Branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase (BCAT) family in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.): genome-wide identification, expression analysis and functional verification.

Branched-chain amino acid aminotransferases (BCATs) catalyze both the final anabolic step and the initial catabolic step of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are pivotal for the formation of plant branched-chain volatiles (BCVs). However, the members of BCAT family in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) remain poorly characterized.

Effect of the new fixed-time artificial insemination technology based on novel hormone preparations in gilts.

This study evaluated the effect of a novel fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol for gilts, which incorporates altrenogest tablets (ALT-T), long-acting recombinant porcine FSH (rpFSH), and recombinant hCG (rhCG). A total of 160 gilts were divided into the control (n = 80) and the new treatment (n = 80) groups. Control gilts received oral altrenogest solution (20 mg/day) for 18 days, followed by 1000 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) administered 42 h post-treatment and 100 μg GnRH 80 h later.

The ChickenGTEx portal: a pan-tissue catalogue of regulatory variants shaping transcriptomic and phenotypic diversity.

A systematic dissection of the functional impacts of non-coding variations across diverse tissues and cell types is essential for deciphering the molecular architecture underlying complex traits. Given the significance of chickens as both a key livestock species and a fundamental model organism, the development of an integrative genomics resource is imperative. Leveraging SNP-to-gene-to-trait linking strategies-including molecular quantitative trait loci (molQTL), regulatory elements, and context- or environment-dependent regulatory heterogeneity-we developed the ChickenGTEx portal (http://chicken.

Lutein and Astaxanthin Supplementation Induce Competitive Inhibition of Carotenoid Deposition in Egg Yolk.

Lutein- and astaxanthin-fortified eggs can greatly improve both nutritional and economic values of eggs. High doses of lutein and astaxanthin are often supplemented in hen diets to rapidly accumulate lutein and astaxanthin in eggs. In this study, an additional 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg lutein and astaxanthin were added in hen diets to explore the effects of high-dose lutein and astaxanthin on egg quality, egg production, and carotenoid deposition in eggs, which remains unclear.

A significant genomic region underlying growth traits in adult Beijing You chicken identified by genome-wide association analysis.

As a Chinese indigenous chicken breed, Beijing You Chicken is renowned for its high-quality meat and eggs, as well as distinctive morphological features including feathered shanks, beards, and crests. In this study, in order to understand the genetic basis for growth traits of this breed, we performed genome-level analysis for body weight and related morphometric phenotypes in Beijing You Chicken. Totally, we selected 224 adult female individuals at 38 weeks to measure growth traits including body weight, tibia length, and shoulder width.

Trends in the burden of chronic diseases attributable to diet-related risk factors from 1990 to 2021 and the global projections through 2030: a population-based study.

Background: The global burden of diet-related chronic diseases and their future projections remain unclear. To address this gap, we present the latest data on deaths and disability-adjusted life years attributable to dietary factors from 1990 to 2021, focusing on noncommunicable diseases worldwide. Additionally, we provide predictions of mortality rates across different age groups through 2030.

Research Progress on the Enhancement and Modification of PVDF-Based Polymer Electrolytes and Their Applications in Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Traditional liquid electrolyte-based lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are constrained by safety risks such as flammability and explosion, as well as a relatively low theoretical specific capacity (~300 mAh g). Lithium-metal batteries (LMB), which offer higher energy density and enhanced safety, have emerged as competitive candidates for next-generation lithium-based batteries. As a key component of LMBs, polymer electrolytes are expected to exhibit excellent ionic conductivity, robust mechanical properties, and stable interfacial compatibility with electrode materials.

Burden of diet-related chronic diseases in Chinese and Japanese adults attributable to dietary risk factors from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background: Chronic diseases are a major cause of death, contributing significantly to the global disease burden. The growing aging population and chronic disease burden in China and Japan have a substantial impact on health outcomes. Dietary factors, as key modifiable elements, are particularly important.

Spectroscopic study of energy transfer in collisions between vibrational excited H2 and CO2.

The collisional energy transfer between vibrational excited H2(1, 7) and CO2 was investigated by exciting H2 to a vibrational excited state of v = 1, J = 7 by the stimulated Raman scattering technique. The coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) technique determined that H2 was excited to the H2(1, 7) state. Varying the cuvette temperature, the number of H2(1, 7) particles was found to increase with the increase in H2 molar ratio α by scanning the intensity of the CARS spectrum, with peaks at different α at a temperature of 363 ± 15 K, but the peak temperature was not sensitive to α.

Effects of maternal Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide exposure on offspring: insights from lncRNA analysis in laying hens.

Parental living environment significantly impacts on offspring, yet related studies are lacking in livestock and poultry production. The present study found that lipopolysaccharide (LPS, Escherichia coli, 0.2 mg/kg) stimulation in F0 hens led to growth retardation and a decrease in egg-laying rate in the unchallenged F1 hens.

Impact of pulse pressure variability evaluated by visit-to-visit on heart failure events in patients with hypertension: insights from the SPRINT trial.

Objectives: In adult hypertensive patients, blood pressure variability is considered a risk factor for heart failure. The relationship between pulse pressure variability and the risk of heart failure remains unclear. This study aims to explore the impact of pulse pressure variability (PPV) on heart failure through a secondary analysis of the SPRINT randomized controlled trial.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for pain relief: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional acupuncture for pain relief based on rigorously designed RCTs with double-blind. The findings seek to provide valuable insights for clinical practice and inform future research.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for randomized controlled trials on traditional acupuncture for pain management using a double-blind design, published from database inception to November 22, 2023.

Reporting quality of meta-analyses in acupuncture: Investigating adherence to the PRISMA statement.

Although Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Acupuncture (PRISMA-A) checklists had been in use for several years, compliance rate was still not optimistic. We investigated the quality of reporting for meta-analyses of acupuncture published in PubMed. We compared the compliance rate for the quality of reporting following the publication of both the PRISMA and PRISMA-A recommendations.

Metabolomics Reveals Glycerophospholipids, Peptides, and Flavonoids Contributing to Breast Meat Flavor and Benefit Properties of Beijing-You Chicken.

Unique metabolites contribute to the performance of meat flavor and potential function. In this study, UHPLC-Q Exactive HF-X-based metabolomics and multivariate analysis were applied to explore the characteristic metabolites in the breast meat of Beijing-You chicken (BYC) aged 150, 300, and 450 days (D150, D300, and D450). Based on the criteria of variable importance in the projection (VIP) > 1 and < 0.

Performance of artificial intelligence in predicting the prognossis of severe COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: COVID-19-induced pneumonia has become a persistent health concern, with severe cases posing a significant threat to patient lives. However, the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in assisting physicians in predicting the prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients remains unclear.

Methods: To obtain relevant studies, two researchers conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases, including all studies published up to October 31, 2023, that utilized AI to predict mortality rates in severe COVID-19 patients.

Defect Engineering and Carbon Supporting to Achieve Ni-Doped CoP with High Catalytic Activities for Overall Water Splitting.

This work reports the use of defect engineering and carbon supporting to achieve metal-doped phosphides with high activities and stabilities for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media. Specifically, the nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber-supported Ni-doped CoP with rich P defects (Pv·) on the carbon cloth (p-NiCoP/NCFs@CC) is synthesized through a plasma-assisted phosphorization method. The p-NiCoP/NCFs@CC is an efficient and stable catalyst for the HER and the OER.

Single-arm clinical trials: design, ethics, principles.

Although randomised controlled trials are considered the gold standard in clinical research, they are not always feasible due to limitations in the study population, challenges in obtaining evidence, high costs and ethical considerations. As a result, single-arm trial designs have emerged as one of the methods to address these issues. Single-arm trials are commonly applied to study advanced-stage cancer, rare diseases, emerging infectious diseases, new treatment methods and medical devices.

A miRNA-21-Mediated PTEN/Akt/NF-κB Axis Promotes Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Pathogenesis.

Background: This study sought to explore the underlying mechanism of miR-21 mediated apoptosis and inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) induced by cigarette smoke (CS).

Methods: We detected levels and PTEN/Akt/NF-κB axis protein levels in peripheral lung tissues of COPD patients and CS-exposed mice and HBE cells. Western blotting assay was used to determine the expression of cleaved caspase-3.

Microstructured Polyelectrolyte Elastomer-Based Ionotronic Sensors with High Sensitivities and Excellent Stability for Artificial Skins.

High-performance flexible pressure sensors are highly demanded for artificial tactile sensing. Using ionic conductors as the dielectric layer has enabled ionotronic pressure sensors with high sensitivities owing to giant capacitance of the electric double layer (EDL) formed at the ionic conductor/electronic conductor interface. However, conventional ionotronic sensors suffer from leakage, which greatly hinders long-term stability and practical applications.

Effects of Age on Compounds, Metabolites and Meat Quality in Beijing-You Chicken Breast Meat.

The physical properties, free amino acids, and metabolites of Beijing-You chicken (BYC) breast meat aged 90, 120, and 150 days were analyzed to investigate the flavor changes with age. The shear force and intramuscular fat increased from 90 to 120 days significantly. The contents of total free amino acids and essential amino acids decreased from 90 to 120 days significantly.

Screening Power of End-Point Free-Energy Calculations in Cucurbituril Host-Guest Systems.

End-point free-energy methods as an indispensable component in virtual screening are commonly recognized as a tool with a certain level of screening power in pharmaceutical research. While a huge number of records could be found for end-point applications in protein-ligand, protein-protein, and protein-DNA complexes from academic and industrial reports, up to now, there is no large-scale benchmark in host-guest complexes supporting the screening power of end-point free-energy techniques. A good benchmark requires a data set of sufficient coverage of pharmaceutically relevant chemical space, a long-time sampling length supporting the trajectory approximation of the ensemble average, and a sufficient sample size of receptor-acceptor pairs to stabilize the performance statistics.

Rational Design of Hollow Structural Materials for Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes.

The development of sodium-ion battery (SIB) anodes is still hindered by their rapid capacity decay and poor rate capabilities. Although there have been some new materials that can be used to fabricate stable anodes, SIBs are still far from wide applications. Strategies like nanostructure construction and material modification have been used to prepare more robust SIB anodes.

Proteomic Profiling of Thigh Meat at Different Ages of Chicken for Meat Quality and Development.

Chicken age contributes to the meat characteristics; however, knowledge regarding the pathways and proteins associated with meat quality and muscle development are still scarce, especially in chicken thigh meat. Hence, the objective of this study was to elucidate the intricate relationship between these traits by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry at three different ages. A total of 341 differential expressed proteins (DEPs) were screened out (fold change ≥ 1.