Publications by authors named "Chengfu Zhang"

Aims: This study aims to investigate the diversity, community structure, and functional characteristics of soil microorganisms across different soil layers (0-400 cm) in karst peak-cluster depressions near the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) in Guizhou, China. The research addresses the knowledge gap regarding soil microbial communities in this fragile ecosystem, providing insights essential for its sustainable management.

Methods And Results: High-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze bacterial and fungal communities in three soil layers: topsoil (TS, 0-100 cm), middle soil (MS, 100-200 cm), and deep soil (DS, 200-400 cm).

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In this paper, the fractal mechanism of soil improvement by vegetation was revealed by analyzing the soil characteristics under four typical vegetation types: Salix cheilophila, Caragana korshinskii, Hippophae rhamnoides, and Corethrodendron fruticosum in Mu Us Sandy Land. The results showed that (1) the soil of each vegetation type was mainly composed of sand (> 90%), and the content of clay and silt was less than 10%. CF had the least heterogeneity of soil particles in the 0-120 cm soil layer, HR was uniformly distributed in the 120-200 cm soil layer, and the change trend of particle composition in the 140-200 cm soil layer was consistent.

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a typical neurodegenerative disorder primarily characterized by the deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, leading to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). These pathological changes are closely associated with the imbalance of trace element homeostasis. Trace elements are extensively involved in fundamental physiological processes, including DNA synthesis, protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and enzymatic reactions, all of which are essential for cognitive function and brain development.

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Enzyme immobilization in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) faces stability challenges, particularly as exposure to extreme conditions induces structural degradation of the crystalline framework, compromising enzymatic activity. To address this, we developed a novel MOF-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) hybrid material (MPHM) featuring an "active core-skeleton-shell" architecture. Its hierarchy features a lipase core, a rigid MOF skeleton, and a flexible PAA shell, which synergistically enhances enzyme stability and catalytic efficiency.

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Gut microbiota variations in response to environmental and nutritional factors are of great significance as gut microbiota plays an integral role in nutrient metabolism, immunity, health, and disease conditions. In this context, limited studies investigated variations of gut microbiota in response to different feeding systems and environmental conditions. The current study obtained fresh fecal samples from house-fed (LS) and grazing yaks (LF) from Linzhou County.

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Although coat color is an important economic phenotype in domesticated yaks (), its genetic basis is not yet fully understood. In this study, a genome-wide selective sweep and high-frequency runs of homozygosity (ROH) identification were performed on 50 yaks with different coat colors to investigate candidate genes (CDGs) related to coat color. The results suggested that 2263 CDGs were identified from the 5% interaction windows of the F and θπ ratio, along with 2801 and 2834 CDGs from black and brown yaks with iHS, respectively.

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Investigating the quantity and spatiotemporal dynamics of metabolite release from plant roots is essential if we are to understand the ecological significance of root exudates in the rhizosphere; however, this is difficult to quantify. In the present study, we quantified root exudation rates during three incubation periods (0-24, 24-48, and 48-72 h) and fine roots within four diameter ranges (<0.8, 0.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Yak Genome Database is a multi-omics resource designed to enhance our understanding of the genetic makeup and adaptive traits of yaks, which thrive in high-altitude environments.
  • It houses extensive data, including 26,518 genes, 62 transcriptomes, 144,309 proteome spectra, and 22,478 methylation sites, offering detailed insights into yak biology.
  • This database serves as a vital platform for researchers, facilitating data sharing and exploration to aid in studies of yak development, high-altitude adaptation mechanisms, and molecular breeding efforts.
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Oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination in the central nervous system are controlled and coordinated by a complex gene regulatory network that contains several transcription factors, including Zfp488 and Nkx2.2. Despite the proven role in oligodendrocyte differentiation little is known about the exact mode of Zfp488 and Nkx2.

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In response to the problem of excessive power consumption during the furrowing operation of orchard furrowing fertilizer machines, an optimization experiment of furrowing operation parameters for orchard furrowing fertilizer machine was conducted based on discrete element simulations. This research focused on the impact of furrowing device operation parameters on furrowing power consumption under full machine operating conditions. Firstly, a kinematics analysis of the soil granules during cutting was done.

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Cytokines including tumor necrosis factor, interleukins, interferons, and chemokines are abundantly produced in various diseases. As pleiotropic factors, cytokines are involved in nearly every aspect of cellular functions such as migration, survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Oligodendrocytes are the myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system and play critical roles in the conduction of action potentials, supply of metabolic components for axons, and other functions.

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Context: Two-dimensional materials are a new and promising research field in materials science. This is mainly attributed to their unique photoelectric and chemical properties. In addition to possessing unique optoelectronic and chemical properties, two-dimensional materials also have important application prospects in the field of field-effect devices.

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Understanding how vegetation (shrub) cover in drylands affects local-to-regional soil water dynamics and associated water balances is of immense importance because of the abundance of afforestation projects worldwide. Vegetation's role in the control of soil water presents a particular challenge to soil water storage (SWS) management in the drylands of China. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a two-year study in the Mu Us Desert of northwest China.

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Vegetation has an important influence on soil temperature (ST). However, the possible effects of surface vegetation on ST and their feedback on microclimate remain uncertain due to the lack of in-situ and long-term environmental records, especially for arid and semiarid regions of the world. A continuous, two-year study was implemented over a bare sand dune (BF) and two scrub-vegetation sites of variable cover in the Mu Us Desert of northwest China.

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Myelin, a lipid-enriched multi-layer membrane structure, allows for rapid long-distance saltatory conduction of neuronal impulses. Although glycolipids are the predominant types of lipids in the myelin bilayer, the role of glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP), which selectively mediates the transfer of various glycolipids between phospholipid bilayer, in myelin development and maintenance remains unknown at present. In this study, we identified Gltp as the key lipid metabolism gene in myelin-forming oligodendrocytes (OLs) through integrated omics analysis across independent transcriptomic and single-cell sequencing studies.

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Microbial infections due to bacteria, viruses, and molds are a serious threat to both human life and the health of other organisms. To develop inexpensive, easy-to-prepare, efficient, and portable nano-antibacterial materials, as well as to explore the antibacterial prospects of cationic antibacterial agents, in this work, six different membrane materials were prepared by the electrostatic spinning method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The materials were tested for antimicrobial properties using a modified AATCC100-200 test method.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on identifying single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the yak genome that are associated with body weight, a key factor in their economic value on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
  • Analysis of 480 yaks from three breeds revealed 12 SNPs in males and 4 in females that show a significant relationship with body weight, particularly the SNP AX-174555047, which influences hormone levels affecting weight.
  • The findings suggest that the SNP AX-174555047 could be a useful biomarker in yak breeding programs, though further research is needed to confirm its effects on weight through gene expression mechanisms.
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Rumen microorganisms play important roles in the healthy growth of yaks. This study investigated changes in yak rumen microbiome during natural grazing at the warm seasons and supplementary feeding at cold seasons. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and metagenome analysis were conducted to investigate the structures and functions of yak rumen microbial communities.

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Yak has evolved specific adaptative mechanisms to high-altitude environment. Up to date, only a few studies reported the DNA methylation in yak. In the present study, genome-wide DNA methylome and transcriptome profiles in lung, mammary, and biceps brachii muscle tissues were compared between yak and three cattle breeds (Tibetan cattle, Sanjiang cattle, and Holstein cattle).

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The yak (), an indigenous bovine on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (QTP), is reported to digest low quality forage to a greater extent and to require less protein and energy for maintenance than the introduced Qaidam cattle (). Ruminal bacteria play a major role in feed degradation, and therefore, we hypothesized that ruminal bacteria composition would differ between yaks and cattle, and confer an advantage to yaks for poor quality diets. To test our hypothesis, we determined the ruminal bacteria profiles, rumen fermentation parameters, and enzyme activities in these bovine species consuming a low-protein diet differing in energy level.

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Carbazoles and dimethyl carbazoles (DMCs) are important nitrogen heterocyclic aromatic compounds in oils and sedimentary rock extracts. Based on both migration fractionation effects and differences in the thermal stability of their isomers, carbazoles can be used to trace oil migration orientations and filling pathways. Molecular biomarker compositions indicate that all oils and oil-bearing sand extracts in the Eocene fault-blocked reservoirs of the Huzhuangji area (Western Slope Belt) of the Dongpu Depression (Bohai Bay Basin, East China) belong to a single oil population.

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Rumen microbiota are closely linked to feed utilization and environmental adaptability of ruminants. At present, little is known about the influence of different extreme environments on the rumen microbiota of yaks. In this study, 30 ruminal fluid samples from 30 healthy female yaks (average 280 kg of BW) in 5-8 years of life were collected from three regions in Tibet, China, and compared by gas chromatography and high-throughput sequencing.

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Yak, a unique bovine species on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, has provided pastoralists with the basic materials of production and life for thousands of years. Existing literature showed that yak meat is of high nutritional value for humans whereas the growth performance is relatively low. As it has been demonstrated, lysine and methionine are the two key limiting amino acids in ruminants.

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Article Synopsis
  • Both 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) are key epigenetic modifications influencing brain development, yet little is known about their patterns in high-altitude animals like yaks.
  • Using advanced sequencing techniques, researchers created the first comprehensive maps of these modifications in various brain regions (brain, brainstem, cerebellum, and hypothalamus) of yaks and cattle.
  • Results showed significant differences in 5mC and 5hmC levels, particularly a decrease in 5mC and an increase in 5hmC in the hypothalamus, indicating a potential impact on gene regulation related to neuromod
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Article Synopsis
  • Yaks have unique lung and heart adaptations for high-altitude living, but the specific molecular mechanisms are not well understood.
  • A study compared the proteins in the lung and heart tissues of yaks to three cattle strains using advanced proteomic techniques, identifying over 7,200 proteins and numerous proteins that are differentially abundant.
  • The analysis revealed specific protein pathways related to immune function and cardiac performance that may explain how yaks manage low oxygen levels and maintain heart function in high altitudes.
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