High-throughput markerless pose estimation and home-cage activity analysis of tree shrew using deep learning.

Background: Quantifying the rich home-cage activities of tree shrews provides a reliable basis for understanding their daily routines and building disease models. However, due to the lack of effective behavioral methods, most efforts on tree shrew behavior are limited to simple measures, resulting in the loss of much behavioral information.

Methods: To address this issue, we present a deep learning (DL) approach to achieve markerless pose estimation and recognize multiple spontaneous behaviors of tree shrews, including drinking, eating, resting, and staying in the dark house, etc.

Effects of Different Connection Modes of Electroacupuncture on Electrocardiogram and Nerve Discharge in Rats.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is one of the most commonly used methods in acupuncture and has a good effect on pain, depression, sensory movement disorders, and other diseases. The effectiveness of EA is influenced by many factors, such as the accuracy of acupoint selection, the duration and course of EA treatment, and EA parameters. However, it has rarely been discussed whether the positive and negative electrodes of the EA instrument with acupoints at different locations and distances have an effect on the curative effect.

GMOIT: a tool for effective screening of genetically modified crops.

Background: Advancement in agricultural biotechnology has resulted in increasing numbers of commercial varieties of genetically modified (GM) crops worldwide. Though several databases on GM crops are available, these databases generally focus on collecting and providing information on transgenic crops rather than on screening strategies. To overcome this, we constructed a novel tool named, Genetically Modified Organisms Identification Tool (GMOIT), designed to integrate basic and genetic information on genetic modification events and detection methods.

Electroacupuncture Improving Intestinal Barrier Function in Rats with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Through Regulating Aquaporins.

Background: Intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D). In order to explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on intestinal mucosal barrier, this study observed the effect of EA on aquaporins (AQPs), tight junctions (TJs), NF-κB pathway and the gut microbiota in IBS-D rats.

Methods: The IBS-D model was established by acetic acid enema combined with chronic restraint method.

Effects of the Timing of Intense Physical Activity on Hypertension Risk in a General Population: A UK-Biobank Study.

Purpose Of Review: It has recently been suggested that the timing of exercise is important in the subsequent development of hypertension. We used the UK Biobank database which prospectively collates data in over 500,000 people aged between 40 and 69 years to determine the relationship between the chronoactivity pattern of exercise and the risk of incident hypertension.

Recent Findings: We analyzed data from 70,617 participants with 7-day Axivity AX3 triaxial accelerometry information available.

Daily higher tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes: A cohort study and updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Tea is abundant in phytochemicals (such as polyphenols and theaflavins), which have a hypoglycemic effect. Previous studies investigating the relationship between tea consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have yielded inconsistent results. We hypothesized that tea consumption would be associated with a reduced risk of T2DM.

Associations between handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in people with type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort study of the UK Biobank.

Aims: To explore the associations between handgrip strength (HGS) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients.

Materials And Methods: Data were obtained from the UK Biobank. Baseline survey was conducted between 2006 and 2010, and followed up for a median of 12.

Associations between Consumption of Dietary Fibers and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Mortality in Chinese Adults: Longitudinal Analyses from the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Although many studies have explored the relationship between total dietary fiber intake and the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases, the results are mixed. There is also a lack of research on the association between dietary fiber intake from different food sources and disease. Using data from the China Nutrition and Health Database from 2004 to 2015, Cox proportional risk models were used to explore the associations between total dietary fiber and fiber intake from different food sources and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality.

The Association Between Plant-Based Diet Indices and Obesity and Metabolic Diseases in Chinese Adults: Longitudinal Analyses From the China Health and Nutrition Survey.

Background: A wide range of health benefits are associated with consuming a diet high in plant-based foods. Diet quality can be accurately assessed using plant-based diet indices, however there is inadequate evidence that plant-based diet indices are linked to obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes (T2D), especially in Chinese cultures who have traditionally consumed plant-rich foods.

Methods: The data came from the China Nutrition and Health Survey.

Development of Genomic DNA Certified Reference Materials for Genetically Modified Rice Kefeng 6.

The application of certified reference materials (CRMs) to genetically modified organism (GMO) detection is essential for guaranteeing the accuracy, comparability, and traceability of quantitative results over time and among laboratories. Clean leaves from GM rice Kefeng 6 were used as raw materials to develop a batch of genomic DNA (gDNA) CRMs. The optimized KF6/ duplex digital PCR was used for collaborative characterization of Kefeng 6 gDNA CRMs by eight qualified laboratories; this batch of gDNA CRMs was certified for two property values, namely, copy number ratio and copy number concentration, which were 1.

Development of a certified genomic DNA reference material for detection and quantification of genetically modified rice KMD.

Qualitative and quantitative detection of genetically modified products is inseparable from the application of reference materials (RMs). In this study, a batch of genomic DNA (gDNA) certified reference materials (CRMs) was developed using genetically modified rice Kemingdao (KMD) homozygotes as the raw material. The gDNA CRMs in this batch showed good homogeneity; the minimum sample intake was determined to be 2 μL.

Clinical significance of RAD51C and its contribution to ovarian carcinogenesis.

Aim: The underlying mechanisms of chemoresistance-induced recurrence of ovarian carcinoma are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of RAD51C and its role in ovarian tumorigenesis and progression.

Methods: 60 cases of ovarian epithelial tumors (30 benign and 30 malignant tumors, respectively) were enrolled from 2014 to 2016.

Mo Concentration Controls the Morphological Transitions from Dendritic to Semicompact, and to Compact Growth of Monolayer Crystalline MoS on Various Substrates.

The domain morphology in the growth of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) is mostly triangular but rarely dendritic. Here, we report a robust chemical vapor deposition method to fabricate atomic-thin 2H-phase MoS dendrites on several single-crystalline substrates with different lattice structures, such as rutile-TiO(001), SrTiO(001), and sapphire(0001). It is found that by tuning the concentration of Mo adatoms, the morphology of MoS domains on these substrates evolves from tridentate dendrites at a low Mo concentration to semicompact fractal domains at an intermediate Mo concentration, and to a compact triangular shape at a high Mo concentration.

Development and strategy of reference materials for the DNA-based detection of genetically modified organisms.

The enforcement of GMO labeling regulations requires validated analytical methods and certified reference materials (CRMs). The early labeling regulations stipulated that the GMO content should be expressed as percentage, but did not specify what unit this percentage referred to. Two reference systems, using mass fraction and copy number ratio as measurement units, individually, are established for GMO analysis using different metrological traceability chains.

Development and Interlaboratories Validation of Event-Specific Quantitative Real-Time PCR Method for Genetically Modified Rice G6H1 Event.

The transgenic rice G6H1 was a new event with the traits of herbicide-tolerance and insect-resistant. Herein, we developed one event-specific real-time PCR method with high specificity and sensitivity for G6H1 event quantitative analysis, and validated its performance on practical samples quantification through a collaborative ring trial. A total of eight laboratories participated in this validation and quantified three blind G6H1 powder samples including DNA extraction and real-time PCR analysis.

Development of Certified Matrix-Based Reference Material as a Calibrator for Genetically Modified Rice G6H1 Analysis.

The accurate monitoring and quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are key points for the implementation of labeling regulations, and a certified reference material (CRM) acts as the scaleplate for quantifying the GM contents of foods/feeds and evaluating a GMO analytical method or equipment. Herein we developed a series of CRMs for transgenic rice event G6H1, which possesses insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant traits. Three G6H1 CRMs were produced by mixing seed powders obtained from homozygous G6H1 and its recipient cultivar Xiushui 110 at mass ratios of 49.

Negative Regulation of Hepatic Inflammation by the Soluble Resistance-Related Calcium-Binding Protein Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3.

Host immune response is tightly controlled by negative regulators to avoid excessive immune reactions for homeostasis. Some pathogens may take advantage of host negative regulating system to evade host defense. Our previous report showed that foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) VP1 inhibited TNF-α- and SeV-induced type I interferon response interaction with cellular protein soluble resistance-related calcium-binding protein (sorcin).

[Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) VP4].

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) VP4 plays an important role in immunosuppression of host. In order to develop monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against VP4, we vaccinated BALB/c mice with His-VP4, screened and subcloned positive clones. We established 4 hybridoma cell lines that stably secreted McAbs against VP4 and named these cell lines 3B3, 3H11, 4C8 and 4G6, respectively.

[Study on prevalence of occupational musculoskeletal disorders and their risk factors among workers in three industries in Zhongshan, China].

Objective: To determine the prevalence of occupational musculoskeletal disorders (OMSD) and its risk factors among workers in three manufacturing industries in Zhongshan, China by cross-sectional epidemiological investigation.

Methods: A total of 2 035 workers from the industries of metals (1001 persons), electrical appliances (455 persons), and furniture (579 persons), including 1 402 males and 633 females, were selected; the mean age was 32.9 ± 8.

A critical role of interferon-induced protein IFP35 in the type I interferon response in cells induced by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) protein 2C.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) protein 2C is one of the most highly conserved viral proteins among the serotypes of FMDV. However, its effect on host cell response is not very clear. In our previous report, we showed that FMDV protein 2C interacts with cellular protein N-myc and STAT interactor (Nmi), inducing moderate apoptosis in cells.

Engagement of soluble resistance-related calcium binding protein (sorcin) with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) VP1 inhibits type I interferon response in cells.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute, highly contagious animal disease caused by FMD virus (FMDV). Although FMDV-induced immunosuppression in host has been well established, the exact molecular mechanism for such induction is not very clear. We report here the identification of FMDV VP1 as an interferon-suppressor by interacting with soluble resistance-related calcium binding protein (sorcin).

Staphylococcus sciuri exfoliative toxin C is a dimer that modulates macrophage functions.

Staphylococcus sciuri causes multiple infections in humans. Recently, a strain of S. sciuri (HBXX06) carrying exfoliative toxin C (ExhC) was reported to cause fatal exudative epidermal skin pathology in piglets and might be considered as a potential zoonotic agent.