Cloning, Prokaryotic Expression and Functional Characterization of Gene from the Associative Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria DX120E.

Background: Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is a unique mechanism in which microorganisms utilize the nitrogenase enzyme to catalyze the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (N) to ammonia (NH). Fe protein, encoded by the gene, is an essential component of the nitrogenase in DX120E. However, the function of this gene in regulating nitrogen fixing activity is still unclear.

Social conformity is associated with inter-trial electroencephalogram variability.

Human society encompasses diverse social influences, and people experience events differently and may behave differently under such influence, including in forming an impression of others. However, little is known about the underlying neural relevance of individual differences in following others' opinions or social norms. In the present study, we designed a series of tasks centered on social influence to investigate the underlying relevance between an individual's degree of social conformity and their neural variability.

The Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2 OLIG2 regulates transcriptional repression during myelinogenesis in rodents.

OLIG2 is a transcription factor that activates the expression of myelin-associated genes in the oligodendrocyte-lineage cells. However, the mechanisms of myelin gene inactivation are unclear. Here, we uncover a non-canonical function of OLIG2 in transcriptional repression to modulate myelinogenesis by functionally interacting with tri-methyltransferase SETDB1.

Triage Modeling for Differential Diagnosis Between COVID-19 and Human Influenza A Pneumonia: Classification and Regression Tree Analysis.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has lasted much longer than an influenza season, but the main signs, symptoms, and some imaging findings are similar in COVID-19 and influenza patients. The aim of the current study was to construct an accurate and robust model for initial screening and differential diagnosis of COVID-19 and influenza A. All patients in the study were diagnosed at Fuyang No.

Temporarily Epigenetic Repression in Bergmann Glia Regulates the Migration of Granule Cells.

Forming tight interaction with both Purkinje and granule cells (GCs), Bergmann glia (BG) are essential for cerebellar morphogenesis and neuronal homeostasis. However, how BG act in this process is unclear without comprehensive transcriptome landscape of BG. Here, high temporal-resolution investigation of transcriptomes with FACS-sorted BG revealed the dynamic expression of genes within given functions and pathways enabled BG to assist neural migration and construct neuron-glia network.

Analysis of the economic performance of municipal Children's Hospitals in Shanghai: a study on the impacts of policy changes in healthcare service prices.

Background: Since the Shanghai municipal government launched the latest round of medical service price reform in 2015, public hospitals have gradually abolished the prices of drugs and consumables, and increased the prices of healthcare services to properly reflect the labor value of medical workers. Under the price reform policy, we should pay more attention to the operation of children's hospitals.

Methods: Literature review: we conducted a systematic review of the economic performance of municipal children's hospitals in Shanghai and the relevant policies on healthcare service price reform.

Study on the Deterioration of Concrete under Dry-Wet Cycle and Sulfate Attack.

In order to study the deterioration and mechanism of dry-wet cycles and sulfate attack on the performance of concrete in seaside and saline areas, the deterioration of compressive strength of concrete with different water cement ratios under different erosion environments (sodium sulfate soaking at room temperature and coupling of dry-wet cycling and sodium sulfate) was studied here. At the same time, ICT (industrial computed tomography) and NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) techniques were used to analyze the internal pore structure of concrete under different erosion environments. The results show that the compressive strength under different erosion environments increases first and then decreases, and the dry-wet cycle accelerates the sulfate erosion.

Effect of Polyvinyl Alcohol on the Rheological Properties of Cement Mortar.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a kind of water-soluble polymer, which has been widely used in different industries due to its excellent mechanical and chemical properties. In this paper, the effects of polyvinyl alcohol with different hydrolysis and polymerization degrees on the rheological properties of cement mortar are studied. The results show that the rheological properties of PVA-modified cement mortar can be described by the modified Bingham model.

Cost Analysis of Operating a Human Milk Bank in China.

Background: Establishing a human milk bank for the benefit of premature newborns who are unable to receive their mothers' milk for various reasons is a common initiative. To date, 19 human milk banks have been established in China; however, data associated with human milk banks are lacking, including information on the operational costs, guidelines, and regulatory systems for human milk banks in China.

Research Aim: Our study aim was to conduct a cost analysis for the human milk bank at Shanghai Children's Hospital.

The Effects of Nano-SiO and Nano-TiO Addition on the Durability and Deterioration of Concrete Subject to Freezing and Thawing Cycles.

The objective of this manuscript is to study the effects of nano-particle addition on the durability and internal deterioration of concrete subject to freezing and thawing cycles (FTCs). Fifteen nm of SiO, 30 nm of SiO, and 30 nm of TiO were added to concrete to prepare specimens with different contents. All the specimens were subjected to FTCs from 0 to 75.

Nucleoporin Seh1 Interacts with Olig2/Brd7 to Promote Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and Myelination.

Nucleoporins (Nups) are involved in neural development, and alterations in Nup genes are linked to human neurological diseases. However, physiological functions of specific Nups and the underlying mechanisms involved in these processes remain elusive. Here, we show that tissue-specific depletion of the nucleoporin Seh1 causes dramatic myelination defects in the CNS.

Pygo2 Regulates Adiposity and Glucose Homeostasis via β-Catenin-Axin2-GSK3β Signaling Pathway.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays a key role in regulating adipogenesis through indirectly inhibiting the expression of C/EBPα and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ); however, the detailed molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Moreover, the factor(s) that determines the Wnt/β-catenin output level during adipogenesis is also not completely defined. In this study, we showed that Pygo2 exhibited a declined expression pattern during adipocyte differentiation, resulting in an attenuated Wnt/β-catenin output level.

Menin Deficiency Leads to Depressive-like Behaviors in Mice by Modulating Astrocyte-Mediated Neuroinflammation.

Astrocyte dysfunction and inflammation are associated with the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain largely unknown. Here, we found that multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (Men1; protein: menin) expression is attenuated in the brain of mice exposed to CUMS (chronic unpredictable mild stress) or lipopolysaccharide.

Leptospiral LruA is required for virulence and modulates an interaction with mammalian apolipoprotein AI.

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. While understanding of pathogenesis remains limited, the development of mutagenesis in Leptospira has provided a powerful tool for identifying novel virulence factors. LruA is a lipoprotein that has been implicated in leptospiral uveitis as a target of the immune response.

Enhanced succinic acid production by Actinobacillus succinogenes after genome shuffling.

Succinic acid is an important platform chemical for synthesis of C4 compounds. We applied genome shuffling to improve fermentative production of succinic acid by A. succinogenes.

Carbohydrate transporting membrane proteins of the rumen bacterium, Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus.

The research was aimed at finding which membrane proteins of the rumen bacterium Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus are involved in the uptake of carbohydrates resulting from extracellular enzymatic degradation of hemicellulose and fructan. The proteomic analysis of cells grown with fructose or xylan as the sole substrate identified 13 membrane proteins predicted to function as carbohydrate transporters. One protein detected was the membrane component of a fructose-specific phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system believed to be involved in the fructose uptake following extracellular fructan breakdown.

Membrane proteins of Pseudoalteromonas tunicata during the transition from planktonic to extracellular matrix-adherent state.

Pseudoalteromonas tunicata is a marine bacterium that was originally isolated from the surface of the tunicate Ciona intestinalis. Since C. intestinalis expresses extracellular matrix (ECM) and P.

Cross-protective immunity against leptospirosis elicited by a live, attenuated lipopolysaccharide mutant.

Background: Leptospira species cause leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease found worldwide. Current vaccines against leptospirosis provide protection only against closely related serovars.

Methods: We evaluated an attenuated transposon mutant of Leptospira interrogans serovar Manilae (M1352, defective in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis) as a live vaccine against leptospirosis.

Major surface protein LipL32 is not required for either acute or chronic infection with Leptospira interrogans.

Leptospira interrogans is responsible for leptospirosis, a zoonosis of worldwide distribution. LipL32 is the major outer membrane protein of pathogenic leptospires, accounting for up to 75% of total outer membrane protein. In recent times LipL32 has become the focus of intense study because of its surface location, dominance in the host immune response, and conservation among pathogenic species.