNA metabarcoding ismore efficient and less costly,so it is important to use eDNA meta barcoding in amphibian monitoring in China.In this study,the eDNA meta barcoding and traditional line transect method(TLTM)were used to study the characteristics of the two methods in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebeiregion.Repeated samplingwas conducted on 58 waterbodies in July 2019 and June 2020.After sequencing the samples using highthroughput sequencing technology,the differences between metabarcoding and commonly used TLTM surveys in detecting the diversity of four amphibians in North China were assessed.Our results showed that eDNA meta barcoding is more sensitive to the detection of the four amphibian species in the sampling area,and the combined use of eDNA metabarcoding and TLTM can improve the survey results of amphibians in the survey area to the greatest extent.In addition,in the process of species classification and identification of metabarcoding results,7 species of reptiles were detected,indicating that eDNA metabarcoding is also useful to detect reptiles.The results of this study indicate that metabarcoding in combination with TLTM can accurately estimate the diversityof amphibians in a short-term survey in North China and is also useful in reptile species detection.

IDH1 mutant structures reveal a mechanism of dominant inhibition

Pioneered by a major cancer ge- nome sequencing project [1] and followed by numerous cancer genomic sequencing studies [2-4], the cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase （IDH1） gene and mitochondria isocitrate dehydrogenase （1DH2） gene are found to be frequently mutated in low grade gliomas and secondary glioblastoma multiforme （GBM）, acute myeloid leukemia （AML）, and to a much lower frequency in other types of tumors.

Cloning identification and functional analysis of human IL-17A promoter

Objective: To conduct the cloning identification and characterization of the sequence of human IL-17 A promoter so as to analyze the regulatory mechanism of the gene expression of IL-17. Methods: First of all, the potential promoter region of IL-17 A was found by means of the bioinformatics methods. Then, it was cloned into the reporter vector with PCR technique. Finally, the activity of the test promoter was determined by dual luciferase reporter system. Results: Two transcriptional start points of the upper region, 600 bp and 1000 bp, of IL-17 A were obtained by PCR clone and proved to have certain activities by dual luciferase reporter system. Also, they could be activated by IL-17 A activator STAT3, which could start the expression of the reported gene. Conclusions: Clone established the regulatory region of human IL-17 A promoter, which provided bases to the subsequent function research.

Factors Influencing Home Ranges of the Qinghai Toad-headed Lizard(Phrynocephalus vlangalii)on the Dangjin Mountain,Gansu

Home range is an important ecological parameter reflecting the suita bility of animal habitats.To study the size and factors influencing the home ranges of the Qinghai toad-headed lizard(Phr ynocephalus vlangalii)in different habitats,from July to September 2020,we radio-tagged and tracked 15 individuals in each of sites distributed at high(3600 m)and low(2600 m)altitudes on the Dangjin Mountain,Gansu Province,northwest China.We calculated home range size using the 100%minimum convex polygon method,and analyzed the influence of inherent lizard characteristics and external environmental factors.Our results revealed that for both high-and lowaltitude lizard populations,the sizes of home ranges were positively correlated with lizard body mass.Moreover,after eliminating the effect of body mass as a covariable,we established that the home ranges of high-altitude lizards(5255.1±1103.8 m^(2))were larger than those of the low-altitude lizards(2208.1±348.7 m^(2)).Lizards in the high-altitude population were also characterized by longer daily suitable activity times and spent significantly more time in full sunlight than those in the low-altitude population.Furthermore,the food resources for lizards in low-altitude habitats were more abundant than those in high-altitude habitats In conclusion,we established that P.vlangalii lizards inhabiting high-altitude sites had larger home ranges than conspecific lizards distributed at a lower altitude,which was associated not only with endogenous factors,such as body mass,but also with habitat-related environmental factors,such as the quality of thermal resources and availability of food.

Long-Term Impact of Maternal Protein Malnutrition on Learning and Memory Abilities and DNA Methylating Profiles of the Nervous System in Offspring Rats

Objective: To determine the mechanisms by which protein deficiency during pregnancy can lead to long-term alterations in learning and memory abilities of the offspring in rats. Study design: Fourty-two pregnant rats were fed control (n = 23) or low protein (n = 19) diets ad libitum until parturition. On the 8th week of post-natal life which represented early adulthood, eighty-four offsprings (control group: n = 52, LP group: n = 32) were determined their learning & memory ability by using the Morris water maze test. Six offprings’ brain tissue (control group: n = 3, LP group: n = 3) was also analysed for DNA methylating profiles, the GO and KEGG pathways, methylation status and twelve for protein expression (control group: n = 6, LP group: n = 6). Results: The offsprings of the protein-deficient-diet fed rats learnt faster initially then lagged behind those of the control rats, especially in female rats (p = 0.035). There were a series of genes methylated in the CpG island and pormoter area. Quantitative Mass Array data showed methylation differences in Grin2b and Grin2b_3CpG 3, 4, & 5 might be the target sites as shown by dual-luciferase assay. A decreased level of protein expression of NMDAR2B was observed. Conclusion: Differential methylation status in Grin2b and changes in expression of NMDAR2B may partially explain the long-term impact of maternal protein deficiency on the cognitive and learning capabilities of offsprings.

Impacts of oxygen deficiency on embryo life-history traits of migratory locust Locusta migratoria from low and high altitudes

Hypoxia challenges aerobic organisms in numerous environments,and hypoxic conditions may become more severe under future climate-change scenarios.The impact of hypoxia on the development of terrestrial insect embryos is not well understood.Here,to address this gap,embryonic life-history traits of migratory locust Locusta migratoria from low-altitude and high-altitude regions were compared under 2 oxygen levels:normoxia(i.e.,21 kPa oxygen partial pressure and mild hypoxia(i.e.,10 kPa oxygen partial pressure).Our results demonstrated that,whether reared under normoxia or mild hypoxia,L.migratoria from high-altitude populations had longer developmental times,reduced weight,and lower mean relative growth rate as compared with those from low-altitude populations.When transferred from normoxia to mild hypoxia,nearly all the tested lifehistory traits presented significant negative changes in the low-altitude populations,but not in the high-altitude populations.The factor'strain'alone explained 18.26%-54.59%of the total variation for traits,suggesting that the phenotypic differences between L.migratoria populations from the 2 altitudes could be driven by genetic variation.Significant genetic correlations were found between life-history traits,and most of these showed differentiation between the 2 altitudinal gradients.G-matrix comparisons showed significant structural differences between L.migratoria from the 2 regions,as well as several negative covariances(i.e.,trade-offs)between traits in the low-altitude populations.Overall,our study provides clear evidence that evolutionary divergence of embryonic traits between L.migratoria populations from different altitudes has occurred.

Altitudinal variation in life-history features of a Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau lizard

Environmental changes along an altitudinal gradient can facilitate the differentiation of life-history features in ectothermic species,but little attention has been devoted to the reciprocal influence of altitude and alpine slope directionality on life-history variation.According to life-history theory,increased environmental stress causes a change in reproductive allocation from number to quality of offspring,as well as a stronger trade-off between size and number of offspring.To clarify the influence of environmental pressures on the life-history features of the Qinghai toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus vlangalii along an altitudinal cline,we surveyed late pregnant females from 3 populations of low(2,600 m),middle(3,400 m),and high(3,600 m)elevations in the Dangjin Mountain of Gansu,China from July to October 2019,and compared their inter-population differences in maternal body size,reproductive characteristics,offspring growth,and locomotor performance.Because of lower temperatures,higher humidity,and lower light intensity caused by slope aspect and altitude,the middle-altitude region experienced stronger environmental stress than the high-and low-altitude regions.Our results showed that females were larger at middle-and high-altitude sites and smaller at the low-altitude site,following Bergmann’s rule.We also found that females from low-altitude population gave birth earlier than those from the middle and high altitudes.Our results showed a shift in the offspring size-number trade-off of P.vlangalii in response to colder and harsher environments,with lizards from the alpine steppe(i.e.the middle-and high-altitude habitats)producing fewer but larger offspring than those from the warm steppe(i.e.the low-altitude habitat).Low-altitude juveniles grew faster than high-altitude ones,but at the same rates as middle-altitude juveniles.This result demonstrates that the growth of P.vlangalii was associated with temperature and light intensity.Our findings contribute to enhancing our understanding of the altitudinal variation in life-history features of plateau ectotherms and their phenotypic plasticity or local adaptation.

Lower serum magnesium concentration and higher 24-h urinary magnesium excretion despite higher dietary magnesium intake in athletes:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Magnesium plays a critical role in the human's life activities and energy metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the magnesium status of athletes via a systematic review of cross-sectional studies. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library electronic databases, and other sources before April 5, 2021. Fourteen studies were included in the systematic review, involving 855 athletes and 521 control subjects. Serum magnesium concentration was significantly lower in athletes(mean difference(MD):-0.04 mmol/L;95% confidence interval(CI):-0.06 to-0.01;P = 0.02)in spite of significantly higher dietary magnesium intake(MD: 51.72 mg/day;95% CI: 14.62 to 88.83;P = 0.006). Meta-analysis showed that 24-h urinary magnesium excretion in athletes was significantly higher than that in the untrained population(MD: 0.76 mmol/day;95% CI: 0.11 to 1.41;P = 0.02). Despite higher total dietary magnesium intake, athletes generally have lower serum magnesium concentration and higher 24-h urinary magnesium excretion, demonstrating that the magnesium requirement of athletes is higher than the untrained population. It is necessary to carry out a dietary assessment and nutrition counseling to help athletes adopt proper diets to meet their nutritional needs in exercise.

Coupled strategy based on regulator manipulation and medium optimization empowers the biosynthetic overproduction of lincomycin

The biosynthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites,specifically antibiotics,is of great scientific and economic importance.The control of antibiotic production typically involves different processes and molecular mechanism.Despite numerous efforts to improve antibiotic yields,joint engineering strategies for combining genetic manipulation with fermentation optimization remain finite.Lincomycin A(Lin-A),a lincosamide antibiotic,is industrially fermented by Streptomyces lincolnensis.Herein,the leucine-responsive regulatory protein(Lrp)-type regulator SLCG_4846 was confirmed to directly inhibit the lincomycin biosynthesis,whereas indirectly controlled the transcription of SLCG_2919,the first reported repressor in S.lincolnensis.Inactivation of SLCG_4846 in the high-yield S.lincolnensis LA219X(LA219XΔ4846)increases the Lin-A production and deletion of SLCG_2919 in LA219XΔ4846 exhibits superimposed yield increment.Given the effect of the double deletion on cellular primary metabolism of S.lincolnensis,Plackett-Burman design,steepest ascent and response surface methodologies were utilized and employed to optimize the seed medium of this double mutant in shake flask,and Lin-A yield using optimal seed medium was significantly increased over the control.Above strategies were performed in a 15-L fermenter.The maximal yield of Lin-A in LA219XΔ4846-2919 reached 6.56 g/L at 216 h,55.1%higher than that in LA219X at the parental cultivation(4.23 g/L).This study not only showcases the potential of this strategy to boost lincomycin production,but also could empower the development of high-performance actinomycetes for other antibiotics.

The haplotype-resolved genome assembly of autotetraploid rhubarb Rheum officinale provides insights into its genome evolution and massive accumulation of anthraquinones

Rheum officinale,a member of the Polygonaceae family,is an important medicinal plant that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine.Here,we report a 7.68-Gb chromosome-scale assembly of R.officinale with a contig N50 of 3.47 Mb,which was clustered into 44 chromosomes across four homologous groups.Comparative genomics analysis revealed that transposable elements have made a significant contribution to its genome evolution,gene copy number variation,and gene regulation and expression,particularly of genes involved in metabolite biosynthesis,stress resistance,and root development.We placed the recent autotetraploidization of R.officinale at~0.58 mya and analyzed the genomic features of its homol-ogous chromosomes.Although no dominant monoploid genomes were observed at the overall expression level,numerous allele-differentially-expressed genes were identified,mainly with different transposable element insertions in their regulatory regions,suggesting that they functionally diverged after polyploidization.Combining genomics,transcriptomics,and metabolomics,we explored the contributions of gene family amplification and tetraploidization to the abundant anthraquinone production of R.officinale,as well as gene expression patterns and differences in anthraquinone content among tissues.Our report of-fers unprecedented genomic resources for fundamental research on the autopolyploid herb R.officinale and guidance for polyploid breeding of herbs.

Diverse functions of sox9 in liver development and homeostasis and hepatobiliary diseases

The liver is the central organ for digestion and detoxification and has unique metabolic and regenerative capacities.The hepatobiliary system originates from the foregut endoderm,in which cells undergo multiple events of cell proliferation,migration,and differentiation to form the liver parenchyma and ductal system under the hierarchical regulation of transcription factors.Studies on liver development and diseases have revealed that SRY-related high-mobility group box 9(SOx9)plays an important role in liver embryogenesis and the progression of hepatobiliary diseases.sox9 is not only a master regulator of cell fate determination and tissue morphogenesis,but also regulates various biological features of cancer,including cancer stemness,invasion,and drug resistance,making Sox9 a potential biomarker for tumor prognosis and progression.This review systematically summarizes the latest findings of sox9 in hepatobiliary development,homeostasis,and disease.We also highlight the value of sox9 as a novel biomarker and potential target for the clinical treatment of major liverdiseases.

Flurbiprofen microneedle patches for the management of acute postoperative pain

Acute postoperative pain is commonly treated with flurbiprofen(FBP),but conventional delivery methods are suboptimal.This study prepared a new non-burst release microneedles(MNs)using genipin cross-linked gelatin(cGel).By adding varying amounts of genipin to modulate the crosslinking degree of cGel,the drug release behavior of the drug-loaded MNs in the skin can be altered.The crosslinking parameters that meet therapeutic requirements are selected,thus providing rapid and longlasting analgesic effects.cGel solutions were successfully cross-linked,altering matrix material microstructure,confirmed by scanning electron microscope imaging and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.MNs demonstrated increasing mechanical strength with higher crosslinking.Drug release rates were rapid initially,then slowed,exhibiting a characteristic of decreased release rates with increasing degrees of crosslinking.In vivo,FBP/cGel MNs significantly reduced allodynia and hyperalgesia post-surgery,with the greatest effect observed at 2–3 h post-surgery,and can maintain analgesia for up to 6 h.Biosafety tests confirmed good biocompatibility.FBP/cGel MNs effectively penetrate the stratum corneum,safely delivering drugs with significant analgesic effects,excellent mechanical properties,and good biocompatibility,representing a promising strategy for managing acute postoperative pain.

High association strengths are linked to phenotypic similarity,including plumage color and patterns,of participants in mixed-species bird flocks of southwestern China

Participants in mixed-species bird flocks(MSFs)have been shown to associate with species that are similar in body size,diet,and evolutionary history,suggesting that facilitation structures these assemblages.In addition,several studies have suggested that species in MsFs resemble each other in their plumage,but this question has not been systematically investigated for any MsF system.During the nonbreeding season of 2020 and 2021,we sampled 585 MSFs on 14 transects in 2 habitats of Tongbiguang Nature Reserve in western Yunnan Province,China.We performed social network analysis and the Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure to evaluate the effect of 4 species traits(body size,overall plumage color,distinctive plumage patterns,and diet)and evolutionary history on species association strength at the whole-MSF and within-MSF levels.All 41 significant relationships showed that species with stronger associations were more similar in their various traits.Body size had the strongest effect on association strength,followed by phylogeny,plumage patterns,and plumage color;diet had the weakest effect.Our results are consistent with the hypotheses that the benefits of associating with phenotypically similar species outweigh the potential costs of interspecific competition,and that trait matching can occur in plumage characteristics,albeit more weakly than in other traits.Several explanations exist as to why similarities in plumage may occur in MSFs,including that they could reduce predators'ability to target phenotypically"odd"individuals.Whether trait matching in plumage occurs through assortative processes in ecological time or is influenced by co-evolution requires furtherstudy.

Free-ranging livestock altered the spatiotemporal behavior of the endangered North Chinese leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) and its prey and intensified human–leopard conflicts

Widespread distribution of livestock in the natural habitats of large carnivores may negatively impact carnivore populations by reducing wild prey availability and increasing human–carnivore conflicts.In this study,we used camera-trapping data collected in the temperate forests of the Taihang Mountains in North China during 2016–2019 to examine whether and how free-ranging cattle affected habitat use and Diel activity patterns of the endangered North Chinese leopard(Panthera pardus japonensis)and its 2 wild prey species,Siberian roe deer(Capreolus pygargus),and wild boar(Sus scrofa).Residents were also interviewed to record livestock depredation events by leopards during 2015–2019.We found that roe deer spatially avoided sites frequented by cattle,but wild boar did not.In the growing seasons,leopards shared habitats with cattle and tended to increase their diurnal activities where cattle were present.All 3 study species exhibitedfine-scale spatial-temporal segregation to cattle.Leopards selectively preyed on calves over adult cattle and livestock depredation frequency was positively correlated with the detection rates of cattle and wild prey,but not that of leopard.Thesefindings not only show that through behavioral adaption large carnivores and their ungulate prey may persist under livestock disturbance,but also highlight how important proper livestock management is for conserving North Chinese leopards in this region.To enhance livestock management and mitigate human–leopard conflicts,we recommend specific actions,such as better guarding of free-ranging cattle or adoption of a captive farming system.

Dual human iPSC-derived cardiac lineage cell-seeding extracellular matrix patches promote regeneration and long-term repair of infarcted hearts

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiovascular progenitor cells (hCVPCs) and cardiomyocytes (hCMs) possess therapeutic potential for infarcted hearts;however, their efficacy needs to be enhanced. Here we tested the hypotheses that the combination of decellularized porcine small intestinal submucosal extracellular matrix (SIS-ECM) with hCVPCs, hCMs, or dual of them (Mix, 1:1) could provide better therapeutic effects than the SIS alone, and dual hCVPCs with hCMs would exert synergic effects in cardiac repair. The data showed that the SIS patch well supported the growth of hCVPCs and hCMs. Epicardially implanted SIS-hCVPC, SIS-hCM, or SIS-Mix patches at 7-day post-myocardial infarction significantly ameliorated functional worsening, ventricular dilation and scar formation at 28- and 90-day post-implantation in C57/B6 mice, whereas the SIS only mildly improved function at 90-day post-implantation. Moreover, the SIS and SIS-cell patches improved vascularization and suppressed MI-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and expression of Col1 and Col3, but only the SIS-hCM and the SIS-Mix patches increased the ratio of collagen III/I fibers in the infarcted hearts. Further, the SIS-cell patches stimulated cardiomyocyte proliferation via paracrine action. Notably, the SIS-Mix had better improvements in cardiac function and structure, engraftments, and cardiomyocyte proliferation. Proteomic analysis showed distinct biological functions of exclusive proteins secreted from hCVPCs and hCMs, and more exclusive proteins secreted from co-cultivated hCVPCs and hCMs than mono-cells involving in various functional processes essential for infarct repair. These findings are the first to demonstrate the efficacy and mechanisms of mono- and dual-hCVPC- and hCM-seeding SIS-ECM for repair of infarcted hearts based on the side-by-side comparison.